Obviously, you’ll want to assemble a team of powerful Pokémon (and more!) to accompany you on your journey through the region of Paldea. You’ll have plenty of chances to meet and catch Pokémon, so you’ll soon have a team ready to go into battle.
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Read on to find out how to choose your first Pokémon partner, how to catch Pokémon in the wild, how to fight in Tera Raid Battles, and how to trade Pokémon. Refer to the Pokémon Eggs section of this guide for more information!
Choosing Your First Pokémon Partner
Near the beginning of your journey, you’ll have to make an important choice: who will be your first Pokémon partner? Will it be a Sprigatito of the Grass type, a Fuecoco of the Fire type, or a Quaxly of the Water type? Obviously, there is no incorrect response; whichever one you choose will become a loyal companion. Be sure to capture Pokémon of different types to create a well-rounded team capable of facing any challenge.
Capturing Uncommon Pokémon
Adding more Pokémon to your team is easiest by capturing wild Pokémon. As you traverse the region, you will encounter numerous Pokémon roaming the landscape. In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, there are no random Pokémon encounters, unlike in many previous Pokémon RPGs. If you wish to capture a wild Pokémon, you must initiate a battle by approaching it (or allowing it to approach you!). Keep an eye out for the occasional formation of small groups of wild Pokémon. You can gather Pokémon materials and train your Pokémon’s stats by battling or capturing the Pokémon in these groups. You can learn more about Pokémon materials in the section How to Make TMs in this guide. For instance, here is a tip that seasoned Trainers may find useful: A group of six Bounsweet can grant your Pokémon six base health points!
You will be the one hiding in tall grass in Paldea. You can gain an early advantage against a wild Pokémon by sneaking up behind it and tossing the Poké Ball containing your party’s lead Pokémon. If the Poké Ball collides with a Pokémon in the wild, a battle will ensue. Reduce the HP of the wild Pokémon by attacking it. The closer a target is to being knocked out, the simpler it will be to catch. Using status-inflicting moves, such as paralysis or sleep, also improves your chances of success. Once you believe you have sufficiently weakened the wild Pokémon, attempt to capture it with a Poké Ball. If the Pokémon manages to escape the Poké Ball, which is highly likely, you can continue trying until you succeed. Just be sure to carry an abundance of Poké Balls to avoid running out!
Battles against Tera in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
Tera Raid Battles pit you against powerful Terastallized Pokémon alongside other Trainers. After forming a group with up to three other players, you will face off against a wild Tera Pokémon, which you will be able to capture if you manage to defeat it within the allotted time.
During a Tera Raid Battle, you’ll notice a yellow bar draining slowly from beneath the wild Tera Pokémon. The objective is to defeat the Tera Pokémon before the meter runs out. Notably, Tera Raid Battles do not follow the standard turn-based format of standard Pokémon battles. You will instead select a move or a cheer, and once that action has been completed, you will be able to select another. In the meantime, your teammates and wild Tera Pokémon will operate autonomously; gone are the days of waiting for other Trainers to act!
You’ll be able to Terastallize your own Pokémon after three attacks, which can help you turn the tide in a tough Tera Raid Battle. Your Pokémon’s Terastallization will be undone if it is knocked out, and you will lose time on the meter. Before you can send your Pokémon back into the fray, you will also be temporarily removed from the battle. In Tera Raid Battles, victory can hinge on fractions of a second, so be prepared for a challenge and make every second count!
It’s fun to trade Pokémon with other Trainers, and it’s a good way to get some of Paldea’s rarer Pokémon. Some Pokémon can only be found in Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet, so trading with friends is a great way to fill out your team and add to your Pokédex. During a trade, however, you should take note of the Pokémon’s level. If you have not defeated a sufficient number of Gym Leaders in the region, your new Pokémon may not listen to you in battle. If you find yourself with an uncooperative partner, try advancing further along the Victory Road storyline to earn more Gym Badges, as Pokémon of higher levels will be easier to capture and more willing to comply with your commands.