Our beginner’s tips for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will help you get started on your journey to becoming a Master Trainer. To succeed even further, follow these advanced tips while exploring the Hoenn Region.
Understanding Pokémon Stats and Move Sets
Each Pokémon has the following base stats: HP, Attack, Special Attack, Defense, Special Defense and Speed. These stats increase when your Pokémon level up, and Pokémon level up their stats differently. Even the same Pokémon might raise its stats differently based on its nature, so you may not have the same experience raising your Pokémon each time.
It’s one thing to level up your Pokémon, but it is another to understand what the stats mean. Knowing what moves to give Pokémon based on their stats is crucial if you want to take your training to the next level. Every attacking Pokémon move has a power rating. How much damage that move does depends on your Pokémon’s attack and special attack. Some moves are physical attacks, so they are based on your attack stat, while special moves are based on the special attack stat.
How much damage your Pokémon takes works in the same fashion, except using defense stats. Teaching a Pokémon with a low attack stat a lot of physical moves is a poor decision because it won’t be used to its full potential. It is good to have well-rounded stats, but some Pokémon are specialists and will have very high special attack and speed, but lower everything else. Your play style and preferences will heavily influence the Pokémon you want to use and focus on.
Playing Defensively
Many trainers will only use attacking moves, but playing defensively is a smart way to go. This involves using more stat boosting and status effecting moves. If your Pokémon has a low defense stat and you know you are playing against a Pokémon that uses a lot of physical attacks, you can raise your defense by using a move like Harden or Barrier. This will help you absorb a few hits while scoring some attacks of your own, instead of getting knocked out with one hit.
Using status-effecting moves can also help sway the battle in your favor. The statuses you can afflict on a Pokémon are Burn, Paralyze, Poison and Confusion. Causing a Pokémon one of these afflictions will damage it, or it won’t be able to attack for one turn. This will cause an opponent to switch up his or her game plan and give you an advantage. Having a few different methods for winning battles is crucial, especially if you want to play competitively.
Evolutions
Not all Pokémon can be caught in the wild. Some can only be obtained through Pokémon evolution. Many Pokémon in the Pokémon universe evolve or have evolved from another Pokémon. It is your mission to help Professor Birch by filling up your Pokédex, and the only way you can accomplish this is through Pokémon evolution.
Evolved Pokémon are usually much stronger than their previous forms, and their stats are usually raised higher upon levelling up. One reason to contemplate evolving your Pokémon is the fact that some Pokémon can only learn moves in their prior forms and will not learn them once they evolve. For example, Mudkip will naturally learn Hydro Pump while Swampert does not.
Pokémon usually evolve when they reach a certain level, but Pokémon evolution is accomplished a few different ways. Some Pokémon only evolve through trade, with the use of evolution stones or leveling up in a specific area.
Mega Evolutions
Mega Evolutions were introduced in the previous Pokémon games, but received more attention in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, with over 40 available. Mega Evolutions can only occur with certain Pokémon. If you find the specific Mega Stone that goes with a Pokémon, you can give the stone to the Pokémon to hold so during battles it can mega evolve. Only one Pokémon in your party can Mega Evolve at a time. Mega Evolutions are the strongest Pokémon available, and having one in your party can swing the battle in your favor because of its high stats. Find as many Mega Stones as you can so you can.
