You’ve been there. You’re staring at a screen in the Paldea region, wondering if catching that seventeenth Lechonk variation is actually going to change your life. Honestly, it probably won't. But if you’re trying to navigate the pokedex scarlet and violet has laid out for you, the sheer scale of it can feel like a genuine chore. It’s a massive list. 400 entries in the base game alone. Then you add the DLC—The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk—and suddenly you’re looking at hundreds more. It's a lot.
But here’s the thing most people miss. Completing this specific Pokedex isn't just about bragging rights or a digital certificate you'll never look at again. Game Freak actually tied some of the most essential mechanical rewards in the series' history to your progress. If you want to hunt Shinies or optimize your competitive team, you basically have to engage with the Pokedex. You can't just ignore it and expect to be "the best."
The Shiny Charm and the 400-Catch Grind
The biggest carrot on the stick is the Shiny Charm. It's been a staple for years, but in Paldea, the stakes feel higher because of the "Overworld" spawning system. You see the Pokemon before you fight them. This makes the Shiny Charm—which you get for finishing the base pokedex scarlet and violet—absolutely vital. Without it, your odds of finding a Shiny are roughly 1 in 4,096. With it? They drop to 1 in 1,365. That’s a massive jump.
You’ve got to talk to Jacq in the Biology Lab once you hit that 400 mark. He’s the guy who gives it to you. Most players get stuck around the 350 mark because of the version exclusives. If you’re playing Scarlet, you aren't finding an Iron Valiant on your own. You need a friend with Violet or a trade code. It’s annoying. I get it. But the "Trade Code" community (specifically those popularized by Austin John Plays) makes this way easier than it used to be in the Game Boy era.
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Version Exclusives are the Real Gatekeeper
Let's talk about the frustration of the Paradox Pokemon. These are the "ancient" or "future" forms found in Area Zero. In Scarlet, you’re looking for Great Tusk and Flutter Mane. In Violet, it’s Iron Tread and Iron Valiant. These aren't just Pokedex fillers; they are some of the strongest competitive monsters in the current meta.
If you're trying to wrap up your pokedex scarlet and violet collection, you'll also run into the "Mireidon vs. Koraidon" problem. You only get one tradeable legendary. Don't trade your ride Pokemon! You get a second one at the bottom of Area Zero after the credits roll. That’s your trade fodder. Use it wisely.
Those Pesky Evolution Methods
Some of these evolutions are just... weird. Gimmighoul is the prime example. You need 999 Gimmighoul Coins. 999! You find them by clicking on the little gold guys on signposts or beating the Chest Form version at the top of watchtowers. It takes forever. Then there's Palafin. You have to be in a "Union Circle" with another player while your Finizen levels up past 38. If you don't have friends online, you're basically stuck unless you use a public Discord or Reddit thread to find a group. It's a social Pokedex, for better or worse.
Then there is Kingambit. To get him, you have to find a Bisharp leading a pack of Pawniard, make sure it’s holding a Leader's Crest, and then defeat three other Bisharp that are also leading packs. It’s specific. It’s clunky. But Kingambit is such a powerhouse that skipping this entry is a huge mistake for your actual gameplay.
The DLC Expansion: Kitakami and Blueberry Academy
Once you finish the main 400, you aren't done. Not even close. The Teal Mask adds the Kitakami Pokedex, and The Indigo Disk adds the Blueberry Pokedex.
The Blueberry Pokedex is particularly brutal because it brings back every single starter Pokemon from previous generations. Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Torchic—they’re all there. But they don't just appear. You have to spend "BP" (Blueberry Points) to "upgrade" the biomes in the Terarium. Each biome costs 3,000 BP to upgrade. If you’re playing solo, grinding 12,000 BP to unlock all the starters feels like a second job.
This is where the game tries to force you into the "BBQ" (Blueberry Quests) system. Doing these in a group of four speeds it up exponentially. It’s the difference between five hours of grinding and thirty minutes.
Beyond the Shiny Charm: The Marks and the Sizes
One detail the pokedex scarlet and violet doesn't explicitly shout about is the "Size" mechanic. There's a woman in Mesagoza near the fountain who checks your Pokemon's size. If you have a "Jumbo" or "Teensy" Pokemon, she gives you a Mark. These marks show up in battle when you send the Pokemon out.
It’s a niche part of the Pokedex experience, but for collectors, it’s the "endgame." Getting a "Jumbo" Shiny Paradox Pokemon is basically the peak of the mountain. It requires using Sandwiches with "Sparkling Power" and "Title Power" Level 3.
Technical Hurdles and "The Wall"
Sometimes the game just breaks. Or feels like it. The frame rate drops in Casseroya Lake are legendary at this point. Trying to finish the pokedex scarlet and violet entries for Dondozo and Tatsugiri while the game chugs at 15 frames per second is a test of patience.
Most people hit "The Wall" around 300 entries. This is where you've caught all the "easy" stuff—the birds, the bugs, the common spawns. Now you're left with the 1% encounter rates or the complicated evolutions.
- Pro Tip: Use the "Sandwich" mechanic even for non-shinies. If you need a rare Normal-type, eat a sandwich with "Encounter Power: Normal." It makes a huge difference.
- Don't forget the stakes: Many Pokemon only spawn in specific weather or day/night cycles. Sliggoo only evolves into Goodra when it's raining.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to actually finish the pokedex scarlet and violet without losing your mind, stop wandering aimlessly. Follow this path:
- Finish the Path of Legends first. You need the mobility upgrades for your Koraidon/Miraidon (climbing and gliding) to reach the rare spawns on mountain peaks and isolated islands.
- Use the "Surprise Trade" early. While you're playing through the story, keep the Surprise Trade running in the background. You’ll often get version exclusives or rare starters from breeding leftovers.
- Visit Jacq frequently. He gives rewards at certain milestones (like the Oval Charm or specific Poke Balls). Don't wait until 400 to talk to him.
- Target the "Special" evolutions. Focus on things like Pawmot (walk 1000 steps in "Let's Go" mode) or Brambleghast. These take manual effort that you can do while exploring.
- Leverage the Tera Raid dens. Sometimes a 5-star or 6-star raid will feature a Pokemon you haven't caught yet. This bypasses difficult evolution requirements entirely. For example, you can catch a fully evolved Gallade or Gardevoir in a raid rather than finding a Dawn Stone.
- The Home Connection. If you have Pokemon Home, use it. You can transfer in many of the required monsters from previous games or the mobile app to tick off those boxes instantly.
Completing the Pokedex is less about "catching 'em all" and more about understanding the ecosystem of Paldea. Once the Shiny Charm is in your bag, the real game begins. You’ll be able to hunt those rare variants with significantly less frustration, making your team truly unique for online battles or just for the sake of the collection. Stop ignoring the little icons in your menu and start the grind; the rewards are actually worth the effort this time around.