mairenspokemonadventures

[mairenspokemonadventures]

Like with everything in my life, I struggled to settle on a decision in regards to these games and ended up starting over (hopefully for the last time...please let it be the last time)

Ever since the option became available, I've struggled on which skin color I like for my characters. No matter what one I choose, I end up disliking it and thinking the other option will end up looking better afterall - hence all of the start overs I do. The lightest skin color is usually too white or pink in the pokemon games. And I mean like glowing white skin. I don't really want to look like a vampire (but if I tell myself I'm the moon, I might end up convincing myself it's okay). Yet the next color up (usually a light brown), doesn't usually go with the lighter hair colors I prefer. If only the games could make something inbetween those two shades, it would be perfect for all of my fashion choices.

I can make either option work here in sword/shield, so to kind of help myself settle on a decision, I decided to have my character be the lighter colored skin on my shield playthrough, and the more tanned skin on my sword playthrough. I'm super pale offline and do not seem to have the ability to get a tan (only burn very very quickly, like within 20 minutes if I'm not protected with sun gear/sunscreen). So in games with character customization, I usually like to add a little color to myself to feel more beautiful when I can.

I kept my team I had on my previous shield file and will be happily adventuring with them on sword when I start that adventure up. I've hopped back into shield in the meantime with a new team for this playthrough. I haven't updated for a week or so, and despite the fact it sounds like I've just started over today, I actually have 6 badges in my current playthrough and will be getting my 7th badge soon.

My team is as follows: Elros (milotic), Atlas (golurk), Goki (farfetch'd), Zarak (turtonator), Nola (vileplume), and Nilly (rapidash).

The above picture is a little dated because this was taken in the beginning of my adventure when they were all still babies, but I'll update with another photo soon!

[mairenspokemonadventures]

Hello again after so long! After the last entry, I couldn't get my phone and switch to connect for the photo transfers, and tried screenshotting with my phone directly but the quality was no good, so I just put this journal on pause.

That doesn't mean I haven't been enjoying pokemon in the meantime though! I reached endgame on Arceus and never realized how many legendaries we had access to in that game!

After thinking about it for a bit, I decided to move from shield to sword instead for me and Fen's playthrough. For one thing, I like sword dog more than shield dog. And secondly, I have the expansion pass purchased for sword, but not shield, so this way will save some money. I did transfer my beloved team from shield before starting my new sword adventure, so it's full steam ahead! Below is my current character's appearance.

[mairenspokemonadventures]

So I'm putting my let's go playthrough on an indefinite hold. I did end up finding the shiny ponyta the following night, but got caught on trying to find the shiny slowpoke.

I was able to meet up with Vyse briefly in game on Violet and finally after years, trade him his shiny growlithe. He was so happy to get to add his buddy to his team. He told me he hasn't enjoyed a pokemon game like this since he played red/blue. I was so happy to hear that because I can entirely relate to those feelings. Being thrown into an open world pokemon game really did revitalize the wonder for me as well and I cannot wait to see where the next games will bring us.

Sadly, Fen had me give up on hatching the shiny elekid, so our adventures have since continued in Galar. I feel a bit disappointed and kind of defeated, but I also kind of appreciate him for showing mercy on me for the situation and I'm really happy that we do get to continue onwards together.

We just arrived in the snow town, and as usual, I ran directly to the clothing shop to update my outfit to make it appropriate for the weather. My team has grown wonderfully and everyone is fully evolved at this point. I'm really proud of them all for doing their best for me as we continue onward down the path of becoming champion.

[mairenspokemonadventures]

Continuing from the previous post, another of the games I got into playing again is Pokemon Let's Go Eevee. This was the first game I actively shiny hunted on (only needing 150 pokemon for a shiny charm was more than reasonable in my opinion).

I did erase my old file and started a new game (solo for this one!). I acknowledge this playthrough is purely based on fun - which is how all games should be. I have all generation 1 pokemon in pokemon home, so there isn't anything I particularly need in this game, I'm simply enjoying the Kanto areas once more.

