About Trey McGowan Expertise I can answer strategy questions for just about any video games. RPGs and collecting/raising sims are my major specialty, though I am also experienced in general strategy games, a variety of MMORPGs, and possibly even some much more esoteric ones. I can't promise that I'll be able to answer all your questions from personal experience, but I can promise that if I can't, I will do my utmost to research the answer before I give it to you.
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Education/Credentials Upwards of twenty years in various video games playing and finishing. I have read FAQs extensively, and have educated myself directly in a lot of the games that I've played.
Expert: Trey McGowan Date: 1/16/2008 Subject: Help
Question QUESTION: What are the best pokemon to beat the Battle Frontier in Pokemon Emerald? Name the levels.
ANSWER: Hi there, Katherine!
First off, giving you what levels to use isn't going to be too easy. As you'll notice, the Battle Prontiers' monsters' levels will keep up with yours, being at least the level of your highest level Poke'mon! So it's better to focus more on 'survival levels' than 'What will outlevel the boss'. I.E., what levels will best give you the stats and moves you need. What you're needing to focus on here is tactics, rather than on raw power. But then again, it's what I'm here for!
Also, you'll notice that you can't equip two of the same items on your team. Because of this, you'll want to spread out what you've got and what you're using. I'll try and say which Poke'mon should be equipped with which accessory, but most of the time, it's a matter of taste or personal technique.
There's a lot of bosses here, so giving the single most powerful pokemon would be hard to do. However, there's a few good suggestions for the place that I can bring forward.
First off, you *will* be wanting a ground-type Pokemon with powerful attacks. I suggest, of the bunch, Dugtrio is the one to bring out. For one thing, it can learn Rock moves STABbed as well as Earth moves, for those pesky Flying creatures that Earth will otherwise bounce off. For another, Dugtrio is the fastest of the Earth creatures, making it more likely that you won't be stuck lagging behind. Just be careful: it also has one of the lowest of HP and defense of the Ground-types. You'll want to augment that with training items, though I would suggest focusing more on its speed and attack than on defense. For attacks, Earthquake is a must in order to max out damage against the enemy.
If Dugtrio isn't your thing, Sandslash (one of my favorites) is second choice for speed-attack. Again: go for Earthquake to have a solid ground attack, and make you might want Swords Dance as part of its repertoire as well to take advantage of its physical ability against resistant trainers. I wouldn't use it against the main trainers, though; go for good, solid offense rather than something which will eat turns.
You will want at least a couple Pokemon who can counter your Dugtrio's weakness, though. For one of these, I suggest a Grass creature to take advantage of the resistances to both Water and Grass. I generally use a solid Sceptile with Leaf Blade for the high rate of critical. Leech Seed will help keep its life up against the opponent as well, so make sure you've got it to help in the battles!
The other side of the coin is an Ice creature of some sort, or at least one that's strong against Ice. Regice is a good choice for this. A good speed (if not superior) and Magic Resist out the wazoo make him a very appealing blaster. Don't make him a mono-ice, though. The attack bonus might be good, but you'll want to round out his movelist with one or two other elements while you're at it. Thunderbolt and Toxic are popular.
A psychic Pokemon is a good addition to your party. Since the big names (MewTwo, Deoxys) aren't allowed, go for a good old standby: Alakazam. Concentrate on speed and attack power, and don't focus too hard on Defense; you want to be able to go first and kill in a hit, rather than tank hits. Instead, equip it with the Bright Powder to make it more likely the enemy will miss, or Choice Band to up the power of its first move for those one-hit kills.
Starmie is a good choice for a psychic as well, with its double type (Water/Psychic). In addition, Starmie's defensive stats are better than Alakazam's, making it more likely to survive a hit to bounce back and attack again. Get a solid psychic attack (Psychic works) and Surf. Plus, as part-water, Ice does less damage against it which makes it another 'backup' for your Ground.
I suggest taking a Snorlax if you can get hold of one, since their Thick Fat ability helps insulate them against Fire and Ice, and their 'Normal' quality gives them few weaknesses (though few strengths as well). The big disadvantage: they are *SLOW*. Tank its defense and HP out and make sure you have Rest as well as attack abilities, so you can heal even in areas where healing is scarce. For attacks, Body Slam is handy for its stun chance, and you might use Earthquake so as to have a backup Quaker. Leftovers are a good choice for an equip, though with the slow speed, you might want to attach a Quick Claw for the chance of first attack.
You'll notice I suggest speed over defense, except in the case of the Snorlax (since one good Tank is handy, and Snorlax gets Rest). Against a powerful group with good AI, being fast enough to go first and possibly one-hit kill their enemies is *VERY* important, IMO. If, however, you prefer a heavier defense group, use Steelix instead of Dugtrio. Again, Earthquake is a solid attack, and you will likely want to equip it with a Choice Band if you want any chance of it going first. Steelix may not be as slow as Snorlax (what is?) but it'll need help if you're ever going to go before your enemy. Equip it with a health-restoring ability of some sort so it can keep itself going when low on items.
