EARLY PP Extra exp. Mansion + Blaine 37 Bikers 6 Three Island trainers 11 20,000 Route 21 + Dojo 33 Without E4R2 70 LATE One Island trainers 37 (~Level 57) 40,000 (One Island Center) Icefall Cave Rocket 3 (Level 57) 6,000 (Four Island Center) Six Island trainers 57 (Level 69-75) 140,000 (Six Island Center) Five Island trainers 32 (Level 69-83) 85,000 (Five Island Center) Route 11 trainers 18 (Level 26-30) 14,000 (E4 Center) Elite Four Round 2 30 --------------------------------------------- BANNED AREAS (because of backtracking): - Treasure Beach - Water Labyrinth - Resort Gorgeous - Lost Cave - All of Seven Island UNBANNED AREAS: - Route 11 (must be done before E4R2) --------------------------------------------- Generally you start E4R2 at Level 97 or 98. Lorelei: 96, 95, 95, 99, 95, 99 Bruno: 98, 98, 98, 99, 98, 100 Agatha: 99, 99, 98, 100, 98, 100 Lance: 100, 99, 99, 99, 100, 100 Champion: 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100 --------------------------------------------- PROS: - More difficulty - Late game becomes most difficult part of run - More exciting late game - Level 100s are a natural end point - Get to show Sevii Islands (best part of the game casually) - More skill in planning ahead - More skill in managing E4 - More distinguishable from other challenges CONS: - More early resets for good mons - Random anticlimactic deaths to high-level Sevii trainers (Counter, Mirror Coat, Explosion, etc.) - E4R2 Sheer Cold deaths - More items - Heavy late-game center use makes some sections too short - Less skill in PP management (because of shorter sections and more items) - Route 11 before E4R2 feels off - Game feels a little too long