Pokémon Sun and Moon

Hey there! So you've just landed in the Alola region in Pokémon Sun and Moon, huh? It's a pretty awesome place, full of tropical vibes and some seriously cool Pokémon you won't find anywhere else. You're basically a trainer who's new to town, but your ambition? Totally off the charts! Luckily, you've got the stamina of a superhero – no need for rest, food, or sleep. Talk about a power-up!

Getting around is easy peasy. Just use the left Circle Pad to move. Wanna book it? Hold down the B button to run. And you're naturally curious, right? That's a good thing! If you see anything or anyone interesting, hit that A button. Chatting with people might move the story along or give you hints, and interacting with items could be the key to a puzzle or just something neat to pick up. Seriously, don't be shy with the A button – you gotta interact to progress!

The Locales

Alola's a huge place, offering everything from bustling towns to serene natural spots where all sorts of Pokémon hang out. You'll mostly find yourself in two kinds of areas:

• Town or city: These are where people live, often with their Pokémon buddies. Battles are pretty rare here, but you'll usually find a Pokémon Center to rest up.
• Route or dungeon: Think of these as nature zones – the wild Pokémon's turf. You'll also bump into other trainers, so expect more battles! These are usually the paths connecting towns and cities.

Your Pokémon

Okay, let's talk Pokémon! They're not just partners; they're your friends. You can't be a trainer without 'em, right? You'll get one of three starter Pokémon right at the beginning. From there, it's all about raising them, catching new ones, and building those friendships. With your Pokémon by your side, you'll be able to explore Alola's wilds safely, battle other trainers for experience and money, and fill up that Pokédex!

Pokémon Battles

We'll get into the nitty-gritty of battling later, but here's the quick rundown. There are two main types of battles:

• Wild Battles: These pop up randomly when you're trekking through tall grass or similar areas. You'll face a wild Pokémon native to that spot.
• Trainer Battles: These happen when you're spotted by, or talk to, a trainer who's ready for a fight.

Usually, it's your Pokémon versus theirs. You pick the moves, and they pick theirs (or it's random for wild Pokémon). You win by knocking out all their Pokémon, or by KO-ing or capturing a wild one. Winning battles gets your Pokémon experience to make them stronger, earns you money from trainers, and captures help expand your team and Pokédex.

Managing your Pokémon

After a tough battle, your Pokémon's HP (Hit Points) and PP (Power Points) might be low. HP is their health – hit 0 and they faint. If all your Pokémon faint, you'll be sent back to the last Pokémon Center you visited. PP is what your moves use; once it's gone, you can't use that move. You can heal up at any Pokémon Center, or use items like Potions and Ethers if you're out in the wild.

Saving the Game

Super important: don't forget to save your game! Especially after doing something big or if you need to take a break. You don't want to lose all that hard-earned progress!

This guide provides essential tips and tricks for your adventure in Pokémon Sun and Moon, covering various aspects of gameplay to help you progress more effectively.

Free Space

To manage your inventory, utilize the "Free Space" compartment in your bag for frequently used or important items. You can move items to this section by selecting them and choosing the "Move to Free Space" option. Sorting items by name (pressing X) can also help locate specific items quickly.

Easy Experience Boosts

Increase your Pokémon's experience gains through several methods:

• Traded Pokémon gain 50% more experience. If the traded Pokémon is from a different language version, they gain 70% more experience. Note that high-level traded Pokémon may not obey you; check your Trainer Passport for level limits.
• Pokémon with an Affection level of 2 hearts or higher in Pokémon Refresh earn 20% more experience.
• After beating the game, the Lucky Egg item, held by a Pokémon, grants a 50% experience boost.
• The Exp. Share item gives all non-battling Pokémon in your party 50% of the experience points earned from battles.

Happiness

Pokémon have a hidden Happiness stat (distinct from Affection in Pokémon Refresh) that influences evolutions and certain moves like Return and Frustration. Increase Happiness by:

• Keeping Pokémon in your party and walking.
• Increasing a Pokémon's Level.
• Using the Soothe Bell item.
• Feeding Malasadas, especially preferred flavors.
• Getting massages in Konikoni City.
• Using Poke Pelago's Isle Avue.
• Feeding berries that decrease stats (EVs).

Delaying Evolution

While evolution generally makes Pokémon stronger, there are reasons to delay it:

• Evolved Pokémon learn moves at a slower pace.
• Some Pokémon learn exclusive moves at higher levels in their unevolved forms (e.g., Oddish learning Moonblast at Level 43).
• If a Pokémon requires an evolution stone, it might not learn any new moves after evolving, so ensure it has learned desired moves or has access to TMs.

Evolution Timescales

Some Pokémon have specific evolution requirements or can only evolve after certain points in the game. Here are some examples:

Note that some Pokémon, like Charjabug and Crabrawler, evolve much later than expected. If a friend is further ahead in the game, they might be able to evolve your Pokémon for you.

Alright, so you've made it to Aether Paradise on Akala Island! Things are about to get a little weird. You're going to encounter an 'Unidentified Creature' that's level 27, and it's a Rock/Poison type. It's definitely not your average Pokémon battle!

After that strange encounter, you'll be sent back to the ferry. As a memento of your time at Aether Paradise, you'll receive TM29 Psychic.