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[unkinder]

[A whole day and part of the night spent flying has required some resting up on the parts of both Nagi and his team after leaving Goldenrod as soon as was possible. His Hoothoot evolved rather suddenly during battle, finally granting him the freedom of flying from town to town. Only instead of going forward, he went back to Azalea. Gotta do the gyms in order, after all.

But when you're stuck sitting in a hotel room mulling over battle strategies- not that he's too concerned, it's a bug type gym, after all- playing the same Gear games a thousand times over only goes so far. Somehow, he also can't help but think that if he somehow did have a computer right now that he could use, he would just leave it sitting there untouched. It's not a comforting thought, but it's there all the same.

That being said, it's time to put your thinking caps on, trainers. "Tensai" has a question.]

Let’s assume that you are in the midst of a battle with a passing trainer. You have three Pokemon on your team, and each of them are relatively close in level. The trainer you are up against seems to have a team consisting of Ground-type Pokemon, and Ground-types exclusively. They also have three Pokemon with them, and the levels they have reached closely match your own.

However, you seem to have constructed a team of solely Electric-types. Unless you know absolutely nothing about what you are doing, you will quickly realize that their electric type moves have zero effect on the opposing trainer’s Pokemon. Yet, your own Pokemon have a few moves that will damage the opponent. Let’s pretend that you have a Raichu, for example. You have taken the liberty to teach this Pokemon a few moves via TM...one of these being Grass Knot, a move that would be super effective against any Ground type.

Let’s continue by saying that the other two Pokemon on your team have no such moves that would be nearly as effective, but they have a few that will actually make contact in a pinch.
So. Would you flee from the battle, or would you still attempt to fight? Perhaps you believe that type advantages are the key to winning all battles and would choose to flee. Or, you may believe that a Pokemon may be able to succeed due to its own merits alone.

...

Also. Do you have a certain type of Pokemon you prefer training exclusively? If so, have you thought of ways to balance them so that you will have some chance of success no matter the opponent you face? Or, do you instead tailor your roster with more balance in mind?

[It's also just as likely that you do not care whatsoever and just pick your favorites, but.]

Comments

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[loveisanopendoor]

I never back down from a challenge! And the fact that you have a Pokemon with Grass Knot would certainly help; that said, Grass Knot works best on heavier Pokemon, and even though most Ground types are a bit on the bulky side, there are some that aren't. My Sandslash weighs less 30 kilograms, so naturally it won't be as strong as if you used it on, say, an Onix (which has gotta be at least 200)! Still, even though the type advantage would definitely help, it's still more than possible to win a battle where the odds aren't in your favor.

I mean, the battles where you think you can't win...those are exactly the kind of battles worth fighting. And you have nothing to lose, right?

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[unkinder]

[...now that was a good answer.]

Nothing to lose other than your lunch money, I suppose.

But you are correct; the weight of the Pokemon will directly affect how much of an impact that Grass Knot is going to have, regardless of the typing.

So you're saying that even with that in mind, a Raichu could still easily stand up to these Pokemon. Of course the trainer should have a good idea of where each individual Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses lie, no matter the type.

You could have the same species of Pokemon at the same level in battle with one another, and I think that the difference between a win or a loss is the trainer commanding them.

[loveisanopendoor]

Yeah, of course! I pretty much know my way around the type chart now, so I tend to try my best to keep in mind what kind of Pokemon you have an advantage against. And some Pokemon are definitely better than others, defensively! Personally, one of my favorites is Gyarados. He's a very bulky Pokemon, but he's still incredibly strong! And his typing is great! Ground-type moves don't touch him at all, and he can shrug off Grass, Ice, Fighting and Bug attacks like they don't even phase him! I mean, yeah, he gets hurt by Electric-types pretty badly, but I mean, everyone's got a weakness...unless you're a Ghost/Dark type! And those new Fairy types seem to resist a lot, other than Poison...

But I do think you're right! If my Gyarados fought another person's Gyarados, and they were both the same level...it'd come down to the way we raised them. And how good we are when it comes to our battle strategies.

[faintwaves]

It doesn't sound like a situation I'd end up in because I don't single-type my team. But I'd still do my best with what I have for my Pokemon.

I like training all kinds of Pokemon. I think anybody can be strong if you have enough strategy and determination.

[unkinder]

So you're saying any Pokemon can be successful in battle based on its own merits alone. Is that right? Even Pokemon well known for being significantly weaker, such as Caterpie or- at the risk of being obvious- Magikarp?

[faintwaves]

Yep. If you train it with care, I think they can become strong even in their base forms.

But that doesn't mean evolution changes them so they're not even the same anymore, they're still the Pokemon that you befriended and worked with on the inside, right? Magikarp grow up to become Gyarados. Isn't that reason enough to believe that every Pokemon can be strong on its own merit, even if it "changes" its form?

[She's very big on ~hearts~ and stuff.]

[sincereheart]

hi tensai-san!!! it's mimi!!
thanks again for the perfume birds!!!!!

i think even if my whole pokemon team was weak against the other person's i would keep fighting you know???
i mean the important thing is to have fun!!!!!
even if you lose you can still have fun right????
unless it was like in that battle with that team aqua guy where you are fighting a big scary guy!!!!
then i would probably run away!!!!!!!

[unkinder]

[Dear gracious someone needs to take away your punctuation privileges.]

...I see. You realize that some battles- such as gym battles- aren't so much for fun as they are for a gain of some sort? You are trying for a badge, after all. You can have all the fun you want doing it, but you have to win or else you won't acquire the badge you are after.

