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sweatdrop I've not been here in a while, but I recently got a new copy of Pokemon Diamond to replace my Pokemon Pearl that got stolen with my old DS. I've gotten 7 badges so far, and my current team is Pikachu (Raichu once I get my hands on a thunderstone), Crobat, Infernape, Quagsire, Alakazam (via GTS trade), and Rosegrade. Unfortunately, only Infernape can learn Rock Climb, which I need to teach a Pokemon on my team, and I'm not keen on teaching him any HM's, even with the move deleter and move remember guy available, and heart scales frekkin' easy to get on the underground.

I'm considering changing my team because of that, but I'm not sure who to replace, and with what. I considered Rosegrade replaced by Abomasnow, but it isn't very good for HM's, and doesn't learn rock climb, so that doesn't really help me, and I'm using Rosegrade for Cut. (although I can't remember if that means anything as far as switching to Abomasnow, as I wouldn't be surprised if it can learn cut...)

Attack wise, I don't want to use any TM's except those you can buy repeatedly in the big store, and I am not really a fan of less than 100 percent accuracy moves like Thunder, Fire Blast, and Blizzard, regardless of their high power. I also want to cover the types Flying, Fighting, Dark, Earth, Electric, Water, and Ice, and if possible, Fire, Psychic and Grass as well, as far as attacks go, with as much STAB as possible, although high stats are preferable to STAB, so I'd rather not go with weaker pokemon just because they can learn a wide variety of moves and perform them poorly. I also want to be sure to have at least one ground type and one flying type (or levitate ability) for pokemon the electric and water immunities.

My primary frustration is that Diamond seems to have oddly disappointing Pokemon choices at this point in the game, other than those I already have, and reliance so many Pokemon have on TMs for good moves. I almost got excited when I realized chances to catch the 3 floaty psychic things for this game is coming up, until I checked them out online and realized that they have really limited movesets, even taking in TM's, especially in comparison to the likes of older legendaries, and all 3 are psychic type, which isn't really a weak point option wise with the likes of Alakazam and Mr. Mime out there.

Some others I've been considering adding are Gengar/Haunter, Tentacruel, and something as an HM slave, perhaps Bibarell (sp?) that water/normal evolution of that early game rat which looks like it is some sort of beaver pokemon. I'd also kind of like to put Clefable on the team, either as an HM slave (can't remember if it is good at that), or as something that can learn a lot of interesting moves, as it has long been one of my favorites.

Pokemon I wish I had available:
Swampert
Raikou

I'm sorry i didn't notice this topic. sad

Golduck is able to use a lot of the HM moves. Also Bibarel works.

Thanks MShadow, I'm seriously considering using Abomasnow now, at least for elite four. I just got through Victory Road, and I currently have a Bibarrel as an HM slave instead of my Rosegrade. I'm getting to the point where I can't wait for the nat. dex and Battle Tower.

I gots killed by the Tower Tycoon! gonk

My team was:

Scyther@kingsrock
Night Slash
X-Scissor
False Swipe
Wing Attack

Metagross@shellbell
Meteor Mash
Hammer Arm
Pursuit
Psychic

Octillery@leftovers
Bullet Seed
Surf
Ice Beam
Signal Beam

I dealt with his first two easily, but his Milotic killed everything... gonk