How many Pokemon beat Bugsy without Optional Battles? - Episode 6

Minimum Battles is the ultimate challenge. 165 Pokemon beat Falkner on Minimum Battles, but now it's time to find out how they do against Rival 2 and Bugsy!
On my main channel @RBYPokemonChallenges , I have already completed this challenge with all 151 Pokemon on Gen 1, but Gen 2 presents a massively different challenge - sleep and Wrap were nerfed, there's no Gen 1 miss (1/256 glitch), and all the trainers have better AI. But Minimum Battles might just be possible with some effort and ingenuity.
Today's challengers:
Slowpoke, Slowbro,
Magnemite, Magneton,
Farfetch'd,
Doduo, Dodrio,
Seel, Dewgong,
Muk,
Cloyster,
Haunter, Gengar,
Slowking,
Misdreavus,
Wobbuffet

[@AdamAtYourService]

TMs at the Game Corner should be allowed IF a Pokémon can't win without them. You could easily categorize it differently, like with the Struggle list. Also, if a Pokémon can't beat the Rival because their starter consistently blocks them, they should be allowed to retry with a more favorable starter MU. The goal is to win on minimum battles. The battle count doesn't change based on the rival's starter. Again, you could categorize them differently, too.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I think we're on exactly the same page

[@falsnamae3511]

Game Corner TMs should be "broken" category TMs, both because they are, and also given the effort involved in getting them "naturally" (accumulating and selling berries, or working the game corner games properly). So big point loss for using them, but they should be allowed.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I can agree

[@andrewpalmer1873]

The Greatest series on KZbin is back!

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Appreciate that!

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

The Stick raises Farfetch'd's critical hit rate. Speaking of which, Farfetch'd's name got glitched.

[@highwaystar4518]

its not glitched, thats just how its spelled so you can fit the name in the character limit

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

@@highwaystar4518 The last 2 characters were not handled properly as the apostrophe is misinterpreted as an end of string.

[@highwaystar4518]

@@PKMNwww411_MkIIgoogle what a glitch is please

[@highwaystar4518]

⁠@@PKMNwww411_MkIIoh i didnt even notice that. i dont usually see gen 1 fetchd without the name dux lol i apologize.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

It's an overlay glitch, will check into fishing that

[@MobileGamingChronicles]

Bayleef Tackle (Brushes it off, knocks you out) +6 with Curse + Swift 😲 Dead 🤣🤣🤣

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

sometimes cursing is the only way 😂

[@BlueViera]

Using the game corner rewards is probably only on the same level as using a tm, although admittedly really good ones. If you're able to use a tm, you should be able to use the game corner.

[@TheMoogleKing93]

And you could farm berries for money without a single battle.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Fair points, the bigger issue is how reasonable is it really to legit get them. I will test it at least once.

[@DoctorNovakaine]

Looking at Dewgong's stats, it was destined for an easier time against the Bayleef - much higher Special Defense meant that it might even have survived a crit Razor Leaf from full health, and with the speed advantage and enough damage to two-shot, the risk was mostly bad rolls from the Gastly weakening you enough to go down to that crit Razor Leaf. Game Corner TMs...I think that if we're just talking about the next section or the Morty section, I would put those in a separate tier for "possible but unreasonable" if that got them through, just because the Game Corner is so unreliable as a means of profit and you have so little in the way of available funds that I don't think you could get them without an oppressive time investment. Unless you found a way to cheese the slots, but I don't think that exists. But it would be worth seeing, I think, if that made the difference for any of them, and if it did then seeing if there was a way to make it more viable as a strategy, since this exercise IS more about exploration and potential. (After the game opens up following Morty, I think there's a chance to come across enough money for one of them, so it'd be allowable.)

