Pokemon Brilliant Diamond - 0 Exp Part 22: Elite Four Lucian

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MoogleBoss

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Published on December 30, 2022 2:00:09 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6g6X2Ifbg

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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021)

Duration: 5:07

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The psychic-type master Lucian is the strongest elite and the last conventional battle in this challenge (before we tackle the postgame eventually, I guess). Between lead Mr. Mime running dual screens with Light Clay, two Trick Room users (in a very speed-oriented party but whatever) and Alakazam using a Life Orb set to complement its hidden ability, we have a strong opponent indeed.

There doesn't seem to be any good counter to Mr. Mime, and having the screens up complicates all further matchups if they're put up and not removed quickly by, say, Brick Break!Abomasnow. Bringing somebody like Steelix could be a valid attempt to counter Lucian's lead, but he's not terribly helpful against those earlier ground/fire matchups and among the tools available Alakazam using Shadow Ball is outsped and outstated in raw numbers.

I resort to the cheapest trick of them all, Focus Sash!Staravia running its Endeavour/Quick Attack set. The AI is not guaranteed to use a Full Restore, and Mr. Mime can launch another Psychic attack at times, in which event I retry the fight. Mr. Mime should fall before it gets the chance to lay its screens or KO Staravia, which is important as we need the bird for another strategy later on in the battle.

The next mon, Girafarig, now coming back with an evolution seven generations later, shuts down Alakazam with a ghost immunity and is generally a nuisance to special attackers with its own Light Screen, so we have to think of a less obvious solution to it as well. Medicham is capable of 2HKOing it with High Jump Kick but loses the speed battle. A Salac Berry lets it outspeed its foe, usually by using Endure prior to that. A higher damage roll on Psychic renders Endure entirely unnecessary.

Things get really when Alakazam switches in. How on earth are we fighting THAT? Past battles indicate there's always the Trick Room strat, and we can exploit that to KO two "birds" with one stone, err, one rock/ground. Bronzong doubly resists Alakazam's psychic-type moves, forcing it to go for the 2HKO with Shock Wave or set up with Nasty Plot first. Whichever first move it opts for, we switch to Golem after using Trick Room (dying also works), absorbing Shock Wave should that be used. Golem's Sturdy comes in handy again here, letting me take an incredibly powerful Psychic and 2HKO with Earthquake. An important aspect of the strat is Liechi Berry giving Golem an increase in attack that's better than anything from type-enhancing held items. When Lucian's own Medicham comes in, Golem's Explosion is actually strong enough to take it out in one turn. I find it actually surprising, seeing how Lopunny was able to survive a HJK from our Medicham in the previous battle.

The boss Bronzong is a sitting duck, and we don't care if it uses its Trick Room or not (the previous TR user on Lucian's team was Girafarig by the way - if we try to set up on it with Bronzong, it just reverses the effect. Clever!). Staravia is still alive, making great use of its higher speed to reduce it to 1 HP. The Sitrus Berry that Bronzong holds works against it here, as the recovery prevents the AI from recovering its health with a Full Restore, and yet Alakazam is able to finish it off with a Choice Specs-enhanced Shadow Ball next turn.

After Jaboca Berry shenanigans, we have some FEAR abuse. What have we got up our sleeve for Cynthia, I wonder?

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