AN: Something I wanted to try. Probably not going to be very good since this is my first try, but hey. I'm trying. Now, for another experiment. Feedback welcome.
I'm also hard referencing Traveler in this chapter. The overlap is me hijacking his(?) everstone using an old powerful pokemon idea, but there's more than the big fuckoff Rhydon here. It's here, but it's one of many.
I literally translated reddit threads and spacebattles threads I've been reading from various fan groups to make this, so it should feel relatively authentic, but I think its not perfect. I wanted to fit in more humor but feel like I missed it. Hmm.
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Post: [international] [Pinned] Trainers to Watch.
Posted by: Duchess [Moderator]
Monthly Trainers to watch post, at the end of the last post, we were discussing rookie trainers to watch, along with a few remaining standouts from prior conferences. If you would like to add a new person to the conversation as someone to watch, be thorough in your reasoning or you may recover a warning, as this is a post for serious discussion.
Current Watchlist; International.
Rookies:
Leon ( ChampionRising) of the Galar region
Cynthia ( HistoricallyMinded) of the Sinnoh region
Greg ( SilverClimber) of the Kanto region
…
Ash ( Master2Be) of the Kanto region
…
Let the discussion begin.
[Page 6]
Posted by: Lost_Wanderer [Verified Trainer] [Top 32]
Yea, so, I'm going to put it out there that this year there's more people who can go far as rookies than any year before. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if the three rookies on the top of the list, getting talked about the most, will win their conferences. I've been watching the St. Anne battles and a lot of the Kanto rookies and even some of the 2nd year + folks on the ship had good showings. Here's a link to the league playlist I made with the best matches, and the rest of the contextual matches for the top trainers on the boat.
Specifically, Greg. He was in the 8+ badge section, and while there were a lot of trainers who could have taken part when they saw some of those taking part they decided to use their fresh teams in the brackets those qualified for instead of fighting at the top. In the end, it's apparent why. Specifically if you watch the Grand finals of that group [link] you can see that these two were fighting at a level I don't know if I can match with my best team.
Greg has only been training for a few months. Leon had his partner at sixteen and trained with it for to years. Cynthia has had hers for who knows how long and was a professional archeologist who, by necessity had to have a team who could keep her and the camp she worked out of safe. It makes sense they're making their leagues look like children, because we've seen 1-2 years of training from prodigies sweep leagues before, even if they need a year or two at most before winning the conference.
Greg is a unique existence in having no prior Pokemon to his recorded start date and already battling at a high conference level. We also have pictures from Karen's sub-forum where we see her going out shopping with him. I have little doubts she also offered him some tips and tricks to see how far she can push him in his rookie season.
So while I agree Gary Oak, Ash Ketchum and even a majority of the noted returnees on the list are good picks in a normal year… I think we're seeing history made by Greg and the other two. Greg being the most impressive. I think he deserves the top spot. You just have to compare what his Pokemon do in his first recorded battles in Viridian [link] to the most recent [link] and you can see. The Charmander is a Charizard. The physical and elemental control abilities are greater than you can see in this video from last year in the silver conference when Michael York was fighting for top four [link].
And that's not his strongest Pokemon. It's harder to compare Ninetails, Dragonite and Garchomp. I don't know if comparing his Garchomp to Cynthia's is fair. However I understand why people do it. Still, the growth of some of his Pokemon is beyond absurd.
I'm glad I'm in Hoenn this year. The only people I really need to look out for are Brawly and Roxanne. One of them will probably win after Winona got the lucky draw out of the deadlock they had between those three, but still. Kanto is looking like a region where you'll be lucky to break past 32nd where other regions could get top 4. Greg is just the prime example.
Thoughts?
Posted by: Dancing_Petal [Verified Trainer] [Verified Grass Specialist]
You seem to think a majority of the people who fought in that 8+ badge bracket could just sweep out another league even after they've finished indigo? I've seen a couple of people do it in the past. They do two league challenges in tandem. The actual conferences are staggered, after all. Kanto and Hoenn or Sinnoh are common enough simultaneous leagues because they're close together and just 1-2 months gap between the conferences proper. Imagine seeing Cynthia vs Greg in Lily of the Valley!
