Things on the battlefield seemed a little awkward. After several rounds of back-and-forth switching, the fight had once again come down to Regirock versus Articuno.
Articuno could keep using Whirlwind, but the problem was that Regirock's Lock-On mark was still on Articuno.
Before Articuno could unleash a move, Regirock's attack was already on its way.
"Stone Edge!"
Countless sharp stone spikes materialized around Regirock, then flew toward the Lock-On mark on Articuno.
Physical attacks weren't all close-range moves. Stone Edge, for example, was a ranged physical attack that made no contact.
With its Rock-type same-type attack bonus, Regirock's high Attack, and Articuno's quadruple weakness to Rock, a successful hit from Regirock's Stone Edge would inevitably knock Articuno out.
"Articuno, Protect!"
The versatile Protect still proved invaluable at critical moments. Articuno's altitude advantage meant Stone Edge had to travel for a while before reaching its target.
That travel time gave Articuno a chance to defend.
The gap between Articuno and Regirock wasn't so great that even Protect couldn't hold. A transparent barrier blocked the sharp stone spikes, giving Articuno more room to maneuver.
"Gain altitude! Don't let its Lock-On catch you!"
At its core, Lock-On also worked through the elemental energy within a Pokémon's body.
The greater the distance, the longer it took. In a wild fight without battlefield restrictions, Articuno could still hold its own against Regirock despite its type disadvantage.
That was the inherent advantage of being able to fly. Here, however, the arena had boundaries, and Articuno's movements ultimately had to remain within the venue.
"Regirock, Rock Slide!"
Lock-On helped moves hit their targets more reliably, but it wasn't always necessary. Sometimes, switching to another large-area attack could achieve the same effect.
Several huge rocks flew up from below. Their only apparent difference from the earlier Stone Edge