Some of them are very likely to be "big and scary", by your definition.

[sincereheart]

[ YOU CAN PRY HER PUNCTUATION FROM HER COLD DEAD HANDS ]

well i did try for a badge you know!!!!!
i tried to fight the bird man!!!!
but i lost!!!!! i guess because grass types aren't good against birds!!!!
but it was still a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!
but now i have an electric type who's real cute and i'm gonna beat him!!!!!!!!!
so i guess you're right too tensai-san!!!! if you have the wrong type of pokemon then you should probably find some ones that are the right type!!!

and well maybe if i were fighting another big scary guy i guess i would ask tobias-san to help me like last time!!!!!
do you know tobias-san??? he's really cool!!!!

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[stitchedupbodyguard]

I would attempt to fight, unless there was absolute proof I had no chance. You either win or you lose, right?

[She'd already died more than once. You'd think she'd take her own advice by now.]

Of course, strategy and balance are different things. You could fight a ground type with a water type, or you could use a Pokémon that knows water type moves. I guess it depends on how much you trust your Pokémon to win.

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[unkinder]

The catch there lies in the fact that a Pokemon using a move that is the same as its own typing increases the strength by a significant amount, doesn't it? So, in theory, a Raichu using Grass Knot won't be nearly as effective as a Venasaur using Solar Beam, for example. It will be a gamble regardless, since one critical attack by a ground type on an electric type will put an end to things quickly.

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[stitchedupbodyguard]

...Aren't those different moves anyways? So one wouldn't be as strong as the other anyways. It would be hard for a electric type to fight a ground type, though. But if I was using a electric type like that, I would train them to dodge attacks like that, and make it harder for their attacks to connect.

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[enjoymyatelier]

I'd definitely continue fighting, even with those odds. Actually, a challenge like that might be more interesting than your average battle, thinking about it... I'll admit, while I don't overspecialize in one type or another, my team wasn't terribly competent against Ground Pokemon when I was facing off against those Team Magma individuals, but in the end, it wound up at least making things a bit fun.

Really, it's rare that you have a Pokemon that's completely useless against a given type, so chances are you'll never be in a situation where it would be more advantageous to simply throw the match and run. Losing is unpleasant, but running is simply cowardly.

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[unkinder]

In my opinion, even specializing in a certain type isn't inherently a bad thing to do. Many Pokemon can be taught moves of all sorts of different types, so it stands to reason that one would train them to be prepared for any situation. Even an electric type could face off against a Pokemon it is arguably ineffective against that way, such as ground.

While I agree in saying that it is always better to continue the fight regardless of the circumstances, there may come a time when you are confronted with a challenge in which victory is virtually impossible.

If you are as familiar with being randomly asked to battle by the people here as I am, you know that it isn't a good idea to try fighting someone's level thirty Nidorino with your level ten Pidgey.

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[enjoymyatelier]

Oh, no, I agree. I think it would be an interesting challenge, honestly, but I've always had a little too much curiosity to really specialize, given how many Pokemon there really are out there.

And well, I would agree with that. Levels mean more than anything else here... but if you've been here long enough, you're likely to have at least one that's at the highest you can get.

[ladywithnovoice]

It's just a passing battle- I'll pass. There's no shame in backing off when you realize you're outdone, is there? If it really means that much to me, then I'll come back later with a different team.

Although personally, I don't think I've really stocked up on an exact TYPE exactly... Not by Pokemon standards, anyway.

[unkinder]

[Huh. Something about the way she said that...]

What do you mean, 'not by Pokemon standards'?

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[crackpotcrocker]

Personally, I prefer fire type POKEMON! ^{Although now I may switch to FAIRIES!} But that's besides the point!

I, do try to have at least one of each type. After all, it is a strategy game but that's besides the point!

But that is an idea with those TMs, yes and to answer you question if I knew that my Electric type had a grass type move I'd believe I had a chance against the Ground type Pokemon.

I believe in my Pokemon.

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[unkinder]

There is belief, and there is what you know. You can believe a Pokemon is going to succeed all you want and they still might be utterly defeated by their opponent.

[Crits happen.]

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[exeggutorhead]

Keep fighting, it'd be an interesting battle.

I'd assume that Grass Knot isn't the only non-electric move any of my hypothetical team has. There's always things like double team to make mine near impossible for the ground types to hit, and most things know at least a few normal type moves if nothing else. Not the most effective, but not nothing either.

Besides, the other trainer would probably get cocky seeing what I had. People who think their victory is guaranteed are easy to catch off guard or prod into making mistakes.

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[unkinder]

A lot of trainers overlook the moves that affect a Pokemon's status in favor of those that hit hard and fast. I think that is a quick way to ensure failure.

[There's a short pause, then-]

I have to agree.

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[grapeeater]

To keep fighting a losing battle would be stupid. I would withdraw. If it's just a random, passing battle there's no need to be stubborn about it.

And I don't have enough Pokemon to worry about training specific types.

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[unkinder]

You must be new, I take it?

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[beholdmydemons]

What are the stakes? I wouldn't send them to death or harm if they're not going to win, but otherwise there's less to lose by trying than by surrendering.

[Walter.]

I like training Fire-types. We just don't often run into Water-type trainers [because fish and the places they live can go fuck themselves] though when we do I have other Pokemon that can handle them.

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[unkinder]

...for the purpose of a hypothetical situation, the stakes can be as high or as low as you deem necessary. It all depends on how much you think the win on its own is worth.

Is there any particular reason you train Fire types, or do you like them for the sake of liking them?