But yea, I'm just saying, the higher someone is on the list - especially the true rookie list - the less sure I am about them only doing one region. I remember when Nemona did her victory lap season after conquering Paldea with a brand new team, and won two regions in one season. There's a reason she basically retired to finish her official education, even if she's a couple years behind now. Could you imagine how boring it is to be that ahead of the clock? At least some good seeds are growing to fight against the maybe strongest young trainer.
But yea, Greg is kind of absurd. The fact he lingers in towns sometimes is kind of odd, when he hasn't taken a shot at the gym or he's beaten them. It's like he's waiting and training before he moves on to the next stage of his training. Like, what's he doing in Fuscia right now? Anyone have a clue?
Posted by: Poison_Mistress [Verified Trainer] [Verified Poison Specialist] [Verified Gym Trainer]
I recommend going to this post - [Link] - to read up on his doing lately. TLDR: What hasn't he been doing?
His training site looks like something I'd expect from a battle between two Elite Four members. I've seen those a couple of times. There's a reason they train in the middle of the most isolated mountain ranges. I don't know how strong his pokemon are, but I am concerned for Master Koga. His team has been run ragged over the last month, and may not be up for his imminent challenge.
Posted by: Brock_Solid [Verified Trainer] [Verified Interim Gym Leader]
Deleted By a Moderator. Note: One month ban for propositioning women on the forum, and also, this is the serious discussion forum, Brock. Not the attractive lady fanart forums. One more and the ban is perma. This is literally your last chance.
Posted by: Moon_Soul [Verified Trainer] [2nd: Silver Conference]
Brock; back at it again, Arceus have mercy.
Yea, this season is looking more and more like a wild dream than reality. Just look at everyone coming out of the woodworks. We have people who we thought didn't want to be trainers (Cynthia) , people we didn't know why they didn't start already (Leon) and someone we never knew about (Greg) who actually have real contention for the throne. This isn't standard. Remember last year, when the most exciting rookie finished 128th? Or the year before that? They didn't even make a conference.
The last time a rookie finished higher than 128th was four years ago. Steven Stone in Hoenn did that, and he came back and won the next year. Before that it was Aaron of the Sinnoh Elite 4. This is so utterly bizarre that I can't put it into words. In the genuine first year of training anyone has ever done, there has never been a 1st year league victor. The Mandela effect will tell you otherwise but it's wrong. I checked. Greg is literally the first, and as a trainer, Leon and Cynthia will tie him. I think the record belongs to him if he pulls it off.
Holy fuck, boys, it's happening. Someone is going to do it, and it'll probably be all three of them. I am shaking in terror and anticipation. What if they decided to do two leagues each and agreed which two leagues those would be? We'd all be super fucked unless we're Unova or Paldea this season. Probably.
Godspeed brothers and sisters.
…
The international posts were always full of all kinds of crazy stuff, and while I was happy people were taking notice of me on the global stage, I was less happy with the weight of expectation. I know I'm good, but I've seen Leon and Cynthia battle clips and both of them are comfortably ahead of me.
For now.
So I moved on to the local fan base to see what people were talking about - related to me. I've been picking up more and more steam, which is good. Also flattering, but also a lot of very odd post like this were popping up -
Post: [Indigo] [Fanclubs] [General SFW] New Merch!
Posted by: Snorlaxoxo
Recently got a lot of new stuff from the people who make all of the art and shirts and whatnot. Look at this stuff! I made sure to get a lot of stuff for my new favorite! Even have new wallpapers on my PC and phone! What do you guys think?
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]
Posted by: Neo-Crobat
Well, I think she's a fan of Greg, if nothing else. That's for sure. The wallpaper on the PC is hardly SFW, though.
