[S/M Disscusion] You, Your Team, Your Experience

[Chase]

Alola!

The aim of this thread is quite simple. Tell us who you ran/plan to run the Alolan island challenge and "League" with. You can go into specific moments/hopes for each individual member of your team, you can talk about areas you struggled with your team throughout the journey, and you can talk about the things you like about your partners - all right here! Even if you don't, I want to, because goodness it was fun.

Also, if any of you have like....sprites of the Alola Pokemon I can use on this forum all on one unique place - can you link them here? I'd like to start using those eventually. Side note over with.

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Litten/Torracat/Incineroar

It was really, REALLY hard to not pick Rowlet to start - because design-wise I think the Decidueye line is my favorite - but I don't regret breaking my chain of using the grass starter since Ruby and Sapphire for Litten at all. Incineroar is straight up goofy - but for me, I am one of the few people that doesn't care if it's another Fire starter with Fighting type ties (although it being Fire/Dark is awesome.) - and I learned more about 'ole Tiger Mask's origins each time I saw Incineroar's likeness leading up to the games' release. I now appreciate "pro wrestling" a whole lot more, that's for sure.

Highlights of Incineroar are oddly enough - finding difficulty dealing with it. It doesn't really start to be all that threatening until it's fully evolved - and it's bulk is more praiseworthy than it's power with regards to my experience. This does of course change with Darkest Lariat - which has KO'd everything I've used it on. Z-Power that move and you get the best of the starter-specific Z-Moves, Malicious Moonsault. (YES! YES! YES! ...)

Pichu/Pikachu/Alola-Raichu

My sole deviance of team from pre-release was Alolan Raichu - because of it's ability to be caught immediately after learning how to catch Pokemon from Professor Kukui -AND- being incredibly rare on Route 1. I wanted to go through that struggle sooner rather than later, and it also gave me some immediate support for Litten against Water type Pokemon.

Stoked Sparksurfer is a fantastic Z-move to use visually - and A-Rai's Psychic subtyping helped immensely against Fighting Pokemon, something my team struggled mightily against. In the hunt for all of the Z-Crystals, you're going to want to go ahead and follow my lead. Get this Pokemon as soon as possible. As a Pi(ka)chu, Static helped me get out of some tough spots.

It also assisted in catching other Pokemon via Thunder Wave paralysis support.

Rockruff/Lycanroc (Midday)

No coverage really, I just really wanted to use Lycanroc-D ever since it was released. Accelerock is a fantastic STAB priority move that should provide the wolf some viability in competitive play. This was the last Pokemon I caught on Melemele Island - because you simply have to do everything possible story-wise in order to REACH Rockruff.

Why did I think having both a feline -and- a canine Pokemon was a good idea? Works well with the theme I guess.

Lycanroc shined against Team Skull more than anything else. Despite it's frailty, it was able to almost solo the Skull-dedicated portion of the game - even Guzma himself once. May just be my experience though. Do what you think you need to stay safe out there.

Wishiwashi

Two Pokemon does not a team make. After getting rid of the Water weakness, I still had immense trouble with Rock and Ground types, and by the time I reached Akala Island, you had Olivia waiting with a Rock monotype team. Something had to be done...so I went big.....and small.... Hah.

School Form at level 20 is almost broken. Kiawe's trial was just trivialized - and this Pokemon was one of two Akala natives that would fuel me to victory of Olivia. Everything time I use it in battle, seeing the Small Fry Pokemon call in it's buddies to "school" opponents is just an enjoyable experience. Why bother with Toxapex and Golisopod when you can just use Wishiwashi? Highly recommend this one.

Most enjoyable thing though. It learning BEAT UP. Imagine if every single Wishiwashi in the school got a turn at using Beat Up along with the rest of your team. Hilarious thought.

Bounsweet/Steenee/Tsareena

This Pokemon makes -not- using Rowlet okay. It's probably my favorite Pokemon of the generation simply because of how it operates. Rotom-Dex? Take it away.

"Its long, striking legs aren’t just for show but to be used to kick with skill. In victory, it shows off by kicking the defeated, laughing boisterously." - Sun

Goodness gracious. It's a savage. While not French, Tsareena brings a whole new meaning to "Let Them Eat Cake"...

You will most likely catch Bounsweet past the level it needs to be to evolve into Steenee, and Steenee is like dealing with a Kirlia or some other odd middle evolution. However, Tsareena is a thing whenever Steenee learns Stomp - earliest at lowly level 29. This made Tsareena my first third-stage evolution. It learned Trop Kick right then and there too - and she pulled most of the work - with total EASE - in defeating the kahuna of Akala.

HJK is in it's learnset too - which gave what I hope is my league team (doing some housekeeping before completing the game and trying to enjoy and explore places I missed) a LOT of Fighting options despite only having one Fighting type Pokemon.

