DP131: Difference between revisions

The battle then begins properly as Ash orders Gliscor to use {{m|Sand-Attack}}, and Gliscor sends a lot of sand towards Torterra, clouding its vision. Reggie commends Ash on the smart move, as Brock notes that Ash has seen Torterra in battle before and therefore knows many of its strengths. Paul orders {{m|Giga Drain}}, however the energy-sapping tentacles plunge into the ground, missing a now flying Gliscor completely. Brock and Reggie agree that Paul probably intended Giga Drain to miss to try and lull Ash into a false sense of security and let down his guard. Ash then has Gliscor use {{m|X-Scissor}} on Torterra and it scores a direct hit, and as it's a {{type2|bug}} move it causes a fair bit of damage against Torterra but the Continent Pokémon is able to take it.

Paul then starts to battle directly and orders {{m|Frenzy Plant}}, the most powerful [[grass-type]] move as well as a risky one. Luckily Gliscor is fast enough to avoid the hard vines, and Torterra is left immobilized while it recharges. Ash knows he has an opening and has Gliscor use {{m|Fire Fang}} which hits Torterra, and Ash has Gliscor follow this up with another X-Scissor. Ash decides to go in for one more hit and has Gliscor use {{m|Steel Wing}}, but as Gliscor heads towards Torterra it recovers from Frenzy Plant and Paul has it use {{m|Crunch}}. Although Steel Wing hits, Torterra bites on to Gliscor's tail, and Gliscor struggles but is unable to break free. Paul then has Torterra use Giga Drain, and this time it hits dead-on, sapping Gliscor's energy while recharging its own. Reggie and Brock realised this was part of Paul's strategy, to allow Torterra to be immobilized so Ash would go in close-range. Gliscor is still struggling to break free from Giga Drain and Ash has Gilscor use Fire Fang on the energy tentacles, which hurts Torterra and lets Gliscor free. Both Gliscor and Torterra are left exhausted, and Ash decides to recall Gliscor for some rest. Dawn is very nervous just watching the match, and Ash notes that despite its fatigue Paul has chosen not to recall Torterra and sends out Staraptor to battle next. Reggie realizes that Staraptor is the {{p|Staravia}} [[DP066|he battled]] back when Ash was in [[Veilstone City]], and Dawn tells him that Staraptor defeated {{TP|Paul|Honchkrow}} in a [[PokéRinger]] competition [[DP118|not too long back]] which impresses Reggie.

Paul's second Pokémon is [[Paul#On hand|Weavile]], and after making sure Staraptor is ok to battle Ash tells him to begin with {{m|Quick Attack}}. Staraptor gets the hit in, and Paul then has Weavile use {{m|Swords Dance}}. Dawn asks what Swords Dance does, and Reggie explains that it increases Attack power, making Weavile far stronger than normal. Ash calls for an {{m|Aerial Ace}}, and Paul counters this by ordering {{m|Blizzard}}. The {{type2|ice}} move hits Staraptor hard, and Paul then has Weavile use {{m|Metal Claw}}. Staraptor flies low and Weavile jumps onto his back, shocking everyone. Weavile then slashes Staraptor's back and jumps off as the Predator Pokémon crashes to the ground. Paul orders Weavile to go after Staraptor with another Metal Claw, and Ash has Staraptor use {{m|Close Combat}}. Staraptor and Weavile trade blows, but Staraptor is able to gain the advantage and sends Weavile flying, having suffered a lot of damage from the {{type2|fighting}} move. Staraptor maintains the assault, and Paul orders a Blizzard while Ash calls for Brave Bird. Staraptor flies out of range of the Blizzard and scores a direct hit with Brave Bird. Although Staraptor suffers from the [[recoil]], Weavile comes out of it far worse off and after despite its efforts collapses to the ground [[unable to battle]]. Olivier rules Weavile as out of the battle and Ash, now with the advantage, commends a battered Staraptor on a fantastic performance but knows better than to get too confident over this win. Ash also knows that Staraptor took a real beating and recalls it for some rest.

Paul sends out Electabuzz next while Ash sends out Grotle. As {{type2|electric}} moves don't work very well against [[grass-type]]s, Ash doesn't know what Paul is thinking and has Grotle use {{m|Energy Ball}}. Paul has Electabuzz use {{m|Light Screen}} and Electabuzz sets up a barrier which the Energy Ball smashes against. Brock explains to Dawn that a Light Screen helps to defend against [[Special move|special attacks]] like Energy Ball, cutting down their power by half. Now the Light Screen is set up, Paul substitutes Electabuzz with Honchkrow, a much better type-matchup against Grotle. Brock tells Reggie that Grotle [[DP100|battled against]] Honchkrow before, and it was that battle that caused {{p|Turtwig}} to [[evolve]]. Grotle is determined to defeat Honchkrow to make up for the defeat it suffered after evolving, and Ash decides to leave it in, determined to show Paul and Honchkrow how much Grotle has improved since then. Everyone else knows this is a huge mistake on Ash's part, Paul especially. {{m|Night Slash}} is used by Honchkrow, and although Grotle tries to stand up to it the hit is still powerful. Ash orders Grotle to use Energy Ball, however Honchkrow is shielded by the Light Screen making him and Dawn realises that Light Screen can be passed on to other Pokémon. With the type-advantage and the Light Screen, Brock tells Dawn that Paul is trying to overwhelm Ash as Honchkrow is told to use {{m|Haze}} which surrounds Grotle. Normally when Paul battles its to polish up his Pokémon's moves or to increase their power but this battle is different... Paul is going for the win. As Grotle continues to struggle badly against Honchkrow, Reggie explains that Paul has worked out Ash's battle style which is allowing him to keep the pressure on Ash. Grotle is exhausted by now, so Ash has it use {{m|Synthesis}}. As Grotle regains its energy, Paul tells Honchkrow to use {{m|Sky Attack}}. Honchkrow begins glowing and makes a direct line for Grotle. Ash has Grotle use {{m|Rock Climb}} to try and counter, and the attacks collide obscuring both Pokémon, however Honchkrow flies clear while Grotle has been knocked out. Olivier rules Grotle as being unable to battle, and Ash recalls it as Paul recalls Honchkrow. Reggie notes on Ash's poor judgement when using Synthesis as healing moves have the disadvantage of leaving a Pokémon open to attack and a trainer should make note of the opponent's condition before using one or leave themselves wide open to attack. Brock concurs, knowing that Ash's wish to have Grotle defeat Honchkrow clouded his judgement.