Feel The Ground Shake (Pokemon - Ground-type specialist)

[LordVishnu]

especially the highly accurate kind that bypasses regular hazards by spinning them away to clear the field

Click to shrink...

I confess, I'm not exactly clear on what hazards you're referring to.

 

[oscar e Sampedro Lopez]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[FTR2017]

I confess, I'm not exactly clear on what hazards you're referring to.

Click to shrink...

There are hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, which remain on the battlefield--but can be removed via Defog or Spin.

I meant those two, so apologies for not clarifying on my earlier post.

 

[dxdragon]

Just found this fic, this is fun! Here's hoping he can level up the rest of his Pokémon closer to the same range, so that there isn't such a large discrepancy.

Also, I'm curious how the Quagsire ended up killing people. I can tell it's gonna be dark.


Any other Pokémon he plans on catching for his team? Will he try to grease hands and go somewhere else overseas for a rare Ground type? Galar, Aloha, Paldea?

 

[BravelyFlying]

Honestly if anything it showed that he needed to get K Rool, Simon, and Junior up to snuff.

Click to shrink...

I mean he has been trying it's just easier said than done.

 

[Pkbwgsc]

I just realized, his "gift" only tells him things that can change. Now that we know natures can change, nothing he learns could be true in a month due to a evolution or life changing encounter.

Click to shrink...

Good observation. Wonder if it will 'upgrade' in the future with additional things like an altered 'EV' (for lack of a better term. General specialization or resistance training type stuff) in the future.

Also, I wonder what the ruling is on unknown, never before seem items?

Click to shrink...

After the Life Orb Incident I think they'd keep a much tighter ruling on neverbeforeseen items. Some kind of approval process that requires somewhat-extensive testing and a final approval from a board.

'This would've been a good fight to set up some entry hazards.'

Click to shrink...

Considering one of the main links on that hyper switch teamcomp was a Hitmontop, something tells me it wouldn't have mattered.

Otherwise, great showing of an opponent who knows what they're doing and is genuinely outpressuring our main guy with simple, competent adaptability and a solid game plan.

Even if the hazards likely wouldn't have mattered it shows a lack of foresight going into the match besides generally having tough pokemon with only good coverage.
He's too reliant on his mons innate adaptability and strength and his lacking preparations are showing. I.e. his competency as a strategist outside meta tactics and snap decisions.

His limited options and stubborn pride to have the best are really hurting him, as seen with his monologue regarding Bubbles

 

[Oglymogly]

Considering one of the main links on that hyper switch teamcomp was a Hitmontop, something tells me it wouldn't have mattered.

Click to shrink...

Ice Spinner also clears the battle field of hazards, so there's some heavy irony in him thinking about hazards after seeing the move.

 

[LordVishnu]

Ice Spinner also clears the battle field of hazards, so there's some heavy irony in him thinking about hazards after seeing the move.

Click to shrink...

A mild concept error, Ice Spinner clears Terrain (Electric Terrain, Grassy Terrain, etc) but leaves things like Spikes and Stealth Rocks alone.

Not that it matters much, as Bradley didn't recognize the move regardless.

 

[shadowace2400]

There's also how in the games, Hyper Training that can change EVs exists. So the question becomes, is there specific training that can overcome in built limitations or potential? I mean, even in worlds built on the games, people forget that IVs aren't static and neither are natures, they're just hard to overcome, and presumably dedicated training can make up for it, so in a more freeform world, presumably you can overcome just about any 'limitation' with proper training and dedicated workarounds. The big issue then is how much it costs, both in time and money to actually implement those things, and if it's worth it to put that time and effort into this random mon.

 

[LordVishnu]

Chapter 14

~A Tale of Two Trainers~
-A Children's Story, Part: 4

Bradley was having some trouble with one of his Pokémon. An unusually large and most unruly Nidorino.

He asked Eric and Ashley for some help in training it. Nidorino was too rowdy to play with other Pokémon, but Bradley said Quagsire and Weepinbell looked 'strong enough' to help him out.

