Course Specific Strategies

Course Specific Strategies

Welcome to the ultimate guide for maximizing your photo scores in each unique environment of Pokémon Snap! This section provides detailed, actionable walkthroughs for every course, focusing on optimal item usage, Pokémon interactions, and prime photo opportunities. Master these strategies to become a Pokémon photography pro!

Beach Course

The Beach is your introductory course, but don't let its simplicity fool you. There are many hidden interactions and high-scoring shots to be found.

• Opening Stretch (Pidgey & Doduo):
  • Immediately upon starting, aim your camera towards the sky to catch Pidgey in flight. A clear shot of a Pidgey mid-flap can yield excellent points.
  • As you approach the first bend, you'll see a group of Doduo. Throw an Apple near them to get them to gather. A close-up shot of multiple Doduo eating is a prime opportunity.
• Mankey Tree & Meowth:
  • Further along, a Mankey will be hanging from a tree. Hit it with a Pester Ball to make it fall. This often provokes a funny reaction, leading to a higher score.
  • Keep an eye on the ground near the Mankey tree for a Meowth. Lure it out with an Apple for a good shot.
• Lapras Lagoon & Pikachu Event Trigger:
  • As you enter the lagoon area, several Lapras will be swimming. Play the Poké Flute to encourage them to surface and sing. A shot of a Lapras with its mouth open, singing, is highly prized.
  • Look for the hidden Switch on the rock face to the right, just before the Snorlax area. Hitting it with a Pester Ball will trigger a special event later in the course, revealing a surfing Pikachu. This is not a branching path, but an interaction that unlocks a unique photo opportunity.
• Snorlax & Surfing Pikachu:
  • Towards the end of the course, a Snorlax will be sleeping. To wake it, you need to play the Poké Flute three times. Be ready with your camera as it stretches and yawns for a unique photo.
  • If you activated the hidden Switch earlier, a Pikachu will appear riding a surfboard on the water. Throw an Apple in front of Pikachu to get it to strike a pose on its surfboard for a fantastic, high-scoring shot.

Tunnel Course

The Tunnel course is dark and full of surprises. Strategic use of items is crucial here to illuminate Pokémon and trigger reactions, especially for the legendary Zapdos.

• Electabuzz & Generator Activation:
  • At the very beginning, you'll see an Electabuzz. Hitting it with a Pester Ball can sometimes make it charge up, offering a dynamic photo opportunity.
  • Crucially, look for three distinct Switches on the walls throughout the initial tunnel section. You must hit all three with Pester Balls to activate the power generator. This generator powers the entire area and is essential for the Zapdos encounter later.
  • The first switch is usually visible shortly after the Electabuzz. The second is often on the left wall as you proceed, and the third is typically on the right wall just before the open cave section. Be quick and precise!
• Zubat Cave & Hidden Switch:
  • As you enter the cave section, Zubat will fly around erratically. Throwing Apples can sometimes get them to pause or gather, allowing for clearer shots.
  • Keep an eye out for a hidden Switch near the ceiling in the Zubat cave, often located above the main path. Hitting this can sometimes reveal a different path or trigger a Pokémon interaction, though its primary function is often to add to your overall score for discovering secrets.
• Dugtrio & Diglett:
  • In the open area with the railway tracks, numerous Diglett will pop out of the ground. Be quick with your camera to catch them before they retreat!
  • To make Dugtrio appear, you need to hit three separate Diglett with Apples or Pester Balls in quick succession. Once Dugtrio emerges, it's a high-value photo opportunity. Aim for a shot that clearly shows all three heads.
• Onix & Magikarp Evolution:
  • An Onix will be sleeping on the tracks, blocking your path. To get a good shot, you'll need to wake it up. Throw a Pester Ball at its head. Be ready for its reaction.
  • Near the Onix, you'll see a Magikarp flopping helplessly on the ground. Throw an Apple near it to get it to jump, or even better, hit it with a Pester Ball to send it flying into the nearby water. If the power generator was activated earlier (by hitting the three switches), this Magikarp will evolve into a Gyarados upon hitting the water, providing an extremely rare and high-scoring photo opportunity.
• Zapdos's Nest & Hatching:
  • If you successfully activated all three Switches earlier, the power generator will be fully operational, and you will see a giant Pokémon egg pulsating with energy towards the end of the course.
  • To hatch the egg and reveal Zapdos, you must repeatedly hit the egg with Pester Balls. Once it cracks, play the Poké Flute to encourage Zapdos to fully emerge. Be ready for a spectacular photo as it flies out! A clear shot of Zapdos in flight, especially as it first appears, is a top-tier photo.

Volcano Course

The Volcano is a fiery landscape where Pokémon thrive in the heat. Timing and precision are key to capturing these hot-headed creatures and their unique interactions.

• Charmander & Vulpix Gathering:
  • Early in the course, you'll spot several Charmander near the lava pools. Throw Apples to get them to gather for a group shot. Aim for multiple Charmander in a single frame for higher scores.
  • A Vulpix can be found near the lava pits. Lure it closer with an Apple for a better, more detailed photo. Sometimes throwing an Apple near a Charmander can also attract a Vulpix to the same spot.
• Magmar & Growlithe Interactions:
  • Magmar often appear from the lava. Hit them with Pester Balls to make them react aggressively, which can lead to high-scoring action shots. Try to capture their fiery breath or defensive poses.
  • A Growlithe is often seen chasing a Magmar. Try to get both in the same frame for bonus points, especially if they are interacting or in motion. Luring them with Apples can help position them.
• Rapidash & Ponyta Evolution:
  • Several Ponyta will be galloping across the volcanic plains. Throw Apples in their path to get them to stop or change direction, allowing for clearer pictures. A close-up of a Ponyta mid-gallop is a good shot.
  • To evolve a Ponyta into Rapidash, you need to hit it with an Apple while it's running. This is a challenging but extremely rewarding shot. The timing must be precise; aim for the head or body as it gallops. The newly evolved Rapidash provides an excellent photo opportunity.
• Arcanine's Roar & Moltres:
  • Towards the end of the course, an Arcanine will be sleeping peacefully. To wake it, you need to hit it with a Pester Ball. Be ready to capture its powerful roar as it awakens! A shot of Arcanine with its mouth open, roaring, is highly valued.
  • After waking Arcanine, it will often run towards a specific spot. Follow its path. If you throw Apples into the lava pit where Arcanine stops, you can sometimes coax the legendary Pokémon Moltres to emerge from the lava. This is a rare and difficult interaction but yields the highest possible score for the course. Be prepared with your camera as soon as Moltres appears.