WHY BECOME A POKMON MASTER?

Being a Pokmon master is probably the

coolest thing you can do with your free time.
Pokmon is one of the most popular video
games of all time and it has a huge
following and becoming a Pokmon master
can help you enter that community.
Figure 1: source:
http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/f275/alternate-version-
pokemon-master-trainer-game-mew-66335/
WHAT ARE POKMON?
Pokmon are creatures from the video game
series Pokmon. They are caught, collected,
traded and battled between Pokmon trainers.
When a Pokmon wins a battle against another
Pokmon, it gains experience point. When it
has collected enough experience points, it will
level up and when it levels up enough, it will
evolve, as shown below.

Figure 2: source:
http://www.videogam
esblogger.com/interst
itial.html?return_url=
http://www.videogam
esblogger.com/2009/
11/05/all-starter-
pokemon-in-heart-
gold-and-soul-silver-
revealed-by-
nintendo.htm
HOW IS POKMON PLAYED?
Pokmon is a turn-based strategy role playing
game. Each turn, both players pick a move for
their Pokmon to perform during the battle
phase of that turn. Each player can have a
maximum of six Pokmon that can be used in a
single battle. In standard play, only one
Pokmon from each player can be on the battle
field at the same time.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Pen and paper for note taking
A baseball cap
A Nintendo handheld video game console of your choice
Gameboy Classic, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advanced, Nintendo
DS, or Nintendo 3DS
The respective Pokmon video game for the console
If Gameboy Classic Pokmon Red/Blue/Yellow Version
If Gameboy Color Pokmon Gold/Silver/Crystal Version
If Gameboy Advanced Pokmon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/Leaf
Green/Fire Red Version
If Nintendo DS Pokmon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/Heart Gold/Soul
Silver/White/Black/White 2/Black 2 Version
If Nintendo 3DS Pokmon X/Y Version
Figure 3: source:
http://www.nonfictio
ngaming.com/news
/news-save-your-
pokemon-before-
its-too-late-3531/
WARNING!
Pokmon is extremely addictive. Prolonged
exposure of Pokmon can lead to obsessive
behaviors such as gotta catch em all
syndrome and wanting to be the very best,
the best there ever was. Prolonged play
sessions can cause eye strain so take
breaks regularly.

Figure 4: source:
http://www.sixprizes.com
/2013/03/15/how-to-
create-a-deck-in-6-easy-
steps/
BEFORE TURNING ON YOUR GAME
Using an online source, such as
www.bulbapedia.com, research the available
Pokmon in the version you are going to play.
Choose 5 Pokmon you want to battle with and
write down where those Pokmon can be found
in your game. The team of Pokmon you battle
with is incredibly important, so youre going to
want a variety of Pokmon types so your team
doesnt have a singular weakness.
POKMON TYPES
Pokmon have types. These types determine the
primary types of attacks the Pokmon can learn
and also what types of attacks the Pokmon is
weak to. For instance, Pikachu is an electric
type meaning that it is good against flying and
water type Pokmon, but weak to ground type
moves.
The next slide is a super effective chart showing
what types of Pokmon are weak or good
against what types of moves.
Figure 5:
source:
http://pokemo
ndb.net/type
HOW TO USE THE TYPE CHART
When you find a Pokmon you would like to use in your team, find that
Pokmon's type on the top row. Move your finger down that types
column. When you see a 2, it means that the type of attack
associated with the row that the 2 is in will do double the standard
damage to your Pokmon. When you see a , it means that the
type of attack associated with the row that the is in will do half
the standard damage to your Pokmon. When you see a 0, it
means that the type associated with the row that the 0 is in will do
zero damage to your Pokmon. If the Pokmon has two types, do
this for both of it type columns to find all of its weaknesses and
strengths.
Figure 6: source:
http://www.3dstination.com/f
eature-ranking-the-best-
starter-pokemon/
TURN ON YOUR GAME
Play your game up to the point where you are given the
choice of your first Pokmon. Choose the water type
Pokmon. Depending on the version of the game you are
playing, it will be either Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Piplup,
Oshawott or Froakie. Starter water Pokmon are always
the most balanced and most practical of the starting
Pokmon choices.
Figure 7: source:
http://www.3dstination.com/feature-
ranking-the-best-starter-pokemon/
Figure 8: source:
http://bulbapedia.
bulbagarden.net/
wiki/Party
CATCHING YOUR TEAM
The game will teach you how to catch a Pokmon in the first
10 minutes of play. To increase the chance of catching a
Pokmon, lower the opposing Pokmon's health to the
red zone and either put it to sleep or paralyze it before
using a Pok Ball.
It may take a few hours to get to where you can catch your 5
desired Pokmon, so it is okay to catch other Pokmon
to use as place holders. It does not matter what
Pokmon these place holders are, but have no more than
two of them in your Pokmon team at a time.


