INTRODUCTION:
Released in November 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the first two games in the ninth generation of the Pokémon video game series. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the games were first announced in February of the same year.
Unlike previous entries in the Pokémon franchise, Scarlet and Violet offer an open world for players to explore. Set in the Paldea region, which is based on the Iberian Peninsula, the games have three distinct storylines for players to follow. With 110 new Pokémon and two regional variants, players can also encounter time-displaced Paradox Pokémon and use the Terastal phenomenon to transform their creatures into “Tera Type” Pokémon. Other features from modern Pokémon games are also present, such as large open areas and Pokémon that roam the overworld.
While Scarlet and Violet received mixed reviews from critics, they were praised for their engaging stories and open world design. However, their graphics and technical issues at launch drew criticism. Despite this, the games sold over 10 million copies within the first three days of release, setting a new record for Nintendo’s biggest launch. By the end of 2022, the games had sold over 20 million copies combined, making them the fourth best-selling Pokémon games of all time.
CONTENTS:
Storyline / Plot
Chapter 1: Starting Out
Chapter 2: Catching Pokemon
Chapter 3: Pokemon Breeding
Chapter 4: Shiny Pokemon Hunting
Chapter 5: Battling
Chapter 6: Gym Leaders and Tests
Chapter 7: Elite Four Pokemon League
Chapter 8: Differences between Scarlet and Violet
Chapter 9: Making Money
Chapter 10: Trading
Chapter 11: Multiplayer
The plot of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet revolves around the player attending the Naranja or Uva Academy and participating in the annual “Treasure Hunt.” The player is accompanied by either Koraidon or Miraidon, a legendary Pokémon who has lost its ability to battle. The game includes three different storylines: Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends.
In Victory Road, the player must defeat the leaders of all eight of the Paldea region’s Pokémon Gyms to reach Champion rank and defeat the region’s Elite Four and Top Champion Geeta. The player then battles Nemona, the Champion-ranked trainer who has been frequently challenging them throughout their journey.
Starfall Street begins after the player helps Penny, a shy schoolgirl, stand up against Team Star, a group responsible for academy bullying. Cassiopeia, the founder of Team Star and the secret identity of Penny, enlists the player into “Operation Starfall” to defeat all five of its squad bosses, with the assistance of academy director Clavell and Penny. They learn that Team Star was actually founded to counter bullying rather than cause it, and they eventually disband the group after confronting all squad bosses.
In Path of Legends, the player joins Arven in locating the five legendary Herba Mystica to restore the health of Arven’s injured pet Mabosstiff. To obtain each Herba Mystica, they must team up to defeat a “Titan Pokémon,” which is powered up by the Herba Mystica. After defeating all five Titans, Arven and the player use the Herba Mystica to regain Koraidon/Miraidon’s lost powers and then face Arven in a final battle.
The final story sees the player and Arven setting out towards the Zero Lab, the professor’s laboratory in Area Zero, to shut down the time machine that is causing problems in Paldea’s ecology. Along the way, they encounter Paradox Pokémon, the biological relatives of extinct Pokémon from either the ancient past or far future. After reaching the laboratory, they discover that the professor is an AI substitute for the true professor, who was killed in a laboratory incident. The AI urges the player to shut down the time machine to preserve Paldea’s ecology, though it is forced by its programming to battle the player. After the player defeats the AI’s Koraidon or Miraidon, the time machine fails, and the AI travels to the alternate time to allow for the machine’s destruction, apologizing to Arven for the original professor neglecting him as a child before departing. The game ends with a Pokémon battling tournament between faculty and students, with the player emerging victorious.
Starting Pokemon
Players can choose between a Grass, Fire, or Water Pokémon at the beginning of their journey. The games feature three new starter Pokemon, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly.
Sprigatito – Grass Type. The capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon.
Fuecoco – Fire Type. The laid-back Fire Croc Pokémon that does things at its own pace.
Quaxly – Water Type. The earnest and tidy Duckling Pokémon.
Rival – Nemona
According to the Pokemon website, Nemona is a friend and rival who is known for her sunny and energetic personality. She is expected to serve as a reliable guide and possibly the game’s tutorial, but unlike Hop from Pokemon Sword and Shield, Nemona is also described as an experienced Pokemon trainer. This suggests that she may not provide as much guidance as a typical tutorial character, allowing players to learn and explore the game more independently.
First Rival Battle
Your first battle with your rival will happen right after you choose your starter. Your rival will choose the pokemon that’s weak to the starter pokemon you chose. Here’s who she will choose based on your starter choice.
Quaxly: Nemona takes Fuecoco
Fuecoco: Nemona takes Sprigatito
Sprigatito: Nemona takes Quaxly
First Day Of School
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet begins with the First Day of School, serving as a tutorial for the game. This segment offers plenty of activities, such as selecting your starter Pokemon, engaging in your initial trainer battle, and discovering the art of capturing wild Pokemon. Your expedition will take you to various locations, including Cabo Poco, Poco Path, Inlet Groto, the Lighthouse, Los Platos, and finally, Mesagoza. Our walkthrough will guide you through all the primary story objectives to accomplish this quest, along with supplementary information on items that you can find en route, and additional trainer battles that we suggest you undertake for rewards.
Poco Path
To advance through the tutorial mission, you must explore Poco Path, the initial route you’ll visit in the Paldea region. It is advisable that your team is at levels 3-5 when traversing this path.
Toward The Lighthouse
How to make your way along Poco Path toward the lighthouse!
There is a Poke Ball situated by a tree in front of you, towards the eastern part of the map. After that, pivot and walk towards the northwest to find a Potion behind a rock. Progress eastward, and in the distance, you can spot several items glowing, as well as wild Pokemon meandering about on the grass and path.
If you pursue the path, you’ll come across a Potion, a Poke Ball, and eventually a Super Potion, which is located at the northernmost part behind a tree.
Head towards the southeast to claim the Revive, then proceed to the south and acquire the Antidote near the barricade. Continue southward and climb up the cliff. In the east nook, collect the Rare Candy. Move east and retrieve the Potion. Along the rope, continue to head east and gather the Paralyze Heal. At the peak of the cliff, grab the Revive close to the two palm trees.
Reverse your course and head westward along the ropes, claim the Revive, and travel north along the path. As you ascend the route, you’ll come across Nemona, who will halt your progress. During the conversation, a Mysterious Cry will resonate, prompting you to investigate it further.
A Mysterious Cry
Find the source of the strange cry that roared out from somewhere nearby!
Before proceeding to investigate the noise, you might want to grab some items along the way. First, head north to collect the Ether near the rock, then turn southwest to pick up the Potion next to the tree. Continue northwest towards the larger tree where you can find another Potion, and you’ll notice an item behind it. Grab the Ether and return to the path towards the east.
