Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

22 Tips to Improve Your Experience

Easter Baby Pokemon Mass Outbreak Event Now Live!
Pokemon Legends Z-A Announced for 2025!
YOASOBI Pawmot, and Liko's Sprigatito codes live!
★ The DLC Epilogue is now available! ▶︎ How to Start
Post Epilogue | New Coaches | Pecharunt | VGC
Regulation F is live! ▶︎ Indigo Disk Tierlist

Here are 22 things you need to know before starting your adventure on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)! Read on for useful tips to improve your Paldea experience, from exploring the Pokemon-filled open world to preparing for battles and Tera Raids!

Exploration Tips

Jump to a section!





Use Let's Go Auto Battle for Passive Exp and Item Farming, as well as Shiny Checks!

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV Litleo Tuft

Pressing the R button when facing a wild Pokemon or Item will have your lead Pokemon automatically battle or pick up the item, making it easier to farm Exp and Items while exploring!

Use a Fast Pokemon for Item Farming and Exp Farming

Fast Pokemon like Revavroom run towards items and wild Pokemon faster and further than slower counter-parts, and keeping one as your lead to pick up items can help you collect items faster. As there are lots of valuable items like Nuggets, Rare Bones and Comet Shards to be found, this can be a good way to passively money farm.
Money Farming Guide: How to Make Money Fast

Shiny Pokemon Will Not Be Engaged in Auto Battles

The Let's Go feature also allows you to easily check for Shiny Pokemon, since your lead Pokemon will always refuse to attack wild Shiny Pokemon.
How to Tell if a Pokemon is Shiny

Shops You Can Enter Have Door Mats

Pokemon SV - door mat on a shop

In towns and cities, you'll know if you can enter a shop if it has a door mat outside. Shops you can enter will also have an icon on the map (opened by pressing Y) if you zoom in using ZR or the Right Analog Stick.

Use the Lock-On Feature

Pokemon SV - locking-on a Lechonk

While in the wilds, you can lock-on a Pokemon by holding the ZL button to check the level and the name of the Pokemon (if you already encountered it). A Poke Ball icon will also appear beside the level to indicate that you already caught and registered the Pokemon in your Pokedex.

Pressing the ZR button while locked-on will send out your lead Pokemon to battle against your target. Doing this while the Pokemon is unaware will catch it off-guard and give you a preemptive advantage!

Use the Lock on Feature to Identify Disquised Pokemon

Unregistered on Pokedex Registered on Pokedex
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - Unregistered PokedexName displays as "???" Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - Registered Pokedex DittoName displays as Ditto

Ditto and Zorua are Pokemon tha can be tricky to find as they disguise themselves as other Pokemon. One way to identify them in the wild is to aim and lock-on it using the ZL button.

This allows you to see the name of the Pokemon and their level. This method does not work if you do not have Ditto, Zorua, or the transformed Pokemon registered in your Pokedex. Instead, it will display three question marks "???".

Adjust the Viewpoint by Pressing the Right Stick

Zoomed In Zoomed Out

You can adjust the viewpoint by pressing the Right Analog Stick. Using the zoomed out viewpoint while exploring the open world is recommended to help spot items and Pokemon around you as well as prevent motion sickness.

List of Settings and Best Settings

Cross Gaps by Starting a Battle

Do you notice how you move closer to the Pokemon when you throw your Poke Ball at it and start a battle? You can actually use this to cross gaps in the early game if you don't have the necessary Ride Upgrades yet! Simply lock-on to the Pokemon on the other side using the ZL button and send in your lead Pokemon with ZR.

Have the Map Fixed to the North

Fixed Moving
Pokemon SV - fixed map Pokemon SV - moving map

This icon is found on the lower left corner of the map screen.

You can have the map fixed to the north direction or let it move depending on the direction you're facing by pressing the Right Analog Stick. See what helps you more in navigation!

Map Guide and Icons Explanation

Battle and Tera Raid Tips

Jump to a section!



Tera Raid Pokemon Have 100% Catch Rate

Pokemon SV - Catch Defeated Tera Pokemon

Each participating player in Tera Raids will have an opportunity to catch the Tera Pokemon after defeating it. This will be a guaranteed catch, so you can throw your preferred Poke Ball for the Tera Pokemon or stick with a normal and cheaper one.

