Crimson Galaxy: Pokemon Ruby: Nuzlocke Challenge

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Pokemon Ruby: Nuzlocke Challenge - Pt. 6

DAY 6: Two Gyms For One
(Upon powering up the game, I was greeted with the message that the game's internal battery had run dry, and therefore time-based events would no longer function. Damned berry glitch...)

After training Gyarados a bit in the Fiery Path and against the trainers on Mt. Chimney, I went on to challenge the Lavaridge City Gym. Quite simple, considering that I didn't have any Water-type moves on me; indeed, Solrock's Rock Throw is what I had to rely on.

Soon, I made it to Flannery, and took on her two Slugma. Why did she have two? I don't know... Anyway, The first one fell to a Rock Throw, as did the second one, but it dodged the first Rock Throw, and got off a Sunny Day before going down. Then, she sent out her powerhouse: Torkoal. ...Huh. I was expecting Camerupt. Hell I thought her team was Slugma, Numel, and Camerupt. Shows that I haven't played this game in a long time. Anyway, her Torkoal fell to the combined forces of Gyarados and Solrock. I got Flannery's badge, and the TM for Overheat as well.

Upon exiting the gym, I ran into May, who gave me the Go-Googles. Now I can explore the desert. And after healing up, I did just that.

The sand in this arid place would provide me with my newest Pokemon, since I had not seen any Pokemon on this route (the desert still counts as Route 111), so I stepped into the sand, and found...

Trapinch. Neat! Just what I wanted here! And thus, Sandra has joined the team. A shame that there's no room for her as of now...

So, I went on and battled each of the trainers here. Found the Sandstorm TM, and then grabbed the Claw Fossil and watched the other one sink out of existence. With my work here done, I headed north and then west to Fallabor Town, and then to Meteor Falls soon after. I exited the cave and found myself on Route 115, and it dawned on me that I hadn't caught a Pokemon here. But there was no grass. Plenty of water, though, so I got my Old Rod and fished, until I found...

A Tentacool. I named her Jelly.

Arrived back at Rustboro, where I turned in that fossil to a guy at Devon Corp., who turned it into a Anorith. I named it Fry. Hopefully it counts for this playthrough, since I hadn't gotten any Pokemon here (not that you can, though I think there's a trade for a Makuhita here). Once again, there's no room on the team, so like with Sandra, Fry will be in reserve. The fact that it's at level 20 helps.

I made my way back to Petalburg City, where my fifth gym challenge awaited... Against none other than Norman, my father. I went inside, and went into every room to ensure that my Pokemon had enough experience. Item-using bastards. Though I admit that it was a nice gimmick, though the only one that worked was the Recovery Room.

Anyway, Norman. I at least remembered his line-up, and I placed Nigel in front for good reason: he sent out Slaking. Thankfully, Nigel's Intimidate was able to cripple it somewhat, though its Facade still did a bit of damage, so I had to spend Slaking's slaking turn to heal Nigel. This repeated until Slaking fell, and next was Vigoroth. Unlike Slaking, Vigoroth was an easy foe, falling rather quickly to Todd's Mach Punch.

Finally, was Norman's second Slaking, at a whopping Level 31, higher than any of my Pokemon, but I remained vigilant. Nigel Intimidated it, and I weakened it with a combination of Rock Smash and Dragon Rage, while it fought back with Facade like its kin. Same strategy too, as I healed up on its downturn. I switched to Phobos, as it being a Rock-type meant that it would take less damage from Facade, and it did. Then, on during another downturn, I decided to switch to Hotblazer, before I realized that the Slaking would most likely outspeed it with devastating results. I quickly switched back to Phobos, expecting another Facade, when something unexpected happened...

It started to charge up.

...Oh... shit...

Slaking used Focus Punch.

Phobos took the full brunt of that attack, and amazingly, it survived with only 3 HP. Thank god for Nigel's Intimidate, or I would have lost another pal. During the next downturn, I switched to Todd, and finished it off with Mach Punch. Perhaps my hardest battle yet, but I prevailed, and got Norman's badge, as well as the TM for Facade.

He then told me that Wally's father wanted to give me something, which turned out to be the HM for Surf. How convenient, as I had just gotten the badge that allows me to use it outside of battle. Taught it to Nigel (who, with Strength, Rock Smash, and now Surf, is now the team's HM slave), and decided to call it a day.

Current Team: