General Quick Questions & Answers Thread

[Sydian]

Since we often have question threads that apply to more than one game, I figured it was about time we added a general question thread to this section to help with clutter and to lessen confusion! :)

Rules:
- If the question you're going to ask already has a forum dedicated to it, like Black and White, please ask in that section's Q&A thread. Your posts may be deleted if they are specific to one game that already has a thread or belong elsewhere entirely.
- Remember that team helps belongs in Battle Center's in-game team help subforum.
- This thread can apply, but is not limited to, questions about the following: fake games, migrating between generations, link cable troubles, debating choices of game purchase, etc. as long as it remains within Pokemon gaming.
- No "thank you" posts. They will be deleted as spam and you can possibly be infracted if you break this rule constantly. Feel free to thank someone through VM though.

Without further ado, let the questions roll!

[JayTheKing]

Me and a friend of mine were playing pokemon Emerald when we came across a rare candy.
I said''Hey lets use it''
He said ''Nah Pokemon better level up with battles.Rare candy level ups dont give them as much stat ups as a regural level up''

Is that true?Does leveling up by battle increases the stats more than leveling up with a rare candy?

[Sydian]

Yeah, but I mean, if you've already accumulated all the EVs you can with that Pokemon, then a Rare Candy won't hurt. So for example, if you caught your Pokemon at level 5, I'm sure that around level 55 it's gotten all the EVs it can have and using a Rare Candy won't make a difference. I tend to just wait to use all my Rare Candies before the E4 so that I won't miss stat gains, but I mean, one harmless Rare Candy isn't gonna hurt you really. Unless you're EVing the Pokemon, I wouldn't worry too much about using a Rare Candy.

tl;dr Pokemon get more stat gains by battles, but a Rare Candy is still a nice treat and I recommend saving it till the end of the game for any level boost you might need. :)

[AdrianD]

Iv Tricks and strategies

anyone have ideas how to get the highest possible IV? Are there certain things to look for or what?
Need help getting Speed Ivs

[vaporeon7]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

Iv Tricks and strategies

anyone have ideas how to get the highest possible IV? Are there certain things to look for or what?
Need help getting Speed Ivs

You can talk to the IV Judge in Emerald, Platinum, HGSS, BW and BW2. In Emerald they're at the Battle Frontier, in Platinum and HGSS at the Battle Tower and in BW and BW2 at the Battle Subway. They'll tell you how high the Pokémon's IVs are in general, what stat has the highest IV, and how good that IV is. If it is perfect, they'll mention how it is flawless or something similar.

[Sydian]

If you're trying to get good IVs, you could have a parent Pokemon hold the Power Anklet, after you find out the IVs of the parent anyway so that you can pass on their specific IV. This only works in HGSS onward though.

Also, if this is for a game on the DS, you could just upload it to Pokecheck. That will tell you the exact IVs as well as the Hidden Power and EVs of the Pokemon. If you don't have WiFi though, then you'll have to use the people that vaporeon7 referred to.

[thesungod]

Hello all, just signed up for this forum because I have had the craziest urges lately to play pokemon. I used to have silver and gold for a game boy color, the only games I even cared to own for it, with a gameshark. I really did enjoy the games a lot but over the years I moved to console games and then eventually to PC games. The gameboy's been lost for years, it's really sad to think about... Not sure when it started but I know what cemented it, my girlfriend's 6 year old got pokemon black when we got him a DS earlier this year. Just seeing it kicked in some sort of addiction. I remember staying up ALL NIGHT just to get to the "next area". I remember using my gameshark to load up on repels and master balls .

Well, I played black for a couple of hours, but I saw he had like Charizard and some others, not exactly sure how I think he has another game, so I didn't save. That's crap you can only have one save per game, I mean in 2000 ok, but today, it just seems so limiting. I read it's a marketing tactic to sell more cartridges. whatever. Obviously then if I want to play it I'm going to have to buy one of my own damned games..

