SOS Battle Chaining
SOS Battles represent a unique mechanic in Pokémon Sun and Moon where wild Pokémon can call for assistance from other wild Pokémon. This phenomenon, known as calling for help, can be strategically exploited to increase your chances of encountering Pokémon with rare traits. By chaining these battles—meaning you defeat the Pokémon that arrives to help and allow the original wild Pokémon to call for assistance again—you can significantly improve the odds of finding Pokémon with Hidden Abilities. These Hidden Abilities are often powerful and can provide a distinct advantage in battle, making them highly sought after by trainers.
Beyond Hidden Abilities, chaining SOS Battles also boosts the likelihood of encountering Pokémon with superior Individual Values (IVs). IVs are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon's potential, and higher IVs contribute to a Pokémon's overall strength. Furthermore, the longer you maintain an SOS Battle chain, the greater the chance of encountering a Shiny Pokémon. Shiny Pokémon are exceptionally rare variants with alternate colorations, making them prized possessions for collectors. To maximize the effectiveness of SOS Battles and expedite the calling process, it is highly recommended to use an Adrenaline Orb. This item, when used in a wild encounter, increases the wild Pokémon's call rate, making it more likely to summon a partner and thus extending your chain.
When initiating an SOS Battle, it's important to consider your strategy. While the goal is to keep the original Pokémon alive to continue the chain, you'll need to defeat the summoned Pokémon. However, be mindful of the original Pokémon's HP. If it faints, the SOS Battle chain will break. Trainers often employ Pokémon with moves that inflict status conditions like paralysis or sleep to prevent the wild Pokémon from fleeing or calling for help too quickly, allowing for more controlled chaining. The use of moves like "False Swipe" is also a common tactic to weaken the wild Pokémon without knocking it out, ensuring it can call for help multiple times before you decide to capture it.