Pokemon Violet and Pokemon Scarlet are pretty dense games – with two versions, 400 Pokemon, and an open world, it’s natural for players to have questions. We’ve compiled this list of the most pressing topics aspiring Pokemon masters wanted to know about before getting started and things to know about Pokemon Violet and Scarlet even when they get deep into the adventure.
What are the version differences and exclusives?
Like in previous core Pokemon entries, both Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet feature Pokemon exclusive to each version to encourage trading between players. There’re many more beyond just the box legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon, plus a handful of other differences. For example, the outfits available in Scarlet are orange and the outfits in Violet are purple, and the two professors you meet are different. There are quite a few more differences, too!
What are the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Starter Evolutions?
We all found out about the Starter Pokemon Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, fairly early on, but you might need more information than just their cute designs to make your final decision – like their final evolutions and stats.
What about all the other new Pokemon?
There are 107 new Pokemon (if you count all the new forms), and people were curious about a lot of topics related to them.
What should I do first and in what order should I do the quests and gyms?
After the first day of school prologue quest, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet really do open up and let you go anywhere. It’s no surprise players sought some guidance. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet let you go anywhere, and while that’s an exciting idea, Paldea’s layout doesn’t make it obvious which spots are best tackled first. We can help you with that.
Tip: You can ask Nurse Joy what you should do next at any Pokemon Center, but she’ll recommend tasks based on proximity then level – so she may recommend something that could be far above your level.
How do I change out of my school uniform?
Well, you’re sort of stuck in a school uniform, but there are a few school uniform styles to choose from and accessories to buy to make it your own! The short of it is you’ll need to press the left directional button to open the outfit customization menu. From there, you can change your uniform style.
How do I get Shiny Pokemon?
Super rare alternate-colored Pokemon are called “Shiny Pokemon.” Nothing is different about them besides the different coat of paint, the sparkle as they enter battle, and the special mark on their summary page. They can be very cool looking though, and you can increase your chances of finding them!
Pokemon Violet and Scarlet’s picnic system offers a great way of increasing your chances of finding a Shiny, plus there’s even an item called the Shiny Charm that passively increases your chances at all times–but you need to complete your Pokedex to get it! The Shiny Charm makes it easier to hatch Shiny Pokemon when breeding Pokemon, too. There are even more methods and tips in the full guide.
I want to cheat – what are the exam answers?
We won’t tell – we have all the answers for all the midterms and exams in Pokemon Violet and Scarlet. And if you didn’t know, you can return to the academy to take more classes and learn some pretty nifty facts and earn cool rewards.
What are those ominous black stakes and where do I find them all?
Here’s a hint – if you finish your history classes and pass your history final, the teacher will clue you in about their origins. If you want to skip all that, of course, you can – but know you won’t be able to collect them all until Koraidon or Miraidon has most of their abilities unlocked.
How do I get more sandwich recipes?
Most sandwich recipes are learned by speaking to the guy to the right of the counter at the sandwich shop chain Every Wich Way. Visit him after earning gym badges to get more. Your mom and some picnickers will also give you sandwich recipes.
What are these Gimmighoul chests?
You’ll find both roaming Gimmighoul and chest-form Gimmighoul all around Paldea. Catch one of the chest forms and collect the coins from either (and other sources) to evolve one!
Late-Game Questions and Guides
If you’re just getting started on your journey, we’d recommend not proceeding past this point. Below are guides for later game events and Pokemon.
What’s the secret menu item for the normal gym test?
In Medali, you’ll have to take on the Normal-type Gym Test which requires you to figure out and order a secret menu item. You can actually order the item before going through the steps to collect the clues!
We won’t include the menu items here for spoiler reasons, but you can find the solution along with battle tips in our guide.
Where the heck is the Dragon Titan Pokemon?
Sure, the False Dragon Titan is marked on your map at Casseroya Lake, but getting it to appear is tricky! An NPC will give you a hint by asking something along the lines of, “it’d be great if the titan just said its name.”
How do I unlock 6-Star Tera Raids?
Tera Raid battles are available from early on, but more difficult raids with better rewards can be unlocked. First, you must complete all of the post-game story content and challenges. Doing this is a requirement and causes 5-Star Raids to become more common. Once you’ve defeated 15 of the 5-Star Tera Raids, you’ll finally be able to tackle challenging 6-Star Raids. Doing this is also necessary for the ultra-difficult 7-Star Tera Raid Battle events like Charizard and the upcoming Cinderace to appear in your own game.
There’s a near-never-ending number of topics to cover and questions to answer, and if those didn’t answer all of your questions, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in the Pokemon Violet and Pokemon Scarlet Wiki Guide!
Casey DeFreitas is IGN’s Deputy Editor of Guides and Pokemon specialist. Catch her on Twitter @ShinyCaseyD.