Claydol was one of the few Pokémon capable of learning Teleport on its own. The one before them used it with such mastery that it was clearly no easy opponent.
The best choice to deal with it was Gardevoir, but seeing Tyranitar already eager to enter the battle, Sato did not force a switch.
After all, Claydol was a Psychic-type Pokémon. Letting Tyranitar try was not impossible.
At the same time, Claydol placed Baltoy in a corner behind it before taking the initiative to attack Tyranitar!
Claydol, which had been floating in the air, suddenly slammed toward the ground. A visible wave of earthen yellow energy shot straight across the ground toward Tyranitar.
A Ground-type move, Earth Power!
"Stomping Tantrum to defend! Rush over and use Crunch!"
"Ban!"
Tyranitar showed no fear. Its right foot stomped violently onto the ground, sending rings of energy rippling outward. They quickly collided with Earth Power.
Earth Power was like a sharp spear, while the Stomping Tantrum waves were layers upon layers of heavy shields. The two canceled each other out, and for a time neither could do anything to the other!
Though Tyranitar had not reached Elite Four level, it was a Stage 3 pseudo-legendary. Invincible at the Same Level was not just talk, and a Cross-Rank Challenge was far from impossible!
At least against this Claydol, it had no fear whatsoever! When its attack failed, Claydol Clean and Crisply retreated, because Tyranitar was already charging at it with overwhelming momentum.
Ice blue beams lit up the dim cave. Claydol instinctively refused to engage Tyranitar at close range and began fighting a War of Attrition with ranged attacks!
Continuous Ice Beams!
Tyranitar refused to be outdone. It controlled its best Stone Edge, blocking the Ice Beams again and again as it steadily closed