Eric and Ashley agreed.

Just because they didn't want to go on a journey, didn't mean they wouldn't help out someone in need!

Bradley and Nidorino stayed for many weeks. Quagsire and Weepinbell were pushed to be even stronger from sparring against the new foe!

And from his losses, Nidorino grew a little less unruly! A little more willing to listen.

It was a good few weeks! Positive for everyone involved.

In thanks for all their help, Bradley gave away a gift to each of his new friends.

Eric and Quagsire received a Muscle Band. A special Held Item that boosted physical power by up to 10%!

Eric said thank you to Bradley, but declined that he would use it. They wanted no tricks in proving he and Quagsire were the 'best'.

To Ashley and Weepinbell, he gave a Leaf Stone.

'I found this a few months ago.' Bradley said. 'It's no use much to me. But you can use it to evolve your Weepinbell!'

The next day, Victreebell and Quagsire's first battle was a disaster. Never before had Eric and Quagsire been defeated so badly.

---

Lake of Rage, Finals Match

'Well… I guess that's that then.'

"Krokorok is unable to battle! The score is 1-0 in favor of Ranger Madison!"

I cashed in a favor with Ron and Clarissa to send them running down to the reserve to try and pick up Bubbles for me right after the match with Alton. Theoretically it's a trip you can make in an hour if you hustle. Then one hour back, and maybe they could hand me my 'mon before the Finals got going.

They didn't make it.

Maybe there was a delay, or some sort of hiccup, or who knows what, but the reason is irrelevant. The end result is the same. They didn't make it.

Truth be told, it probably wouldn't have done any good though.

My opposing Mid-Season Finalist is basically a 'ringer'. She got her first six Badges over five years ago and then went on a half decade hiatus to work with the Rangers Association. That's why the announcer called her 'Ranger Madison' rather than 'Trainer'. It's a title you get to keep even after you retire. Like 'Senator', or 'Your Honor', shit like that.

Now she's returned to the circuit to finish out her set of eight and play as a major contender in this year's Conference.

Like fuck man, she's even got sponsors and shit.

Meganium: Lv. 55
Nature: Mild
Potential: A

I pulled out every trick I could with K.Rool. My boy worked hard trying to last in this uphill battle. We even managed to get one or two nice hits in. But against an opponent like this? A power disparity like this?

As the great Avon Barksdale once said, 'You've only got to fuck up once. Be a little slow…be a little late. Just once.'

And it's over.

The referee glances over a bit impatiently. "Trainer Bradley, your next Pokémon please."

My hand drifts towards the concede button on my podium. Simon's awake again, but he's not at 100%. Hell, even if he were, I can't send him out against a Meganium that's got more than 20 levels on him. He'd be a lamb before the slaughter.

For not the first time today the Moon Ball vibrates at my belt. This time more aggressively than previous. Grundy's awake. He wants to play…and lord the temptation is there to let him.

'Maybe..maybe it'll be okay.' I try to rationalize the decision. 'Madison's Pokémon seem pretty tough. They'd have to be to be part of the Rangers for five years. And this is the level we'll probably have to send him against in six months anyhow. Grundy's not holding the Life Orb right now so…yeah. It might be fine.'

"Trainer Bradley!" The judge has turned my way. "I am issuing you a warning for slow play. Select your next Pokémon or you will be penalized!"

From across the arena, Ranger Madison mouths something to one of her corporate hanger-ons in the front row and the two share a small laugh.

'Fuck it.'

I rip the ball out of its holder and chuck it onto the field. Savage carnivorous delight thrums along the bond and I begin reinforcing it immediately. Grasping onto it tightly like a thick chain leash. 'Not today.' I swear to myself. We will have no incidents today.

In every Pokémon Center of every town in Indigo there is at least one public use computer that can connect to the Poké Net. On that Poké Net, among other things, there is a public Pokédex for Trainers to peruse, read, and take notes from. A catalog of findings that have been published by various researchers, ranchers, rangers, and the Pokémon Professors over the years.

