We finally make it to the non-desolate part of Orre: Agate Village. Our mission is to purify our corresponding party members.
You know, given this is where the Relic Stone is, you would think Cipher would have this place under lockdown.
Despite Cipher knowing about the Relic Stone years earlier, they still have this place completely unguarded. There is not a single Cipher member barring the player from just outright purifying the Shadow Pokémon they seek to propagate. Considering what ended their Shadow Pokémon plan in the first place, wouldn't they think to have measures against purification?
It is just terribly unprofessional for an organization such as theirs.
My roadblock is instead just an old man. Of course, I have to go see Eagun.
Wait I thought we weren't doing name changes anymore.
In hindsight, Beluh is a stupid name in a region where names assigned at birth are given by using a fake word generator.
Eagun then rushes in and tells us that the best way to purify Shadow Pokémon is through battles.
This isn't technically wrong, but I'll get to that in a bit.
Despite the fact that Shadow Pokémon can't be seen by mere mortals, the villagers are all familiar with Shadow Pokémon and outright give you tips on how to best use them and purify them. While them knowing everything about them from the previous invasion and Eagun makes sense, it's still a bit off.
The Cologne Case is a great way to hasten the process of purification, but we will not be using it in this run. It isn't even remotely needed.
I'm breezing through battles because it's the start of the game and they're honestly not terribly impressive. The Chosen One must be praised for his skill, however.
Here's a fun fact: I can already purify all of these Pokémon with those battles alone (5 battles). This game is pretty lenient overall to start with.
Yes, it breaks screens. I believe it also breaks the Shadow ones.
It has Intimidate and it's trying to be menacing all while being a cutesy thing - what's not to like?
The game decides to be rude and take me back to Eagun's house - I'm not done purifying damn it!
We continue the plot dump.
We are told Vander, an Area Leader of Mt. Battle, saw suspicious characters and we should go talk to him to investigate.
However, game, I wasn't done doing things. So, to pick back up where we left off...
Well that is certainly a move.
Gale Wings, Extreme Speed... I think the name explains itself.
It's unfortunate you have Sap Sipper.
Haha I'm creative.
Went to the Name Rater to finish up the party. This is literally "Cat Sun" in Italian. My friend wanted to name it that, don't ask.
A befitting name for something that has not only been useless in battle but has never given me an item from Pickup.
The mart unfortunately does not sell Poke Balls, so it is of little use to us. I believe the Scents are cheaper should the player want to use them.
Our next destination is the cave that houses the Move Tutor.
Unlike in XD, this Move Tutor has unlimited uses. Now, what good would this tutor be if we had unlimited uses of garbage like Nightmare?
Survey says...
Oh.
Oh my.
All of these moves are solid, providing coverage, utility, or raw power (in the case of Draco). We will be using this tutor a few times.
I take some Encore, Snarl, Icy Wind, and Protect for the road and continue.
Some trainers in the village offer battles - I take advantage of this for some exp.
Rawr! has slightly more utility while being evolved. It's a shame it's inferior to 99% of the game.
At Mt. Battle, we then meet the red mystery man once more.
FORESHADOWING!
Gee I don't know maybe look at what the whole point of your organization is?
I haven't been showing some of the chests, but they've contained some... interesting TM options.
Inside the facility, we get to see the Coupon Exchange. I want you guys to appreciate the vast amount of options at our disposal.
+ Water Stone, which is not worth taking an extra screenshot for.
This game ramps up the difficulty after we get out of the first stretch, so grinding out Mt. Battle to get some of these might be important later.
And finally, the Move Relearner. I believe the price is 5 Poké Coupons, but for this low price you get access to tons of egg moves and special moves. Examples I saw included Waterfall Marill, Shadow Ball Espeon, and the elemental fangs for Mightyena.
We get through some Ghost-type trainers and finally meet Vander.