USE POK BALLS
Pokmon masters only keep their Pokmon in
Pok Balls, not Great Balls or Ultra Balls. You
have to keep your Pokmon in the original ball
you caught them in, so use only Pok Balls
when you attempt to catch your desired
Pokmon. Pok Balls have a low catch chance
so buy plenty when you find a Pok Mart.
Figure 9: source:
http://bulbapedia.
bulbagarden.net/
wiki/Party
POKMON MOVE SETS
After you have caught all your desired Pokmon,
its time to embellish their move sets. A move
set is a list of 4 moves a Pokmon can use in
battle.
Figure 10: source:
http://www.videogames
blogger.com/2011/03/06
/how-to-catch-and-
where-to-find-victini-in-
pokemon-black-and-
white-ds.htm
POKMON MOVES
Just because a Pokmon is a certain type doesnt
mean it can only learn those types of moves. It
is important that a Pokmon knows a variety of
different move types so that they can be used
efficiently against more than a few Pokmon
types. Make sure that your Pokmon have three
different types of physical moves and one
status move in their move set. Physical moves
do damage while status moves cause effects
that change the progression of the battle.
TMS AND HMS
Pokmon can be taught new moves through the use of TMs
and HMs. TM stands for teaching machine and each
contain a certain teachable move. Not every Pokmon
can learn a certain move. Up until Pokmon Black and
White, TMs could only be used once so think carefully
about what moves are assigned to what Pokmon. Stay
away from teaching your Pokmon HMs, or hidden
moves, because they are gimmicky and offer little to
combat.

RECOMMENDED TMS
Ice Beam This is a hard hitting ice type move that can
leave your opponent frozen. Ice type move are very
handy because they are good against some of the
stronger types in the game.
Earthquake This ground type move hits consistently and
hard.
Aerial Ace This move is guaranteed to hit no matter what
and does a fair amount of damage.
Thunder Bolt This electric type move hits hard and can
leave your opponent paralyzed.
EXCLUSIVE MOVES
Some moves can only be used by a few or even
just one Pokmon. These moves are very
powerful or have very useful effects. Its good
to have at least one Pokmon in your team that
has one of these exclusive moves. You can go
to www.bulbapedia.com to find what these
exclusive moves are and what Pokmon learn
them.

Figure 11: source:
http://pokemondb.n
et/news/98/pokemo
n-roundtable-
reveals-more-x-y-
info
TRAINING YOUR DESIRED TEAM
Now that your Pokmon's move set is
embellished, its time to train. Training your
Pokmon basically means battling with them
enough so that they level up and their stats
increase. Battle using each member of your
Pokmon team equally so that they all stay
relatively the same level. You want to train as
much as possible before a big fight so that your
Pokmon's stats are as high as possible.

POKMON STATS
Each Pokmon has stats associated with it. These stats are
hit points, attack, special attack, defense, special defense
and speed.

Figure 12: source:
http://pokemondb.
net/news/98/poke
mon-roundtable-
reveals-more-x-y-
info
HIT POINTS AND SPEED
Hit points These points determine how much
damage a Pokmon can take before it can no
longer battle.
Speed The Pokmon with the higher speed stat
in a battle will go first.


ATTACK AND DEFENSE
Attack These points determine how much
damage a Pokmon can deal using a physical
move. Moves that are normal, fighting, flying,
ground, rock, bug, ghost, poison or steel type
are all considered physical moves.
Defense These points determine how much
damage a Pokmon receives when it is hit with
a physical attack.