Even without the shiny charm yet, I am happily adding some shiny pokemon to my team. I will have a Parasect, Raticate, Alolan Ninetails, Rapidash, Executor, and a Slowbro. I made Fen choose the last pokemon (Slowbro), and name it, so he can at least have some manner of influence in the game .

I was currently trying to find a shiny ponyta to add to my team last night and had the most trouble of all of them so far (not counting Fen's Elekid). To make matters worse, my switch got turned off last night so I have to start over with the combo. I'm really hoping tonight will bring me more success.

[mairenspokemonadventures]

So something happened and I suddenly became very very into pokemon. I found myself running 4 different directions at once: Pokemon Shield (no, no shiny elekid yet), Pokemon Go, Legends Arceus, and Let's go Eevee.

Pokemon Shield is the game that has gotten the least amount of attention. While I am still hatching eggs on occasion, me and Fen have put Shield aside for the time being and are playing through Arceus instead.

I think I just got bored hatching eggs. I never had one take so long to appear, so it just started making my mind feel dull and fuzzy whenever I tried. Even though I had moved on to hatching eggs while doing something else, such as watching a movie.

Thankfully, Fen is the best pokemon partner ever and it didn't take much convincing at all for him to agree to play Arceus with me in the meantime. I have leapt into this game at full speed without looking back. I forgot how beautiful it is! And how fun the catching system is. While catching and completing the pokedex is my favorite part of the games, I do also enjoy the challenge of battles. I even will occasionally agree to a battle with friends of which I already know the outcome - me being completely and utterly destroyed.

I don't play competitively so I don't have roles for my team(like tank?). Nor am I choosing team members based on what their max stats and endgame potential are. I just make a team with pokemon I like. I will focus on speed and attack/special attack, so I do am for jolly/timid, or adamant/modest natures to try to bring out their best potential. I will also boost the same stats with their EVs, and lastly try for the best IVs possible.

In Arceus, we are currently up to the 3rd map. I think it's my favorite one - it sure is pretty! I somehow managed to catch a shiny Zubat before even getting the shiny pokemon quest. I also found a shiny Kricketune, and even a shiny alpha Carnivine on the second map. From someone who didn't catch any shinies for nearly a decade (I never tried either), I do like these higher shiny rates in the newer games. A selfish part of me is wishing the shinies I find would actually be pokemon that I like...but I will never voice those words out loud! I know better, and truly am very very thankful for my unusual luck. Fen is usually the one with of the luck...so maybe he's somehow sharing some with me? It's a nice change in life! Thank you Fen!!

[mairenspokemonadventures]

Although it took around 500 eggs, I ended up hatching the perfect Ralts for Fen. It was a female, it was the right nature, and the one IV out of the 6 that wasn't perfect was for attack, which didn't matter because he planned to be using special attack moves.

He then asked me to prepare the other five pokemon he will have on his team for our Galar playthrough. He ended up liking the aspect of having a team from the beginning of the game, rather than catching a team as you go.

I've done both types of playing and enjoyed both, but I do have a little more fun when I can start with six babies to raise and travel along with as we all get stronger together. No, they aren't hacked max stats max everything level 100 ones. They are legitimate pokemon that I have caught and prepared specifically for the journey, and generally are starting at level 1.

I only have one more pokemon to prepare for Fen, which is a shiny Elekid. Thankfully all of the preparations are complete and I have a six IV parent with the right nature in the daycare, so it's only a matter of time before that shiny one shows up. Unlike the other's I've done so far, I really really don't see much difference in standard vs shiny coloration. I thought petilil was difficult, but elekid is the new champion for hardest to tell shiny. Yes, I do see the smallest ever slightest difference in the shades of yellow, but I'm still worried I'm going to miss it. I always check in the menu very carefully for that shiny symbol to be sure, before releasing them.

My friend Vyse also recently (finally) got Scarlet, so yay for another friend to enjoy pokemon with! I used to have a whole group of friends from school that I enjoyed and went through this series with. Having no friends for awhile really made me lonely to the point I am ever so excited when the few people still in my life can connect with me through a hobby.

Hopefully I'll find that shiny elekid soon and we can continue going through Sword and Shield!

