Shaun the Sheep - A Pokemon Sword Challenge

[Gamoholic]

So I bought Pokemon Sword specifically to do a challenge run on it. It took a while, but i figured out what to do. Enter Shaun the Sheep. For those not in the know, Shaun the Sheep is a children's TV show (by the same creator as Wallace & Gromit) about a sheep called Shaun and his adventures on the farm. Obviously Wooloo just made the team... In fact, as there's a herd of them - so I'll be taking two. The second Wooloo will be Timmy, Shaun's younger cousin. To represent this, Timmy will not be allowed to evolve. The other characters I'm adding to the team will be Bitzer the dog, a Yamper, and Pidsley the cat, a Galar Meowth. Annoyingly, Mareep's line do not exist in this game, or I'd be all over that ball of fur.

I started the challenge on the weekend. I picked up Grookey to get me by until i hit the grass on Route 1 to find Shaun. I get Shaun at level 5, he has a hardy nature and the Fluffy ability. Next up i get Timmy at level 4 (seems appropriate), with a Serious nature and the Run Away ability. I follow the story a bit and deposit the Grookey. On Route 2 i find a level 6 Yamper. Bitzer is added to the party, and has a mild nature with the Ball Fetch ability (not sure why i'd want that in this challenge, but too bad). I continue bashing 'A' through the story sections and head into the Wild Area. Nothing to see here, I'll find Meowth in Route 4. So i skip ahead to Motostoke for a bit before realising that i really need to level up. I head back to the wild area and rack up some EXP. Then off to Route 3 where i continue to level up. That's as far as I've made it so far.

Current Party:

Spoiler: Team

Shaun - Wooloo Lvl 15
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
-Tackle
-Growl
-Defense Curl
-Copycat

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 15
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
-Tackle
-Growl
-Defense Curl
-Copycat

Bitzer - Yamper Lvl 16
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
-Tackle
-Tail Whip
-Nuzzle
-Bite

As this is will be my hardest challenge yet, i plan to document this one rather than just providing a brief summary like i have in the past. I'm interested to know what other people think of this challenge too, I think it's my most creative to date.

edit* I forgot to add, as always, I'll be using no items in battle.

 

[Anthrix]

Big question is, are you going to evolve Shaun? Considering he's more of a lamb than most of the bigger, fluffier sheep.

Shame Mareep and Flaffy aren't in the game too, for more sheepish shenanigans.

Hope you're carrying on with this!

 

[SAF]

Shaun , Timmy , Bitzer , Pidsley ...

Who gonna fill in the last two slots?

 

[Anthrix]

I actually had to go and look up a character list. I think I watched maybe the first series? And if it was it in the background.

You could just get 6 woolets and dubwools, and give them different items and moves. That's be fun, where battles come down to a war of attrition - them or the flock!

There's a mole (drilbur), Cockerell could be Rookidee, and at a stretch hippopottas could be the pigs.

Don't know many more at the moment, will have another think!

 

[Gamoholic]

Thanks for your replies guys. I have decided on a party of 4 for this run. I will be evolving Shaun, Bitzer and Pidsley - just not Timmy. My next update will be after the first gym. Unsurprisingly, it's been a bit of a grind... but i did get Pidsley, so stay tuned.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, I did finish my previous Snake challenge on X, it was just not very interesting..

 

[Gamoholic]

I added Pidsley to my party on Route 4. He's Lvl 14, has a Careful nature and the Tough Claws ability. I level him up a few levels before hitting the gym. I also used a couple of TMs to add some extra moves to the team - Payback on Shaun, and Swift on Bitzer. At this point most of the team are around lvl 22 so Pidsley is up front for the battles to gain experience. I switch out a few times against Milo so nobody faints when he dynamaxes the Eldegoss. I pick up the everstone and hand it to Timmy on the way out of town. I'm onto the next route as i write this. heres the Team now:

Spoiler: Team

Pidsley - Galar Meowth Lvl 21
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
-Pay Day
-Metal Claw
-Growl
-Hone Claws

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 23
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
-Headbutt
-Double Kick
-Growl
-Copycat

Bitzer - Yamper Lvl 24
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
-Spark
-Swift
-Tail Whip
-Bite

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 24
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
-Headbutt
-Payback
-Defense Curl
-Double Kick

 

[Gamoholic]

Ok. Nessa was more difficult. It actually took me 3 goes to beat her. The first two times i got through to the Drednaw, but i just couldn't deal with it. His dynamax form just beat me down too quickly. So i levelled up slightly and equipped some held items before going in for the third run. Pidsley whittled down the Goldeen to half before fainting, then i brought out Bitzer to finish it off and to deal with the Arrokuda. Next up was Drednaw again. I switch to Shaun to tank the dynamax hits. He takes all three and faints, but does a little damage with Double kick while he's there. Bitzer comes back out and Sparks for victory. Here's the team as i stand in the foyer ready to move on:

