Topic: Pokemon Legends Arceus

@Grumblevolcano They are actually on most of the levels but they are Pokes that get scared and run off when they see you. Instead of charging about throwing Pokes at every tree you see just take your time when going into their areas (check the Pokedex locations) and it's easy enough to get them.

Eevee, and all the evolutions, appear on distortion zones quite regularly for me. Like, almost on every single one.

Yeah Eevee is quite common in distortions. I had three Eevees and a Sylveon in a single distortion the other day.

Pikachu? I've seen maybe 2 in my whole 20+ hours playing the game. Not seen a single Pichu.

@Buizel my first Pichu was Alpha and at first map. xD

I came across a Pichu mass outbreak in the first area, and picked up a nice shiny for my trouble. For those struggling, there's a particular spot where a Pichu and Pikachu can spawn - if you go left down the hill from the 2nd camp going towards Kleavor, there's a small pool of water on the left and a cliff edge with a tree on it looking towards Kleavor's area. Just before that tree on the left you can get Pichu and Pikachu.

In related news, I now have a shiny team: Pikachu, Luxio, Beautifly, Budew, Teddiursa and Infernape.

Still yet to see a single shiny!

In fact, outside of some shiny hunting in the Friend Safari in Pokemon Y, in my 23 years of playing Pokemon I've only caught a single shiny Pelipper in Diamond.

Shiny hunting really isn't my thing so I'm not willing to go out of my way to find one unfortunately.

I've got a few shinies so far. Starly, Silcoon and the quest Ponyta. I thought hitting level 10 in the Pokedex makes them more likely to appear but I've got 170+ on level 10 and I'm still seeing barely any let alone ones I want. I'd love to get a shiny Sneasel, Rotom or Decidueye.

@DomGC Evey single task? Fudge that!

@DomGC according to the data in most sites, the outbreaks provide a huge boost to the shiny rate, like even without any other bonuses, it’s something like 1 in 160 chances of being shiny.

With a shiny charm and a full set of tasks, outside an outbreak, it’s 1 in 600. Inside an outbreak, it’s closer to 1 in 130.

So, the outbreaks provide a massive boost unlike anything else in the game. It’s so ridiculous, that even without the already-ridiculous boosts from completing the tasks and getting the charm, it has already plateaued.

Whilst we're on the topic of shinies in outbreaks, I just got another one after 6 attempts in Hisuian Growlithe. I've nicknamed them Sanjiro and I will give major props to anyone who understands the meaning behind it (with a hint being that my regular Arcanine is nicknamed Koma).

Distortions worked for catching Eevee and Leafeon. Progressing to get all 8 evolutions made me think of 2 things:
1. Increasing friendship level is an extremely obnoxious process
2. Gen 8 currently hasn't followed the trend of new evolutions every even numbered generation

@Grumblevolcano : Friendship increases pretty quickly. I caught a shiny Zubat, and it evolved into Crobat shortly after evolving into Golbat. I've caught other happiness-evolving Pokémon that were quick to evolve as well, and I hadn't even bothered using them in battle at all.

I believe teaching them new moves (however useless they may be) will increase their friendship level by quite a lot, so it's worth doing if you're only looking to fill out your Dex.

@Silly_G Could you literally just keep confirming new moves to raise it's friendship? I have like 3 Golbats waiting in the literal and metaphorical wings to evolve and I'm still unsure how it works. I remember playing through the game for the first time and it took me about 2 hours to evolve ONE BUDEW.

@Fizza : That I do not know. I doubt it as they probably would have coded it so that manual moveset changes won't increase a Pokémon's happiness, but learning new moves via the natural course of growth should. I haven't played Arceus since launch week as I am now trying to complete Brilliant Diamond so I can't remember whether Pokémon still learn new moves via level-up or if they simply unlock the ability to use learn new moves (their happiness should increase in any case).

Leveling up and teaching new moves is usually the fastest way to maximise a Pokémon's happiness. Higher leveled ones, however, would be a bit of a feat to evolve in Legends Arceus due to the lack of held items and the longer amount of time needed to increase their level.

In the main series games, a freshly hatched happiness-evolving Pokémon would typically evolve once it levels up to around 25-35, potentially faster if in a Luxury Ball and/or holding a Soothe Bell. Winning battles would also help, but then you run the risk of your Pokémon fainting, and potentially prolonging the friendship-boosting process.

I heard the shiny sparkle while flying to Turnback Cave.

The shiny was a Beautifly. Since it was sunset, it looked completely normal! I’m glad I decided to go and catch it anyway. Because I almost assumed it had been my imagination.

Christ the post game is dull looking for the remaining few spooky flames and Unownn. It makes me really wish they but in a better Battle Tower type thing rather than just the old guy or have online multiplayer but I expect both are gonna come with DLC.

Finished Legends Arceus apart from fully completing the Pokedex and reaching 10th star rank so I'm done with the game unless/until DLC happens. Grinding level 10 research rank for each Pokemon would not be fun.

@Grumblevolcano Apparently the true ending is locked behind completing the pokedex fully.

@Grumblevolcano I'm getting to this point as well...just wrapping up the final few quests / sidequests.

As much as I enjoyed this game, I am concerned about longevity. Pokemon games are some of the most replayable games out there...but what is my motivation to repeatedly interact with the same Pokemon to 100% the dex, and what is my motivation to playthrough with another team (considering that Pokedex completion is the focus and battles are such a minor part of the game)?

Really do hope we get some DLC though. Just give me a new map and some new Pokemon and I'll be more than satisfied.

As far as I know, getting level research 10 with all the Pokémon only gives you the shiny charm. Which is very much optional and not necessary.

Don’t force yourself to go for it if you feel you’ve played enough.