Pokemon Pearl - Snowpoint Gym

I explored the city a bit, not finding too much other than a Sailor who would sail a league champion somewhere, and a large temple in the northernmost part of the city that wouldn't allow entrance. I then decided it was time to get my 7th badge.

My team consisted of:

Lucius (Ponyta, Fire, Lv. 39)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 40)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 39)
Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 40)
Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 39)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 40)

I went inside to find the several levels of ice floors, stairs going from one to another, and giant balls of snow. It makes sense that the Snowpoint Gym Leader would be an Ice-Type specialist, so I knew that Lucius and Alexander were going to be my go-to Pokemon for this.

I went on the ice, and found that moving on it send me sliding whatever direction I was heading until I met a wall or some snow on the floor. I moved around a bit, and found myself against a Trainer who was freezing in the Gym. Lucius got badly hurt in the first turn by his Water-Type, but I got through okay with Alexander. I healed both before continuing my way through, trying to figure out how to get to the Gym Leader.

I went through slowly, not making much progress, getting a bit frustrated that I couldn't just go through and fight the Gym Leader. I found another Trainer, and fought against her Water-Type Pokemon with Maximus, then took out her Steelix with Lucius to win the battle easily, and I kept onward.

After some moving, I slid south from the northernmost part of the gym, and managed to break through two giant snowballs at the center. I realized that I would need to gain lots of momentum to get through all those snowballs and get to the Gym Leader. I went further, smashing another few snowballs, before I got caught by another Trainer. She sent out Snowver, and I sent out Lucius with Flamethrower to knock it out and win the battle, then Lucius grew to Level 40 and evolved into Rapidash!

I went east to smash another snowball, and get into another battle. The Trainer had Quagsire, and I sent out Alexander. Quagsire, who just managed to hold onto consciousness after getting hit by Revenge, put Alexander to sleep, and I switched to Maria to knock it out and win the battle. I used Awakening afterwards to wake Alexander up, and then I kept going through smashing those snowballs.

I got into another couple battles while clearing out the snowballs, in which Alexander grew to Level 40 and learned Cross Chop in place of Vital Throw. I was starting to get irritated at all the battles I had to go through just to get to the Gym Leader, trying to figure out how to get the snowballs all smashed so I could finally reach her.

After a lot of patience and persistence, I finally managed to reach the end and face the Snowpoint Gym Leader, Candice. She told me she had been waiting for someone tough, and that she was tough because she knows how to focus. Then we battled.

I sent out Alexander, and she sent out Snover, whose Ability, Snow Warning, caused hail to fall and do minimal damage to all non-Ice-Type Pokemon. Alexander started out with Revenge, which did massive damage and knocked it out in one blow. Next she sent out Abomasnow, to which I responded with Lucius. I had Lucius use Fire Blast for massive damage, and it knocked out Abomasnow in one blow. The next Pokemon sent out was Sneasel, and I kept Lucius in the fight. He used Flamethrower for massive damage, another one-hit knock out.

Finally Medicham was sent out, and I switched to Alexander. It used Detect to protect itself from Revenge, and then I switched over to Marcus, knowing his Flying-Type attacks would be effective against a Fighting-Type Pokemon. Marcus got hit by Ice Punch for great, super effective damage, but his Intimidate also cut Medicham's attack in half. Marcus Flew high, and Medicham used Bulk Up to up it's attack and defense, but then Marcus struck for massive damage, with Medicham clinging on to consciousness, and it countered with Ice Punch to knock out Marcus. However, because of Snover's hail continuing on, Medicham got hit by hail and was knocked out too, and the battle was won!

Candice was very impressed with my skill and strength, and she gave me the Icicle Badge! With this new badge I can now use Rock Climb outside of battle, and she also handed over TM72 (Avalanche) a move that doubles in strength if the user takes damage. I left the Snowpoint Gym with my 7th Badge, and headed to the Pokemon Center to heal my Pokemon and revive poor Marcus, who did such a good job in the end.

Now perhaps I can go to Lake Acuity and check up on Simon.

Current Team:

Alexander (Machamp, Fighting, Lv. 40)
Maximus (Luxray, Electric, Lv. 40)
Maria (Gastrodon, Water/Ground, Lv. 39)
Annabelle (Torterra, Grass/Ground, Lv. 40)
Lucius (Rapidash, Fire, Lv. 40)
Marcus (Staraptor, Normal/Flying, Lv. 40)