Spoiler: Team

Pidsley - Galar Meowth Lvl 27
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Pay Day
-Metal Claw
-Swagger
-Hone Claws

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 27
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Everstone
-Headbutt
-Double Kick
-Takedown
-Copycat

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 26
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Headbutt
-Payback
-Defense Curl
-Double Kick

Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 28
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Swift
-Charm
-Bite

I didn't mention earlier, I'm also not going to be dynamaxing at all, which means I'll need to tank my opponents hits without being able to retaliate in the same way. After the affair with Nessa, I'd say the next gym is going to be less than fun, as not only will I be up against a dynamaxed pokemon during the battle, I'll also have a party where 2/4 members are weak to fire (Pidsley and Shaun). Now to grind for a while again...

 

[Anthrix]

If you want to stall out Dynamax, have something with Dig and Protect. That way you only have to tank one hit full on if you are slower.

I'd also consider getting more sheep, let's max out on them!

 

[Gamoholic]

Ok. I made it through the 3rd gym. Just. By popular demand, Nuts and Shirley have joined the party. Both are still catching up, but my goal is to have Shirley as my tank to get through the Dynamax turns. My battle against Kabu could have gone much better, as i went in without much of a plan, hoping my levels alone would get me through. I started with Timmy, who did less to the Ninetales than i would have liked before fainting. I switch to Pidsley to finish it off. Arcanine comes out and i switch to Shirley (I was supposed to go to Nuts but i stuffed up, it didn't matter). Shirley deals a little damage to Arcanine, faints, then Nuts deals a bit of damage to Arcanine and also faints. Pidsley finishes off the Arcanine and takes the first Gigantamax hit from Centiskorch. Shaun is up now, and chips away a little health, but takes the other two blows from Gigantamax. This means that Bitzer can come out fresh and in less danger. Bitzer comes out and with a couple of Sparks, deals the final blows to Centiskorch.

Spoiler: Team

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 33
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Everstone
-Headbutt
-Double Kick
-Takedown
-Reversal

Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 33
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Swagger
-Fury Swipes

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 33
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Headbutt
-Payback
-Take Down
-Double Kick

Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 34
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Swift
-Charm
-Crunch

Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 25
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held -none-
-Double Kick
-Headbutt
-Defense Curl
-Protect

Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 25
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held -none-
-Headbutt
-Growl
-Double Kick
-Copycat

 

[Gamoholic]

Bea was a walk in the park for reasons twofold. Firstly, I'm overlevelled a little. This is why i dislike EXP shares... Secondly, the strategy looks like it's working well. Pidsley came out first and used Iron Head against the Hitmontop. Hitmontop retaliates with Revenge and i finish it off with a dig. On to Pangoro. Pidsley gets a flinch with Iron Head this time and uses a second to finish off the Pangoro. Out comes Sirfetch'd. Another Iron Head and Sirfetch'd takes Pidsley out with Revenge. Shirley takes Pidsleys Place and uses Facade. Sirfetch'd faints and we're on to the Machamp - Gigatamax time. Shirley startsbwith Protect, Machamp Gigantamaxes and hits Shirley. Left overs restore a little health. Shirley tries another Protect, which fails. Machamp gets Shirley down to 2HP. More Leftovers. 3rd Protect and Shirley gets taken out. Switch to Nuts. Nuts uses Retaliate against the now normal sized Machamp and Machamp follows with a Scary Face. Nuts finishes it off with Headbutt. Timmy, Shaun and Bitzer cheer from the sideline.

On to the Team:

Spoiler: Team

Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 40
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Soft Sand
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Dig
-Fury Swipes

Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 39
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Shell Bell
-Headbutt
-Retaliate
-Double Kick
-Protect

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 40
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Amulet Coin
-Facade
-Payback
-Take Down
-Double Kick

Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 38
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Leftovers
-Double Kick
-Facade
-Defense Curl
-Protect

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 41
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Facade
-Double Kick
-Double Edge
-Cotton Guard

Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 41
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Swift
-Charm
-Crunch

 

[Gamoholic]

Opal was a walk in the Park too. Pidsley came out first. Iron Head OHKO against Weezing. Mawile took 3 digs. Togekiss went down to one Iron Head too. I'm on a roll so Pidsley stays out with a little over half health. Iron Head does less damage than i expect against the Gigatamaxed Alcremie, but in turn survives it's return attack. Pidsley uses another Iron Head before fainting. I switch to Nuts and use Retaliate. Alcremie goes down while still Gigantamaxed. Badge 5 is in the bag.

