This list goes from early game to post game.
1. Set your Map Orientation North and Mark things.
When you unlock the map early game there's a lot of information to digest from!
The map orientation has different functions. When you start the game, the map's orientation allows you to rotate it. Many players may find this annoying, as it's not natural and makes no navigation sense. You might make a mistake by rotating it and may go the wrong direction.
To adjust this, press the right stick button on the map menu. You want to have the map say, "app and mini maps locked." This will adjust the map to stay North.
To pinpoint any desired location through the map, press A and select "Set as Destination."
2. Use Auto Battle To Level Up Pokémon Early
Auto Battle unlocks when you meet Nemona at the Los Platos Poké Center.
Auto Battle is essential because when you allow your Pokémon to battle other Pokémon, they earn exp points when they're successful. Earning many exp grants them to level up from level 1 to 99! At the same time they collect Pokémon furs.
While it's not necessarily the primary way to level up Pokémon, pros do this method early game to expedite the process of leveling up their Pokémon.
3 Use Auto Battle to Pick Up things from the Ground
When your Pokémon is in Auto Battle mode, they can also pick up things from the ground. This is important because the game requires a lot of exploration to grab useful items on the ground, such as Berries or Battle items to heal/help your Pokémon. Getting free Pokéballs from the ground is a big bonus. This includes valuable items to sell, such as Nuggets and Cosmic Stars.
Picking them up manually with Miraidon could make the process faster, too. It’s suggested that you should have your Pokémon do it with you so you can earn more items on the ground at a faster rate.
This method is highly popular when earning BP from Blueberry Quests in the Indigo Disc. As your Pokémon Auto Battle, you can pick up stuff from the ground!
4. Earn More Raid Items with Sandwiches
During early game, you’ll be deprived of many basic items when battling Tera Raids:
- Exp Candy XS and Small (leveling your Pokémon)
- Pokémonl Furs (this is for creating TMs)
- Genius Feather (increases Special Attack EV)
- Swift Feather (increases Speed EV)
- Clever Feather (increases Special Defense EV)
- Resist Feather (increases Defense EV)
- Muscle Feather (increases Attack EV)
- Health Feather (increase HP EV)
- Berries (automatic effects during battle)
- Tiny or Big Mushrooms (high valuable item)
- Pearl (high valuable item)
- Stardust (high valuable item)
These items help with leveling up Pokémons EV’s, making them TMs, and preparing for Gym Battles. A few of the items include selling so you can earn more money in the game.
To earn more of these items, create a Raid Power Sandwich. The sandwich's effects add additional items, such as Level 1 for 1 additional item. Level 2 for 2 additional items. Level 3 for 3 additional items. The Banana and Peanut Butter recipe is a popular choice during the early game.
What pros do:
- Press X and Set a picnic to make a Raid Power Sandwich of the correct type of the raid they’re facing.
- After making the sandwich, enter the Tera Raid.
- After success you should earn an additional item! During early game, you’ll only be able to make Level 1 Sandwiches. The more gym badges you earn, more sandwich items will be unlocked.
5. Nicknames “On” to make Trades Easy
If you don't like nicknaming your Pokémon that's ok! But you should think about turning the function on rather than off to save the trouble.
Trying to complete your Pokédex? Need a shiny? Or are you in the early game stages and really hate the grind of catching Pokémon and desire an Indigo or X/Y Pokémon? Trading is a great early method to make your life easier in the game.
You can trade online early game with no unlocks or badges.
Whether if you're new to this method, this OG Trade trick is super simple.
When trading online, your Nicknamed Pokémon is the Pokémon you want.
For example, nickname your Gyrados "Gengar" if you want a Gengar.
If you want a Shiny Pokémon, nickname your Shiny Pikachu the nickname "Shiny Charizard" if you want a Shiny Charizard.
Remember to look at the other person's Pokémon's nickname if they have any. The trade will fail if you don't have what they want. Don't take it personally.
