For the difficultyI have to ask...
Why are we forced to have a Beldum as a starter?
A little odd, considering that its a pain to get to level 20 (when it has something other than Take Down...)
I also wanted something that was more neutral to sneasel
and this was the best option
Ralts would have been good except that it doesn't learn a non psychic damaging move til level 21
and psychic does nothing to dark types
else I would have chosen Ralts
since there are TONS of other pokemon available from early on you can easily switch it out if you don't want it.....