Part 10: Mocking Muk with Psychic Powers

Music: Krokka Tunnel


Up ahead, we meet a Croconaw.



It shoots puddles just like Grimer, but it shoots three times in succession.
At least its puddles are blue like water instead of neon green.
Neon green? This isn't Pokemon Uranium, you know. And Delta Camerupt isn't in this game.



It's not hard to deal with, but for some reason I managed to get hit repeatedly. So here's a shot of us using Recharge/Electric assist.



Required Loops: 5
Possible EXP: 30/35/40/45/50/55



Captured Grimer: 5



Urrp! It's making me nauseous... But I'll do my job and take what you capture. Don't expect me to breathe... *leaves*
Get over it.



Going ahead, we see these pipes. I don't think it's economical to just let the water flow through the floor like that. Not to mention that we're stepping on drinking water...
It's a popular sewer design for a reason, I suppose. Presumably there's a water treatment facility deeper inside the sewers somewhere.



The left path leads to another fork and a Corphish right in the intersection. It's as if they know Corphish is annoying and put it there solely to fuck with you.

Unintentional Corphish: 5 (once more on the return trip)

The top path is a dead end and the left just leads to a Drowzee, so we're going to check out the second pipe.



Didn't expect to see you here.

Circe! What are you doing here?! ...You're capturing the mass outbreak of Grimer? Giggle... It sounds like the perfect job for a rookie. My mission is to investigate the Go-Rock Squad. We got word that one of their members is lurking down here. But, anyways... It smells beastly here. I can't be wasting any time on my top-priority mission, so I'll be on my way! *leaves*

Did you know her job was to investigate the Go-Rock Squad? Because her job is to investigate the Go-Rock Squad. How would we have ever known her job was to investigate the Go-Rock Squad without her telling us that her job is to investigate the Go-Rock Squad every 20 minutes?



Fuck.

Unintentional Corphish: 6
What was the designers' thought process for placing all these ambush Corphish?



Thought we were done dealing with the slippery sludge?



If we fall down this hole, we're dropped into the same place as last update.
So I'm still not seeing a lot of reasons why this section isn't as bad as the Skitty stuff. Because this looks like the worst parts of every sewer level jammed into what I can only assume is the game's nadir.
This one isn't as bad as the last one. There's no hole on the upper part, so you can actually just hug the northern wall.

Plus, there's going to be actual ice levels in this series. And they are MUCH worse than this. Especially Almia Castle



Out of the sludge, we find this post. We can't do anything with it yet. And yes, I did get caught by that Corphish.

Unintentional Corphish: 7



Sign Beware of weakened concrete walls! They are susceptible to crumbling! <Fall City Waterworks Dept.>

We can't do anything with this wall right now either.



We can do something with these Grimer, though.

Music: Wild Pokemon Capture


I haven't mentioned this earlier, but if we catch multiple Pokemon at once, the EXP we receive from each will increase. I don't know the formula for it, though.

Even three Grimer are easy to deal with Drowzee's assist. It's one of the reason I like this mission: because it teaches us how to deal with multiple Pokemon. This is the first mission with mandatory multiple Pokemon capture.
I do admit, it is stylish as hell to capture three Grimer at once.



In this case, the EXP we receive increase by 15 for every Grimer. With extra loops, we can get 54 EXP for each Grimer.

Captured Grimer: 8

Music: Krokka Tunnel


I can't talk... Talking makes me breathe. I'll take these without a word... *leaves*



Oh, what is it, Circe? Do you want to cross over to this side? It won't be any fun if I just tell you, so I'll give you two hints. I'm only saying this once, so listen! There is a Post here. And there is a Tangela somewhere. You can figure out the rest for yourself. I have to be going now. Bye!

But... you just...
This game is aimed for children. I'm sure there's some who consider this to be an obtuse hint.



Tangela is a very important Pokemon and we'll be required to capture it repeatedly during the game.

Music: Wild Pokemon Capture


...Which is a bad thing because Tangela gives a negative reaction time. Seriously, looking at the GIF, Tangela gave the signal AFTER it attacks.

And, to make things worse, it also moves by jumping around like Venonat. It moves less quickly, but a bigger pain in the ass overall.
I'm finding myself more and more thankful I haven't play this game before.

Music: Capture Complete


Required Loops: 2
Possible EXP: 30/38/46/54/62/70

At least it only needs two loops. I recommend not bothering with the extra EXP.

Music: Krokka Tunnel


Tangela can give quite a beating, so make sure to recharge if needed.

Anyway, now we can use Tangela's Field Move, Cross. We can cross the post near here, but we can now check out the pole we passed through before.



You know, if I can initiate the Target Clear without getting interrupted...

Unintentional Corphish: 8



The second reason I like this mission: This is the first mission where we get to explore optional areas.



Squirtle is actually very easy to miss. You don't know how many times I came here and didn't see Squirtle because I didn't bother going to this corner.



Squirtle is Poliwag but requires less loops, gives more EXP, and harder to find.



Required Loops: 3
Possible EXP: 22/25/28/32



As you might have guessed, we're not going to go through here anytime soon.
I hope there's something nice on the other side!



Meditite is similar to Makuhita just like Squirtle to Poliwag.



Required Loops: 4
Possible EXP: 22/26/30/36



Most of the time, the game is nice enough not to force us to use Cross for the return trip.

As an added bonus, I actually managed to avoid the Corphish this time



It's a good game design to show us two unclearable targets, and then gave us the Pokemon we need just a little ways ahead, forcing us to backtrack and discover new Pokemon.



