Before heading out to train more, I thought I'd try some strategies on Red, to see just how hard ca it be. I lead with Persian @ Focus Sash to make sure it would survive Pikachu's Volt Tackle and then use Dig to deal some damage. She fainted from hail immediately afterwards, and I sent in Typhlosion, who moved first thanks to his Choice Scarf and finished off Pikachu with a Fire Blast. So far all went according to plan, but then things started to get messy.

I relied a lot on healing items, Yawn + Sleep Powder and dealing little, but consistent damage to keep Red from using potions himself. What I remember: Blastoise was sent second, I managed to lower his HP to half before he switched to Venusaur. Togekiss pretty much soloed Venusaur, putting him to sleep with Yawn, and then spamming Air Slash.

Next was Lapras; I sent in Magneton to remove hail with Sunny Day, reducing Blizzard's accuracy, and then Bellossom, moving first due to Chlorrophyl activating in the sunlight, put it to sleep with Sleep Powder, and even managed to land a couple of Giga Drains before fainting. It was Azumarill who finished him off, with a successful Focus Punch after evading Blizzard.

Focus Punch won the battle against Snorlax as well, who was put to sleep beforehand with Yawn from Togekiss. I actually used Focus Punch first, his HP went down to nearly half, then a Strength to make sure Red wouldn't heal, and finished him off with another Focus Punch.

Blastoise came back, was promptly put to sleep by either Togekiss or Bellossom, had his HP chipped off to nearly red, again to avoid healing, and then put to sleep again -- I think the first time it was Togekiss surviving a Focus Blast and then 2nd Bellossom evading a Blizzard, or was it the other way around? I sent in Magneton to seal the deal with Discharge, and I think it was at this point that I realized that I was actually going to win this thing and started taking screenshots.

I'd like to say that he saved the best for last, but Azumarill had things under control with Waterfall. Azumarill was definitely my MVP, she has amazing bulk and awesome Atk thanks to Huge Power, and I pretty much bet everything on that. Focus Punch was the best move I could've chosen for her for this battle, while not normally very reliable, this time it worked perfectly, since it was vital to put everyone and anyone to sleep anyway, ensuring a successful Focus Blast.

I guess the combination of Azumarill's (Focus) punch, Togekiss and Bellossom inflicting sleep status, and all three of them having great defenses, Typhlosion's speed and special atk, Magneton supporting the team with Sunny Day, and Persian's... sacrifices, was what made this team so awesome. Also, potions and revives. But seriously, this team rocks.

Have an album with pictures of the movesets and stats.

Said this before, Azumarill was my MVP. She was so good, she can take hits like a boss and then retaliate with Huge. Power. She is a great battler and had three HM moves, Waterfall, Surf and Strength. As the team's bunny, she was required to always be 2 levels above the rest, a piece of cake, considering I depended a lot on her. I really wanted to give her a Lucky Egg, but I was running out of time, so she had to make do with a Nugget. I really would've traded all 10 Nuggets for just 1 Lucky Egg though. Trivia: her name is Aquamarine, March's birthstone.

Togekiss was just lovely, with his very good SpDef and typing. I remember he took down the rival's Gastly in Azalea Town as a newly hatched Togepi, leveling up to lv. 7. His Yawn was a vital strategy against Red. I had to beat Lance and get the national 'dex before I could buy a Shiny Stone and Heart Scale for him from the Athlete Shop, but he did great even as a Togetic. Trivia: his name is Faberge, after the lovely jeweled eggs crafted for the Russian czars.

Typhlosion was gifted as a Cyndaquil by Fenneking. As expected, he did great, he's fast and strong and very reliable. I remember he (Fire) Blasted his way though Erika's Gym, even though he hated being showered with water -- the things Pokemon say when you turn around to talk to them, hehe. His name is Mars, the Roman god of war, and the namesake of the month March.

Bellossom is so cute asdfghjkl. It's my first time using one though, and she was actually a Gloom until after the Champion battle, because the dual Grass/Poison worked better against the E4. The Sun Stone I used to evolve her was won at the Bug Catching Contest, with a Beedrill we caught at full HP that she put to sleep with Sleep Powder, so you could say she earned that stone. Status moves are her forte anyway, and we couldn't have beat Red without her Sleep Powder. Trivia: her name is Eostre, a pagan goddess of spring, and the namesake of Easter.

Persian was pretty great early in the game. I really love cats, so I was hoping she'd surprise me and keep at it as we progressed, but she's just so fragile, she rarely resisted a hit, two tops. What did surprise me was how much damage she could deal with Fake Out, thanks to STAB + Technician + Silk Scarf (that we got from mom, I knew it was a good idea to have her save my money). I loved her Fake Out, and I would've used it against Red's Pikachu hadn't it been for the hail. She was still key to defeating Pikachu though, so her sacrifice shall be remembered. Trivia: her name is Daffodil, the birth flower of March.

Magneton. I love Magneton, though that other time I used him in White 2, I evolved him all the way to Magnezone. Still, he was as great as I remembered, with great defenses and a nice SpDef. Fun fact: I didn't know Sturdy didn't work as a Focus Sash prior to get 5, so I had a little bit of a surprise against Lance, oops. Nonetheless, he still blasted through his three Dragonite, because TWave = love. He was great at supporting the team, with this Sunny Day a key move in the battle against Red. Trivia: his name is Jellybeans, after, you know... jelly beans.