First thing's first... Furret has literally only 10% worse attack than Fearow. Furret also learns swift. Its stab return is not much worse. The instant Furret evolves it surpasses Spearow. And has access to a much stronger ground move in dig (thus notably better at both Morty and Jasmine). Shadow ball.
I've been basically ignoring Rattata. Rattata/Radicate has marginally better stats (rattata being much better than sentret), a better early move pool, and most of the same realistic advantages that Furret has, just with the same 5 level slower evolution. As far as assuming they don't kill their target... Furret and Radicate both have much better typing than Fearow does, not fearing the bolt/beam combo. Of the three Furret has the the best bulk (more due to it's strong health pool than its defenses), but none of them are particularly great in that.
Funny enough... depending on DV Fearow at level is still a 2hit KO range from Kingdra's surf (albeit a very low chance).
No, I would distinctly say that covering water-types isn't very useful, when thunderpunch is a learned move for Typhlosion. Particularily as mareep is primarily useful after 2nd evolution (well that isn't really true, but Flaffy doesn't have many if any signature slowbro's or bulky waters to contend with on-route), and then loses the vast majority of usefulness once Typhlosion comes into play (para strats? light screen?).
Clair's Kingdra is equivalently covered by the free Gyarados with strength/return (lol) as it is by Ampharos's TP (outside of Crystal for Thunderbolt tutor). Better really since Gyarados is much faster, has higher defenses, and has resistance to surf. Ignoring how trivial the gym is with Crystal's free Suicune.
That's what I mean compared to the issue with Jasmine. Because tot+fearow both have serious issues with the gym if they aren't over-leveled or relying on accuracy cheese. Even backtracking to pick up the gyarados doesn't help much there. Sure, technically speaking you can save Jasmine until much later, and blast through it over leveled. Or you could just use Furret/Radicate and easily dig your way to victory. Or any ember/flamewheel ofc.
Why would I ever stop for a krabby when polywag and psyduck are both even more easily available and more useful as HM slaves, and as pokemon in general?
But the real issue is that once you get to Stage 3 Toto or Cynda, almost all the good justification for any other non-event (in-game) pokemon disappears. Fer's return isn't that much weaker than Fearow's (and Gyarados's is within the same range). No discussion needs to be taken about his move-set, stab surf and ice punch being always great.
Pretty much the same discussion for Typhlosion with only Clair's Kingdra and Misty's Quagsire being "counters" (thankfully, none of Pryce's pokemon, nor Will's slowbro know any water moves). Maybe I'm missing a few, but I don't think I remember anyone else that poses a serious threat to a Typhlosion run at that point. EDIT: Hmm forgot about Blue's Rhydon.
Even at quilava. Maybe one of Silver's Crocs? One of the Route 41 trainers has a Tentacruel, but I think it's really low level iirc. Chuck's Poliwrath if you walk in underleveled and eat a hypnosis?
Thus with the justification for those pokemon dropping off so rapidly, eventually I'd rather just have pokemon that can transition into useful slaves when the real fighters get up to snuff. While not needed for anything, flash is nice to have, dig is convenient (I have a probably irrational dislike for escape ropes in gen 2. Something about taking up one slot in that bag), headbutt and rocksmash are both useful when cleaning up some post game (or while moving through if you want something specific, like heracross). Also flinch strats are fantastic fun.
I generally end up with a poliwhirl that knows surf, whirlpool, waterfall, and rocksmash. Furret with strength, cut, dig, headbutt. Noctowl with flash and fly. All of which is obtainable with a 5:50pm start before you leave route 30. Leaving two non-starter slots for whatever later stuff I want. Generally Gyarados and Suicune (I almost always play Crystal over GS).
I think I prefer early poliwag to early wooper. Like yes. Bubble sucks. But so does wooper's special attack and speed (and everything tbh). And I think I'll take hypnosis over slam. Too bad it evolves at 25.
I've been basically ignoring Rattata. Rattata/Radicate has marginally better stats (rattata being much better than sentret), a better early move pool, and most of the same realistic advantages that Furret has, just with the same 5 level slower evolution. As far as assuming they don't kill their target... Furret and Radicate both have much better typing than Fearow does, not fearing the bolt/beam combo. Of the three Furret has the the best bulk (more due to it's strong health pool than its defenses), but none of them are particularly great in that.
Funny enough... depending on DV Fearow at level is still a 2hit KO range from Kingdra's surf (albeit a very low chance).
No, I would distinctly say that covering water-types isn't very useful, when thunderpunch is a learned move for Typhlosion. Particularily as mareep is primarily useful after 2nd evolution (well that isn't really true, but Flaffy doesn't have many if any signature slowbro's or bulky waters to contend with on-route), and then loses the vast majority of usefulness once Typhlosion comes into play (para strats? light screen?).
Clair's Kingdra is equivalently covered by the free Gyarados with strength/return (lol) as it is by Ampharos's TP (outside of Crystal for Thunderbolt tutor). Better really since Gyarados is much faster, has higher defenses, and has resistance to surf. Ignoring how trivial the gym is with Crystal's free Suicune.
That's what I mean compared to the issue with Jasmine. Because tot+fearow both have serious issues with the gym if they aren't over-leveled or relying on accuracy cheese. Even backtracking to pick up the gyarados doesn't help much there. Sure, technically speaking you can save Jasmine until much later, and blast through it over leveled. Or you could just use Furret/Radicate and easily dig your way to victory. Or any ember/flamewheel ofc.
Why would I ever stop for a krabby when polywag and psyduck are both even more easily available and more useful as HM slaves, and as pokemon in general?
But the real issue is that once you get to Stage 3 Toto or Cynda, almost all the good justification for any other non-event (in-game) pokemon disappears. Fer's return isn't that much weaker than Fearow's (and Gyarados's is within the same range). No discussion needs to be taken about his move-set, stab surf and ice punch being always great.
Pretty much the same discussion for Typhlosion with only Clair's Kingdra and Misty's Quagsire being "counters" (thankfully, none of Pryce's pokemon, nor Will's slowbro know any water moves). Maybe I'm missing a few, but I don't think I remember anyone else that poses a serious threat to a Typhlosion run at that point. EDIT: Hmm forgot about Blue's Rhydon.
Even at quilava. Maybe one of Silver's Crocs? One of the Route 41 trainers has a Tentacruel, but I think it's really low level iirc. Chuck's Poliwrath if you walk in underleveled and eat a hypnosis?
Thus with the justification for those pokemon dropping off so rapidly, eventually I'd rather just have pokemon that can transition into useful slaves when the real fighters get up to snuff. While not needed for anything, flash is nice to have, dig is convenient (I have a probably irrational dislike for escape ropes in gen 2. Something about taking up one slot in that bag), headbutt and rocksmash are both useful when cleaning up some post game (or while moving through if you want something specific, like heracross). Also flinch strats are fantastic fun.
I generally end up with a poliwhirl that knows surf, whirlpool, waterfall, and rocksmash. Furret with strength, cut, dig, headbutt. Noctowl with flash and fly. All of which is obtainable with a 5:50pm start before you leave route 30. Leaving two non-starter slots for whatever later stuff I want. Generally Gyarados and Suicune (I almost always play Crystal over GS).
I think I prefer early poliwag to early wooper. Like yes. Bubble sucks. But so does wooper's special attack and speed (and everything tbh). And I think I'll take hypnosis over slam. Too bad it evolves at 25.