Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are finally here, and with the launch comes a brand new set of Pokemon and a new way to play with friends in an open-world setting. Scarlet & Violet brings a lot of firsts to the genre, from four-player co-op to branching paths to explore that include but also delineate from the recurring path of just defeating gym leaders.

Related: Everything We Know About Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

While many of these firsts are recognizable improvements, some innovations may leave you with a few questions. If you're looking for how to breed Pokemon, how to play with friends, or have any other questions, this FAQ will tell you everything you need to know.

Updated April 9, 2023 by Jerel Levy: Whether you're trying to use Union Square in offline mode or you're wondering what order to do the story in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, this frequently asked questions guide covers all of your queries and more. From whether you can breed paradox Pokemon to how to change your outfit, this guide has been updated to answer all of your questions. With updated links to our guide coverage for multiplayer or story modes, tips and tricks for playing, and more, you've come to the right place.

FAQ

Q: Does Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Have Multiplayer?

Yes, you can play Pokemon Scarlet and Violet with friends. In fact, it's one of the best aspects of the game.

You can play locally or online with internet connectivity via the Nintendo Online service with up to four players.

You'll need to get to a Pokemon Center to play locally or online. Go to the edge of the building, where you'll see a large yellow circular area known as Union Circle.

Clicking the yellow screen on this side of the building will prompt you to either form a group or join a group.

To go online, simply press L on the union circle screen to connect to the internet, allowing you to play with friends via the internet.

Alternatively, go into the main menu, and press the L button to choose to connect to the internet.

How To Form Or Join A Group

You can check out our full multiplayer guide for Scarlet & Violet here.

Q: How To Change Your Clothes, Appearance, & Rotom Phone Case

There are four outfit combinations to choose from in the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet base game, and you can freely change between those outfits while adding accessories to further customize and personalize your look.

DLC adds an additional four outfits, bringing the total to eight choices, with more to come in future DLC packs.

You can edit your look anytime, just by hitting the left directional button.

This will open a customization menu where you can choose between a Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter uniform.

While there, you can scroll between accessories, including socks, shoes, gloves, backpacks, hats, and glasses, to try on and change on the fly.

This menu also includes Rotom phone cases. Simply scroll over to the Rotom section and choose the phone case you want.

You can purchase available accessories and phone cases throughout the game at various shops in different cities.

While on this menu, you can also change your physical appearance, allowing you to select a new eye shape, new eye color, eyelashes, eyebrows, lips, and facial markings.

Press the + (plus) button, and you'll be asked if you'd like to go with the outfit you're wearing and start customizing your look. Select "yes," and you'll be taken to the menu to work on your facial features.

While you can change these aspects, you cannot change your hair. You'll have to visit a salon to do that.

You can check out our full character customization guide here for everything you need to know about making your character look however you want them to.

Q: How To Run/Slide/Return To An Area

Running

When you first start your journey, you may notice you'll be stuck walking from your house, unable to move any faster.

Don't worry; once you've walked down the path and reached the halfway point to reaching Nemona (around the sign that reads Cabo Poco), the game will allow you to run automatically, with no need for any special shoes or any other actions on your part.

Just tilt the left stick fully in the direction you want to go.

If you want to walk, slightly tilt the left stick in the direction you wish to walk instead of fully pressing it.

Sliding/Crouching

While running in a direction, if you press the B button, your character will slide into a crouch.

You can press B to crouch at any time, allowing you to sneak up on Pokemon in the wild.

Return To An Area

If you're exploring and you fall from a high area, your Rotom phone will save you from crashing into the ground, deploying, and slowly lowering you down.

Once this happens, if you have the "Helping Functions" turned on in the menu, you'll receive a prompt asking you to press Y if you'd like to return to the area you just fell from.

Press Y, and you'll be returned to where you were before falling.

Turning this option off in the menu will have Rotom save you from a fall and leave you where you are.

Q: Can You Catch Pokemon Without Battling Them?

No, you can not capture Pokemon without battling them. Gone are the Pokemon Legends: Arceus days, where you could easily throw a Poke Ball at a Pokemon and hope that it's caught.

