[Good afternoon, Johto! Hopefully your days are going way better than Archer's, because his day has been awful. The video is focusing on a Wobbuffet, a Metagross, and an Alakazam sitting on top of the Metagross like it's the world's most amazing living steel throne. They're all outside some distance away from Goldenrod City, so they won't damage anything while battling.]

...Has anyone here trained a Wobbuffet before?

[Archer sounds even more irritated than usual, but he doesn't appear onscreen.]

I've tried everything I can think of to make his training less painful, but nothing's been helping. From what I've read, he has to rely solely on countering moves to attack, which require him to take damage first. It seems easy in theory, but most Pokémon have both attack and special attack moves, meaning that it's nearly impossible to predict and react accordingly.

[The Wobbuffet salutes and shouts his species name. Archer sighs.]

There's one other problem with this particular Pokémon. He refuses to defend himself if he's not given orders to do so. Watch.

[Both the Metagross and the Alakazam turn their attention toward the 'Gear. It seems like Archer's given them some kind of silent command because the Metagross strikes first with a Hammer Arm attack, slamming it into the Wobbuffet. The Pokémon takes the hit and bounces back, though he doesn't attempt to counter it at all. The Alakazam attacks next with a Psychic attack, which the Wobbuffet also doesn't counter. To his credit, the Wobbuffet is still standing and seems perfectly fine.]

If I order him to use either Counter or Mirror Coat, he'll obey, but otherwise he won't do it. Does anyone else have a Pokémon that refuses to fight?

[Archer has seen a lot of strange things during his time here in Johto, but nothing is comparable to the situation he finds himself currently in. Standing before him in a perfectly straight line are ten Wobbuffets. The even numbered ones have lipstick. Every so often they all raise a loud chorus of their species name and salute him. Needless to say this is really wigging Archer out.

Standing before the ten Wobbuffets and looking kind of terrified are a Gallade and Gardevoir duo.]

Again. Psychic, Heal Pulse.

[The Gallade moves first, launching a Psychic attack at the middle Wobbuffet, who bounces it back with a Mirror Coat. The Gallade goes flying and lands on his face. Gardevoir's Heal Pulse attack hits him after a moment and he gets to his feet, looking tired. Archer is of course too busy taking notes to notice his Pokémon's fatigue.]

Interesting. They can counter both physical and special moves, they can nullify status ailments, and they prevent escape. I suppose there's only one thing left to try.

[Both the Gardevoir and Gallade look horrified by the way Archer's smirking. That's never a good sign.]

Alright, from the side now. Close Combat, Heal Pulse.

[The Gallade moves into position, standing beside the Wobbuffet on the end. The wild Pokémon doesn't react to Gallade's presence, instead starting off a chain of "Wobbuffet!"s and salutes. Both Archer and his Pokémon look bothered for a moment before Gallade finally does as commanded and unleashes a Close Combat attack.

As predicted, the first Wobbuffet falls over, knocking into the second Wobbuffet, who then knocks into the third, and so on down the line until the last Wobbuffet is hit. It bounces, almost touching the ground, before bouncing back up and hitting into the ninth, sending the reaction back down the chain of Wobbuffets. Gallade attempts to get out of the way before it reaches the first one, but he's not fast enough and the first Wobbuffet slams him into the ground, creating a small crater in the pavement. Gardevoir's Heal Pulse is completely useless; Gallade's already fainted.]

Fascinating.