Thanks. I may trade one of them back and get plat.
Other basics questions that I don’t see answered in the manual.
When I’m fighting I can see my 5 Pokeballs on the top of the bottom screen. During some fights certain ones will be shaking. Is this supposed to be telling me something?
Also, I read that I can hit B and stop a Pokemon from evolving. Why would I want to stop that? Aren’t they automatically more powerful when they are evolved?
Thanks!
The shaking means they have enough experience that the pokemon in those pokeballs are about to gain a level.
Hitting B can be useful if you want it to evolve in a certain way, like trying to get Umbreon or Espeon, or it could be that you like the pokemon the way it is right now. For instance, I have a level 100 spheal that I leveled up as a challenge to myself.
When the ball is shaking, it means that Pokemon is close to levelling up. Of course its relative to their level. So a lvl 10 Pokemon might start shaking with 50xp left, but a lvl 60 will start with 1000xp to go.
You may want to stop evolution to control what moves are learned. ‘Baby’ Pokemon tend to learn moves earlier than their evolutions and often can learn moves the later forms can’t. For example, Bulbasaur learns Seed Bomb at level 37; however, let it evolve into Ivysaur (at 16) and it won’t learn the move at all. Pokemon that evolve from using a stone (Fire Stone, Leaf Stone, etc.) often don’t learn any new moves (or very few) after they’re evolved. Staryu will learn moves up until lvl 55, but when you use a Water Stone to evolve it into Starmie, it only learns a single new move at lvl 28.
You’re right, though, that they’re generally more powerful after evolution. A few Pokemon will become weaker in one or two stats, but the losses will be offset with gains in another. An evolved Pokemon will always be stronger overall, but rarely you may want to keep the earlier form. (Off the top of my head is Scyther and Scizor. Scyther loses a bunch of speed and changes type from Bug/Flying to Bug/Steel when it become Scizor while the gains aren’t all that much in defense and special defense.)
Also, some pokemon can only learn certain moves in their unevolved forms.
Bricker jr says: like I said before, it can be of any of the 17 different types. Sometimes, there is no other way for a Pokemon to learn that type move. Here is a good example: I have a Spiritomb who knows Hidden Power (Fighting). There is no other way for him to learn a Fight-type move. Together with Shadow Ball, he can hit any type of Pokemon for at least 100% damage. (His other two moves are Rest and Sleep Talk, so when he gets low, I put him to sleep, regain all his HP, and use Sleep Talk for two turns to have at least a chance of continuing to hit the enemy, and remember no move is super effective against him). He is a very annoying Spiritomb if you’re fighting me!
I hate fighting Spiritomb already…
That’s not a bad setup. I might rethink my Spiritomb and Sableye. A hearty thank you is in order. 
Can I put in a request for a battle with Bricker Jr? I’m in need of a humbling experience.
Question: Isn’t HP: Fighting special and Shadow Ball physical? Thus, you’d be forced to split the attack and special attack EV’s, weakening it. Wouldn’t something like…uh…Ominous Wind be more effective?
Unless Shadow Ball is special, and I have no idea what I’m talking about.
He’s got his martial arts class this afternoon, but let me talk to him and see if he’s up for it this evening…
Bring a spare ‘crap’ Pokemon. I was messing around over the weekend and I have a few spares of a special Pokemon, so everyone can get one when they trade. 
This is fine, if he’s game then feel free to pencil it in for a future date…whatever is convenient.
I’ve got a tiny problem: I don’t have my Wi-Fi tonight. 
Can we reschedule for 8/4 tomorrow night? I’ll send you a PM just in case.
Anyone have any suggestions for a good special sweeper? So far I’m torn between Houndoom, Gardevoir, and Alakazam, although I know I’m missing a very good choice.
Sorry for all the stupid questions. I thought I had a solid team, then I actually started doing research and it’s one of those “the more you learn the more you realize you don’t know” moments.
Are you looking specifically for Special Attack, not physical? If so, Porygon-Z learns some great moves and has the same Sp. Atk. as Alakazam. However, Porygon-Z has much better HP, better Def., and only slightly lower Sp. Def. They’re quite a bit slower, but with 90 base vs 120, which is still faster than most Pokemon. The items to evolve it from Porygon and Porygon2 are kinda hard to come by, but there’s at least one of each lying around in the game.
Bricker Jr says: have you thought about Gengar?
I’ve thought about him, he’s good, and his Levitate will help against Earthquake.
Alakazam has a bit better speed.
Gardevoir lacks the speed but has better special defense.
Porygon seems a solid choice, I just have to find one.
I think the casino in Veilstone has Porygon, but they’re something like 10k coins. You could try to win that much, but it might be easier and faster just to buy the coins. Try to get one with the Adaptability ability; it increases the STAB from 1.5x to 2x.
Enjoy the Phione. It came with Surf, so don’t blame me if you hate the move.
They can breed, if you’re interested in making more. They may be semi-valuable on GTS, since you can only get them from breeding a Manaphy (from Pokemon Ranger) or from My Pokemon Ranch AFAIK.
Octillary!*
*Not actually a good choice