Tips for Shiny Hunters: If you're trying to complete your shiny Pokédex, you can make a lot of progress if you nickname some of your trading Pokémon, "AnyShiny" with no space.
Ensure Nicknames are turned on by pressing:
1. X
2. Options
3. Give Nicknames - On
4. Press A to accept changes
5. Go to your Boxes and choose a Pokémon’s Summary
6. In the Pokémon’s Summary page, press X to change Nickname.
7. Some trades go smoothly, some don't, so best of luck!
6. Stealth Mode Catching Pokémon
Catch Pokémon in stealth mode by pressing B to crouch while holding ZL.
ZL locks the Pokémon as a target. When you press B, your character crouches and tries to stay out of sight from the Pokémon.
The goal with Stealth mode is that you want to be far from the Pokémon but close enough to catch them. Stay in reach of the Pokémon as you continue to hold ZL.
You may discreetly hide behind bushes or tall grass trees if you’re following the Pokémon. When the Pokémon has a “?” symbol, run far away and start again. You want the Pokémon to be completely startled by not noticing you.
When crouched and holding ZL onto the target, you may also hear the music and SFX gradually lower in volume. Attempt your catch when the sound completely lowers. Note that it’s never silent, it muffles.
7. Check your Pokédex Frequently
Your Pokédex rewards you as you continue to find and catch a myriad of Pokémon!
If you’re wondering how to earn those prizes, all you have to do is press Y for the map. Press X to select Pokédex. Select which Pokédex you want to click on with A. By viewing the Pokédex library, press X again.
During early game (120 catches) the prizes range from Stardust, Pokéball, Great Ball, Evolution Stones, Exp Candy, and Quick Balls. There’s plenty more, and the Pokédex may assist you with earning money fast early game.
Later on, you’ll earn even better rewards when you catch more than 150 Pokémon such as:
- M, L, XL Candy (for Pokémon to level up)
- Nuggets (extremely valuable item to sell)
- Tera Shards (collect 50 of 1 type to change 1 Pokémon’s Tera Type)
- Comet Shards (extremely valuable item to sell)
- Star Pieces (extremely valuable item to sell)
- Ability Patches (changes Pokémon’s abilities)
- Mints (changes Pokémon’s nature)
- Prism Scale (for Feebas to evolve into Milotic)
- Reaper Cloth (evolve Dusclops to evolve into Dusknoir)
Go to school and check in with Jacq frequently, he’ll give you rewards such as the Shiny Charm if you collect 400 Pokémon.
8. Catch a Magikarp
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catch Magikarp to evolve it into a Gyarados to prepare for:
- Wild Trainer Battles
- Stony Cliff Titan
- Quaking Earth Titan
- Open Sky Titan
- False Dragon Titan
- Team Star Fire Crew
- Cortando Gym (Bug)
- Team Star Fighitng Crew
Gyarados’s strong against:
- Rock
- Ground (immune to Ground-Type moves)
- Fire
- Bug
- Fighting
- Dragon (if Gyarados has a Dragon Tera Type)
9. Catch a Lilligant
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Lilligant a method to prepare for:
- Wild Trainer Battles
- Stony Cliff Titan
- Casscarafa Gym (Water)
- Quaking Earth Titan
- First trainer battles
You want to evolve it into a Lilligant with a Sun Stone.
Lilligant’s strong against:
- Ground
- Rock
- Water
10. Catch a Water-Ground Wooper
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catch a Ground and Poison-Type Wooper, and make your first NPC trade! This method prepares you for:
- Wild Trainer Battles
- Stony Cliff Titan
- Quaking Earth Titan
- Lurking Steel Titan
- Team Star Fire Crew
- Team Star Poison Crew
- Levencia Gym
You want to evolve Wooper to a Quagsire.
Quagsire’s strong against:
- Rock
- Ground
- Fire
- Steel
- Poison
- Electric (immune to Electric-Moves)
11. Catch a Fletchling
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Fletchling is a method to prepare for:
- Wild Trainer Battles
- Cortando Gym (Bug)
- Artazon Gym (Grass)
- Team Star Fighting Crew
- Lurking Steel Titan
- Open Sky Titan
- Team Star Fairy Crew
- Team Star Fire Crew
- Glaseado Gym
You want to evolve it into a Fletchinder to get its Fire and Flying-Type.
