Training too many Pokemon?

[Lady Vulpix]

I have played several Pokemon games (currently playing Black), and I've always ended up with the same problem: lagging behind on my Pokemon's levels because I'm training were more Pokemon than the game expects me to. Absolutely unable to choose 6, I usually limit myself to 10 active Pokemon plus 2 or 3 utility Pokemon (for Cut, Flash, etc.), but that means I always end up having to fight wild Pokemon to level up my large team, and also using the PC a lot, which is not available at all locations.

On the plus side, when I challenge a gym, I can choose the 6 Pokemon that have the best type matches for the Pokemon in that gym. It's harder to choose for the Elite 4, but it's still good to have a choice. Still... leveling up so many Pokemon is an annoying task.

Have you had any similar experiences? How many Pokemon do you usually train? How do you choose which ones to train and which ones to leave behind?

[DarkestLight]

I actually have the opposite problem. I usually reach a point where I have 5 Pokemon max, regardless if I need HM's or not. So, I slightly overlevel, but its still harder for me when Gmyms come along that I'm just not ready for...

One mainstay, I never am ready for a Dragon Gym because I never have anyone that deals with Ice/Dragon moves.

[classy_cat18]

Like you, Gabi, I usually let the Elite 4 lineup decide what I have on my main team. So while going to the gyms and through the storyline, I train six Pokemon plus a few promising extras. The problem with training usually comes after the Elite 4, when I like to catch Pokemon on a low level and train them up for other purposes. As you can guess, training them at that time is difficult because you usually don't have the trainers and gym leaders you had earlier on. When some games had the gym leader rematches, they were of too high of a level. But I guess that's what Exp. Share is for, but that means I still have to use my main team!

Plus at the start, even though I do have the Elite 4 decide my final lineup, there are some guidelines on what to bring along. A Water type is a must, as well as a Flying, Fighting, and Electric type. I've learned the necessity of a Steel type to train for fighting Dragon types even though they have the possibility of knowing Earthquake. For some reason (probably because it takes a while to catch one), I've never had a Dragon type for the Elite 4.

[Blademaster]

Up until a few years ago, I'd always raise a team of 6 Pokemon and slap HM moves on them willy-nilly. Now that I know what HM slaves are, I typically either train 6 with more thought put into who gets the HM's (Thank BW for limiting the need for the blasted things so much.), or I devote 2-3 slots to HM users and battle with 3 or 4 Pokemon.

As for WHICH Pokemon I choose... That depends, usually, on the game. Sometimes I'll go with reliable battlers from the past; other times I'll see something unusual and think "I wonder how that'll do in a fight..." and boom, it's on the team. The latter reason is what led me to love underdogs like Swoobat (and its ancestor, Crobat) and Emolga, and many others in the past.

Also, my belief is that many times, life limits your options. So learning how to deal with threats and challenges WITHOUT having a distinct advantage is a must. Six Pokemon are NOT needed for a Gym battle. I usually have, at my very best, 2 Pokemon with direct advantages and just as many with disadvantages, and whoever winds up winning wins. That's how the hand of chance lands: Sometimes you curbstomp Brock's team by spamming Bubble and Water Gun; other times you do so with Pikachu's Quick Attack.

[Ash0011]

my problem is I have a main team of 6 but they're still level 30s and ive battled all the trainers (soulsilver) I still need to challenge the elite 4 (hint ice moves are learn-able by normal and water types when challenging the dragon gym) I cant beat the elite 4 in this state and am considering restarting even though I have an epic scyther with technician (blew through the ghost gym with pursuit) any pointers?

also my main battler in diamond was a staraptor (after found out prinplup's final type)
it had close combat, brave bird, pluck, and fly it was epic

[classy_cat18]

Ash, I dunno if anyone's told you this but there's no double posting in this forum. If you have something to add, edit it in your post.

