Can Pokémon Stop Obeying You? A Trainer’s Guide to Obedience and Disobedience

Yes, Pokémon can absolutely stop obeying you in the Pokémon games! It’s a core mechanic that’s been present in the series for a long time, designed to add a layer of challenge and realism to your journey. Whether you’re a seasoned Pokémon Master or a budding trainer just starting, understanding why and how Pokémon disobey you is crucial for success. The obedience of your Pokémon isn’t just about random chance; it’s tied directly to your trainer progress, particularly the number of gym badges you’ve earned. This system primarily affects traded Pokémon or those imported from other games, adding an interesting dynamic for players who enjoy building their teams with Pokémon obtained from sources other than their own catching efforts.

Why Do Pokémon Disobey? The Roots of Rebellion

The main reason behind Pokémon disobedience stems from the game’s intention to reward progress. Imagine a scenario where you receive a high-level Pokémon early in the game through a trade. Without earning the appropriate badges, you haven’t “proven” yourself worthy of commanding such a powerful creature. The Pokémon, feeling your lack of experience (as represented by your badge count), might simply decide to ignore your commands. This could manifest in several ways:

• Ignoring Moves: The Pokémon might choose to use a different move than the one you selected, or even refuse to attack altogether.
• Slacking Off: The Pokémon might loaf around during battle, wasting a turn and leaving you vulnerable.
• Falling Asleep: In some cases, a disobedient Pokémon might simply fall asleep in the middle of a battle.
• Hurting Itself: Occasionally, a Pokémon might even hurt itself in its confusion or frustration.
• Returning to its Poké Ball: The most frustrating outcome – the Pokémon flat-out returns to its Poké Ball, ending its participation in the battle.

The specific behavior varies slightly between different generations of Pokémon games, but the underlying principle remains the same: you must prove yourself as a capable trainer before high-level traded Pokémon will consistently obey your commands.

The Badge System: Earning Your Pokémon’s Respect

The badge system is directly linked to your ability to control Pokémon. As you defeat gym leaders and earn badges, the level of Pokémon that will obey you increases. In most games, the following pattern generally applies:

• No Badges: Traded Pokémon up to Level 20 will obey.
• First Badge: Increases the obedience level to Level 30.
• Subsequent Badges: Each subsequent badge usually raises the obedience level by 10, until you obtain all eight badges.
• All Eight Badges: Once you have all the gym badges, all Pokémon, regardless of level or origin, should obey your commands.

This system ensures that players who rely on traded Pokémon are still incentivized to progress through the game and earn their badges. It prevents players from simply trading for a high-level team at the start of the game and breezing through the challenges.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: A Slight Twist

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduce a slight variation to the traditional obedience system. In these games, Pokémon can disobey even if they weren’t traded. This adds a new layer of complexity to team building and requires trainers to earn more badges before being able to reliably control high-level Pokémon. Specifically, you need six gym badges for level 50 Pokémon to always obey. This change encourages players to focus on the game’s progression and ensures that even caught Pokémon pose a challenge if they significantly outlevel your trainer progression.

The Unwavering Loyalty of Caught Pokémon

It’s important to note that Pokémon caught directly in your game typically never disobey you, regardless of their level. This is because the game assumes that you have proven your worth to these Pokémon by successfully battling and capturing them. They recognize you as their trainer and are naturally inclined to follow your commands. However, in games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet where caught Pokémon can disobey, the general rule applies: earning badges is still the key to solidifying their obedience.

Circumventing Disobedience: Temporary Fixes?

While earning badges is the ultimate solution, are there any temporary fixes for disobedience? Unfortunately, there aren’t any guaranteed methods. Some players suggest that increasing the Pokémon’s friendship level might have a slight effect, but this is largely anecdotal and not officially confirmed by the game developers. Giving the disobedient Pokémon a Soothe Bell to hold could potentially improve its happiness, but the primary factor remains your badge count.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon Obedience

1. Will my Starter Pokémon ever disobey me?

As a general rule, your starter Pokémon should never disobey you. This is because they are obtained directly within your game and recognize you as their original trainer. However, if you trade your starter Pokémon to another game and then trade it back, it might be treated as a traded Pokémon, potentially leading to disobedience if its level exceeds your badge-based limit. Make sure your Trainer ID and Secret ID match the Original Trainer ID.

