My Best Team of Six Pokémon, One From Each Region

Y’know, when I write articles, generally speaking, I have no idea what the overall reaction to it will be, or how many views it’ll get. I am currently looking at my overall views on this blog, and at this exact moment, one of the top most viewed articles that I’ve written is Ash’s Best Team of 6 Pokémon, where I had the audacity to exclude Charizard. lol Seriously, to this day, I still get comments telling me that I should’ve added Charizard to the list. Well, if it makes anyone feel any better, the list is now somewhat out of date, because Ash has caught more Pokémon and the ones he already had have learned new moves and techniques. With that said, I really didn’t try to knock Charizard that much, despite how dumbfounded I was and continue to be to this day that he lost to a frigging Dusclops that even Bulbasaur, an unevolved Pokémon, was able to take down. But, for those that are huge fans of Charizard that were a bit miffed at me for excluding him, I apologize for any hurt feelings. It was just me giving my opinion.

But then I noticed some people leaving comments as to what their own teams would be. And then I thought about it and what I would make for my own team, if I had access to every Pokémon I’d ever caught throughout my years of playing Pokémon. And you’ll forgive me if my overall recollection of the various Pokémon I’ve caught throughout my LONG career is a little off, but I’ve been playing since the Red and Blue Versions. Also, I’m gonna try and limit this a bit to keep things interesting…

1. Only one per region. Granted, Pokémon that were introduced in past generations have made returns, but I’m only counting the one where they were first introduced, so this list will consist of one from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos.
2. NO LEGENDARIES. PERIOD.
3. One Starter Pokémon from the main series only.
4. Types can only be repeated on the team once, so, for example, no more than two Grass types.

Anyway, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s start off with…

Swampert

Two words: Mega Swampert. Even before I saw what it could do, I knew that Mega Swampert was gonna be amazing. Of course, Swampert on his own without Mega Evolution is still pretty badass. He can tank hits pretty well, he can bring the pain himself, and he’s only got a single weakness that, while common, isn’t 100% certain to come up or bring him down. The only problem is that he’s slow as all heck, so I gotta make sure that anything that can outrun him doesn’t also have the ability to put that much of a dent in him.

Cottonee

This was a tough call, because my favourite Pokémon from the Unova Region is actually Emolga. However, I had to go with Cottonee for overall usefulness and just how much he pisses opponents off. To answer your question, yes, he has Prankster. And yes, I pretty much abused the frak outta that with moves like Leech Seed, Substitute, and Toxic. And yes, I know the SubSeed strategy has limits, but if you’re facing someone that isn’t prepared for that, the sheer anger and frustration that they feel when they see it coming is just worth the risk, because then they start making mistakes. With that said, I really need to move him up to my later games, because I haven’t had a chance to utilize Cottonee since they became part Fairy-type.

Lucario, ‘Tex’

Why’d I name her Tex? Well…

Need I say anything more? 😛 Point being, like her namesake, Tex is a badass. A mixed attacker, she could just as easily take opponents down with pulse moves as she could in close quarters combat. And like my Cottonee, I REALLY need to bring her up to my later games, because if she was that much of an asskicking machine before, I can’t help but wonder what she’d be like after Mega Evolving. ^_^

Talonflame

Of all the basic Flying-type Pokémon to appear early on in a region, I think Kalos has the best one yet, simply by virtue of not being another Normal/Flying-type when she’s fully evolved. Of course, as I brought up in that OTHER article I did, because Talonflame is also a Fire/Flying-type, I need to always make sure to keep her as far away from Rock-types as possible, but if necessary, hit them as hard and as fast as I can with Steel Wing. Luckily, if there’s one thing Talonflame knows how to do exceedingly well, it’s hit hard and fast. Also, just from personal experience, while it’s not the best move out there, Me First is a great way to annoy the crap outta people. Plus, just the name Talonflame sounds so awesome. lol

Gengar

Gengar continues to be one of the coolest and creepiest frakking Pokémon EVER. And for those that are bothered by that, for the love of God, do not Mega Evolve yours like I did mine, she is frigging terrifying. XD Anyway, I tend to wanna open with Toxic while using Gengar, then unloading with either Hex or Venoshock. And just for those pesky Dark-types, Dazzling Gleam makes for a good fourth slot. Also handy in case you’re ever stared down by a pair of Dragons, which admittedly happens a lot less nowadays than it used to.

