Interesting and Strange NPC Team Compositions

[Adam Levine]

Let's talk about some NPC trainers whose Pokémon teams are just plain strange or catch your eye in some particular way! Perhaps it's the presence or absence of certain Pokémon on someone's team, or even the Pokémon's individual movesets, or the fact that a Rich Boy you fight near Petalburg Woods has a Full Restore (sure, non-held items technically don't count as team composition, but where else am I going to bring this up?).

Johto's Gym Leaders and Elite Four are massive offenders when it comes to what Pokémon they do and don't have, from Falkner not having a Hoothoot to Chuck having two Pokémon in total to Bruno having an Onix (you know, the pre-evolved form of a Pokémon a Gym Leader has).

Cyrus has a Crobat, a Pokémon that requires friendship to obtain, making you question whether Cyrus is emotionless after all.

A lot of NPC trainers, even in the newer games, have Pokémon with movesets with less than four moves; a damning example is Tierno in XY having a Roserade in his final battle that literally only knows Petal Dance. Sure, for AI reasons this is feasible, but if this is your solution to get NPCs to perform specific strategies (or lack thereof in Tierno's case), it makes them look pathetic, especially when you encounter these trainers late in the game.

In SV, there's a kid near Levincia (around the beach area) with a Lokix and Rufflet who yells about wanting to become "number one." His strategy? Spamming the move U-turn between his two Pokémon. The funniest part is this kid almost wiped out my entire team. Smogon hire this kid.

Miriam's Academy Ace Tournament team consists of a Hypno and five Pokémon known for their pointiness; I love how this implies that Miriam deals with trypanophobia by lulling students to sleep and that she's also a bit too syringe-happy, which might also explain why she failed to qualify as a health instructor. It's a nice subtle bit of characterization.

 

[Sweet Serenity]

One interesting thing to note about Ghetsis' team in Pokémon Black and White is that it is designed to hard counter N's team, implying that he was going to betray him from the start. Ghetsis also runs a Hydregion with Frustration, showing that Ghetsis does not have love for his Pokémon.

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Ace Trainer Deanna keeps her Tropius in a Cherish Ball. Tropius was the first event Pokémon to be given out in a Cherish Ball. I found this interesting because it showed that NPCs can receive gifts via events as well.

Although I'm not sure when this tradition stopped, but in the older games, there was always at least one Fisherman with a team of six Magikarp.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Young Couple Duff and Eda have a team of Onix and Cloyster. When you realize exactly what they look similar to and the fact that they're a young couple, it is . . . interesting to say the least.

 

[Devalue]

Always finds unevolved Pokemon at high levels and Pokemon evolved before the correct level to be weird. Popped up a lot in a Yellow replay.

Some trainers in Yellow's Victory Road (not their full teams):

• Level 42 Ivysaur, Wartortle, and Charmeleon
• Level 43 Machop (alongside a level 42 Machoke, even)
• Level 41 Drowzee
• Level 40 Charmeleon
• The entire Bellsprout line at level 43

Also some level 21 Gravelers on trainers elsewhere, like one in Rock Tunnel. (Normally evolves at level 25.)

Oh, and Hammerlocke's gym. Claims to be the Dragon gym. Fought very few while there. Dealt with things like that in the past games, sure. Did not expect that in a recent game.

 

[ReKoil]

I mainly find the lack of Johto mons on the Johto Gym leader teams weird.

Also for some reason the Unova and Kalos E4 only have teams of 4 initially, whereas in every other region the E4 has a team of 5.

 

[Amore]

L
In SV, there's a kid near Levincia (around the beach area) with a Lokix and Rufflet who yells about wanting to become "number one." His strategy? Spamming the move U-turn between his two Pokémon. The funniest part is this kid almost wiped out my entire team. Smogon hire this kid.

Oh yeah, that kids a nightmare if you pick Sprigatito. I was over-levelled for the area but despite having a Charcadet, I wouldn't have won if I didn't have the Flying Pikachu which could hit both of those super-effectively.

Oh, and Hammerlocke's gym. Claims to be the Dragon gym. Fought very few while there. Dealt with things like that in the past games, sure. Did not expect that in a recent game.

Yeah that was such a betrayal. Its really the Weather Gym. He does at least have 4 Dragons in the Champion tournament, but I don't know why he doesn't use Dragapult. Also in the Galarian Star tournament he has his Goodra with Thunder, but his Flygon wants to set up Sandstorm which harms its accuracy.