Jangmo-o/Hakamo-o/Kommo-o

This Pokemon line is - what I assume - the Pseudo-legendary Dragon type line of Alola. And it's a Fighting type too. Game Freak loves me this time around~

I have no experience with this Pokemon yet, but I wanted it on my Hall of Fame squad. It's a joy to try and locate though - if you like challenging hunts for Pokemon anyway.

HONORABLE MENTION

Munchlax/Snorlax

Holding down Kommo-o's spot for the entirety of the Island Challenge (for me, because I had to look up Jangmo-o's location after catching Solgaleo) was Snorlax, the Mystery Gift Pokemon at the game's release. It was incredibly useful from dealing with perhaps the most frustrating part of the game for me (the first fight against Captain Illima where it had to help Torracat and Pichu out.) to assisting in catching it's successor by using it's fantastic catching move Hold Back to bring that HP down to 1.

DO check out Pulverizing Pancake - the Snorlax-exclusive Z-Move.

[Cepheus]

I just finished the first Trial... so not much to say until now except:

HOLY COW - that variety of pokemon on mele-mele alone! I can hardly choose with what I should go.

anyway, my team so far (I might be using some german names, since I can't look up/recall the english names right now - but I'll make sure you understand which I Pokemon I mean)

Update:

Litten -> Torracat

of course I had to choose the little fire kitten... there was no other choice for me - Kitten > all! :3

Grubbin -> Chargabug

damn this thing is tough! It totally anihilated the Rattattas and the Totem-Raticate with Bug Bite

Alolan Grimer

This thing is a BEAST! Holy cow! I didn't expect how good it is! it is tanky as hell - Psychic immunity and learns Bite quite early... and hits like a truck with it! I'm thinking about keeping it till the end.

oh man... oh man... this thing is getting better and better - currently running Acid Spray, Poison Fang, Bite and Minimize - god if something doesn't die in one or two hits, it will be poisoned and die from that - it's glorious. (it has poison touch, so even Bite has a chance to poison)

Trompeck (the first evolution of that bird pokemon... Pickipeck?)

sooo... it stays normal until now... and it is ugly as hell... I certainly didn't expect that... kinda dissapointed in its design. but it holds its ground until now. It learned Rock smash which helped a lot early on (wow... to say that rock smash helped...) but it got replaced with Brick break immediately, since we can't use it on field anymore

well... I mean it's ok and all... but since it will most likely stay normal/flying - I will most likely swap it when it evolves into third stage, since I need mor coveage and normal type has no coverage...

are there any other new Flying pokemon lines in this game (not considered legendary)? (I only know this line and Oricorio)

Rockruff -> Lycanroc (Midnight)

Rockruff is so adorable!!! but it's move pool early on is really lacking... A shame that it's midnight form isn't Rock/Dark it could make use of that Bite STAB... but as much as I like it... I will probably swap it for a water type´, since I'm about to go to the Fire-Trial and I still need that coverage that Water provides

(why are there so few NEW water types? I only encountered Wishiwashi and that Water-Spider as new Water types so far... and I don't really want to use old Pokemons that aren't alola form)

Bounsweet -> Steenee

I got Bounsweet via trade in the Pokemon Center on Route 5... it didn't really look that good... but it knew Rapid spin and Razor leaf which was nice, since I was about to hit that Water trial and Razor leaf hits all enemies, and with Totem-Pokemon constantly calling for help, this guy mopped the floor with that Totem (Swarm-)Wishiwashi in only 3 hits of Razor leaf

currently keeping it since Rapid spin is my WEAKEST move, which helps immensly with catching Pokemon... since no one in my team can learn Fals Swipe... and all my Pokemon are already like 25+ with all the wild and trainer Pokemon still being 17~19 at most...

but seriously the sheer amount of pokemon... and strong ones too just in the beginning damn... I thought I had my team layed out already... but with suprises like Alolan-Grimer... damn...

well anyway...

Edited November 26, 2016 by Cepheus

[IntSys]

Now...behold, my four-mon team!

Litten -> Torracat -> Incineroar

Litten was surprisingly good. With Acrobatics available really early on, it made short work of many otherwise tough opponents.

Torracat, at one point, was the fastest Pokemon on my team, and boy I need that speed.

Incineroar loses the speed and becomes a bulky powerhouse, and its STABs remained potent throughout the game. It had to deal with Fire Fang as its Fire STAB for awhile, though.

Slowpoke -> Slowbro

Slowpoke takes a bit of time to get over its early levelup movepool, but it gets access to the early Scald TM, improving its utility. It also gets Yawn and Disable, both amazing moves against Totem Pokemon. Lastly, applying Eviolite to it transforms it into a ridiculous tank capable of walling just about anything.

