I feel like it is a random battle instead of a real tier battle without Wifi Clause. Team previews allow for more skill during the battle and less guessing about the opponents team.
It's been about a year since I last played this game, and I've seen that many changes occured. A lot since episode 9... At the moment I'm at the 8th gym, but I'm wondering if I should just start over since so much has changed?
He might have reset and you have to go through the steps again in the forest or he just isn't there anymore. Also, I'm pretty sure he's dead but I haven't played Ep.9 yet so I'm not sure if he's important.
I'd switch it for sandslash because they are both ground types. If you switch it for pachirisu then you would have too much weakness to water. But it's up to you and how things are working for you.
Just a little question while you're talking about changing pokemon. Can you change the medicham's move from hi jump kick to something else? (wasteland medicham) I think it's a bit too easy to beat. you can just use protect or a ghost type to beat it soo easily. I wanted more of a challenge from it since it was so high leveled.