Thank you in advance! ^_^

[ChobiChibi]

I smashed Iris first time without any of my pogees having dragon/ice moves. One of the was weak to fighting, if I remember. Stood no chance since most of my team (below) know fighting moves.

I only tend to train 6, so now I have a dilemma. Assuming I'd need a HM bum up victory road, I left my Zebstrika behind. Now he's lagging behind and other than his speed, I don't really like him that much. What to do? Get him to catch up? Or train something new?

[Rossymore]

Before starting games I usually plan a team of six. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't (though beating HG with a Typhlosion, Togetic, Tangrowth, Sandslash and two other Pokes that weren't too good did feel awesome when I beat Lance), but I usually teach my Pokemon the HM moves so I can have a team of six. Though I always need someone to learn Surf, Fly and Thunder Wave. Those moves are just USEFUL. So it sometimes takes me a while to decide on what Pokemon to have and what to catch to space them out evenly.

Though lately I have been choosing Pokes I haven't used before, which also adds to the challenge.

Also, Ash, you need to fight every trainer in the game to make sure your level stays high. Raise up your Pokemon evenly and you should be around level 35-37 by the time you reach the E4. Level up a bit in Victory Road and use your Rare Candys you've found.

And Chobi, unless you want items or Strength shortcuts, you don't need HMs. B/W are the only games where you don't need ANY HMs to complete the game, though they make your life easier. Strength and Surf and even Waterfall are HMs I teach my main team anyway, as they're pretty useful.

And I did use a Zebstrika in my White game. They're pretty frail, but I managed to get by with one, though its type coverage was pretty bad, though I think it learns Strength. If you want something new, you can get a Rufflet/Vullaby, Durant/Heatmor, or even Deino.

[Ash0011]

35-37 seems too low to take them on without some serious potions and the victory road is so slow for levling up I think it's because I pretty much started with 6
the team planning is actually why I like emerald, I can get a ralts, torchic, taillow, lotad, and slakoth in the first few routes, then I just need to decide if I want a poison or electric later

[Rossymore]

That's the problem if you get a lot of team members very quickly. If you get your team of six quickly, you'll be dividing up the experience too much and your levels will always be too low.
In Emerald you have quite a large amount available to you, so you can space out getting your team so they get more even experience. If you have more then three members before the first/second badge, or five before the third/fourth badge, that's too many. You need to space them out to get more experience.

[Ash0011]

yeah but its their fault for putting so many in those routes

[Lady Vulpix]

I always hesitate to use Rare Candies because they don't factor in EVs (at least that's what Smogon says) so I usually keep them in my bag until everyone's EVs are full. Same reason why I don't leave anyone from my main team with the breeders (that, and I want to control what moves they learn).

In SS* I ended up with a team which was almost a copy of my Adopted Pokemon team (except I had an amazing Togekiss, a Typhlosion, an Ampharos, a Dewgong - bred for Headbutt -, no Venusaur or Stantler, the Pidgeot had a different ability and the Char was male). I could have trained a Stantler, but somehow the Stantlers from the game are not nearly as effective in battle as Iael, which is strange since Iael has won more BT battles than any other Pokemon in my team. Either he's very lucky in battle or it's the ability to remember more than 4 moves that makes the difference.

*Almost.

In Black I can't get most of the Pokemon I love (though I'm still hoping for a Vulpix), so I'm building my team by catching the ones that look promising, testing them in battle, checking what moves they will learn and how the stats will change upon evolution if applicable, and keeping the ones that do best overall. Munna is getting a bit hard to train, but so was my Venonat until she evolved into Venomoth, and it was worth the wait (she became my most effective solo fighter, only ineffective against Shedinja because I wouldn't waste one of the 4 move slots on something that could hurt a Shedinja but be less than useful on other Pokemon).

And I really miss trainer/gym leader rematches. That was the only way I had to make all my Pokemon reach high levels. I also miss planting berries, but above all things, I miss Vaporeon. Aqua Ring is great on Vaporeon, but it's virtually useless on Ducklett, to the point that I gave up on training her in favor of Tirtouga.