Posted by: Snorlaxoxo
Neo-Crobat He* - but I guess, yea. I'll put a spoiler mark on that. My bad~ but seriously, that's just inspiration for me to hit the gym. Have you seen his abs? He makes most people who aren't fighting specialists look like noodles, and he's either a terrain specialist or he's a generalist.
Posted by: Ponytana_G
Snorlaxoxo He's*
Posted by: Snorlaxoxo
Ponytana_G :p fine. You win.
Posted by: ImmortalFox [Retired Trainer]
TBH while I support the rookies as much as anyone else, I think this belongs on the Greg fan forum, even if you have some Karen stuff in evidence. You think they're dating because she took him shopping? Karen is too good for some wet behind the ears kid. He's not THAT good.
Posted by: GoldenMoon [Moderator] [Verified Trainer]
ImmortalFox Idk man, she seemed to be having a really good time going around Fuscia with him. Did you see the pictures? When did she smile like that at anyone? I can't remember a time. Tbh if he can't pick up that kind of hint, like you're obviously missing, then maybe she should find a guy who can respect her and who's not someone who brags about quitting on seven badges like you did.
Posted by: ImmortalFox [Retired Trainer]
GoldenMoon - I mean, if that's your opinion, sure. You can be wrong. I doubt she could seem his as anything near an equal, and honestly I don't think most people could appreciate her. Doubly not some 18 year old who we have confirmation from leaked pics of dating at LEAST two gym leaders for a couple weeks and one of the Cerulean Sisters. His record in dating is not looking so good. In a couple of years when he settles down out of whatever hormones are still boiling, but he's not flawless like our Queen Karen.
Posted by: GoldenMoon [Moderator] [Verified Trainer]
ImmortalFox - I might be a moderator, but I really don't get how people here simp so hard for successful trainers. I how some of them look and support them here, but this feels like you're putting down Greg for no real reason other than he's successful and has the interest of powerful well known trainers. I probably have more intel than you when I say he knows what he wants, and just hasn't found it. If he picks up on Karen, maybe she has what he wants? I'm not saying it'll work or even stick. I'm saying she's probably interested, and he might be too.
Either way, this is tangential to the post. I think the merch is good. I know the OP has a lot of merch from the top rookies of every year, and also a lot of merch for a lot of other popular trainers. They make a post every year and it's always nice to see how they progress their collection. I agree with his earlier comment that the abs he showed off in the swimsuit are killer. If it gets you in the gym, Snorlaxoxo, more power to you. I'll just leave it here for this post. Always more pervs to ban. I'm impressed no one has tried to sell lewd art on this thread yet.
Posted by: ImmortalFox [Retired Trainer]
GoldenMoon Okay, dude. Take shots at me and get upset when I take a shot at some random dude who'll probably flame out. Whatever.
Posted by: FlowerPower
Where did you even get all of this stuff?
Posted by: Snorlaxoxo
Here's a link to the e-store! [Link]
Posted by: [Banned User]
Post Deleted by Moderator GoldenMoon
Note: The idiots who think I won't see a reply on a thread I've talked in are my favorite kind of rule breaking scum. Don't sell NSFW versions of anything anywhere on this forum. It's a literal instant perma-ban from this forum. I put that rule in for a god-damn reason. Also, generally making NSFW art of rookie trainers is a good way to have a wandering powerful trainer get mad at you. Hope you never run into Greg in the wild!
….
I moved on again, I liked to skim the general fan stuff every few day to see how I was doing locally but to be honest, I'm not really comfortable with the fact people are monetizing pictures of me in a bathing suit. I mean, flattering, but also concerning. I should look into getting official merch made for me at some point so people don't have to get bootleg fan made stuff.
I moved on to the only place I really cared to post -
Post: [International] [Training] [Closed Groups] [Advanced Training Tips] Weekly Advice Board
Posted by: DragonLance [Admin] [Verified Champion]
Welcome to the weekly post - feel free to ask all things training in this thread. If you ask a hard question or something which isn't generally known, you'll get an X in reply or a DM about it. Maybe both.
