The graphics and concept may appear simple, but you can easily become overwhelmed when starting Pokémon Pokopia. There is content galore for, and after, the mainline game, but before you drive yourself into a tizzy, here are a few helpful tips to ensure a smooth take-off on your newest Pokémon journey!
Habitat for Pokémon
Right off the bat during the tutorial, you will meet Bulbasuar, Squirtle, and Charmander. Each will teach you one of their moves, which will come in handy for cultivating habitats. With that said:
- Focus on creating as many habitats as you can so you can learn more moves.
- Other Pokémon that appear may not grant you a move, but they are just as important when it comes to building homes. One such important Pokémon is Timburr.
- You will see glowing spots in the environment that will give you habitat hints. Collect as many hints as possible, then make these habitats!
Important early-game moves:
- Water gun (e.g Squirtle): The ability to water the soil in a “plus” pattern
- Why it’s important: You can’t grow plants or flowers without it. If you craft a water basin and use water gun, a water-type Pokémon can use it to help you water the environment as well.
- Leafage (e.g Squirtle): The ability to create grass.
- Why it’s important: Many Pokémon live in some form of grassy enviroment.
- Rock Smash (e.g Hitmonchan): The ability to destroy numerous environmental objects such as dirt, rocks, and sand.
- Why it’s important: You will need to clear paths, make space, and collect those for future builds. Certain environments can grow veggies while others can’t.
- Cut (e.g Scyther): The ability to cut through wood, grass, and flowers.
- Why it’s important: Not only do you use it to cultivate an environment, but it helps you collect vital items that are needed at the start of the game (e.g. leaves, vine rope, wood for lumber).
- Rototiller (e.g Drilbur): The ability to till the soil
- Why it’s important: You can only grow veggies on tilled (and watered) soil
Take Your Friends with You
You can take up to five Pokémon friends with you, and they can be a huge help. There are minimal downsides other than the fact you need to ensure they don’t have trouble following you (e.g. across a broken bridge or a large ledge with no steps). Grass types can help make things grow/bloom faster while fire types can start fires and candles. Note that as the number of Pokémon increase, the more choices you have of friends that share the same abilities.
Focus on Collecting Over Decoration
Spend at least the first portion of the game collecting, exploring, and progressing the main story.
It may be tempting to work on a complete make-over of the Withered Wasteland (the first area); however, there will be additional skills gained later that will make building and moving SO MUCH EASIER. You also will obtain much cooler decor as time does, so don’t get too wound up with all those straw beds.
Seriously, I was punching and regurgitating block by block, wasting massive amounts of time, only to realize I could’ve waited a while longer to learn a more efficient way. It may be tempting to kill hours doing so because you see these breath-taking builds online, but trust me, build smarter, not harder.
Important items in the early game to stockpile:
- Leppa berry: Restores PP. They are plentiful if you water them (and subsequent berries or other food to restore PP).
- Fresh carrot: Same as above but restores your entire PP.
- Small Log: These can be made into lumber if you give them to Scyther.
- Rocks, leaves, vines: Seriously. You need these things to make beginner homes.
- Soil: Also seems odd, but if you need to build a specific environment that doesn’t have suitable dirt for growing…you’ll need it.
- Pokemetal: Used to create important items!
You always want to look for anything that shines or glows:
- In the water (tap A repeatedly once you dive in!)
- Inside a dirt or grass block (these tend to be antiques that Professor Tangrowth can assess and turn into a decoration)
- Yellow or Red Poke Balls (explained further below)
- Glowing light (a hint for a habitat)
Actually Read the Tips and Tricks in your Pokedex. Seriously
Pokémon Pokopia seems like a kiddie game, and sure, in many ways it is; however, despite lots of handholding at the very start, I found myself not really knowing how to obtain or achieve certain things. I eventually caved and discovered useful information there. Seriously. Like, the 3D printer at the Pokémon Center does whattttt?
Store Items WILL run out of stock
As a head’s up, you can’t continuously purchase toys or decorations to meet all your Pokemon’s needs. No. That would be too easy! Keep this in mind. Ways to mitigate this “shortage” and placate your friends:
- Find recipes and objects in yellow and red Poke balls.
- Once you get a Pokémon Center going, you could use the 3D printer but it will cost your rare Pokemetal.
Lastly, visit Dream Island When You Can!
Once you meet Drifloon on a beachside end of Withered Wasteland, you unlock the ability to travel to “Dream Island”. If you give it a doll (which can be found in the wild, purchased at the store, or created on the 3D printer), it will take you to a place where you can explore and collect items. Often you will find brand-new things and other secrets! You can go up to once a day, so it’s worth to visit often.
These are the beginner tips for Pokémon Pokopia. Don’t rush, don’t expect a masterpiece, and enjoy!
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