The tried and true formula returns, having you battle a Pokemon and whittle its health down before throwing a Poke Ball to catch it.

You can, of course, initiate a battle and throw out a quick ball, hoping to capture the Pokemon quickly. However, you must initiate a battle to be able to catch a Pokemon.

Q: Is There Mystery/Surprise Trading?

Yes, you can mystery/surprise trade in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. The process is simple.

• Press X to open the Menu.
• Scroll down and select Poke Portal.
• Navigate to Surprise Trade (you will automatically be connected to the internet).
• Select a Pokemon you wish to trade.
• You'll receive a notification at the top of the screen saying, "surprise trade completed."
• Press Y to check the notification when it pops up, or navigate back to the Poke Portal menu.
• Select Surprise Trade (now with a check mark) and watch the trade sequence commence.
• You'll be prompted whether you want to do another surprise trade when it's done.

Trading is unlocked once you make it to the first Pokemon Center in Los Platos, and you can finally connect online.

Q: Are Starter Pokemon/Legendary Pokemon Shiny Locked?

Yes, both Legendary Pokemon and Starter Pokemon are shiny locked.

No need to continuously reset for a shiny variant, as you won't be able to get them this way.

Instead, use your time exploring and getting to know Paldea and hoping for shiny variants of other Pokemon in the overworld.

Q: Which Version Should You Get?

While the decision is ultimately up to you, several factors go into helping you choose which version of the latest Pokemon game you'll end up purchasing.

If you're undecided or worried about exclusive Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, or any other aspects, check out our full guide, which will tell you everything you need to know about which version you should choose.

Q: How Do You Breed Pokemon?

Yes, you can breed your Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet.

While there is no traditional Day Care Center to leave your Pokemon at to magically return with a new egg, breeding now takes place in your picnic site.

How To Breed

You'll need to set up a picnic somewhere with enough open space to allow your Pokemon to roam around freely.

Ensure your Pokemon party consists of Pokemon from the same breeding Egg group; otherwise, it won't work.

Eventually, after a time, you'll notice the pillow at the end of the table will have a basket atop it.

If you inspect the basket too early, you'll get a message saying there's nothing in the basket yet.

Hang around a bit longer, and recheck the basket, and eventually, you'll see a message saying there's a Pokemon Egg inside the basket and asking if you'd like to take it.

If your party is full, Eggs will automatically go to your box.

You can finally choose to take the Egg, and once you leave camp, place the egg in your party and walk around until it hatches.

If you'd like to increase the odds of finding Pokemon Eggs in baskets at your picnic, ensure to buy or create food with enhanced Egg Power.

Q: How Do You Connect Online?

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet has a lengthy tutorial, but once it's completed, you'll have access to online features.

Once you reach the Pokemon Center in Los Platos – the first Pokemon Center in the game– you'll see the shop, TM Machine, Pokemon Center, and Union Circle at the end.

You can do either of the following to connect online.

Go Online Via The Union Circle

Click the Union Circle on the edge of the Pokemon Center, and once the menu pops up, press the L button on your controller or joy con.

Your game will automatically begin connecting, and the message "you're now connected to the internet" will eventually pop up. You're officially connected.

Go Online From The Main Menu

Press X to open up the Main Menu. Once there, scroll down to Poke Portal.

When you click Poke Portal, you'll see a menu with a ton of options, including Union Square, Tera Raid Battles, and more.

On this Poke Portal Menu screen, press L to connect to the internet.

Your game will begin to connect automatically, and you'll see a message saying, "you're now connected to the internet."

The game will either say Offline Mode or Online Mode in the top right corner, depending on whether you're connected to the internet or not.

To disconnect the internet, you'll press the L button once again.

Q: How To Rename Your Pokemon/Change Your Pokemon Moves

If you're looking to change your Pokemon's name or had your Pokemon level up during a Let's Go run and not learn a move, there's an easy way to change both of those.

• Go into the Main Menu
• Scroll to the Pokemon wish to edit
• choose Check Summary

To Change The Name: Press the X button on the Pokemon Check Summary Screen and rename the Pokemon as the keyboard pops up.

