>>50383159I really never understood this meme and didn't feel it back when I was a kid either.
Think about Gen 2, the level up movepools are trash for NPCs pokemon and they carry no EVs, everything falls to basic STAB attacks or Surf, Headbutt is free and so are other discrete power Normal type attacks as coverage enough to clear everything.
I have decently done a Crystal run and cleared Red battle with 0 losses using Mantine, Stantler, Slowbro, Feraligatr, Hitmonlee and Graveler, the latter being one of the biggest MVPs with Stantler and Mantine killing everything and tanking the usual shitty spam of Normal, Poison and Flying attacks, only feared Bite's special damage at worst, the only Stantler I caught happened to have its Hidden Power of Ghost type and judging from the damage it had at least 60BP, Stomp/Headbutt + HP Ghost + Hypnosis was insane and flinched Lance's team into the oblivion, then a mere Icy Wind + Confuse Ray Mantine raping Venusaur and Charizard.
The final team vs Red was in its 60s level or something, enough for Graveler and random hatch Hitmonlee to take care of Snorlax for example, then Body Slam Slowbro helping the paraflinch spam etc.
I don't remember any struggle in Gen 2.
Just make your way with Return and Headbutt/Strength through the whole game, don't even need Kadabra/Haunter/Ampharos.
