Wow! You're here early. I haven't yet set up my Sword save file yet and only started uploading pokemon onto pokemon home! The 3ds servers only shut down like... 2 hours ago as of me writing this. Plus everything will look a lot cleaner. Promo image used on the internet is below lolz

The most miserable intro to a pokemon game I've went through, it's so boring... makes me appreciate that kanto just spends a few minutes before leaving you alone. This is my third Sword playthrough and I'm not excited. Before using the box full of pokemon from USUM wonder trade from April 8th 2024, I had to get a starter. And that starter will have to be... Grookey, I never picked Grookey before and I don't like any of the starters in this game but I guess lets give this monkey a gun.
Meet War Criminal Grookey, native to the Galar region and apparent new leader for the draft Pokemon team, let's call this the DPT

Nothing interesting happens until eventually being able to use boxes, immediately pulling in a box of 29 traded pokemon. With a team of 6, level 5-10 pokemon, surely nothing bad will happen! Toilet the Oranguru dislikes fighting and often sits in the back, War Criminal Grookey shreds everyone anyways. Jim is a slow guy that misses hitting his presents often, Oiler the Clefable is very weak in attacks but is there for status moves. Goomwelder, being a single stage pokemon, is overpowered early game, he's the current tank of the team. And... Pachu, lazy lazy Pachu, she is a little lady who hasn't fought in a single battle besides hitting one Grass knot so far in the nuzlocke. Everything is going great, just slow.

I was only scared for the Bede fight. Every playthrough I've had through this game, he's always had been a bit of a threat. But this time, it was pretty alright besides one close call that then Toilet came in to stall Bede's final pokemon, Hatenna. And just remembering it, I had a few close calls with team yell. I thought we were supposed to fight Marnie after that sleep in the hotel but I guess I completely forgot about the order of events since the last time I played.

Entering the gym, Goomwelder had continued his reign, burning through every single grass pokemon. Being underleveled compared to the gym trainer and leader pokemon but still fainting everything with 2 to 3 hits. Whatever, we got the badge, and War Criminal Grookey even evolved half way through... Ah, I see. Anyways, looks like War Criminal Thwackey had gained gun boots and Goomwelder gets a nice break from fighting for now.

Nothing interesting happens before the water gym, just a few levels, the usual for a pokemon SWSH playthrough. What is important is the water gym itself, the majority being insanely easy, like OHKOs from War Criminal Thwackey. So you'd think I'd use him in the gym leader battle. WRONG, I used Pachu first, the first two pokemon fell like flys and I had begun to get over my head. "Oh, Pachu can use a grass max move against Drednaw. It'll kill in two moves!" I say, Pachu going first and landing her move first, a max grass move and wipes out 70% of the Drednaw's health. Seeing this gave me an ego boost, oh this is just too easy! Drednaw lands a hit that throws Pachu all the way to only 20 health left and lowered her speed by one. "Considering the stats between Pikachu and Drednaw, Pikachu -1 speed would still be faster than Drednaw." I press the grass move instead of healing or shielding since I wanted to get the battle over with. Testing my luck.

Drednaw goes first.

Pachu goes down in a mighty explosion, the first death of the run and only at fault due to my own and her arrogance... Thwackey took care of Drednaw easily but this stung, I fucked up so badly. So, so, badly. Leaving the gym as the game celebrates my stupid easy win, the story drags me to the seafood restaurant as I select another pokemon to replace Pachu's place. But... As I put a wingull on my team and enter the cutscene, I noticed something.

The Pokemon in the background, it's a Wingull, I do not know if I am reaching but I felt like this was a sign since I just put a wingull on my team. Perhaps this new teammate may be way stronger than Pachu ever will so. Meet Wing Gal, the littlest cutie as of now who has big shoes to fill! ALSO AFTER THE CUTSCENE, THE GAME GAVE ME THE TM RETALIATE, THE IRONY.