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Name: Mega Houndoom
Type: Dark/Fire
Ability: Solar Power (Special Attack increases to 1.5 times during Sunny Day weather, but continuously reduces HP)
Level: 68
"Mega Houndoom has Solar Power as its ability. This tells me exactly what you're planning to do next, Blaine."
After all, when someone sees a weather-dependent ability like this, it's easy to predict what the trainer will do.
"That's right. Just as you've figured out, this ability requires specific weather conditions to function properly. Without them, it's useless!"
"Mega Houndoom! Use Sunny Day!"
"Hooowl!"
Mega Houndoom howled once more, then released a stream of energy from its mouth straight up into the sky.
The blast dispersed the sandstorm that had been raging across the battlefield. Moments later, intense sunlight broke through, bathing the entire arena in brilliant, scorching light.
"Blaine, my Tyranitar can use Sandstorm. If you're going to use Sunny Day, I can just use Sandstorm again and change the weather back to my advantage."
"Hehe, well then... are you actually going to use Sandstorm?"
Facing Eddie's challenge, Blaine smiled knowingly and asked whether Eddie would really go through with it.
"I get the feeling you've read me pretty well—or at least, you've figured out my battle strategy."
Hearing this, Eddie smiled and shook his head.
That's right. Eddie had no intention of using Sandstorm to compete with Mega Houndoom over weather control.
Because it would be pointless. Mega Tyranitar could use Sandstorm, and Mega Houndoom could use Sunny Day. If Eddie used Sandstorm, wouldn't Blaine just use Sunny Day again?
Trading weather moves back and forth would accomplish nothing. Mega Tyranitar only gained a defense boost in Sandstorm weather, but Mega Houndoom was a specially-oriented attacker, so raising Tyranitar's defense wouldn't matter much anyway.
Furthermore, while Mega Houndoom's Special Attack increased thanks to Solar Power, the ability came with a serious drawback—it would continuously lose HP under harsh sunlight.
This meant it was a Pokémon that couldn't afford a drawn-out battle.
In that case, Eddie's best strategy was to either defeat Mega Houndoom quickly or outlast it in this sunny weather. There was no need to fight over weather advantage.
"Enough talk! Mega Houndoom doesn't have much time, so I'm attacking now!"
"Mega Houndoom, use Flamethrower while you're moving!"
Blaine knew perfectly well that Mega Houndoom couldn't sustain a prolonged fight, so he wasted no time launching his assault.
Although Mega Tyranitar resisted both Dark-type and Fire-type moves, Mega Houndoom's Fire-type attacks were boosted under Sunny Day. Combined with the boost from its Fire typing and the Solar Power ability, the power of its Fire-type moves had been dramatically enhanced.
Even if Mega Tyranitar had resistance to Fire-type attacks, taking a direct hit from Mega Houndoom's flames wouldn't be easy!
Blaine commanded Mega Houndoom to use Flamethrower while staying mobile—naturally, this was to prevent Mega Tyranitar from closing the distance.
After all, Tyranitar was already an incredibly powerful Pokémon in close combat. Now that it had Mega Evolved, its physical combat prowess was even more fearsome. If Mega Houndoom allowed it to get close, it wouldn't last more than a few hits.
Therefore, hit-and-run tactics, similar to how he'd used Arcanine earlier, were the most appropriate strategy.
"I know exactly how fast Mega Tyranitar is. Even if yours is some kind of special case like your Pikachu, there's no way it has that kind of speed!"
Blaine's tactics in the previous battle against Pikachu had all been sound, but he'd miscalculated the latter's unusual Speed stat and lost because of it.
This time, facing Mega Tyranitar—a Pokémon with incredible close-combat power but questionable Speed—Blaine was confident there would be no problems!
"This is going to be tricky."
Eddie was well aware of Mega Tyranitar's weaknesses. Although pseudo-legendary Pokémon could compensate for their flaws with overwhelming power, if someone exploited those weaknesses deliberately, the flaws would be magnified continuously.
Against a Pokémon of equal strength, Mega Tyranitar could use its raw power to make up for its slow Speed. But facing Mega Houndoom, which was four levels higher, being targeted like this was inevitable.
"But regardless, I need to defend against this attack first."
"Mega Tyranitar! Use Dark Pulse to scatter the flames!"
Even if he wanted to counterattack, Eddie had to defend first. Therefore, he quickly decided and commanded Mega Tyranitar to go on the defensive.
"ROAAAR!"
Mega Tyranitar gathered the fearsome energy within its body and released it as a malevolent aura filled with dark intent.
The incoming Flamethrower gradually broke apart and dispersed as it entered the terrifying Dark Pulse. Even the few flames that made it through had been reduced to small embers by the time they struck Mega Tyranitar, dealing minimal damage.
"Tch! My attack was countered like that? It seems the power still isn't enough!"
"In that case, I'll increase my offensive power! Mega Houndoom, use Nasty Plot!"
Upon hearing the command, Mega Houndoom didn't stop running. Instead, it used its mental energy to activate its brain, sharply boosting its Special Attack.
"Eddie! I want to see how you plan to handle this move! Mega Houndoom! Use Inferno!"
"HOOOWL!"
As Blaine gave the command, Mega Houndoom responded immediately.
It rapidly channeled energy and injected it into the ground. Moments later, the earth erupted with dozens of high-temperature flames that surged forward, continuously advancing toward Mega Tyranitar.
Inferno: Fire-type move with a base power of 100. It engulfs the opponent in flames, with a 100% chance of inflicting the Burn status condition!
"So you're not just planning to severely damage Mega Tyranitar—you're also planning to burn it to cut its Attack power in half!"
Eddie saw through Blaine's intention instantly. First, he'd used Nasty Plot to stack Special Attack boosts, then he'd followed up with this move. The strategy had multiple purposes.
This attack was virtually guaranteed to hit Mega Tyranitar. Even if Eddie tried to counter it and weaken the move's power, Mega Houndoom had stacked so many boosts that even a weakened Inferno would still pack a serious punch and connect with Mega Tyranitar.
Not only that, but once Inferno hit its target, unless the Pokémon had an ability that prevented status conditions, it would inevitably be inflicted with the Burn status.
When a Pokémon was burned, not only would its HP continuously decrease, but its Attack stat would also be cut in half!
The HP drain was manageable, but Mega Tyranitar's greatest strength was its Attack power. If that was reduced by half, would this battle become nearly impossible to win?