[mairenspokemonadventures]

So me and Fen's sword/shield adventures are on pause already because I finally got him to let me breed a couple of pokemon for him. I didn't get that shiny charm for nothing!

My mission is to hatch a shiny ralts. I actually lost count of how many eggs I've hatched so far, which I'm a bit sad about because I always find those numbers interesting. I also feel bad that it hasn't appeared yet, but I also still have full motivation to find it! About a 1/500 chance for me, and I have successfully hatched 9 other shiny pokemon prior to this.

I might just be a liiitle worried about the specifics Fen has given me for this request. Shiny? That's what we're here for. Nature? I can do it! IVs? I can guarantee 5. Gender is a toss of the coin, however, and he's specified he needs a female only. He also doesn't want speed or special attack less than perfect for the IVs, and which stat isn't perfect is entirely random. So I'm hatching these eggs worried the shiny is finally going to appear and either be male, or if is female, have lower IV on speed or special attack. I will probably melt into the blankets with despair if that happens - finding a shiny itself is work enough! But it is work I enjoy.

I love the concept of shiny pokemon, it's so much fun to find one as an unexpected surprise! The first shiny I encountered was a kecleon back in..heart gold perhaps?, which I was selfishly disappointed in if I can be honest. Barely any coloration difference other than a small stripe on the stomach, and it isn't a pokemon I typically use either. I wouldn't find another shiny in the wild until my first playthrough of Pokemon Scarlet (of which I found 2 in one playthrough! What luck!!). The first was a shiny mareep which I immediately added to my team, and the second was a shiny snowrunt.

I will keep up the work of hatching that shiny ralts for my dear Fen (the work we do for those we love~), I just hope she will appear soon, maybe tomorrow, and be absolutely perfect for us! Then it's onward for us to continue enjoying the beautiful world of Galar

[mairenspokemonadventures]

I've been debating whether or not I should start a journal of these adventures and came to the quick realization that because I was in doubt, I should do this. There would be nothing lost by documenting my adventures and deciding I don't want to continue this later, but I would only feel regret by not doing this, and later wishing I had. So here we are!

I've been a fan of pokemon since it first came out. I have fond memories of playing red and blue for hours on my gameboy, collecting the cards (of course while I got nothing of note, my brother got Charizard in his first booster pack, something he has never let me forget even decades later), and just being entirely swept away by the craze with no turning back.

I will probably end up sharing bits and pieces from my memories in the various posts here, and not make just one giant memory post because I have 25 years of memories to share and don't need to start this journal off with an entire novel.

This will, however, be a documentation of my adventures through the games from here forward.

I am currently going through Shield with my pokemon partner, Fen. Here's us just today:

We always adventure side by side, and I acknowledge I am entirely the luckiest creature in the world to have someone like that in my life. Yes, the games are fun enough to solo through, but I found my joy multiplied ten times when we started going through these worlds together. Someone to battle with, someone to trade with, someone to complain to when a big mean growlithe knocks out your poor adorable defenseless azurill. Expect to hear mention of Fen a lot, because my time in these games are shared with him.

So yes! I have started my shield playthrough. I did play through the base game of sword before, but not the expansions, and I plan to get through both of those this time.

I had a team pre-prepared for this playthrough: an aron named Melor, an azurill named Leo, a cottonee named Mika, a sizzlepede named Ignis, a toxel named Riff, and an alcreamie named Neyli. I will enjoy my adventure with these guys from beginning to end while I work my way through everything and also try to complete the pokedex for the shiny charm (something I've done in Sword already, but I also wish to accomplish in Shield).

Oh and here's my current trainer card:

I must confess I've spent far too much time in the clothing shops already, but I'm always a huge fan of character customization. I'll be changing my clothes probably every time I post here.

I've currently just finished the first gym. I rushed forward to get the badge quickly because I am always worrying about over leveling my team and then losing their loyalty. I will probably continue to evade all of the trainers I can for now, and try to get a few more badges before slowing down the pace and taking my time to fill up my dex more and fight other trainers.

I don't entirely know how often I'll post, but I look forward so much to seeing these pages filled up with memories that I can look back on someday.