ThePokemonworld is certainly known for its challenging hills to climb. Picture this: You’ve just beaten the8 Gym Leaders, traversed the perils of Victory Road, and now the only thing that stands between you and the Hall of Fame is the Elite Four… and theChampion, but we’re not worrying about that right now.
The Elite Four are some of the most powerful trainers in the region, making even the eighth gym leader look like child’s play. You’re going to need to bring yourbest strategies and most powerful Pokémonto have a chance of getting through unscathed. Doubly so if you’re playing aNuzlocke.
So equip those items, stock up on Full Restores and get ready for the ultimate Pokémon showdown.
I will be using the strongest incarnation of these Elite Four members, using their initial battling teams. Teams may vary from Generation 1 to their most recent appearances.
Black 2 & White 2
Conkeldurr
The Elite Four in Unova is pretty difficult to place here, seeing as though their initial teams only consist of4 Pokémon, which is pretty bizarre to say the least. At this point, you’re almost guaranteed to have a full party of 6,which makes a lot of these fights a bit of a cakewalk.
In addition, you can challenge these members in whichever order you desire, so they have the same levels. Yet, even with 4 Pokémon, Marshal’s Conkeldurr is aforce to be reckoned with.
Not only does it have access to Bulk Up, allowing it to set up on you, but it has pretty strong coverage with movies like Stone Edge and Hammer Arm. Thought about bringing a flying type? Rock moves will have your feathered friend back in their Poké Ball before you know it.
Plus, you’ll have to deal with Conkeldurr’shigh HP and Defense,and tricky abilities like Sturdy on his Sawk, making this fight go on for longer than you might have hoped for.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Drake in Generations 3 and 6 can be either one of the easiest Elite Four members or one of the hardest. People thinking it was a cakewalk probably had abulky or speedy ice typeon their team, with a powerful ice beam that probably took out most of Drake’s team in one shot.
However, if you don’t have access to, say, a Walrein or Swampert,this fight may go very differently. With two different Flygon sets and a hugely bulky Salamence that’ll lower your physical attack on entry, Drake has a lot of tools that’ll send you straight home.
Salamence, in particular, has4 coverage moves, allowing it to hit most Pokémon super effectively, and due to its massive Attack stat, chances are it’s going to KO.
And even if you just planned on using an ice type,you’ll still have to deal with Kingdra, who will wall you and whittle you down with powerfulSTABmoves.
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Vespiqueen
If it were Generation 4 Aaron, chances are he wouldn’t even be near this list. ButPokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearlare pretty famous forreally bringing the heatto the Elite Four’s competitively viable teams. This changed from a ridiculously easy fight to perhaps one of the most tricky.
In particular, there are two Pokémon you need to prepare for. His Heracross high investment in Speed, making it surprisingly fast. If you haven’t done any EV training, chances are,this thing is going to outspeed you.
And when you factor in its Flame Orb buffing its Guts ability, maximizing its attack, this thing can one-shot pretty much everything. A fast flying type is recommended here, as long as it doesn’t get to use Stone Edge.
Of course, those using fire types, hoping for a quick win, will have to contend with a Drapion, which isn’t even a Bug type. If you don’t get knocked out from a Scope Lens boosted crit, you’ll surely perish to a strong100 base power Earthquake.This is a rude awakening for anyone who thought the new Sinnoh league would be a breeze.
Heartgold & Soulsilver
Ah, Johto, and its famous leveling problems. Half of the difficulty of this league is based on the fact that you will probably be outleveled by the teams presented. While level 47 doesn’t sound high, in Johto,it’s something to be feared.That is, if you don’t understand how to use the match call feature properly.
Karen almost certainly has the strongest team here and employs strategies that’ll certainly catch you off guard. Whether it’s her initial Pokémon of Umbreon,which is famously tanky,and uses status movies to infuriate you, or even that nasty Gengar, which may catch you off guard with awell-timed Destiny Bond,Karen is certainly no joke.
