Chapter Thirty-Four: Nidolino’s Study Plan

Confused by Xia’s reaction, Amu had just tamed this Nidorino whose physical attack was low, but special attack was high, possessing the Vitality ability. Nidorino, meanwhile, couldn’t help wondering if he had fallen into a trap.

After dinner, Amu brought out his training diary, cross-referencing the illustrated handbook as he mapped out Nidorino’s study plan. If Nidoking focused on special attack and gave up physical attack, his effective base stats would indeed be a bit low... However, in exchange, Nidoking could theoretically learn an incredibly diverse array of moves.

Amu first wrote in his diary, “Same type: Earth Power, Sludge Wave,” then added, “Other types: Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt.” These six high-damage, special attack moves, all with perfect accuracy and potential additional effects, could be learned by Nidoking. Apart from Sludge Wave at 95 base power and Shadow Ball at 80, the rest had 90 base power; under the Sheer Force ability, these would become moves with perfect accuracy and roughly 120 power…

In this world, accuracy isn’t determined solely by move accuracy, but also by how well the Pokémon performs, though theoretically, moves with perfect accuracy are easier to aim.

After some hesitation, Amu wrote a seventh move—Focus Blast.

Focus Blast is a Fighting-type special move that Nidoking can also learn, though it’s harder to land, but with Sheer Force, its power can exceed 150!

Xia glanced at the list and remarked skeptically, “Even if all these moves benefit from Sheer Force, don’t forget Nidoking’s special attack is only 85…”

“No, it’s not just about Sheer Force. This is essentially the strongest special move from seven types, and Nidoking can learn them all, which means…”

Ground, Poison, Fire, Electric, Ice, Ghost, and Fighting—the coverage of these seven types. Amu quickly drew up a chart to calculate type advantages.

“Just considering single types, it counters up to seventeen types, except Fighting, which can’t be countered. Even though only four moves can be carried at a time—not all seven—if in a match, with intelligence on the opponent, moves can be tailored accordingly. Even with four randomly chosen moves, the coverage would still counter twelve or thirteen types!” Amu shared his theoretical findings.

“In other words, a special attack Sheer Force Nidoking would, most of the time, have a move with perfect accuracy and around 120 power to exploit the opponent’s weakness! Once the advantage is established, the effective power is nearly doubled, so 85 special attack is more than enough…” Amu concluded after his calculations.

“But that’s only considering single types… What if the opponent isn't countered?” Xia, already understanding Amu’s point, persisted in challenging him, not out of a desire for Amu to give up Nidorino—since he’d already tamed it, Xia would look down on him if he backed out now—but simply to keep up their rivalry.

“No worries. The crucial part is, even with the worst luck, it’s unlikely that all the moves would be countered! True, with a focus on special attack, Nidoking’s effective base stats are only a bit above 400, not particularly strong, but… he is definitely a reliable attacker capable of steady output!”

This was precisely Amu’s expectation for his Nidorino—or soon-to-be Nidoking. In a professional trainer’s team, there’s often a Pokémon like this—not extreme in any stat, not spectacular, but difficult to target, able to withstand any trick as long as the opponent isn’t superior, not easily caught off guard; the backbone of the team.

Before nightfall, Amu had already laid out the new training plan.

Ivysaur continued to practice Energy Ball, aiming for mastery—once awakened, a move could be used, but proficiency still made a difference. “Mastery” was just the first step; other moves, like Quick Attack, could be used to dodge damage, and there were even more advanced techniques.

Exeggutor began practicing Ancient Power, a move Amu had discovered among its inherited skills.

Nidorino started learning Thunderbolt from Electrode.

Nidoking could learn seven powerful special attack moves, but before evolving, Nidorino could only learn Earth Power, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt; of which the first two were unavailable to Amu’s current Pokémon.

So only Thunderbolt was available for him to learn!

“Rock-type Ancient Power, Electric-type Thunderbolt… both counter Flying-types. You say you don’t care, but you’re actually very meticulous,” Xia remarked, impressed.

“Huh? Flying-type? Oh! I almost forgot, I’ll be challenging the Flying Gym in Recommendation City soon… Haha, what a coincidence!” Amu laughed heartily.

Given this, Amu thought it would be a good lesson for the young gym trainees: a Pokémon’s inherent weakness doesn’t mean it can’t pull out a move that counters its opponent. That would be a good deed.

“Boom!”

Just then, Electrode gave Nidorino a taste of Thunderbolt.

“How could you be so careless?” Amu hurried over to apply medicine to Nidorino.

Nidoran and Nidorino are pure Poison-types, only becoming dual Ground-Poison after evolving into Nidoking; by then, Thunderbolt—a purely electric move without physical impact—would have no effect on him.

While it’s not as instantaneous as in the games, recovery was swift.

“Boom, don’t be so impatient. Let Nido experience it himself!” Amu scolded Electrode.

“Boo, Boom!” Electrode pouted, clearly not “careless.”

Just now, Nidorino had been fussing, wanting to learn Energy Ball from Ivysaur, looking down on Electrode, which annoyed Electrode…

“No, no, you can’t learn Energy Ball… Start with Thunderbolt and master the seven moves I told you about, then you’ll be the coolest Nidoking!” Amu earnestly counseled Nidorino.

“Nido, Nidodo…”

Amu understood Nidorino’s meaning and nodded, “Don’t worry; as long as you master your moves, Moon Stone will be yours.”

To evolve into Nidoking, Nidorino didn’t just need to reach a certain level, but required a Moon Stone.

Nidorino wanted to learn, but Electrode refused to teach, turning away. This time, Amu didn’t interfere, letting Nidorino apologize to Electrode himself.

Electrode, still annoyed by Nidorino, zapped him with another Thunderbolt, but finally began teaching him the move.