Yes, that's right, I want to know what training strategy you generally use while playing Pokemon games.

You can see from my thread "SK's Platinum Log" that I usually only train my starter for a while, while catching random Pokemon from the wild but not leveling them up very much.

In fact, the only thing that changed from the 1st to the 2nd gym in Platinum for me was that Onix got up 2 levels and Prinplup went up 10 levels. I didn't catch any new Pokemon between those gyms, but I did catch 4 after defeating the gym leader in Eterna City.

So... What training strategy do you use?

I decide my team. I train everyone of them evenly. That's how I play.

Of course, I catch each and every new Pokemon I meet.

I catch every Pokemon I see, and when one proves to be strong then it gets added to my main team. Over the course of the game, Pokemon replace each other and I get a great team. However, I usually stop switching around the 5th Gym, unless something really good catches my eye and it would be worth levlling up alot.

You know Kazam, I also try to catch whatever I see as long as I haven't caught it before. The thing with me is that I never train anything besides my starter, but I still try to 'Catch 'Em All'

I catch five other Pokemon besides my starter that compliment each other and are well balanced. I usually have the three starter types in my team, a Flying or Ground type, a Psychic and/or Fighting type, and an Electric type. Then I train each one equally.

I always use the types depending on the region, like for Hoenn is mostly water routes so I always use an electri type and with Sinnoh I always use a ground type.

^ Good idea, Mag.

I always like to pick my starter based on the first 4 or so gyms, since my starter will see most of the action.

I raise my starter, I dunno... 50 levels above the others? Well, that's when it's level 100, but still.

Imagine if someone abandoned their starter after a while. Maybe I should restart a game in which I get rid of my starter early.

Haha it's actually kind of funny, but I always try to keep all of my Pokemon at an equal level, and say to myself, "My starter is my strongest, I need to let the others grow!" But then I start to neglect my starter and he becomes the lowest levelled in the group XD

I try to keep all of my Pokemon, except for my starter, at an equal level... My starter is superior to all of those other noobs. 8)

I decide my team before I get the game. I usually keep my starter 1-5 levels stronger except in platinum where my Luxray is superior to all others . I pick whatever starter suits me. I "catch 'em all".

I start with my starter, I usually will catch my five other Pokémon (when I first played Diamond and Pearl, I had a party of 3, but now I always have six no matter what game), as I had planned out ahead of time. I do my best to never use a Pokémon that is two levels higher than any other, excluding things like the E4. If this means I had my start at level 30 and I just bred a level 1 Snorlax (true story with my last run-through on platinum), I use exp share for the first 10 levels, then battle wild Pokémon for the next 20 (or trainers depending on how far ahead I planned). When I used to play Emerald, I always had a Pikachu/Raichu on my party. However, being that I couldn't get it until the Safari Zone, I would skip the 6th gym and avoid all trainers possible, then go back and level up my Pikachu with trainers whose Pokémon are of equal level. Now I don't use the little guy for any of my games (though I'm hoping to with HeartGold due to the potential of a little-effort Volt-Tackle move).


...That was like one big run-on paragraph, but you get the picture.

Its interesting to see that everyone has different battle stratagies. Now that I think about it I kind of have the same stratagy as FW (again Luxray is an exception). My sister's strategy is actually very different from mine too, she raises her starter only and has 5 HM slaves. Poor slaves.

I believe the politically correct term is "HM Servant" ;O

You guys just inspired a new thread.

Well I use to try and catch em all but now I only get the ones I want on my team. =w=
I go through the game and nab the ones I want, usually trying to space em out so I don't have a full team on the 3rd gym already. Level em equally too so theres no weak wheels. =w=

Howeeever aftergame EV training is a whole diffrent thing. I usually just make em hold EXP share and have a stronger pokemon do the battling for em to level em up and EV train~! =w=