I think one of the main reasons I end up keeping so many Pokemon is that I sometimes find new ones that look tempting, but I don't want to give up on the ones I've been training for a long time. And sometimes I get a Pokemon like Sawk, who's not so fun to use but lands so many 1HKOs that letting go of him would be counterproductive.

Suggestions for the Elite 4 which worked for me on previous games:

1. Train in the wild until they reach levels that are high enough to take the challenge, you can use it as a chance to EV-train your Pokemon.
2. Make sure you have at least 1 Pokemon who can put the opponents to sleep. Having Pokemon who can heal is also good.
3. Pack the best potions and reviving items you can, Max Revive if possible, and buy MooMoo milk by the dozen. A few status healers too, but if possible only use them between battles.
4. If, like me, you have more than 6 active Pokemon, check who the opponents will be and choose the ones who can do best against them.
5. Choose your attachments wisely: pick the ones that help your Pokemon the most. I usually go with type enhancers for the E4, occasionally leftovers, and right now I'm trying the Rocky Helmet and it seems promising, but I'm not that far into the game yet.

[Rossymore]

I tend to not worry about EVs, or held items. I just don't find them too useful in just a normal game. Maybe if I were more competitive then I would train my Pokemon in such a way, but I'm just intrested in playing the game the way I do it. And yeah, Rare Candy just gives you random increases in stats, but it's good to just quickly level up.

Another good item is Revivial Herb. It's expensive, but in B/W, money's not too much of an issue. I'm not really that concerned about happiness anyway.

[Lady Vulpix]

I've used the Revival Herb, and I have one packed, but it's not very good on Pokemon who know Return.

[Austrian ViceMaster Alex]

I usually stay with the first six Pokémon that interest me for my team but somewhere in the middle of the game I'm always forced to make a change or two which makes things a bit tricky but beside that I don't have the feeling I'm training too many.

[ChobiChibi]

And I really miss trainer/gym leader rematches. That was the only way I had to make all my Pokemon reach high levels. I also miss planting berries, but above all things, I miss Vaporeon. Aqua Ring is great on Vaporeon, but it's virtually useless on Ducklett, to the point that I gave up on training her in favor of Tirtouga.

You can challenge the Gym leaders again. After the E4, Cynthia goes to the resort place in the spring and summer (it's on the right hand side of the map, can't remember what it's called), and the gym leaders come to visit her, so you can battle them again :3 http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cynthia Scroll down to Black and White.

[Lady Vulpix]

Oh, thanks! That's good news. For the future. Right now I'm stuck in an annoying cave, far away from the PC, which means it will take me a long time to level up my whole team. At least my Petilil and Cottonee can "eat" Boldores. Umm... Perhaps I should evolve them.

But I think I've solved the Munna problem. I've given her a Lucky Egg and now she's much easier to level up.

[Link]

Cynthia can be fought in Undella town.

[firepokemon]

I don't train too many pokemon at all. I keep the starter, add a flier and a water pokemon (in diamond I had Empoleon so didn't get a water pokemon). I liked Shinx so he came on board and Luxray proved useful battling E4. I also kept a Graveller with me. And right now I can't remember what other pokemon I used, lol. But I caught Dialga in Diamond and had him on the team for the E4. I don't really see the point in training other pokemon as I go through each gym. Better doing that after you've beat the main game I think.

[Blademaster]

3. Pack the best potions and reviving items you can, Max Revive if possible, and buy MooMoo milk by the dozen.

Seconded. MooMoo Milk is, in the long run, a far cheaper option than Hyper Potions. Don't even bother with Max Potions, either: Unless you're training a Blissey or some other HP CONTINENT, they'll be more useful at a PokeMart turned into more cash.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

I always have four pokemon. Unless I see a really interesting one after that, I take on a fifth. On very rare occasions did I raise six pokemon, it's about two years now (and I restart once like every month). Restart-freak here.