According to that database, the average Nidoking's height after fully grown is 1.6 meters with a weight of approximately 71 kilograms. If you would prefer those in imperial units, that's 5 ft 3''and 157 lbs respectively. Roughly speaking.

Grundy's height is just about a 250% jump on that. 4.2 meters when he stands at his straightest and isn't hunched over and looming. Maybe a centimeter or two smaller.

And I don't have the slightest fucking idea how much he weighs.

Nidoking: Lv. 70
Nature: Bold
Potential: B

"SKRREEEE-!"

People flinch in their seats as the miniature kaiju shrieks in battle fervor upon his entry. The referee and announcers box does too. He's a monster more fit for the ecosystem of Skull Island than the Pokémon world. His eyes squint a little from the Sunny Day Meganium still has set up from earlier, but beyond that he's ready to fucking rumble.

I can see it in Madison's face. The recognition. The panic. She was a Ranger. She's no doubt seen Alpha's before. Or at least read reports. Wild, untamed kings that brought destruction wherever they wandered. Carving out tiny fiefdoms, disrupting the natural environment until someone -or more usually a group of someones- brought them low.

Though unlike the primal, possibly frenzied specimens she's encountered in the past…this one's got training and a library of TMs at his back.

"SOLARBEAM!" she shouts. Meganium's petals explode with vibrancy. Gathering sun in record time due to their previous setup and with a jutting of its long neck, a ray of green and orange power erupts from the Johto Grass-starter, tearing across the field like a living cyclone!

Grundy and I both take a step forward in sync. Our mouths opening wide together at the same time. "Flamethrower!"

Do you mind if I make a confession real quick?

It's a little cringe to say it aloud but…. I've always wanted to see an 'anime beam struggle' in person.

Wouldn't that be cool? Two Sunny Day boosted streams of energy meeting in the middle, vying for dominance, first one's winning, then the other's winning, back and forth back and forth, it'd be sick.

I've always wanted to get that checked off the bucket list. Ever since I woke up in this world.

I'll just have to keep waiting on it though.

Because the Fire-energy in Grundy's Flamethrower ate through that Solarbeam like it wasn't even there.

"ENDURE!"

I cock my head a little to the side. 'No Protect? Not even Light Screen? You've got a Special Defensive Nature already, Light Screen wouldn't be the worst. But Endure?'

The flames clear, revealing a plant dinosaur that is scorched. Cartoonishly blackened in soot much in the same manner that Ash used to be burned by his Charizard. Only instead of being played for laughs as a gag, this Pokémon is hurt. Its leaves flutter as it goes into Synthesis without orders and a small bit of life does return into its colors.

And then it collapses.

There is not a whisper in the stadium. Absolutely everyone is hushed quiet.

Except Grundy. He seems to be laughing.

The Alpha strides forward of his own regard, approaching the downed Pokémon with a sadistic grin and I yank back on his chain! 'Hold Grundy! Hold!' I demand through the connection. 'God damnit! One move -one fucking move!- and I went too far already! Why didn't I go for Ice Beam! The Sunny Day more than made up for the lack of Life Orb.'

Grundy side-eyes me a bit from the yield order but obeys without making a fuss. He instead puts his energy into rhythmically stomping his foot on the stadium floor. A little hype routine we've cooked up that helps him keep his urges idle.

~Caught him on a Tuesday~ Stomp! Stomp! ~Nidorino on a Wednesday~ Stomp! Stomp!

I notice some movement in the crowd. Psychic-type Pokémon are being deployed throughout the stands. Mostly Drowzee and Hypno. One or two oddballs in the form of Espeon or Mr. Mime. An extra layer of protection should the safety equipment fail.

Though whether these 'mon belong to League security officers or private citizens I cannot say. Most likely a mix of mostly the former with a tiny splash of the latter.

