6th Gen Ultimate Guide to DexNav Usage

[NebulaMeowstic001]

The DexNav is a fantastic feature found in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. However, it can be tricky to use and understand at times. So, here's some information and advice that I've gathered over my time using the DexNav.

Basic Information
What is the DexNav?
The DexNav is a feature exclusive to Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. Once you catch a Pokemon, you can use the DexNav to search for it again, if it is available in the area you are in. This feature is incredibly useful, as it is one of the only ways to guarantee the encounter of a specific species of Pokemon, and it has lots of added benefits.
How do I use the DexNav?
First, you must make sure the DexNav is the currently running app in the PokeNav Plus. If not, select the red tab with a Pikachu on the right side of the touch screen. Then, select the icon of the Pokemon you want to search for, and select "Search". If the search is successful, then a hidden Pokemon of the species you selected will appear, and you can encounter it in a battle by slowly walking right up to it.
Why should I use the DexNav?
The DexNav is an incredibly useful feature, as it allows you to encounter specific Pokemon. Also, if you encounter a certain species of Pokemon in battle (Trainer or wild), that Pokemon's search level will go up. As a Pokemon's search level increases, so will the chances of it having a higher level, perfect IV's, egg moves, and/or hidden abilities. If you encounter a higher-than-normal level Pokemon with the DexNav, you can continue using it to find Pokemon with even higher and higher levels. But, a wild Pokemon can't have a higher level, any egg moves, or its hidden ability if you don't encounter it through the DexNav.
What Pokemon can I find using the DexNav?
You can find most Pokemon through the DexNav. If it's available in the wild in the Hoenn region, you can search for it through the DexNav. You can even find some Pokemon from other regions after you've defeated Groudon or Kyogre, depending on your version. However, you cannot find legendary Pokemon, starter Pokemon, event-exclusive Pokemon, Pokemon exclusive to the version that you don't have, or Pokemon that you can only get by fishing.
Do you have any advice for finding Pokemon with the DexNav?
Yes. First, I recommend that you get some repels. These will prevent randomized encounters, but you can still find Pokemon through the DexNav while a repel is active. Second, right after catching a Pokemon, I suggest that you use the DexNav to search for it and encounter it a few more times if you can. Repeat this until the search level (Select the Pokemon and look at the upper right corner of the touch screen) is around 5 or 10. You don't have to catch or knock out the Pokemon to increase its search level, you just have to start the battle. Doing this will make it easier to find this Pokemon with better attributes, such as perfect IV's, egg moves, a higher level, or its hidden ability, when you come back to find it through the DexNav in the future. Last, but not least, it's a good idea to have an Acro Bike ready to use. If you can't find a Pokemon nearby in its own habitat, simply get on the Acro Bike and hold down the B button, and keep it held down until you've done 50 bunny hops. You'll have much better luck finding the Pokemon, and these bunny hops won't make your repels wear off.

Specific Questions

Spoiler:

