🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
-------
"From a certain point of view, since Shellder still retains the move Barrier and also the ability to control Water-type energy, he can actually still function as a defensive core."
Ethan Black thought as he looked at the notes in his notebook, although what bothered him was that Shellder had lost the Overcoat ability, which greatly reduced his defensive capacity in sandstorm weather.
Although the move Barrier could help withstand storm damage, it wasn't as useful as the Overcoat ability. Moreover, to completely block the sand, it had to be deployed in a spherical shape with no blind spots, which would inevitably limit Ethan Black's mobility as a trainer.
"Should I perhaps catch another Pokémon with the Overcoat ability to continue forming the Sandstorm team?"
"Maybe it would also be a good idea to catch one with the Magic Guard ability. That man in black, at the time, managed to withstand the storm perfectly thanks to the Alakazam with that ability."
In Ethan Black's mind, data on various Pokémon began to parade. As he recalled, the ones that possessed the Overcoat ability were: the Shellder evolutionary line, the Pineco evolutionary line, Shelgon, the Burmy evolutionary line, the Sewaddle evolutionary line, the Solosis evolutionary line, Escavalier, Shelmet, the Vullaby evolutionary line, and the Jangmo-o evolutionary line.
Meanwhile, those with the Magic Guard ability were: Sigilyph, the Clefairy evolutionary line, the Abra evolutionary line, and the Solosis evolutionary line.
"From a utility standpoint, the Magic Guard ability is much better. It prevents damage from weather, items, abilities, status conditions, state changes, or recoil from moves —except for Struggle."
"Compared to the Overcoat ability, a Pokémon with the Magic Guard ability is much more practical. Maybe catching one directly is the best option."
"Besides, Slowking can still perfectly fulfill the role of a defensive core. And now that he also masters the move Teleport, his defensive capacity has increased more than before!"
"So, if I catch a Pokémon with the Magic Guard ability, aside from withstanding storm damage, it would be ideal if it could also provide team support."
"Shuckle currently fulfills a support role, but aside from using the moves Acupressure and Helping Hand, his support effects in battle aren't that strong."
In an instant, Ethan Black weighed many possibilities in his mind, and in the end his gaze settled on the Pokémon with the Magic Guard ability.
"Perhaps... the Clefairy evolutionary line is the best option."
He already had a clear idea. Although Abra's final evolution, Alakazam, was also very powerful, Ethan Black already had Slowking as his Psychic-type representative, plus with the move Teleport, which greatly reduced Alakazam's usefulness. The same applied to Solosis and Sigilyph.
Therefore, in the end he decided to focus on the Clefairy evolutionary line. If the opportunity arose, catching one could be a very good addition.
After defining this plan, Ethan Black wrote in his notebook, in big letters, the name Clefairy, thinking of searching for it when possible.
"But the matter of Clefairy can wait. The most important thing now is Slowking's training." Ethan Black shook his head slightly and turned to a new page.
Slowking's role in his team was already very clear: he would continue being his defensive core, but thanks to his great psychic power and the move Heal Pulse, he could also develop as a special attacker and support healer.
"Maybe it's a good idea to train Shellder and Slowking separately."
"Shellder would focus on improving the move Barrier, while Slowking would strengthen the moves Psychic and Teleport."
"If we can manage that, surely the results will multiply, and Slowking's strength will grow rapidly."
As he thought it, Ethan Black wrote it down in the training plan.
Slowking truly had impressive battle power. In the battle against Gengar, he had managed to put him under pressure thanks to his cooperation with Shellder. Ethan Black was convinced that, had the battle continued, Gengar would have lost.
If Slowking could overpower Gengar with his own strength, then perhaps he was already even stronger than Sandslash, since the latter stood no chance against that Gengar. And that was without counting that Slowking also had a type advantage over him.
With such ability, Ethan Black had no reason to waste it. Developing Slowking into a Pokémon that combined defense and offense was undoubtedly the ideal path.
Very soon, Ethan Black finished designing a complete training plan for Slowking, and without wasting time, he took him to the training field of the Pokémon Researcher Guild.
Once there, he released all his Pokémon.
"Sha!"
As soon as Sandslash saw Slowking, his eyes shone with intensity, and he let out a couple of excited cries toward Ethan Black.
"You want to challenge Slowking?" Ethan Black deduced.
"Sha!"
Sandslash quickly nodded and turned his gaze to the thoughtful Slowking on the field.
"And you, Slowking? What do you think?"
Ethan Black asked symbolically, and Slowking simply nodded indifferently.
"Very well, then fight."
Ethan Black also nodded, with a certain sense of anticipation.
Immediately, both Pokémon positioned themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"Sha!"
Sandslash, who had witnessed how Slowking had easily defeated Gengar, did not dare underestimate him. He began by using the move Sand Spin Whirl.
"Yadon!"
Upon seeing him act, Slowking's eyes focused.
Boom!
The move Psychic was fired at once, striking directly at the rapidly spinning Sandslash.
Boom!
With a crash, Sandslash's figure was sent flying. Even so, at the cost of taking Psychic head-on, he managed to successfully execute the move.
Whoooosh!
The field's weather changed rapidly, filling with sand that whipped against Slowking's body.
Perhaps to ensure a fair battle, this time Shellder did not participate, letting Slowking face Sandslash's attacks alone.
Upon receiving the storm's damage, Slowking groaned in discomfort, but immediately his body emitted a faint pink glow that softened his pained expression.
(End of Chapter)