Locate Nemona by the path’s edge and proceed to the broken barrier behind her. You’ll hear the cry again and find a mysterious Pokemon lying by the water, surrounded by Houndour.
As you approach the Pokemon, you accidentally slip and fall on the beach beside it. After interacting with it, you realize that it’s too weak to move. Fortunately, you have a sandwich from your mom that you can give to it, and it helps the Pokemon regain some energy. The Pokemon stands up suddenly and makes its way to the cave behind you.
Inlet Grotto
Upon entering the cave, make sure to pick up the Potion located straight ahead of you. Follow the Pokemon and it will assist you in breaking down the rock. Once the rock is cleared, you will find two more items. Take the one located on the left, which happens to be a Poke Ball.
At the back of the cave, you will discover a Revive. Continue following the Pokemon with Nemona’s aid. As you progress, you may encounter a level 4 Houndoom approaching from behind. Unfortunately, this Pokemon is too powerful for your team to handle, resulting in instant defeat. Fortunately, the mysterious Pokemon will intervene and escort you safely out of the cave.
Outside, you’ll find yourself right before the Lighthouse and Nemona will give you TM032 Swift
The Lighthouse
As you make your way up the path towards the Lighthouse, you will encounter Arven. He will inform you that the enigmatic Pokemon you discovered is Koraidon/Miraidon. Arven will then propose a challenge to you in the form of a battle. If you are victorious, Arven will award you with a Poke Ball to capture Koraidon/Miraidon.
At the Top of the Lighthouse
Make sure to grab a Revive located behind the Lighthouse before proceeding to climb it. Once you have acquired the item, make your way up the Lighthouse and converse with Nemona. From the top, you will have an excellent view of Mesagoza and the school featuring a Poke Ball resting atop.
Los Platos
While traveling to the bigger city of Mesagoza, you will come across Los Platos, a tiny town. In Los Platos, there is a Pokemon Center that offers a unique feature called Mystery Gift. This feature enables you to use redeem codes or add a Flying Tera Type Pikachu to your party early on in the game. It’s the first opportunity to access this feature in the game. You can also purchase a limited quantity of items from the shops, and create TMs at the TM Machine.
Mesagoza
As part of the introductory tutorial mission, you will travel to Mesagoza, a significant city in the Paldea region. Mesagoza is the first Major City you will Visit. Be sure to take advantage of the new Items available in Shops while there.
If you have saved data from other Pokemon games on your Nintendo Switch, you can receive exclusive Rotom Phone cases by speaking with the fortune teller located on the primary staircase in Mesagoza. These skins are not available for purchase at any stores, so it is essential to avoid deleting any save data from previous Pokemon games before acquiring these rare accessories.
Starter Tips and Tricks:
How to Change Clothes
To change your character’s attire in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, you must exit any ongoing battles and ensure that no Pokemon are targeting you. After doing so, press the left button on the D-Pad to access the clothing menu. Within the menu, you can opt to modify your entire outfit or select specific clothing items to switch out.
Initially, you will have access to a limited selection of school uniforms. However, as you explore the vast region of Paldea, you’ll discover numerous additional clothing options that you can obtain and incorporate into your wardrobe. With so many diverse options to choose from, it’s easy to create a unique look that reflects your personal style.
Fast Travel
Upon starting your journey with a starter Pokemon and making headway towards Mesagoza, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet will inform you about their fast travel system. This is presented through one of the initial tutorial screens, which will likely read similarly to the one in Pokemon Sword & Shield. By utilizing the fast travel feature, you can easily transport yourself to certain locations you’ve already visited.
The fast travel system is reminiscent of the Corviknight Taxi system in Pokemon Sword & Shield, with some slight differences. However, in Scarlet & Violet, you’ll need to pay attention to specific landmarks like Pokemon Centers, Towers, and other locations that are marked with a ‘feather’ icon. Unlike the taxi system in Galar, there’s no universal button for this feature. Thus, it’s easy to overlook its existence and miss out on the convenience it provides.
The Habitats Screen
Throughout the years, the Pokedex has been an integral part of the Pokemon game experience for fans. Its interface has some crucial activities to engage in. Practical functions such as checking the habitats are among the many reasons to spend time in the Pokedex.
In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the habitat listing screen for each encountered Pokemon is notably beneficial. It presents likely encounter areas in a clear and concise manner, providing a comprehensible reference for capturing all those creatures that have eluded you thus far. This is a significant improvement compared to previous games, making it easier than ever before to locate and capture those elusive critters.
Perspective Lock
In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the default setting for the map is to rotate based on the player character’s viewpoint. While this may be preferable to some, It seems the large majority do not share this way
Fortunately, there’s an option to adjust the map so that it remains stationary, aligning with the cardinal directions of the Paldea region. This feature will undoubtedly prove invaluable for many players who need to keep their bearings in a vast region like this. Although zooming out reveals that it’s essentially an oval, the sheer scale of the region can still be bewildering at times.
Arven’s Quests
Arven, a fellow classmate, is much more than meets the eye. This is evident in various ways, including the main questline he introduces that involves Titan Pokemon and legendary Herba Mystica food ingredients. Surprisingly, this questline is also tied to unlocking your box legendary mount’s traversal abilities. This connection is not apparent at first, leaving players to discover it on their own.
Arven’s five Herba Mystica quests offer Koraidon or Miraidon a new form of travel, providing players with a gradual introduction to the traversal mechanics that Pokemon Legends: Arceus boasts by the end. Despite his gloomy and pushy demeanor, Arven’s claim to fame is his ability to enhance the flavor of our sandwiches. However, he fails to mention that he can also make our dinosaur dragon creatures soar through the skies like celestial beings. It’s a shame he doesn’t highlight this incredible feat instead.
Picnics
Engaging in picnics in Scarlet & Violet is highly recommended, as they offer a multitude of benefits that make them well worth the time. In addition to serving as the new method of breeding in the absence of traditional Daycare Facilities, picnics also provide players with the opportunity to craft delicious sandwiches and other recipes that can offer significant advantages. For instance, some recipes can increase the catch rate of certain types of Pokemon, while others can boost the amount of Experience Points gained.
Catch Rate
When starting their journey in the world of Pokemon, players will find that each species of Pokemon has a catch rate that can be affected by factors such as its current HP and status effects. The catch rate can be improved by using an appropriate Pokeball. In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, there are additional mechanics that can impact the catch rate of wild Pokemon. One such mechanic is the Critical Capture bonus, which gives players a higher chance of catching a Pokemon they have previously captured. Another new feature is the badge multiplier, where the number of badges a player has can increase the catch rate of a wild Pokemon. Overall, players should be aware of these new mechanics in order to increase their chances of catching the Pokemon they encounter.
