Pokemon Gen 4

Hey guys, I recently bought a cheap DS lite and the only games I have right now are Professor Layton (1) and Pokemon Pearl, and I already beat Layton. I haven't played Pokemon since Silver in middle school, but I thought I'd give the new (relatively speaking - I know I'm two years late) games a try. What I'm wondering is, what's changed besides the graphics and the Pokemon? I want to do a little bit of research on the new mechanics before jumping too far into the game. I don't care about competitive battilng or anything, I just want to know what to look out for / look up. I know Pokemon have a 5th "ability" or a passive move now, and that they can be entered in contests or something. Can I still teach two Pokemon every HM in the game and train a team of ~3 Pokemon to clear every battle in the entire game, or is it more challenging now?

I'm probably also going to buy Soul Silver when that comes out, if this is good.

Physical / special split. Some moves are physical or special depending how they hit. If there's physical contact involved, it's physical, for ex. >_> There are something known as Effort Values, 510 EVs total per Pokemon, look this sh't up. No joke, bro. For every 6 EVs in a specific stats = 1 stat up. This is advanced metagame Pokemon though, started since 3rd gen NetBattle. Other than that, just the usual crap, I'd assume.

-inb4GARCHOMPisuber-

It is more challenging to an extent, like higher level opponents and more type coverage in enemy movepools, but you can still go with the same type of team as you had as before because it's still pokemon and level trumps most, if not all. The ability isn't especially important, but pretty useful for some pokemon like Gyarados because it lets it survive more hits. Physical/special split is big but still not that big of a deal. It just makes your pokemon better for the most part, if you take note of which att your pokemon is better at. You can look this up but even if you just use what you like, you'll be fine. Contests is also pretty unnecessary (I personally skip them). It's like a minigame for the most part.

^ He said he's not interested in competitive and it's hard to take note of EVs when you're going through the story anyway.

Well, since you haven't played since Silver..

They added natures in the 3rd generation, which a nature will increase one stat by 10%, and decrease another by 10%. For example, an Adamant Pokemon gets a 10% attack boost, and a 10% special attack decrease. They added in double battles, but you probably already figured that out. There's really not much else that's been added, except movepools have been expanded, and a lot of older Pokes evolve now in generation 4.

And yes, you can still teach basically 2 Pokes every HM. I used a Bibarrel and a Zubat. I fit like 6 HMs onto the two of them. One thing you can't do like earlier generations though, is catch the pre-Elite 4 legendaries and then just use them as a crutch through the Elite 4. You might have to grind a bit too, since in both of my playthroughs in Sinnoh, I've arrived at the Elite 4 with like level 45-48 Pokes. It was a pain in the ass beating them, but was a good challenge at least.

Hey guys, I recently bought a cheap DS lite and the only games I have right now are Professor Layton (1) and Pokemon Pearl, and I already beat Layton. I haven't played Pokemon since Silver in middle school, but I thought I'd give the new (relatively speaking - I know I'm two years late) games a try. What I'm wondering is, what's changed besides the graphics and the Pokemon? I want to do a little bit of research on the new mechanics before jumping too far into the game. I don't care about competitive battilng or anything, I just want to know what to look out for / look up. I know Pokemon have a 5th "ability" or a passive move now, and that they can be entered in contests or something. Can I still teach two Pokemon every HM in the game and train a team of ~3 Pokemon to clear every battle in the entire game, or is it more challenging now?

I'm probably also going to buy Soul Silver when that comes out, if this is good.

There are the Pokemon Contests, where you use your Pokemon's moves to "appeal" the judges to give you points. Other rounds in the Pokemon Contest include dressing up your Pokemon to a given theme using items that you acquire, and "dancing" by hitting the notes at correct times.

The 5th "ability" is just something to look out for. Many flying type pokemon, for example, have levitate, where they can't be affected by ground type moves.

Bibarel, Bidoof's evolution, can be taught every HM there is (except Fly), so get 2 Bibarel and a Starly and you'll be fine HM-wise.

You still can have ~3 Pokemon to clear every battle in the entire game. I've been perfectly fine using the starter pokemon, not even TOUCHING any other Pokemon other than my HM slaves (Able to defeat everyone with a breeze). I actually seem better off with my "only raise 1 pokemon" tactic than many other competitive battlers who EV train theirs and have a spread out arsenal.

Don't worry about natures, or EVs, those are only for those competitive people who like to show off using Pokemon. -Rolls eyes-

STOP EVERYTHING

Buy an R4DS for $20. Then download your Pokemon game and whatever the hell else you want. And another thing, if you want to enjoy Pokemon don't even think about EVs or IVs or anything related to competitive battling; it completely ruins the fun. That's what Shoddybattle, etc are for.

Flying type pokemon don't have levitate....
Pokemon that float/fly in the anime/manga but are NOT flying type have levitate, such as most Ghost types.
Natures can give you a 10% boost or decrease to certain stats, so those I would at least look into when choosing a starter pokemon, or something.

If you need help with game mechanics, I suggest you go check on serebii.net, it's one of the biggest Pokémon sites/communities that I know.

Since you're looking for HM slaves, I'll list a few:
1. Bibarel. It can learn at least half of the HMs, if not more. Mine has Cut, Rock Climb, Rock Smash and Strength.
2. Anything with wings can learn Fly and Defog. You rarely need Defog and Fly is a good move unless you play against another person or in the Battle Tower/Battle Frontier so you could just use something like a Staraptor or Crobat for Fly and catch a Starly for Defog.
3. Most Water types can use both Waterfall and Surf(both are great moves to use too) so you can take just about anything for these two, while not having to give up a Pokémon. A good example would be Floatzel.

As others have said, the levels have increased quite a bit since silver (pre-elite 4) so you might need to grind every now and then. In D/P/Pt this mainly takes place after Solaceon Town and right before the Pokémon League. Be sure to buy lots of healing items if most of your Pokémon are below Lv.60 when you enter the league.

Quite a few things are learned in game though, so I think you should just try it out and see how things go.

Bibarel and Tropius can learn all 8 HMs between each other, but I don't know if Tropius is obtainable in Pearl. It is in Platinum though, so you could ask someone to trade you one if you really want. The game is still possible to beat with a team of 2-4 Pokemon. I got through most of the game with just Staraptor and Infernape. I added Giratina and Azelf (legendary Pokemon) before facing the Elite 4 (in Platinum). I highly recommend getting a Starly early on and training it as one of your team members. Its final evolution, Staraptor, is one of the best ingame Pokemon. It's fast and has high attack. It also learns Close Combat (120 BP Fighting) and Brave Bird (120 BP Flying, so 180 with STAB).

The biggest change in 4th gen is probably the physical/special split. Now attacks are no longer physical or special based on their typing. For example, Waterfall and Surf are both Water type attacks. In gen 3 and below, they would both be considered special attacks. In 4th gen, Waterfall is a physical attack, which uses the attack stat instead of special attack. Surf is still special based however.

3rd gen brought in effort values and abilities, but I'm too lazy to explain them.

Marriland took out the E4 with just 3 pokemon, the other 3 being HM slaves. Torterra, Staraptor & Azelf.

I took out the E4 with just a Celebi. >_>