Pokémon Colosseum
Pokémon Colosseum

Investigating the Underworld

Investigate the Shadow Pokémon operation in Pyrite Town. Navigate dark alleys and uncover the truth behind the Mayor's involvement in Pyrite Town.

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Investigating the Underworld

Upon your arrival in the vibrant yet seedy Pyrite Town, the air crackles with an undeniable tension. Your primary objective here is to uncover the truth behind the Shadow Pokémon operation and locate the Mayor, who is rumored to be deeply involved. This section will guide you through the labyrinthine alleys and hidden battlegrounds of Pyrite Town, culminating in a showdown with the formidable Snagem Head, Gonzap.

Investigating the Underworld - Pokémon Colosseum screenshot
Investigating the Underworld

Initial Exploration and Information Gathering

Your first stop should be the Pyrite Colosseum, a hub of activity and a likely source of information. Speak to the various NPCs around the Colosseum entrance. You'll quickly learn that the Mayor is indeed present and seemingly orchestrating the Colosseum's operations. However, direct access to him is impossible without proving your strength.

Before diving into the Colosseum battles, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Pyrite Town. The Pokémon Center is located conveniently near the entrance, and you'll want to make frequent use of it to heal your Pokémon and restock on essential items. The local shops offer a range of useful consumables, so ensure you're well-equipped.

The Kids Grid: Uncovering the Underbelly

To truly understand Pyrite Town's criminal underbelly, you'll need to venture into the Kids Grid. This area, located behind the main Colosseum structure, is a proving ground for young trainers and a hotbed of information. Accessing it requires a bit of exploration; look for a narrow alleyway leading downwards.

Kids Grid Trainers and Shadow Pokémon

The Kids Grid is teeming with trainers eager to test their mettle. These battles are not just for experience; they are crucial for progressing the story and often feature Shadow Pokémon that you can snag. Be prepared for a series of challenging encounters.

  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Daz
    • Pokémon: Zigzagoon (Lv. 20), Poochyena (Lv. 20)
    • Strategy: Relatively straightforward. Focus on type advantages.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Twan
    • Pokémon: Lotad (Lv. 21), Seedot (Lv. 21)
    • Strategy: Grass/Water and Grass/Dark types. Fire or Flying attacks for Seedot, Electric or Grass for Lotad.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Sorn
    • Pokémon: Tailow (Lv. 22), Wingull (Lv. 22)
    • Strategy: Both are Flying types. Electric or Rock attacks are highly effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Fana
    • Pokémon: Shroomish (Lv. 23), Surskit (Lv. 23)
    • Strategy: Shroomish is Grass/Poison, Surskit is Bug/Water. Fire or Flying for Shroomish, Electric or Flying for Surskit.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Pako
    • Pokémon: Corphish (Lv. 24), Barboach (Lv. 24)
    • Strategy: Both are Water types. Grass or Electric attacks are very effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Sniff
    • Pokémon: Nuzleaf (Lv. 25), Lombre (Lv. 25)
    • Strategy: Nuzleaf is Grass/Dark, Lombre is Water/Grass. Fire/Flying for Nuzleaf, Flying/Bug/Poison for Lombre.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Telly
    • Pokémon: Electrike (Lv. 26), Gulpin (Lv. 26)
    • Strategy: Electrike is Electric, Gulpin is Poison. Ground for Electrike, Psychic for Gulpin.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Mosh
    • Pokémon: Meditite (Lv. 27), Makuhita (Lv. 27)
    • Strategy: Both are Fighting types. Flying or Psychic attacks are super effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Zato
    • Pokémon: Aron (Lv. 28), Lairon (Lv. 28)
    • Strategy: Steel/Rock types. Fighting, Ground, or Water attacks are highly effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Lona
    • Pokémon: Duskull (Lv. 29), Shuppet (Lv. 29)
    • Strategy: Both are Ghost types. Dark or Ghost attacks are effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Kili
    • Pokémon: Baltoy (Lv. 30), Claydol (Lv. 30)
    • Strategy: Ground/Psychic types. Water, Grass, Ice, Bug, Ghost, Dark attacks are effective.
  • Trainer: Grid Battle Kid Rix
    • Pokémon: Vigoroth (Lv. 31), Slakoth (Lv. 31)
    • Strategy: Normal types. Fighting attacks are super effective.

After defeating a certain number of trainers in the Kids Grid, you'll gain access to the Underground area, which is crucial for advancing the plot.

The Underground: A Den of Shadows

The Underground is a darker, more dangerous area where Team Snagem members operate more openly. This is where you'll encounter more significant resistance and have opportunities to snag valuable Shadow Pokémon.

Underground Trainers and Shadow Pokémon

Navigate the twists and turns of the Underground. You'll find several Team Snagem Grunts and other suspicious characters. Pay close attention to their dialogue for clues.