My main rule is never train a pokemon you've already trained before ('cept for starters in some occasions, but mostly I end up dropping them after I get my first 'real' pokemon). Right now I'm packing Emboar, Crustle, Gothitelle and a recently captured Klink!

I've done all the of the B/W ones now, 'cept for Scolipede and the trade-ones (since I can't trade).

Only items for the league and pre-lucky egg. I just switch Lucky Egg between my team of four to train.

EDIT: I also always have Ducklet and one of the monkeys as HM slaves.

[Rossymore]

You can challenge the Gym leaders again. After the E4, Cynthia goes to the resort place in the spring and summer (it's on the right hand side of the map, can't remember what it's called), and the gym leaders come to visit her, so you can battle them again :3 http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cynthia Scroll down to Black and White.

You can't rechallenge the Gym Leaders and only the female Gym Leaders and female members of the E4 visit her (giggity). In place, you have the large sports domes in Nimbasa that contain trainers of Pokemon of Level 60s and stuff. Add an Exp. Share onto a low levelled Poke and they will level up quick.

So actually, the Gym Leaders aren't that necessery.

And I also agree that Moomoo Milk is one of the best items in the game, especially when you can buy it by the dozen. So suck it G/S/C/D/P. I don't really use Hyper Potions at all and Super Potions are good for small healings. Full Heal/Lava Cookies are always good and Revivial Herb can be really useful, screw happiness.

Also, MLG, Klink is awesome. Well, when it learns Thunderbolt and Mirror Shot it is. But Gear Grind is a goooooood move.

[Lady Vulpix]

You can get MooMoo Milk in G/S/C. And yes, I've used the Exp Share many times when I had new Pokemon I wanted to add to my team. The one who used it the most was my SS Dewgong, who hatched as a level 1 Seel when everyone else was past level 30.

As for Hyper/Max potions, I've only ever used them on Vaporeon, who was not as much an HP continent as Blissey, but maybe an HP island. And Super Potion can be good for light healing, but Fresh Water is cheaper and heals just as much, so I only use the Super Potions if I've found them, I don't buy them.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

Well breezed from Chargestone cave to post-league in one afternoon, bitchin'!

Couldn't find a good natured Klink after 11 tries, so kinda gave up on Klink for this run-trough. I've got a Pxochi (Golurk) and Yusk (Cryogonal) instead! Badass mofo's, I really like my team this time. Gothitelle is proving to be more fun then I expected, I adore bulky pokemon.

Gonna do the rest of Unova this time.

[Rossymore]

You can get MooMoo Milk in G/S/C.

Indeed, but my word it takes a long time to get the amoutn you need when you have to buy them individually. So I don't tend to use them too much in the second gen.

And yes, I've used the Exp Share many times when I had new Pokemon I wanted to add to my team. The one who used it the most was my SS Dewgong, who hatched as a level 1 Seel when everyone else was past level 30.

Mmm, the Exp Share is really useful to get lower levelled Pokes up, that's for sure, but in B/W it's much more useful when you've completed the game and you need to get the rest of the damn things, so your Pokedex has less holes then swiss cheese.

[ And Super Potion can be good for light healing, but Fresh Water is cheaper and heals just as much, so I only use the Super Potions if I've found them, I don't buy them.

I would use Fresh Water if I could buy them in bulk like I could Super Potions, but that's also why I don't use Lemonade as well. But I had forgotten about Fresh Water, but I tend not to use it.

Well I completed B/W over the weekend when I got it. Was beating the Champion three days after I had come out.

[ChobiChibi]

I'm still on my first play through, switching my Zebstrika for a Tynamo, one more level til it evolves! I've decided it's gonna be a really annoying sod, with u-turn or volt switch. Just cos I can, really.