2. At what level do traded Pokémon stop obeying?

Without any badges, traded Pokémon above level 20 will generally disobey you. Each badge you earn increases this level limit, typically by 10 levels per badge.

3. Does the type of Poké Ball affect obedience?

No, the type of Poké Ball used to catch a Pokémon does not affect its obedience once it’s on your team. Obedience is solely determined by whether the Pokémon was traded or caught in your game and your current badge count.

4. Can Pokémon disobedience be “cured” without badges?

No, there’s no reliable way to completely cure Pokémon disobedience without earning the necessary badges. Increasing friendship levels might have a slight effect, but it’s not a guaranteed solution. Earning badges is the key to gaining control.

5. Do Pokémon from Mystery Gifts disobey?

Pokémon received as Mystery Gifts are generally treated the same as traded Pokémon. Therefore, their obedience depends on their level and your badge count. If they exceed the level limit, they might disobey you.

6. Does Pokémon friendship affect obedience?

While higher friendship can improve a Pokémon’s performance in battle (like increased critical hit chance), it doesn’t directly prevent disobedience stemming from a lack of badges.

7. What happens when a Pokémon disobeys?

A disobedient Pokémon might refuse to attack, use a different move than selected, loaf around, fall asleep, hurt itself, or even return to its Poké Ball during battle.

8. Are Legendary Pokémon more prone to disobedience?

Legendary Pokémon are not inherently more prone to disobedience. Their obedience is determined by the same factors as any other traded or obtained Pokémon: their level and your badge count. However, Legendary Pokémon often have higher levels, which might make them more likely to disobey early in the game.

9. How do I know if a Pokémon will disobey me before battle?

Unfortunately, there’s no indicator to definitively tell if a Pokémon will disobey you before a battle. However, you can estimate based on the Pokémon’s level, whether it was traded, and your current badge count.

10. Do Pokémon obey in online battles?

The obedience system typically doesn’t apply in online battles, especially in ranked modes. In these competitive settings, the Pokémon’s obedience is generally assumed, allowing for fair gameplay. However, in some casual online battles, especially with self-imposed rulesets, disobedience might still be a factor.

11. Does the Pokémon’s nature affect obedience?

While a Pokémon’s nature influences its stat growth, it doesn’t directly impact its obedience. Obedience is primarily determined by the badge system and whether the Pokémon was traded.

12. Can Alpha Pokémon disobey me in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

Yes, Alpha Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus can disobey you if your research rank is not high enough. Instead of badges, your star level in the Survey Corps acts as a similar control mechanism.

13. Is it better to train disobedient Pokémon in the hopes they will start obeying?

While training a disobedient Pokémon can increase its experience and potentially its friendship, it won’t necessarily make it obey you more often until you earn the necessary badges. It’s generally more efficient to focus on progressing through the game and earning badges first.

14. Does trading a Pokémon back to its original trainer guarantee obedience?

No, trading a Pokémon back to its original trainer doesn’t guarantee obedience. The game still tracks whether the Pokémon’s level exceeds the obedience limit based on the trainer’s badge count. Even the original trainer needs to earn the badges to control high-level Pokémon.

15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon game mechanics?

For more information on Pokémon game mechanics, including obedience, breeding, and battling strategies, you can visit reputable online resources and communities dedicated to Pokémon. Consider also exploring resources related to Games Learning Society as they often have materials connecting gameplay to broader educational concepts. You can find more information at GamesLearningSociety.org.

By understanding the mechanics behind Pokémon obedience, you can build a stronger, more reliable team and navigate the challenges of the Pokémon world with confidence. Remember, patience and strategic badge collecting are key to becoming a true Pokémon Master!