Does Anyone Else Hate S.O.S Battles?

Started by Lunar December 4th, 2016 10:03 AM
  • 5061 views
  • 30 replies

Lunar

Age 24
Male
England
Seen September 16th, 2020
Posted September 15th, 2020
Don't get me wrong, I know S.O.S battles have their uses, but I really don''t think they've been done right. As trainers, we should have the option to CHOOSE whether we want one to occur (darker grass or something) or a much lower chance of a second Pokemon appearing. It's seriously turned the most basic concept of Pokemon, into something super annoying. I just want to either catch one Pokemon, or train one of my lower leveled party members by grinding, but I can't do that because most of the time I'm stuck against two Pokemon, who usually knock out the Pokemon I'm trying to train, or an endless battle where the same result occurs, it's so frustrating.

I like the idea of these battles, so I really hope Game Freak decide to actually patch them so that either there's a much lower chance of another Pokemon appearing, or that only the original Pokemon can call for help, cause at the moment it's just ridiculous. Personally, this is the only bad thing about Sun and Moon for me, but what are your thoughts?

Mawa

The typo Queen

Age 30
Female
Canada
Seen August 13th, 2020
Posted March 1st, 2020
I see the positive point and I really want to try this for the higher IV's and shiny rate when I' in my post game! (if these speculations are trues)

But for now, I am doing the game just for fun, I didn't beat the game yet (exams session so I only played like 6 hours). It's a bit too excessive when you play casual.
I miiiiight be back?
And why am I not a supporter anymore >.<
Male
Quebec
Seen July 26th, 2018
Posted September 26th, 2017
211 posts
6.5 Years
Well S.OS do help for the better IV's ( around 30 to 40 fainted pokemon) and shiny pokemon ( just happen to catch a shiny caterpie right now) but I can understand why some people can get annoyed about this option, but overall i'm neutral about S.O.S, since I mostly see S.O.S for EV's trainning!
I won't bore you~!

DarkPoke001

Newfound Love For Togekiss

Age 24
Male
Hunting Shinies
Seen December 25th, 2016
Posted December 11th, 2016
177 posts
9.6 Years
I'm finding them rather annoying every now and then throughout playing the story, when you're not able to always one- hit a pokemon and you just want to get out of a battle. THEN they call in another.

Post Game, I think they'd be very useful for gaining experience, EV'S and shiny hunting etc so I'll take the good with the bad

an interesting feature to say the least... ~
User Of The Dark Type...

FC- Joshua - 0232-9296-9853

Friend safari - Ground : Sandshrew, Camerupt and Gastrodon

Y Shinies : Luvdisc, Skrelp, Gyarados, Alomamola, Politoed, Seaking, Dragalge, Chandelure, Maractus, Garchomp, Eelektross, Sceptile, Rayquaza, Blastoise and Umbreon :3

OR Shinies : Metang, Tentacool, Magikarp and Sharpedo :)

Belldandy

Ice-Type Fanatic

Age 30
Female
Ottawa, Ontario
Seen October 29th, 2018
Posted December 27th, 2016
3,978 posts
10 Years
I think it can be a bit annoying, but let's be honest: hoards was a much, much worse mechanic in that it was even more annoying than S.O.S. battles. I think S.O.S. battles are an improvement; however, it'd be nice if they occurred perhaps later in the game, or if it gave the option to send out a second Pokemon when an S.O.S. is called.
Age 25
Female
Connecticut
Seen December 10th, 2016
Posted December 7th, 2016
14 posts
6.5 Years
That is why I always carry around Magnezone with me (with thunderwave of course) S.O.S battles aren't really a problem for me, they do have their uses (for good IVs, certain Pokemon, possibly shinies, and they are ideal for EV training as well)
However, if you want to stop them from calling out more Pokemon, have a Pokemon with thunderwave in your first slot and paralyze them first chance, paralyzing doesn't allow them to call any help. Then I'd bring out Absol with false swipe. Generally that is my technique for catching a Pokemon.
My FC is 4957-5949-5492!

Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
I'm with the same reasons as Pinkie - some Pokemon being SOS-only makes them frustrating to catch, even worse if it's one that can only be summoned when a weather condition is active.
Gone forever for personal reasons.
Visit my Tumblr page if you wish to contact me.

http://daikenkki.tumblr.com/

SaniOKh

Too old for this stuff

Age 35
Male
Ukraine
Seen 4 Weeks Ago
Posted October 22nd, 2021
591 posts
16.9 Years
I like them. They make things more interesting.

I have two gripes with them though:
  • Wild Pokémon should skip a turn when they call for help.
  • I wish the probability of encountering different species or evolved form was higher.

Friend codes:
Pokémon GO: 2092-0866-5439 | Electric-type Safari: 4468-2370-5617 (Electrode - Pikachu - Galvantula) | Dark-type Safari: 1134-8222-3179 (Nuzleaf - Cacturne - Liepard)
PM before adding. If you don't mention which code you added, I will NOT add you back.

LilyGardy

The Flowering Pokemon

Female
Celadon Gym
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted January 28th, 2023
4,476 posts
7.8 Years
I for one like SOS battles as it helps me encounter Shiny and High IV Pokemon. I have picked up 5 Shinys so far with this method. :)

However I understand that some may find the prospect of battling multiple Golbat say whilst playing through the story annoying to say the least. Perhaps an option in the settings to turn SOS battles off could be available with SOS only Pokemon being very rare regular encounters in this setting.
Currently playing - Omega Ruby Grass Monotype

Juno

OK I PULL UP

Age 28
Female
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
4,561 posts
9.5 Years
I thought they were cute at first but my opinion changed very quickly when Magby called 8 other Magby in a row without giving me a break, while I was trying to catch the first Magby.

DarkPlat

Age 28
Male
New York City
Seen April 14th, 2019
Posted December 8th, 2016
4 posts
6.5 Years
Without a doubt the worst aspect of the game for me.

When it comes down to shiny Pokemon, I honestly couldn't care in the end because I don't shiny hunt, but I can probably get away with saying I would prefer shiny hunting with hordes (since I inadvertently found two shiny Pokemon that way).

And if we're talking IVs, I can also probably get away with saying I prefer the DexNav.

Wild battle gimmicks have been a thing since 5th generation, so I guess it'll be tradition now for every gen to include something as preposterous and monotonous as this.

Rivvon

Age 30
Female
USA
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted January 30th, 2023
2,770 posts
16.1 Years
DexNav chaining was so much better. You don't need to worry about keeping any one Pokémon clinging on to 1HP while it tries to call for help, because you just knock them out and keep going. Found a Pokémon with 3+ IVs, its Hidden Ability, or even some cool Egg Move on the way? Catch it! Your chain will keep. You'll find your shiny along the line and have multiple good parents for future breeding, too.

SOS battles? Nope. You're only gonna catch one Pokémon in the entire chain, because you can't aim when there are two Pokémon on the opposing end of the field. And of course, when I don't use the Adrenaline Orb (because I don't want you to call for help, please stop calling for help-- !!) it always calls for help and the help always arrives. When I do use the Adrenaline Orb because I want to try to chain? "It called for help! ... Its help didn't appear!" Of course.

Not to mention that I actually enjoyed creeping up on Pokémon in ORAS. That kept you... awake. You actually did something that wasn't just staying in the same battle for 2+ hours hoping your shiny will fall from the sky.


A Dream of Your Own: The Formulas of Unova—Black & White
Introduction | Part I: The Components of Unova

magicalgirlj

I liek Popplio

Female
Richmond VA
Seen February 8th, 2017
Posted January 14th, 2017
338 posts
8.4 Years
Sure S.O.S. battles can be handy for experience, but when you are trying to catch a Pokemon and the quick ball did not work and the Pokemon is hard to catch, it is so annoying. Like when I tried to catch an Elekid but it would not get into any pokeballs it kept calling for help, ugh such a pain.
One does not simply get too old for Pokemon
If everyone would stop wonder trading Zigazagoon's that would be great

Degurchaff

Age 28
Male
Sweden
Seen November 10th, 2017
Posted September 22nd, 2017
363 posts
6.6 Years
God the amount of times Pokemon called for help When i tried to grind my team It's not fun at all I think they got a nice idea with it and all But it seems a little bit overused Like when the Pokemon you are fightning has a low amount of health it Will call for help 85% of the time Made me run from some battles at times.

