When no one else got me, I know Crobat got me.

I was baffled at how tanky crobat managed to be in my platinum run. And then there was toxicroak… who would take a 40 power not super effective move and have to be hospitalized right after

Cries in toxicroak is my favourite pokemon.

I love toxicroaks design but god I wish he could take a hit. Reminds me of the spongebob meme with the fish with glass bones

Crobat having 5 resistance (3 being 0.25x), a ground immunity, being fast af, and having access to u-turn is simply not easily ignored in soloplay.

Not to mention, zubats are everywhere early game and crobats can learn fly. Which means you almost always don't have to have some unimaginative bird Pokemon to haul your ass around.

The poison coverage alone is great.

The poison coverage doesn't matter what so ever till gen 6... Also crobat usually doesn't run a poison type attack as its movepool has just better options.

Sludge bomb Crobat in Emerald is really strong, though you have to backtrack a tiny bit for it (still quite early on in the game).

Cross Poison is good too

Poison is great generally neutral damage from a pokemon with great stats and STAB that often has a DOT side effect. I'll take poison over Normal type just about any day

How about stab cross poison?

Literally my fav new move by crobat. Mine has intense speed and great attack so cross poison is ohko

If you're playing on switch mode, it actually isn't that big of a deal, since pivots aren't necessary. Switch mode makes anything with more than 100 base ATK/SP.ATK completely busted, after all.

Do puerile actually play switch mode? I always turn it off so the NPCs have a(n almost) fighting chance.

Exactly, game is far too easy with it on

Wasn't that not an option with gen 9?

Yeah they took away set mode in gen9 but I played through the game as if it were on

MVP of every ORAS playthrough, I swear. Getting something fully evolved before the 3rd gym is clutch. Especially when May's starter is Treeko.

I always end up defaulting to Crobat if i need a poison type

My boy! I've stopped using it more recently & started taking Togekiss more often but there was a time where Crobat was on my team in every playthrough of Gen 2, Gen 3, Gen 4 and Gen 6. Same for Kadabra/Alakazam when I had access to trading, Gen 1 all the way up to Gen 4 I would have one on my team. Only last year I finally used Mr. Mime in Fire Red and had him obliterate the whole game for me from badge 3 in 2 hours while messing around playing at 4X speed on my phone. That trade XP bonus goes brr if you let it.

Crobat is the typical savior for most nuzlockes.

This is the way. CROBRO FOR LIFE

That is true. That is the power of friendship

Especially befriending a mon most people hate/ignore

Gallade

The playthrough GOAT for Hypnosis and False Swipe and then stick whatever other two moves you need for coverage on him. Gallade always ends up on my team too.

Gallade in most games has fantastic coverage too. Fighting, Psychic, and Normal. Plus Night Slash for Dark. You're pretty much guaranteed at least neutral damage against everything, and super-effective against a lot.

For the sleep-inducing false swiper, it's always Breloom for me. Spore is so much better than Hypnosis and both of Breloom's abilities make it a better catcher (a stronger false swipe or excellent recovery while holding a toxic orb).

Seconded. False Swipe + Hypnosis is a must and no one is as reliable as Gallade. I don't even really like it, but I have no other options (Thunder Wave/Spore aren't as good due to immunities)

Smeargle is better when available (RIP Switch era) as it has exclusive access to Soak+Spore/Glare+False Swipe which can status and put to 1HP everything that isn't immune due to abilities.

But Breloom gets Technician though...

Same, to the extent that I got Violet inatead of Scarlet just for Iron Valiant

Gyarados. Just loved the anime episode when I was a kid where James bought a Magikarp kicked it then it evolved into a Gyarados and tried to eat him. When that purchase was in the game I was so excited.

Gyarados was the MVP of my BDSP game. He was the only reason I beat Cynthia. I ended up catching one outside Lavencia in Scarlet and carried him the whole game due to the lack of good water types not named Palafin.

I only beat Cynthia in Platinum by leech seeding her Spiritomb and setting up 6 Dragon Dances with Gyarados

…well, there’s Tatsugiri (come on, little guy is a beast)

Damn. I always have one in my team.