Madison's next Pokémon enters the ring -after handing Meganium off to an aide- and there's an almost poetic nature in the choice. It's one of my favorites. There's no defensive tank I liked better back in the day. Another Pokémon that evolves from a Moon Stone.

Clefable: Lv. 54
Nature: Calm
Potential: A-

Instead of immediately attacking again, I try to temper my options. 'We can't use Sludge Wave. With Clefable's revision to Fairy-type we might actually legitimately kill it. What do we have that's not overkill? Something that's not STAB or Super-effective. Something that's enough to KO but nothing more. Focus Blast? No. Don't ever rely on "Focus Miss". Shadow Ball? That should be neutral damage right?'

Grundy begins charging up the Ghost-energy, having gleaned the very idea of the move from me as I settled on it. With his arms pulled down at his sides, purples and dark pinks begin to coalesce over his tongue, building up into a sphere that dwarfs the one Morty's Gengar used back in our Badge fight.

Meanwhile, Clefable -in true Clefable fashion-, is sparkling with the bright rainbow lights of Cosmic Power, raising both of its Defenses.

'Please go down in one hit. Grundy doesn't like it when things refuse to go down in one hit.' The globe of spectral power slams on top of the Fairy with enough power to shatter a Protect, sending out long whips of phantasmal energy as collateral damage from the detonation. The League's energy barriers flare yellow, keeping things contained to the field and when the dust clears there lies in the center of a crater…a broken Substitute.

'Ha! Clever girl. With enough power difference one can bust down a Protect. But to the best of my knowledge the only thing that beats Substitute is the Ability Infiltrator.' Sacrificing a quarter of one's HP can be considered a bargain if it means getting to stay in the game.

Both Grundy and I begin scanning for where the Clefable went. Despite Substitute using Normal-type energy to fuel it, the technique does have a little Psychic flair so to speak. It lets the user do a 'blink' when they set it up. An extremely short range teleport to get out of the way.

We both spot her at the same time. Taking refuge behind one of the upturned boulders that dot the battlefield. "Grundy, Brick Break! Smash through that rock!" 'What? Just because it isn't boosted by Sheer Force doesn't mean I wouldn't teach it to him. Brick Break's a good move. You gotta have options.'

Grundy's titanic fist pulverizes the stone, reducing it to sand and pebbles…but unfortunately misses the Clefable that -under instruction of Madison- nimbly dodges by dancing over Nidoking's arm.

My eyes narrow. 'Wasn't that Clefable about a foot taller a minute ago? OH SHI- We're about to get played by Minimize shenanigans!' "Grundy, Thunderbolt!"

Lightning glasses the ground in long streams, throwing off arcs as it tries to chase down the Fairy but this blocky pink blob's a fucking parkour artist. Clefable's aren't renowned for being dextrous but this one's doing goddamn full-body flips.

"Keep at it Oona!" Madison yells. "Boost again!"

Clefable gets off another Minimize in the middle of the lightning storm -reducing its size by a 1/3 again- and I decide to take the gloves off. "Grundy! Everywhere at once! Earth Power!"

Steam hisses from sudden vents all around the arena! As a Special move, Earth Power isn't like its Physical cousin Earthquake. Where 'quake has an epicenter that spreads out, Earth Power reaches down and then rips up!

'Upheaval' is the only true word for it. Everywhere a little vent had formed, pressure bubbles geyser to the surface in an explosion of magmatic rock, ruining the field, destroying every chalk line, every recognizable feature of the center ring. The League's energy field flares orange, triggering some sort of protocol that actually teleports the referee to higher ground.

I take note of it and then write it off. 'He would have been fine. Barriers didn't even go red.'

Meanwhile…Clefable's second Substitute pops.

I can't help the growl that escapes my throat. 'How the hell did she do that so fast! No build-up? Not even a verbal command! How long did they train that move?'

Grundy releases a furious snarl as well and I realize that it's not just my own anger I'm feeling. With my grip on the aura connection so tight, his frustration is my frustration. Our annoyance is synonymous with each others. Just as the bond can physically strengthen, it can also mentally pollute.

