Torcoal vs Skarmory (Pokemon Emerald)?

Question

I'm playing Pokemon Emerald and May's Grovyle is really hard to beat and I don't know if I should catch Torcoal or Skarmory I want to use the smallest team I can
My team is
Marshtomp
Krilia
Linoone

Comments

skarmory has a better typing, and better stats than torkoal.

Answer 1

I don't think you need to catch another Pokemon. Just put Kirlia in front of your party (make sure the party doesn't get too crazy or illegal) and repeatedly battle her, and your Kirlia will eventually get overleveled enough to beat her.

If you really want a new Pokemon but are okay with something other than Torkoal or Skarmory, then you should get a Swellow. (you can get the already evolved ones on Route 115) Its STAB return gets pretty strong, and it has better offensive stats than both Torkoal and Skarmory. Swellow also outclasses Linoone, so you can stop using Linoone in battles and keep it as an HM slave.

If you really want either Torkoal or Skarmory, then you should get Skarmory. Torkoal is kind of useless because it's slow and water type opponents are common.

Comments

Linoone is a HM slave I also use him in battles

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You might want to stop using it in battles. Your other Pokemon get more experience that way.

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Bear in mind that most people like to have a team of six Pokemon when they play in-game, so telling them to use one or two and overlevel them is advice that is lost on many people.

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@red Is Fizz's comment right?
@Fizz The red person has 3 Pokemon now, so he/she/it is probably okay without a 6 Pokemon team. And in general, what do you think I'm supposed to say? I think telling them to use less Pokemon is better than saying nothing.

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It's not as if you're throwing six Pokemon onto your team at the beginning of your game. Adding them in a more timely fashion could easily leave you with only three Pokemon in the middle of the game, which you could then increase as you access new areas. This is the 'normal' playstyle people use for in-game playthroughs: you see it everywhere, including on this site's 'What is a good in-game team...?' questions.
All I'm really saying is that you shouldn't predicate your advice on everybody playing Pokemon with only a couple Pokemon on their team. You can give advice based on that playstyle (e.g. overlevel Kirlia), but also remember the general preference to solve problems with team members and moves instead of grinding. This question itself is literally asking you to choose the next team member -- but I guess you do that in your answer anyway.

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I don't want a six Pokemon team because they would have to catch up with everyone else

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Also what about crobat?

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Crobat's strongest STAB attack is weaker than Swellow's. It's harder to evolve and has an additional psychic weakness.

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I see... any thing else besides swellow?

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Tentacruel is pretty strong. You might want to use it if you're willing to use TMs to teach it ice beam or sludge bomb.