Sometimes, it’s just not easy being an adult Pokémon fan. There’s a 🔥littꦓle lingering feeling out there; like being back in sixth grade and having your classmates discover that you still sleep with your pink teddy bear named Mr. Snuggletums.

These days, of course, all the super-cool kids are all about Fortnite. Pokémon is for little kids, we sometimes hear, despite the fact that Fortnite is as toon-tastic and▨ cutesy as Pokémon (albeit with more explosives and firearms).

At first glance, I suppose you can see where this recess mentality may come from. After all, the Pokémon franchis𒅌e has always been beginner-frꦓiendly and accessible. You know, in a My First RPG sort of way.

Don’t be fooled, though: the main game itself may be on the more accessible end of the RPG spectrum, but there’s a whole ocean of hidden depth to explore here. We’re talking al🐷l the way down in the dang ocean, where anglerfish and all kinds of other creepy-looking guys and gals live.

So, Fire-types beat Grass-types? Water-types beat Fire? Yep, that’s certainly true (coverage aside, which we’ll get into later), but there’s so much more going on here. If you want to be the very best, like no-one ever was, you’re going to have to fully commit to learning the finer points of Pokémon play and battling. Whole in-depth guides full of impossible jargon have been written on that♔ subject, but I’m not going to subject you to th🎃at.

Instead, let’s take a look at tips to take to heart from the pros and amateur mistakes to leave fa🤪r behind.

30 PRO: Talk To EVERYONE!

If you’re well-versed in the ways of RPGs, this one’s p🌟robably second nature to you. Sadly, so many players just don’t take the time to gather that cruciꦍal information.

When entering a new town, you probably want to scout out the st꧙ores for new equipment, and rest to restore your HP. Alongside that, though, there’s often a bounty of NPCs who are really worth your while. True enough, lots of them will simply repeat the🌌 same line of prattling dialogue, but some of them will give you important items and quests.

In Pokémon, they may even offer 🧔a trade or some other service you✅ can’t get elsewhere.

29 CARELESS: Skipping Dialogue And Non-Essentials

By contrast, impatient trainers will not have time for any of those sorts of shenanigans. There’s the Pokémon Center, there’s the store, I’ll just grab a fe꧅w more Potio✤ns and Repels and be on my dang way.

Granted, if you’re not the backstory and lore type, this approach will serve you perfectly well. It can become probl🎶ematic, though, especially if you’re playing through some of the older Pokémon titles which were a little less user-friendly.

In thirty hours’ time, you might need to find that one Move Tutor, item or NP💫C with a specific TM, and have to rely on the internet to find it.

28 PRO: Fight EVERYONE

Speaking of the importance of NPCs, there’s one interesting Pokémon-specific point to bear in mind. A large number of them won’t want to talk or give you items. They’ll just want to tell you tha🐭t shorts are comfy and easy to wear and then IMMEDIATELY BATTLE.

Not that there’s anything wrong with this. Trainer battles are a super-important source of experience and cash (with Amulet Coins and other methods of boosting prize money stacked together, you’ll be surprised how much). If you’re a true pro playing a Nuzlocke, for instance, you really will want all the experience you can g😼et.

27 CARELESS: Skipping Those Battles

Now, don’t get me wrong here. I have absolutely zero beef with players who want🍎 to deftly dodge locking eyes with some of those trainers.

There are, let’s not kid ourselves, far too dang many trainers in some areas.

It’s just that it’s totally worth the time. Not only do you keep yourself nicely on-par with everybody this way (giving you the most balanced experience), but there are all kinds of other boons too. In ✨the seventh generation games, there are all kinds of items and TMs you can only get by clearing out every trainer on that rꦛoute.

26 PRO: The Old-School Pen And Paper Approach

If you really want to prove your chops as a Pokémon pro, you’re going to need to get yourself into the competitive scene. Local g🅰rassroots tournaments, big official regional ones, even the worldwide finals…being the very best requires a commitment, friends.

To truly perform in a tournament setting, you’re going to need to gather all the in♛formation about the opponent’s tea💞m you can. In order to do this, players tend to keep a notebook with them, to keep a record of moves, held items and such as they’re revealed.

25 CARELESS: Don’t Trust The Bank Of Mom

I understand, Johto Mom. I totally do. You’re just looking out for your child. You don’t want them spending all thei꧅r cash on candy, video games, and rock n’ roll. I can appreciate that, I really can.

The only problem is, I don’t really want Super Potions when I’m about to tackle the Elite 4. Get🍨 with the program, mom. I’m a better investor than you, and I’m eleven years old.

The moral of the story is, have a long hard think before you agree to let mom look after some of your cash in Pokémon Gold and Silver. And then don’t do it.

24 PRO: Super Repels Are Much More Super Than You Might Think

As we know, thanks to the Pokémon franchise’s family-friendly nature, it’s quite simple to grasp how items work. Great Balls are morꦏe effective than Poké Balls, while Ultra Balls have a higher catch rate than Great Balls.

Don’t let those sneaky Rep🍃els trip you up, though. For the amount you’re paying, and the steps you’re protected for, Super Repels are the more cost-effectiv🎐e choice.

Don’t be deceived by the sometimes-lame bank of mom, and don’t be strong-armed by rambunctious ꧅Max Repel salesmen either.

23 CARELESS: When You Really Want To Repel EVERYBODY

Following on from that last point, it’s 🌠only logical to assume that a Max Repel would be the most effective choice. As I say, that’s the way with Poké Balls, Potions and other commodities.

Not that it’s the biggest of deals, with the rate the game can throw money at you (if you’re set up for that), b🦩ut still.

Many pro players like to play with additional restrictions of their own choosing, and in challenge runs, the difference in the cost-effectiveness of items can make a🐈ll the difference.

It’s about being as efficient as possible.

22 PRO: Surprise! Critical Hit!

We’ve all been there. You’re happily in a commanding position of a battle. Just a couple more turns 🐟to go. Suddenly, the inevitable critical hit destroys your chances on a whim, and you want to roundhouse kick someone’s grandma right in the dentures.

If you’re playing a Nuzloc🌞ke, for instance (fainted Pokémon are perma-gone), you’ve got to try to take those dreaded critical hits into acc♛ount. You’ve got to think in terms of surviving moves even if they do 1.5 damage (after the nerf to criticals), wherever possible.

21 CARELESS: When Lady Luck Just Isn’t That Into You

If you’ve had much experience with the Pokémon franchise over the years, you’ll know that there’s a whole heaping helping of luc🐠k involved with the whole thing. S🎶ometimes moves will miss at essential moments, paralysis or flinches will kick in at the worst possible time, you’ll be frozen solid for seventeen centuries…

It can be a bad time, is what I’m getting at. You can never just assumeꦡ that a turn will play out as you planned. You’ve got to try tওo anticipate those critical hits (difficult as that can be), as I say.