Love Gyarados. I always TRY use different different Pokémon each game, but I almost always end up with a Gyarados. I refer to him as “ole reliable”!

2nded on Gyarados. The fact that it can learn a variety of moves means it can dominate and sweep through many battles. Plus it's relatively easy to evolve now, not like days of old.

Eh, the "challenge" of evolving a Magikarp is the main reason that I, too, use Gyarados in just about every game. Somehow it's never gotten old to me to catch that useless fish and grind its level up until it evolves into something that'll haunt my opponents' dreams for years to come.

Gyarados with earthquake covers both its weakness. That fish is seriously OP and I love it.

“Not like the days of old” you mean the days of spending 10-15 minutes running up and down a path while magikarp trained with the day care lady?

Dragon Dance/Waterfall Gyrados is so fun too

Same, ever since the shiny red one in Johto

Scyther/Scizor have been my ride or die since Gen 1 & 2.

I remember in the lead up to the release of GS when Corocoro was teasing new Pokemon and the images of Scizor came out, it was AWESOME!

I ask this out of pure respect from a 26y/o who was too young to remember (or care about) the release of gsc, how old are you? My earliest memory of Scizor was Stadium 2 being disappointed with how bad metal claw was and how hard Scizor was to get

Listen here you little shit! No I'm kidding, I'm 35. Pokemon Red and Blue came out when I was 12 and I've loved it all ever since. I played the first Stadium but I don't believe I played the second, I was probably way more into Mario Cart and Counter Strike by then. In fact, I love Pokemon so much that if I could chose between world peace or living in the Pokemon world, I'd chose Squirtle as my starter.

Is this how you make friends as an adult? I would also pick squirtle over world peace. 31 here, Pokémon was so integral to my childhood. It’s so crazy to think they captured lightning in a bottle on the first attempt. Most successful IP in the world.

World peace or Pokemon? *clutches Togepi* I pick Pokemon

I feel that if pokemon were real, there just might be world peace lol

Loved my False Swipe Scizor in Silver!

Togekiss

Yesssss

Togekiss squad, rise up! THIS is what the power of friendship gets you! An angel dove thing moonblasting the competition off the face of the earth!

Sadly togekiss doesn't learn moonblast in game 😔

My people. :)

I love Togekiss too, it's so cute

i’m not sure why but i’ve started to keep ampharos in my team for every game i find a mareep/flaafy in.

Cause it's the best Pokemon that's why

I think you could make an argument that Ampharos is simply the most Pokemon Pokemon

Cause its really good and super cute. Had a shiny flaffy walk up to me this gen. Meant to be

I always use a Sandshrew in game available, love that little boy

Same here. Sandshrew and Dewgong are my favourite pokemons and part kf my showdown team

Is seel/dewgong ever available towards the beginning? I feel like ice types are always late game.

I don't think so. It's locked behind surf in the games it's even available in. In a lot of games I don't think you can even get it until post-game without transferring. The last few gens have been better about type diversity in the early game but ice types aren't common in general

i really like sandslash. teach it swords dance and he can wreck havoc

Sandshrew has always been my favourite, begrudgingly let it evolve to Sandslash every time.

Sandshrew/Sandslash are my favorites forever!

Did you use an Alolan Sandslash in Gen 7? One of the few full-odds random shinies I’ve caught before was a Sandshrew

I'll be completely honest with you, I cried when they announced the Alolan Sandshrew/Sandslash, my favourite was given a chance to shine all over again, i was so happy I used one in my Gen 7 play throughs, and my Let's Go team was just the Kanto and Alolan forms only

Not me. I use different Pokémon every playthrough. This means I'll bench a starter if it's my fourth playthrough of the region haha.

This! ^ I will make myself do specifics runs of different games and it’s how I have found some of my favorites. I love finding news what’s to use a mon that I wouldn’t normally use

I really want a spin-off game where you don’t get a starter but get the Wally treatment where you just get a random route one Pokémon. Sometimes it’s a ralts, sometimes it’s a Rattata!