Don't give up fight 'till the end!

Age 33
Male
Seen 3 Weeks Ago
Posted 3 Weeks Ago
1,567 posts
9.8 Years
I tried SOS for Growlithe, but it has Roar so every turn my Pokemon would switch back and forth 1 to 2 times to be honest Roar should fail if you are higher level, not switch your Pokemon.



Negative aspects of SOS compared to Dexnav and Friend Safari.

1vs2, you have two Pokemon attacking you at the same time. The status attacks are as bad if not worst then the physical attacks.
Need to stay in a battle for 70 turns, then your odds are still over 600 with shiny charm, 1,000 without.
Need to buy lots of healing items, sometimes you needed to buy repels but you honestly didn't have to buy potions or anything with dexnav, to be honest you don't even need to attack the Pokemon, in most mirage spots you can just run and hop on the bike.


Maybe if they didn't axe so many better methods from gen 6.
One thing though is I have a Yawning Slowpoke on my team so don't really have to worry about them calling for help as they are asleep. Of course I'm only up to the second island so it probably won't be as easy with higher level Pokemon, but sleep is still the best status condition overall.

Adam Levine

I have tried all of your remedies

Age 20
he/they
Kara's Flowers
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 2 Weeks Ago
5,183 posts
11.6 Years
Pros:

Chances of getting Hidden Abilities.
The EVs you could get from this.
The potential to get new Pokmon.
Great way to get EXP.
Better use of Timer Balls.

Cons:
Not being able to catch a Pokmon until one of them faints, which can be a hassle if it's your first time trying to catch one of them.
Is it seriously the only way for the three first pros to happen?
Being even harder than Horde Battles.
Male
Austria
Seen 3 Weeks Ago
Posted September 13th, 2018
23 posts
9.5 Years
Honestly they could have done them a lot better. Like, make the chance it calls for help lower but make the Adrenaline Orb increase the chance more. On top of that make the Adrenaline Orb only work on the Pokemon that are on the field while you use it so you won't get annoying calls for help later when you decide to catch one in your chain. Or let us throw Pokeballs in the first place, makes no sense we can't.
Double Battle Team

Lunar

Age 24
Male
England
Seen September 16th, 2020
Posted September 15th, 2020
Honestly they could have done them a lot better. Like, make the chance it calls for help lower but make the Adrenaline Orb increase the chance more. On top of that make the Adrenaline Orb only work on the Pokemon that are on the field while you use it so you won't get annoying calls for help later when you decide to catch one in your chain. Or let us throw Pokeballs in the first place, makes no sense we can't.
I completely agree, they're definitely a great concept, but I feel like replacing one of the most standard things in Pokemon with a high chance of an endless (or long) S.O.S battle is ridiculous. I just wanna train a Pokemon but almost every battle it either faints or gets painfully low on health.

Disolia

Friend of the Lurantis

MI
Seen August 14th, 2019
Posted July 25th, 2019
115 posts
8.5 Years
I wouldn't say I dislike it, though it can be tedious at times when you just want to catch a certain pokemon. They could have at least made another item like the adrenaline orb, that would stop all S.O.S Calls.

Imperator161

Seen February 5th, 2023
Posted July 31st, 2020
1,415 posts
14.7 Years
I'm not done with the game yet, but so far, I'm not a big fan of SOS battles. I really wish I could activate them by choice (e.g., with Adrenaline Orbs) and avoid them otherwise. My HM users may be gone, but now I feel obligated to always keep a status-inducing Pokemon, preferably with multiple types of high-accuracy status moves (e.g., sleep + paralysis in case a Pokemon isn't susceptible to one of those) in my party instead.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind these nearly as much if we catch Pokemon when more than one is on the battlefield. If we could aim, like in Colosseum and XD, I would probably be ok with it. But for now, the feature really makes catching Pokemon a pain.
Diamond FC: 1504 2172 1147
White FC: 1721 2860 5156
3DS XL FC (X): 2466-2669-5197