Hitmonlee: El Diablo Verde is starting this battle off, with castings of Taunt and Octolock. Then he's getting out of the way in favor of Ran, who is admittedly not the speediest or strongest pokemon in Shinobu's roster; however, she does have Aerial Ace, learned via TM. Hitmonlee also takes full damage from Grass, and Ran has access to a number of strong Grass attacks (including Solar Beam) as well as Sunny Day to power up said Solar Beam. El Diablo Verde may need to switch back in a few times to cast Taunt again, and may take one or two swings at Hitmonlee himself.
Hitmonchan: El Diablo Verde is also on Taunt duty for this battle, although the bulk of the attacking is going to be done by Kirin, who as a Psychic/Fairy pokemon has a dual type advantage. Between Confusion, Fairy Wind, Psybeam, Psycho Cut, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, and Expanding Force, she can do a lot of damage, while El Diablo Verde periodically switches in to re-up Taunt to keep Hitmonchan's status moves locked down. Kirin also has over ten levels on Hitmonchan in addition to the type advantage, so she's in good shape here.
Poliwrath: Once again, El Diablo Verde is starting things off with Taunt. This time, though, it's Midori switching in to take advantage of Poliwrath's Grass weakness. Midori has a lot of different attack options (plus Sunny Day to further weaken Poliwrath's Water skills, which she's already resistant to, and Sand Attack to lower its accuracy), as well as numerous additional status moves to keep herself going. And if her HP starts to drop, she has both Synthesis and Giga Drain to top herself back up, with the latter having the bonus of really hurting Poliwrath. Add the fact that Midori has a good ten levels on Poliwrath, and barring unforeseen events, this should go well.
Shinobu, for his part, is keeping various healing items at the ready, just in case.
At the end of the week, after a ferry to Olivine City, it's time for another battle.
Skarmory: Skarmory has a glaring weakness to Electricity. Raiju is an Electric pokemon with a couple of levels on Skarmory who is happy to take advantage of both of these facts. She'll try to hit Skarmory with Thunder Wave and then use her Electric attacks to do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. Her ability being Intimidate is also helpful, as that weakens Skarmory's attacks right off the bat. The one tool Raiju doesn't use is Electric Terrain, because it wouldn't do to strengthen Jasmine's next pokemon.
Magneton: Akari isn't in the most ideal position for this fight, as Magneton has a couple of levels on her. On the other hand, her partial Fire typing does give her a type advantage here, and after a brief assist from El Diablo Verde (Taunt), she'll press that type advantage for all she's worth - mostly with Flamethrower, but she also has access to Inferno and Burning Jealousy. If she's in a decent enough position, she might also employ Curse, with Shinobu healing her to full on the next turn, but this is a somewhat riskier strategy given that she's slightly underleveled, and they'll likely avoid it unless conditions are particularly favorable. El Diablo Verde will cut in to cast Taunt as needed, and even take a couple of swings at Magneton himself, since as a Fighting type, he also has a type advantage. If Akari falters, Murasaki will spell her.
Steelix: Murasaki is starting this one off as well, since her partial Fire typing means she can hit one of Steelix's weaknesses, and her Corrosion ability means she can actually poison Steelix and then hit it with Venom Drench for good measure. However, her weaknesses to Ground and Rock are a problem, so at the first sign of trouble El Diablo Verde will be coming back in. El Diablo Verde lacks those two weaknesses - or weaknesses to any of Steelix's attacks, for that matter - and can hit it with Fighting moves while keeping it locked down with Taunt. Even if Steelix does somehow get a chance to cast any buffs on itself (e.g. while Murasaki is still in), El Diablo Verde has Topsy-Turvy to turn those into debuffs. And El Diablo Verde also has Octazooka, so he can hit Steelix's Water weakness as well.
Shinobu will be (nervously) waiting in the wings with healing and curative items as needed.
no subject
Badge/Gym Leader: Storm/Chuck
Elite/Regular: Regular
Team: El Diablo Verde the Grapploct, Ran the Lurantis, Kirin the Galarian Rapidash, Midori the Leafeon
Battle Details: Well... he's here, and his pokemon are restless. Might as well.