Nidoking charges into the wreckage of where the second Substitute broke, searching for the enemy. When Clefable pops around the corner, he takes a wild swing at her with Iron Tail.

Without orders.

"Grundy!" I stomp a foot forward, a sharp reprimand on my tongue…but when the Fairy masterfully dodges again and gets up another Cosmic Power I realize there have to be other priorities right now.

'It might be building to a Baton Pass! We need to reset them!' "Grundy, use Roar!" I scream. "Be ready for whatever comes out!"

The monstrous bellow that comes from Nidoking's throat is the only move in his arsenal that absolutely positively always hits. Only Pokémon with Soundproof can ignore it. Clefable flinches back and is forced from the field in a ball of light, taking all its Defensive and Evasion boosts away with it.

Meanwhile Grundy's frustration hits a fever pitch. He obeyed the order but he's livid that the prey escaped. It's inconceivable in his mind that he had to let them go. Even if only temporarily. And he decides on his own to vent that anger on Madison's next Pokémon.

I can feel his intention to Hyper Beam -Again! Without orders!- and I snap into sobriety. "Grundy! Grundy! Hold!"

Madison's final contender appears with a wobble. Its stubby little blue feet root it stationary in place and a blocky fingerless hand slaps its forehead in greeting where a red sash is tied firmly above its squinty eyeline.

My eyes widen in horror. 'No. Not a red sash.'

A Focus Band.

Wobbuffet: Lv. 50
Nature: Sassy
Potential: C+

"GRUNDY DON'T!"

"Wobba! Wobba Wobba!" The Psychic-type cries out in a panic as the most iconic of all iconic Pokémon moves sweeps over him, completely consuming him in a tunnel of light. The Hypno and Drowzee in the crowd all erect shields to reinforce the League's as the barrier threatens to fail, flashing bright red. Meanwhile, my knuckles are pale deathgrip white as I clench my railing hard enough to subconsciously dent it with aura.

'Please let it be down. Just let it be down! It's Focus Band, not Sash! There's only a chance it works. Only a chance! Only a 10%...15...20...shit I don't know! But it's only a chance!'

Grundy cuts off the stream of energy, seeming all too satisfied with himself and stands straight to look upon his work.

Madison's Pokémon is at one health. No, I can't see health bars. That's not a real thing. But you can not look upon this 'mon and not think 'One HP remaining.' At Wobbuffet's forehead the Held Item crumbles. Turns to literal actual dust in the wind, never to be used again.

'But it did its job...'

I watch in slow motion as the Wobbuffet slaps a hand to its forehead even as it falls. A final salute of farewell even though it just got here.

"Wobba!"

The Mirror Coat is faster than the eye can track. Grundy's whole upper body snaps back as the Psychic-move rebounds the damage onto him. Doubling every point he delivered and then some. His pupils disappear. His eyes completely whited out and with just a little breeze…the behemoth falls. Shaking the entire stadium as his back smacks into the floor.

'What just...' I can't even formulate the words. The audience erupts into cheers. Screaming and hollering at the action like zealous sport fans at a World Cup. The announcers are shouting something themselves over the intercom but I can't even hear them over my own thoughts. 'Grundy…Grundy lost?'

Madison withdraws her downed Wobbuffet and puts Clefable back in.

It's a little winded, but still completely battle ready. Other than the Substitutes, it doesn't even have any damage on it.

I have nothing to send against it.

Ha.

Hahaha.

'I lost.'

 

[Darquesse]

Bradley said. 'It's no use much to me. But you can use it to evolve your Weepinbell!'

Click to shrink...

no->not

 

[LordVishnu]

no->not

Click to shrink...

If it were "not much use to me" I would agree. But it's "no use much to me" so I think it's fine. It's informal dialogue speak.

 

[ShadowWolf54]

Damn he got Sponged

 

[FTR2017]

Well, on the bright side ... a well-trained Wobuffett with such a bullshit item can rain the pain on such an overpowered beast like Grundy.

