In the first two generations, I always go for grass. In the third generation, I pick Mudkip or Torchic, most often Mudkip, and fourth gen Piplup.
I don't let redundancy stop me from training favourites. You should've seen all of the different water types I brought to level 100 (Blastoise, Politoed, Milotic, Feraligatr, Lanturn). In a way, I also trained all those water types so I can destroy any overrated fire types. Although I don't like competitive play, I do take pleasure in the fact that Stealth Rock has made people abhor using fire types. It annoys me so much how fanboyish people are over the fire starters...
Tangrowth, on the other hand, is pretty balanced overall-- but even though its base Special Attack is higher, it doesn't get very many Special attacks to work with. However, it learns some pretty nice Physical Attacks. What I would do is give it Toxic, Swords Dance, Power Whip, and whatever move you want as a fourth. You COULD also play to your advantage with its Ability (preferably Chlorophyll) and teach it Sunny Day, Solarbeam, and two other moves. This would double its speed while utilizing its high Special Attack stat. But that's just so...uncreative. One thing to watch out for is Tangrowth's lousy Special Defense, which leaves it wide open to pretty much any of its weaknesses. You might want to counter that with Sleep Powder or Double Team (or both! Use Sleep Powder and use Double Team a bunch of times).
Of the three, Honchkrow has the highest physical attack, and the highest attack overall. However, due to Honchkrow's affinity with Special-buffing moves like Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, I'd suggest teaching it special moves instead. Believe it or not, Honchkrow's max Sp. Atk is higher than Xatu's. So if you boost with Nasty Plot or Calm Mind a couple of times, and unleash with Dark Pulse or Psychic or Shadow Ball (last two can be taught by TM), and balance it with a physical attack like Night Slash, you'd have a fierce sweeper on your hands. Of course, where Honchkrow falls short is its lousy defense and special defense stats. If you use Calm Mind instead of Nasty Plot, your sweeping potential would be delayed, but you'd fare better against special moves like Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Because of Honchkrow's overall superiority, I'd drop Xatu from your list altogether.
Hmm. I'd usually advise against having a mixed attacker and suggest playing to the Pokémon's strengths-- that is, unless it's fairly balanced altogether, in which case you'd have more freedom. In the cases of Honchkrow, Xatu, and Tangrowth, their physical attack and special attack are pretty close. It just depends on what types you'd like to have in your party, and what your strategy is. However, since you say you don't play competitively, any of the three are fine. If it were me, I'd pick Honchkrow, since I already have a Gardevoir (in mind at least, too lazy to actually raise the damn thing) for Psychic specialty and a Leafeon and Breloom for Grass type moves.
Anyways, I'm wanting your opinion on something... Which ones should I make special/physical/mixed attackers between Honchcrow, Xatu, and Tangrowth? There doesn't have to be one of each. (so all of them can be physical attackers or something like that) Honchcrow, I was thinking of making mixed, but now I'm leaning towards special despite his higher attack stat since he has a better variety of special attacks. Xatu is the same case, except his special attack stat is higher. As for Tangrowth, his special attack is higher so I was leaning towards that, but he has access to better physical moves. Also, I'm not one of those people who play competitively and assume that every team needs to have something to "destroy a Skarmory" or "outrun Jolly Gyarados", so just consider in-game things for those Pokemon and not "the world of Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Salamence" for them.
Ah, since I remember you saying that skill and knowledge triumph over sheer power any day, I thought you'd have defeaten them.
I'm not THAT patient.
Including defeating Emerald and Ruby Weapon?
That hasn't been clear from the start? Unlike many haters, I've actually played FFVII, let alone completed it.
