Pokemon

Setting skills

Now onto one of the main features of the game, Pokemon! Now that you have your Profile ready to go, time to prepare your Pokemon. You can view your Pokemon’s stat page either by clicking on its name in your profile, or by going to Trainer HQ > My Pokemon and clicking on your Pokemon there. The typical Pokemon stat page looks like the screen shot below:

Pokemon Page

By default, starters and wild Pokemon will have the move Tackle occupying all 4 skill slots, and when Pokemon evolve their skill slots will be completely empty so setting moves is important. To set a skill, go to the Skill panel and choose a move from the Equip drop-down menu, then set the slot you want the move to be installed to from the ‘at’ menu and press Set. Most Pokemon will learn more skills as they level up so check the skill panel often!

Stats/EVs

The Statistics table is located beneath your Pokemon’s image and contains detailed information regarding the strength of your Pokemon. Your Pokemon’s actual stats are caculated using a formula that combines Base, EV and IV stats.

• Base Stats: These are the general stat strength and weaknesses all Pokemon of that same species will have. For example, all Chansey will have a high HP stat while all Slakings will have a high Strength stat. These stats are stable and do not differ amongst Pokemon of the same species
• EVs: These stand for Effort Value Points. Every time you defeat a wild Pokemon (NPC Pokemon do not give EV points in this game), your Pokemon will gain an EV point. The stat the point is given to depends on the species of wild Pokemon you defeated. Whenever you gain 4 EV points in one of the stat areas, that stat will be boosted by 1 point until you max out that stat at 255 EV points. EVs can also be gained through certain items in game
• IVs: This stands for Individual Values and as its name states, this stat area can greatly vary amongst members of the same species. This stat usually ranges from 1-31 (although Pokemon at the high and low number ends are rather uncommon). Ideally you would want to keep Pokemon with high numbers in the IV area because that signifies a stronger individual. In the screenshot above the Pikachu has an Special Attack IV of 31, which is very impressive, while on the other hand its speed IV is quite bad

Raising/Evolving Pokemon

In order for your Pokemon to become stronger, they need to gain levels and/or evolve.

• Levels: Most Pokemon in this game evolve though leveling up and levels are gained two ways: Exp and by Rare Candies. Pokemon can acquire exp from fighting wild Pokemon or participating in NPC battles. While wild Pokemon are easier to defeat, NPC Pokemon generally give more exp per battle. Rare Candies will make a Pokemon gain 1 level every time it is used, and can be purchased from the Token Shop for 2 tokens each
• Items: There are several classes of items in this game that effect Pokemon in different ways. The items that directly effect the Pokemon are:
  • Pokeballs: Pokeballs are used in wild Pokemon battles to capture Pokemon, and in battle they can be selected from the item menu beneath your Pokemon’s skill list. The capture rate of the Pokeballs depend on the variety used. A general rule of thumb is to weaken the Pokemon before using the Pokeball
  • Healing/Attribute Items: These are items such as Potions, Antidotes, Revives and some types of berries. They can be used in and out of battle to revive, recover HP or cure status ailments. There are also items such as the Happiness Potion that can raise certain Pokemon Attributes
  • Evolution Stones: These are stones like the Thunder and Water stone and are used to help certain species of Pokemon evolve. When a Pokemon can evolve through a stone (like the Pikachu example above), a message will appear in the command area of the stat page.

    If you have the correct item in your possession you can select it from the drop-down menu that is located under the command panel and press the Use button to evolve your Pokemon

  • Hold Items: Hold items such as King’s Rock and Reaper Cloth are special items given to Pokemon to aid in trade-evolution. When you have an item that is eligable to be held, a drop-down menu will appear in the Bag Panel of your Pokemon’s stat page (located under the happiness meter). Select the item for holding and then place your Pokemon up for trade. It will evolve as soon as the other person receives it. For more information about trading see 2d. Trading Pokemon

Nearly all items here are one-time-use only and can be purchased from the Poke Mart. Others may be quest only.

• Happiness: Beneath the Statistics Panel is a bar that displays a Pokemon’s Happiness. There are some Pokemon that need a high level of happiness to evolve, but for the rest this area is mainly for aesthetics. The message above the bar changes depending on the levels of happiness your Pokemon has. Happiness can be gained by walking around, leveling up that Pokemon or by giving them items such as Happiness Potions. Pokemon will lose happiness when they faint in battle, and will lose all happiness points when traded
• Trading: There are several Pokemon that can only be evolved through trading, and certain Pokemon need to hold specific items while being traded in order to evolve. There are two types of trade evolution:
  • Itemless Trade Evolution: This is the original form of trade-evolution and it is the easiest. Simply place these Pokemon on trades and it will evolve as soon as the trade is complete
  • Trade-With-Item Evolution: Pokemon of later generations need to be traded with hold-items to evolve. Those hold items such as Metal Coats, Kings Rock and Reaper Cloths can be obtained from the Pokemon Mart or through quests. To attach these hold-items to your Pokemon go to the stat page and view the Bag Panel that is located beneath the Statistics Table. If you have any hold-items in your possession a drop-down menu will appear there and you can set it to your Pokemon before placing it into the trade network

Adding/Swapping Pokemon Team Members

To edit your Pokemon team you need to use the PC that is located in a Pokecenter (which is a building that looks like the image to the left) or from the Mini PCs in Trainer Centers. Pokemon Centers are found in every town and city in the game, and sometimes they appear on routes. Walk to the PC that is located to the right of the Pokecenter counter, click on the Action button and in the conversation menu and click on the Pokemon team swapping/changing link.

You will be taken to a menu that displays your team. Simply pick the Pokemon or empty slot you want to fill from the first drop-down menu, pick the Pokemon or empty slot you want the first selection to be replaced with from the second menu, then press Swap.