Maybe that'll teach him some patience?

...

Heh, who am I kidding? Grundy'll be salty as all hell!

 

[riotous living]

Makes sense that a Ranger has a tanky anti-sweeper pokemon. Good strategy too

 

[Moran]

Grundy's height is just about a 250% jump on that. 4.2 meters when he stands at his straightest

Click to shrink...

…son of a bitch. That's big…

'How the hell did she do that so fast! No build-up? Not even a verbal command! How long did they train that move?'

Click to shrink...

Just because you can give mental commands doesn't mean others can't too. Especially a trainer, who was an essentially a police in the wilds, with years of experience.
EDIT: In anime, Kalos Champion Diantha give her Gardevior commands through eye contacts.

EDIT:

Madison's next Pokémon enters the ring -after handing Meganium off to an aide- and there's an almost poetic nature in the choice. It's one of my favorites. There's no defensive tank I liked better back in the day. Another Pokémon that evolves from a Moon Stone.

Clefable: Lv. 54
Nature: Calm
Potential: A-

Click to shrink...

For a while, I think it's somewhat odd MC already has a Moon Ball when he encounted and caught Grundy.
My guess is, MC was originally planning to use that Moon Ball to catch a Clefairy, but changes his mind after encountering an Alpha Nidoran.

 

[Artful Lounger]

Always gotta be a ringer somewhere. Although a Focus Band only has a 10% chance of working, it worked here because of course it did. Although, seriously, this one decided to use a Focus Band Wobbufet for her item pokemon in a tournament she was all but guaranteed to sweep in? Between that, the tournament format letting her not have to fight Brad's other two pokemon of consequence, and the five year ranger loophole she used to effectively smurf a tournament she had no business participating in, I already don't like her. Looking forward to round two in the Conference, assuming the story gets that far.

 

[Dust shaker]

I have nothing to send against it.

Ha.

Hahaha.

'I lost.'

Click to shrink...

lmao get rekt skill issue.

 

[ApiLol123123]

Damn, Grundy needs to calm tf down. Thanks for the chapter!

 

[rick1497]

Clefable is at half health and has no set up. You aren't out of the fight yet.

Always gotta be a ringer somewhere. Although a Focus Band only has a 10% chance of working, it worked here because of course it did. Although, seriously, this one decided to use a Focus Band Wobbufet for her item pokemon in a tournament she was all but guaranteed to sweep in?

Click to shrink...

Karma for his ridiculous good luck in the earlier rounds. And the wobbufet was an act of desperation. It was probably the only chance she actually had to take down Grundy, so she had to risk it, even at a low probability. Even then, Brad could have won that, if Grundy had only listened to him.

 

[LordVishnu]

Although a Focus Band only has a 10% chance of working,

Click to shrink...

In the games. It may be slightly better here. Brad doesn't know.

 

[oscar e Sampedro Lopez]

Great chapter. Love the story.
Good to see he is not going to just win all battles

 

[LordVishnu]

Clefable is at half health and has no set up. You aren't out of the fight yet.

Click to shrink...

And send out what? A recently reawakened Golett that's 20 levels lower? Clefable also has access to heal moves.

 

[Freeze046]

And send out what? A recently reawakened Golett that's 20 levels lower? Clefable also has access to heal moves.

Click to shrink...

From what you've been displaying as a small tale, then I'd say Quagsire if you had dealt with the trauma and issues of such a choice beforehand. Otherwise, I'd say this may prompt you to train said Quagsire to help lighten your load of no mid level available Pokémon. Though again I may be wrong entirely if that is an option since we still don't have the full story of this Quagsire yet. But I can't wait to find out.

 

[Dawnwalking_Soldier]

Yeah, ok that's a big ass Kaiju.

The fact he's also an almost unstoppable lunatic on top of that is... distressing.

Minimize always struck me as one of the cooler boost moves. Like I'll always stan Agility, but Minimize shrinking the user in addition to its boost just scratches my munchkin ich in story writing.