After evolution, Slowbro holds up to its role as a powerful tank. Getting CM allows it to patch its weaker Special Defense. It even gets Slack Off to help you save the money needed to buy Hyper Potions/Max Potions! I also gave it a Quick Claw to slightly remedy its awful speed.

Fomantis -> Lurantis

For a grass type, Lurantis is good. Now, you may think: Tsareena's stats excel against Lurantis in every single aspect except Special Attack. But, Tsareena's best Grass-type physical move is just Trop Kick, while Lurantis gets Leaf Blade, Petal Blizzard, and Solar Blade! It does get HJK and Acrobatics to make up for that, but still.

Having solid bulk, Leech Life and Swords Dance was nice, though.

Skarmory

Alright, this one is probably the MVP. Skarmory, while it takes effort to grind, makes it all worthwhile with the amazing physical bulk and typing combination. For one, it walls poor Guzma completely!

Edited November 26, 2016 by IntSys

[Xiri]

I just finished the main storyline, and I'll share my lovely teammates here:

1. Popplio / Brionne / Primarina

I am always biased towards Water starters (with the exception of being Gen 5), and not surprisingly I decided to start out with Popplio. Once in its final stage, it becomes a monster - capable of learning many good moves such as Sparkling Aria, Moonblast, Ice Beam, Psychic, Hyper Voice and Energy Ball. Oh, and its unique Z-move, Oceanic Operetta, is really powerful too (not to mention, it has an awesome animation)

2. Alolan Grimer / Muk

Grimer evolves at Level 38, so its going to take a little bit of time for it to reach its full potential, but when it does - it tanks hits and strikes hard (although as a Grimer, it can still do some good work in the Grass Trial). Learns Gunk Shot fairly early - which is a plus, and it gets access to quite a bit of useful moves including Knock Off.

3. Bounsweet / Steenee / Tsareena

I'll admit. This thing didn't really impress me as a Steenee - and it was considered dead-weight on my team. But when it evolved into a Tsareena, it began to murder things left and right. It's got a base 120 Attack, which is nothing to be laughed at, and the Bounsweet you get from the trade will always be Adamant, so there will be additional power. Sadly, its got a pretty shallow movepool - with only Trop Kick, High Jump Kick and U-turn being decent.

4. Stufful / Bewear

OMG THIS IS SO CUTE. To be very honest, when I first saw Bewear, I thought it would be quite a mediocre Pokemon - but I was very, very wrong. It's got a really good ability in Fluffy - which halves the damage taken from contact moves, which means even super-effective contact moves will not do as much damage to Bewear. A solid 125 Attack with access to Hammer Arm, Superpower, Brutal Swing, Rock Slide and Swords Dance (which you can get the TM rather early) is also charming for this pink bear (and did I mention how adorable it looks as it pops up when you open Pokemon Refresh?)

5. Alolan Vulpix / Ninetales

As much as I hate to say this, Alolan Ninetales is probably the least useful member on my team. It's an extremely beautiful Pokemon, but unfortunately thats about it. 81 SpA is pretty mediocre, and while it has decent SpD, its HP could be better. On the plus side, it does get 'okay' moves such as STAB Dazzling Gleam, Ice Beam as well as Extrasensory and Hex. Breeding Nasty Plot seems like a must, since otherwise its not going to be hitting as hard as it needs to, even if the attack is super effective.

6. Mimikyu

Another mon which I thought would be quite 'bad' but it turned out to be quite useful! An extremely unique and helpful ability, while having access to many good moves such as STAB Play Rough, Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak (priority), Leech Life and Swords Dance, makes it a really good teammate. The downside is that it took me FOREVER to find despite having a 10% encounter rate.

[mde2001]

I've just finished the main story, so here's my main team.

1. Popplio / Brionne / Primarina

I usually go with the water starter and despite the temptation of Rowlet I decided to go Popplio. Popplio was great in the early game, I barely used Brionne and it got most of its levels through EXP share and Primarina was awesome. My final moveset on it was Sparkling aria, moonblast, shadow ball

and psychic (I think). It is also holding the Primarinium Z which lets it use its really powerful personal Z move which also has an amazing animation.

2. Pikipek/ Trumbeak/Toucannon

I wasn't planning on using Pikipek for very long when I caught it, but this thing really grew on me. It has a cool design, a really solid attack stat and quite a diverse movepool. Unfortunately the one I caught didn't have skill link but it still did well for me anyway due to the amount of sand attackers in the world. Final moveset was drill peck, brick break, bullet seed and flame charge. It was holding a sharp beak as I decided I wanted more regular boosts in damage. I might change it to the flying z move when I go get that.

