Gotta Train 'Em All Part 1 - Gym 2

ROUTE 32 - GYM 2

With the first gym badge hot in hand, I headed South to Azalea. Already pleased as punch with how my first 3 active team members had performed, I was ready to let Hoppip and Drowzee shine.

On Route 32, you can find TM9 (Bullet Seed). Hoppip's descent Sp Atk and lack of any other worthwhile attack moves make this one a descent move for it. Furthermore, it learned Poisonpowder at lv 12. There's a few fisherman trainers on the east bridge of the route, who are easy picking for Hoppip with these couple of moves.

Slugma picked up Rock Throw at lv 11, but his low Atk stat render it not quite as useful at Ember. Still, the variety in the move type is nothing to scoff at. His and Psyduck's stat growth continued to be solid, alternating between a balanced boost and large gains in Sp Atk.

Psyduck was the clear MVP of Union Cave. He quickly dispatched hikers and wild geodudes, gaining several level on the way. Shuckle continues to surprise me with how quickly he gains levels, which is good because it takes him forever to win battles.

I did not get a chance to give Drowzee a shot until Slowpoke Well, but he was the only Pokemon I needed to clean house. His strong Def and Sp Def as well as his solid Sp Atk and Confusion made quick work of any wild Zubats, and the Team Rocket leader there had a Zubat and Koffing. Child's play.

The junior trainers in Bugsy's gym didn't put up much of a fight against Slugma; and once again Shuckle was the standout monster against the gym leader. This time, he took Scyther's U-Turn like a champ, poisoned Metapod and Kakuna before swapping out to Slugma to mop up, and used his poison to slowly whittle away Scyther.