Pokemon Shuffle

[The Warden]

I did get the stone, but, thing is, I was a hair funking short of getting into the x2 RML and Mega Speed-Up. I was placed as 1034. If I was nowhere near close I wouldn't be agitated, it's just that, it was 300 points. If M-Rayquaza had hit ANY of my funking supports, I would have gotten past into the top 1000 and gotten 2 of each. It's not about losing an extra RML and Speed-Up that irks me, it's that I lost them because of complete bullshit RNG on literally my best M-Pidgeot run cock-blocking me when I was so funking close. 300 points fusion, 300 funking points was all I needed and the game could not funking cut me some slack.

 

Also, just so you know, in Europe the numbers are slimmer, meaning there are far less slots for th x3 and the x2. America has top 1600 for the x2 reward, Europe has top 1000. So yes, it IS a big funking deal for me because it's far harder than what you have to deal with.

 

First up is a Mega Pidgeot competitive stage. This stage has a new tier of prizes. First, the top 300 in North America, 200 in Europe & 1,000 in Japan will get a Pidgeotite and 3 Mega Speedups & 3 Raise Max Level. The top 1,600 in North America, 1,000 in Europe & 5,000 in Japan will get a Pidgeotite and 2 Mega Speedups & 2 Raise Max Level. The top 8,000 in North America, 5,000 in Europe & 25,000 in Japan will get a Pidgeotite, a Raise Max Level & a Mega Speedup. The top 20,000 in North America, 13,000 in Europe & 60,000 in Japan will get a Pidgeotite and a Disruption Delay. The top 26,000 in North America, 18,000 in Europe & 80,000 in Japan will get an Attack Power and a Disruption Delay. All other players will get an Attack Power.

 

Europe has the worst numbers out of the lot, and is thus far more cut throat. This has been the same case ever since the game came out.

[evilfusion]

See, I didn't know what region you're in, and I'm in North America. But yeah, I realize Europe's numbers suck arbitrarily.

 

It's definitely frustrating, I get that, but you REALLY get pissed off at the game a lot. The one time I felt it was completely justified was losing out on Mesprit. But nowadays, you just seem to show equal venom to almost everything even mildly bad luck, which I find baffling, because you're NOT missing out on exclusive content (like an entire Pokemon or M-Stone), just on one of the extremely tricky bonus prizes.

 

Like, the M-Beedrill thing, with the new tier where the top 300 get 3x, I said that was ridiculous. I ended up qualifying by some miracle, but that's not the point. This M-Competition was similarly rough, and my only annoyance is I devoted a lot of RMLs and Skill Swaps, but ran out of coins to do one more run, so I had to settle for whatever I got, which was definitely no better than 1x RML/Speedup.

 

EDIT: New content! Uh...you get given 2 RML and a Speedup for free!

 

Incarnate Landorus is back. May drop Speedups or Skill Boosters.

 

Drifblim! I guess...

 

Oh. They...really did only keep the Daily Winkers for one week. Sucks. Spooky Pokemon, though.

 

And a new Pokemon Safari.

[The Warden]

Because, sometimes, the game deliberately tries to piss you off. You can't say you haven't found situations that exist slowly to make you beyond enraged at the BS. I mean really, Electivire is beatable, but it was rubbing salt into the wounds when it drops RMLs on rounds you clearly have no chance of winning.

 

I wouldn't be so annoyed if not for the fact that, out of EVERYTHING on the board, it chose 1 of the 2 options out of 5 to erase and screw me over at the last second. I had one last go with M-Rayquaza because they were the only ones I had left. If the run hadn't been so great, I wouldn't have cared. I'm just utterly frustrated that it chose to trip me up literally at the last damn second. I was so damn close to qualifying for x2 Speedup and RML, and it slammed the door in my face. I didn't care for M-Beedrill because the x2 tier was insurmountable, but I had a damn chance this time.

 

I don't care for the RMLs, but those Speedups are really damn important, and, just so you know, I'm a bit behind, so I don't HAVE the advantages you guys have. I need every one that I can, so forgive me for being a bit absolute livid because the game funked me over so brutally.

[evilfusion]

Oh, I've found very frustrating moments and situations. Of course I have, because Match 3 games by default are designed to be challenging, at times being unfair.

 

And yes, I can definitely understand the need for more Speedups and being thumped on the nose.