Pokeball Catch Rates
Standard Pokeball – 2x Chance
Quickballs – 5x Chance if thrown on first turn and 1x chance on every other turn.
Timer Balls – 4x as effective after 10 turns have passed
Nest Balls – 3x Nest balls work better against low level Pokemon
Repeat Balls – 3x Repeat balls against Pokemon that players have caught before
Dusk balls – 3x Dusk balls if they are thrown in areas of darkness or during the night.
Net Balls – 3.5x best odds on Pokemon that are either Bug or Water types, or are currently in the water.
Dive balls – 3.5x best odds on Pokemon that are either Bug or Water types, or are currently in the water.
Sleeping Pokemon – 2.5x additional Catch Chance
Sandwich Meal Powers
Sandwiches can be made while on a picnic Depending on ingredients, or the recipe. Sandwiches can have a meal power associated with catching each type of pokemon. we suggest making a sandwich of the appropriate type before you begin to search for that Pokemon, and players will receive the boost to catch any pokemon of that type.
False Swipe TM
False swipe will only drop a wild Pokemon to 1 HP, regardless of how strong the Pokemon using it is. Once False Swipe is obtained (by taking jacqs class then going to speak with him after) players can use it in order to get the best possible catch rate for a wild Pokemon.
How to Catch Pokemon in Trees
Whenever players encounter a Pokemon hanging on a tree, they will not be able to catch it until it is knocked down. To do this, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trainers must stand a few feet away from the tree (and the Pokemon) and hold ZL until they target the desired Pokemon (it will show their name when you target it). Once you are locked on, press the ZR buttons to throw a pokeball at it which will start a battle.If you defeat the wild Pokemon, it will be some time before it returns to the tree, so make sure not to defeat any tree Pokemon if you really want it or need it to fill out your Pokedex.
Another way to knock pokemon out of trees is to use your pokemons rideable pokemons dash move which is unlocked by defeating the Titan Pokemon in the Path of Legends storyline. You can use Dash by pressing down on the left stick and then ramming into a tree, which will result in the Pokemon falling out of it.
Breeding is an essential aspect of the primary Pokémon series, whether you’re striving to complete your Pokédex by hatching eggs or constructing a competitive team with perfect stats. Despite being introduced in Gold and Silver, the primary breeding mechanics have remained constant. However, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have made a few significant changes. Our guide to breeding and hatching Pokémon Scarlet and Violet eggs covers everything you need to know, including the required breeding items and how to breed the most exceptional Pokémon possible.
How to get Eggs
Unlike previous games, there is no Day Care feature where you can leave two Pokémon to generate eggs in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Instead, you can find eggs while on a picnic.
To start, make sure you have two compatible Pokémon in your party and put the other four in your Pokémon boxes, which you can access from the menu. Next, set up a picnic and wait for the eggs to appear. You can increase the spawn rate of eggs by eating a meal with the Egg Power bonus. Restaurants around Paldea sell food with this power, or you can make sandwiches with the Egg Power effect during the picnic. After some time, eggs should appear in the basket near your picnic table. Collect them by pressing A near the basket, and they will be sent to your Pokémon boxes.
How to Hatch Eggs
To hatch the eggs you’ve collected, add them to your party and move around (by walking or riding Koraidon/Miraidon). Keep in mind that some species take longer to hatch than others, so you’ll need to be patient. However, you must have at least one non-egg Pokémon in your party at all times, and remember that standing idle won’t count as movement. To speed up the hatching process, include a Pokémon with the Flame Body, Magma Armor, or Steam Engine Abilities in your party. The most effective way to hatch eggs is to limit your party to this Pokémon, with the remaining five slots taken up by eggs. Additionally, hatching eggs during the Egg Power bonus period will make them hatch faster.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there are several Pokémon that have Flame Body, Magma Armor, and/or Steam Engine Abilities. These include Fletchinder and Talonflame, Larvesta and Volcarona, Rolycoly, Carkol, and Coalossal, and Camerupt.
Egg Moves and Mirror Herb
The mechanics of Egg Moves in Scarlet and Violet have undergone a significant change, making it easier to teach a Pokémon a move it couldn’t learn before. The process involves the use of a new item, the Mirror Herb, and a picnic. First, add the Pokémon that already knows the desired Egg Move to your party along with the Pokémon you want to teach the move to. Ensure that the Pokémon to be taught has an empty move slot, which can be created by removing an existing move from its summary screen. Give the Pokémon holding the Mirror Herb and set up a picnic.
With the Mirror Herb in hand, the Pokémon can learn any Egg Move that its species can learn from any other Pokémon in the party. This process is quick, and you don’t have to wait for anything to happen. Additionally, you won’t have to breed a brand-new Pokémon just for the Egg Move. To obtain the Mirror Herb, visit the Delibird Presents store on the second level of Cascarrafa and purchase it under “Battle items.” Each Mirror Herb costs 30,000, but remember that it is a single-use item in battle, so make sure to unequip it before engaging in battle to avoid losing it.
Useful items for breeding Pokémon
Breeding in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet follows the tradition of allowing parent Pokémon to hold items that influence the traits of the offspring. The Everstone and Destiny Knot are two such items that can greatly affect the resulting Pokémon’s stats and nature. By giving an Everstone to a parent, the resulting Pokémon will inherit its nature, which can impact how its stats develop. On the other hand, giving a Destiny Knot to the other parent ensures that five out of the twelve base stats of both parents will be passed down, reducing the randomization of the offspring’s stats.
Whether or not held items are used, eggs in Scarlet and Violet will always inherit certain traits from their parents. These include IVs, which can be randomized if a Destiny Knot is not used, ability, egg moves, and certain moves from the Pokémon’s usual movepool. In terms of Poké Balls, the offspring will inherit its Poké Ball from the female if the species is different, and there will be a 50/50 chance of inheriting either parent’s Poké Ball if the species is the same. However, eggs will not inherit EVs, and the nature will not pass down if neither parent holds an Everstone. Lastly, eggs will not inherit the Master Ball or Cherish Ball, and the offspring will have a regular Poké Ball instead.
Choosing which Pokemon to Breed
Starting with good parents is essential when breeding Pokémon. Tera Raid battles, especially the 5- and 6-star ones, are the most efficient way to acquire Pokémon with several perfect stats and Egg Moves. Terastal Pokémon in the wild also have a few perfect stats, but regular wild Pokémon are less likely to have good stats.
To breed the perfect Pokémon, you should begin by examining the base stats (IVs) of the parent Pokémon. After finishing all of the story quests and seeing the game’s credits, you can use the “Judge function” in your Pokémon boxes to check IVs. You can press the Plus button while viewing any Pokémon in your boxes to change the view to its IVs. Check out our full IV training guide for more information on how to do this.
