Pokémon Legends: Arceus is finally here, and the latest instalment in the iconic Pocket Monsters franchise is a welcome departure from what fans are used to. In our review, we awarded the game 8/10, citing its new feel as a big part of that.
With new rules comes new ways to play, so we’ve broken down five key things to know before diving into the world of Hisui. Have a read and prepare yourself for your newest Pokémon challenge!
See the trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus here!
Dodging is Vital
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One of the main elements that sets Pokémon Legends: Arceus apart is that wild monsters attack you. On your journey, you’ll encounter many critters who are quite keen to take you down, so it’s important that you quickly learn how to handle their aggression.
The best option here is pressing Y to dodge. The game makes it clear that you gain temporary invincibility (AKA I-frames) while in the dodge animation. Timing this motion right means you can avoid basically any attack you can imagine, so it’s worth taking the time to practice.
Learn to Sneak
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Tall grass can be found all around the Hisui Region, and this overgrown foliage offers the perfect hiding spot when trying to sneak up on wild Pokémon.
Not only does going undetected mean you avoid rampant monster attacks, but it also makes catching wild ‘Mon easier. If you’re able to stay out of their sight, you can sneak behind roaming Pokémon, carefully take aim, and hit them with a Poké Ball.
This technique is especially helpful when using Heavy Balls, as they have an increased rate of catching when used on an unsuspecting critter. Also, hitting a Pokémon from their blind spot makes you feel like Ezio from Assassin’s Creed.
Fast Travel
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While out exploring one of the many biomes of Hisui, you’ll have the ability to fast travel to set points on the area map. These spots include base camps, where you can heal your party, craft/buy items, and access your Pokémon and item stores.
You can fast travel at any point, so long as you aren’t in the immediate vicinity of an attacking wild Pokémon. This is worth remembering because if your party is too weak to battle, or if your character is close to blacking out, you can simply get out of the wild monster’s reach, and then fast travel to a safer spot.
This saves you using your healing items until absolutely necessary.
Change Pokémon Moves Whenever
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In previous Pokémon games, your cute little friends were limited to having only four moves at a time. This meant when you wanted them to learn new attacks, they would have to permanently forget existing ones. This feature never sat right with me, so I’m delighted to tell you that Pokémon Legends: Arceus has done away with it.
Instead, your Pokémon are now capable of remembering previous moves whenever asked. Sure, they are still limited to having four equipped at a time, but you can now alter their move list whenever you’re not in a battle.
Honestly, this feature is a game changer and hugely improves the overall experience.
Catch ‘Em All
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I know this one sounds super obvious, but Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes this old adage more literally than any other game in the series. You see, in order to complete the Pokédex, you can’t just catch one of each type of Pokémon. Instead, you have to go more in-depth with your research.
You’ll have to catch multiples of most Pokémon. You’ll need to see them use certain attacks a number of times. You’ll have to catch various sizes of them. In other words, you have to study Pokémon with the same enthusiasm as a young Professor Oak.
This added layer of detail increases the time it takes to complete the Hisui Pokédex, but it also makes it more interesting. It’s not just about catching one of each, it’s about virtually catching them all.
There you have it, our top five things to know before playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus. As long as you follow these basic suggestions, you’ll have all you need to hit the ground running when you land in the Hisui Region.
Featured Image Credit: NintendoTopics: Pokemon, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch