- Primarina has a great time against all the Grand Trials.
- Magnezone is available early, has one of the best typings in the game, and is one of the few solid Electric types in USUM.
- Zoroark is one of the most consistent answers to Ultra Necrozma you can get.
- If you catch a Spearow, trading for Hawlucha on Route 2 gives you an insane attacker that clears Hala and a ton of other fights.
- Crobat and Gyarados are the usual suspects: incredibly versatile Pokemon available early on.
- Eevee is a gift at Paniola Ranch and can be customised depending on what your team needs.
- I haven't explored them much, but the gift Totems don't seem like terrible options if you collect the Totem Stickers.
- I think you can force certain encounters with Island Scan. Honedge might be good to pick up if this is possible.