Here's where I need advice. What the hell are all of these goofy pokemon? A silly looking monkey that looks like a pokemon rip off? All you encounter in the first parts of black are a bunch of filthy rats and small dogs. I apologize if that offended anyone. But I think so so so fondly of the pokemon of gold and silver. I remember fishing and I remember Gyarados, of course I remember how important repels were, but I'm skeptical of these new types. (I was exaggerating slightly I was kind of interested to see what Herdier would look like if he evolved again). Basically, every pokemon was cool in those games and now i feel like I have to judge a potentially good pokemon and pass on it because it looks so darn silly.

So what game do I invest in if I think the new generation of pokemon are just ridiculous looking? Or is the plot something that overcomes that? It seems like everyone has a different opinion. I mean are Ruby and Saphire decent games with normal looking, sweet pokemon? for some reason I'm leaning toward emerald as a good point to get back into the games. Or should I bite the bullet and suck it up, and try to play black or white which I have heard as being pretty good? I don't know how to reconcile how every pokemon in gold/silver looked really cool and they just don't all seem to in the new ones. And everyone disagrees so I'm just standing on the sidelines exhausted waiting for one side to win. So can somebody please tell me what new generation game is best for a silver/gold fan? I think I'll probably pass on soulsilver/heartgold because I read the plot and my memory is bad but I recognized every town and a lot of the plot so I'd like a surprise. But I can definitely be convinced because I don't remember a lot of it.

[Sydian]

I'm gonna merge this with the general Q&A thread.

Suck it up and play Black and White. I'm sick of people coming on and posting about how the Pokemon are crap and new and ugly and strange and such. I mean, this happens a bit, and it's nice to have your own opinion and all, but things change, things move forward. We can't be happy about them all, and if you really just can't stand it, you can go do something else. That's just how I feel after seeing all these "new Pokemon are ugly" topics/posts.

Gameplay wise though, I'd keep playing BW. They're really fun and plotwise, much better than previous games. Black and White 2 are actually much better though, and if you enjoy older Pokemon more than the new, they updated the Pokedex in that game so that there are gen I-IV Pokemon found in the wild, which is nice cause all Unova Pokemon got a bit tiring after a while, similar to how playing RBY/FRLG, you get tired of all Kanto Pokemon, though that's what they were going for haha.

And if you want a "blast from the past" feel, I recommend going to HeartGold or SoulSilver. They take everything that make GSC great and multiply it by 5. It's a great remake and keeps the original games well in tact, while adding its own flair to make it different, and that's really what makes the game special to me. Not to mention, there are no "weird" gen V Pokemon. Just gen I and II, and later you can find III and IV.

And Emerald is DA BOMB. To be honest though, if you're coming out of gen II and going straight to gen III, I think what might ease the blow is going through by generation. So go with Emerald (though you'd definitely want to buy one from a local store, as the ones sold online are often fake), then Platinum, HGSS if you want to, and then maybe pick back up with BW or B2W2. I think what happens with people in your situation are that they haven't played in so long, so the nostalgia goggles are still on lol. So I think if you just go through the games you missed in order, it all might not seem so strange. Then again, even to the hardcore fans, gen V Pokemon looked weird at first. All new Pokemon tend to look weird at first, but we get used to it and adjust.

[Sassy Milkshake]

Okay I haven't played Black or White yet. I'm familiar with most of the Pokemon actually, but I'm wondering if it'll make a difference if I just get BW2 first without playing the first games or if I should just play the first games first. I guess it doesn't matter, but I could save a couple bucks.

[Hikari10]

Originally Posted by Sassy Milkshake

Okay I haven't played Black or White yet. I'm familiar with most of the Pokemon actually, but I'm wondering if it'll make a difference if I just get BW2 first without playing the first games or if I should just play the first games first. I guess it doesn't matter, but I could save a couple bucks.

I recommend playing the original Black or White first cos it helps you prepare for the Black 2 and White 2 story. Also, Black 2 and White 2 has the Memory Link feature which activates when you connect to Black or White.