Anyone can post a question and the community here - gym leaders, talented trainers with 8+ badges, and specialists will try to provide answers which aren't secret to their training. Like, last week someone asked for tips to refine flamethrower for a non-fire type and it was an enlightening debate.
All past threads and questions/answers can be found here: [Link]
Just search your question in the doc before posting it here. We don't want to have another Cross situation happen where they ask 500 questions we've already answered. The database goes back three years, and will exclude outdated information automatically thanks to the Porygon we have maintaining it and the site as a whole. While you'll get a good general answer from those (noted as Polygon in every answer they give on the site for purely factual q/a) they will not have some of the notes and other things often discussed because they are not verifiably 100% true.
What is discussed here is a resource to help those who are powerful and skilled to refine themselves and put on the best show the league can hope for in the conference.
Remember to read the rules on the rules post - pinned at the top of the community. If you break them you will be banned. That includes the "being an annoying idiot" rule, which is up to any given moderator to decide.
Good luck, everyone.
Lance.
Posted by: Firus [Verified Trainer] [9 Badges]
What are some exercises that can help stretch out Magmar and their line? I've found that no one really has good answers for their lower back region, which is a vulnerable range when you're building them for more power - like for throwing enemy Pokemon or picking them up. Since Magmar and the line are CQB based, for the most part, I wonder how people overcame this?
Posted by: VolcanoVacation [Verified Blaine]
X
Posted by: CoolPersian [Verified Trainer] [8 Badges]
When working with my Machop (recent capture) I was finding that some things worked better than others. I'm still worried about overworking him though. No one seems to have a limit for how much they can do while still young. Ideas?
Posted by: MountainHome [Verified Bruno]
If younger than 1 year, then they should do 40-120 reps and 6 sets per day of whatever half of their max lift is. If older than 1 year, it's literally work them until they drop. Figure out the rest yourself.
Posted by: SilverClimber [Verified 13 Badges]
Really specific question with broad applications that no one ever asks. I'm either stupid or I'll get an x probably.
When working on elemental manipulation I find that a lot of Pokemon tend to run into the same hurdles, basically they can't differentiate between their energy and the energy of the world which they need to use to make the elemental manipulation smoother. Fire Types, for example, have complained that they find it hard to mess with ambient heat even though they know it's there and they can make it move, they can't tell the difference between that and their general energy from their attacks unless the difference between those two is extremely massive. IE: Controlling a flamethrower when in a volcano. Everything is as hot as the Flamethrower so they lose precision. How the hell do you overcome that?
Posted by: VolcanoVacation [Verified Blaine]
X
Posted by: MountainHome [Verified Bruno]
X
(You have 4 new DMs!)
Posted by: DancingDragons [Verified 9 badges]
Arceus. Greg asking advanced questions people have written doctorate theories about in a general chat. Well, I did have a question similar, but not the same.
Anyone have tips on how hard I should push Dragon Types on more complex topics? I know they accel at lower levels, but these higher levels have some convoluted stuff, and it's making my Dragons mad.
Posted by: DragonLance [Admin] [Verified Champion]
Yes. That's all you need to know. I've said this before. Read the logs.
Posted by: GroundedSteel [Verified 9 Badges]
So, uh, what's the evolutionary threshold of an Everstone? I ran into a Rhydon with a pair of Everstone like, embedded in its chest. It wound up evolving into a Rhyperior mid-fight when I broke one on accident with an Iron-Tail it didn't block in time. My team and I booked it because it was crazy strong before it evolved. Figured I would ask since apparently enough strength means you can just ignore those?
Posted by: DragonLance [Admin] [Verified Champion]
I'll deal with that problem. But generally, Everstones can hold a species who are within 1 standard deviation of their races maximally allowed power threshold for evolution. So, for example, if you have a Rhydon who can use every move in it's evolutionary moveset with elemental manipulation then they're going to be on the cusp. When they get into domain control like Greg was talking about, and get good enough with it to use it in battle, they'll break the stone.