Tera Raid Battle Guide and How to Win

Recover PP Indefinitely

Pokemon SV - recovering PP by remembering a Move

You can replenish the PP of a Move by forgetting and relearning it. This trick is useful as it can be done anytime and anywhere as long as you can open the menu (X buttton).

Weather Can Affect Combat

Pokemon SV - Rain effect

The weather can have an effect in combat as it can empower or weaken certain types of Moves. For example, Snow will be constantly in effect during the Glaseado Gym battle, giving Blizzard higher accuracy and increases the Defense stat of Ice-types.

Weather effects

Weather Effect
Harsh Sunlight Boosts the power of Fire-type Moves and lowers the power of Water-type Moves
Rain Boosts the power of Water-type Moves and lowers the power of Fire-type Moves
Sandstorm All types other than Rock, Ground, and Steel will take damage each turn, and increases the Sp. Defense stat of Rock types
Snow Blizzard has higher accuracy and increases the Defense stat of Ice-types

Weather Effects and How to Change the Weather

Reset Tera Crystals by Adjusting System Time

How to Reset Raid Dens

1 Press the Home Button to go to your Switch Home Screen (leave the game running while doing this)
2 Go to Settings
3 Go to System Settings
4 Go to Time and Date Settings
5 Turn Time and Date Settings to Manual
6 Change the time back 1 minute into the past
7 Go back to the game (it should have still been open in the background) and you should have a new selection of Raid Dens and Outbreaks spawn

The placement and the Pokemon on Tera Crystals reset every day in real time, and you can quickly do so by adjusting the system time on your Switch. You can use this trick if you're looking for a specific Tera Pokemon in Tera Crystals. It is also a great way to farm 7-Star Tera Raid Event Rewards!

Tera Raid Events and Schedule

Rematch a Tera Crystal by resetting

Just in case you accidentally miss the catch phase of a Tera Raid or don't get the rewards you want, you can save in front of the Tera Crystal before starting the battle. This can be done even when joining online Raids!

1 Open the menu with the X button and connect to the internet with the L button (This will automatically save the game)
2 Select Challenge as a group
3 Clear the Raid and reload your save after returning to the field

Tera Raid Battle Guide and How to Win

Pokedex Completion Tips

Jump to a section!





Titan Pokemon Can Be Caught in a Rematch

Pokemon SV - former Titan Klawf

After defeating a Titan during the Path of Legend questline, you can return to its lair for a rematch. It will be back to its regular size and you will be able to catch it during this fight. However, if you defeat it during the rematch, the former Titan Pokemon won't spawn again.

Caught Titan Pokemon will have a special Titan Mark

What makes them special when caught is they will have the Titan Mark, which adds "the Former Titan" suffix on their names when sent out to battle. Additionally, if you show them to an NPC in Mesagoza City, they will receive the Jumbo Mark, which will add "the Great" suffix instead when the mark is selected.

How To Catch Titan Pokemon

Know Which Pokemon Your Trade Partner is Missing

Pokemon SV - Pokemon with background glow

When trading Pokemon with other trainers, you might see some of your Pokemon in Boxes will jump and have a background glow on their slots. This means the trainer you're trading with doesn't have these Pokemon in their Pokedex yet!

How to Trade Locally and Online

Use Quick Balls to Catch Pokemon Easier

Quick Balls are an effective way to catch Pokemon easily. This type of Poke Ball has a high capture rate when used right at the start of an encounter.

1 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Encounter a Pokemon
Encounter a Pokemon.
2 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Throwing a Quick Ball
Throw a Quick Ball on the first turn.
A Quick Ball is most effective when used at the start of a wild encounter.
3 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Run Away from Battle
If it breaks out, run away.
Quick Ball loses its effectiveness if it is thrown after the first turn, so it is best to simply run away from the battle and encounter the Pokemon again to essentially reset the battle.
4 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Repeat Until Caught
Repeat steps 1-3 until it is captured.

How to Get Quick Balls

Get a Galarian Meowth by Completing Events With Salvatore

Paldea Dex # Pokemon Location / How to Get
? Galarian Meowth ImageGalarian Meowth Can only be obtained by completing all interactions with Salvatore.

You can get a Galarian Meowth by completing all classes and conversations with your Language professor, Salvatore. Its evolution, Perrserker, is very useful in high star level Tera Raids, so be sure to get it as soon as you can!