For instance, for a Special Attacker, you should ensure that one parent has a perfect Special Attack IV, and ideally a few other perfect IVs. You should also make sure that one of the parents has the desired nature for the resulting Pokémon. In the case of a Special Attacker, you might want the Modest nature, which increases Special Attack and lowers Attack since the Pokémon wouldn’t require a good Attack stat. The parent with the correct nature should hold the Everstone during breeding, while the other Pokémon should receive the Destiny Knot.
Breeding will result in better and better Pokémon, and you can switch out one parent for another with better stats as you progress.
Shiny Rates
The base rate for encountering a shiny Pokémon is 1/4096. Including sandwiches, the Shiny Charm, and Mass Outbreaks, the chances incease exponentially:
Base shiny rate: 1/4086
Shiny rate with Shiny Charm: 1/1365.67
Mass Outbreak rate (after defeating at least 60 Pokémon): 1/1365.67
Mass Outbreak rate (after 60 Pokémon) with Shiny Charm: 1/819.6
Shiny rate with Lv. 3 Sparkling Power sandwich: 1/1024.38
Mass Outbreak rate (after 60 Pokémon) with Lv. 3 Sparkling Power sandwich: 1/683.08
Mass Outbreak rate (after 60 Pokémon) with Shiny Charm and Lv. 3 Sparkling Power sandwich: 1/512.44
Shiny rate when breeding with Masuda method: 1/682.6
Shiny rate when breeding with Masuda method and Shiny Charm: 1/512.44
Use Herba Mystica obtained from raids to make sparkling power sandwiches.
Shiny Charm
In order to obtain the Shiny Charm, one must accomplish the task of completing the Pokédex. This involves obtaining possession of every one of the 400 Pokémon from Paldea at least once, with the option to trade them back and forth with other players. However, it is important to note that certain regional Pokémon, including Charmander, Quagsire, and Perrserker, which can be found in Scarlet and Violet, do not count towards completion of the Pokédex.
Upon successful completion of the Pokédex, players can receive the Shiny Charm as a reward by speaking with Jacq, who is located in the biology room of the academy corresponding to their respective team.
Shiny sandwich recipes
When searching for shiny Pokémon in the wild, it’s important to use sandwiches. To make these sandwiches, you’ll need Herba Mystica, which is only obtainable from high-level raids. By utilizing specific ingredients in “Creative Mode,” you can create sandwiches that not only increase the encounter rate but also increase the shiny rate for finding specific types of Pokémon. We recommend using two different sets of recipes for shiny hunting.
The first set, referred to as the “simple recipe,” utilizes mostly Salty Herba Mystica. If you have a lot of Herba Mystica, you can use this recipe to quickly make sandwiches without worrying about losing ingredients or the sandwich tipping over.
The second set, known as the “complex recipe,” uses almost any type of Herba Mystica, making it a great option if you don’t have a lot of it. However, these recipes have many ingredients and are easy to mess up if you’re not careful when building them.
You can also make these recipes with friends in a Union Circle, allowing you to share the buff with each other. After creating the sandwich, disbanding the Union Circle won’t remove the buff, and it’s a great way to conserve Herba Mystica usage while maximizing Pokémon spawns.
Regardless of which sandwich recipe you choose, always remember to save before making the sandwich. This way, you can restart your game if you make a mistake or don’t find your desired shiny Pokémon. While pressing the Nintendo Switch home button will pause the sandwich powers, closing or restarting the game will immediately end the effects of any active sandwich, which is why saving before making the sandwich is crucial. To check how much time you have left on the sandwich, press right on the D-pad.
Complexity Element Main ingredients Other Ingredients Herba Mystica
Complex Normal One cucumber and one pickle Three tofu Any two except one Sweet and one Sour, two Sweet, or two Sour
Complex Fire One cucumber and one pickle Three red peppers Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Water One cucumber and one pickle Three cucumbers Any except one Sweet and one Sour or two Sweet
Complex Electric One cucumber and one pickle Three yellow peppers Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Grass One cucumber and one pickle Three lettuce Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Ice One cucumber and one pickle Three Klawf sticks Any two except one Sweet and one Sour or two Sour
Complex Fighting One cucumber and one pickle Three pickles Any except one Sweet and one Sour or two Sweet
Complex Poison One cucumber and one pickle Three green peppers Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Ground One cucumber and one pickle Three ham Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Flying One cucumber and one pickle Three prosciutto Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Psychic One cucumber and one pickle Three onions Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Bug One cucumber and one pickle Three cherry tomatoes Any two except one Sweet and one Sour, two Sweet, or two Sour
Complex Rock One cucumber and one pickle Three bacon Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Ghost One cucumber and one pickle Three red onions Any two except one Sweet and one Sour or two Sour
Complex Dragon One cucumber and one pickle Three avocados Any two except one Sweet and one Sour, two Sweet, or two Sour
Complex Dark One cucumber and one pickle Three smoked fillets Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Steel One cucumber and one pickle Three hamburgers Any two except one Sweet and one Sour
Complex Fairy One cucumber and one pickle Three tomatoes Any two except one Sweet and one Sour, two Sweet, or two Sour
Simple Normal – One chorizo Two Salty
Simple Fire – One basil One Salty and one Sweet
Simple Water – One cucumber Two Salty
Simple Electric – One yellow pepper One Salty and one Spicy
Simple Grass – One lettuce One Salty and one Sour
Simple Ice – One Klawf stick Two Salty
Simple Fighting – One pickle Two Salty
Simple Poison – One noodle Two Salty
Simple Ground – One ham Two Salty
Simple Flying – One prosciutto Two Salty
Simple Psychic – One onion Two Salty
Simple Bug – One cherry tomato Two Salty
Simple Rock – One jalepeno Two Salty
Simple Ghost
Hunting Shiny Pokémon in the Wild
This technique is almost identical to the previous one, with the exception of the Mass Outbreak. You’ll need to create a sandwich for this approach.
Find an area where your desired Pokémon can be found. It is preferable if your Pokémon has a unique type in this location. Shiny hunting a specific rock-type in the rocky canyon area may be difficult because there are other rock-type Pokémon in the region, but do your best to find an effective spawn location. It’s not always feasible to find a suitable spawn location for each Pokémon.
Save your progress in the game.
Using the recipes given above, make a sandwich that attracts and increases the shiny rate of your desired Pokémon’s type.
Either auto-battle the target Pokémon or despawn/respawn them (by using picnics or by just leaving and reentering the area) until you discover your desired shiny.
If you are unable to locate your shiny within the sandwich duration (30 minutes), restart the game.
This method may be easier or more difficult depending on the Pokémon you’re looking for, but it allows you to choose any Pokémon you want. This technique is also effective for Paradox Pokémon, but the sandwich must be prepared before going to Area Zero.
