Can you complete a Pokédex?

Started by Amore May 1st, 2020 4:37 PM
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Can you - only through the games you own, without trading etc. - complete a Pokédex? (Multiple Choi

Amore

Seen 23 Hours Ago
Posted 5 Days Ago
5,237 posts
13.7 Years
I've never completed any Pokédex, even a regional one. I imagine I'm not alone in this. I have games from Gen III through V, but due to not having anyone to trade with in Gen III, the not having the patience or interest during the brief time global wireless trades were available for Gen IV-V, I never completed any Pokédex. I came pretty close on the original Sinnoh and Unova versions but at times when I wasn't active on these forums (a user agreed to store a bunch of Pokémon for me then never came back online, after which I resolved to only ever use the in-game GTS) and the GTS was full of unreasonable demands.
Now, with Pokémon having left me well, well behind I know I can't complete the National Pokédex, but I did decided to investigate how close I could get. I consider Gen III and IV to be a combined package given how I play the games, with Gen V separate so, using Bulbapedia and a look in my old storage save I figured out that I can get infuriatingly close:
  • Gen III-IV: 488/493
  • Gen V: 147/156
In Gen III-IV through a combination of LeafGreen, Emerald, HeartGold, Diamond and Platinum there are only 2 non-event Pokémon I can't obtain: Glameow and its evolution Purugly, which are exclusive to Pearl out of the five games of Gen IV. I have some event Pokémon but sadly lost my Darkrai, Shaymin and Deoxys to the charlatan I mentioned previously, and will never manage those again. I do have Pokémon God, Mew, and Celebi though!
In Gen V the sheer number of special legendaries sees me further away from completing the Unova Pokédex than I would be the previous gens' National Pokédex. Alongside event-exclusive legendaries Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect (I think I may have got my hands on the latter once, but back when I only had one Gen V game and eventually I took the plunge to restart it as I liked the game), my purchasing of Black and then its direct sequel means I can't access Solosis or Rufflet and their evolutions (can't even see the latter in Black 2, which brings its own issues) or Thundurus.
So yeah, with two DS' for trading (well, one Lite and one DSi), the good fortune to have working Wi-Fi to obtain some event Pokémon and the patience to keep them, I can get one National Pokédex 98.98% complete and 94.23% of the largest single generation of Pokémon introduced. I can actually complete one regional Pokédex, the Gen IV Johto Pokédex:
Given some of us on here will be absolute diehards with games from Red through to Sword, with multiple consoles whilst others may only have the one generation and/or console, I'm curious. Can you, without outside help / GTS (I assume that hasn't gone away in the new generations), currently complete any Pokédex? If so, which one and how?

DragonKing48

The King Of All Dragons.

Male
The Kingdom Of Dragons.
Seen March 28th, 2023
Posted January 17th, 2023
444 posts
3.1 Years
With two games/DSes or at least 2 games and GTS you can catch and evolve/trade evolve everything easily. I just completed Sun not too long ago.

ShyRayq

Unprofessional Unprofessional

Male
Seen 4 Days Ago
Posted March 2nd, 2023
1,855 posts
15.7 Years
I have all the games and multiple DS, 3DSes as well as access to Nintendo Switch Online.
I've completed multiple pokedexes multiple times, as shown in my signature.
3DS Friend Code: 5069-3944-3902
IGN: Peter; (X, Y, OR, AS, S, M, US, UM)
Friend Safari: (Fighting) Throh, Meditite, Breloom
Living Pokedex Complete: Y, C, R, LG, E, D, Pl, HG, B, B2, X, Y, OR, AS, M, UM, LGP, Sw, LA
Big thanks especially to DestinedJagold, Xerneas_X, Elements1, ~RNC~ and ThePoke Man

PM me if you want to trade, or add my FC.
Age 26
Male
Seen October 19th, 2022
Posted September 18th, 2022
76 posts
3.1 Years
I'm currently going through my gen 3 & 4 games to complete the gen 4 pokédex. I have Fire Red, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, and Heart Gold. I looked into all the version-exclusives, legendaries, and other special pokémon and, if I'm not overlooking something, I shall be able to complete the whole gen 4 national dex, except for the events (although I have Celebi & Phione in my 13-year old Pearl save).
Because of the absurd and infuriating attitude that Nintendo/Game Freak have taken to various Legendary Pokemon over the years, it is not actually possible to complete a Pokedex without trading. A lot of Pokemon have only been available through timed Events - most of those at the very end of the Pokedex - so if you don't already have them from earlier distribution, you're out of luck if you don't want to trade with other players for them.

Percy

Male
Asia
Seen December 24th, 2021
Posted June 19th, 2021
3,045 posts
8.7 Years
if I had the console, games, and time - I would if I really gave my focus. but dang, it seems so taxing to me, especially now that there's almost a thousand pokemon ehehe
i don't want to have a signature

Cubeth

Hi

Age 23
She / They
Seen 19 Hours Ago
Posted 4 Days Ago
2,722 posts
4.4 Years
Completing the PokeDex is a boring task imo. Even if it were possible to do it without trading, I like catching what I know or think I'm going to use; I'm not the kind of trainer who'll run in circles just to catch a 1% encounter just to throw it into a box later.
Discord Moderoid · VPP Thread · Paired to PB

ZeoStar

Seen 37 Minutes Ago
Posted 19 Hours Ago
11,403 posts
5.6 Years
Absolutely not.

I have more fun constructing my team and playing through the story than collecting.

Sheep

She/Her
Australia
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 7 Hours Ago
39,253 posts
16.6 Years
i have the games and consoles needed, yes, but the time.... probably not haha. D: touch trading with friends is a lot quicker usually, but as a dex completionist i'd probably do it myself if that wasn't an option.

PageEmp

I can’t do money puns. It just doesn’t make any cents.

Male
with an axe
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 4 Weeks Ago
12,445 posts
7.8 Years
Probably not in a few years.
I… might put something interesting here eventually.

colours

she/her
gracidea fields
Seen December 30th, 2022
Posted December 29th, 2022
8,974 posts
18.1 Years
on my own? heck no lmao