Pokémon, Inkaros, my starter Pokémon

[Here's a little science tidbit. Rain teams typically revolve around Pokémon with the Rain ability. They activate rain to boost the power of Water-type moves and unlock certain Pokémon abilities, such as Swift Swim (doubles Speed ​​during rain) and Rain Dish (restores some HP during rain).]

[Look at the opponent's team: Poliwag sets up Rain, Feraligatr and Gyarados are the damage dealers, Floatzel might have the "Easy Swim" ability, Ludicolo is the "Rain Dish" catcher, and Blastoise is the tank. Their damage output and speed are insane!]

[Streamer, your sandstorm will be covered by rain, this one's been shipped!]

Shidou frowned slightly as he looked at the opponent's lineup.

While this rain team has a clear theme, almost all of its members are Water-type, lacking effective type synergy. For example, it lacks excellent Grass-type resistance to Electric and other types of resistance to its own type.

In his view, the team's creators may have focused more on real-world combat experience in their understanding of the game, while giving insufficient consideration to team balance within the game.

That makes sense, considering the tactical level in this Pokémon world, the average level is probably just so-so, considering that Flying-type Elite Four member Dodo who likes to use Dragonite against Gardevoir.

The fact that the other party could come up with the idea of ​​forming a rain team means that they must be a gym owner with some skill in the real world.

Amidst the urging and "mourning" of the barrage comments, a virtual battleground is generated, allowing for 6-out-of-6 singles matches, and the battle begins!

Chapter 18 Ji Xian: In this river?

As expected, Yoshino started with Mosquito King, while Shito started with Hippopotamus.

first round:

Ji Xian: "Hahaha, let's start with a passionate downpour! Mosquito Coil Frog King, rain!"

Upon entering the field, Poliwag's ability was activated instantly, dark clouds gathered over the field, and a torrential downpour began, boosting the power of Water-type moves!

However, almost at the same time that the rain appeared, the slower-moving Sand Hippopotamus's ability to "sandstorm" was also activated.

With a low roar, the hippopotamus unleashed a fierce sandstorm, its powerful dust energy soaring into the sky and colliding violently with the dark clouds above! The sand and rain intertwined and battled in the air, hissing and crackling. Just two seconds later, the power of the sandstorm completely overwhelmed the rain, the dark clouds were dispersed, and although the scorching sun did not appear, the entire area was shrouded in the howling sandstorm.

The weather turned into a sandstorm.

Ji Xian: "What?! My downpour has been covered up?!"

Barrage:

[Holy crap! Hippowdon appears after the main character, and its ability overrides Rain!]

[The team is practically useless in this rainy weather!]

[Hey anchor, why are sand hippos able to steal the weather?]

While operating the game, Shidou explained, "This is very simple. In the game Pokémon Masters, when a slower Pokémon enters the game later, its weather ability will override the weather of the Pokémon that enters the game first."

This is one of the reasons why Torkoal, which is slower, is sometimes more popular than Ninetales in sunny weather teams, and why Pelipper, which is slower, is more common than Poliwag in rainy weather teams—it's all about securing weather dominance.

[I've learned it, thank you, host.]

I learned it too!

[A perfect start! Your Sandstorm team got the weather!]

Although Ji Xian was surprised that his familiar rain team had been overtaken by the sandstorm team, he did not back down. "It's okay, the type advantage is still there. Poliwag, teach it a lesson with hot water."

On the field, the mosquito coil frog opened its belly, and in an instant, scalding hot water roared towards the sand hippopotamus in the sandstorm.

【Excellent effect】

Surprisingly, after the highly effective hot water hit the hippopotamus, although it felt pain, its blood volume only dropped by about two-fifths and it remained strong.

"What? So meaty?"

Ji Xian was taken aback.

Tokito: "Opportunity, Hippo, use Stealth Rock!"

With a roar, the Sand Hippopotamus silently filled the airspace above Yoshinobu's field with countless sharp, invisible rocks. At the end of the round, Poliwag King suffered some damage due to the sandstorm.

