[ROM Hack] Beyond the End of Time: EoT's GT2023 Blaze Black 2 Redux Challenge

[Explorer of Time]

Rules:

Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are banned from this challenge.
Slower than Usual (S1-S9 Personal): Your Pokémon cannot evolve by any other method other than level up / friendship. In that case, they can only evolve once their level is equal to their normal evolution level (or the level at which they obtained max friendship) + 5.
The Prehistoric Age (S1 Global): You can only use Grass and Normal-types for Segment 1.
The Medieval Age (S2 Global): You can only use Fighting and Fairy-types for Segment 2, or in alternative, only Normal-types.
Genwunners (S2-S9 Personal): You can only use Pokémon introduced in generations 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Time Flows Like Water (S3 Personal): You can only use Pokémon caught during Segment 3 for Segment 3.
Questionable Discovery (S4-S9 Personal): You may not use any Dark-type Pokemon. You may not use any Fairy-type other than the Gardevoir you picked for Towards the New Future. You may only use a single Steel-type Pokemon in Segment 8, and may not use Steel-type Pokemon in any other segment. (Post-Challenge Note: Probopass is Rock/Electric in this romhack and could have been used in S8 and S9, but wasn't.)
Time Debt (S4-S9 Global): You may not use the Shiny Kricketune, Shiny Ampharos, Medicham, or Jumpluff from Segment 4. You may catch replacement Kricketune, Ampharos, Medicham, or Jumpluff during segments where your personal rules allow them. (Post-Challenge Note: A replacement Jumpluff was used in the challenge in S5, S7, and S8, but none of the other three were used again.)
Towards the New Future Pt. 1 (S4-S9 Global): You have to keep your Gardevoir on your team until the end of the game. He's not affected by any other rule.
Towards the New Future Pt. 2 (S4-S8 Global): Your Gardevoir has to use has to use the strongest attack he currently knows in each Gym Battle.(Post-Challenge Note: His strongest available moves were Psyshock vs. Elesa, Future Sight vs. Clay/Skyla, and Hyper Beam vs. Drayden/Marlon)
Item Consequences (S5 Personal): You have to drop half of your healing items at the beginning of Segment 5.
Noir (S6 Personal): You can only use White or Black Pokemon during Segment 6. Qualified fully-evolved Pokemon available in this segment included: Abomasnow, Banette, Butterfree, Chatot, Claydol, Dewgong, Gardevoir, Seviper, Smeargle, Unown, and Zangoose.
Let The Past Burn (S7 Personal): You have to beat Segment 7 with a team made only out of Grass-type Pokémon, with the exception of your Towards the New Future Gardevoir.
The Terminator (S8 Personal): You must put one Steel-type Pokémon in your team for Segment 8.
Time Doesn't Fly (S9 Personal):You may not use any Flying or Normal-types. You may not use any Psychic-types aside from your Gardevoir. (Post-Challenge Note: Charizard is changed to Fire/Dragon in this romhack and was usable. Masquerain was also usable because of a type change to Bug/Water, but I didn't use it.)

Segment 1:

Spoiler:

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 1 (Aspertia City -> Aspertia Gym)

Now that I've eaten dinner, I have time for a more descriptive update. I started off Blaze Black 2 by catching a full team in Route 19 and 20, though I was delayed by a question about whether I could change my clock (appropriate for the challenge, funnily enough) to catch a Pokemon I wanted on my team. I ended up with a team of Snivy, Hoppip, Starly, Bidoof, Sewaddle, and Shroomish. (I had a couple more normal types while waiting for mod answers, but they never saw a trainer battle.)

I won all the battles so far on my first try. My rival, who I named Tybalt, had a team of Taillow, Tepig, and Pansage, and my Bidoof soloed him, mostly with Rollout. There was also an optional battle against Roxanne, who had her RS team of a Geodude and a Nosepass, and I won that easily because of my type advantage. Cheren was harder than expected, though. His Minccino took down both my Snivy and Sewaddle, and nearly beat my Shroomish, too. Then, after my Shroomish fainted it, he KOed her with Pidove after I failed to put it to sleep with Shroomish's Grass Whistle. Bidoof beat Pidove with Rollout, then Cheren sent out a Lillipup, which beat the weakened Bidoof after he missed his next Rollout. I sent out Hoppip to beat Lillipup, and then paralyzed his Munchlax and switched to Starly. Cheren's Munchlax only knew Work Up and Flail, so I spent six turns minimizing its accuracy before attacking, and then used Quick Attack a few times to faint it before it could land a blow.

I'm not sure if the Prehistoric Era condition is something that applies just to this segment, or to all of them until we can shut it off, but either way I'm fine with keeping a mostly-Grass team. If not for my own personal rule preventing stone evolutions, I would've ditched Starly and Bidoof and made an all-grass team with Lotad and Seedot.

