So I don't know if anyone else has made a thread for this, but I suppose that either some people may not know or may look in just to refresh their memory.

This is me, Ignavusd's, guide to completing a Pokemon game and learning the basics.

1) Learn to save. A lot. Too many times have I and countless others have underestimated or fallen prey to some unlucky fate. Saves will help you keep your sanity.

2) When going through a Pokemon game, sometimes only using 3-5 Pokemon will allow your team to become better leveled, at the sacrifice of losing some diversity. Due to the experience and level curve, often times I find 4 Pokemon enough to get me through most games.

3) A lot of people overlook equip items such as certain berries or type-boosting ones. These can mean the difference between an enemy with a few health remaining or a fainted one. Also, great strategies can be used like this, such as the classic Rest/Chesto combo.

4) Learning the abilities and their effects can be quite beneficial to any trainer. For example, using an Archeops for competitive battling isn't something I personally recommend as it's ability, Defeatist, causes its stats to drop if it has less then 50% health. On the other hand, another 5 gen Pokemon named Lilligant has a high Special Attack and can have Own Tempo. This means it can continuously use Petal Dance, which gets STAB, with no fear of Confusion.

5) Always keep a large and diverse amount of Poke Balls with you. There are been a few times where I have encountered a Shiny and ran out of Poke Balls to use. This also allows you to always be prepared to catch something that you feel can help you.

6) Try to keep as diverse a team as possible, while also covering each other's weaknesses. Sure having a Emboar, Golem and Sandslash is diverse, but it also leaves a glaring Water weakness. Diversity and strategy is key to winning and getting through a game.

7) Always keep some status ailment healers handy. Early on, poison and paralysis can really hurt you, as will Sleep. Keeping a few things to cure this will make major and minor battles a bit easier to manage.

That's all I got for now, feel free to add your own Survivalist Rule into this, or drop a comment about how much i helped you

That's a great list of basics good sir.

The game is made more complex when dealing with certain item combo's and abilities.
One of my favorite combo's is Tyranitar throwing up its Sandstorm then switching out to Garchomp which is more aggresive in sandstorms to quickly and easily dispatch whole teams of Pokemon thanks to its vast move pool and high Attack.

Contemplating a Pokemon's move pool is always key.
Though not all non-damagng moves are worthless there are a few gems thrown in such as Gastric Acid, which negates a targets Ability.
Always remember to stick to moves that will get a STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus for those unaware) as other attacks will pale in comparison damage wise.

Also taking into consideration status affects:
Burn and Poison are possibly the worst as they drop the Attack of the affected Pokemon.
Confusion can also be a killer so keep Lum Berry's on stock.
Full Heal and Full Restores are a must have.

Restoration items are your friends, keep Hyper Potions for early on as your Pokemon's Hp won't be over 200 yet, Moomoo milks bought by the dozen in B/W is probably the best deals your gonna find early on

As stated above diversity in your Pokeballs will get you far.
Dusk Balls used at night have a 4x catch rate than Pokeballs and Timer Balls are great for long drawn out fights as can be the case with Legendaries

Though these may not all be Basic's its good to know what the game is all about.

kyuremu : *Always be careful when switching however, as it gives the opponent a free turn (sometimes two).
*Also, Poison does NOT lower any stat, although a burn DOES lower Attack.

All this being said, I think this is technically supposed to be in Franchises, since it's sort of about the game. That being said, it won't do anyone any good in that forum, as it will quickly drown in there. Such a messy predicament. :/

WarpStarFerret : yeah but i was only referring to Garchomp because its speed makes up for it
i could have swore i saw it on serebii that poison affected stats oh well

Poison doesn't affect stats, only Paralyz and Burn do. Confusion also now runs off the Attack stat meaning physical sweepers have more to worry about then lets say an Alakazam.

This is a good little guide i am always saving the game because there was one time i lost all my data because the battery died.i never use berrys i guess i should.
this was very helpful thank you for making it.

Its no problem. To be honest, if you go look at some of the comment boxes on some of the Pokemon games here, people are SEVERELY lacking in either knowledge or strategy. They don't need some top-tier team but having a little insight into how to make your life easier is helpful.

Berries are personally a 50/50 with me. I normally don't use them unless the set/pokemon Im using runs off that berry. Like using the Shuca Berry on an Electric sweeper or something. In case you didn't know, that decreases the damage done by Ground attacks, which electric is weak too.

If i could i would personally teach people how to get through games and study ahead and learn what they wanna do, but there is no "Pokemon Teacher" here is there lol

Wow this is a very informative thread. I lok forward to checking back in here for more inof. thanks guys. be sure to hatch my first starter on pokefarm!!

Use the right item. Sometimes it's better to use a Hyper Potion rather than a Full Restore because your Pokemon doesn't have a status problem and you need to save your Full Restores.

Hold items are your friends
Beefing up a STAB attack is just as good as getting a critical hit in my opinion
Leftovers has always been a great item for walls like Snorlax and Blissey
Its funny to think some people still don't know the basics

And, if your pokemon has high special attack, teach it special moves, and vice versa for high attack. also, you don't have to be all about offense-defense is just as good, wearing your opponent down with status and recovering the damage off. make sure a moveset is well-thought, covering as many types as possible for super-effective damage, if you're offensive. for defense, have a recovery move (or hold leftovers) have a status move, and others. status is your best friend, abuse it. paralysis, toxic poison, and burn are your greatest allies.

wish I could write more... but, i'm in the middle of a party

Try to stay away from HM's as much as possible. They were meant to make the game more efficient, but don't always help in-battle, only exceptions being Surf and Strength occasionally. But to be honest, HM slaves are usually the smarter move to make

i like to get a pokemon for evry situation and magmar

i don't think that's very helpful anercan : but i think that if you need some help you can find it here

I think that "pokemon for every situation" falls under the diversity tactic. By doing this, you don't have to worry about being swept by one strong Type or move.

But yea Magmar isn't the answer to everything. Magikarp is, everyone knows that....

Haha you're far too nice to noobs
i doubt that kid knows about sweeps or anything really
anyways always EV train your pokémon they'll thank you at level 100

i like this list has all the things novice trainers need to get going i myself am a pokemon veteran and find this still having stuff i overlooked



signed by toonmaster (ps has anyone caught cobalion terrakion and virizion the legendary trio just wondering)

(pss adopt a pokemon the link is where my zorua is at)

toonmaster : I caught the trio a couple weeks ago
One helpful tip, in Black and White make a Frillish an HM slave
it can learn Flash, Surf, Dive, and Waterfall

Even veterans and masters need a refresher course every so often. And I'm glad to have helped people, it what I aimed for. Yea I really don't like the beginning crap-mon of this era. I mean, Rattata was decent cause it as first. Sentret was eh, and Zigzagoon was epic for HM Slave and Pickup. Bidoof also had decent HM capabilities and Bibarel learned Surf. But Patrat and Watchog completely suck. If it wasn't for the 2nd badge using Herdier as a sacrifice then Watchog would be terrible

Yeah, Lenore pretty much sacrificed Herdier so Watchog's Retaliate would be beast.

Most important tip of all!
F.E.A.R. Aron's and Rattata's!
Aron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJxvmtCwAZY

Rattata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9l3pDn-oKA

But the FEAR techniques can be countered with Ghost's, Weather, Status problems, another first priority move, etc.