Pokémon Encounters - Poni Plains¶

Pokemon Encounters - Special Spots¶

Coming from Poni Grove, you’ll emerge in a wide open space. To begin with, travel directly north. Naturally, feel free to run around in the patches of tall grass to see what creatures you find. You’ll also find Pokémon in the shaking bushes to the sides. Halfway along is a male Ace Trainer who’s the boss of this area.

Further north, below the cliff face, is a Trainer Tips sign, which is being circled by a flying shadow. From the sign, go west and up the slope. When you reach the two patches of tall grass at the top of the slope, head north between them. Next, go up the ramp to the highlands. Up here, carefully follow the path north.

As the path bends west, there will be a flying shadow circling along the north side. Summon Tauros and smash the boulders blocking your way. Afterwards, continue west and enter the conspicuous cave in the corner.

Plains Grotto¶

Poni Plains (Continued)¶

Back outside, charge south on top of Tauros’s back. After crashing through the boulder, leap off the ledge below. Nearby to the left, there’s a Power Anklet that you should pick up.

When held by a Pokémon, the Power Anklet temporarily lowers Speed, but improves the growth of the Speed stat. In technical terms, it adds 8 Speed EVs for each Pokémon defeated. There are similar items that enhance the other five stats–and you can obtain all but one of them in the remaining areas of Poni Island.

Anyway, just below is a policeman who you can’t avoid unless you grow wings (or call Charizard).

Police Officer Sheriff¶

Sheriff has a Stoutland, which you should at least know as a Ride Pokémon. This fully evolved Lillipup has high Attack and fairly robust stats, ignoring its poor Special Attack. It can use Retaliate for STAB, Reversal to hit Rock and Steel-types, and Roar to force a switch out. Fighting-types are ideal, of course.

After proving your innocence to Sheriff, hop over the next ledge to reach a wide section, which is where two paths converge. From here, jump over the ledge to the east to return to lower ground. Down below, wade your way east through the tall grass. To continue, you’ll need to fight a rough and rugged Pokémon trainer.

Hiker Ryan¶

This fossil Pokémon has exceptional Speed and impressive Attack. For attacks, it can use Sky Drop to lift up lightweight foes into the air for one turn, Iron Head to cause flinch, Crunch to hurt Psychics etc., and Take Down to cover other bases. Water, Electric, Ice, Rock and Steel-types are all excellent choices.

After giving Ryan a sound thrashing, proceed east to the end of the tall grass. You’ll emerge back at the entrance to the highlands. From here, head north to the highlands once more. Upon reaching the first corner, head south from the first boulder that you smashed. Soon, there’s another boulder for you to break.

Further south, leap over the ledge to reach a small space, with a Comet Shard on the floor. Once you’ve finished admiring your find, jump over the next ledge to arrive back at the wide section where the highland paths converge. From here, you’re one jump away from the area where Ryan is standing.

If you want, you can head directly south from Ryan, via the nearby ledge. Down below, there’s a small patch of tall grass to wade through. After leaving the grass, you’ll find a berry tree and a ledge that takes you back to the main section of the plains if you go east. In any case, make your way back to the Trainer Tips sign near the north.

Now head north-east from the sign, along the short slope. Up ahead, there’s a wide patch of tall grass with an energetic Pokémon circling the perimeter. Past the tall grass, to the north-west is another short slope that leads to Poni Meadow. If you try to go this way, you’ll bump into a pair of familiar travelers who seek to test your skills.

Pokémon Trainer Dexio¶

Dexio is your opponent regardless of which version you’re playing. His first Pokémon, Espeon has outstanding Special Attack and Speed, but flimsy physical bulk. It can use Psychic for STAB, Shadow Ball to hurt Ghosts, and Dazzling Gleam to hurt Dark-types. Bulky Dark-types are ideal, or Steel to play defensively.

You should be familiar with the Alolan Raichu from your multiple battles against Hau. This agile special attacker can use Psychic and Thunderbolt for STAB, and Light Screen and Reflect to raise its party members’ defenses. Ground and Dark-types are recommended; Ghost-types will also be sufficient to take out the pancake lover.

Slowking is one of Slowpoke’s possible evolved forms–this one favoring Special Defense. Dexio’s can use Psychic for STAB, Ice Beam to punish Grass-types, and Power Gem and Flamethrower to surprise a variety of Types. Dark-types are perfect for dethroning this chump; Electric and Ghost-types are also great.

Metagross is a fully evolved Beldum with great Attack and Defense, and otherwise decent stats. This one can use Meteor Mash and Zen Headbutt for primary STAB, Bullet Punch to attack first, and Brick Break to bash up Dark-types. Fire, Ground and Ghost-types are all solid choices–the former resists Steel-type moves.