Team

Spoiler:

Snivy (♂) | Grass | Level 12
Moves: Vine Whip, Twister, Wrap, Leer
35 HP / 19 Atk / 21 Def / 15 SpA / 23 SpD / 20 Spe
Ability: Contrary| Nature: Sassy | Item: Binding Band

Hoppip (♂) | Grass/Flying | Level 14
Moves: Mega Drain, Gust, Stun Spore, Worry Seed
35 HP / 15 Atk / 19 Def / 19 SpA / 22 SpD / 22 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Quiet | Item: (None)

Starly (♂) | Normal/Flying | Level 13
Moves: Wing Attack, Quick Attack, Pursuit, Sand Attack
34 HP / 20 Atk / 13 Def / 14 SpA / 16 SpD / 18 Spe
Ability: Reckless | Nature: Brave | Item: (None)

Bidoof (♂) | Normal | Level 12
Moves: Headbutt, Bite, Rollout, Defense Curl
37 HP / 19 Atk / 15 Def / 12 SpA / 18 SpD / 15 Spe
Ability: Simple| Nature: Careful | Item: (None)

Sewaddle (♀) | Bug/Grass | Level 11
Moves: Bug Bite, Razor Leaf, Electroweb, String Shot
32 HP / 17 Atk / 21 Def / 14 SpA / 19 SpD / 15 Spe
Ability: Chlorophyll | Nature: Docile | Item: Soothe Bell

Shroomish (♀) | Grass | Level 13
Moves: Mega Drain, Headbutt, Grass Whistle, Leech Seed
38 HP / 19 Atk / 18 Def / 17 SpA / 23 SpD / 16 Spe
Ability: Effect Spore| Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Segment 2:

Spoiler:

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 2 (East Route 20 -> Virbank Gym)

What an update. I had to switch out two-thirds of my party, caught some new Pokemon with the remaining two, then switched over to an entirely new Fighting/Fairy party. I caught an Azurill and Riolu in Floccesy Ranch, and a Ralts and Mankey in Route 20. I did a ton of biking in the ranch with Azurill holding a Soothe Bell to quickly get his friendship high enough to evolve, then waited until level 12 to evolve him into Marill.

Most of the battles were pretty easy. My only loss was to Nursery Aide Kimya in Route 20, before I had a full party again. At Virbank, I caught a Croagunk and fought Brawly, who went down pretty easily and gave me a Meditite egg.

In the battle against Roxie, I led with Mankey after taking off his held item, then Coveted her Trubbish's Eviolite and spammed Acupressure in the hopes of surviving the inevitable Explosion. Which he did, but barely, and lost to Roxie's Koffing. I tried sending out Ralts against Koffing, but he was outsped and 1HKOed. I switched to Meditite and Psybeamed away Koffing, Roxie's Croagunk, and wounded Whirlipede. However, Whirlipede fainted Meditite, then Marill, so I switched to Croagunk to use Mud Bomb a few times to win the battle. Riolu ended up staying in his Poke Ball the whole fight.

I also caught a shiny Mareep, my second-ever shiny, in Floccesy Ranch, but I can't use it yet. (I think the Medieval global rule only applies to this segment, not to the next one, but please correct me if I'm wrong.)
And I caught a shiny Audino I couldn't use at all while looking for a Mankey. I know the shiny odds in this game are boosted to 1/500, but that's still really lucky.

Team

Spoiler:

Marill (♂) | Water/Fairy | Level 20
Moves: Bubble Beam, Disarming Voice, Sing, Charm
64 HP / 14 Atk / 26 Def / 16 SpA / 23 SpD / 26 Spe
Ability: Huge Power| Nature: Rash | Item: Scope Lens

Riolu (♂) | Fighting | Level 18
Moves: Force Palm, Bite, Metal Claw, Work Up
44 HP / 37 Atk / 22 Def / 17 SpA / 23 SpD / 26 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Brave | Item: Muscle Band

Ralts (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 19
Moves: Psybeam, Draining Kiss, Magical Leaf, Shock Wave
45 HP / 17 Atk / 14 Def / 27 SpA / 26 SpD / 22 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Focus Band

Mankey (♂) | Fighting | Level 19
Moves: Low Sweep, Covet, Payback, Acupressure
47 HP / 39 Atk / 20 Def / 22 SpA / 25 SpD / 27 Spe
Ability: Anger Point | Nature: Relaxed | Item: (None)

Meditite (♀) | Fighting/Psychic | Level 20
Moves: Force Palm, Psybeam, Hidden Power (Ice), Meditate
42 HP / 27 Atk / 31 Def / 28 SpA / 31 SpD / 31 Spe
Ability: Pure Power | Nature: Sassy | Item: Wise Glasses

Croagunk (♂) | Poison/Fighting | Level 20
Moves: Revenge, Headbutt, Mud Bomb, Work Up
51 HP / 38 Atk / 21 Def / 31 SpA / 19 SpD / 29 Spe
Ability: Poison Touch| Nature: Naughty | Item: Silk Scarf

Segment 3:

Spoiler:

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 3 (Virbank Docks -> Castelia Gym)

Once again, I had to ditch my entire team and train up a whole new set of six Pokemon. I got a Charmander from the harlequin at Virbank City, then leveled him up a bunch, evolved him into a Charmeleon, and caught a new team of Pokemon. First, I caught a Ponyta and Houndour at Floccesy Ranch, a Starly (which evolved once) at Route 19, and I also caught a shiny Kricketot that I could actually use while looking for a Starly. Finally, I caught a Koffing at the facility south of Virbank.