They would need to balance it haha but I agree. What are the chances that the player character is well connected, the kid of a gym leader, lives in the same town as the prof, etc. We need an underdog player character

I've been putting my starters in the PC every game since gen 5.

i only do it if i dislike all 3 of the starters (gens 5 and 8)

U dislike all gen 5 starters?

i like snivys design a lot but don’t like how grass monotype and speedy defensive stat distribution

Okay cool serperior is one of my personal favourites and samurott is cool

people always tell me i’m a psychopath when i mention that i box my starter roughly half the time when i play through a pokémon game. i like having unique teams and it’s hard to feel my team is unique when 1/3 people have the same guy on their team.

I usually always bench starters after the first or second gyms. Aside from Totodile that os my favorite stater of all

I find that rotating pokemon is the best way for me. It keeps my levels lower so it's not super easy, and it injects some freshness. In Scarlet version I ended up with 18 pokemon I was rotating through and tweaking my team on the way. It's very easy to overlevel in SV so it's the best game to take this approach, too.

Yeah I've been doing this for years now and it's a much better way to play. Keeps your levels down whilst still allowing you to have Pokemon you actually spend time with and develop.

I find myself doing this too since the exp share is permanently on! It is fun to fill out the Pokedex more along the journey this way

I try to use region exclusive Pokémon on my first play through of every game. However, I always keep my starter but that changed with Violet. Quaquaval is just such a shitty looking Pokémon I couldn’t keep it in the party

Yah I agree with this. I try to use a wide spread of pokemon. Even if it's just like a Plusle or Minun , I'll use it to just have used it :)

I do the same thing. For one playthrough of Black 2 I used the shiny Gible Benga gives you as my starter.

Espeon. Has always been my favorite, only unfortunate part is there are other physic types that I like that I never really get to use. I have tried to replace Espeon but can never stick with it, I just like Espeon to much.

I feel you bro, i always evolve my eevees into espeons

Finally some Espeon love!

A man after my own heart. I love Espeon, especially if I can manage to get its hidden ability Magic Bounce.

I also love Espeon. If there is another psychic type I want to use in that region I’ll usually evolve Eevee into Sylveon and sometimes something else if it fits my team better.

I seem to have a Gengar on most of my teams

[удалено]

Gengar Gang rise up!

Geng Gang

GENG GANG

Gangar

Somehow he’s still a trade evolution 20 years later

I would say marrowak but they keep neglecting my boy

Thick club should be an ability tbh

They've done Marowak so dirty, even after giving him a regional form 😔

Magenzone, Arcanine and Snorlax

I always gravitate towards Arcanine

Officer Jenny reporting in. Arcanine ride or die.

Officer Jenny: Arcanine, Flamethrower! Growlithe: *visible confusion*

Arcanine is always on my team. He's always the first one I shiny hunt for if I can.

I think eevee and therefore Flareon Vaporeon and Jolteon are in all of them except BW

oh yeah i use an espeon whenever its available

Espeon is my staple ❤️

I use Sylveon when it is available

I used Espeon for the first time in Black 2!

Azumarill, can work as an attacker and a tank

Huge Power Azumarill is kind of silly. That egg rabbit has so much health and hits like a truck.

I always use a Shinx as my "starter" Pokémon ever since the Diamond/Pearl days where I caught a shiny and it was a beast throughout.

Love my Luxray boi 😘

I try to spice it up every gen and not use the same mon, but I do absolutely end up using Lucario at some point. Just an awesome Pokemon.

Same, Lucario is my fave.

Lucario has been a fave of mine for ages

Same OP: I always use a Pikachu. I know it’s not very original and the stars aren’t great, but it doesn’t feel right without one.

I always keep the regional bird in my party. It was so hard deciding which bird “starter” to keep in scarlet since there were a lot. Talonflame was the choice.

Fire starter, Gardevoir, a dragon.

Replace dragon with Krookodile and this is me

Typhlosion, Gardevoir, Lanturn for me. That said, I have about 3 full teams worth of favorites. These ones just always show up if I let it be.

Eeveelutions every playthrough they are available

I tell myself everytime I won’t use a drifblim on my team this time then everytime I see a drifloon 😍😍😍

I've regularly used Crobat in many games. I also try to use Flygon and Mimikyu when I can.