Finally, Dexio has an Alakazam that can Mega Evolve, greatly boosting its Special Attack and Speed stats. It can use Psychic and Psyshock for STAB–the latter dealing physical rather than special damage. In addition, it has Focus Blast to beat up Dark-types. Ghost-types are recommended, but they need to have full health.

In any case, if you want to enter Poni Meadow right now, simply skip ahead to the next page of the guide. Otherwise, continue north-east from the wide patch of tall grass. Further ahead, past the rocky outcrop where an item ball is sitting teasingly, there’s a Veteran standing guard by the entrance to Poni Coast.

Veteran Leon¶

Skarmory is a fantastic physical wall, although the one used by Leon doesn’t really take advantage of this trait. Instead, it relies on Slash, Night Slash and Sky Drop to deal damage–and only the latter registers as a threat, but barely. Zap it with Electric-types or your best special attackers.

Araquanid is an evolved Dewpider with fantastic special bulk, but lackluster Speed. This one can use Liquidation to deal deceptively powerful STAB damage thanks to Water Bubble, Lunge to lower Attack, and Crunch if all else fails. Electric or Flying-types are recommended to squash this spider.

Finally, Electivire is a fully evolved Elekid with stunning Attack, but unimpressive physical bulk. Leon’s can use Thunder Punch for STAB, Fire Punch to hit Grass-types, and Brick Break to try and scratch Steel-types etc. Naturally, Ground-types are the way to go since Electivire isn’t equipped to counter them.

Attempting to travel north from Leon will send you towards another pair of travelers. Those who played Sun/Moon should recognize them as Anabel and Looker from the original postgame story (which got overwritten by Episode RR). If you didn’t help the Ultra Recon Squad at Poni Grove, they will stop you from progressing.

Otherwise, they’ll depart to their next destination, but not before handing you a Red Card. Anyway, if you’re intending to proceed north into Poni Coast, be sure to skip ahead to the relevant page. But if you’re staying in Poni Plains, carry on south from Leon’s position, through the patch of tall grass.

Before long, you’ll reach a ledge along the south and a slope towards the north. First, run up the slope and grab the X Defense at the end of the outcrop. Having satisfied your curiosity, jump over the ledge, where you’ll land next to a small patch of tall grass. On the other side, you’ll be back at the main section, towards the east.

At this point, travel south along the plains, while keeping to the east. Soon, there’s more tall grass that you need to trample through. Where the tall grass ends, watch out for a female Ace Trainer waiting to ambush you. You can just about squeeze past her if you keep hugging the very edge of the island.

Ace Trainer Angela¶

Gorebyss is an evolved Clamperl via the Deep Sea Scale. Compared to Huntail, it excels in Special Attack rather than Attack, but is similarly slow. For attacks, it can use Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail for STAB, Psychic for other purposes, and Coil to raise its stats. Grass-types are obviously recommended.

To refresh your memory, Lurantis has high Attack and otherwise well-rounded stats, except for its poor Speed. Angela’s can use Sunny Day to create sunny weather, Solar Blade to deal STAB damage (requiring a turn to charge up unless it’s sunny), and Slash if all else fails. Fire-types are ideal.

At the end of this path, there’s a Carbos that deserves to go in your bag. From here, go backwards until you’ve returned to the main section of the plains. If you’ve defeated all the other trainers in Poni Plains, head over to the center of the plains and challenge the boss trainer, who also happens to be the final one.

Ace Trainer Cole¶

The gnarly Druddigon has high Attack and respectable bulk, but low Speed. Cole’s Druddigon can use Dragon Claw for STAB, and Night Slash and Slash to damage resistant Types. Fairy-types are ideal, while Ice-types should also be sufficient.

Dragalge is an evolved Skrelp with high Special Defense, but again suffers from low Speed. The one you face can use Sludge Bomb and Dragon Pulse for STAB, and Hydro Pump to hurt Ground-types. Ice or Psychic-types will have the easiest time.

Finally, Kommo-o has generally excellent stats, although its Speed is just about average. It can use Dragon Claw and Close Combat for STAB, and Dragon Dance to raise its Attack and Speed. It’s also carrying Dragonium Z. Fairy-types are its bane; Flying and Psychic-types are also great.

Tame Cole’s dragons and you’ll earn TM60 Quash. This peculiar move forces the target to move last, which is only useful during Double Battles. Afterwards, feel free to head towards Poni Meadow (towards the north) or Poni Coast (towards the north-east), assuming you haven’t already visited those locations.