  • Trainer: Team Snagem Grunt (Various)
    • Pokémon: Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Seedot, Lotad (Levels 25-30)
    • Strategy: Standard grunt Pokémon. Focus on type advantages.
  • Shadow Pokémon Encounter: Shadow Makuhita (Lv. 30)
    • Location: Encountered with a Team Snagem Grunt in the Underground.
    • Strategy: Makuhita is a Fighting type. Use Flying or Psychic attacks to weaken it. Be careful not to knock it out! Use status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis to make snagging easier.
  • Shadow Pokémon Encounter: Shadow Bayleef (Lv. 30)
    • Location: Encountered with a Team Snagem Grunt deeper in the Underground.
    • Strategy: Bayleef is a Grass type. Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, or Poison attacks are effective. Again, prioritize weakening and status conditions over raw damage.
  • Shadow Pokémon Encounter: Shadow Croconaw (Lv. 30)
    • Location: Found with another Team Snagem Grunt in the Underground.
    • Strategy: Croconaw is a Water type. Grass or Electric attacks are super effective. Apply status conditions for easier snagging.
  • Shadow Pokémon Encounter: Shadow Quilava (Lv. 30)
    • Location: The final Shadow Pokémon you'll likely encounter before Gonzap in the Underground.
    • Strategy: Quilava is a Fire type. Water, Ground, or Rock attacks are effective. As always, aim for low HP and status effects.

Important Snagging Tip: Always save your game before encountering a Shadow Pokémon. If you accidentally knock it out, you can reset and try again. Use your Snag Balls wisely, especially on these early-game Shadow Pokémon.

Showdown with Snagem Head Gonzap

After navigating the treacherous Underground and dealing with numerous Team Snagem Grunts, you will eventually corner Snagem Head Gonzap. He is a formidable opponent and a significant obstacle in your investigation. Ensure your team is fully healed and your Snag Balls are ready before engaging him.

Gonzap's Team and Strategy

Gonzap's team is designed to be challenging, featuring powerful Pokémon that can deal significant damage. He also has a Shadow Pokémon that you'll want to snag.

Pokémon Type Level Key Moves Weaknesses Notes
Skarmory Steel/Flying 32 Steel Wing, Aerial Ace Fire, Electric High Defense. Use special attackers or strong Fire/Electric moves.
Houndoom Dark/Fire 33 Flamethrower, Faint Attack Water, Ground, Rock, Fighting Fast and hits hard. Water or Ground types are excellent counters.
Sneasel Dark/Ice 34 Faint Attack, Ice Punch Fighting, Fire, Bug, Rock, Steel Very fast. Fighting moves are devastating.
Shadow Hitmontop Fighting 35 Triple Kick, Quick Attack Flying, Psychic CRITICAL SNAG. Focus on weakening it with Flying/Psychic moves. Use status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis. Be extremely careful not to defeat it.
Recommended Strategy for Gonzap
  1. Lead with a strong counter: Consider leading with a Pokémon that can effectively deal with Skarmory, such as an Electric or Fire type.
  2. Prioritize threats: Houndoom and Sneasel are fast and hit hard. Have Water/Ground types ready for Houndoom and Fighting types for Sneasel.
  3. Snagging Shadow Hitmontop: This is your main objective.
    • Bring a Pokémon with a reliable status-inducing move (e.g., Sleep Powder, Thunder Wave).
    • Use Psychic or Flying-type attacks to chip away at its HP, but be mindful of its Sturdy ability if it has it (though less common for Shadow Pokémon).
    • Once its HP is in the red and it has a status condition, start throwing Snag Balls. Don't be afraid to use multiple.
    • If your Pokémon are getting low on health, switch them out or use healing items. Don't risk losing the opportunity to snag Hitmontop.
  4. Manage your team: Gonzap's Pokémon can inflict status conditions and deal significant damage. Use Potions, Super Potions, and Full Heals as needed.
  5. Utilize your Shadow Pokémon: If you've snagged any Shadow Pokémon earlier, remember their Shadow Rush move can be powerful, but it also deals recoil damage. Use them strategically.

Defeating Gonzap marks a significant victory in your quest to dismantle Team Snagem and uncover the secrets of Pyrite Town. He will reluctantly provide you with crucial information that points towards the Mayor's deeper involvement and the true scale of the Shadow Pokémon conspiracy.

Post-Gonzap Actions

After your triumph over Gonzap, take a moment to heal your team at the Pokémon Center. You've gained valuable experience and several new Shadow Pokémon. Now is an excellent time to begin purifying your newly acquired Shadow Pokémon at the Relic Forest. The information Gonzap provided will guide your next steps, leading you further into the mysteries surrounding Cipher and their operations.