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah, Special Defense is key for Bayleaf. It's one way the Special split is relevant in this section

[@GroundThing]

As for game corner TMs, I say allow them, since the challenge is minimum battles, and while it would be tedious, you could theoretically farm coins just by gambling and resetting if you lose too much, all without any additional battles (Full disclosure, this is also my justification for cheating coins in my nuzlocke runs). However if you feel like it goes against the spirit of the challenge, the coin case is locked behind a technically-required battle, but that battle isn't really required until you have to do the basement section of the Rocket plotline, so I could see not allowing it until that point, but to me it feels more arbitrary not to allow them entirely.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I think we'll allow them but as a very last resort.

[@philipmurphy2]

The great series on KZbin is back

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Thank you!

[@MobileGamingChronicles]

I love these runs on your channel! I wonder if there's a generation or official game where none of the Pokemon can win on minimum battles with what you've reasonably got to work with?

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

It would be interesting to do this series in a later Gen game, just not there yet.

[@browncow5210]

Regarding the Game Corner TM's, assuming you're using an emulator there's a fairly easy way to get the coins for them. You can use save states in order to get easy wins at the card flip minigame. I'd say it's fair, since the game was balanced around Pokemon wanting these moves on their movesets eventually *cough*magneton*cough*. I'm sure Misdreavous will want an inaccurate move that can at least do major damage.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah, it's not going to be my first priority, but we may use them if desperate.

[@brolsroyceyt2362]

This is going to be a good one appreciate the upload 🙌🏾

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Thank you!

[@TheAnalyticalEngine]

I agree that Game Corner TMs (Thunder, Blizzard and Fire Blast) should be allowed for this series, but only if a Pokemon can't reasonably progress without learning them On the other hand, Goldenrod Department Store TMs should be fair game - the three elemental punches, Headbut and Rock Smash are good, but not broken. Return _might_ count as a broken TM, but should still be allowed

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Agreed on both fronts

[@raptors11111]

Great video! Love this series. Funny to see Magnemite easily win after Magenton struggled 😂. I gotta vote no on game corner TMs for the Whitney section though. You'd need $110,000 to buy them or spending countless hours gambling. Just like how you dont allow relying on more than 1 critical per battle i dont think its reasonable to just let anything learn them in the next section. Id obviously be fine with using them closer to the elite 4 though

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I can see the logic. I'm thinking to put Pokemon that end up with Game Corner TMs in a separate list, just like struggle Pokemon

[@redwings13400]

I'd probably categorize game corner TMs as another 'minimum experience' category, where yes it's still minimum battles, but it's not realistic from a time perspective. You would have to gamble for a really long time so it's definitely not something most people would want to spend the time to do, but it is still technically possible, so a "Gambling addict" category would make sense for these pokemon.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Agreed. I think if anything they might be in a separate section, same as Struggle - a practical fail, but capable of Minimum Experience with a lot of work

[@ericwolf9664]

I'm actually worried about the magnemite line vs prior to Rival 3 since quilava upgrades to flamewheel for a fire type move, although overleveling is possible by clearing mandatory trainers in the lighthouse early if you allowed it.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah, I think we will need a lot of extra levels there

[@celticv]

before i watch this video i am guessing only 3 will fail . am hoping that only least 1 will fail would be happy and surprised if all them passed :) really enjoying these episodes :D tho i will say when you finally do get to Whitney/ golden rod i feel like underground part should be off limit mostly because dont need go down their (YET )!! but do feel like those two extra battles wont really effect out come if do them or not . if you do ill be happy ether way :) that's just my opinion that's all . hope don't take it wrong way

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

For sure. I think the fact that there are literally no other battles in that section other than one Gym trainer and Whitney means a lot of Pokemon will need the underground path trainers. But it's not going to be my first plan for most challengers

[@IsuKen]

I feel like game corner TMs should be perfectly allowable. I feel like the essence of this is weather the average person can beat the game with these Pokemon on minimum battles, and unless they are applying challenge restrictions, there's no way anyone would exclude powerful TMs by whatever means they are available.

[@travisalexander6440]

Along the same vein of using any Berries available in the game up to that point. The idea is that it might take a very long time since a player would need to wait to get all the berries available to sell for TMs, but it could be done without any reliance on absurd luck, just time.