The Team has hardly changed:

Spoiler: Team

Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 42
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Metal Coat
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Dig
-Slash

Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 41
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Headbutt
-Retaliate
-Double Kick
-Protect

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 42
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Facade
-Payback
-Take Down
-Double Kick

Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 41
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Leftovers
-Double Kick
-Facade
-Defense Curl
-Protect

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 43
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Eviolite
-Facade
-Double Kick
-Double Edge
-Cotton Guard

Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 43
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Swift
-Charm
-Crunch

 

[Gamoholic]

Last night i took on Gordie. I started with Pidsley, he sent out Barbaracle. Pidlsey used Iron head twice, the first time Barbaracle flinched before fainting to the second hit. Out comes Shuckle. I like Shuckle, but that didn't stop Pidsley from OHKOing it with an Iron Head. Stonjourner comes out. He uses Wonder Room before being taken out with an Iron Head. Lastly the Coalossal arrives. It Gigantamaxes, Pidsley gets in a Iron Head before falling to a Max Flare. I send out Shirley. Shirley uses Protect, Coalossal does 16 damage with Max Flare. Shirley goes for Cotton Guard, Coalossal uses G-Max Volcalith. Shirley is still green. Shirley uses cotton guard again before finishing off the now normal Coalossal witb 2 Double Kicks - the second one crits. And thats it for Badge 6. Only 2 more to go.

Spoiler: Team

Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 45
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Metal Coat
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Dig
-Slash


Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 45
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Headbutt
-Retaliate
-Double Kick
-Protect


Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 45
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Facade
-Payback
-Take Down
-Double Kick


Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 45
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Leftovers
-Double Kick
-Facade
-Cotton Guard
-Protect


Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 46
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Eviolite
-Facade
-Double Kick
-Double Edge
-Cotton Guard


Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 46
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Swift
-Charm
-Crunch

 

[Anthrix]

Almost there! Looking forward to seeing what happens next :).

 

[Gamoholic]

So i just beat Piers, and it was pretty uneventful. The gym leaders are slowly catching up my level lead but it's still not difficult in the slightest. Once again, this is why i don't like exp shares, i know it's programmed better in this game so that Pokemon don't get too far ahead of the team, but you have to skip a ton of battles to even the playing field. Anyway. all of Piers Pokemon are Dark type, so i just used double kick a few times with Shirley and Shaun, then Retaliate once with Nuts after Shaun got knocked out, and that was about it. Oh, I used Pidsley against the Obstagoon. Piers doesn't dynamax and i had two extra Pokemon so i was good.

Spoiler: Team

Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 48
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Leftovers
-Double Kick
-Facade
-Cotton Guard
-Protect

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 49
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Facade
-Payback
-Take Down
-Double Kick

Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 49
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Metal Coat
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Dig
-Slash

Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 49
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Headbutt
-Retaliate
-Double Kick
-Protect

Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 49
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Eviolite
-Facade
-Double Kick
-Double Edge
-Cotton Guard

Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 50
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Wild Charge
-Charm
-Crunch

I'm hoping to go and get some TRs now to vary up the moves a bit, you might notice i no longer have 6 Pokemon with normal moves, with Bitzer dropping Swift for Wild Charge. After that I'll head to the eighth gym.

 

[Gamoholic]

Just beat Raihan. Went in with Shaun and Pidsley. Using Double Kick and Iron Head each turn I took out the first 3 of his Pokemon - Gigalith, Sandaconda and Flygon. Duraladon came out just before i took out Flygon and I used the turn to deal with the Flygon. At this stage, Duraladon was Gigatamaxed and my two Pokemon were shy of half health as Pidsley took the hits from Flygon and Duraladon attacked Shaun. Shaun goes for a Double Kick before getting knocked out, Pidsley goes underground. I send out Nuts to replace Shaun and try a Retaliate. It does a small bit of damage, and Dig does more. Duraladon hits Nuts with its Max Knuckle. Nuts goes for Reflect to weather the last Max move and Pidsley goes underground again. Duraladon shrinks back to normal. Nuts hits him with Double Kick and takes him out.

I'm kind of surprised that battle wasn't more difficult. I did basically no preparation for it and actually found Gym Trainer Camilla with the Turtonator more annoying to battle. No matter, guess I'll start heading towards the Elite 4.

Spoiler: Team

Shaun - Dubwool Lvl 51
Hardy Nature, Fluffy ability
Held Shell Bell
-Facade
-Payback
-Double-Edge
-Double Kick


Pidsley - Perrserker Lvl 51
Careful Nature, Tough Claws Ability
Held Metal Coat
-Pay Day
-Iron Head
-Dig
-Shadow Claw


Nuts - Dubwool Lvl 51
Careful Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Silk Scarf
-Headbutt
-Retaliate
-Double Kick
-Protect


Shirley - Dubwool Lvl 50
Lonely Nature, Steadfast ability
Held Leftovers
-Double Kick
-Facade
-Cotton Guard
-Protect


Timmy - Wooloo Lvl 51
Serious Nature, Run Away ability
Held Eviolite
-Facade
-Double Kick
-Double Edge
-Cotton Guard


Bitzer - Boltund Lvl 52
Mild Nature, Ball Fetch ability
Held Magnet
-Spark
-Wild Charge
-Charm
-Crunch