the very best, pt. viii
Monday is upon us once again, which means it's time for more of The Very Best, our scientific study into how cool and talented every trainer is in Pokemon X. I know I'm excited.
A Time to Reflect
Have I mentioned that I love dungeons? I have very fond memories of playing Pokemon Blue as a kid and encountering Mt. Moon, this massive complex cave to explore and get lost in, challenging my resources all the while. These are the parts of the game that make it feel like you're on a journey, traversing the wilderness.
All of which to say, Reflection Cave is our first real dungeon (I think of Glittering Cave as a mini-dungeon). As dungeons go, it's fairly unremarkable, but that's not why I'm here. This mysterious cave connecst Geosenge Town with Shalour City, where we will get our next gym badge, get a free Lucario, and finally learn how to do Mega Evolution for real for real.
Reflection Cave: Backpacker Lane
Lane has a single Linoone, which . . . I remember once bringing Linoone as an HM friend in an Alpha Sapphire playthrough and really trying to make it work. Strength is a good move, and it has STAB on it to boot, but those stats were pretty underwhelming. At this exact point in the game, however, it's fine. It's pretty fast and has mediocre stats everywhere else. Solidly middle of the road. Skill Rating: 3/5
Lane seems to be having a bit of a crisis. He says he isn't planning on leaving, then he says he doesn't think this place is real, then he reiterates his plans to never leave, but this time because he's "enchanted by [his] reflection." He's so close to the entrance, too. You can do it, man. Coolness Rating: 3/5
Reflection Cave: Battle Girl Hedvig
Hedvig has a level 25 Throh and a level 26 Hawlucha. Both have moves that can deal with ghosts, though Throh didn't have an answer to ghost/flying types. I'm not a huge fan of Throh's abysmal speed, but it's otherwise pretty solid; Hawlucha, on the other hand, is a great addition to any team. Skill Rating: 4/5
I can't tell if Hedvig is doing a bit. She introduces herself with "mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the strongest of them all," and then after we win she says she's going to fight her reflection. Do I need to send someone to help you and Lane out, Hedvig? Are you okay? Coolness Rating: 3/5
Reflection Cave: Ace Trainer Monique
Our very first Ace Trainer! Monique has a Doduo, a Granbull, and a Helioptile; unfortunately, of the three, only Granbull really has much to offer. The others both have abysmal defenses and only decent offensive and speed stats, and Granbull's too slow to carry the team on its own. This feels more like a team she's trying to train up into something than a team that can stand on its own. Skill Rating: 2/5
I feel like I should be somewhat down on Monique's whole "Ace Trainer? I don’t know about all that, I just love Pokémon!" shtick, given how hard I have historically dunked on Poke Fans, but I at least admire her humility here. She didn't ask to be called an ace trainer, she just got there because of her love of Pokemon. I can appreciate that. Coolness Rating: 4/5
Reflection Cave: Tourist Monami
Monami has a Nidorina, which has very mediocre stats across the board. No glaring weaknesses but apart from maybe getting a lucky poison off, she's really just relying on out-muscling her opponents, and Nidorina isn't so good at flexing, if you get me. Skill Rating: 2/5
Monami says she likes deserting her fiancé because she thinks it's cute when he's scared. Also I think she might be trying to flirt with us after we win. I think Monami might be a bad person. Coolness Rating: 1/5
Reflection Cave: Black Belt Igor
Igor has Sawk; remember how much I liked Battle Girl Gerardine's potential? Sawk is just a strict upgrade on that. He even has Bulldoze to cover ghost types; yes, he loses to Drifloon, but that's one Pokemon which, at this point in the game, is a bit too weak to be fighting on the front lines anyway. Igor is hands down the strongest trainer in this area. Skill Rating: 5/5
Igor says exactly three words to us. "BATTLE!" when initiating battle, "DESPAIR!" when losing, and "TRAIN!" when we talk to him after the fact. Some may admire him for his brevity and clarity of purpose; I'm just going to stand over here. Coolness Rating: 2/5
Reflection Cave: Psychic Franz
Chimecho is better than I'd have given it credit for, given that when I fought Franz my Wartortle's Bite got a flinch every single time it was used. Stats are solid but not great. Golett, on the other hand, exists to be stomped, and without a strong opener in Chimecho I'm afraid Franz is doomed to a Skill Rating of 2/5.
Franz asserts that mirrors have had mystic power since ancient times. I feel like if they have mystic power at all, it would be more surprising if they only recently developed it, you know? Wake me up when some fundamental constant of the universe changes, Franz. Until then I'm not interested. Coolness Rating: 2/5
Reflection Cave: Tourist Haruto
It's Monami's fiance! He has a Nidorino, which I'm sure shocks you. It has the same strengths and weaknesses as Monami's, except this time I knew what to expect and led with my Braixen, which one-shotted it. Skill Rating: 2/5
Haruto is sobbing and wondering where his "darling" has gone off to. She's left you behind on purpose, man. She thinks it's hilarious that you break down weeping when you're alone. You should find a new partner. Coolness Rating: 3/5
Reflection Cave: Honeymooners Yuu and Ami
With a Combee and a Vespiquen, I find myself wondering if Yuu and Ami are trying to lose on purpose. Like, yeah, Vespiquen is pretty solid, and I get the whole pairs gimmick or whatever, but you're basically entering a Doubles battle with a single Pokemon. Skill Rating: 1/5
Yuu is just ecstatic to be out here with his wife and his Pokemon; Ami seems to be dreaming of a better world, and wondering if that makes her a bad person. Yuu doesn't seem to be aware that his wife has feelings, and earns a Coolness Rating of 1/5; I know we aren't seeing Ami at her best but I feel like I understand her. You know? Coolness Rating: 4/5
Reflection Cave: Ace Trainer Emil
Emil has a level 26 Absol and a level 25 Pinsir. This is just straight up a good team. Nothing fancy, just two strong Pokemon. Emil has definitely earned the Ace Trainer title. Skill Rating: 5/5
Emil has a hard time setting goals. His sole desire, he says, is to defeat us to bring joy to his Pokemon; and then when he fails he falls self-deprecation, lamenting that he was too weak to achieve his goals. Fortunately, he bounces back pretty quickly and gives us some advice on navigating the cave. Coolness Rating: 3/5
Reflection Cave: Hiker Dunstan
Here's the thing about Hiker Dunstan. He is the last Trainer you encounter in the cave, and he has the lowest level Pokemon. And while Diggersby is fine, Sandile and Dwebble are both fairly poor in terms of stats. Dunstan just doesn't have what it takes to win fights in the Reflection Cave. Skill Rating: 1/5
At first I had no idea what to make of Dunstan, but I think he's going for "funny uncle" vibes. Which is, if nothing else, appropriate for a Hiker, I guess. Coolness Rating: 3/5
And with that, we leave behind the Reflection Cave and find ourselves in Shalour City. Next week: gym battles, rival battles, and cinematic Mega Evolution battles at the top of a weird mysterious old tower! Stay tuned.