Fletchling’s strong against:
- Bug
- Grass
- Fighting
- Steel
- Fairy
- Fire
- Immune to Ground-Type moves
- Partially Ice (use its Fire moves)
12. Catch a Gastly
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Gastly is a method to prepare for:
- Montenverna Gym (Ghost)
- Alfornada Gym (Psychic)
- Team Star Fairy Crew
You want to evolve it into a Haunter.
Gastly’s strong against:
- Ghost
- Psychic
- Fairy
- Grass
13. Catch a Raltz
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Raltz is a method to prepare for:
- Team Star Fighting Crew
- Team Star Dark Crew
- Sky Titan
- False Dragon Titan
- Alfornada Gym
Evolve it into a Gardevoir.
Gardevoir’s strong against:
- Dragon (immune to)
- Fighting
- Psychic
- Dark (use Gardevoir’s Fairy-moves)
14. Catch a Gible
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Gible is a method to prepare for:
- Lurking Steel Titan
- Quaking Earth Titan
- Levencia Gym (Electric)
- Team Star Poison Crew
- Team Star Fire Crew
- Elite 4
- Final Boss
- Academy Ace Tournament
Evolve it into a Garchomp.
Garchomp’s strong against:
- Electric (immune to)
- Fire
- Poison
- Rock
- Steel
15. Catch a Bisharp
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Catching Bisharp is a method to prepare for:
- Alfornada Gym (Psychic)
- Montenverna Gym (Ghost)
- Glaseado Gym (Ice)
- Team Star Fairy Crew
- False Dragon Titan
Evolve it into a Kingambit.
Kingambit’s strong against:
- Psychic (immune to)
- Ice
- Fairy
- Ghost
- Rock
16. Catch a Lucario
Everything’s fair game to catch early game. Find the Lucario in Dalipaza Passage Cave to get its Ice-Tera Type! Catching Lucario is a method to prepare for:
- Team Star Poison Crew
- Meladi Gym (Normal + Flying)
- Team Star Fairy Crew
- Team Star Dark Crew
- Glaseado Gym (Ice)
- Lurking Steel Titan
- Quaking Earth Titan
- Open Sky Titan
- False Dragon Titan
Lucario’s strong against:
- (immune to Poison)
- Normal
- Rock
- Steel
- Fairy
- Dark
- Ice
- Flying
- Ground
- Dragon
17. Catch and Evee and Evolve it to Vaporeon
This is in the late stages of the game where you finish Paldea’s story, Kitakami’s Story, and start the Teal Mask DLC. Catch Evee and evolve it to a Vaporean with a Water Stone.
Vaporeon is strong against:
- Rock
- Ground
- Fire
- Water
Vaporean’s most useful to prepare for 5 - 6 Star Tera Raids! Sometimes Vaporeon’s useful in 7 Star Tera Raids. Many Pro Players use Vaporeon for difficult raids because of its Water Absorb Ability, gaining HP when hit by Water-Type attacks.
Here are the recommended Tera Types for Vaporeon:
1. Water (to boost its Water-Type Attack and Defense)
2. Psychic (to boost moves of Calm Mind and Stored Power)
3. Dark (to boost moves of Fake Tears and Bite)
18. Get used to using Mirror Herbs for Egg Moves
Mirror Herbs are located in Casscarafa City.
Mirror Herbs have a super-cool effect where the Pokémon holding the Mirror Herb will learn a move from another Pokémon in your party box.
This method is for preparing for Tera Raids, and you’re trying to teach your Pokémon rare moves to make the Tera Raid successful.
As an example, Belly Drum is an egg move to Azumarill. Belly Drum is a move where the Pokémon cuts their HP in half and raises their Attack to its max. This is useful in Tera Raids because you may not want to waste time with raising Attack 3 times in 3 moves. You may need just 1 move to reach 6 stages.