[Lady Vulpix]

Rossymore: congratulations on having so much free time! I'm working on my doctoral thesis and making all the preparations for the new semester for the subject I'm teaching, so please understand that it'll take me a while to complete the game. Then again, I'll probably get to enjoy it longer. I got my 6th badge last night. And N talked to my Unfezant and said she trusted me. No wonder... she has knocked out many opponents in one hit using Return.

[ChobiChibi]

Tynamo evolved! Now to level her up some more so she can be a complete dick to the E4.

Oh how I love being a dick to the E4 8D

[Lady Vulpix]

May I ask what's so special about Tynamo? I'm curious because I've never trained one.

Birthday Togekiss rocks, and that's a word I rarely use. I think I may finally retire Sawk... makes me feel a bit sorry because he has great stats, but I've never found pure Fighting types appealing. I suppose I'll keep him in the box for a while and take him out for training later, I do that sometimes.

[ChobiChibi]

Electric Pokemon with Levitate Has no weaknesses since ground types can't hit it.

[Lady Vulpix]

Oh... maybe I'll try catching one after I beat the game, to see what it's like to train one (along with my Sawk, and quite possibly Sigilyph, maybe Ducklett, and the Misdreavus, Mr. Mime and Stantler I got from the Dreamworld, and if I get Larvesta, then maybe that too). Great, now I have too many Pokemon on my waiting list too. >_< Won't catch 'em all, can't train 'em all.

[ChobiChibi]

Tynamo evolves at level 39, but only has 4 moves for that entire time, so you're best off waiting til after the E4 anyway. Mine's doing okay now, I'm just not used to slow Pokemon ^^; She will be my tank and I shall name her tanky-mctank.

[Blademaster]

Another cool thing about Tynamo, sans its typing, is its appearance. Not only does it look royally badass once it fully evolves, but its physical features allow it to use a surprisingly versatile array of moves for an Electric-type: In addition to the standard Electric fare, it has access to a few potent Fighting, Poison, and Dragon attacks as well, and it can even learn Flamethrower. Not really useful, but pretty nifty.

[DarkestLight]

OH NO! I can't get my birthday Togekiss >.> Now I'm irate. This game had better start...

[Lady Vulpix]

Huh? Why can't you get your Birthday Togekiss?

[DarkestLight]

Save file is being all corrupthappy.

[Lady Vulpix]

My team keeps getting bigger. There are so many Pokemon I want to train! I know I'm keeping my new Ninetales because I've wanted one since before I got the game (made it to the Abundant Shrine, caught a level 47 Vulpix*, Raised him to level 51, then evolved him into Ninetales, then raised him one more level so now he's on par with the rest of my team). I may retire my Musharna, who hasn't been good in battle, so I can still have an active team of 10 Pokemon. But I'd also like to train my Gyarados, who's now at level 42. And there are some Dreamworld Pokemon I'd love to train, like my Seel, my roosting Butterfree... and maybe my Gastly couple to see how they do in battle. And there's still the Dragonair... so hard to train! On the bright side, I think I'll be able to enjoy the game for at least the rest of the year.

*In fact, I caught a level 57 Vulpix first, but her stats were terrible, so I went back and caught another Vulpix. Now I have one of each gender.

[Knight of Time]

I'm pretty serious when it comes to training Pokemon...when I go to Smogon and see a good moveset for a Pokemon that is really good in battle, it's one that I try to train to its fullest potential (maxing out EVs whenever I can, though I have to admit I don't get too many Effort Ribbons; I think I got one for an Alakazam on my Pokemon Soul Silver game), so that way, if I end up battling someone over Wi-Fi when I'm able to without problems, I can demonstrate the training that's been done.

And yes, I do my homework on Smogon...even though that the hardest part is trying to get Hidden Power to be a certain type when it's a recommended move for one of the Pokemon I'm training (like in the case of a Jolteon I hatched from an egg on one game, the type of its Hidden Power here is Ice).