Teacher Friendship Events, Quests, and Rewards

Gimmighouls Respawn

Catchable Not Catchable
Gimmighoul (Chest Form) ImageGimmighoul (Chest Form) Pokemon SV - Gimmighoul Roaming FormGimmighoul (Roaming Form)

The Chest Form, which are found in specific locations, and the Roaming Form Gimmighoul can respawn. This Pokemon drops Gimmighoul Coins that can be used to evolve your own Gimmighoul to Gholdengo.

Since the Chest Forms give more coins than Roaming Forms and they are always found in watchtowers, you can go around the map to quickly farm them.

How to Farm Gimmighoul Coins

Complete the Pokedex to Receive the Shiny Charm

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Shiny Charm ImageShiny Charm
Effect An item that increases the chance of finding Shiny Pokemon to 1 in 1365.3.
Buy Price N/A
Sell Price N/A

Register all 400 Pokemon in your Paldea Pokedex and you will receive the Shiny Charm from Jacq—perfect for shiny hunting as it triples the appearance rate of Shiny pokemon!

How to Complete the Pokedex and Rewards

Other Useful Tips

Jump to a section!





Breed Regional Variants to Get Them in Special Pokeballs

Regional Variants, such as Kantonian Wooper and Hisuian Zoroark can not be caught in the wild, and are instead obtained through in-game trades or mystery gift codes. This means that the first one you obtain will always come in a specific Pokeball.

There is a way, however to get these Pokemon to be in special Pokeballs such as Moon Balls and Love Balls through Breeding!

1 Catch a wild Male variant of the Pokemon you want to breed using a Special Pokeball.
2 Breed the exclusive Regional Variant to get a Female.
Remember to give the Regional Variant an Everstone when breeding.
3 Set up a picnic with the Paldean Pokemon and the Regional Variant.
Make sure you have an Egg Power sandwich to obtain eggs!
4 Check the basket for eggs.
The chance of getting an offspring with the Male Pokemon's Pokeball is around 50%, so keep trying if you do not get it immediately!

Event Pokemon in Cherish Balls, such as Hisuian Zoroark are unable to pass the Cherish Ball to their offspring, and using the method above, it means there will be a 50% chance to receive a Hisuian Zorua egg inside a regular Pokeball from the Cherish Ball parent.
Breeding Guide: How to Breed Pokemon and Get Eggs

Some Abilities Can Hatch Eggs Faster

When hatching an Egg, it is recommended to have a Pokemon with Flame Body, Magma Armor, or Steam Engine in your party to reduce the number of required steps by half. Add both the Pokemon and the Egg in your party then start walking around!

Abilities That Can Hatch Eggs Faster
Flame Body Magma Armor Steam Engine

How to Hatch Eggs Faster

Restoring Backup Save Data

1 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Title Screen
Navigate to the title screen and press Up, X, and B at the same time. Doing this will open up the Backup Data menu.
2 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Backup Data Menu
In the Backup Data menu, select "Start from backup data" to load the currently saved backup data.

The game automatically backs up your save data at certain points while playing. Your backup save data can then be used in emergencies, such as if you accidentally defeat a Legendary Pokemon and save your game.

How to Backup Your Save Data

Check Pokemon Friendship Level in Cascarrafa City

Pokemon SV - Friendship Checker at Cascaraffa City

You can check your Pokemon's friendship by talking to the woman with a Marill in Cascarrafa City. She can be found near the fountain at the center of the city. The Pokemon doesn't need to be in your party to be checked as talking to the NPC opens up your Boxes.

How to Check Friendship

Synchronize Does Not Work With Nature Hunting

In the previous games, having a Pokemon with the Synchronize Ability as a lead makes opposing wild Pokemon to have the same nature as yours. However, this Ability's hidden effect does not work in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Synchronize Effect and Pokemon With This Ability

Press the Right D-Pad to Show All Active Meal Powers

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) - Press the Right D-Pad to Show All Meal Powers
You can press the Right D-Pad to bring up the notice menu on the right side of the screen. This menu shows a list of all active Meal Powers, their duration, and level.
List of Meal Powers and How to Check

Share Your Tips in the Comments!

Add More Cool Tips and Tricks!

Know some really cool tips or tricks that aren't listed above? Let us know in the comments to share them with other trainers!