Memory Link unlocks some neat stuff, such as flashback cutscenes, the ability to catch N's Pokemon and also some post-game battles against N, as well as Cheren and Bianca using the team they had on the Black or White game used. Those are just some of the features you can unlock by only using Memory Link.

So yeah, start with Black and White, and then do Black 2 and White 2.

[Drarorm]

Hello! I am soon going to buy a DS console ( first one ) so i can experience one of the pokemon games,
BW2. Thought i am not sure which console to get. I just want the graphics and music to be at their best and because i heard there are pixels on the DSI XL I was wondering is it true, and if it ruins the game should i get the smaller version. So i am not sure and hoping you can help me make my decision. (PS. Also please dont answer 3DS because i have made a decision just to buy it when gen 6 comes out and I see if its only 3DS or not :p ).Thanks in advance :D!

[Keiran777]

No, Pokemon looks beautiful on a DSi XL. I much prefer it over the smaller screens.

[Sydian]

The DSi XL is just fine and you'll have nothing to worry about. If you don't like things looking too pixel-y, then go with a regular one. If you don't mind it, go for the large one. They're surprisingly nice to use. Portability wise though, if you have large pockets, you'll be good with the XL. If not...I suggest you start carrying a messenger bag. :3 lol

[Drarorm]

One more question, I just understood that i have the funding to also buy a 3DS Xl thought after all the feedback i have readed and watched i understand that the resolution just screws up the game and the 3DS XL mixes all the music up, is that true, is it that bad?

[Sydian]

I honestly haven't heard anything like that. Now, DS games may look a bit blurry on a 3DS, however it's nothing that will ruin the game. The music sounds fine as well, perhaps even a bit louder. But it's not awful and nothing makes the game unplayable or messed up. You might have better luck asking in the Video Game's Q&A thread though, because this thread is more for questions about Pokemon game mechanics and game choice rather than console choice or things not relating to Pokemon games. If you want more insight to the consoles themselves, you can ask there. As for how Pokemon games play on a 3DS though, they've always been fine for me, however, I can't speak for the 3DS XL, though I doubt it messes up your game or makes it look bad or anything. You might also consider looking up videos to see if anyone shows how the game looks on one, but idk if there are any videos like that. Worth a shot though, right?

[Volcanix769]

How do I tend to EV train my Pokemon? I've been searching through Bulbapedia and I sort of don't understand. I've been trying to raise my Pokemon by fighting trainers in game in Pokemon Black, but does that count as that? Sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but I've been confused on the basis to Effort Value training.

[Sydian]

There is actually an amazing EV training guide in the Black and White's section's FAQ. It explains things much better than I can.

Here you go: http://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=244502

If you still have questions after that though, just post in here again with what's confusing you and I'll try to help as best as I can. :)

[CycloneGU]

I've been putting a lot of thought into how to catch my Entei (still roaming in SS), and have come upon what I think is an ideal method.

1. Catch a Smeargle (I have one).
2. Use Exp. Share (or have it Sketch a powerful move - which can later be forgotten if you don't need it later - and let it do its own fighting) to level it up to a high enough level that it can outspeed opponents.
3. Encounter a Gastly (Sprout Tower in Violet City). Have items you can just waste while waiting for it to use Mean Look. As soon as it does, Sketch it.
4. Go to move relearner (Blackthorne). Use a Heart Scale and relearn Sketch (I'm assuming this works).
5. Encounter a Sunkern (i.e. National Park during the daytime). Use Mean Look a few times, or at least until Sunkern uses Ingrain. Immediately Sketch it.
6. Repeat Step 4.
7. Find a stronger Ledyba (Kanto Route 18 is excellent, at Lv.26-27). Linger around and wait for Baton Pass to be used. Sketch it.

At this point, you should be able to encounter any roamer, use Mean Look to make it fight you, use Ingrain to negate the Roar it may often attempt to use the next turn, and then Baton Pass (keeping both effects in place) to someone who knows False Swipe or - in the event you have it weakened already - to someone with a paralysis-only or sleep-inducing move. It should be an easy catch from here.