The thought process is extremely important, and the Pokémon Database is widely used when searching for egg moves for your Pokémon.
19. Catch Azumarill
This is in the late stages of the game where you finish Paldea’s story, Kitakami’s Story, and start the Teal Mask DLC. Azumarill lives in Casseroya Lake.
Azumarill is strong against:
- Rock
- Ground
- Fire
- Water
- Dragon (immune to)
Azumarill is most useful to prepare for 5 - 6 Star Tera Raids! Sometimes Azumarill’s useful in 7 Star Tera Raids.
Many Pro Players use Azumarill for difficult raids because of 2 things:
- Azumarill’s Huge Power Ability increases its Attack stat
- Azumarill can learn the Egg Move, Belly Drum, cutting half of its HP to reach max Attack.
Most of the time pro players use Azumarill facing against Dragon-Type Tera Raids who are weak to Water and Fairy moves.
Here are the other recommended Tera Types for Azumarill:
1.Fairy (to boost moves of Draining Kiss, Play Rough, and Charm)
2. Fighting (to boost Superpower, Focus Punch, Brick Break)
3. Dark (to boost moves of Fake Tears and Bite)
20. Catch Iron Hands
This is in the late stages of the game where you finish Paldea’s story, Kitakami’s Story, and start the Teal Mask DLC. Iron Hands is Violet Exclusive. Go to Research Stations 1, 2, and 3.
Iron Hands is strong against:
- Water
- Steel
- Dark
- Ice
- Rock
- Flying
- Normal
Iron Hands is most useful to prepare for 5 - 6 Star Tera Raids! Sometimes Iron Hands is useful in 7 Star Tera Raids. Many Pro Players use Iron Hands for difficult raids because of 2 things:
- Iron Hands has the Quark Drive Ability, increasing its highest stat on Electric Terrain or if holding Booster Energy
- It can learn the Egg Move, Belly Drum, cutting half of its HP to reach max Attack.
Through online Tera Raiding, its super common to see Iron Hands when facing Water, Steel, Dark and Flying Tera Raids.
Here are the recommended Tera Types for Iron Hands:
1. Electric (to boost moves Charge, Wild Charge, Thunder Punch, and Supercell Slam)
2. Fighting (to boost moves Close Combat, Drain Punch, Detect, and Seismic Toss)
3. Ground (to mainly boost the move Stomping Tantrum)
21. Catch a Mankey and evolve it to Annihilape
This is in the late stages of the game where you finish Paldea’s story, Kitakami’s Story, and start the Teal Mask DLC. Mankey lives around West Province Area 1. To evolve it to Annihilape you must keep its signature move, Rage Fist and use the move 20 times before leveling it up more.
Annihilape’s strong against:
- Psychic
- Ghost
- Dark
- Steel
- Ice
- Rock
- Normal (immune to)
- Fighting (immune to)
Annihilape is most useful to prepare for 5 - 6 Star Tera Raids! Sometimes Annihilape’s useful in 7 Star Tera Raids.
Many Pro Players use Annihilape for difficult raids because of 2 things:
- With the Shell Bell held item, Annihilape will gain HP with every attack move
- Annilape’s Hidden Ability is Defiant, increasing its Attack stat by 2 stages when hit by a status lowering move
Most of the time pro players use Annihilape when facing Psychic and Ghost Tera Raids.
Here are the other recommended Tera Types for Annihilape:
1.Ghost (to boost moves Rage Fist, Shadow Punch, Curse, and Spite)
2. Fighting (to boost Counter, Drain Punch, Cross Chop, and Close Combat)
3. Dark (to boost Assurance, Fling, Taunt, and Night Slash)
22. Don’t Ignore Uva/Naranja Classes!
Attending class can be boring… but not all the time! When you attend classes in your academy, some of them give you rewards. Some classes, like the History Class, can lead you to interesting side quests, such as finding the Ruinous Pokémon. Talking to the Team Star Crew in school again can earn you more uniform options.