However, this method can still be difficult depending on the location. For example, hunting for a shiny Finizen in the ocean can be challenging because it is the only water-type, and using a water-type sandwich will increase the appearance of many other Pokémon in the ocean as well.
Mass Outbreaks
Shiny hunting during a Mass Outbreak is recommended as the shiny rates are higher. To begin, follow these steps:
Locate the Mass Outbreak you want to shiny hunt. You can change the date on your Nintendo Switch to access a different set of outbreaks, and they change at midnight.
Save your game to prevent losing progress.
Defeat 60 of the Mass Outbreak Pokémon. It’s impossible to track this in-game, so you’ll need to count manually. Messages will appear every 20-30 Pokémon defeated, indicating the number of Pokémon in the outbreak is decreasing. Once it says the number is “definitely getting lower,” you’ve defeated at least 50 Pokémon. Be cautious not to defeat too many Pokémon, as the outbreak will end. You’ll typically need to defeat over 100 of them. This is not a “chain,” so you can battle other Pokémon between the 60, run from battles, leave the outbreak and come back, etc.
Save your game again after you’ve defeated at least 60.
If you have Herba Mystica, make a sandwich using the recipes mentioned for the outbreak Pokémon’s type. The shiny rates are high, even without the Sparkling Power sandwich.
Run in and out of the outbreak area to despawn and respawn the Pokémon, refreshing for shinies. If you’re hunting for a Pokémon where it’s hard to tell if it’s shiny, you can use the auto-battle feature, and your Pokémon won’t fight the wild Pokémon if it’s shiny.
If the outbreak ends or your 30-minute sandwich window expires, close your game and repeat steps 5-7 until you get the desired shiny.
You can use the “picnic method” if the Pokémon is in a place where it’s convenient to set up a picnic. Set up and quickly take down a picnic to despawn and respawn all the Pokémon in the area, allowing you to search for shinies quickly. However, this method doesn’t work in water or on steep cliff sides.
Nearly every Pokémon can have an outbreak, excluding legendary and Paradox Pokémon. However, some Mass Outbreaks appear to be more common than others. For example, Zangoose and Mareep outbreaks have never been seen, but there have been many Flittle and Drifloon outbreaks.
If you don’t want to wait for an outbreak of your target Pokémon, you can try the following method, which has been successful for many:
Breeding a Shiny Pokémon
Breeding a foreign Pokémon with your own is a technique known as the “Masuda method” that increases your chances of obtaining a shiny Pokémon. To use this method, you need to find a foreign Ditto from a game that uses a different language. You can get one quickly by using the link trade code 4448-4448, but it may take a few tries before you find a non-English Ditto. You can try trading during off-hours to find one faster.
Once you have the foreign Ditto, you need to breed it with the target Pokémon. To avoid producing hundreds of useless eggs, follow these steps:
Put your desired shiny Pokémon and the foreign Ditto in your party.
Go to an area that’s easy to move around in, like Medali.
Open your boxes and find an empty box. This is where your eggs will go.
Save your game.
Open a picnic and make a sandwich that gives you Egg Power.
Wait by the picnic basket until you have 30 eggs.
Take the Ditto and Pokémon out of your party and replace them with a Pokémon that has the Flame Body ability.
Select a column of five eggs at once and put them in your party.
Walk around until all five eggs hatch.
If you don’t get a shiny Pokémon, repeat step 9 until you hatch all 30 eggs.
If you still don’t get a shiny, restart your game and start again from step 4.
It’s important to note that whether an egg will hatch into a shiny Pokémon is determined when the egg is created, not when it’s hatched. This means that you need to create 30 new eggs each time you want to hatch shiny Pokémon.
Keep in mind that if you want specific stats or natures on your bred Pokémon, you’ll need to take additional steps. For more information on breeding, check out our breeding guide. It’s also worth noting that breeding Pokémon that require more steps to hatch may take longer and may require multiple Egg Power sandwiches. For example, breeding Wooper eggs takes almost exactly 30 minutes, while breeding Bagon or Goomy eggs may take longer.
Auto Battles
“The battle mechanics in Scarlet and Violet will seem familiar to players of the series, but with some new additions. Players can participate in traditional turn-based battles with wild Pokemon and trainers. However, there’s also an option for Auto Battles, where one of the player’s Pokemon can fight a wild Pokemon without any input. This will make grinding and leveling up less tedious for players who aren’t fond of those aspects of the game, while still allowing those who enjoy them to partake in them.”
Terastal phenomenon
In this game, the Terastal phenomenon is the latest addition, which makes Pokemon look like sparkling jewels. In the Paldea region, Pokemon can Terastallize, meaning a Tera jewel appears on their head, as well as changing a Pokémon’s type to match that Pokémon’s “Tera Type” and well as unlocking special moves such as Tera Blast. Tera Types usually correspond to a Pokemon’s regular typing, but sometimes a Pokemon can have a unique Tera Type that is distinct from their regular typing. For instance, even though Eevee is a Normal Type Pokemon, it can have a Fire Tera Type when Terastallizing.
Tera Blast is a special move which, when used by a Terastallized Pokémon, becomes a move of the same type as the Pokémon’s Tera Type.
In combat, Pokemon can Terastallize, and they assume their Tera Type. After Terastallizing, the effect persists throughout the battle. The Tera Orb makes this possible, and players can recharge it by collecting scattered Tera crystals in the region or visiting a nearby Pokemon Center.
Tera Raid Battles
In Tera Raid Battles, players can catch Pokemon with distinctive Tera Types by teaming up with friends and allies. Like Max Raids in Pokemon Sword and Shield, players can join Tera Raid Dens with others, where they can capture formidable Pokemon. Utilizing this multiplayer occasion is essential for capturing Pokemon with superior stats and Tera Typings.
Although it is possible to defeat lower-level raids with any Pokémon in your possession, higher-level ones can pose a significant challenge. To increase your chances of success, you should take advantage of various strategies such as Hyper Training your IVs, EV training, and adjusting your Pokémon’s nature to match their stats. Furthermore, it is advisable to avoid using Pokémon with weaker defensive capabilities to prevent them from fainting and wasting time.
To increase your chances of success, it is crucial to select a Pokémon that can either inflict regular or super effective damage on the Tera Type of the raid Pokémon, which is denoted by the symbol in the top right corner of the raid screen. Additionally, your chosen Pokémon should have the ability to withstand either reduced or regular damage from the raid Pokémon. This strategic approach can give you an edge when facing the challenges of raid battles.