 

I guess I just expect, based on the frequency and intensity of the profanities you pepper throughout your rage posts that you're actually missing out on something significant.

 

See, Shuffle's greatest problem, in my eyes, is that a lot of content is hidden behind events that cycle in and out constantly, and I cannot honestly ever recommend someone to start playing Shuffle, because so much content is hidden behind these arbitrary, unpredictable walls that I simply would not be comfortable telling someone to start playing a game like that.

 

For my personal progress, so long as I can obtain everything ESSENTIAL, I'm content. As long as every Pokemon and every M-Stone available in the game becomes mine, I'm satisfied with continuing the game, because it's a fun little game. I will seek out extras when possible, such as RMLs and Speedups, if I consider it worth the time/investment, but so long as the ESSENTIALS are within my grasp, I'm not too bothered when RNG smacks me in the face.

 

I guess that's why I struggle to comprehend the extent of your anger. You're getting all the essentials, and only losing out on a bonus. As much as that bonus could benefit you, it's still just a bonus, and these enhancements become available with time. Almost every other week, there's an event or stage that provides you with a means to get more of them. The only factor is TIME, but it's almost consistent in the sense of "A week or two, maybe three".

 

Whereas event Pokemon stages and M-Stones might take months upon months to cycle back in if you missed them the first time. Missing one of those puts you completely at the mercy of when the developers cycle it back in for another run, whereas Speedups and RMLs and such are almost always going to be made available because you need a ludicrous number of them to max out everything. Like...right now, you need like 260 Speedups to have all the M-Pokes maxed.

[The Warden]

Actually, I just tend to just swear a lot. I AM Australian after all *Shrugs* As I said, it's not losing them that annoyed me, it's being outright denied them at the last damn second. As you can see with the numbers, Europe is far more cutthroat than your American one, since the competition is stiffer. What easily got you into top 1600 might barely even get you into the top 2000. My top score for M-Pidgeot was 59734, and to get into top 1000 I had to beat 59956. It's really damn stiff competition, and as was said earlier, the strong keep getting stronger and the weak can't catch up.

 

Also, M-Pidgeot may have been a waste of time. His Mega Ability causes a horizontal V-shape removal. So M-Glalie's, except on its side.

[Flame Dragon]

I've come to accept not a lot of Megas are going to be good. We've run pretty well with the last two tbqh. Nothing will ever be as pointless as Zard-X though.

 

Anyway, tilted I'm not missing ONE pokemon and lord knows how long it will take before it comes around again. Own fault though. I just need to remember that I'm missing something now.

[The Warden]

Which are you missing? A winking mon right?

 

Also, yeah, I've come to accept many are meh too, although M-Alakazam has been a treat. I used both of my M-Speedups on him. 1 more and he's maxed.

 

Also, god DAMN is 20/20 Rayquaza amazing. It takes so little to mega him, and I haven't even been using M-Starts with him for Meowth anymore.

 

EDIT: Spooky Sableye is capable of Mega-Evolving it seems, and this version is the same as the Hoenn Starters by replacing 3 Darks with him.

[evilfusion]

Yeah, maxed M-Ray is amazing. His ability is ridiculous, albeit a source of luck-induced rage at times.

 

Some of the Megas are going to be mediocre. I think Pidgeot's advantage is being a Flying type, plus it can be RMLed, which gives it a small niche, but because Shuffle operates on single-type mons, not all of them are going to be good, and risk being outclassed.

 

Spooky Sableye is being a pain. Because I'm poor in coins, so I can't Great Ball him.

 

Wait, M-Spooky Sableye is a "replacement Mega" for Darks? But...it's a Ghost...regular Sableye is a Dark.

 

Heh, M-Charizard X wouldn't suck if it wasn't a Dragon. Only M-Ray gets away with being a GOOD Dragon Mega. Actually, check that. X wouldn't suck if it was Dragon from the start, rather than Fire -> Dragon, because Dragon is only SE against Dragon. And Dragon resists Fire. So until you M-Evolve, you're doing half damage. Same issue with M-Mewtwo X, being Psychic -> Fighting vs Darks, but X is at least a "Replacement Mega" for Fighting, which gives it one hell of a good niche.

[The Warden]

Oh, Spooky is ghost? I didn't pay attention to its type, so I thought it was Dark. Kinda an idiot moment since I USED ghosts against it.