To me, training Pokemon is a matter of deciding which ones I want to train in the first place...sometimes I end up training too many, but then again, there are some Pokemon I cannot resist training, like a No Guard Machop/Machoke/Machamp.

[Lady Vulpix]

Now I have 12 Pokemon on my active team! @_@ And I have other Pokemon who would also be fun to train, if it didn't take so long to train them all.

My active team, in no specific order:

-CHAN (Emboar): the name is short for "chancho" (informal Spanishword for "pig"), and also an interjection indicating surprise or the onomatopoeia of a sudden piano stroke. He was very hard to train until he learned Flamethrower, now he's actually good in battle.
-Lady (Stoutland): my first catch, quite dependable. She has a hindering nature, but it doesn't affect her too much because her stats are all good. I sometimes call her "the avenger" due to her effective combination of Retaliate and Rocky Helmet.
-Pluma (Unfezant): the name means "feather" in Spanish. She's fast, she's strong, she can take on just about anything... as long as they don't use strong special attacks on her. That's her main drawback, her Special Defense is terrible and no amount of Zincs and EV-training have been able to fix that. But whenever she's up against a physical attacker, she has the upper hand. She's also my flyer who takes me from town to town.
-Boulder (Gigalith): Boulder can push boulders. That was not intended when I named him, but it was sort of funny when he first started using Strength. He has great Defense and Attack, and his Sturdy ability ensures that he will always get at least one chance to attack... which comes in handy against Pokemon with Hydro Pump, especially since he's so... sloooow.
-Luna (Musharna): also slow, though not as much as Boulder. That and the facts that Yawn needs 2 turns to take effect and that she has only one damaging move make her hard to train, but she has good endurance (HP/Defense/Special Defense), good Special Attack, and Moonlight, which means that she can usually come out on top after a long battle (Tsunami would be proud). She can't hurt Dark types, but she can put them to sleep in order to help her friends finish the job.
-Lillil (Lilligant): yes, the one you get from trading with an NPC. She was quite a surprise, since she's good at just about everything! She has great stats (all of them, HP are a bit low but respond well to EV-training), levels up fast, can put opponents to sleep, can drain energy, and does a lot of damage with Petal Dance (which is usually a last resort anyway). Her Hidden Power has a low Base Power, but it's good insurance against Fire and Poison types.
-A'Tuin (Carracosta): not Great A'Tuin, this one's a lot smaller. But he's very effective with both physical and special attacks. Like Boulder, he's slow but Sturdy. And he has a Quick Claw which occasionally lets him attack first and leave the battle undamaged. His Defense stat is also very good.
-Karate (Sawk): he's a fighting machine. Super high Attack, good Defense... if he could use anything other than Fighting and Normal type attacks, he might even be fun to train. But he's completely useless against Ghost types.
-Swift (Ninetales): he's good... He's what I'd been waiting for since the beginning of the game. His attacks don't do quite as much damage as CHAN's, but he's faster and has an effective Will-o-Wisp/Dig combination for use against resilient opponents. Against opponents with low Special Defense, a Flamethrower or two are usually enough.
-Party Time (Togekiss): the birthday Togekiss is as good as a Pokemon birthday present can get. He's fast, he has a high CH ratio, his Special Attack is great and his defensive stats are also very good. His Attack stat is rather low, which makes Extremespeed not very useful (I'm considering switching it for Psychoshock), but it helps when all that matters is who gets to hit first. His other 3 moves have all been great in battle.
-Crock (Krookodile): a fierce physical attacker, whose Intimidate ability is always useful. Few opponents can resist his Crunch, and those who do fall under his Toxic/Dig combo, unless they're strong enough to bring him down really fast with a Super Effective move.
-Surge (Gyarados): also has great stats and Intimidate. He's a powerhouse so I just had to train him.

...But 12 Pokemon are hard to train.