[How strange, why is it so resilient?!]

Shidou then showed off his inventory, saying, "See the item my Hippowdon is carrying? An Evolution Stone. If a Pokémon carrying this item can evolve, its Defense and Special Defense will increase by 50%. With this, Hippowdon's Defense and Special Defense are even slightly stronger than Hippowdon's."

[Should I bring this to an unevolved Pokémon?]

[I see. There's an evolved form of the hippopotamus above the sand hippopotamus, so it's legal to carry it?]

[Holy crap, is that even possible? A 50% increase in both defenses?! No wonder it's so tough!]

[I've learned something new! Another fun fact added to my list!]

I always said you could learn real things from watching live streams, and it turns out it really is true.

In the very first round, Tokito imparted two key points, much to the delight of the new trainers who love battling.

Having had a bad start, Ji Xian was unwilling to give up, but there was no point in replacing the Politoed Frog King now, so he said, "Politoed Frog King, one more time, hot water."

The scalding hot water hit again, and this time luck was on Ji Xian's side. The hippopotamus was burned, its attack power was halved, and it would continue to lose health every round.

The sand hippopotamus's blood volume is no longer healthy.

But Shidou's command had already arrived: "Hippopotamus, hold on, use Roar."

On the field, Hippowdon let out a deafening roar, and an invisible force of rules forcibly pushed Poliwag back into its Poké Ball. Yoshinobu's team list scrolled automatically, and Ludicolo was forced to enter the field.

As soon as Lucky Duck entered the arena, the Invisible Rock, which was floating in the air, immediately activated, and sharp rocks rained down on it.

Because it's a Water/Grass type, Rock-type moves are generally ineffective, but it still dealt considerable damage!

Ji Xian: "?! What is this? Forced exit?"

[Roar, forcing the opponent to switch Pokémon, and then using Stealth Rock to take a hit from the start?]

Wow, that's a really dirty tactic.

[So that's how the "nail-laying team" plays – constantly forcing trades and attrition.]

Looking at the burned hippopotamus on the field, Ji Xian decided to deal with it first and continued to command: "Rakuten Kappa, use Billion Absorption!"

Grass-type moves are super effective against Hippowdon; it definitely won't be able to withstand this attack.

However, Shi Dou had already anticipated this.

"Sandhorse, come back."

The burned Hippowdon was recalled, and then a new Poké Ball was thrown out. With a flash of white light, the indestructible Skarmory appeared.

Ludicolo unleashed several Giga Drain spells shimmering with green vines, which wrapped around Skarmory's steel body, but the effect was minimal. Grass-type Skarmory, being a Steel/Flying type, only took a quarter of the damage.

However, what happened next left Ji Xian even more bewildered.

Just as Ludicolo finished its attack, the red tag on Skarmory suddenly lit up with a blinding red light.

Yoshihiro's battle screen prompts:

Skarmory's item [Red Card] is activated!

[Red Card: After being attacked, the attacker is forced to randomly switch to a fellow Pokémon.]

Ludicolo was involuntarily pulled back into its Poké Ball by a force, and Yoshinobu's team list was forcibly scrolled again, and then the selected Gyarados roared into the field.

However, as soon as Gyarados appeared, the Stealth Rock in the air activated again. As a Water/Flying type, Rock-type moves are extremely effective against Gyarados. The sharp rock slammed into Gyarados, taking away a quarter of its health!

Ji Xian: "!!!"

The comments section instantly started scrolling:

【! ! ! ! ! ! 】

What did I just see?!

[A single attack resulted in a straight red card and being sent off? And he also stepped on a stumbling block?]

[Gyarados lost a quarter of its health right away?!]

【How...how are they supposed to play this?!】

[The nail-laying team is disgusting, but... they seem really strong?!]