Hitmonlee: El Diablo Verde is starting this battle off, with castings of Taunt and Octolock. Then he's getting out of the way in favor of Ran, who is admittedly not the speediest or strongest pokemon in Shinobu's roster; however, she does have Aerial Ace, learned via TM. Hitmonlee also takes full damage from Grass, and Ran has access to a number of strong Grass attacks (including Solar Beam) as well as Sunny Day to power up said Solar Beam. El Diablo Verde may need to switch back in a few times to cast Taunt again, and may take one or two swings at Hitmonlee himself.
Hitmonchan: El Diablo Verde is also on Taunt duty for this battle, although the bulk of the attacking is going to be done by Kirin, who as a Psychic/Fairy pokemon has a dual type advantage. Between Confusion, Fairy Wind, Psybeam, Psycho Cut, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, and Expanding Force, she can do a lot of damage, while El Diablo Verde periodically switches in to re-up Taunt to keep Hitmonchan's status moves locked down. Kirin also has over ten levels on Hitmonchan in addition to the type advantage, so she's in good shape here.
Poliwrath: Once again, El Diablo Verde is starting things off with Taunt. This time, though, it's Midori switching in to take advantage of Poliwrath's Grass weakness. Midori has a lot of different attack options (plus Sunny Day to further weaken Poliwrath's Water skills, which she's already resistant to, and Sand Attack to lower its accuracy), as well as numerous additional status moves to keep herself going. And if her HP starts to drop, she has both Synthesis and Giga Drain to top herself back up, with the latter having the bonus of really hurting Poliwrath. Add the fact that Midori has a good ten levels on Poliwrath, and barring unforeseen events, this should go well.
Shinobu, for his part, is keeping various healing items at the ready, just in case.
At the end of the week, after a ferry to Olivine City, it's time for another battle.
Badge/Gym Leader: Mineral/Jasmine
Elite/Regular: Regular
Team: Raiju the Luxray, Akari the Chandelure, El Diablo Verde the Grapploct, Murasaki the Salazzle
Battle Details: This may be ill-advised.
Skarmory: Skarmory has a glaring weakness to Electricity. Raiju is an Electric pokemon with a couple of levels on Skarmory who is happy to take advantage of both of these facts. She'll try to hit Skarmory with Thunder Wave and then use her Electric attacks to do as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. Her ability being Intimidate is also helpful, as that weakens Skarmory's attacks right off the bat. The one tool Raiju doesn't use is Electric Terrain, because it wouldn't do to strengthen Jasmine's next pokemon.
Magneton: Akari isn't in the most ideal position for this fight, as Magneton has a couple of levels on her. On the other hand, her partial Fire typing does give her a type advantage here, and after a brief assist from El Diablo Verde (Taunt), she'll press that type advantage for all she's worth - mostly with Flamethrower, but she also has access to Inferno and Burning Jealousy. If she's in a decent enough position, she might also employ Curse, with Shinobu healing her to full on the next turn, but this is a somewhat riskier strategy given that she's slightly underleveled, and they'll likely avoid it unless conditions are particularly favorable. El Diablo Verde will cut in to cast Taunt as needed, and even take a couple of swings at Magneton himself, since as a Fighting type, he also has a type advantage. If Akari falters, Murasaki will spell her.
Steelix: Murasaki is starting this one off as well, since her partial Fire typing means she can hit one of Steelix's weaknesses, and her Corrosion ability means she can actually poison Steelix and then hit it with Venom Drench for good measure. However, her weaknesses to Ground and Rock are a problem, so at the first sign of trouble El Diablo Verde will be coming back in. El Diablo Verde lacks those two weaknesses - or weaknesses to any of Steelix's attacks, for that matter - and can hit it with Fighting moves while keeping it locked down with Taunt. Even if Steelix does somehow get a chance to cast any buffs on itself (e.g. while Murasaki is still in), El Diablo Verde has Topsy-Turvy to turn those into debuffs. And El Diablo Verde also has Octazooka, so he can hit Steelix's Water weakness as well.
Shinobu will be (nervously) waiting in the wings with healing and curative items as needed.