The very different design of the area reinforces the idea that you're actually exploring and discovering something new. The sewer isn't the first place you'd think to find Oddish, but here it is.
I really like this little natural cave hidden behind a concrete wall. It really does feel like you're discovering something.



Unlike Bellsprout, Oddish's leaf doesn't return like a boomerang.



Required Loops: 5
Possible EXP: 20/23/26/30



Magneton is relatively tough for a portable battery.



Required Loops: 3
Possible EXP: 8

It does restore more, though. It restores 15 (I think) instead of the normal 5. It's a full heal right now.
I swear this section had to have two different people working on it at the same time. On the one hand you have ambush Corphish, ice physics, an annoying NPC who won't stop complaining, and, as far as I can tell, unavoidable status effects that make you move even slower.

But then on the other hand, you have a neat little optional side path that has multiple uncommon capture pokemon and even a guaranteed full heal for going out of your way to explore. The two parts of the map are a little incongruous with each other.
The status effects can be avoided very easily, actually. I just got hit by it to show it off. Can't defend the other parts, though.



With the diversion done, we go back to the main route.



There's another Meditite and shortcut up ahead. This is the less involved method of getting Oddish and Magneton.



Up ahead there's another pipe. There's no branches in this one. Did I mention that there's water flow here from top to bottom and thus we move very slowly while in these pipes?
Not gonna lie, I'm still not seeing the good parts of this sewer. The few bright spots aren't enough to overcome the absolutely atrocious "waste the player's time at all stops" design philosophy that seemingly went into this.



We can get Raticate from last update here, but

The pipe here isn't actually the one we just went through. It's the way we need to go.



This pipe has a 'H' shape with us going in from the top right. And, of course, with Corphish at both intersections.

Unintentional Corphish: 9 (There goes 2 minutes of my life...)



Huh. That's very nice of the game. (This is in the bottom right exit.)



Fuck you.





Another example of rewarding exploration.



Crawdaunt also bites (albeit with its claws), but it actually dashes to the line, which makes it quite dangerous.



Required Loops: 10
Possible EXP: 40/45/50/55/60/65

Crawdaunt teaches us that sometimes we need to not release our Styler when it attacks. You might have seen me doing that while showing off attacks.

This is a technique you need to pick up on your own but is absolutely vital. It's one of the big stumbling blocks for newcomers.
I admit, it's not something I would have thought about doing, but it is a clever technique!





I'm actually thankful for the flowing water since it's now speeding us up. And this is the last Corphish in the sewer



Looks like your estimation is off, DN.
Darn. Oh well, off by 3 isn't too bad.

Music: Wild Pokemon Capture


I almost forgot to show Plusle's upgraded assist. Here's the changes:

• The Pokemon is now stunned longer except Ground types which isn't affected and resistant types which might as well not be paralyzed.
  
• We can use Electric assist when we have at least one bar. It will correspond to the number of bars we have filled. After using the assist, the gauge will reset, so leftovers are wasted.
  
• Plusle now discharges in 4 ways instead of 3. This is important since it reduces the chance of missing (yes, the discharge can miss the Pokemon, thus wasting it).

Music: Krokka Tunnel


Captured Grimer: 11

You should return to the Ranger Base and report to Joel...



Huh? What the...? There's an even worse stench coming from over there. Urrrgggh! It's making my nose go weird! *leaves*

Good news: The boss of this mission is indeed Muk! But it's not just a Muk.

Video: Muk + 2 Grimer




Oh that's a bad pun, haha. Also, err, make that off by 5?
I don't know which one is worse, that pun or your guess

I... I'll get word to your Leader!

The way this scene plays makes it seem like the engineer is going to tattle to Muk's leader.



This is the shortcut to the beginning of the sewers. There's a Drowzee nearby if you feel like trivializing the boss.



So, Muk.

New Music: Wild Boss Pokemon Encounter




Music: Capture Complete


It's captured in 15 seconds.
Hahahaha. Given that the Drowzee is right there, there's zero reason to not just dunk on this Muk as hard as you can.

Captured Grimer: 13 (I know it's an infestation, but isn't 13 a bit much?)



Required Loops: 10
Possible EXP: 58/64/70/78

Before we continue, though, let's actually see Muk's attacks.



We'll capture the Grimer first. Fun fact: The more loops we make around a Pokemon (but still not enough to capture), the higher the ball jumps before breaking.



Another fun fact: EXP are gained right after a Pokemon is captured, not at the end of the encounter. That means we can level up at the middle of the encounter, which also acts as a full heal. It can be nice surprise.



Muk's attacks are just Grimer's except its sludge trails lasts longer.

Music: Krokka Tunnel


I mean, it's so overpowering, I can't smell anything anymore! Look, see? Watch me breathe deeply. In, out, in, out!

You might want to have your nose checked
Welp. This rando ranger is never tasting anything again. That sucks.

OK, I'll haul this last lot away. Good job! *leaves*

Music: Mission Clear!




...What about me? I didn't spot any Go-Rock Squad members, and my clothes smell horrible now. There's no reason for me to stay here even another moment. So, I'll be on my way. I wouldn't dawdle if I were you. You should report to the Ranger Base right away.

*They both leave*



Wow, Aria. Turns out you're very incompetent
I'm somehow not surprised that she's this bad at her job. All she does is wander around aimlessly telling everyone else how to do theirs.