Naturally, he tells us about the Shadow Pokémon Lab that was abandoned years ago. Obviously, he won't confront Cipher himself after Dakim punched the hell out of him during the Mt. Battle invasion back in Colosseum.
Aidan informs us that we can finally buy more Poké Balls! So we go do just that.
When we arrive at the lab, we can see the decrepit state it's in. Of course, the weird red hover truck thingie tips us off that this is where Krane is.
Unfortunately, we are not alone. The Power Rangers serve as mini-bosses and comedic relief to start this dungeon.
How many of them are there?
Their gag revolves around miscounting themselves and bickering when they screw it up. You can tell how competent they are.
Oh and their names are just the colors now. Probably for the best.
Red comes first. The starter should clue you in on wh-
MINE
In XG, the shiny check from the original game is removed, so Pokémon do have a chance to be shiny. The rate is also much higher, and we can expect to encounter a few in our playthrough.
The catch rates have been adjusted so we snag it in one ball.
I know I'm glossing over battles still, but the game is giving us all these ridiculous options for a reason.
We go heal inside and start inducting our new members slowly as we beat the rainbow dorks.
Blue has Mudkip.
And to make space for Mudkip we say goodbye to this thing. Maybe in a game where it's Singles and it has Belly Drum + Extreme Speed.
Brown.
Yellow.
Purple.
Green.
Our party is now a lovely shade of purple. Their levels are pretty decent and it's a large variety of Pokémon types.
As I mentioned in update 1, Pokémon with Megas tend to inherit things from their Mega. Swift Swim Swampert with an auto-setter should be excellent.
This is pretty lame.
Shadow Whip is 60 power, 90 accuracy with a 20% chance to Poison. It's ok.
This is not a balanced ability choice game.
Shadow Tease is a Taunt that hits both opponents.
Unlike Ardos' Manectric, I rolled Lightningrod instead.
20% to flinch. Eh.
Oh boy an ability that's done so much for me.
Inside, we face the annoying mascot and catch it.
Your security is composed of 6 idiots who don't know their own ass from a hole in the ground.
We learn the head of operations is called Lovrina. What kind of name is that?
We need the ID Card to get here aka beat the entire facility.
What's this?
Custom item for this hack - self-explanatory I hope. This is going to be very useful when facing off against hordes of Shadow Pokémon who hit you for SE damage.
Also Beedrill.
Since I didn't go over Pika, here it is: has Static, it comes with Light Ball, and Shadow Bolt I believe is just Zapdos' former Shadow sig move.
I've barely done battles and these things are already almost purified - pictured here is the first time they both enter Reverse Mode.
Let's revisit the point - WALKING has been by far the best way to purify Shadow Pokémon. I presume that will change as I hit the later Shadow Pokémon. Let's see how many Pokémon from the Lab I can purify after I leave it.
I also catch that Shadow Meditite.
Going back to Beedrill, it has Levitate and Shadow Rush is quite strong, reminiscent of its Colosseum variant.
Shadow Guard is just Protect.
Shadow Slap is Fake Out but stronger, can hit Super Effectively, and its only drawback is 85 accuracy. With Pure Power, Meditite can get quick kills.
Moving on...
#Plot #MasterPlan
#OC #GirlPower #EinGotNothingOnThis
The creator went out of his way to make Lovrina use insufferable hashtags and speak exactly like someone like her irl would speak.
Fret not, fellow reader, for we have a battle to detract from this dilemma!
Well that's another shiny.
We can now purify the Shadow Pokémon from the multi-colored circus. And we go do just that.
Here's all the nicknames. Only one I care to explain is Tyrone - Bagon just looks like a Tyrone to me.
Purified Moves:
15 Percent - False Swipe (but has Giga Drain, Sub, and Hidden Power Fire without touching it)
Tyrone - Fire Fang, Scary Face
Shill Rat - Helping Hand, Shock Wave
Meiling - Low Sweep
Bolt - Heat Wave, Charge Beam (but has Nuzzle and Hidden Power Ice without touching it)
Kipper - Aqua Jet
The game goes out of its way to not only give you incredible sets, but also tutors to give you a perfect blend of offense and support. Hopefully we can put these moves to good use eventually.