The entire audience, including the opposing Gym Leader Yoshinobu, was stunned by this series of moves: "Setting up Stealth Rock, Hippowdon's Roar, and Skarmory's Red Card forcing a switch, allowing the new Pokémon to step on the studs."

Shidou's nail-laying team tactic demonstrated its devastating attrition capabilities in just the first three rounds. Yoshinobu's water-based army was already heavily damaged before it could even truly exert its strength.

Ji Xian: In this river?

Chapter 19 Armored Bird: Who is making a racket outside the palace!

Yoshinobu from Nohara City watched the Pokémon on the screen suffer repeated defeats, sweat beading on his forehead. He abandoned his previous relaxed attitude and said seriously, "I... seem to have met a tough opponent. I have to get serious!"

The live stream chat had a completely different style:

[That was too sneaky! The streamer's tactics were so dirty!]

[The other side must be getting completely destroyed, right?]

Shi Dou looked at the comments and smiled easily, saying, "This is just the beginning. The essence of the nail-laying team hasn't been fully revealed yet."

The battle continues.

Ji Xian was caught in a huge dilemma.

The Gyarados on the field couldn't do much damage to Skarmory, whose physical defense was extremely high. After all, Waterfall's damage was limited in the absence of rain.

Let's switch out. Next time we come up, we'll have to step on the invisible rock, which will deduct a quarter of our health, plus the possibility of other spikes, so our health will be in danger.

According to the game's battle mechanics, if the trainer doesn't give a corresponding command within half a minute, the Pokémon's turn to attack will be skipped, and the opponent will take over. With the countdown about to end, Yoshinobu had to make a choice and commanded:

"Gyarados, climb the waterfall!"

It will at least deplete some of the Skarmory's stamina.

On the field, Gyarados gained the initiative and immediately unleashed a blue water jet that struck Skarmory.

However, without the rain buff, this STAB move only dealt about a quarter of the damage to Skarmory's thick steel wings.

Skarmory remained unmoved. After all, this Pokémon is a long-standing member of the Stealth Team, possessing strong physical defense. Without weather buffs and boosting moves, it's impossible to damage it.

Tokito: "Skeleton, continue setting up, use Spikes!"

The armored bird flew in the sky and immediately spun rapidly, instantly scattering sharp spikes on one side of Yoshinobu's field.

This means that every time Yoshino's non-Floating and Flying type Pokémon enters the battle, they will first take one-eighth of the initial damage from Spikes, and Spikes can be stacked up to three levels.

At the end of the round, a sandstorm swept through, and Gyarados lost a little more health.

Next round:

Ji Xian was caught in a dilemma and had no choice but to continue fighting head-on. Changing his Pokémon would result in significant damage and would play right into his opponent's hands. So he continued to command, "Gyarados, keep using Waterfall!"

Gyarados unleashed another massive wave of attack, reducing Skarmory's health to around yellow.

Tokito: "Armored Bird, scatter water chestnuts!"

The armored bird continued to spin rapidly, and the second layer of spikes was completed.

Ji Xian got a little carried away and commanded recklessly, "Just a little bit more! Gyarados, do Waterfall again!"

Waterfall climbing success!

The Skarmory's health instantly dropped to red!

Ji Xian was overjoyed; finally, he only needed one last waterfall climb to take away this troublesome armored bird.

However, Tokito's orders followed immediately.

"Armored Bird, perch!"

The armored bird landed back on the ground, its body radiating a healing light, and its health instantly recovered to more than half.

Ji Xian watched as the Skarmory, which he had finally managed to reduce to low health, almost instantly regained half its health. He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood and yelled at the screen, "I exploded!! How am I supposed to fight this?!"

The comments section was filled with laughter:

【Ha ha ha ha! 】

So dirty!

[Armored Bird Feathers Heal! Despair!]

[The opposing trainer is about to lose their mind!]

Shi Dou smiled slightly, everything was under control.

Yoshino knew he couldn't continue like this; Gyarados couldn't break through his defenses at all. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and switch to another Pokémon.