[@connor-3455]

@@travisalexander6440 this if you can get it it doesnt matter the amount of time and resets for slot luck, its not a speed run

[@raptors11111]

Hard disagree. Each of the TMs costs 5500 pokedollars thats $110,000 to buy them. That makes no sense allowing them for the Whitney section, you dont have that kind of money in a normal playthrough till almost the elite 4. And this challenge isnt just "is it possible to win", its more of an "is it possible and reasonable" which is why he doesnt allow relying on more than 1 critical or 95% accurate move like tackle or razor leaf missing.

[@connor-3455]

@@raptors11111 but you can always do the gambling, save before you play and if you lose all your money, reset till you win

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I agree that the time investment would be insane. That said, I think they could be justified in the truest sense of minimum battles but also regarded as unreasonable otherwise. I think separating Pokemon that need them out into a different category is reasonable unless we reach a point where we could naturally get the money to afford them.

[@delvintodavo9419]

I think the pink bow increases the damage of struggle? While struggle is typeless, I’m pretty sure gen 2 is bugged such that normal types get a STAB increase on struggle, and I think that extends to the pink bow doing so as well. Not for sure on that but it might.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah, it does increase struggle damage. Problem is just that, in general, it's not enough of a boost to affect these early battles because of our low levels

[@delvintodavo9419]

Glad I am right 😅 but I think it could help at least at some point

[@celticv]

for next challengers dunsparce is mostly Pokemon that worried about i don't know its moves very well . DARE i say that all them will pass !!!! its Pokemon never thought using TBH. its a Pokemon that can be easily missed in Pokemon Crystal think only way get one is to wait for Anthony to call you . perhaps be lucky enough for it spawn in union cave. i didn't know this for very long time .............

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah Dunsparce is legitimately good. As a kid, I never understood why Hiker Anthony was so obsessed with it, but now I know 😂

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

For the move Curse, it's a ???-type in gens 2-4. Should we have a custom icon that shows a question mark?

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I would need to find one to use that fits with the others.

[@waterierStone]

I'd allow game corner TMs. Without them there's basically no good TMs in the whole game. like pryce gives you icy wind ffs. Also so many slow pokemon could get walled by morty using curse because you don't have any good moves to beat them in a reasonable amount of resets. Also the accuracy and pp of the big elemental moves makes them more likely to fail against larger teams with accuracy shenanigans like in the e4

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Yeah, I think they will be allowed, but perhaps Pokemon in that section get put into a different group, same as struggle Pokemon

[@parttimesaint3165]

I pronunciate Girafarig as I pronunciate Gif. Jokes aside, it has a hard G at the end, so I think it should have a hard G at the beginning as well, considering it's a palindrome.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

It's a serious debate in the comments

[@parttimesaint3165]

@@GSCPokemonChallenges I'm sorry you have to pay attention to it, being a youtuber who has to speak the name in public. I have the luxury to just sit back and do what I do. Honestly, you're doing great. You're doing what you're doing and that's awesome. I respect it. :)

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

Wild Farfetch'd are found in Route 43 in Crystal and has a small chance to hold a Stick. Use Thief then run away.

[@belodie]

That probably counts as an optional battle.

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

@@belodie At least it's minimum experience as long as the wild Pokemon isn't knocked out.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Could be fun to mess with in a legit Farfetch'd run

[@17Master]

I predict 15 pass, 1 fail this time around.

[@17Master]

As for the Game Corner TMs, while it is possible to get them early by winning the slots and card flip a ton, that's not what I would consider "reasonable". Maybe they could be allowed with varying points penalty based on badge count before using them? Ending with the standard TM penalty if the mon only needs it after accessing Kanto (since by that point I think a player could reasonably buy and win coins to get one). Could we try Wobbuffet with 1 PP of Safeguard going in? Maybe those five turns of not getting Sleep/Para/Confuse could help it save enough HP to survive through Bayleef? Still not gonna be pretty, of course.

