Hop is literally Ash in the anime.

 

So I spent most of this afternoon/tonight playing this and I’ve only just beaten Allister (took a few attempts mind because I’ve barely fleshed out my team)

I found the Ice gym (in Shield, I think you get Rock instead in Sword) just now quite challenging! Granted it was because I tried to refrain from using Copperajah's Heavy Steel or Coalossal (although admittedly the fact that only has Incinerate as a Fire move rn isn't the best) which would have been easier, but she seemed to keep having a counter for those anyway :lol: Actually quite a balanced team you had to think about, some of the gyms here feel like you can just spam their weakness.

 

The Exp Share is becoming more of an issue now, Cursola and Rillaboom are storming ahead a bit to the point where I'm thinking I'm gonna have to box them to halt them and stop them being overlevelled, but I don't want to do that because if I come across something they can counter and I can't use them it's gonna be a bit shit. It's really frustrating they didn't even program in something to switch off the Exp Share to prevent that! On the other hand Copperajah is lagging behind, it's slow and can't take a super effective hit well (and there seems to be tonnes of fighting, fire and ground moves out of nowhere any time I try to use it lmao) so I might have to switch it out but idk what for

OPAL’S TOGEKISS IS SO INFURIATING OH MY GOD

Only just finished the first gym after ~7 hours. I have to say I really love the gym concept, with the challenge and then the battle. I like how big of a deal they make of the gym battles as well, being in a stadium and all. My only gripe with the first gym is that the leader only has 2 pokémon, despite having 6 pokéballs attached to his legs.

 

I've still yet to get a solid second member on my team. It's currently my Drizzile with 5 random pokémon to level up/evolve. Although I do quite like the look of Corviknight, so that may become my second team member. I really liked the design of Nickit, but it evolved into Thievul and I'm not sure I really like it. I have 3-4 others in mind, but have yet to come across them.

Just defeated the second gym and am loving it so far, though completely agree with the comments about the hand-holding. Never spammed the A button as much in my life!

 

Current team:

 

Thwackey - Level 24

Butterfree - Level 23

Thievul - Level 23

Quagsire - Level 24

Carkol - Level 24

Woobat - Level 23

 

Was planning on choosing Sobble but then looked at the Pokedex and realised that there wasn't a single other grass type that I particularly wanted on my team, so settled for Grookey in the end.

 

Do you guys have 'Skip Movies' on? I do not notice the hand holding as much as Sun/Moon.

RANT: However, I just finished the 4th gym and I was not impressed. The gym had nothing to do with the story, the gym itself was exceptionally easy - I 1 Hit KOed every single Pokemon, but that puzzle man. It wasn't hard, it was just stupid and frustrating to play. This Gym with the Wild Zone are my two lows so far.

 

Everything else is just perfect however, I've played almost 16 Hours and have caught just about 100 Pokemon. I have already started planning out a second go at this game once I finish this. Anyways, current team:

 

Appletun (Bianca Benigo) - Level 37

Morgrem (Peepers*) - Level 35

Mudsdale (Jordan Lloyd) - Level 38

Centiskorch (Tahan Lew-Fatt) - Level 40

Drednaw (Nadia Almada) - Level 40

Galarian Rapidash (Lesley Brain) - Level 42

 

*Dropped my own Impidimp for one that I could trade Stow-on-Side.

Is that sword? Gym 4 was awful on Shield too, cba with the controls for the spinning cups :drama: Not hard but just annoying.

 

I do like that the gyms have puzzles though, none have been hard or anything but it changes it up a bit. I really liked the Ice gym one, that was something you had to think about a bit.

I'm playing Shield as well, I ended up always choosing the wrong route. Very frustrating.

Although the game play between Gym 4 and Gym 5 was far too short, Glimwood Tangle and Ballonlea were truly remarkable to play in.

Opal is one of my favorite Gym Leaders of all time *.*. Her Togekiss killed 4 of my Pokemon no problem and Gigantamax Alcremie was a sensational reveal.

I’ve just finished gym 8 *.* I sort of wish I hadn’t spammed it all weekend but I couldn’t help it as the gameplay has been fabulous. Guess I’ll have a crack at finishing the whole story tomorrow and work my way back at completing the Pokédex... I do hope there’s some post-game nuggets to sink our teeth into

 

I’ve tried to avoid any walkthroughs but man I was literally getting so annoyed that Linoone hadn’t evolved I had no idea it had to be at night time :lol:

I've done the same, just finished the game :lol: . Also wish I'd taken my time but just was enjoying it too much. Although I wish there had been more side stuff apart from the gyms, cause there was potential for much more story.

