Pokemon Yellow - 0 Exp Part 5: Lt. Surge

Channel:

MoogleBoss

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Published on May 28, 2011 6:05:55 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGFfpOOg2Is

Game:

Pokémon Yellow (1998)

Duration: 1:05

2,642 views

32

I am back from a month-long absence, and this appears to be my 500th video, which is quite a milestone.

I suppose I should say some general lines not directly related to the video shown, because it's such a nice round number. A month or so ago, I postponed all of my playthroughs because I needed to focus on my thesis and work, so no progress was achieved in that time. However, I am pretty much free at the moment and more videos will eventually appear on the channel for people who follow me almost 4 years after I signed up on this website to interact with others and share my "OCD adventures".

When you first reach Vermilion City, a Pokemon that trivialises most of the midgame becomes immediately available. It's Dugtrio, and it can be caught at levels 29 and sometimes 31. This level is superior to everything fought at this point, not to mention that it has great attack and speed bases, knows Dig right off the bat and can deal some impressive damage with it. Dig was really good in Generation 1, having the same power as Earthquake. I caught three Dugtrios here, switching them as I fight trainers when one runs out of Dig PP.

I guess since there isn't much to be said regarding this really short battle, I'll talk about the ground-types in Pokemon Yellow, and you can argue with me if you like. Dugtrio is IMO the second best ground-type in the game, after Nidoking. It doesn't have the excellent typing, the all-around high bases of Nidoking, its movepool is shallow and yet it destroys everything for a long time, quickly learning Slash after a couple of levels (which is only a little weaker than neutral non-crit Earthquake, making it a good alternative when you expect a one-hit KO anyway and want to conserve PP, which is actually one of the primary concerns when playing Pokemon games). But it's fast, overlevelled (I still think you should overlevel Nidoking early because it's just too good as a mixed attacker), and can be taught Fissure to dispose of an Elite Four member of choice with an X Accuracy.

There are some more ground-types in this version, namely Graveler (Golem if you can trade), Sandslash and Rhydon. Graveler is really slow but its typing extremely beneficial as it can eat so many of those annoying Rocket Explosions before you need to use a Potion. It learns EQ naturally and probably wants that Rock Slide TM too for its another STAB (Rock Throw misses too often). Graveler doesn't do much against the Elite Four though (even Gengar knows Mega Drain there).

Sandslash is pure ground, kinda slow and very physically defensive. It gets Slash at lv. 17 which is an auto-critical once Sandshrew evolves. With Dig and Slash, it's a bulkier, slower version of Dugtrio. It's very nice, but I don't like it.

Rhydon is almost a Graveler/Golem clone, though with greater offence (better than Golem's). Its natural movepool is horrible though, and it is available late. Geodude has better immediate usefulness due to its availability, and gets stat experience by fighting many different battles, so I'd say that's the best for the in-game. I always give Geodude Mega Punch because it needs a good attacking move before the Dig TM, otherwise battles with it last forever.

There's also Nidoqueen who's pretty much King's defensive female clone with Body Slam over Thrash (I like Thrash more because I can sweep a whole dungeon of trainers with it without running out of PP since it costs just one every time you start the rampage).

Anyway, as for Lt. Surge... In Yellow version, he has only one Pokemon, and that's his Raichu. His level is higher than in Red/Blue to compensate for the absence of Pikachu and Voltorb on his team. It also has a better moveset - R/B Raichu can't do anything to ground-types besides Growl them. Yellow's Raichu packs Mega Punch & Kick, which are launched using Raichu's very respectable physical attack stat and may land a critical not too unlikely with his high base speed.

Needless to say, a critical Mega Kick is a threat to Dugtrio due to his frailty, but Dugtrio has a tiny level advantage and... and... yeah, you saw what happened there.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0D2874F080AF75F3
Playlist of the challenge

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