Let's look at our 2nd Shiny. Unlike what its description implies, Shadow Snooze is a Spore with 85 accuracy.
Isn't he cute?
I also snagged a Shadow Magnemite somewhere.
Ah, Greevil. This is when we first hear of this name. We also learned about XG001 earlier and how it's supposed to be the ultimate Shadow Pokémon. Just how does it all tie in?
We're getting some fun Shadows to play with honestly.
Beating that scientist gives us access to the ID Card that we can now use to go rescue Krane.
Well, yes. The trainers here are all weak as hell.
I think the chest had a TM.
Naps proves to be a bit more competent than all the fodder here and gains a Shadow Misdreavus.
Didn't I just catch Beedrill recently?
Shadow Spirit is Draining Kiss. Shadow Fear is an 85 accuracy Glare.
I don't know if Shadow Sky received any changes from the original XD but it still acts like Hail that doesn't hit Shadow Pokémon from my observations.
Despite all his Pokémon, this battle was still painfully easy.
After we beat Naps, we grab the professor and head out to escape. Unfortunately, we all know there's one more obstacle before we can actually get out, so this is the party we'll be using. I heal them up with some Potions to get ready.
Yes, Meditite and Shroomish are already purified. I wasn't lying when I said walking seems to be dangerously OP.
You thought I was going to spare you all from Lovrina?
Hehe, no.
You're going to sit through these chat lines.
As much pain as it causes you.
This is a plot point.
Are you sick of this yet?
If I say Yes...
Kidnapping princesses was overrated anyways.
The game forces you to say No, so...
Oh no I made her mad.
#SorryNotSorry
Yes, she nicknames her Pokémon. They are as ridiculous as you'd expect them to be.
Fortunately, they don't seem particularly threa-
Helping Hand boosted Play Rough from Huge Power Marill puts me down. It also does 70% to Beedrill with a resist.
This is the first time I drop Pokémon to a trainer.
Yes, bosses can also have signature shinies. No, this is not the Shadow Pokémon.
We are evenly matched here. And her Shadow mon is Clefairy rather than Delcatty, but I think we're in a good position.
SMASH and Magnemite collectively keel over Kiss this turn.
But Magnemite gets Shadow Snooze'd in the process. Here you can see Meditite's movepool and how it's incredibly potent for this particular boss.
At this point it's just a matter of capturing Clefairy.
I screenshotted this a bit late but I need to mention this busted move. Shadow Terrain reduces all non-Shadow move damage in half. Not only that, but it heals all Shadow Pokémon ala Grassy Terrain every turn. What's more, this terrain NEVER ended in the many turns I was facing Clefairy - I can only presume it goes away when it's out of the field.
That is not going to be the only ridiculous custom Shadow move we see, but in due time.
We DO successfully snag the Clefairy.
#Rekt #Owned #AbsolutelyDESTROYED
No doubt this won't the last time we see her, but as the first real boss battle, she was decent. Hopefully the game will start picking up soon.
The Chosen One!!!!!
Well, it HAS been 5 in-game hours and I already purified quite a few Shadows and stormed a Cipher facility.
Now, let's recap.
ASTUTE observation professor. It's not like the events of the game were set in motion by Cipher or anything.
Well, yes, isn't that the point of the Purify Chamber?
Now this is new and pertinent information. SURELY the Purify Chamber isn't being built for such an occasion now?
Which, coincidentally, is already finished!
While all of you go do that, I have one more thing to do.
BEEEEEEEEE gets Swords Dance and U-turn upon purification, HowDoIWork gets Water Pulse and Metal Sound. Oh, and it also has Levitate.
We'll close it out here. I think we have a solid team we can feasibly rotate, but the game has also been pretty easy.
Next time: We check out that big device everyone is so hyped about.