3. Cutiefly/ Ribombee

I had decided I was going to use cutiefly not matter how bad it was, but it ended up not being a burden at all. Ribombee outspeeds almost everything in the game and it has a pretty solid special attack stat. Also it is one of the cutest pokemon ever made which is my main motivation for picking pokemon. Moveset was bug buzz, dazzling gleam, psychic and pollen puff and it was holding the buginum z.

4. Mudbray/ Mudsdale

I didn't plan on using this one for long when I caught it either, but after only a couple of battles it had earnt itself a permenant spot on my team. This thing is a complete monster, with a super high attack stat and a fantastic ability, Mudsdale was by far my teams MVP and got me through the champion battle with no problem at all. Its moves are earthquake, heavy slam, rock tomb and superpower (although I only got super power after the champion) and it is holding the groundium z.

5. Komala

Komala has been a bit of a mixed bag. It was a bit underlevelled and so I was trying to train it up without grinding which meant it fainted a lot as I was putting it in unreasonably tough battles. However I still wanted to use it, just because I loved its design so much. It has a really solid attack stat and actually started to do quite well. The biggest downside was having slam as the best move for most of the game as slam has awful accuracy. Final moveset was slam, thrash, wood hammer and brick break. It was holding the normalium z (mostly because seeing Komala use the move was kinda funny).

6. Alolan Vulpix / Ninetales

This thing was too pretty not to use (even though it was the third fairy type on my team). It also ended up doing really well for me with a great special attack stat and solid special defence. It was the last team member I got and was hard to train as a vulpix, but once I got it into a ninetales it was a fantastic asset. Final moveset was ice beam, dazzling gleam, extrasensory and hex.

Honourable mentions go to Gumshoos and Lyanroc (day) as they were part of my team for a good period of time until they were replaced by Komala and Ninetales respectively.

[FairFamily]

I just beated the elite 4 and these are my thoughts on my team:

Litten->Torrecat->Incineroar

Sadly my experience with this line was very strange. It was fast it hit quite hard when it was a litten/torrecat but when it evolved it went downhill. First it was it became slower and then it also it had to rely for a long on fire fang for a physical fire move, making it very mediocre. No fire punch, no blaze kick, flare blitz sounded nice until you started to suicide because you took a hit beforehand. Shame because the z move is just awesome.

Rockruff -> Lycanroc (Midday)

This one, is in my opinion quite nice, it was fast and it hit hard. The movepool is mediocre but it had stab, priority and a simple coverage for most situation. Not great but sufficient. The fact that movepool updated made the experience quite smooth and enjoyable.

Bounsweet / Steenee / Tsareena

Ok, bounsweet and steenee were bad but Tsareena kicked ass, trop kick is a great move which was great utility and power combined but that was about it for a long time. I felt it a bit at the end but still when it learnd high jump kick eveything was fine again. Good pokemon.

These were the staples I used them for the majority of the game. The rest I used for various parts of the game until they fell off. Toxapex, Ninetales, and Pallosant where all introduced after saving Lillie from aether and suffered from being underleveled due to a lack of leveling options.

Mareanie/Toxapex

Catching this was a pain in the ass. However the pokemon did pay off at the end game quite nicely when its level almost matches that of my oponents. Baneful bunker was not as good as I hoped and might have almost cost me some fights. Merciless however was great and reacted better then I hoped. It zlso basically walled and stalled the entre fight against Hala. It also played a crucial role against the ghost elite by laying toxic spikes.

Alolan vulpix/Ninetales

This one was quite a bit disspointing.Steel is a huge weaknes which was not a good thing for this pokemon and to me it didn't hit hard enough for it's frialty. The only fight it realy shined was aginst the ghost elite four where I managed to layer of toxic spikes for hex and managed to set up a nasty plot.

SandyGast/Pallosade

I din't use it often due to being underleveled most of the time but when I did use it I got disspointed. Mostly because the type advatages were against special attackers. So I won't say it is bad but I did not get much mileage.

The rest got replaced at some point:

Yungoos/Gumshoos:

Ok this one is bad. The only time it shined was right after it evolved bt it lost relevance quickly afterwards. Biggest issue was that I still needed to use tackle as stab for a long time, for a pokemon with mediocre stats that was bad.

Pikipek/Trumbeak

This pokemon was quite good, pluck was a nice niche and a decent stab. In general it performed well with decent attack/speed and movepool. I dropped it immediately after it evolved due to its new design.

Mudbray/Mudsdale

Honestly it did not disspoint,good bulk and good damage. Coverage was ok. The only reason I dropped was because my team was too slow not because he was bad.

Wishiwasshi

I tried to use this one as a special attacker. Schooling was better then expected and the early game power was huge, winning me may fights. Over time he became a lot weaker due to a bad special move pool and the low hp started to take its toll.