Your Pokémon should be the right level depending on the raid difficulty. The difficulty levels of Pokémon in Tera Raids are as follows:
One-star: level 12
Two-star: level 20
Three-star: level 35
Four-star: level 45
Five-star: level 75
Six-star: level 90
Seven-star: level 100
Seven-star raids are limited to events and do not spawn under normal circumstances.
Herba Mystica
If your goal is to collect Herba Mystica from Tera Raids for shiny hunting purposes, there are specific raids that you should target. It’s important to note that Herba Mystica can only be obtained from five- and six-star raids, and each Pokémon drops a particular variety of Herba Mystica.
Although not all five-star raid Pokémon will drop Herba Mystica, those that do typically have a drop rate of approximately 10% per Herba. For six-star raid Pokémon, the chance of dropping Herba Mystica is about 13% per Herba.
It’s worth noting that certain Pokémon have a chance to drop every type of Herba Mystica, which means you can potentially obtain up to five Herba Mystica in a single raid. You can use Herba Mystica obtained from raids to make sparkling power sandwiches for shiny pokemon hunting.
In five-star raids, the following Pokémon have a chance to drop every type of Herba Mystica: Cetitan, Blissey, Glalie, Drifblim, Amoonguss, Dondozo, Palafin, Gengar, and Eelektross.
In six-star raids, keep an eye out for Cetitan, Dondozo, Amoonguss, Vaporeon, Blissey, and Farigiraf, as they all have a chance to drop Herba Mystica.
HIGH LEVEL DITTO RAID
When hosting a Ditto raid, it’s recommended that you choose a low-level Pokémon as Ditto has the ability to transform into the host’s Pokémon. Magikarp is commonly used for this purpose, but any weak Pokémon will suffice. This strategic approach allows for a straightforward raid clear, and as a result, you’ll obtain a Ditto with several perfect IVs that is excellent for breeding purposes.
Cortondo Gym: Katy (Bug-type): Uses level 14-15 Pokemon – Weak against Fire, Flying, Rock
Artazon Gym: Brassius (Grass-type): Uses level 16-17 Pokemon – Weak against Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug
Levincia Gym: Iono (Electric-type): Uses level 23-24 Pokemon – Weak against Ground
Cascarrafa Gym: Kofu (Water-type): Uses level 29-30 Pokemon – Weak against Grass, Electric
Medali Gym: Larry (Normal-type): Uses level 35-36 Pokemon – Weak against Fighting
Montenevera Gym: Ryme (Ghost-type): Uses level 41-42 Pokemon – Weak against Ghost, Dark
Alfornada Gym: Tulip (Psychic-type): Uses level 44-45 Pokemon – Weak against Bug, Ghost, Dark
Glaseado Gym: Grusha (Ice-type): Uses level 47-48 Pokemon – Weak against Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel
Gym Tests
In Scarlet and Violet, Gym Tests are a new feature that players must complete before challenging the Gym Leader. These tests are unique to each Gym and can involve battles or mini-games. Below are the details of each Gym Test:
Cortondo Gym Test: Navigate a giant olive through a maze to reach the end.
Artazon Gym Test: Search for 10 hidden Sunflora in the Artazon area.
Levincia Gym Test: Find Director Clavell hidden in different CCTV images.
Cascarrafa Gym Test: Travel to Porto Marinada, defeat a trainer, and win the auction.
Medali Gym Test: Battle various trainers in Medali to obtain clues on the secret meal that needs to be ordered at the Gym.
Montenevera Gym Test: Defeat three Ghost-type trainers in Double Battles.
Alfornada Gym Test: Follow the actions of an NPC and engage in Psychic-type battles.
Glaseado Gym Test: Slide down an icy slope on Koraidon or Miraidon within a given time limit.
While some of these tests may be relatively easy, such as finding the hidden Sunflora, others can be quite challenging, like the Double Battles in Montenevera. Completing the Gym Test will then be followed by the Gym battle itself.
Upon completing the Victory Road pathway, the Pokemon League will present you with a challenge to face the Elite Four. This challenge marks the final step of your journey after defeating all eight Gym Leaders throughout Paldea.
How to Find the Pokemon League
To get to the Pokemon Center and the Pokemon League building, make your way to Mesagoza and head towards the northwest corner of the city. Ascend the stairs and search for the open gates that lead to a tunnel. Follow the path inside and continue along the grassy area towards the northwest. Along the way, you’ll encounter a trainer, and if you want to warm up before facing the Pokemon League, you can challenge Jaxon the Student to a battle. Once you’ve battled Jaxon, continue onwards towards the Pokemon Center and Pokemon League building. Another trainer is available for a fight, but their Pokemon will be at a much higher level than Jaxon’s.
Elite Four Interview – Passing the Champion Assessment
As you near the Pokemon League, you’ll find Geeta outside. Have a brief chat with her before heading inside. When you’re prepared, approach the individual at the door. You’ll initially be taken to a room with Rika, where you’ll have to pass an assessment.
Questions Rika will ask you:
How did you get here today? Choose any
What Academy are you enrolled in? Naranja for Scarlet / Uva for Violet
What brings you to the Pokemon League today? I came to become Champion.
What do you intend to do if and when you become a Champion? Choose any – but remember your choice.
Which of the eight Gyms gave you the most difficulty? Choose any
What is the name of the Gym Leader you faced there? Choose based on #5 answer
What type of Pokemon did the Gym Leader use? Choose based on #5 answer
What was the category of the Pokemon you chose to be your first partner? Choose based on your Starter Pokemon
Remind me, what do you intend to do if and when you do become a Champion? Repeat #4 answer
Do you like Pokemon? Yes
First Elite Four Member – Rika
You will battle Rika right after completing the assessment.
Rika’s lineup comprises Ground-type Pokemon, which are generally vulnerable to Grass, Flying, and Bug-type Pokemon, as well as Water, Grass, or Ice-type moves. It’s thus advisable to have a Grass-type Pokemon on your team and use it against a minimum of two of her pure Ground-type Pokemon.
Despite this, three of Rika’s Pokemon are dual-types, with access to Water, Fire, and Poison-type attacks. A Grass-type Pokemon is still a necessity, but you’ll also need other Pokemon with a mix of types to finish the battle. Ground, Ice, and Psychic-types all have a significant advantage.
List of Rika’s Pokemon:
Lv. 57 Whishcash Water/Ground
Lv. 57 Camerupt Fire/Ground
Lv. 57 Donphan Poison/Ground
Lv. 57 Dugtrio Ground
Lv. 58 Clodsire Ground
After beating Rika, the next member of the Elite Four will appear, which is Poppy.
Second Elite Four Member Poppy
Cooperajah is a Steel-type Pokemon, meaning it’s vulnerable to Ground, Fire, and Fighting-type moves. The same is true for Magnezone, despite it being an Electric/Steel-type. Corviknight is weak to Electric and Fire-type moves. Additionally, Bronzong is susceptible to Fire and Ground-type attacks, as well as Dark and Ghost-type moves.
