LogFAQs > #979639639

I finished off the Sprout Tower with little difficulty and took on the first gym. These were my levels going in:

tcaz Lv. 10
Skull Lv. 9
Poka Lv. 8
Zen Lv. 6

I start of the Falkner fight with Poka to land intimidate on his Pidgey, then switch into Skull to get rid of the Sand Attack and take it down with ease. Next is his Level 13 Pidgeotto, the real threat. I switch into Poka for intimidate... not considering the fact that Gust is Special. To make matters worse, he hits a critical gust which knocks off about half Poka's health, yikes. I get a Leer off and then switch into Skull to get as much damage on him as I can before switching into tcaz. He Roosts back to full health and we're back at square one. We trade a few Wing Attacks and Roosts until we end up at Pidgeotto with yellow health and tcaz at 4 HP. I didn't have any good switch options and I wasn't confident in Quick Attack finishing the gob, but after contemplating long and hard I took the plunge and knocked it out. First badge down with no casualties!

Beating Falkner raises my level cap for obedience to 20, which gives me some leeway, and also unlocks a few things I can do to help my Platinum run. First, I head to Route 32 to collect the old rod and hopefully find a not Magikarp water type to use against Roark. I start by heading to Cherrygrove City and I fish up... a Magikarp. Oh well, itll be useful eventually! I named it Anagram. Next I head to the Ruins of Alph looking for a Poliwag, but find... another Magikarp, which I named backup Anagram. This is where that species clause would really come in handy, but we push onward. I head to Union Cave and take a shot at a Goldeen. Yet another Magikarp... these are 85% encounters so I cant be too mad, but this kind of luck would have been nice a while ago! This one is named Ana. At least I can lose a few Magikarps and still be okay!

I also collect the egg, which I finally decided to trade over after it hatched. I named it Ermy because it's cute and I have big plans for it.

Moving over to Platinum, I make my way towards Jubilife City, do all the required stuff, and catch some Pokemon; a Magikarp on Route 118 (Maniac), another Bidoof on Route 203, and another Bidoof on Route 204. I think I didn't even catch one of them though. Barry attacks me and I take care of him pretty easily. Lea has been the MVP so far by being bulky and tanking a lot of hits. I finally get something new in Oreburgh Gate, catching a Zubat and naming it Wickle. I also pick up the Rock Smash HM, which should be somewhat useful against Roark.

Team update

Heart Gold:
Skull the Adamant Chimchar - Lv. 12
Zen the Rash Bidoof - Lv. 10
Poka the Quirky Shinx - Lv. 11
tcaz the Hasty Starly - Lv. 13
Maniac the Careful Magikarp - Lv. 6
Wickle the Sassy Zubat - Lv. 6

Platinum:
Raka the Jolly Cyndaquil - Lv. 8
Aga the Impish Hoothoot - Lv. 3
Lea the Rash Geodude - Lv. 8
Kirby the Brave Rattata - Lv. 7
Ermy the Quirk Togepi - Lv. 5
Ana the Serious Magikarp - Lv. 10