During today’s Pokemon Presents showcase, The Pokemon Company revealed extensive new information about Pokemon Legends Arceus’, new battle system and other key gameplay features.

Unlike previous entries in the series, Pokemon Legends Arceus adopts a more open-world type format where players explore the ancient region of Hisui, which is more wild and untamed compared to the modern era. Players will have to carefully observe wild Pokemon and their behavior in order to successfully capture them, as well as battle them under a new type of battle system unique to this entry.

You can check out the full details below, as shared on the game’s official website:

Catch wild Pokémon

Seek out Pokémon

Pokémon live freely in all kinds of places—in grassy fields, in forests, or out on the water, to name a few. There may be certain Pokémon behaviors—or even entire species—that you witness only under the right conditions, such as during a particular time of day or in certain kinds of weather.

Observe Pokémon to learn their dispositions

Wild Pokémon will react to you in different ways depending on the species. Some may come right at you and attack, while others will run away as soon as they spot you. Tailoring your approach to Pokémon’s dispositions will be the key to successfully catching them.

Weaken Pokémon in battle to catch them

Battle can be a critical step in catching some Pokémon. Wild Pokémon become easier to catch after they’ve been weakened in a battle.

Carefully aim and throw a Poké Ball

You can try to catch wild Pokémon by throwing Poké Balls at them. When you find a Pokémon that you want to catch, get close to it, then try to catch it using a Poké Ball. Aim carefully at your target, and hit it with your ball before you miss the opportunity! If the wild Pokémon doesn’t pop right back out of the Poké Ball you hit it with, then you’ve done it! That’s a successful catch.

Battle wild Pokémon

How to start a battle with a Pokémon

If you throw a Poké Ball containing one of your Pokémon at a wild Pokémon, a battle will begin. You’ll enter battle seamlessly, rather than switching into a battle-specific screen as in previous games in the Pokémon series.

Time for a Pokémon battle!

The flow of battle in Pokémon Legends: Arceus works differently than in prior games in the Pokémon series.

In past games, battles have proceeded one turn at a time, with each participating Pokémon typically taking one action per turn. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon’s stats and other factors determine how many actions each Pokémon gets to take and in what order.

This can create situations where one Pokémon might get to take multiple turns in a row. You could heal your Pokémon immediately after dishing out an attack or throw yourself all-in with a no-holds-barred flurry of attacks.

Agile Style and Strong Style

Pokémon can remember four moves at a time to use in battle. In this game, the moves your Pokémon can use can also be unleashed in two new ways: Agile Style and Strong Style. Use these different styles skillfully to gain the upper hand in battle!

Agile Style

Using a move in the Agile Style raises the user’s action speed, which may make the user’s next turn come sooner, but lowers the move’s power.

Strong Style

Using a move in the Strong Style raises the move’s power but your Pokemon’s action speed will be lowered.

Completing the Pokédex

How to complete the Pokédex

You add information to your Pokédex by catching Pokémon. But catching a Pokémon once won’t be enough to complete its Pokédex entry!

You’ll need to keep studying that Pokémon and complete research tasks to increase your research progress on it and flesh out its Pokédex entry.

Completing these research tasks will also contribute to your work with the Galaxy Expedition Team and raise your rank as a team member, granting you access to new areas.

Base camps

Your surveying outposts

Whenever you leave Jubilife Village to set out on an excursion, your first stop will be one of the Base camps that will serve as a handy outpost for your work. You can stop by for a rest during an excursion, letting your team of Pokémon recover their health, or you can use a camp’s workbench to craft some items.

You may become unable to go on with your survey if you take too much damage, whether it’s caused by wild Pokémon attacks or falling from high places. If you get into danger, don’t be reckless—use your Base camps to full effect as you carry out your survey work!

Make items through crafting

As you’re exploring, you’ll collect all kinds of materials that you can use for crafting—combining items to make new ones. For example, if you combine an Apricorn and a type of stone called a tumblestone, you’ll be able to craft a regular Poké Ball.

You can craft items using the workbenches found at Base camps and in Jubilife Village.

Use items to help catch Pokémon

Poké Balls

The Poké Balls of old were apparently built a little differently from the ones we know so well. They were made mostly of wood, and steam puffed from their tops when Pokémon were caught.

Smoke Bombs

When thrown, these balls create a cloud of smoke that reduces visibility in the area, which will keep wild Pokémon from noticing you. They’ll be a great aid in stealthily approaching Pokémon in areas where there are no rocks or other obstacles to hide behind.

Heavy Balls

Heavy Balls are a special variety of Poké Balls that are more effective at catching Pokémon that haven’t yet noticed you. They’re heavier than regular Poké Balls, so they don’t fly very far. You’ll want to make sure you sneak close to a Pokémon before using one of these!

Pokemon Legends Arceus launches January 28th 2022 for Switch.

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