List of Poppy’s Pokemon:
Lv. 58 Copperajah Steel
Lv. 58 Corviknight Flying/Steel
Lv. 58 Magnezone Electric/Steel
Lv. 58 Bronzong Steel/Psychic
Lv. 59 Tinkaton Fairy/Steel
Third Elite Four Member Larry
To counter Larry’s team, we recommend starting with a Rock-type Pokemon (or one with Rock-type moves). Tropius is vulnerable to Rock, Fire, Ice, and Flying-type moves, but it’s weak to Rock-type moves, which Larry’s entire team shares.
List of Larry’s Pokemon:
Lv. 59 Tropius Grass/Flying
Lv. 59 Altaria Dragon/Flying
Lv. 59 Staraptor Normal/Flying
Lv. 59 Oricorio Fire/Flying
Lv. 60 Flamigo Flying/Fighting
Altaria is weak to Dragon, Rock, Ice, and Fairy-type moves, so we suggest beginning with a Pokemon that has access to both Dragon and Rock-type moves and using it throughout the battle.
Flamigo is initially susceptible to Flying, Fairy, Electric, and Ice-type attacks. However, after Terastalization, it becomes weak to Rock, Ice, and Electric-type moves, making them super effective.
Fourth Elite Four Member Hassel
For this battle, we suggest starting with an Ice or Dragon-type Pokemon. Try a Garchomp to quickly defeat Noivern, Haxorus, Flapple, and Dragalge.
Noivern is vulnerable to Dragon, Ice, Rock, and Fairy-type attacks. Haxorus is weak to Dragon, Ice, and Fairy-type moves. Dragalge, on the other hand, is susceptible to Ice, Ground, Dragon, and Psychic-type attacks. Since they all share Dragon and Ice-type attacks, using a Dragon or Ice-type Pokemon throughout the battle is the best strategy.
Baxcalibur is Hassel’s last Pokemon and will be Terastalized. Initially, it is vulnerable to Dragon, Rock, Fairy, and Fighting-type moves. After Terastalization, it will be weak to Dragon, Fairy, and Ice-type attacks.List of Hassel’s Pokemon:
List of Hassel’s Pokemon
Lv. 60 Noivern Flying/Dragon
Lv. 60 Flapple Grass/Dragon
Lv. 60 Haxorus Dragon
Lv. 60 Dragalge Poison/Dragon
Lv. 61 Baxcalibur Dragon/Ice
After The Final Four – Geeta
After defeating all Elite Four members, your final challenge is approaching. You may have passed the Elite Test, but you still need to complete the Champion Assessment. You have one last door to go through to face Geeta, the Chairwoman of the Pokemon League.
You won’t have to worry about healing your team, as Rika will take care of that for you. However, you should start preparing your team for the battle against Geeta.
Geeta is Paldea Top Champion Trainer and the chairwoman of the Academy’s school board.
List of Geeta’s Pokemon
Lv. 61 Espartha Psychic
Lv. 61 Kingambit Dark/Steel
Lv. 61 Avalugg Ice
Lv. 61 Veluza Water/Psychic
Lv. 62 Glimmora Rock/Poison
If you want to defeat Champion Geeta’s team, the best strategy is to use super-effective moves, specifically those of the Fire, Bug, Steel, Fighting, and Ground types. Scarlet & Violet has a variety of powerful Bug-types like Volcarona, Forretress, and Scizor that are great options to partner with in battle. These Pokémon have dual-typing, which enables them to learn several moves that can deal super-effective hits against Geeta’s team. However, other Fire, Steel, Fighting, and Ground types can also work well against her team.
To increase your chances of winning the League match, players should equip their Pokémon with held items. Several useful items to use against Champion Geeta include Charcoal, Soft Sand, Silver Powder, Leftovers, and the Shell Bell. Charcoal, Soft Sand, and Silver Powder will increase the power of Fire, Ground, and Bug-type moves, respectively. Meanwhile, Leftovers and the Shell Bell restore a Pokémon’s HP with every turn. Additionally, trainers can use the Rocky Helmet to deal damage to the opponent with each hit taken by the holder. This can help secure a League win
Clothing
When players begin the game, the color of their clothing depends on which version they select and the school they attend. Scarlet players attend Naranja Academy, which is distinguished by an orange icon, while Violet players go to Uva Academy, which has a grape icon. Scarlet players wear red shorts and a red tie, while Violet players wear purple shorts and a purple tie. Although the design of the clothes is comparable, there are minor differences based on whether players select a male or female avatar.
Different professors
In a first for the main Pokemon series, the version of the game a player selects determines their main professor. In Scarlet, players will receive assistance from Professor Sada, who has a primal aesthetic, while those playing Violet will be aided by Professor Turo, who has a futuristic appearance.
Version exclusives
Some Pokemon are exclusive to either Scarlet or Violet, and there are also basic Pokemon and Legendaries available. To complete the Pokedex and acquire all Pokemon, players will need to trade with someone who has the opposite version of the game.
Amulet Coin and running the Academy Ace Tournament or Team Star rematches
By equipping your lead Pokémon with the Amulet Coin held item and successfully completing the Academy Ace Tournament, you can earn approximately $120,000 per run. However, this strategy is most effective when using a powerful team that can easily defeat opponents with one hit, eliminating the need to worry about type match-ups or other complications.
To obtain the Amulet Coin, speak with the Pokémon League representative located outside of Medali after defeating five trainers in the area. With this valuable item in your possession and a formidable team at your disposal, you can earn a significant amount of money by repeatedly completing the Academy Ace Tournament.
Farming Rare Items in Tera Raids
While Tera Raids can be difficult, they offer great opportunities to earn money through the sale of rare items like Big Nuggets and Comet Shards. Big Nuggets sell for $20,000 each and Comet Shards for $12,500 each, making them very valuable. However, lower-tier raids will only drop items of lesser value that can still be sold.
If you struggle with taking down high-level Tera Raids, start with four-star (or lower) raids instead. This way, you can accumulate rewards to strengthen your Pokémon until they can handle tougher raids. It may be a tedious process, but it will pay off in the end.
Another way to make money from Tera Raids is by selling Ability Capsules and Ability Patches. Ability Capsules sell for $25,000 each and Ability Patches for $125,000 each. Although it’s recommended to use these items to get specific abilities, selling any surplus can provide a significant profit. Additionally, any unused mints can also be sold for a decent amount of money.
Hunting for sparkling items in Asado Desert
Asado Desert can be a goldmine for those who are willing to put in the work. Every day, you can scour the desert floor for sparkling items that you can sell for a good profit. While most of the items you’ll come across are relatively common, such as Cacnea Needles and Potions, there are rarer items like Star Pieces ($6,000 each) that you can flip for a significant profit. We suggest searching at night when it’s easier to spot the sparkling items.