Politoed

You know me, gotta be representin’ the Poli family. ^_^ And yeah, I know, the overall usefulness of Drizzle isn’t exactly what it used to be, but honestly, that might actually work out for the best here. After all, what if Politoed starts some rain and then Talonflame comes out and gets her Fire-type attacks nerfed as a result? Plus, for that short time that the rain is on, Politoed and Swampert could level the opposition, Politoed with his Special Attacks, Swampert with his Physical Attacks. And granted, Politoed probably wouldn’t last long on the field, but I always know I can trust him to start battles off on my terms.

Anyway, that’s all for my list, but what about yours? Show me your team of six from the different regions in the comments section below. Ja né!

Jyger’s Favourite 10?! – 10 BEST X-Men

Well, I talked smack about a vital part of the X-Men’s story in the Marvel Universe recently, so I suppose I should make up for that. lol As I said before, I actually really like the X-Men. I just feel their plight is one that doesn’t make a lot or even any sense when it exists as part of the Marvel Universe. But I STILL LIKE THE X-MEN. Don’t ever think that I don’t. As such, I’ve decided to do a Jyger’s Favourite 10 of the X-Men, but with a twist. These are not necessarily my FAVOURITE X-Men. Rather, let’s say that, in a hypothetical scenario, I was asked to put together a team of 10 X-Men for a mission. I would have no idea what the mission parameters would be, just that a situation has come up that requires an immediate response, and I have all of the X-Men to choose from for this team. I’ll do an article focusing on my favourite members later. And to further my point on this not being a team of heroes I necessarily like, let’s start off with the one I constantly complain about…

#1 – Cyclops

…No, seriously. Love him or hate him, the one thing you cannot deny is that Scott Summers is a born and bred leader, and for someone with a rather limited potential move pool (his optic blasts and martial arts), he uses both with his keen senses to great effect. As such, I really can’t avoid putting him on this team. And while he’s been known to clash hard with, say, one or two other individuals I’m going to be listing here, when a situation dire enough comes up, they’ve generally been shown to put their differences aside long enough to see the mission through. And just as a note, I would like to say that, while I prefer his Jim Lee designed 90’s gear, I actually really like the X shaped visor…even if I have no idea how the frak it’s operated. lol

#2 – Wolverine

He’s the best at what he does, and what he does ain’t nice. Regardless of if he has Adamantium or bone claws, regardless of if his healing factor is working or not, James ‘Logan’ Howlett has proven time and again to be a great asset to the team… … …well, when he’s not chasing down ghosts from his past, or getting hurled across the room by Magneto because he’s got a freaking metal skeleton (and yes, I HAVE seen the Pete Holmes Ex-Men videos). Still, even in the latter scenario, damned if his savage tenacity doesn’t get him back to his feet. Also, for someone who is so grumpy and an occasional loner, he’s been known to, on several occasions, be very protective of the younger X-Men, specifically Jubilee and the next person on this list…

#3 – Shadowcat

There are few superhero situations I can think of off the top of my head where someone who can phase through solid mass or even energy bursts wouldn’t come in handy. As such, Kitty Pryde has to be considered an asset to any team. Even people who personally dislike her see what she brings to the table and have brought her on board for that, like Emma Frost did in Astonishing X-Men. Of course, the problem is that Kitty at times has problems putting her own dislike of others that have hurt her or her friends in the past aside, regardless of what’s happened since. Again, like Emma Frost. Still, she does at least try to keep it down to witty banter when in emergency situations. Oh, and did I mention she’s got a freaking dragon protecting her, and is currently engaged to the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, meaning she could call them in for help if need be?