Of these, I ended up overleveling the Charmeleon, since he's the only one I have any interest in taking to the League, and I assumed I'd end up ditching most of this team after Burgh, so I didn't put too much effort into the rest.

I ended up sweeping through Burgh's entire team with Charmeleon, but I did lose to two non-boss trainers. The first was the school kid who was president of the Battle Company, who kept draining my health with his Mr. Mime faster than I could damage it, and the second was a trainer in the Castelia Gym who had a Pinsir with Moxie that built up because I was trying to level my underleveled Pokemon and didn't take it seriously enough the first time.

Team

Spoiler:

Charmeleon (♂) | Fire/Dragon | Level 32
Moves: Blaze Kick, Dragon Breath, Quick Attack, Work Up
82 HP / 46 Atk / 45 Def / 61 SpA / 50 SpD / 71 Spe
Ability: Defiant| Nature: Timid | Item: Wise Glasses

Houndour (♂) | Dark/Fire | Level 22
Moves: Fire Fang, Snarl, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang
58 HP / 32 Atk / 21 Def / 36 SpA / 35 SpD / 38Spe
Ability: Intimidate | Nature: Careful | Item: Muscle Band

Ponyta (♀) | Fire | Level 22
Moves: Flame Wheel, Low Sweep, Stomp, Charm
58 HP / 44 Atk / 32 Def / 33 SpA / 34 SpD / 55 Spe
Ability: Flame Body | Nature: Jolly | Item: Lucky Egg

Staravia (♀) | Normal/Flying | Level 24
Moves: Aerial Ace, Quick Attack, Pursuit, Endeavor
67 HP / 41 Atk / 34 Def / 23 SpA / 27 SpD / 49 Spe
Ability: Reckless | Nature: Impish | Item: Focus Band

Kricketune (♂) | Bug | Level 23
Moves: Fury Cutter, Rock Smash, Mud-Slap, Sing
69 HP / 54 Atk / 34 Def / 43 SpA / 33 SpD / 42 Spe
Ability: Technician | Nature: Serious | Item: Scope Lens

Koffing (♀) | Poison | Level 22
Moves: Clear Smog, Psybeam, Lava Plume, Assurance
50 HP / 38 Atk / 50 Def / 31 SpA / 34 SpD / 20 Spe
Ability: Levitate| Nature: Careful | Item: Quick Claw

Segment 4:

Spoiler:

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 4 (Route 4 -> Nimbasa Gym)

After beating Burgh, I ditched most of my temporary Fire-focused team from Segment 3, keeping only Charmeleon and Kricketot/Kricketune, and added back Hoppip/Skiploom/Jumpluff from Segment 1 and Meditite/Medicham from Segment 2. I also picked my Segment 2 Ralts as my mandatory Fairy-type to last the whole game. And, at last, I was finally able to use my shiny Mareep/Flaaffy/Ampharos as my sixth team member. Training everyone back up took a long time, and I don't think I'll be able to do another segment until the deadline is passed.

I lost my first battle against Colress when I had a team equal in level to his, and I had to grind up a few levels to rematch him, which was still pretty difficult. Against Elesa, I led with Jumpluff against Emolga, used Stun Spore, then I switched to Ampharos as it Volt Switched out. My Ampharos fainted her Zebstrika and wounded her Ampharos, but she fainted mine with a Dragon Pulse, and I brought out Gardevoir. I had him use Psyshock once against Elesa's Ampharos, then spammed Draining Kiss to heal himself without using an item, and swept through all her Pokemon except her paralyzed Emolga, which got a critical and fainted him. A Choice-Band-boosted Rock Tomb from Medicham fainted Emolga and won me the battle.

I'll permabox Kricketune, Jumpluff, Medicham, and Ampharos to get the extra points for Team Gears.

Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 37
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Magical Leaf, Shock Wave
111 HP / 62 Atk / 53 Def / 90 SpA / 91 SpD / 70 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Wise Glasses

Charmeleon (♂) | Fire/Dragon | Level 35
Moves: Blaze Kick, Dragon Breath, Low Sweep, Rock Tomb
88 HP / 51 Atk / 50 Def / 67 SpA / 54 SpD / 78 Spe
Ability: Defiant | Nature: Timid | Item: Eviolite

Jumpluff (♂) | Grass/Flying | Level 36
Moves: Mega Drain, Acrobatics, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder
106 HP / 45 Atk / 64 Def / 67 SpA / 80 SpD / 77 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Quiet | Item: Focus Band

Medicham (♀) | Fighting/Psychic | Level 39
Moves: Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Poison Jab, Rock Tomb
98 HP / 62 Atk / 76 Def / 70 SpA / 79 SpD / 81 Spe
Ability: Pure Power | Nature: Sassy | Item: Choice Band

Kricketune (♂) | Bug | Level 36
Moves: Lunge, Rock Smash, Hyper Voice, Sing
102 HP / 83 Atk / 51 Def / 66 SpA / 49 SpD / 64 Spe
Ability: Technician | Nature: Serious | Item: Wide Lens

Ampharos (♂) | Electric/Dragon | Level 36
Moves: Discharge, Bulldoze, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray
123 HP / 73 Atk / 77 Def / 97 SpA / 78 SpD / 53 Spe
Ability: Overcoat | Nature: Hardy | Item: Scope Lens

 

[Explorer of Time]

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 5 (Route 16 -> Driftveil Gym)

I had permaboxed four of my team members to get Team Gears some points, so I had to spend a lot of time training up replacements. I kept the Gardevoir I have to keep along anyway, and the Charmeleon I couldn't easily replace. For the other four, I picked up another Jumpluff with Prankster because it was by far the best member of my team, got a Mudkip from the guy who gives you a Hoenn starter and trained it up to a Swampert to help me beat Clay, and, since I was accidentally given knowledge of my next segment's rule, a Claydol and Butterfree to minimize training time for the next segment. I would've picked Claydol even without this rule, since this romhack makes it AMAZING by giving it Psyshield Bash. I pprobably would've skipped Butterfree without this foreknowledge, though.

Most of the battles along the way to Clay weren't too hard, with the exception of Charles both on the way to Driftveil and the rematch in Driftveil itself, since I'm not used to Triple Battles and lost three times while I got the hang of things. Rood was a little tougher than expected but I still beat him my first try.

To start off the battle against Clay, I led with Gardevoir, had him use Psyshock a couple times against Nidoqueen, and fainted it before it could set up Stealth Rock.

Clay switched to Nidoking, and I quickly used my strongest move, Future Sight, once to fulfill Towards the New Future before Gardevoir fainted. I switched to Butterfree, put Nidoking to sleep, and it fainted from Future Sight.

Clay responded by bringing out Krookodile, which outsped Butterfree and 1HKOed him with a Rock Slide. I brought out Swampert and 1HKOed it after he lost nearly half his health to an Earthquake.

Clay then sent out a Seismitoad, and I switched to Jumpluff while he wasted an Earthquake, and took it down with two Mega Drains.

I missed with Sleep Powder against Clay's Claydol and it hit back with an Ice Beam, taking Jumpluff down. I switched back to Swampert, barely survived a critical Psychic, and 1HKOed Claydol with Aqua Tail.

Clay's Excadrill fainted Swampert, then I returned with my own Claydol, which damaged it with Scorching Sands, then it 1HKOed Claydol with a Swords Dance X-Scissor. I sent out my last Pokemon, Charizard, which outsped it and won the battle with a Blaze Kick. (The Fire Lash in its team entry replaced Blaze Kick as a level up move right after the battle).

I then deposited my Charizard, Swampert, and Jumpluff in the PC. I hope I get Charizard and Jumpluff back in Segment 7, but Swampert's probably staying boxed this time.

Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 44
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Magical Leaf, Future Sight
132 HP / 77 Atk / 63 Def / 107 SpA / 108 SpD / 84 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Wise Glasses

Charizard (♂) | Fire/Dragon | Level 46
Moves: Fire Lash, Crunch, Low Sweep, Rock Tomb
131 HP / 97 Atk / 81 Def / 115 SpA / 79 SpD / 123 Spe
Ability: Defiant | Nature: Timid | Item: Muscle Band

Jumpluff (♀) | Grass/Flying | Level 46
Moves: Mega Drain, Acrobatics, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder
139 HP / 58 Atk / 82 Def / 94 SpA / 97 SpD / 116 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Modest | Item: None

Butterfree (♂) | Bug/Flying | Level 44
Moves: Air Slash, Draining Kiss, Psybeam, Sleep Powder
123 HP / 58 Atk / 52 Def / 114 SpA / 87 SpD / 93 Spe
Ability: Compoundeyes | Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Claydol | Ground/Psychic | Level 44
Moves: Psyshield Bash, Scorching Sands, Grass Knot, Explosion
123 HP / 80 Atk / 111 Def / 61 SpA / 113 SpD / 77 Spe
Ability: Levitate | Nature: Adamant | Item: Shell Bell

Swampert (♂) | Water/Ground | Level 46
Moves: Aqua Tail, Bulldoze, Avalanche, Rock Throw
159 HP / 109 Atk / 80 Def / 95 SpA / 107 SpD / 67 Spe
Ability: Torrent | Nature: Gentle | Item: Wide Lens

