Your Pokémon journey in the Paldea Region begins, as with most of these games, at home. After a bit of walking around and a series of cut scenes you'll be introduced to Director Clavell, the head of the local Pokémon Academy (Naranja in Pokémon Scarlet, Uva in Pokémon Violet). Within minutes Clavell will give you your first major choice in the game: Choosing your starter Pokémon.
Before you do, however, you can poke around a bit. The first thing you should note is the possibility of running into items as you explore. As you look around the grounds of your home you'll likely find a few things - Potions, Antidotes, that sort of thing - that you can pick up and use later. Always keep your eyes open for random items, as they'll save you some serious money down the road.
Speaking of down the road, leave your house and take a trip. Your neighbor's home is in the distance, and Clavell is waiting there for you to make your choice of starter. Also here is Nemona, your neighbor, who will show up a lot - and will challenge you to battles throughout the game. She'll take one of the Pokémon you leave behind.
There are three starters to choose from:
- Sprigatito, a Grass-type Pokémon. When fully evolved Sprigatito becomes Meowscarada, a Grass- and Dark-type Pokémon.
- Fuecoco, a Fire-type Pokémon. When fully evolved Fuecoco becomes Skeledirge, a Fire- and Ghost-type Pokémon.
- Quaxly, a Water-type Pokémon. When fully evolved Quaxly becomes Quaquaval, a Water- and Fighting-type Pokémon.
All three have their benefits and drawbacks, and given the less-linear nature of Scarlet and Violet you'll do fine choosing with any of these starters. Any holes that form in your team as a result of your choice will invariably be filled by the other Pokémon you can catch. Regardless of your choice you'll receive a Rotom Phone from your mother.
Nemona will grab a Pokémon of her own and dash off. Follow her down to the nearby beachfront and you'll be thrown into your first battle of the game. Exciting!
Battle Basics
A turn-based RPG, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet plays more or less the same as other Pokémon titles when it comes to combat. Most battles take place between two teams of Pokémon, and you need to knock out every Pokémon on the opposing team. You do this by using moves to reduce your opponent's HP while preserving your Pokémon's. Fairly simple.
Each Pokémon is assigned one or more types. If you chose Sprigatito, for example, you're fighting with a Grass-type Pokémon, and it will do better against certain types - Water, for example - and not as well against others. You need to learn which types are effective against other types in order to properly deploy your Pokémon and wallop the competition.
Each Pokémon can know up to four moves, and will learn more as they grow stronger. Moves also correspond to types, and will prove more or less effective depending on their target. Generally speaking you want to use moves that are super effective, or at least neutral, against your target Pokémon. In addition to using moves you can also use items on your Pokémon, switch it out for another Pokémon (which you can't do until you have another Pokémon on your team), or run away (which you can't do in trainer battles). Moves can only be used a limited number of times before you need to restore your Pokémon at a Pokémon Center.
In addition to targeting enemies with their weaknesses, you also want to use moves that correspond with your Pokémon's type. Sprigatito, for example, knows Leafage, a Grass-type attack move, which matches Sprigatito's Grass-typing. Using Leafage will grant Sprigatito a Same Type Attack Bonus, or STAB, which boosts the amount of damage the move will inflict on its target. It is always smart to have at least one move on your Pokémon that corresponds to its type so you can receive a STAB boost.
When you win a Pokémon battle you'll earn money (represented as P in this walkthrough), another form of currency called League Points (LP), and experience. When your Pokémon earns enough experience it will level up, potentially learning new moves. Some Pokémon can also evolve into a different, more powerful form at certain levels. Suffice it to say that you need to battle and improve your team to make your way through Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Every Pokémon in your active team will receive experience when you win a battle, whether they participated or not.
Pokémon Trainer Nemona
- Sprigatito / Fuecoco / Quaxly, level 5
Reward: 300 P
Given that this is the first battle of the game, beating Nemona is pretty easy. She'll choose the starter that's weak to your own starter, so just use your damage-dealing move to wipe it out. Piece of cake.
After the battle the Pokédex App will be added to your Rotom Phone. This will allow you to register any Pokémon that you encounter in the field. Checking Pokémon in the Pokédex will give you an idea of where in Paldea they can be caught, if anywhere, and their type.
Clavell will leave once the battle is over, and he'll ask Nemona to escort you to the Academy so you can get started on your Pokémon journey. On the way to your first destination you'll be intercepted by your mom, who will give you a Sandwich, five Potions, and 10,000 P in spending money. Shall we head to school now? Yes? It's off to Poco Path, then!