SPECIAL ATTACK AND DEFENSE
Special Attack These points determine how
much damage a Pokmon can deal with a
special move. Moves that are water, grass, fire,
ice, electric, psychic, dragon or dark type are all
considered special moves.
Special Defense These points determine how
much damage a Pokmon receives when it is hit
with a special attack.

MASTERS AND THEIR STATS
A true Pokmon master always keeps these stats
in the back of his/her mind so that best choice
in Pokmon can be made in the heat of battle.
There are such thing IV and EV training to
further boost your Pokmons stats but Im
showing you how to be a Pokmon master not a
Pokmon god. There are instructional videos
online that can teach you how to train IVs and
EVs, most of which will run about half an hour.

Figure 13: source:
http://en.wikipedia.o
rg/wiki/Gameplay_o
f_Pok%C3%A9mon
BATTLING
Now that you know all the basics of Pokmon, you
are ready to get serious and start battling like a
champion. Establish a battle routine is what
separates trainers from masters. A battle
routine is an established cycle of moves you
use to maximize the damage that your Pokmon
can output in the minimum amount of time.

ROUTINES
If one of your Pokmon has a particularly high attack stat, start
your cycle with a few medium damaging attacks that also lower
the opponents defense, attack or speed stat than go in for the
kill with a hard physical attack.
If one of your Pokmon has a particularly high defense stat, start
your cycle with stat boosting moves that increase attack or
defense. This will allow your Pokmon to resist your
opponents attack while building up for a massive attack.
If one of your Pokmon has a particularly high speed stat, start
your cycle with a move that immobilizes your opponent. While
your opponent is recovering, pepper in as many hits as you can
get it. Repeat this cycle if your opponent becomes mobilized.

Figure 14: source:
http://supersmash
bros.wikia.com/wik
i/File:Pokemon_tra
iner.jpg
ETIQUETTE
Before going into any battle, always have the bill
of your baseball cape forward. When the battle
begins and your first Pokmon comes out,
scream Go, (the name of your Pokmon)! I
choose you! as you quickly turn your hat
around backwards. Doing this insures that your
opponents knows youre a Pokmon master.


Figure 15: source:
http://elderkheldonlsherwoo
d.blogspot.com/2011/06/whe
n-ash-ketchum-turns-his-
hat-around.html
PLAYING WITH PEOPLE
Warning!: Your Pokmon should be at least level 50 before
starting this step.
How you play with others changes immensely depending on
what version of Pokmon you are playing on. If you are
playing on any of the Gameboy systems, you will need to
use a link cable to attach your Gameboy to your
opponents Gameboy. If you are playing on a Nintendo
DS, you can play wirelessly with anyone in a close
proximity of you. If you are playing on a Nintendo 3DS,
you can play wirelessly on the internet with anyone
around the world.
COMPETITIVE PLAY
Pokmon's gameplay becomes incredibly tactical
when playing against a person. Your routines
need to be perfected at this point so you can
quickly take down your opponents Pokmon.
You will also need to be able to recognize your
opponents routines so you can interrupt them
and gain the upper hand.
DISRUPTION
Moves like protect and detect can disrupt routines that favor
building up to massive attacks, due to the fact that these
moves nullify any damage your Pokmon takes for a turn.
Moves that put a Pokmon to sleep or paralyze them can
disrupt high attack stat blitzkrieg tactics because these
moves stop your opponent from attacking. A high
defense stat Pokmon is good at disrupting a high speed
stat Pokmon's routine because your opponent will have
to whale on your Pokmon for countless turn while you
chip away at their health.
PRO STRATEGIES
Most Pokmon championships are recorded so feel free to
adopt pro level players strategies and use them in battle.
You can find these video on YouTube. Copy others
strategies until you can come up with your own identity in
the Pokmon battle arena.
A GREAT PASTIME
You now know the ins and outs of Pokmon and are ready
take on the world. Pokmon can be played over the
internet or even just across a table. It can be played in a
group or by yourself. It can be played on an airplane or
just in your room. Its fun and addicting and the best way
on the planet to kill a couple hours.

THE POKMON UNIVERSE
There is a huge population of people that play Pokmon.
Knowing Pokmon can help you meet new people as you
show off your Pokmon master skills. Meeting people is
easy when youre trading your hard trained Pokmon.