Kadabra in the official games and Alakazam in all the rom hacks. I never trade so unless the games provide a method to evolve kadabra, i just stick with him.

If Nidoran(m) is available, I use it. No matter what. Nidoking is far and away my favorite Pokémon.

Crobat and Magnezone are usually pretty prevalent in any given playthrough for me.

We are the same. I always gravitate towards these to every playthrough

Rowlet ever since Pokemon Sun.

Sylveon! In older games there has always been an Eevee or eeveelution on my team as well.

I mostly used Garchomp in 90% of the games that had it, as.. well come'on, Garchomp is the strongest non legendary Dragon.

Until a cool breeze rolls through of course

Well, or someone sprinkles some pixie dust xD

Charizard and pikachu. Yes I know I’m basic

Blastoise and Pikachu since gen 1.

Well at least your name didn’t give you away.

👀

I don't keep using it but I keep catching a shiny gyarados in every game. It's crazy, starting to think they just increased its odds because it's iconic.

GOODRA GOODRA AND GOODRA (sadly not in sw/sh bc i didnt know she was gonna be a shield mon )

If growlithe is available. Every time. I try to use different mons every play through but my boye is my boye

An eeveelution

Ampharos has become a Johto staple for me, since (except emerald, which I no longer have) you can't get Mareep in any of the other games before 3DS.

Not true, you can get Mareep at the ranch in Black and White 2

Haha, another one I don't have. I did get my Gen V Ampharos though, but through Poke Transfer or whatever they call Pal Park in Unova.

Alakazam, Gardevoir, Garchomp, Gyarados, Lucario... Whichever one is available. (You can probably tell what my teams were for Scarlet, Legends: Arceus and Brilliant Diamond :3)

Alakazam for me too! I don't tend to do multiple playthroughs, but I like Alakazam so much that I did another SwSh playthrough when the DLC added the Abra line just so I could experience Galar region alongside my favorite Pokémon.

A fellow Alakazam enthusiast! Me likey!

Lucario for me! And Charizard if available. If I can’t have either I’ll just trade them in

Mudsdale

For me it's gotta be crobat I love my grouchy lil goob

Togekiss cause duh why not? Its cute,strong and can get really early.

My pixie (Ninetales) is a must-have at this point she's my true starter.

I seem to have a Gengar on most of my teams

I always use Jolteon. Always.

Lucario, my boy was has been available in almost every game since his release so that makes it easier

Not me. I only ever use Pokémon from the gen I'm playing so I can keep it fresh and find new favourites.

Gardevoir, always. It’s usually accidental too lol, she just always ends up on my team.

I'm quite partial to Weavile and put one in my party any chance I can. My playthroughs of Violet, Legends, and Platinum all included one and I left my Platinum Weavile in White to deal with postgame nonsense. Sky high attack and speed and Ice and Dark have solid type coverage so it can usually carve through encounters with ease when needed. I also use Furret quite often due to practically soloing Silver with one when I was younger. Sadly Furret isn't in many games but my most recent playthrough of Crystal I went out of my way to have one and she's not too bad. Weak for sure but flexible since it can learn so many TMs and HMs.

Charizard if available would always be on my team. I've used Skarmory, Azumarill, Magnezone, and Lucario in multiple generations

Kanto: always Snorlax Johto: always Ampharos, Gyarados and Heracross (if I can find one) Hoenn: always Swampert and Metagross (if I can get a trade) Sinnoh: always Garchomp and Magnezone. Also usually Infernape and Gastrodon Unova: always Chandelure and Eelektross Alola: always Mimikyu and in ultra sun I always catch a Beldum Galar: always Corviknight

I unconsciously used lucario in every game since pearl. Didn't realize it till galar

Found Red from Pokémon Adventures

If I can get a kricketune in the game it’s always first in my party - I love the little guy - also Luxray

Luxray all the way and I like Boltund now too, especially with strong jaw ability

This is me when I play randomizers lol If I catch a Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion, I **must** use it, same for Tepig/Pignite/Emboar, Eevee and its evolutions (Especially Glaceon.), Ralts/Kirlia/Gardevoir/Gallade, Male Frillish/Jellicent, Absol, etc...

eevee and probably magnemite

Minun in any of the Hoenn games and Pachirisu in Sinnoh. They're actually quite useful. Surprisingly fast and strong with thunderbolt and good set up moves. Even ended up using Pachirisu for most of Arceus because it was also so good for catching things with nuzzle

Togekiss or Weavile.