To Change Your Pokemon's Moves: From the Check Summar menu, press the right directional button until you're on the current moves menu; you'll see your Pokemon's moves and a graph showing their stat points. Press A to change moves.

You can choose to either

• Remember moves
• Forget a move
• Use TMs to learn moves

You can change your Pokemons move set and names whenever you open up the Main Menu.

Q: How Many Pokemon Are in Scarlet & Violet?

There are 400 Pokemon in the Scarlet & Violet regional Pokedex.

Q: How To Unlock Terastallizing?

Terastallizing a Pokemon is unlocked during the prologue of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

All you'll need to do is go through the tutorial portion and make your way to either Naranja or Uva Academy, depending on your version.

On your way up to the school, you'll encounter two Team Star grunts.

After fighting the first grunt, Nemona will show up and hand you a Tera Orb.

Your second battle against the remaining Team Star grunt will allow you to Terestallize for the first time with the Tera Orb in hand.

To Terastallize a Pokemon, you only need to press the R button during battle.

Remember that you can only Terastallize once, until you make another visit to the Pokemon Center to heal your Pokemon and recharge your Tera Orb, so choose wisely as to when you'll do it.

Terastallizing allows you to enhance your Pokemon's moves by making their Tera Type moves even stronger when Terastallized.

For example, a Grass-type Pokemon with a Grass-type Tera type will have stronger Grass attacks against enemies.

Pokemon with a separate Tera type from their original typing will gain the strengths and weaknesses of that new type and be able to use moves of that type.

For example, a Grass-type Pokemon with a Fire-type Tera type will be able to use Fire-type moves in battle.

For everything regarding Tera type, terastallization, Tera raids, and more, you can check out our guide coverage on everything regarding Terastallizing.

These include everything you need to know about Tera Raids, Tera Raid battles and how they work, and even how to get and use Tera Shards and change your Pokemon's Tera-Type.

Q: Are Scarlet & Violet Compatible With Pokemon Home

Yes, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are compatible with Pokemon Home. While the game isn't currently connected to Pokemon Home, compatibility and interaction will happen in Spring 2023.

This will allow you to bring Pokemon from other regions and games into Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

Q: What Order Should You Do The Gyms, Titans, And Team Star Bases In

When starting your adventure in Paldea, because this is the first truly open-world Pokemon game, you can choose whatever route you want to take and how you'll tackle your adventure to find your treasure.

You can choose to either take on Starfall Street, the Path of Legends, or Victory Road to become the champion.

Path Of Legends – Titan Pokemon

If you're tackling the Path of Legends to defeat all of the Titan Pokemon, they're listed in difficulty order.

You can check out our guide on everything to do to complete the Path of Legends here.

Starfall Street – Team Star

Defeating the Team Star bosses is no easy feat. However, you can make it more manageable by taking on the bosses in this specific order.

You can check out our complete guide to Starfall Street to help you complete all the missions.

Victory Road – Gym Challenge

If you're looking for the classic gym battle route, victory road is the way to go. Here's every gym listed in order of difficulty.

• Katy In Cortando Town – Level 15
• Brassius In Artazon Town – Level 17
• Iono In Levincia City – Level 24
• Kofu In Cascarrafa Town – Level 30
• Larry In Medali Town – Level 35
• Ryme In Montenevera Town – Level 42
• Tulip In Alfornada Town – Level 45
• Grusha In Glaseado Mount – Level 48

While these are suggested based on level, remember these tasks can be done in any order.

The Titan Pokemon are a bit easier to tackle at the beginning of your adventure, and they open up travel on your Legendary partner as you defeat them, so it may be worth starting there.

Each event can be tackled earlier or later than the suggested level if you'd like to make things easier or give yourself a challenge.

If you want to go further, you can check out our guide on the Victory Road Pokemon League when you're ready.

Q: Can You Breed Paradox Pokemon

You cannot breed Paradox Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet.

Paradox Pokemon do not have an assigned gender and are unavailable for breeding.

As the lore states, they are Pokemon from the past or the future, depending on your version, and are rare to encounter.

This does mean that you'll need to manually catch and train them in whatever way you wish. If you're looking to use paradox Pokemon for competitive or you want a shiny, you'll have to do it the long way without breeding.