Whatever you do, AVOID the double-weak Pokemon at all costs! The AI of the game is a good one, and they are likely to take advantage of it to kill your double-weak Pokemon in a single hit! So leave your Charizard and Golem at home.
If there are more specific areas/battles you're wondering about, feel free to ask back! But for the general 'place', the above suggestions should stand.
Hopefully I was able to be of some help to your quest for the gold! Good luck with your Battle Frontier escapades!
Trey
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: But But I don't know how to or where to catch Dugtrio or Snorlax or what ever. Where do you find them. I don't have a link cable. And is there any othere one. Well you know i actually used a torchic for my starter. thats bad eh. can you just tell me regular pokemon that are actually in hoen and I can find.
Answer Hi again, Katherine!
That makes a very *big* difference, yes. Snorlax, Steelix, Dugtrio, and Alakazam are right out with the lack of cable, and taking Torchic for the starter removes the Sceptile chance (unless you are looking to start again).
For Pokemon that are still available, Staryu is easily captured with just about any rod, and can be evolved from there into the mighty Starmie. Sandshrew is available to be hunted in Mirage Tower; you can grab one and turn it into Sandslash with a little time and effort. So there's two members of your team still available! Regice is one of the Reg Trio in Island Cave. There's only one of him, like the birds, so be careful not to delete him!
Speaking of birds, without a Snorlax around, Dodrio might be a good replacement. Not for being a tank (I'll pick another one out for that) but for the part 'Normal' which will help with some of its defense. Plus, its numbers are fairly solid, which makes Dodrio a good attacker. Put some 'Drill Peck' on it for best effect. It can be captured in the Safari Zone, though I suggest getting yourself a Doduo and evolving, instead; it will take a longer period of time, but the stats will generally be more solid.
For a good plant, I'm not sure if it's too late for you to get Chikorita at Hoenn, but if not, that'll be a good one. Evolve it to Meganium, get yourself the Leech Seed and Razor Leaf, and it should handle it as well as the Sceptile. Just be very careful: as a Grass/Poison, this is a double-weak, so you may need to prepare to take a hit or two that will take you down hard.
If it is too late, then my best 'plant' suggestion is the Grass/Water combo of Ludicolo. For one thing, the combination will soak up (pardon the pun) a *lot* of attacks, and not leave weaknesses because of it. This means, naturally, that you've got some very good protections against most things. Especially water! I have to admit in embarrassment that I don't know whether it can get the leaf or not, so you may need to tinker around that loss of moves as well. Ice Beam makes up for it well, though, if you can't get it. Beware: this is nowhere near as fast as Sceptile, but its defenses should help out. Baby Ludicolo, AKA Lotad, can be caught along Route 114. If you are impatient, you can instead catch a Lombre, but I suggest bringing Lotad up from babyhood to maximize stat potential.
For your psychic, you can try to use an unevolved Kadabra, but it will be a bit of a risk. Trap it out like you would the Alakazam (Psychic and the whole works) and give it a go. Its speed is enough that it should still go first no matter what, and the high power of its special attacks will likely still do massive amounts of damage to the enemy. I suggest buffing its defense up as much as you can, though, so there's more of a chance of being able to swap it out if you do end up getting hit. Abras are a catch along Route 116, and in Granite Cave.
As a replacement for the Steelix I suggested earlier, try a Rhydon. As a Ground/Earth, it has the same balance that the Dugtrio did, though with a lot less speed. Be ready with that Quick Claw and Earthquake, and load a lot of the rest of him up with defensive tricks. He can handle some attacks for the rest of your team that way. Rhyhorn, Rhydon's younger self, is available in the Safari Zone (a lot of cool Pokemon are!).
Finally, as a replacement for the Snorlax, go with Slaking. This is tank material and a half. High power, high damage, and even a fairly good speed on top of it; you shouldn't need the Quick Claw to get it into position early! What's the weakness? Special Defense. While you have no elemental weaknesses, you *will* have a weakness to the special hits, because the Slaking's special defensive power is low. Keep that in mind, buff it up, and prepare to switch out (if you can) when something with lots of special attacks comes out. Much like Snorlax, I suggest picking up Rest, as this will help keep it healed in between. Slaking's predecessor, Slakoth, can be caught in Petaburg Woods. It's a bit rare, though, so you may need to hunt a while.
Give that bunch a try, and see if they make a good dent in the enemy. Again, if there's a certain group you seem to have more trouble with than others, feel free to get back in touch and I'll see what I can do! Happy hunting!
