Newbie needs advice on building an early team

[Guibs]

Hi everyone,

Ruby is my first ever pokemon game and I know I have much to learn.

Right now, I have 3 badges earned in the game and just defeated the team magma on top of that montain where they wanted to use a meteor. That battle, against the leader, showed me that my team is weak against fire and need some work.

Here are the pokes I have and think should be in my team (I am listing more than 6 right now). I'D like to know which I should dump. Don't be affraid to also recommand something outside of what I have right now:

Combusken lvl 31 (a keeper)

Aron lvl 26

Kirlia lvl 24 ( a keeper I think)

Breloom lvl 23

Swablu lvl 17 (just catched that one)

Linoone lvl 20 (I like the item catching ability... but weak in fighting)

Gyarados lvl 20 (just raised it to lvl 20, but no water ability until a while!)

Zangoose lvl 18 (just catched it)


Ok, I think I really need a water type in there, maybe some other. What Should I keep, what should I add, anyone can give me advice on what to do with this team, what pokes to look forward too ?

[Ultimate Charizard]

Drop Linoone hes not much for battling, just for getting around the game.

Gyarados is decent if you know how to deal with his HOOGE electric weakness.
They arent too bad and the two fighting dual types can deal with the appearance of all the Dark types in this version although u may struggle at the 6th gym.

I dont think your that weak too Fire but something with electric (Kirlia can learn thunderbolt) would help. It will also learn Psychic at 26.

The only thing u may have trouble with are other Psychics since u have alot of Physical pokemon. Maybe think about replacing Gyarados with Sharpedo or something.

[Guibs]

thanks, please continue with the suggestions.

As for Sharpedo/Carvanha, where can I find him and how ?

[Gligar_Man]

catch a wingull and evolve it into pelipper instead of gyarados, it learns wing attack, surf, supersonic early on (well whenver you get surf) and it will be a huge help, as for dealing with its wqeaknesses, just switch, its the game not battling you can use items in battle... :p

[sulcataixlude]

Gyarados is better in this version than in G/S/C with earthquake and clear mind to help raise his horrible special attack. However if you feel like it perhaps you could drop gyarados for the ever so deadly tentacruel! If you decide to get tentacruel you should give it Surf, Mirror Coat, Confuse Ray, and Ice beam. Also early on Tentacruel learns bubble beam on like lvl 22 or so, and it should help ya with your fire problem. Oh most of the pokemon in flanneys gym are not fire types in case your wondering.

[Guibs]

Wouldn't a Chinchou/Lanturn solve my water/eletric problem? He is a water/electric hybrid. Would he be a nice pick?

Also, where could I find him ?

[Slowking86]

I think you can only find him when diving. and that is later ein the game.

As for the water type you should go with Tentacruel as suggested or wait till you get to the shoal cave and catch a Spheal( ice/water, useful in elite4.)

[Guibs]

Spheal sounds interesting. Where could I catch this one ?

[Virutas]

Originally posted by Guibs
Spheal sounds interesting. Where could I catch this one ?

Yo cannot catch Spheal yet. You need the surf HM.

I supose you want to defeat the gym leader who uses fire-pokémon. Well, I'd discard Breloom (half grass) and Aron (half steel). Linoone can learn surf, dunno Zangoose. Have you tried with Numel (half ground)?

[OpOp32]

It seems on the topic right now....where is Shoal Cave?

[Latios5]

go to mossdeep, and behind the poke center you can surf. Surf back there and go north till you find a team battle. behind the mis the entrance to shoal cave.(the water level varies from time to time)