Pokemon: Master of tactics
Chapter 165 - Pokemon Master Of Tactics: 165

After a short break, Alex and Jasmine got their next Pokémon out on the field for the fight.

Alex immediately looked at the info of Skarmory. ​​

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Pokémon: Skarmory

LV: 34

Type: Flying/Steel

Ability: Keen Eye

Gender: Male

Potential: Gold

Moves:

- Leer, Peck, Sand Attack, Metal Claw, Air Cutter, Fury Attack, Feint, Swift, Spikes, Agility, Steel Wing

- (Innate Talent) Taunt [E], (Innate Talent) Rock Slide, (Innate Talent) Sky Attack [E]

- (TM) Toxic, (TM) Roost, (TM) Flash Cannon, (TM) Substitute, (TM) Facade, (TM) Swords Dance, (TM) Fly, (TM) X-Scissor, (TM) Sandstorm

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Although the Skarmory was not weak, it had no move that could deal hefty damage on Bastiodon. Only Skarmory's Steel-type moves can inflict normal damage to Bastiodon, which greatly limits the ability of Skarmory to attack.

Alex knew that he only had to watch out for a few tricky moves like [Swords Dance], [Roost], and [Taunt] in order not to lose this relatively easy fight.

"Now then, you ready? 3,2,1, START!"

Alex and Jasmine started giving their commands at the same time.

"Bastiodon, use Rock Polish."

"Skarmory, use Taunt."

As both Pokémon prepare their move, Alex showed a calm expression. He didn't care whether Bastiodon prepared his move quickly because he knew that [Taunt] couldn't interrupt [Rock Polish].

He has tested the move [Taunt] a lot and read about it. Thus he understands how the move works.

Alex knows that even though Skarmory's [Taunt] is on the Expert rank, it can't affect the Expert moves like [Rock Polish]. Only if Skarmory was at the same level or a higher level than Bastiodon, [Taunt] could also affect the Expert move of Bastiodon.

Jasmine, who doesn't know what moves Bastiodon has on the Expert rank, had a tensed expression. She hoped that [Rock Polish] was not an Expert rank move. Because this one move compensates for Skarmory's speed advantage and will make the fight very difficult to win.

Skarmory and Bastiodon both got finished at the same time and used their moves simultaneously.

Jasmine showed a calm expression as she gave her next command.

"Skarmory, use Swords Dance."

Alex, who knew the fight was almost over, said without any hurry.

"Bastiodon, use Flamethrower."

Jasmine gave a small smile when she saw Skarmory start preparing his move a bit quicker. She thought, "That's good. As long as Flamethrower doesn't happen to be on the Expert rank, Skarmory will finish first and will have enough time to use Protect."

Alex, who can only use almost attack moves, didn't show a calm expression.

Although Bastiodon doesn't have a strong attack, the strength of an effective Expert move against a Pokémon with a mediocre Sp. Def and HP is strong enough to do a lot of damage.

Although Bastiodon started a little later; he finished first and projected a jet of flames in the direction of Skarmory, who was just preparing his move.

Skarmory couldn't avoid it and was hit by the flames. He made a painful expression when he was struck. Although he wasn't seriously injured, he lost around 30% HP from that 1 hit.

Alex, who saw that the amount of damage with satisfaction, said calmly, "Use Flamethrower until you win."

Although it is a simple and straightforward tactic, he had taken all possibilities into account. He selected this as it was the easiest and safest path towards victory.

Alex does not believe that Bastiodon can be knocked unconscious so quickly before using the [Flamethrower] 3 times.

Even if Skarmory has [Sword Dance] used once or twice, Alex believes that Bastiodon can take more than 7 hits from Skarmory. Although it is only his assessment, and it can be more or less, too.

Jasmine knew she had probably lost but didn't show a sign of giving up.

She started to think about what options she still had left.

"Hit and run? No, that's useless. Bastiodon can increase his speed quickly. Spikes? Spikes is not bad but too slow to defeat Bastidon with it."

After few seconds, she began to carry out her next plan.

"Skarmory, use Swords Dance again and then Steel Wing."

Although it is not the best tactic, she has no other choice. Bastiodon, who has [Rock Polish] on the Expert rank, cannot be defeated by speed. So it makes no sense to use the move [Agility], and all other tactics are too slow.

Bastiodon finished and used [Flamethrower] again against Skarmory, who was preparing his move.

Then he immediately started preparing subsequent [Flamethrower].

Skarmory endured the pain and started using the move [Swords Dance] after the preparation of almost 1 second. Then he started preparing [Steel Wing].

Bastiodon had quickly prepared his move, and he used [Flamethrower] again. Without wasting any more time, he used the prepared [Flamethrower] on Skarmory's Stell body.

Skarmory, who was hit by Flamethrower for the third time, showed a painful expression, and half of his body was fiery red. Although the Steel on his body did not melt, it showed an unhealthy color of red. And now, he had only around 10% HP left.

Even though Skarmory was hit, he managed to finish the move using [Steel Wing]. Fortunately for him, Bastidon was only 5 meters away, so that he could use it immediately.

Bastidon was hit by the move [Steel Wing] and had a small wound on the head. He only lost about 15% HP from this hit.

Alex, who saw this, showed a surprised expression. A pleasant surprise.

He didn't expect that Bastidon would only take so little harm. Especially since Bastiodon has not buffed himself yet.

Alex could only imagine if Bastiodon had used [Iron Defense] beforehand how little damage he would have taken.

"Bastiodon is really a monster against Pokémon that can't hit him effectively," thought Alex.

Jasmine, who saw how little harm this attack did, said immediately, "We're giving up. Your Bastidon is really too unfavorable an opponent for my Skarmory."

Alex, who heard this, gave a polite smile when he said, "Yes, I can understand that. Bastiodon really is a natural enemy of your Pokémon. It doesn't have a good counter move for my Bastiodon."

"Well, it was still a good fight."

"Yep, definitely."

Jasmine again showed a confident expression when she said, "Let's talk about the next fight. I think because you have two Elite Pokémon, you can choose which one this Pokémon should fight against my Steelix."

Alex, who doesn't think he'll lose, said, "Ok, I'll pick one at random. And since we are going to fight tomorrow too, it doesn't matter whom I choose since it doesn't make a difference anyway."

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