I’m playing right now, and Ballonlea is absolutely stunning!

Does anyone have any good resources on this Raid nonsense? I wanted to kill an hour and caught that Gigantamax Butterfree. I don't really know what that means. I don't really want a Butterfree on my team lol.

Also, I caught the Galarian Corsola in one of the raids, but couldn't help noticing the raid beam was a different color (?)

I’m playing Sword. I’m really enjoying it so far. It is amazing discovering all of the new Pokemon and forms.

 

This is the best game since Black and White imo

I hope they do Ballonlea justice in the anime

Does anyone have any good resources on this Raid nonsense? I wanted to kill an hour and caught that Gigantamax Butterfree. I don't really know what that means. I don't really want a Butterfree on my team lol.

Also, I caught the Galarian Corsola in one of the raids, but couldn't help noticing the raid beam was a different color (?)

 

 

I noticed the different colours too but didn’t know what was any different

I've just made it to Hammerlocke and finally getting a solidish team together. My team is currently:

 

Inteleon - Lv. 38

Boltund - Lv. 32

Corvisquire - Lv. 32

Applin - Lv. 30

Centiskorch - Lv. 30

Hatenna - Lv. 29

 

I'll likely switch out Corvisquire and Centiskorch for Snom/Frosmoth and Galarian Ponyta/Rapidash. Although not entirely sure on keeping Applin - I want to evolve him into Appletun, but 50/50 on whether I want him on my main team or not.

Edited November 18, 20195 yr by Envoirment

I had no trouble with Opal's Togekiss, but then I did have Coalossal with Rock moves and Copperajah with Heavy Slam :lol: The latter can decimate basically anything with that due to its weight but it's slow with meh defences so doesn't always get there.

 

Does anyone have any good resources on this Raid nonsense? I wanted to kill an hour and caught that Gigantamax Butterfree. I don't really know what that means. I don't really want a Butterfree on my team lol.

Also, I caught the Galarian Corsola in one of the raids, but couldn't help noticing the raid beam was a different color (?)

I think the purple-y coloured ones are higher level, and they're harder so the rewards are greater. I assume the Pokemon are a higher level and have higher stat increases maybe?

 

Also Gigantamax changes appearance as well as size and I think the stat increase is greater, it's more like a Mega especially because only certain Pokemon can do it, but you have to catch a "special" one of the species to be able to do it, for example you have to have the Butterfree from that raid, you can't just catch any Butterfree and do it. Whereas obviously anything can Dynamax in the "power area" things. Idk I don't really get them, or see the point, it's fun in the gyms to set apart the challenge and the gym leader's ace, but I keep one-hitting them when I Dynamax too which defeats the purpose :lol:

 

I'd kind of prefer if we couldn't use Dynamax and it was something to make the gym leaders harder, something they earn the right to use as gym leaders and maybe we get to use it when we beat them all or when we win the league.

My copy should be arriving tonight! Can't wait to get started. :wub:

I had no trouble with Opal's Togekiss, but then I did have Coalossal with Rock moves and Copperajah with Heavy Slam :lol: The latter can decimate basically anything with that due to its weight but it's slow with meh defences so doesn't always get there.

I think the purple-y coloured ones are higher level, and they're harder so the rewards are greater. I assume the Pokemon are a higher level and have higher stat increases maybe?

 

Also Gigantamax changes appearance as well as size and I think the stat increase is greater, it's more like a Mega especially because only certain Pokemon can do it, but you have to catch a "special" one of the species to be able to do it, for example you have to have the Butterfree from that raid, you can't just catch any Butterfree and do it. Whereas obviously anything can Dynamax in the "power area" things. Idk I don't really get them, or see the point, it's fun in the gyms to set apart the challenge and the gym leader's ace, but I keep one-hitting them when I Dynamax too which defeats the purpose :lol:

 

I'd kind of prefer if we couldn't use Dynamax and it was something to make the gym leaders harder, something they earn the right to use as gym leaders and maybe we get to use it when we beat them all or when we win the league.

 

My Butterfree had an excellent moveset, it also had the Gigantamax Logo in its info page. Outside of that, I'm not really sure what value it brings or why people would hunt for it. But if you're a Butterfree fan I guess go for it? I guess the intent is to get people excited about stronger versions of Pokemon they like?

Maybe they need to do a better job of informing us what the raids are, Ala Pokemon GO. But maybe they already do this and I haven't been paying attention lol

Edited November 18, 20195 yr by Aaron.

I’ve quite enjoyed the dynamaxing element only being contained to one part of the gym battle and in the wild zone... I thought it’d be an overkill gimmick but it makes gym battles a tad more interesting especially when saved til last