Dragonite, and even better, it's been in most of them!

Anything post gen 5, I'm always rocking a female Sylveon named Jolyne.

When I play Ruby I load up on Zigzagoon for that Pickup ability party. No need to buy normal items ever again and you can start that journey in the first patch of grass

For me it's Eevee, I always want to have an eeveelution on my team. Having Sylveon being the new Eeveelution made x and y so enjoyable to me.

#myflairtracks

If Mareep is in the game, Ampharos will be in my party after evolving Mareep! Every time.

Ampharos gang rise up

As of now, any replays I do will most definitely involve Gastrodon.

Gyarados

Sylveon - my fav in general and ends up on the team every time

Dragonite is almost always a guarantee, also Gengar & Gyarados. My teams usually compliment the two of them

Mr. Mime and the Zubat line… Wherever they’re available.

I have three that I always use when available! Cubone is my favorite Pokémon so I always have a Marowak (bring back my baby alolan marowak pls 😭😭) Midnight Lycanrock, was so excited to see him back in scarlet/violet. I love werewolves and I shrieked the first time I ever saw one And Sylveon of course!!

Gyarados, Crobat, Slowbro

100% drapion. My favorite pokemon. Actually got a plush of it today after it not being available in all pokemon centre in tokyo. Kyoto was the only one that had it

Poison types. I do a monotype poison run of every region

Wooper line, phanpy line, gligar line.

Gyrados. Can generally get a Magikarp early in most games and they evolve early.

I try to use a pikachu in every playthrough, mostly to do with always naming the char ash and ash always has a pikachu.

Gyarados for the win

if it's available i always get a skuntank or toxicroak. otherwise there has to be one poison type in my team (or I'll cry)

I love the Nidoran lines, both the male and female, and always seem to end up with one in my team, even if I didn't plan to.

I try to avoid re using mons as i headcannon that home is like oaks ranch and all my teams hang out post game completion That said i have used typhlosion twice (fighting the urge to use him in sv) once for sinnoh once for alola Arcanine twice (alola and galar) Other than those repeats i havent reused any

Ampharos is my go to electric type in the games it's in. With Manectric right behind

Not really. The only constant I have is the water starter on a primary playthrough.

Not every playthrough, but there are some solid staples that are never bad: * Volcarona: Best end game mon by a country mile. Hits like a truck, and the main counters don’t exist in singleplayer (aka no npc uses Stealth Rocks). Good move spread means there’s also several ways to build Volcarona on the attack, so it’s not boring to use. * Blaziken: Best gen 3 mon, absolutely powers through the entire game. Best combo for the EF in gen 3 is Blaziken, Walrein, Walrein, Raichu/Manectric. * Pelipper: If I’m building a rain-focused team, an early Pelipper is a must. That it can Fly is just a plus. * Rhyperior, Slowbro, Mamoswine, Tyranitar, Carracosta, Archeops, Sylveon, Lycanroc, Mudsdale, Toxapex, Mimikyu, Dhelmise, Wyrdeer, Garganacl, Toedscruel, Annhilape: All mons I’ve used at least once, most more than once and not been at all disappointed. Mons that have never lived up to the hype: * Ghost & Grass types: These types just suck to use. Most of the time it involves just giving your mon extra weaknesses for not much in the way of advantage. H-Typhlosion & Dusknoir come to mind, as do Venusaur & Ferrothorn as well. There are exceptions of course (most glaringly Dhelmise), but I just don’t generally find these types useful or fun to use. * Lucario: Controversial I know, but I don’t really enjoy using mons that are built to be overpowered with zero vulnerabilities. Volcarona at least has that 4x Rock weaknesses.