 

[Explorer of Time]

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 6 (Pokemon World Tournament -> Mistralton Gym)

I had to box only half my team this time, leaving behind Charizard, Jumpluff, and Swampert, but I was able to keep Gardevoir, Butterfree, and most importantly Claydol. I caught a Snover and evolved it into an Abomasnow right after my victory, and then, after the Plasma Frigate, went back and got a Dewgong for my fifth Pokemon. I waited until Celestial Tower for my sixth Pokemon, Banette, and had to face my rival in a 5v5 battle without her, which was kinda difficult and I lost it my first two tries. Aside from that, my only losses were against the first two of the back-to-back three trainers in the Castelia back alley that have really good teams in this romhack, but thankfully I don't have to refight the ones I beat and could just come back for rematches with a healed party. Aside from my Rival and these three, I've suffered no losses.

I do plan on saving Guitarist Tina for later, since she has a great Triple Battle team of all the Kanto and Johto starters, and I am not good at Triple Battles, so I'm planning to wait until sometime next segment, or possibly the segment after if I get a difficult restriction.

I started off the battle against Skyla with my Dewgong, and he fainted her Skarmory after it set Stealth Rock.

She sent out an Archeops, fainted my Dewgong, and I switched to Claydol, and maxed out its defenses by Psyshield Bashing it six times to KO it, then took down Swanna and Drifblim with a few Rock Slides. I had to use a few healing items, mostly status-restoring but also two Moomoo Milk, because Skyla got really lucky with status RNG and burned and froze Claydol multiple times.

I had to switch out, 'cause Towards the New Future, and tried having Gardevoir use Future Sight, but it fainted first on the first try. I switched to Butterfree and used a Revival Herb in Gardevoir, letting Butterfree faint in the process, but it got confused by Hurricane and fainted, so I tried AGAIN, sacrificing Abomasnow this time, and successfully Future Sighted it, and fainted it the next turn. Future sight technically didn't DO anything, but I did USE his highest-power move, which is all I needed to do to validate this victory.

Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 54
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Hidden Power (Rock), Future Sight
162 HP / 97 Atk / 77 Def / 133 SpA / 134 SpD / 104 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Wise Glasses

Claydol | Ground/Psychic | Level 58
Moves: Psyshield Bash, Rock Slide, Rock Smash, Explosion
163 HP / 111 Atk / 147 Def / 81 SpA / 149 SpD / 103 Spe
Ability: Levitate | Nature: Adamant | Item: Leftovers

Butterfree (♂) | Bug/Flying | Level 52
Moves: Air Slash, Draining Kiss, U-Turn, Sleep Powder
146 HP / 70 Atk / 63 Def / 136 SpA / 103 SpD / 110 Spe
Ability: Compoundeyes | Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Abomasnow (♀) | Grass/Ice | Level 52
Moves: Frost Breath, Wood Hammer, Rock Slide, Brick Break
159 HP / 104 Atk / 88 Def / 118 SpA / 106 SpD / 81 Spe
Ability: Soundproof | Nature: Timid | Item: Wide Lens

Dewgong (♂) | Water/Ice | Level 53
Moves: Surf, Frost Breath, Smart Strike, Aqua Ring
169 HP / 108 Atk / 107 Def / 92 SpA / 109 SpD / 81 Spe
Ability: Thick Fat | Nature: Bold | Item: Focus Band

Banette (♀) | Ghost/Normal | Level 54
Moves: Shadow Claw, Slash, Sucker Punch, Will-O-Wisp
138 HP / 145 Atk / 77 Def / 111 SpA / 99 SpD / 76 Spe
Ability: Cursed Body | Nature: Gentle | Item: Scope Lens

 

[Explorer of Time]

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 7 (Lentimas Town -> Opelucid Gym)

Of my previous team, I was only able to keep my Gardevoir and Abomasnow, but luckily I was able to bring back several of my former Pokemon from previous segments. My second Prankster Jumpluff, probably the most useful Pokemon in this challenge, came back from its short absence, my S1 Shroomish that came back after a very long absence, and a Lileep that I got from a fossil in S4 but never actually used. I finished rounding out my team by catching a Treecko from the Hidden Grotto in Lostlorn Forest, then trained them all up to the level of the two Pokemon I kept from the previous segment. (I also caught a Lombre for HMs, and it did see battle in one or two Triple Battles, but it never got a chance to attack so I'm not going to bother writing down its stats or moveset.)

Nothing here was too hard, and I think I won everything on my first try. I beat Drayden by having Gardevoir start off with Hyper Beam and faint to Druddigon, then brought out Jumpluff, put Druddigon to sleep, and revived Gardevoir. I then had Gardevoir sweep through Drayden's entire team with Choice Specs Draining Kiss, 1HKOing everything but Altaria, which was 2HKOed after wasting its turn buffing its Defense. Haxorus, Flygon, and Charizard also outsped it, but Haxorus missed its Iron Tail, Charizard used Belly Drum which was the absolute worst thing it could've done, and Flygon actually hit with an Earthquake, but Gardevoir healed all his damage with the retaliatory Draining Kiss.

Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 66
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Mystical Fire, Hyper Beam
198 HP / 133 Atk / 96 Def / 167 SpA / 166 SpD / 131 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Choice Specs

Jumpluff (♀) | Grass/Flying | Level 64
Moves: Energy Ball, Air Slash, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore
194 HP / 87 Atk / 116 Def / 134 SpA / 138 SpD / 164 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Modest | Item: Wide Lens

Breloom (♀) | Grass/Fighting | Level 64
Moves: Bullet Seed, Focus Punch, Zen Headbutt, Spore
159 HP / 198 Atk / 102 Def / 97 SpA / 97 SpD / 108 Spe
Ability: Technician | Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Abomasnow (♀) | Grass/Ice | Level 64
Moves: Frost Breath, Wood Hammer, Earthquake, Brick Break
197 HP / 134 Atk / 109 Def / 149 SpA / 132 SpD / 104 Spe
Ability: Soundproof | Nature: Timid | Item: King's Rock

Cradily (♂) | Rock/Grass | Level 64
Moves: Energy Ball, Rock Slide, Swords Dance, Confuse Ray
201 HP / 121 Atk / 145 Def / 114 SpA / 130 SpD / 67 Spe
Ability: Storm Drain | Nature: Naive | Item: Leftovers

Sceptile (♀) | Grass/Dragon | Level 64
Moves: Leaf Blade, Breaking Swipe, Earthquake, Swords Dance
184 HP / 160 Atk / 103 Def / 112 SpA / 139 SpD / 165 Spe
Ability: Unburden | Nature: Careful | Item: Scope Lens

 

[Explorer of Time]

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 8 (Frozen Opelucid City -> Humilau Gym)

That was a very short segment, but I caught a Piplup at the Hidden Grotto on Route 13 and trained it up into an Empoleon, dropping Cradily. I went straight to Humilau Gym right after beating Team Plasma in Opelucid, and the gym battle was closer than expected.

Marlon led with a Politoed, and I started off by having my Gardevoir hyper beam it, then, after it missed with a Hypnosis and hit with a Scald, KOed Politoed with a Thunderbolt.

Marlon sent out a Tentacruel next, and Sludge Wave KOed Gardevoir, then I sent out Jumpluff to Priority Sleep Powder it and try to take it down with Energy Ball, but Marlon used a Full Restore just when it was close to fainting. I sent out Empoleon next to try and slowly whittle down its HP, but it took her down with Mirror Coat. Finally, I had Sceptile use Choice Band-boosted Leaf Blade to KO it.

Marlon brought out his Ludicolo, which barely survived a Leaf Blade and then nearly KOed Sceptile with an Ice Beam. Sceptile KOed it the next turn, then she brought Marlon's Sturdy Carracosta down to 1HP before fainting. Abomasnow then KOed it while it wasted its last turn on Shell Smash.

Abomasnow also 2HKOed Marlon's Jellicent with Wood Hammer, being brought down to 1/4th HP by recoil damage and a Shadow Ball, then fainted to Marlon's Bibarel. I sent out my last Pokemon, Breloom, which survived a Strength and put it to sleep with Spore, then 1HKOed it with Bullet Seed.

Once I receive my final rule via PM, I'll begin the final segment.

Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 66
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam
198 HP / 133 Atk / 96 Def / 167 SpA / 166 SpD / 131 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Wise Glasses

Jumpluff (♀) | Grass/Flying | Level 66
Moves: Energy Ball, Air Slash, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore
200 HP / 90 Atk / 119 Def / 139 SpA / 142 SpD / 170 Spe
Ability: Prankster | Nature: Modest | Item: Wide Lens

Breloom (♀) | Grass/Fighting | Level 65
Moves: Bullet Seed, Focus Punch, Zen Headbutt, Spore
163 HP / 203 Atk / 104 Def / 101 SpA / 99 SpD / 109 Spe
Ability: Technician | Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Abomasnow (♀) | Grass/Ice | Level 66
Moves: Frost Breath, Wood Hammer, Earthquake, Brick Break
204 HP / 139 Atk / 113 Def / 154 SpA / 136 SpD / 108 Spe
Ability: Soundproof | Nature: Timid | Item: King's Rock

Sceptile (♀) | Grass/Dragon | Level 64
Moves: Leaf Blade, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Swords Dance
194 HP / 168 Atk / 108 Def / 117 SpA / 147 SpD / 173 Spe
Ability: Unburden | Nature: Careful | Item: Choice Band

Empoleon (♀) | Water/Steel | Level 62
Moves: Surf, Flash Cannon, Blizzard, Grass Knot
193 HP / 107 Atk / 130 Def / 147 SpA / 140 SpD / 92 Spe
Ability: Defiant | Nature: Timid | Item: Leftovers

 

[Explorer of Time]

Just a quick mid-Segment update, but I've beaten Ghetsis and Black Kyurem. I brought back my Charizard and Swampert to replace the Empoleon and Jumpluff I had to box for the last segment. Gardevoir has Calm Mind in place of Hyper Beam, and Breloom has Mach Punch instead of Focus Punch, but the four Pokemon I kept all otherwise have the same movesets. Swampert runs Surf/Earthquake/Ice Punch/Amnesia, and Charizard runs Fire Lash/Dragon Claw/Shadow Claw/Dragon Dance.