Is there a problem with this logic? Is there a better way to do this? I've seen advice to breed and evolve a Gengar with an Egg Move as a Gastly, but that would take a lot longer than the above and I think the above is foolproof unless the effects do not stay in place.

(BTW, I intend this to be a thread for roamer catching discussion, not a simple quick question.)

NOTE: I am aware in Gen. V that Mean Look is negated after Baton Pass is used.

Cyclone

[Sydian]

I don't think you need Baton Pass. You could get Smeargle to level 100 and have it know False Swipe, and just carry a lot of healing items. That's what I see most people doing. Everything else though (Mean Look and Ingrain) are fine. Baton Pass though, eh. I'd only want that as a last resort type of thing. I think Smeargle at a high enough level is capable of holding its own as a trapper.

edit: idk if you meant to ask this just for SS (since that's what you're playing as you stated), but next time you have a question for a specific game, please post it in its corresponding thread. I went ahead and merged it into this one for now, since it sort of applies to other games, but your post is really generalized towards HGSS, so yeah. Just keep that in mind next time, please. :)

[vaporeon7]

Also you could just use a Pokémon with Taunt which prevents Roar.

[CycloneGU]

Originally Posted by Sydian

edit: idk if you meant to ask this just for SS (since that's what you're playing as you stated), but next time you have a question for a specific game, please post it in its corresponding thread. I went ahead and merged it into this one for now, since it sort of applies to other games, but your post is really generalized towards HGSS, so yeah. Just keep that in mind next time, please.

Actually, I DID mean to ask it for all games, hence the Gen. V note at the end that I added in. I mean to discuss what the best trapper is in each generation or each set of games itself. The discussion can continue as things change in later generations. I used the Smeargle I'm trying to prep. in SS as an example.

Originally Posted by vaporeon7

Also you could just use a Pokémon with Taunt which prevents Roar.

This is true, but Taunt wears off. Granted, I believe the roamers always move last, so a worn off Taunt can just be resparked. That's an idea, meaning Taunt is another option for Smeargle (unless Sketch can't be used after a Taunt).

Cyclone

[Sydian]

Actually, I DID mean to ask it for all games, hence the Gen. V note at the end that I added in. I mean to discuss what the best trapper is in each generation or each set of games itself. The discussion can continue as things change in later generations.

You worded it to where you sounded like you were asking it for yourself, not to start a discussion, so sorry for the misunderstanding. Next time though, make sure you check how you word things before posting. Reading your post again, it just doesn't sound like you made it out to be a thread topic.

This is true, but Taunt wears off. Granted, I believe the roamers always move last, so a worn off Taunt can just be resparked. That's an idea, meaning Taunt is another option for Smeargle (unless Sketch can't be used after a Taunt).

Get in a double battle with your Smeargle and another one of your Pokemon that has Taunt. Sketch Taunt from your partner Pokemon.

[CycloneGU]

Found another great option: Murkrow as designed. It learns Taunt and Mean Look, and is the only Pokémon to naturally learn both (excluding possibly one in Unova that might exist). Any Murkrow at Lv.41 is excellent for preventing Roar and running away simultaneously if you can get it down in HP beforehand.

That will be my project for tonite: trying to catch Entei with a Murkrow once I level it up.

EDIT: Success! Lv.45 Murkrow does it, but I had to use some healing items between ball chucking to pull it off. Higher level recommended. Managed to catch it trying to use Roar on me with a Taunt.

Cyclone

[~RNC~]

Ok just a question, if there really is a pokemon called Missingno, why is there no pokedex entry / spot for it??

[Sydian]

It's not a real Pokemon. It's just a glitch that appears for...well, it has something to do with the Pokedex number code on the wild encounter Pokemon going past 151. This will explain it better than I can: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Missingno

Even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQeedFtYckw

Just know it's not a real Pokemon. More like a glitch Pokemon, so it doesn't get a number (fitting for the name, eh?) or a dex entry.