#4 – Storm

I remember a scene from the 90’s Spider-Man animated series where Peter had to bring together a group of heroes, but could only call upon a single member of the X-Men. I forget what the actual behind-the-scenes reason for his choice was, but the one given on the show was she was so powerful that she could control the weather, meaning Spider-Man likely saw her as the most powerful member of the team. Now, some would argue that point, I’m sure, but there’s no denying that Ororo Munroe is at least in the top 5 for that position. Also, as the current headmistress of the Jean Grey School, she knows how to lead by example and keep a calm head in emergencies in order to get the job done. While she used to deal with a bad case of claustrophobia and emotional control, she’s been able to overcome both in order to ascend into arguably one of the Marvel Universe’s greatest heroes. And just for the record, she’s one of the few superheroines I can think of that can make the mohawk look work. lol

#5 – Colossus

…I’m not doing the stupid yell. XD With that said, I don’t know why the arcade game isn’t available on Wii U, but it’s something I’d like to see rectified in the future. But anyway, Piotr Rasputin is one of the most physically dominating and durable members of the X-Men, due to his ability to encompass his body in organic steel. Not to mention, there’s a reason Logan prefers to do the Fastball Special with Colossus, because this guy can throw like a freaking boss. With that said, I certainly hope the mission doesn’t take him anywhere near Wakanda, because apparently his body reverts back to normal instinctively when he comes in contact with Vibranium. So, never toss Captain America’s shield to him, I guess.

#6 – Rogue

I love Anna Marie. I really do. There’s something about her southern charm that just melts my heart. And before you say anything, I would just like to note that even my girlfriend loves her, too. lol Anyway, considering she can absorb and utilize the powers and abilities of anyone she comes in skin-on-skin contact with, it’s kinda hard not to see how Rogue can be useful in just about every situation that calls for superheroes. And while she used to be unable to control this power, requiring her to wear gloves in order to not suck the energy from anyone she touches, she’s since mastered it and can now freely touch… … …much, I’m sure, to the delight of most boys who grew up in the 90’s. XD

#7 – Dazzler

…Why do people not understand how awesome this character is? Alison Blaire can turn sound into flashing lights, holograms, and laser beams! That’s AWESOME! Honestly, I think the only reason anyone takes issue with her is the whole Disco Queen gimmick, and honestly, I’ve seen way worse and don’t mind it one bit. The only thing you’d wanna make sure of is that she isn’t put on a team where she might find herself teaming with Black Bolt, because his voice creates enough damage, I don’t need to know how much worse it could get if Dazzler turned it into a frakking Final Flash.

#8 – Iceman

Yeah, I know, Bobby Drake doesn’t exactly have the most creative codename ever. In fact, I wonder at times how many Vanilla Ice jokes have been thrown his way over the years. Still, can’t deny what he brings to the table. He can turn water to ice and manipulate both at his will, he can sense people through their body heat, and he can even encase himself in an organic ice form, so anyone hoping to get into a fist fight might wanna rethink that. The only real problem he has is that he’s believed to be a little afraid to tap into his full potential for whatever reason, due to a concern of losing control. Still, if and when that happens and he can keep his focus, look the frak out.

#9 – Nightcrawler

Yeah, I guess I might as well include the last of the playable characters in the X-Men Arcade Game in this list. lol Anyway, as anyone who plays Mortal Kombat can tell you, teleporters are awesome and generally have the edge in a fight, and Kurt Wagner fits that build. He knows how to make full use of his teleporting in conjunction with his master acrobatics and fencing in combat, and because his tail is prehensile, he can triple wield weapons if necessary. He’s also got night vision, can scale walls, and has an incredibly flexible bone structure. Of course, if you catch him, he has the same basic weaknesses as an ordinary human, and his teleporting requires him to see where he’s going or else he could conceivably materialize in a wall. But, all things considered, not the worst weaknesses for a guy like him.

#10 – White Queen

Well, I had to have a telepath on this team somewhere, and it was down to three: Psylocke, Jean Grey, or White Queen. I ultimately decided on Emma Frost because she seemed like the most well-rounded of the three, and while Jean ultimately has the most raw mental potential of the three, most of the times that she’s shown the ability to use it was when she was bonded to the Phoenix, and I don’t need to tell you what a problem THAT can be. The other reason I picked her, though, is because, depending on the situation, it can actually be a tad advantageous to have someone on the team that’s willing to bend a rule or two to get the job done. As a side note, I just gotta say this: If there is a more sexualized comic book character than Emma Frost in the history of ever, I don’t know that I wanna meet them. XD

Anyway, that’s it for my list of who I believe to be the 10 Best X-Men. Got your own list? Leave it in the comments, and be sure to come back when I list my 10 FAVOURITE X-Men. Ja né!