Jump to Comments

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Related Guides

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Tips and Tricks Banner

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Tips and Tricks

Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Character Customization List of Hairstyles and How to Change Hairstyles
List of Clothes and How to Change Clothes How to Relearn Moves
Best Order to Complete the Story Missables and One-Time Events
Money Farming Guide How to Level Up Fast
How to Picnic: All Features and Benefits List of Meal Powers and How to Check
All Multiplayer Features How to Trade Locally and Online
How to Farm Gimmighoul Coins All Stake Locations
How to Change the Date and Time Do Shooting Stars Mean Anything?
Weather Effects and How to Change the Weather How to Use Auto Heal and Items Used
How to Farm League Points (LP) Obedience Guide: Badge Requirements
Map Guide and Icons Explanation Challenge Runs: How to Make the Game Harder
How to Save Your Game How to Add Friends
How to Run List of Marks and Titles
Rotom Phone and Features Shiny Sandwich Recipes: How to Make Shiny Sandwiches
Post Game Content: What to Do After the Story How to Win Porto Marinada Auctions
List of Glitches and Exploits How to Get More PC Boxes
All In-Game Trades How to Farm Herba Mystica
Best Sandwiches to Make How to Complete the Pokedex and Rewards
Tips to Improve Your Experience List of Biomes and Locations
Best Pokeballs to Use and How to Catch Pokemon Easily What Happens on Your Birthday?
Is There a Move Tutor? How to Farm EV-Reducing Berries
Can You Change Your Gender and Name? Can You Give Nicknames to Traded Pokemon?
Is There a Name Rater? Farm Unlimited Held Items from Wild Pokemon Exploit
High Speed Glide Glitch Diamond Dust Weather and How to Spawn It
All New Mass Outbreak Pokemon How to Wash Pokemon
Pokemon Tips and Tricks
Best Starter How to Get All Starters
Best Team for the Story How to Catch Titan Pokemon
Shiny Hunting Guide: All Shiny Odds How to Soft Reset for Shinies, Nature, and IVs
Shiny Locked Pokemon: Are Starters Shiny Locked? Best Tera Types: Best Pokemon to Terastallize
All Koraidon and Miraidon Ride Upgrades and How to Unlock Mass Outbreaks Guide: How do Mass Outbreaks Work
How to Evolve Every Pokemon How to Do a Nuzlocke Challenge and Rules
How to Stop Evolution How to Evolve Pokemon: List of All Evolution Methods
How to Check Friendship How to Change Tera Type
Rare Tera Type Hunting Guide How to Catch All Pokemon
Pokemon Nursery Location and Guide | Is there a Daycare? How to Tell if a Pokemon is Shiny
How to Force Respawn Wild Pokemon Best Pokemon for Catching
All Special Evolution Conditions When Do Legendaries Respawn?
How to Get the Second Koraidon/Miraidon Best Sylveon for Money Farming
Tera Type Pokemon Guide: All Forms and Symbols How to Catch Flying Pokemon
How to Catch Pokemon Hanging on Trees How to Catch Pokemon in Rivers and Oceans
How to Catch Pokemon Off-Guard List of Breed Exclusive Shiny Pokemon
Can You Get a Shiny Walking Waves? Can You Get a Shiny Iron Leaves?
Can You Get Shiny Decidueye? Can You Get Shiny Samurott?
Can You Get Shiny Typhlosion? Can You Get Shiny Inteleon?
How to Find Authentic Sinistea Can You Get Shiny Chesnaught?
How to Transfer Pokemon from Pokemon HOME Can You Get Shiny Delphox?
Can You Get Shiny Rillaboom?
Battle Tips and Tricks
How to Auto-Battle with Let's Go! How to Escape and Run Away From Battle
Double Battles Guide: Best Moves and Tips Battle Stadium: Will There Be Ranked Battles?
What Happens When You Lose? How to Play Ranked Battles
Academy Classes Tips and Tricks
Classes Answers and Rewards All Biology Answers for Midterms and Finals
All Math Answers for Midterms and Finals All History Answers for Midterms and Finals
All Languages Answers for Midterms and Finals All Battle Studies Answers for Midterms and Finals
All Art Answers for Midterms and Finals All Home Ec Answers for Midterms and Finals
Teacher Friendship Events, Quests, and Rewards
Other Tips and Tricks
List of Settings and Best Settings List of Marks and Ribbons
How to Adjust Screen Size How to Transfer Save Data
How to Restart or Delete Save Data How to Backup Your Save Data
Camera App Guide List of All Emotes and Locations
Exchange Pokemon HOME Points for LP List of All Poke Ball Throwing Styles

Author

    Walkthrough Menu

    All rights reserved