Gotta Catch 'Em All? Top 10 Pokedex Strategies

10. Version-Specific Pokemon

For the early generations the most basic of Dex completion strategy for filling your Pokedex was to partner up with a trainer who used the opposing game and trade for what you needed...

Even for later generations this is always the very first step in going after completing your Pokedex, though with the most recent generations it is always combined with one or two additional strategies.

This strategy leverages the simple reality that the game is actually split into two versions, with one having almost all of what the other does not, leaving the player with the simple requirement of finding another trainer who has the version that they do not, and arranging the trades. While that is clearly necessary it can also be a source of its own special set of difficulties!

By definition this trading partnership is a relationship - perhaps not a close one and certainly not an intimate one, but a relationship nonetheless - and as a result at least some exchange of information and desires is required.

The trick to doing this right is to try to befriend the person who has become your PokeBuddy at least to the extent that there is mutual trust. Either that or you buy and play both games so you can do the trades yourself (assuming you own more than one 3DS) OR using the trade apps for Pokemon from the App Store (Pokemon Bank).

The Version-exclusive Pokemon for Pokemon X are:

#006 Mega Charizard X (Requires Charizardnite X)

#120 Staryu

#121 Starmie

#127 Pinsir

#150 Mega Mewtwo X (Requires Mewtwonite X)

#228 Houndour

#229 Houndoom

#261 Poochyena

#262 Mightyena

#304 Aron

#305 Lairon

#306 Aggron

#345 Lileep

#346 Cradily

#347 Anorith

#348 Armaldo

#539 Sawk

#684 Swirlix

#685 Slurpuff

#692 Clauncher

#693 Clawitzer

#716 Xerneas (Legendary)

The Version-exclusive Pokemon for Pokemon Y are:

#006 Mega Charizard Y (Requires Charizardnite Y)

#090 Shellder

#091 Cloyster

#138 Omanyte

#139 Omastar

#140 Kabuto

#141 Kabutops

#150 Mega Mewtwo Y (Requires Mewtwonite Y)

#214 Heracross

#246 Larvitar

#247 Pupitar

#248 Tyranitar

#309 Electrike

#310 Manectric

#509 Purrloin

#510 Liepard

#538 Throh

#682 Spritzee

#683 Aromatisse

#690 Skrelp

#691 Dragalge

#717 Yveltal (Legendary)

The Version-exclusive Pokemon for Alpha Sapphire are:

#138 Omanyte (Fossil only in this game)

#139 Omastar (Fossil only in this game)

#249 Lugia (Legendary)

#270 Lotad

#271 Lombre

#272 Ludicolo

#302 Sableye

#336 Seviper

#337 Lunatone

#382 Kyogre (Legendary)

#408 Cranidos (Fossil only in this game)

#409 Rampardos (Fossil only in this game)

#422 Shellos (East Sea Shellos is the exclusive)

#423 Gastrodon (East Sea Gastrodon is the exclusive)

#483 Dialga (Legendary)

#539 Sawk

#564 Tirtouga (Fossil only in this game)

#565 Carracosta (Fossil only in this game)

#642 Thundurus (Legendary)

#644 Zekrom (Legendary)

#692 Clauncher

#693 Clawitzer

The Version-exclusive Pokemon for Omega Ruby are:

#140 Kabuto (Fossil only in this game)

#141 Kabutops (Fossil only in this game)

#250 Ho-Oh (Legendary)

#273 Seedot

#274 Nuzleaf

#275 Shiftry

#303 Mawile

#335 Zangoose

#338 Solrock

#383 Groudon (Legendary)

#410 Shieldon (Fossil only in this game)

#411 Bastiodon (Fossil only in this game)

#422 Shellos (West Sea Shellos is the exclusive)

#423 Gastrodon (West Sea Gastrodon is the exclusive)

#484 Palkia (Legendary)

#538 Throh

#566 Archen (Fossil only in this game)

#567 Archeops (Fossil only in this game)

#641 Tornadus (Legendary)

#643 Reshiram (Legendary)

#690 Skrelp

#691 Dragalge

Either way the essential strategy here is to be sure you capture more than one of the types that are exclusive to your version so that you can trade your partner the ones from yours for the ones from theirs.

Applying this means you have mastered the most basic of the Pokedex Strategies. So good on ya!

Posted: 31st Mar 2015 by CMBF
Tags: Pokemon Omega Ruby, Nintendo DS, Gameboy Advance,