In both battles, I led with Breloom. She took down Black Kyurem without taking any damage, by putting it to sleep with Spore and 2HKOing it with Mach Punch.

Breloom also defeated Ghetsis's Cofagrigus without damage, barely survived a Cross Poison from his Machamp, then put it to sleep and 2HKOed it with Zen Headbutt. Ghetsis sent out a Genesect, which outsped and fainted it.

I sent out Charizard, and he would've 1HKOed Genesect if it didn't have a Focus Sash, and he lost half his HP to an Ice Beam. The second turn, he KOed Genesect with another Fire Lash. Ghetsis sent out a Gyarados, which Charizard brought down to 2/3rds HP with a Dragon Claw before being KOed by Earthquake.

I sent out Gardevoir next turn, outsped Gyarados, and he KOed it with Thunderbolt. Then Ghetsis sent out a Hydreigon, wasted its turn on Nasty Plot, and Gardevoir 1HKOed it with Draining Kiss. Finally, he sent out an Eelektross, which used Coil and then Wild Charge and nearly KOed Gardevoir, but he consistently outsped it and 3HKOed Eelektross with Draining Kiss.

 

[Explorer of Time]

Blaze Black 2 Redux
GT 2023 - Ruin Maniac Horatio
Segment 9 (Seaside Cave -> Pokemon League)

Alright, only moveset change since Ghetsis for my full update was putting Ice Beam on Gardevoir right before the League. Still no lost battles this segment. I should note, before I get into the League recap, that my Charizard changed his held item mid-League. Against Marshal, Grimsley, and Shauntal, he had a Muscle Band, and he had a Choice Band against Caitlin and Iris.

I started off the League by beating Marshal. Gardevoir 1HKOed or 2HKOed just about everything on his team with Choice Specs-boosted Draining Kiss, and I really should've mentioned earlier that it was boosted to 70 Base Power by this romhack's balance changes. Oh well. Anyway, Gardevoir 2HKOed his Throh and Sawk, 1HKOed his Mianshao and Conkeldurr, and 2HKOed his Lucario, though Lucario nearly KOed him with a critical Extremespeed. Marshal's last Pokemon, Medicham, outsped and KOed Gardevoir, but I just had Charizard 2HKO it with Shadow Claw soon after.

Like Marshal, I had Gardevoir spam Choice Specs-boosted Draining Kiss to win Grimsley's battle, which I did second. Gardevoir beat Liepard in one hit, but Bisharp got sent out next and 1HKOed him with Iron Head after it survived a Draining Kiss. I sent out Abomasnow, used a turn to revive Gardevoir with a Max Revive, and Abomasnow actually survived an Iron Head, so I had her Earthquake to KO Bisharp next turn. Grimsley sent out a Houndoom, I wounded it with an Earthquake, then it KOed Abomasnow. I sent Gardevoir back out, KOed Houndoom with Draining Kiss, then 1HKOed his Honchkrow, Krookodile, and Scrafty.

I fought Shauntal third, and led with Charizard, using Dragon Dance twice, then 1HKOing Jellicent and Golurk with Shadow Claw. Shauntal sent out a Sableye that I couldn't quite 1HKO, and it used Trick to swap Charizard's Muscle Band with a Lagging Tail. Charizard KOed it the next turn, but the damage was done and he nearly fainted next turn as he 1HKOed Drifblim, then was KOed by Chandelure the turn after that.

I sent out Sceptile, which survived an Overheat from Chandelure, and used Earthquake twice to KO it. Shauntal sent out her last Pokemon, Cofagrigus, and Sceptile did around 40% damage to it before being KOed. I sent out Abomasnow next, used a Wood Hammer to nearly faint it, but it used Disable on her, which forced her to use Struggle the next turn because of the Choice Scarf. Thankfully, it went down to only a single Struggle, and I moved on to the last member of the Elite Four.

Before fighting Caitlin, I swapped out Charizard's Muscle Band for a Choice Band, since I didn't plan to set up Dragon Dance in the last two battles. Caitlin runs a Trick Room team, and Iris doesn't have a good opportunity to set up because five of her six team members can hit Charizard for super-effective damage and the one that doesn't also knows Dragon Dance.