When I search, the DexNav says "It couldn't be found nearby. Try looking in a different spot." What's going on with this, and can I prevent it?
If the Pokemon you are searching for is only available in that location by fishing, then you will always get this message, and you can't do anything about it. You can tell if a Pokemon is fishing-exclusive in two ways. The first is to look at the background image on the DexNav. If the Pokemon's icon is on darker water with visible waves, then it is found by fishing. Also, you can look at the Pokemon in the Pokedex, select "Habitat" twice, and select an area on the map with white squares. If the icon with the Magikarp and the fishing hook is the only icon that's not grayed out in the upper screen, then this Pokemon can only be found by fishing in that area. If the Pokemon can be found in methods other than fishing in your current location, simply take 50 steps. This almost always works, and if you perform 50 bunny hops on an Acro bike, it will still count towards the 50 steps for the DexNav, but will not wear down repels.
The Pokemon I want to find isn't in this area. Can I still use the DexNav to find it?
If the Pokemon you are looking for can be found in the wild and you've already caught it, then yes. Simply open up the Pokedex, select the Pokemon you are looking for, and select Habitat. Any area on the map with white squares (one white square in towns) is an area where you can encounter this Pokemon. If you select Habitat again, you can get more information about how to find it. If the picture with the tree is colored, then you can find it by walking around. If the picture of the water is colored, then you can find it by surfing. If the picture with the Magikarp and fishing hook is colored, then you can find it by fishing. Some Pokemon can be found in different ways in different areas, or multiple ways in the same area. If you haven't caught a Pokemon yet, you'll have to catch it before you can use the DexNav to find it. If you want to find a new Pokemon, walk/surf around or fish, or walk around/bunny hop and wait for a hidden Pokemon to appear, indicated by a red circle with a magnifying glass, but no Pokeball icon on the bottom screen. Also, after you defeat Groudon or Kyogre, you can find more Pokemon from other regions. You can't encounter them by walking in the tall grass, though. You'll have to walk/bunny hop and wait for a hidden version of it to appear.
What does the little crown icon/the picture of the area on the DexNav mean?
The crown icon on the DexNav is an indicator of how many Pokemon you've caught in the area you're in. If there isn't a crown, then you still have some Pokemon to catch in every method available in the area. These methods include walking, surfing, and fishing. The picture of the area is an indicator of the methods you can find Pokemon with. If you can see taller grass on the picture in the DexNav, you can find Pokemon by walking in the tall grass. If you see lighter blue water without waves, then you can find Pokemon by surfing. If you see darker blue water with waves, then you can find Pokemon by fishing. If you don't see one of these areas, then you can't find a Pokemon with the corresponding method. A bronze crown means that you still have Pokemon to encounter using two of these methods, but you've found all of the Pokemon using one method. A silver crown means that you still have Pokemon to encounter using one method, but you've caught all of the Pokemon using one or two (depending on what you can do in the area) of the methods. A gold crown means that you've caught all of the Hoenn-native Pokemon in the area, which would be all of the Pokemon you can encounter before defeating Groudon or Kyogre. A platinum crown means that you've caught all of the Pokemon in the area, including those you can only find after defeating Groudon or Kyogre.
Can the DexNav help with finding Shiny Pokemon?
When using the DexNav, you have an increased chance of finding a Shiny Pokemon. However, the chances are still very small. Also, there isn't enough data out there yet to say whether or not chaining with the DexNav can help you find Shiny Pokemon (From what I've heard, chaining won't help with finding shinies, but this isn't known for sure yet). As a side note, if you find a Pokemon with a higher level in the DexNav, you can start a chain with it that will increase the level, but again, we don't know if this helps with finding Shiny Pokemon.
If you have any more questions, feel free to let me know.

I hope my DexNav guide was helpful to anyone who has any questions!
--Nebula

 

[Hikamaru]

I have to say, this was well constructed and very informative. Great work!

 

[Xertified]

Yey!

Thank you for the knowledge man!

 

[theChief]

Nice guide. I thought it was chaining that the wild Pokémon had higher chances of the IV's, Egg Moves, etc, but it's nice to know that it's just the search level! I take it chaining is only for shiny Pokémon then?

 

[NebulaMeowstic001]

Nice guide. I thought it was chaining that the wild Pokémon had higher chances of the IV's, Egg Moves, etc, but it's nice to know that it's just the search level! I take it chaining is only for shiny Pokémon then?

Thanks for reminding me to add info about Shiny Pokemon. Just so you know, chaining most likely (not enough data is out there to say for sure) doesn't affect shininess chances. However, you can chain for Pokemon with higher levels, but most likely not other special traits, such as egg moves. I will look into that, though.

 

[MissedtheMarx]

Cool post! If I may, can I ask what advantage the acro bike gives? I didn't quite understand why you'd use one from the post. Does approaching a Pokemon on an acro bike while bouncing not scare them off?