Unlocking Arceus: Do You Really Need a 100% Pokedex in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
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So, you’re venturing through the Hisui region, battling, catching, and documenting Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and you’re probably asking yourself the million-dollar question: Do I need a 100% Pokedex to encounter the mythical Arceus?
The short answer is no, you don’t need a 100% completed Pokedex to unlock the Arceus encounter. You do, however, need to have caught at least one of every Pokémon in the Hisui region (with a few exceptions that we’ll get into). It’s the difference between catching ’em all and researching ’em all.
Think of it this way: to meet Arceus, you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the Pokémon inhabiting Hisui, represented by adding each unique species to your Pokedex. Full completion with research level 10 on every entry, while highly rewarding, is a separate goal altogether.
Let’s dive deeper into what it actually takes to unlock the Arceus quest, the crucial differences between catching vs. completing, and why striving for that 100% Pokedex completion might still be worth your time.
The Road to Arceus: Catching vs. Completing
Many players often confuse catching and completing the Pokedex, but they are distinctly different tasks in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
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Catching: Simply adding a Pokémon to your Pokedex by catching it. This is the minimum requirement for unlocking the Arceus encounter.
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Completing: Achieving Research Level 10 for every Pokémon in your Pokedex. This involves fulfilling specific research tasks for each Pokémon, such as catching multiple specimens, witnessing certain moves, or defeating them in battle.
The essential point is that the Arceus encounter is gated behind the “catching” requirement. Once you’ve caught every required Pokemon, you’ll trigger a series of events leading to the final battle with Arceus.
The Exceptions to the Rule: Mythical Pokémon
While catching “every” Pokémon is the general rule, there are a few exceptions. Specifically, you do not need to catch the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, Shaymin, Phione, or Manaphy to unlock the Arceus quest.
These Pokemon are often linked to specific events or are available through save data bonuses, and their exclusion means you can still face Arceus without necessarily acquiring them.
The 237 Pokémon Requirement
So, how many Pokémon do you actually need to catch? The magic number is 237. This includes all the non-mythical Pokémon found in the Hisui region. Adding the final encounter with Arceus will bring your pokedex to 242.
Shiny Charm: The Real Reward for 100% Pokedex Completion
If you don’t need to complete the Pokedex to face Arceus, why bother at all? The answer lies in the Shiny Charm. This key item significantly increases your chances of encountering Shiny Pokémon in the wild.
To obtain the Shiny Charm, you must achieve Research Level 10 for every Pokémon in your Pokedex, including the Unown. This is a massive undertaking, requiring extensive grinding and dedication, but the payoff for Shiny hunters is well worth the effort.
Rank 8 and Beyond: Additional Incentives
While it’s true the article mentions you’ve acquired all the good rank rewards by reaching level 8, that isn’t necessarily the only reason to level your character. Leveling up your rank with the Galaxy Expedition Team unlocks better items available for purchase at the trading post as well as higher level Pokemon becoming available in the wild and in outbreak encounters. This allows for new items to use and higher experience gains.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I have to complete all research tasks for every Pokémon to get Arceus?
No, you only need to catch at least one of each Pokémon in the Hisui region (excluding Darkrai, Shaymin, Phione, and Manaphy) to unlock the Arceus quest. Completing all research tasks to Research Level 10 is required for the Shiny Charm.
2. What is the exact number of Pokémon I need to catch to face Arceus?
You need to catch 237 of Hisui’s main Pokémon. Don’t include Darkrai, Shaymin, Phione, or Manaphy in that total.
3. Are Darkrai and Shaymin required to complete the Pokedex?
No, Darkrai and Shaymin are optional and not required to catch or research if you just want to unlock the Arceus quest.
4. What do I get for completing the Pokedex (achieving Research Level 10 for all Pokémon)?
The primary reward for completing the Pokedex is the Shiny Charm, which significantly increases your chances of finding Shiny Pokémon.
5. Do I need to catch every Legendary Pokémon to get Arceus?
Yes, you need to catch all the Legendary Pokémon in the post-game to unlock the Arceus encounter. This includes Uxie, Azelf, Mesprit, Heatran, Cresselia, Regigigas, Giratina, Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, and Enamorus.
6. Is it possible to miss side quests (Requests) in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
Requests are entirely optional. You can beat Pokémon Legends: Arceus without doing any of them, although many offer beneficial rewards. Missions are mandatory and cannot be skipped.
7. What is the maximum research level for Pokémon?
The maximum research level for Pokémon is 10.
8. Are any Pokémon “shiny locked” in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?
Yes, all 11 available Legendaries are Shiny locked in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, including Dialga and Palkia (and their origin forms).
9. Can you breed Pokémon in Legends Arceus?
No, breeding is not available in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The game focuses on overworld spawns and uses Grit items to enhance Pokémon stats.
10. What is the hardest Pokémon to catch in Legends Arceus?
Cherubi is often cited as one of the most elusive Pokémon in Legends: Arceus due to its rare spawn locations in shaking trees.
11. How do I know when my Pokédex is complete enough to face Arceus?
Once you’ve caught all 237 required Pokémon, a post-game event will trigger, leading you to the Arceus encounter. No specific in-game notification exists, you just need to follow the story!
12. Do I need to catch all 28 Unown forms to get the Shiny Charm?
Yes, you need to have Research Level 10 entries for all Pokémon including all 28 forms of Unown in order to unlock the shiny charm.
13. Is Arceus difficult to catch?
Catching Arceus requires you to have caught every other required Pokémon in the game, and then complete Research Task #27, which you’ll receive after completing the game’s main missions.
14. Can you get every Pokemon as an alpha in Legends arceus?
Technically, every Pokémon in the game has an alpha form! However, some are guaranteed to appear as Alphas at specific locations and times.
15. What’s the difference between a Gigaton Ball and other Poke Balls?
The Gigaton Ball is the ultimate iteration of the Heavy Ball, “A ball that is too heavy to fly high or far, but it is highly effective if you manage to hit an unsuspecting Pokemon.”
Final Thoughts: To 100% or Not to 100%?
While you don’t need a 100% completed Pokedex to encounter Arceus in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, striving for full completion is the key to unlocking the highly coveted Shiny Charm and the opportunity to hunt Shiny Pokémon more effectively. Choose your path wisely, trainer! The Hisui region awaits.
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