Pokémon Encounters - Poni Gauntlet¶

Pokemon Encounters - Fishing¶

Accessed via Poni Coast, this is the final “route” of Poni Island, where the toughest of the tough gather in front of the Battle Tree. Immediately as you come in, there’s a scientist up ahead who’s standing around, looking for a fight. If you’re speedy, you can sneak past him while he’s looking to the left.

Scientist Kyle¶

Kyle’s Ditto has the Imposter Ability, which makes it copy your lead Pokémon as soon as the battle begins. Kyle may also use an X Speed on his Ditto. For an easy win, you could place a really low Level Pokémon at the front of your party. Otherwise, you’ll have to figure out your own Pokémon’s weakness.

Meanwhile, his Porygon-Z has the Download Ability, which raises its Attack or Special Attack, depending on which of your Pokémon’s defensive stats is lower. It can use Tri Attack for STAB, Discharge to try and cause paralysis, and Magic Coat to reflect status moves. Fighting-types will easily send it flying.

Past Kyle, there’s a wide bridge towards the north, which leads to a small area where a female Veteran is waiting next to a Trainer Tips sign.

Veteran Sheri¶

Jellicent is an evolved Frillish with considerable special bulk, but low Speed. Sheri’s can use Water Spout, Surf and Shadow Ball for STAB. The former is stronger when Jellicent has high HP. Grass-types are ideal; Electric and Dark-types will also get the job done.

Pyroar, which can be found roaming Poni Plains, has respectable Special Attack and Speed. This one only uses Fire Blast and Hyper Voice for STAB. Rock-types are perfect for tackling this beast; Water, Ground and Fighting-types are also great.

Finally, Froslass is a female-only Snorunt evolution with brilliant Speed and decent Special Attack. It can use Blizzard and Shadow Ball for STAB, and Ice Shard to sneak in an attack before you do. Fire, Steel or Dark-types are recommended; Rock also works.

Be sure to pick up the Power Band towards the far east, which is the final Power item you can obtain here. In case you missed it, the remaining Power item is obtained from a sidequest in Royal Avenue (refer to the Akala Island section of the guide). You don’t even have to fight the Veteran if you stand far away enough.

In any case, to proceed, head west from the base of the bridge, and into the tall grass. When you reach the corner, go north across the bridge and carry on through the patches of tall grass ahead. Just before the next bridge, pick up the Guard Spec. towards the left. After crossing, watch out for a strolling backpacker.

She’ll walk in a diagonal path, stopping to look around at the beginning and end of her path. If you’re planning to avoid her, you can do so by running past her when she’s in the middle of walking. Or you can wait until she’s stopped, then run when she’s looking in the other direction.

Backpacker Yuho¶

Ambipom is an evolved Aipom with high Attack and Speed, but mediocre defenses. For attacks, it can use Double Hit for STAB, and Nasty Plot to completely waste its time. That’s it… Fighting-types will quickly put it out of its misery, or you can torture it with Rock, Steel or Ghost-types.

Further north, cross the bridge to reach a branch in the path. Up ahead, there’s a martial artist guarding the bridge that leads to the Battle Tree. To his left is a Full Restore that could come in useful.

Black Belt Tracy¶

Hawlucha is a versatile bird Pokémon with stunning Speed and decent Attack. Tracy’s can use Hi Jump Kick for Fighting-type STAB, and Sky Attack and Sky Drop for Flying-type STAB. It can also use Swords Dance to increase its Attack. Electric, Flying, Psychic and Fairy-types will quickly stop it in its tracks.

Machamp is a fully evolved Machop with immense Attack, but poor Speed. This one can use Cross Chop and Dynamic Punch for STAB–the latter has a low chance to hit, but always confuses. It can also use Bulk Up and Scary Face to improve its standing. Flying, Psychic or Fairy-types are ideal, or Ghosts to ignore damage.

Meanwhile, towards the east is a path that goes around to the east side of Poni Gauntlet, via a stretch of tall grass. On the other side of the grass, grab the Misty Seed from the corner. Afterwards, make your way south. Upon crossing the bridge, you’ll need to battle a pair of dubious trainers to continue.

Punk Pair Marie and Troy¶

The Midnight form Lycanroc has high Attack and generally balanced stats. It can use Stone Edge for STAB, Crunch to hurt Psychics and Ghosts, Rock Climb to try and confuse, and Scary Face to lower Speed. Fighting, Ground or Steel-types are preferable; Water or Grass-types should also suffice.

Honchkrow has great offensive stats, but poor defenses. This one can use Night Slash and Foul Play for STAB–the latter deals damage dependent on the foe’s Attack stat. It can also use Swagger to raise its foe’s Attack and inflict confusion. Fairy-types are recommended; Electric, Rock and Ice-types are fine too.

After outsmarting the punk pair, grab the Metal Coat towards the south, across the short bridge. From here, backtrack until you’re standing before the bridge leading north, then follow it towards the Battle Tree. On the other side of the bridge, there’s a pair of Veterans that you must defeat to get past.

Veteran Duo Tsunekazu and Nobuko¶

Potentially, this can be one of the hardest battles in the game, especially if you’re inexperienced with Double Battles or you rush in unprepared. Tsunekazu, the male Veteran, specializes in Fire-type offensive Pokémon. Meanwhile, the female Veteran, Nobuko, has Grass and Fairy-type support Pokémon.

Tsunekazu’s first Pokémon, Houndoom, has respectable Special Attack and Speed. It can use Flamethrower and Dark Pulse for STAB, and Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb to hurt a variety of Types. At this stage, Water, Ground or Rock-types are ideal; Fighting should be avoided because of Nobuko’s Comfey.

Next up, Magmortar has brilliant Special Attack, but terrible defensive bulk and mediocre Speed. Interestingly, this one is a physical attacker, relying on Fire Punch for STAB, Thunder Punch to hurt Water-types, and Brick Break to smash Rock-types. Fast physical attackers are recommended.

Finally, Tsunekazu has a Volcarona, which has exceptional Special Attack, and solid Speed, but fragile Defense. It can use Heat Wave and Bug Buzz for STAB, and Hurricane in case you summon rain. Rock-types are its bane, but should be avoided when Nobuko switches to her Grass-types. Leaving Flying-types as the best choice.

Nobuko’s first Pokémon, Comfey, has excellent Speed, but lackluster physical bulk. This one can use Draining Kiss to siphon HP, Floral Healing to restore its partner’s HP, Light Screen to raise its party’s Special Defense, and Sunny Day to make it sunny, boosting Tsunekazu’s firepower. Poison-types are strongly recommended.

Whimsicott has excellent Speed (boosted by Chlorophyll when it’s sunny), but otherwise so-so stats. It can use Dazzling Gleam to hit both of your Pokémon, Solar Beam to take advantage of the sun, Helping Hand to assist its partner, and Sunny Day in case Comfey failed to use it. Poison-types are ideal; Fire or Flying-types are also great.

Finally, Lilligant has high Special Attack and decent Speed (again, boosted by Chlorophyll when it’s sunny). For attacks, it can spam Solar Beam when it’s sunny, Helping Hand to assist its partner, After You to make its partner attack straight after it, and Sunny Day to make it bright and sunny. Nail it with Fire, Flying or Poison-types.

Having surpassed this final hurdle, the path to the Battle Tree is just ahead. Outside the entrance, there’s something shiny on the near the Trainer Tips sign–well, if isn’t the final Totem Sticker #100!

Once you’re fully prepared, continue north into the Battle Tree itself.