 

[LordVishnu]

From what you've been displaying as a small tale, then I'd say Quagsire if you had dealt with the trauma and issues of such a choice beforehand. Otherwise, I'd say this may prompt you to train said Quagsire to help lighten your load of no mid level available Pokémon. Though again I may be wrong entirely if that is an option since we still don't have the full story of this Quagsire yet. But I can't wait to find out.

Click to shrink...

I'll say this. Of all the posts so far in the thread, no one has correctly guessed the problem with Quagsire yet.

It's not a matter of training.

 

[Artful Lounger]

Karma for his ridiculous good luck in the earlier rounds. And the wobbufet was an act of desperation. It was probably the only chance she actually had to take down Grundy, so she had to risk it, even at a low probability. Even then, Brad could have won that, if Grundy had only listened to him.

Click to shrink...

I think you forget an important factoid. Namely that the Item and the Pokemon are pre-chosen. That's literally something you register with the tournament committee and its set in stone. So someone who has a five year experience handicap on everyone else that's expected to be in this tournament- a tournament that's specifically barred to trainers with eight badges to PREVENT smurfing- exploited a loophole and got into an event that she has no business being in. Then, for her item pick, she picks a cheesy ass combo like Focus Band-Wobbufet? In a tournament where she probably one-shotted everyone the entire way up and most likely EXPECTED to do so from the start?

To say nothing of how the league year is half over, she started with six badges, but still hasn't gotten the last two yet. With a team like hers, the only reason she doesn't have eight badges yet given that amount of time is because she has deliberately avoided it. Most likely specifically so she could enter events like this and sweep.

I view this the same way I would look at, say, a college age chess master joining an Elementary school chess tournament somehow and kicking the shit out of ten year olds who barely know how to play and feeling big about it. Utterly repugnant.

From what you've been displaying as a small tale, then I'd say Quagsire if you had dealt with the trauma and issues of such a choice beforehand. Otherwise, I'd say this may prompt you to train said Quagsire to help lighten your load of no mid level available Pokémon. Though again I may be wrong entirely if that is an option since we still don't have the full story of this Quagsire yet. But I can't wait to find out.

Click to shrink...

Quagsire is tournament illegal. Brad has that thing on ice to the point where it isn't even conscious in the ball. Its a murderer of pokemon and killed his last trainer. Pryce gave the advice to have it put down. From what we know, if Brad was actually crazy enough to do so the ranger chick would have to seriously worry about the thing coming at HER instead of her pokemon. And Pryce would almost certainly step in the moment he saw it.

 

[JohnSmith]

It's no use much to me

Click to shrink...

If it were "not much use to me" I would agree. But it's "no use much to me" so I think it's fine. It's informal dialogue speak.

Click to shrink...

"Not much use to me" is a thing. "No use to me" is a thing. "No use much to me" is very much not a thing, to the point that googling that phrase in quotation marks returns no results.

 

[rick1497]

And send out what? A recently reawakened Golett that's 20 levels lower? Clefable also has access to heal moves.

Click to shrink...

What about a recently reawakened Ursaring or Gligar? Sure, they aren't in the best shape, but again, half health. And even if Clefable can heal, that would take time, time that they could use to attack or set up.

exploited a loophole

Click to shrink...

You mean the same loophole that Brad exploited? Even if you ignore his years as a gym trainer, he still had his foreign travels before he started the gym circuit.

Besides, claiming that it's some major loophole exploit feels somewhat disingenuous when, ultimately, this isn't a high stakes tournament. It has alright prizes, but nothing spectacular. Really, the idea of planning so much around getting an advantage on such a small pool feels pretty weird to me.

 

[Silvanus350]

"Not much use to me" is a thing. "No use to me" is a thing. "No use much to me" is very much not a thing, to the point that googling that phrase in quotation marks returns no results.

Click to shrink...

The author has made it a thing. It's fine for informal English dialogue.