All Friendship/Class Rewards: (recommended order)
Nurse Miriam
- Keep speaking to her. After completing Victory Road, speak with her again. She’ll give you 10 Max Revives!
- Generally, the best NPC to talk to whenever you feel like because she’s so caring!
Director Clavell
- Keep speaking to him. After completing Operation Starfell, speak with him again. He’ll give you a Big Nugget.
History - Ms. Raifort
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- Shrine locations to the 4 Ruinous Pokémon (max bond reward)
- Probably the most “intriguing” Professor to talk to and her shady interest in Legendaries
Languages - Mr. Salvatore
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- Galarian Meowth (max bond reward)
- All emotes in game
Math - Ms. Tyme
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- 50 Rock Tera Shards (max bond reward)
Biology Class - Mr. Jacq
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- After completing your first classes, return to Mr. Jacq to show him your Pokedex. He'll give you rewards for catching a certain number of Pokemon (max bond reward)
Battle Studies - Ms. Dendra
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- 10 Bottles of Protein (max bond reward)
Art - Mr. Hassle
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- 50 Dragon Tera Shards (max bond reward)
Home Ec. Mr. Saguaro
- 5 Exp. Candies M (for completing class)
- Sweet Hebra Mystica Quest that rewards a Slowpoke Cup for your Picnic Set (max bond reward)
For completing all classes
- The Front Desk person gives you 5 Exp. Candies L
How to complete all the classes in Uva/Naranja:
- Fast Travel to Uva/Naranaja.
- You can follow along this video for all answers and quests.
- You may do it all in one go, or go the time stamps to the classes you haven’t done yet.
23. Academy Ace Tournament Money Fast
The best and most reliable way to make money fast in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is through the Academy Ace Tournament after you beat it for the first time. At the end of the event, the register guy rewards you with many valuable items, such as Rare Candy.
Use a Level 100 Garchomp with a Ground Tera-Type to make the battles fast with:
- Dragon Claw (increase Dragon Claw’s PP to its max)
- Earthquake (increase Earthquake’s PP to its max)
- Power Gem (increase Power Gem’s PP to its max)
- Liquidation (increase Liquidation’s PP to its max)
- Have it hold a Muscle Band
Lucario, Gardevoir, Altaria, Gyrados, and Dragonite are great backup Pokémon. If Garchomp faints, have one of the backup Pokémon swap in, and plan to revive and heal Garchomp.
24. Use the Blueberry Academy Item Printer for rare rewards!
The Academy’s Item Printer can be used to earn rarer awards.
How it works:
1. Complete a few BBQ quests, earning 500 or 600 BP at most.
2. Go to the League Club room.
3. Contribute 200 BP to any subject anywhere.
4. This spawns the Science Club, which should say "Seeking Testers for Our Item Printer."
5. It costs 200 BP. Contribute to it.
6. Yay, you earned the Science Club Printer!
Use this public valuable resource if you’re hunting for Tera Shards, Golden Bottle Caps, Ability Patches, and even Exp Candy bundles! Pros use this so they can farm these items fast in bulk sizes.
25. Preparing for Event Mass Outbreaks, and Shiny Breeding
Mass outbreaks are events where many of the same Pokémon species appear in one location. You may encounter a Shiny Pokémon or a Pokémon with specific marks. To participate in official Pokémon mass outbreak events, connect online by pressing X and L. Always check your latest news.
Official Pokémon outbreaks are a big deal to pro players who love Shiny Hunting, and they use Shiny Sandwiches to expedite the process. You can refresh your hunting using a Time Travel method on your Nintendo Switch by skipping a day or more forward.
Outside of mass outbreaks, some pro players use breeding methods to get more shiny Pokémon. However, this method requires 2 shinies in your Box:
1 Shiny Female and 1 Shiny Male
1 Pokémon with any gender with 1 Shiny Ditto.
Remember that the Nickname trading method applies too when building your Shiny Pokédex.
Thanks for reading!