So if you fought that thing you'd probably die or be forced to run or have a Pokemon you couldn't keep in a ball. I'll deal with getting it relocated. There's a herd of Rhydon who do this and every time we have to relocate them because they try to stick too close to the cities due to various events, but wild Rhyperior can't be anywhere but in the middle of a mountain range. Not the kind people might find in Indigo.
General notice - if you see the Rhydon with 7 Everstones, just run the fuck away. It'll damn well kill you for disturbing it. It never leaves it's home by more than a mile and when it does migrate in the summer, we have rangers escort it and keep people away. Any wild pokemon with more than 3 Everstones should be ran from. Even if it's just a Rattata. We've have a few known multi-Everstone users, and they're all in the deep wilds where most of you will look for your next team members. This comes up every couple of years. Anyone below Gym Leader level should run from 3. Gym leaders from 4 or 5.
A shame you're out right now, Bruno. You could wrestle the new Rhyperior.
Posted by: MountainHome [Verified Bruno]
I would not mind about, but I am, as you say, out. I will note that some of you can probably handle some everstone using wild pokemon and some of you cannot. If you are uncertain, run. Generally, sticking to the routes will be safer. Stay on them until you are ready for the monsters who call the deep wilds their home.
Posted by: Mistrun [Verified 8 Badges]
Sooo as a water type specialist, my pokemon generally go with the flow, but for some reason my Dewgong has convinced my Squirtle it can be an ice type if it tries hard enough. Anyone have tips for helping a Squirtle work better with Ice Type energy?
Posted by: Waterflower [Verified Daisy]
Get it an ice beam, and have it figure out how the energy works, then have it figure out how to chill the water it puts out to a near frozen temperature. Also have it figure out how to make hot water with scald, then vary its control over both levels until it can produce water which freezes on contact. It's mostly a neat trick, but until it's older and knows better, that's some incredibly effective training for water control.
Other than that, I would bonk the Dewgong on the head and tell it that now IT gets to explain how it tricked that poor turtle. When you are around, force Dewgong while pretending to have no idea whats going on for Squirtle and comfort the baby.
Don't let up on training it though. Eventually Blastoise can outdo Dewgong with temperature manipulation and power. Dewgong is better inherently but has a lower ceiling in skill. I think of them like the best tutors for cold manipulation for water type trainers, tbh. They generally get new stuff first and they get it well enough to teach others who can go further with the skill overall.
Good luck!
Posted by: [Banned]
Post deleted by Moderator GoldenMoon
Off topic, annoying and making me mad. People need to stop trying to hit on gym leaders in these, you'd think when they read past threads and see two or three bans a week from the new people who make it in, well. Dumbasses will be as they will be. Who's next?
I decided to check my DMs, seeing another ban be delivered within seconds by GoldenMoon was always fun. My DMs probably have some kind of interesting bits related to my question or general updates on how people I've met are doing.
Erika, at least, messages me every time she sees I'm on when she's on. Considering I make sure to go on around 8:30 to 9:00pm every day, and she seems to be on around then too, I get messages almost every time I sign in.
The others, I see, are less frequent visitors to my inbox.
(people who DM - GoldenMoon, Erika (above), Surge and DancingDragons)
Unread Direct Messages -
Plumes_of_Green
GoldenMoon
HistoricallyMinded
DancingDragons
From: Plumes_of_Green
Hey Greg, hope you've been doing well! Most recently, I've been working with a new gym trainer, and they're showing some progress. I am very pleased with our progress, and how safe Celadon has become since the Game Corner was cleansed. But you asked a question in the advanced trainer forum, and if you spent enough time digging in the old answers, you could piece this bit together. I can give a better answer in person.
