Pokemon Brilliant Diamond - 0 Exp Part 18: Barry (Pokemon League)

Channel:

MoogleBoss

Subscribers:

6,590

Published on September 25, 2022 3:15:21 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INw1Nm70NTY

Game:

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021)

Duration: 5:32

503 views

23

Challenge playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbSv8zSDR9c0_GdXH4uD7y8l7LHuCDr2E

The fifth and last rival battle before the postgame, Barry is our final warmup before the Elite Four challenge that we've all been waiting for. The battle is fought at a level disadvantage, which isn't really a first for this challenge, as we have fought plenty of them while being several (sometimes over 10) levels below the opposition. This trend will obviously continue into the E4, all while Pokemon fail to level up - as you would expect from a 0 exp challenge.

Barry's lead Staraptor has a Focus Sash, so there's generally no easy way to OHKO, but you could hardly imagine naturally achieving that in this challenge any how - Intimidate makes it pretty damn bulky, and there are no sufficiently powerful special attackers with electric or ice moves. It relies on Close Combat for damage output, lacking Brave Bird and running only Pluck as its stongest flying-type STAB, Sunny Day being very questionable in Barry's team considering Rapidash has the only fire-type STAB on the team in Flame Wheel (!) and no one runs Solarbeam.

Using a steel-type might seem counterintuitive here considering Staraptor's best offensive option, and yet Steelix has such high defences that it can take two Close Combat hits with unboosted defence, obviously taking advantage of the defence falls in the process. Nonetheless, the attack drop from Intimidate is something we want to compensate for by using Curse, after which I proceed to attack with Gyro Ball.

Steelix causes Torterra to enter the field prematurely, which is reasonable AI if you take into account that it's got Stealth Rock in its set, and this is one long battle. Abomasnow takes up the challenge despite being 15 levels lower. It can OHKO with a held booster by just attacking with 100% accurate Blizzard, but I leave an Aurora Veil first. Sitrus Berry is held over Light Clay to survive the match-up in the case that Wood Hammer is used twice. Priority Ice Shard helps finish Torterra on the subsequent turn.

Rapidash will obviously come in next, sensing a weak underlevelled Abomasnow it can utterly destroy. Choice Specs!Gastrodon - and no other booster will suffice - is the counter of choice, disposing of the fire horse in a single strike. Aurora Veil helps keep it healthy in case a later encounter with Floatzel goes awry.

Machamp now switches in, not needing to exploit Guts to OHKO both times, to handle both Snorlax and Floatzel. Machamp outspeeds the former to wallop with Low Kick, booster required, in the following matchup Revenge's damage depending on Floatzel connecting its Ice Fang attack. If flinching or freeze procs occur, a sufficiently healthy Gastrodon (thanks to Aurora Veil) can finish what was started.

Heracross is the last one to deal with. It lacks a fighting-type STAB, and seems to like using Swords Dance and weird coverage moves in Rock Slide and Thief. It tends to forget it has Pin Missile, but Thief can OHKO lv. 47 Alakazam from Victory Road, whom it outspeeds (if this Alakazam loses the speed battle HERE, what hope do I have of using it effectively in the Elite Four?). There are a couple mediocre flying-type attackers I can use, including Pelipper and Golbat, but I go for Medicham's Zen Headbutt instead. With a booster, it can take Hera in a single strike.

It's now time to test the waters and see what works in the E4, where we will once again have to come up with a single team of six that can get us to the champion battle and succeed there, too. Cynthia is, of course, notoriously difficult, her lv. 66 Garchomp being a thing of nightmares. Some of the Pokemon from this video will inevitably make it to the final roster, but the question is which ones. Let's see how it all works out!

Other Statistics