Even seemingly insignificant items like Icy Rocks and Smooth Rocks can fetch a decent price of $2,000 each, so don’t ignore them while you’re searching for valuable loot in Asado Desert. Keep in mind that the more you search, the more likely you are to stumble upon high-value items that can make you a small fortune.
Farming and selling materials from outbreaks
Certain Pokémon, such as Dratini or Ditto, drop valuable materials when caught or defeated. These materials can be sold back to the TM Machine at Pokémon Centers for up to 150 LP each. Happiny Dust, for example, can be sold for 150 LP each, so if you’re farming Chansey for EXP, you’ll end up with a surplus of materials (and LP). While these materials can be used to craft TMs, if you have an abundance of them from an outbreak, it’s best to sell them for extra LP.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet has made some improvements to the trading system, which now requires a certain level of coordination with the player’s trading partner.
For local trading, players can simply access the Poke Portal and look for a nearby “Link Trade” partner who is in the same physical location as them.
On the other hand, if players want to trade with other players online, they have two choices available to them: the Link Trade and Surprise Trade. The Link Trade is a traditional trade that requires a specific Link Code to initiate, while the Surprise Trade allows players to trade with random trainers and receive a random Pokemon in return.
To Unlock Trading in Pokemon Scarlet or Violet, players must first reach the initial Pokemon Center located in Los Platos while accompanied by Nemona. Once they arrive, they should engage in conversation with the two store clerks to activate the trading feature. Following this, players can then access the Poke Portal menu and start trading their Pokemon.
How to Trade using “Link Trade” and “Surprise Trade”
Start Pokemon Scarlet or Violet.
Access the Poke Portal and connect to the internet, by pressing the X button to open the game menu and then navigate to the right side menu to select ‘Poke Portal’. From there, hit the left bumper to establish an internet connection.
Choose either “Link Trade” or “Surprise Trade” depending on the type of trading you want to do.
If you want to do a “Link Trade”, you simply need to coordinate with a friend to have a matching 8-digit Link Code.
Choose “Begin Searching”, and as long as the Link Codes match, you should connect.
If Surprise Trading, simply choose the Pokemon you want to trade and wait to receive it.
You can access the Union Circle feature in two ways: through the Poke Portal menu or by visiting a Pokemon Center and interacting with the yellow board located at the building’s end. Once you’ve reached the Union Circle menu, you’ll be asked to either “Form a group” or “Join a group.”
If you choose to “Form a group,” you’ll have to establish a link code and share it with your friends, who will enter it after selecting “Join a group” and receiving the prompt to enter the link code.
On the other hand, if you opt to “Join a group,” your leader will provide you with the correct link code. Enter it and wait for them to begin your adventure.
For online users, ensure that you press the L button to activate internet capabilities before joining or forming a group. If this doesn’t work, make sure that your Switch is properly connected to the wifi on the home menu. Your link code should consist of six digits.
Link users, on the other hand, only require a four-digit code and can freely join or form a group. This mode should only be used when you’re in the same room or in close proximity.
After completing the necessary preparations, the Union Circle leader must choose the “Set Out Together” option to transport the group to the Paldea region for exploration. While in the Union Circle, your actions will be determined by the host’s world, not your own. Here’s what you can and can’t do in the Union Circle:
You may take on Tera Raids with your friends. To do so, you must choose a crystal in your own world. Choosing one in your host’s world will only provide LP and Tera Orb charges. To invite your friends to join you, interact with your crystal and choose “Challenge As a Group” to send them an invitation.
Your friends’ current activities can be seen in the top corners of your screen when you’re not busy.
You may engage in battles or trades with your friends in the Circle. Sending a link code to your friends is not necessary when using the Link Battle or Link Trade options while in a Union Circle.
You can enjoy a picnic together, make sandwiches, and breed your pokemon.
You may catch version-exclusive pokemon that aren’t available in your world.
It’s not possible to locate version-exclusive items (such as Charcadet’s armor).
You can catch pokemon together during mass outbreaks.
Except for the host’s world, you cannot see mass outbreaks in any other world.
You can confront Gym Leaders, Team Star leaders, and Titan pokemon.
As a group, you can’t advance the story.
Your friends will be unable to see you battling in these fights, and vice versa.
You can take photos with your friends and your pokemon.
While taking pictures, you can also take photos of other players performing emotes that you cannot.
Tera Raid Battles
To battle in Tera Raid Battles, you have various options available to you. You can challenge these battles with friends in your Union Circle or team up with strangers online by using link codes. When connected online, you can see a board displaying Pokemon silhouettes with their difficulty star ratings. You have the option to select a specific silhouette for a particular battle, use a Link Code to join with friends who are not currently in your Union Circle, or choose Random to be randomly assigned to a raid online.
To create your own group for a raid, go to a Tera Crystal in your game, select “Challenge as a group,” and specify your preferences for joining the group. If you’re starting a Tera Raid with friends in your Union Circle, you must interact with a crystal from your own world, select “Challenge as a group,” and wait for your group members to accept the automatic invitation to join.
Link Trades And Battles
You can still participate in battles and trades with others using a link code. This can be done by providing your friends with a six-digit code online, or by entering a four-digit code if your friend is nearby in the same room.
Surprise Trade
The “Surprise Trade” feature, previously known as “Wonder Trade” in earlier versions, enables you to exchange one of your randomly selected pokemon from your boxes for another mystery pokemon.
This function is exclusively available online, so ensure that your Switch is connected to the internet and the Poke Portal is also connected before accessing the Surprise Trade. After entering the Surprise Trade, you will be prompted to select a pokemon from your boxes to trade. Once you have selected it, confirm your selection, and observe as it is exchanged for another pokemon from the “Poke-Purgatory” containing unwanted pokemon and occasionally a rare find from a generous player.
Battle Stadium
The Battle Stadium retains its features from previous games but has undergone minor cosmetic changes to enable online battles between players in various formats. These formats include:
Casual Battle: Participate in battles without any limitations or rankings.
Ranked Battle: Battle with the objective of increasing or decreasing your global ranking.
Online Competition (Friendly): Form or join informal competitions.
Online Competition (Official): Engage in ranked official matches with specific rules set by GameFreak/Nintendo.
Rental Teams: Rent a pre-made team or submit your own team for other players to use.
Mystery Gift
The Mystery Gift feature may seem like a small addition to Poke Portal, but it is still an online multiplayer function. While connected to the internet, you can:
Receive gifts through Internet events.
Redeem codes to claim gifts.
Review your past redeemed gifts.
Stay updated on the latest events through Poke Portal news