Honestly, this is a hard question to answer. As grass types are my specialty, I can explain shortly from the bits people have dropped over the couple years I've been paying attention. What you do is have your pokemon make an area saturated in their energy. Simple enough in theory. Following your fire type example… The fire type making a flaming tornado, or lava field and then focusing on that heat slowly dissipating into the world as it is cooling to normal temperature is the best way. When they can feel and keep a single spark or flame the size of a quarter alive while the rest dissipates with just their control then they can move to the volcano and do it again.
Do this with every type you're trying. Ephemeral types like Dragon and Fairy are harder. There are other tips for other types, but honestly this is the general idea which most people use. 'Most' being beyond the top 1% of the 1% who even make it to the conference. Smart cookies will know there are better ways but I'm not going to share secrets. Every time this comes up in various forms, this is how it's answered. Anyone who works on it long enough will come to the conclusion there are better ways. Physical then easily detectable (nonphysical) things are the harder while ephemeral conceptual things are hardest.
Other than that, though, I've been curious if you know how to unlock certain grass type moves? We can discuss it in person when you have time.
Hoping to see you soon!
Erika.
From: SilverClimber
Hey Erika,
It's good to hear from you, and I'm glad you're doing well in the big city, and the gym trainers are coming along. I'm hopeful to see the new one you're so excited about when I finish up with Blaine. Probably a few weeks out. He is a former champion. Maybe old and out of practice, but I won't rely on that.
As for the advice, I'm thankful for the input. I'll test out what we can do, and then discuss it with you in person when we have time. With a couple weeks to refine control I imagine we'll grow in leaps and bounds by the time we meet up. I'll make notes on what you can improve with grass types, theoretically and literally by what I've found.
I suppose on my end, life has been good. Koga was tougher than I thought he'd be, but it was a good fight which showed me where I'm lacking and what I can work on. I'm excited to work on that, and show you what we've been working on. After I do another circle of the region, I might go out of the region for training with other trainers. Maybe Sinnoh or Hoenn. They're far enough away for me to get some idea of where things are but with variety on what they have.
Hopefully you can come up with some interesting tales for my next check in! I'm always loving hearing from you and your time working on things. More stories will be welcomed.
See you in a month or so, I think.
Greg.
Then I moved on to the next DM. Usually I go back and forth a bit with Erika after our initial info dumps at each other, but it was mostly just inane conversation.
From: GoldenMoon
Hey kid.
Hope you've been well. I'll visit when I can. I need to go to some islands near Cinnabar to crack some Rocket Remnants, and will meet you there probably. Good to get some sun.
Hope you've been doing well. Expect to get a better wardrobe.
Karen.
From: SilverClimber
I'm terrified. See you then, Karen.
From: HistoricallyMinded
Hey Greg,
Since I have no idea when you'll be in a city, I'll say this here. The thing you asked me about awhile ago was approved by the clan I talked to. Give me a call on your next possible Friday. I'm at home in Celestic town - or at least near it. I'll be sure to be in the center from 8 to 10pm your time every Friday, since my team needs to get cleaned up after we cleaned the gym circuit.
Hope to see you soon,
Cynthia.
From: SilverClimber
Hey Cynthia,
I'll give you a call next Friday. Maybe I'll go to Sinnoh and we can use each other as training buddies for our respective conference! It's something to consider. I think it's the best thing we can do. Also, get to know each other without having to worry about some criminals getting our stuff from hacking or whatever.
Feel free to consider and get back to me on the call. I'll talk to you then.
Best,
Greg.
From: DancingDragons
Hi Greg! Hope you've been doing well! I mostly wanted to chip in that what you're working on is nonsense and I'm terrified. If you want to face my main team from the last conference, feel free to find me in Fuschia. I'll probably be here for another month since I'm quite literally working here until the conference is about to start. Most of the more powerful trainers will do the same if they're from out of region.
Good luck with Blaine!
From: SilverClimber
Melissa, you're just slow. :p I'll probably swing by after I visit my friends for a battle then move on to somewhere else to train more. Good luck keeping up, slowpoke.
Now, for inane conversation.