And that’s before we get to her Houndoom, which not only hashorrendously high special attack and speed, but Nasty Plot too, which will cause it to sweep you without a doubt. Try and outspeed the Houndoom; one well-placed water or fighting move will have it down for the count.
What, another Gen 4 Elite Four member? Yes, I know, but I can’t lie,Bertha got a serious upgrade, same as Aaron.
She employs some really respectable strategies here, from a Toxic Stalling Quagsire, to a bizarre Special-focused Whiscash, to, of course, the famously monstrous Hippowdon. If you thought about sweeping with a grass type, the Rindo berry of the Whiscash will slow you down, and Hippowdon’sIce Fang will cut your Torterra’s journey short.
And not to mention, 3 Pokémon here know Earthquake, which, even if resisted, is going to hit hard. All the Pokémon here will have you sweating with tough100+ base power stab moves, which makes it difficult, even if you plan on bringing a tank with you. You’ll be lucky if you don’t lose a single member here.
Scarlet & Violet
Archaludon
You might have noticed the lack of Elite Four members from Gen 6-9 on this list. This is mainly because they either have very few members on their teams, Pokémon with sub-par movesets or just the fact thatone type often sweeps them.
But I was happily surprised when I faced off against Drayton in the Blueberry League from the DLC ofPokemon Scarlet and Violet. It seemed Gamefreak heard about the woefully shallow difficulty of the base game and decided to give us anactual challenge.
Honestly, Drayton has a really cool team, making Lance’s team look pathetic in comparison. In honesty, every single one of his members deserves its own paragraph, but I don’t have that much space.
From a Weakness Policy, Unburden Sceptile, to a Tanky Multiscale Dragonite and even his Ace in Archaludon with an Assault Vest, this guy has2 (kinda) Pseudo Legendaries, and a team that would give the real-life Championships a run for their money.
Honestly, if Drayton were in the actual Gen 9 Elite Four, I think it would have beenan extremely memorable fight. Unfortunately, we hadthe disappointment that was Geeta.
Leafgreen & Firered
You might be surprised to see this freezing fighter up so high on the list, but to many a nuzlocker,Lorelei can certainly be a run-killer.
Her Generation 3 team is pretty scary simply due to how resistant many of her Pokémon are. She may be an ice trainer,but she’s more of a water battler,to be honest. Dewgong, Slowbro, and Lapras have very high HP, decent special attack, and strong ice and water STAB moves.Good luck downing them in one shot.
The main problem here is that she heavily counters grass types, meaning you’ll have to rely on electric types. However, there are no tanky electric types in Gen 1, so chances are your attacker is going to go down to 2 Surfs or 2 Ice Beams.Even Zapdos struggles here. That and, during this fight, you’re going to be taking constant chip damage from Hail.
Your best chance here is to either out-tank her or try and get a strong fighting type and wipe her out before she cuts you down.Easier said than done.
Not another Sinnoh member, surely? Honestly, I couldn’t help myself. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, despite their numerous flaws, really brought the difficulty up a level. If you thought base Lucian was tough,get ready for some serious hurt.
First off, you have a light clay wall-setting, Mr. Mime, and a Pure Power Medicham that’ll tackle any dark types you hope to use with their fantastic coverage options.
Then you have the monster of an Alakazam that will almost certainly outspeed you, and body you with a STAB-boosted Psychic. In every game,Alakazam is always scary, and when it actually has EV investment, it’s downright terrifying. Don’t let it set up with Nasty Plot, or it’s pretty much game over.Oh, and did I mention it has a Life Orb?
Then you have the Wild-Card, Bronzong. A 0 EV invested, Trick Room setting physical attacker that’s atotal painto take down. Due to its ridiculously slow speed, Bronzong can take great advantage of Trick Room to outspeed you and hit you with a horribly tough Gyro Ball.
And on top of that, it has Levitate to mitigate its ground weakness. While all this is going on, Mr. Mime’s screens may still be up and running,making this an absolute slog to get through.
I can complain all I want, but in truth,this fight is a fantastic display of competitive battlingand something I equally dread and look forward to on every playthrough of BDSP.