I led with Charizard against Caitlin, and had it use Shadow Claw for its Choice Band move. It triggered Beheeyem's Focus Sash, and it missed Charizard with a Psycho Boost in retaliation. Caitlin wasted her Full Restore here and Charizard just 1HKOed right after, then 1HKOed Metagross too. Charizard didn't 1HKO Reuniclus though, and lost 2/3rds of its HP to a Psychic, but he did KO it on the second turn. Then, he did around 45% damage to Gothitelle, and then finally fainted.

I brought Sceptile out, had her KO Gothitelle with a pair of Leaf Blades as she got wounded with Psychic. Caitlin sent out a Slowbro, for some reason used Trick Room a second time to undo her first Trick Room, and Sceptile nearly KOed it, but triggered its Red Card held item and got switched for Abomasnow, which KOed Slowbro with a Wood Hammer. Caitlin brought out a Musharna as her last Pokemon, and Abomasnow brought it down to 1/3rd HP while it set up Trick Room again, but got KOed herself. I sent out Sceptile, survived a Psyshock, and KOed Musharna with Leaf Blade to win the match.

I started off the final battle with Abomasnow, which wounded Dragonite with a Frost Breath, but she got 1HKOed by a Fire Punch and I sent out Gardevoir. He used Choice Specs-boosted Draining Kiss to KO Dragonite as it wasted its last turn on Dragon Dance, then he nearly KOed Iris's Serperior with a Draining Kiss as well. Iris used a Full Restore, but Gardevoir used another Draining Kiss that actually 1HKOed this time, and then he 1HKOed Hydreigon with yet another Draining Kiss.

Iris sent out an Archeops, which got a Critical Stone Edge on Gardevoir, taking him down. I sent out Swampert, and Archeops used U-Turn on him, but Haxorus got brought out directly into an Ice Punch and lost almost half its HP. Haxorus used Outrage, nearly KOing Swampert, but his next Ice Punch froze it and then he KOed it next turn. Iris sent out Archeops again, which KOed Swampert then nearly KOed Charizard with Earthquake, and Charizard 2HKOed it with Dragon Claw.

Finally, Iris sent out a Feraligatr, which Charizard wounded with a Dragon Claw, then fainted to from a Crunch. I sent out Sceptile, outsped, and KOed it with a Leaf Blade to win the GT2023 challenge.


Team

Spoiler:

Gardevoir (♂) | Psychic/Fairy | Level 77
Moves: Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam
230 HP / 155 Atk / 112 Def / 195 SpA / 195 SpD / 152 Spe
Ability: Synchronize | Nature: Adamant | Item: Choice Specs

Breloom (♀) | Grass/Fighting | Level 75
Moves: Bullet Seed, Focus Punch, Zen Headbutt, Spore
193 HP / 242 Atk / 125 Def / 119 SpA / 117 SpD / 135 Spe
Ability: Technician | Nature: Mild | Item: Quick Claw

Charizard (♂) | Fire/Dragon | Level 78
Moves: Fire Lash, Dragon Claw, Shadow Claw, Dragon Dance
222 HP / 172 Atk / 138 Def / 202 SpA / 134 SpD / 211 Spe
Ability: Defiant | Nature: Timid | Item: Choice Band

Abomasnow (♀) | Grass/Ice | Level 75
Moves: Frost Breath, Wood Hammer, Earthquake, Brick Break
234 HP / 166 Atk / 131 Def / 179 SpA / 156 SpD / 127 Spe
Ability: Soundproof | Nature: Timid | Item: Choice Scarf

Swampert (♂) | Water/Ground | Level 75
Moves: Surf, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Amnesia
269 HP / 185 Atk / 137 Def / 162 SpA / 180 SpD / 101 Spe
Ability: Torrent | Nature: Gentle | Item: Leftovers

Sceptile (♀) | Grass/Dragon | Level 75
Moves: Leaf Blade, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Swords Dance
217 HP / 199 Atk / 126 Def / 133 SpA / 166 SpD / 197 Spe
Ability: Unburden | Nature: Careful | Item: Scope Lens

 

[Explorer of Time]

What. A. Challenge. Eighty-eight and a half hours, twenty-nine team members from twenty-seven evolutionary lines, covering literally every single type in the series at one segment or another. While this challenge took considerably longer than I expected, I enjoyed every minute of it, even if it got a little exhausting to train up new team members so frequently while the get-together was still going on.

Blaze Black 2 Redux was a perfect choice for this challenge, with a huge selection of available Pokemon, extremely good documentation, faster grinding up new team members, and tons of challenging battles. Ordinary trainer battles here were comparable to gym leaders in most official Nintendo games, which hit a perfect sweet spot for difficulty. I lost eleven battles this run (nine if you don't count the two in Castelia that I intentionally lost so I could re-challenge with healed teams), which is way more than I usually lose in challenge runs.

Thank you so much for letting me continue, Eleanor and JanP!