[@17Master]

Last thing, I am super curious about the Whitney section. There aren't many mandatory trainers before Sudowoodo; I think you only have to fight two trainers in Goldenrod Gym before Whitney, and there is only one mandatory trainer north of Goldenrod, depending on if you go through National Park or take the Cut tree. The challengers are already underleveled going into Bugsy and Rival 2, that gap should only get wider against Miltank.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I consider only one trainer in Whitney's Gym and Whitney herself to be required, and there are two trainers in the underground that are technically required later, and this fair game. No other trainers will be available in that section

[@K-H-28]

Game corner TMs, grinding for extra friendship (if needed) for Return, etc. should all be allowed. But your game times should reflect this. I know you don't prioritize time as much for scoring/ranking, but it'd be another useful way to show the steps required to finish the game than 1-4 points taken off these mons' final scores.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I may put them in a separate category or something, because actually playing it out every time would be impossible.

[@PKMNwww411_MkII]

Even if you give Wobbuffet 1 PP in Safeguard, it'll still lose to Rival 2.

[@michaelbainbridge7335]

Because of Gastly having no special moves?

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I think the fact that it takes super effective damage from Gastly and Zubat is the real killer

[@rpzamer1218]

Ok I think wabuffet could have made it. That first round of struggle you went in and got statused a lot. You could have gone in with 1 safeguard pp and used it to prevent confusion and paralysis and then have much more health to use going into the final mon

[@zachlyons2425]

Safeguard only lasts 5 turns, so I am not sure if would be enough. It would definitely increase the chance to win. I was thinking the same thing about 1 pp

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Worth a try later I suppose

[@kwcamp4487]

I feel like wobbuffet could win if you just go into the battle with 1 pp of safeguard. Would help with the status early on and could sweep. You should give him another shot before writing him off.

[@DoctorNovakaine]

No shot. Even without status, there's no chance it gets through Bayleef.

[@kwcamp4487]

@@DoctorNovakaine One round of safeguard then struggle with a berry and I think it would crush. Bayleef would waste turns on status and the pain train would come into town

[@DoctorNovakaine]

​@@kwcamp4487 In what world? First off, Wobbuffet is unlikely to MAKE it to Bayleef with Safeguard still up, and will not if Zubat comes out second. Gastly is a 3HKO and Zubat is 4HKO if you're lucky and it never uses Leech Life. Safeguard only lasts 5 turns. Second, you're taking damage from Lick, Bite, and Leech Life continuously just to get to Bayleef, not to mention recoil damage. Lick and Leech Life do 7 damage each, Bite 12. Gastly is guaranteed 4 attacks, Zubat is guaranteed 4 attacks. Your luckiest reasonable scenario is that Gastly only attacks once, and Zubat wastes 2 turns on Supersonic and uses Bite the other two (because otherwise it's 5 turns). That's 31 damage, plus 14 recoil damage, putting you at 52 HP after the berry. And that's a GOOD run, and assumes that Zubat doesn't hit Supersonic after Safeguard drops and you get self-damage from confusion. (In all likelihood, you're more likely to get 1 more attack from Gastly and Zubat given the super effective moves they have, and Zubat being likely to use at least 1 Leech Life.) And then you expect Bayleef to be a cake walk? At your absolute luckiest, Bayleef is an 8HKO. More likely to be 9. It's faster, so it gets 10 turns. Razor Leaf does 13-16 damage per hit. It's a guaranteed 4HKO from 52 HP, and could very well turn into a 3HKO with recoil damage. And that's before we get into critical hits, Growl or Reflect adding turns to Bayleef's side, and Poison Powder which WILL be past Safeguard. I wouldn't bet on Wobbuffet from FULL health against Bayleef, much less half health. This run is dead in the water.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

I think the fact that Wobbuffet is both weak to Zubat and Gastly and has to deal with high crit STAB Razor Leaf is the reason why it's at least practically impossible.

[@thekakeking9400]

The Slowpoke Well guy should be dubbed Jimmy Proton. I made a similar comment earlier and yes, he is meant to evoke Jimmy Neutron.

[@GSCPokemonChallenges]

Legend 😂