[Flame Dragon]

Facing Sableye. Fail 36% catch. Fail Great Ball at 72%. Runs. Next try fail at 66%. 

 

I have the worse luck catching Pokemon. Winking Clefairy took me over 10 tries and I don't think I ever had below a 20% chance to catch.

 

Try a Great Ball at 72% against Drifblim. Fails. ................................................... WHY?!?!?

[The Warden]

I can understand your pain. I blew an awful lot of money trying to improve my score with M-Pidgeot.

[The Warden]

Have any of you guys seen the Spooky Pikachu in the safari yet?

[Flame Dragon]

Have any of you guys seen the Spooky Pikachu in the safari yet?

I actually just found it. 1 move puzzle. Is really easy. Had 50 power and Block Smash+.

[evilfusion]

Spooky Pikachu is currently the only Safari Pokemon I didn't get yet, but I haven't been at it for too long. Faced everything else at least once.

[The Warden]

I keep forgetting to do Landorus. Although, I will say it's great that you fight him for absolutely free. Also, still haven't found Pilachu, who is likewise the last one I need.

[evilfusion]

And...I've gotten it. I got really scared, though. I only had enough coins for 1 Great Ball, and it was a 72% chance (with said Great Ball). But all was fine, meaning I've done all the essentials for this week's content. Got Drifblim, all the Safari Pokes, and Spooky Sableye. Now I need to do some more coin grinding to stop feeling so poor, and maybe take out some of the Mission Cards I've been neglecting.

[The Warden]

*Sighs* I finally beat Mission Card 6. Those 60,000+ points and 120+ matches missions was annoying as all hell.

 

Also, it took me a Great Ball, but I got Pikachu and am finished with the safari. So back to grinding coins so I can catch Drifblim.

[The Warden]

Well, Drifblim wasn't nearly as problematic as I thought he was. I didn't realize he was a timed challenge, but the second time I whumped him with 20s remaining.

 

Also, does it seem completely impossible to beat Landorus WITHOUT items?

[evilfusion]

It probably is pretty much impossible. I've gotten him down to about 30%, but I usually just don't even bother with the stage at all. It's a one-shot deal, with the only reward being a "chance" at a Skill Booster for an inferior form (Landorus-T is better due to Risk Taker vs Power of 5+) or a Mega Speedup which you KNOW isn't going to drop. And since it's one-shot, you're not going to grind the stage.

[The Warden]

I figured I might as well try since it doesn't cost anything to fight him, not even a heart. *Shrugs* But yeah, I could never honestly beat him without an item.

 

Also, do you guys reckon it would be better if instead of Victini on Saturday, Mewoth on Sunday, and Eevee on Thursday, the three of them would just cycle per day instead? So it goes Victini -> Meowth -> Eevee and then repeat likes that each day instead of what we have now? I mean, Meowth gives paltry amounts of coins tbh. (I usually only get around 3000 to 4000 each try, and then -800 for Move +5).

[Flame Dragon]

I think I average close to 5000 on Meowth runs. I think my lows tend to be 3000 and I know I'e gone as high as like 7500 before. Just gotta keep making 3 combos. Though, I will admit, having a fully candied Mewtwo Y helps a ton. I should give some skill boosters to my Mega Speed Up guys to help me even more.

[The Warden]

I tend to use Rayquaza and Quirky+ mons really.

[The Warden]

Welp, Giratina (Altered) is back once again as an Escalation battle for like, the 3rd or 4th time this year. Also, we have (Spooky) Gengar, who is actually a poison type and is a once per day battle. I don't know what exactly a Complexity -1 will do in his battle, since Spooky Gengars appear. Really, you only need to worry about getting rid of the blocks that appear. Serebii says he has the same ability as Spooky M-Sableye; that is to say, the exact same as the Hoenn Starters again.

 

Also M-Banette is back once again, yay.

[evilfusion]

I can confirm that Spooky Gengar is a "Replacement Mega" for Poison-Types. I think I used an Attack Power Up and that was it, had 4 moves left, giving me a 20% chance. So...caught it on a 40% Great Ball. But I'm impatient and don't like "once a day" battles.

[The Warden]

I tend to sniff out battles first, since Gamefreak love to throw curveballs. So I'm ready for it the next time .