After obtaining the Stone Badge, you'll need to deliver a letter to Steven Stone in Dewford Town. Once there, you can challenge the second Gym Leader, Brawly, who specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. His team includes a Machop and a Makuhita. Fighting-type Pokémon are weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type moves. If your starter is Combusken (Torchic's evolution), its Fighting typing will be a disadvantage here. Consider catching a Ralts on Route 102 (rare) or a Wingull/Pelipper for Flying-type moves. A strong Psychic-type move from a Kadabra (evolved from Abra, found in Granite Cave) would also be devastating. Level your Pokémon to around level 16-18. Defeating Brawly earns you the Knuckle Badge, allowing you to use HM05 Flash outside of battle, and TM08 Bulk Up.
