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Pokemon Legends: Arceus completely altered the Pokemon series paradigm. Though it's technically a spinoff, meaning we won't be seeing all its bells and whistles in the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Legends: Arceus is an enjoyable romp in its own right with so many fresh features we're almost afraid to go back.
The focus of Pokemon Legends: Arceus lies in completing the Pokedex. In total, there are 242 different species of Pokemon to catch in the game. For those of you looking for some tips on how to complete the Pokedex in Pokemon Legends: Arceus as efficiently as possible, we’ve got you covered.
Updated on August 15, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: Pokemon Legends: Arceus has been out for several months now, but we hypothesize it will continue to attract a subset of the Pokemon fandom for years to come. Its unique spin on the tried-and-true (and some might argue tired) formula behind this best-selling franchise makes it appealing to trainers from all walks of life. With this in mind, we've gone back to this important list and added a few more thoughts on the matter.
12 Make Sure You Keep Crafting Poke Balls
Crafting is one of the most important features in Pokemon Legends: Arceus and you should definitely learn the ins and outs of it. The items you'll craft the most are Poke Balls and their superior variations since you’ll need to use them in abundance to complete your Pokedex.
Traditional Poke Balls are easy to craft as they only require one Apricorn and one Tumblestone; two materials that are common throughout Hisui. You always have a crafting kit on you, so there’s no excuse to ever run out of Poke Balls. Of course, as you progress through the game, you'll want to replace this stock with Great Balls, Ultra Balls, and more specialized fare.
11 Wait For Pokemon To Have Their Back To You
There are multiple ways to go about catching Pokemon. The most effective way is by throwing a Poke Ball once their back is turned. Doing so will not only increase your chances of a successful catch but will even make it possible to catch hostile Pokemon without having to fight them.
Remaining stealthy is a good idea, but certain Pokemon, like Alpha and Noble Pokemon, will very likely require a battle to be caught. For all other Pokemon, this is a good strategy and will allow you to complete Pokedex entries in no time.
10 Evolve Your Pokemon When Prompted
Pokemon don’t evolve in Pokemon Legends: Arceus like they do in the previous games in the series. In previous games, they would automatically evolve once they reach a certain level, but that’s not the case in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
In this game, you have to manually evolve your Pokemon. Wait until you see a prompt saying they’re ready to evolve. If you’re wondering how to evolve trade evolution Pokemon, you don’t actually have to trade them in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. In fact, all you have to do is get an evolution item from Simona by using Merit Points.
9 Get False Swipe
False Swipe is an incredibly useful move, not just in Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokemon Legends: Arceus but in every mainline game as well, because it will always leave Pokemon with one HP remaining. As you know, the lower a Pokemon's current HP, the easier they’ll be to catch.
If you’re struggling to find a Pokemon that can learn False Swipe, there's a two-in-three chance the answer has been right under your nose this whole time. As long as you picked either Rowlet or Oshawott as your starter, you can teach them False Swipe through Zisu, the move tutor. Sadly, Cyndaquil is the only starter unable to learn this move.
8 Inflict Status Effects
There are many status effects in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but the non-damaging ones are the best for catching Pokemon. Pokemon that are frozen, asleep, or paralyzed will not take any damage, so look for moves that could inflict these status conditions as soon as possible.
Catching Pokemon is about much more than having Poke Balls. You need the right strategy when forced into battle. Combining an attack like False Swipe with one of these non-damaging status effects is a surefire way to get a successful catch.
7 Rest To Change The Time
Certain Pokemon only appear at certain times of the day, but you don’t need to patiently wait until day turns to night or vice versa. There are multiple places you could rest to make sure it’s the right time of day for your Pokemon hunt.
You could sleep in your bed in Jubilife Village or sleep in one of the tents at the different campsites around Hisui. Typically, you’ll find friendlier Pokemon during the day and more aggressive Pokemon at night, so make sure you’re prepared when going out in the dark.
6 Hop On Your Mount To Travel Quicker
Early on in your adventures, you’ll get a mount that will allow you to travel through the lands much quicker than before. Considering how big the regions in Hisui are, it’s absolutely necessary to have a mount to move around faster. It also means you’ll be able to get to the locations of rare Pokemon faster and complete your Pokedex more efficiently.
Interestingly enough, you can actually get your own Wyrdeer in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. You can catch a Stantler early on in the Obsidian Fieldlands and evolve it by using the agile style of the move Psyshield Bash 20 times.
5 Set Map Markers For Pokemon Above Your Level
As you explore Hisui, you'll run into (or ideally, around) some incredibly powerful Alpha Pokemon. They'll be way above your present pay grade, but it won't be that way forever.
Don't let yourself lose sight of them. Someday, when you're much stronger, you can return. With judicious usage of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' map marker system, you'll accrue a nice and tidy list of mighty units to collect when you're finally strong enough to approach.
4 Cancel Poke Ball Throws
If you’re caught holding a Poke Ball with ZR, but don’t want to actually throw it, there are a few ways to cancel your Poke Ball throw. The most effective way is by pressing B while still holding ZR. Doing so will allow your character to pocket the item they were going to throw.
If that’s a little too boring for you and you want to cancel your Poke Ball throws with flair, you can press the Y button to dodge, which will stop the throw from happening. It might alert some Pokemon to your location, so maybe it’s best to stick with the B button. After all, you don't want to waste your Poke Balls as that will just take you even longer to complete your Pokedex.
3 Don’t Release Pokemon Until Four Pastures Are Filled
You may be worried about filling up your pastures while you catch the same Pokemon 50 times, but don’t be. After you fill up three pastures, you’ll be able to mass release Pokemon and make it very easy to clear things up and keep the ones you want.
So, our advice? Catch everything in sight. Why not, right? The only thing holding you back is the number of Poke Balls you can carry, and the more you scurry out into the field to catch new critters, the more crafting materials you'll bump into in the meantime.
2 Complete Entries To Find Shinies Easier
There are rewards for completing your Pokedex entries, especially when it comes to shinies. If you’re shiny hunting and the Pokemon has a completed level ten Pokedex entry, then the chance of finding a shiny variant of it doubles.
If you want a classic red Gyarados like the one in Pokemon Gold and Silver, then you’ll have to complete its Pokedex entry for a better shot at it. Of course, you could still encounter a shiny Pokemon without having its Pokedex entry completed, but the chances are significantly lower.
1 Keep Playing After The "Ending"
In most Pokemon games, becoming the League Champion is only the first major step for any player seriously interested in the prospect of catching them all. New content will open up, allowing for the capture of further species.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus ups the ante. Not only will the postgame open the door for plenty of new catches, but even the story itself feels distinctly unfinished in a way until you have worked on your Pokedex considerably more and reached the "true ending." It's a win-win, so don't touch that (Toto)dile. There's plenty more to play!