Reviving Fainted Pokémon: A Comprehensive Guide
So, your Pokémon has fainted? Fear not, aspiring Trainer! Bringing your beloved partners back from the brink is a core skill in the Pokémon world, spanning from the main series games to Pokémon GO and even the sprawling landscapes of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The primary method, and often the most reliable, involves using specific items called Revives and Max Revives. Revives restore a fainted Pokémon to half its maximum HP, while Max Revives fully restore its HP. Let’s dive deeper into the art of Pokémon resuscitation!
The Traditional Method: Items are Key
Revives and Max Revives
These are your bread and butter for reviving fainted Pokémon. You can obtain them in several ways:
- Pokémon Centers/PokéStops/Gyms: In the core series games, Pokémon Centers are the go-to locations to heal your entire party, including reviving fainted Pokémon. In Pokémon GO, spinning PokéStops and Gyms offers a chance to acquire Revives and Max Revives.
- In-Game Shops/Store: In Pokémon GO, you can purchase Max Revives with PokeCoins, the game’s premium currency.
- Quest Rewards: Completing certain in-game quests or field research tasks often rewards you with Revives or Max Revives.
- Leveling Up: In Pokémon GO, you receive Revives and Max Revives as rewards when you level up your Trainer level.
- Daily Free Box: Pokémon Go offer free daily boxes that have a chance of granting you revives.
How to Use Revives and Max Revives
The process is straightforward:
- Access your Bag: Open your inventory in the game.
- Select the Revive/Max Revive: Find the appropriate item in your bag and select it.
- Choose the Fainted Pokémon: The game will present a list of your fainted Pokémon. Select the one you wish to revive.
- Confirm: Confirm your selection, and your Pokémon will be brought back to consciousness.
Alternative Methods: Thinking Outside the Item Bag
While Revives are the most common solution, certain situations and games offer alternative ways to bring Pokémon back from the brink.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduced a different healing system. While items still play a role, you can also craft healing items and utilize base camps for restoring your Pokémon’s health. Instead of traditional revives, you need to craft items that restore HP.
In-Battle Moves and Abilities
Certain moves and abilities can revive Pokémon mid-battle, although they are rare:
- Revival Blessing: This move, introduced in later generations, is the only move that can revive a fainted Pokémon during battle without using an item.
- Lunar Dance: Although the user faints, this move fully restores the HP and PP of the Pokémon that switches in, essentially “reviving” it with a new, healthy Pokémon.
Leveling Up Via Rare Candy
Though a less conventional method, using a Rare Candy on a fainted Pokémon will revive it in addition to raising its level. This is a useful, if costly, strategy if you happen to have a Rare Candy on hand.
Consequences of Fainting: What’s at Stake?
Letting your Pokémon faint repeatedly can have consequences. In the main series games, if your entire party faints, you’ll “black out” or “white out” and be transported back to the last Pokémon Center you visited, losing some money in the process. In Pokémon GO, repeated fainting simply means you’ll need to revive and heal your Pokémon more often, costing you resources.
Understanding the “Faint” Mechanic
It’s important to remember that “faint” is not synonymous with “die.” It’s a game mechanic to indicate a Pokémon is unable to battle. The lore and narrative surrounding the “faint” state don’t necessarily imply permanent demise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Reviving Pokémon
1. Can I revive a Pokémon without a Revive item?
Yes, but the methods vary depending on the game. In Pokémon GO, you can sometimes revive a Pokémon by powering it up or Mega Evolving it. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you primarily use healing items to restore HP, but you can also return to base camp. Moves like Revival Blessing can revive a fainted Pokémon during battle.
2. What happens if all my Pokémon faint?
In the core series games, you’ll “black out” or “white out,” return to the last Pokémon Center, and lose money. In Pokémon GO, you’ll simply need to revive and heal your team before continuing to battle.
3. Does Healing Wish work on fainted Pokémon?
No. Healing Wish only affects the Pokémon that is sent out after the user faints. You cannot send out a fainted Pokémon.
4. Can fainted Pokémon level up?
Yes, a fainted Pokémon can still gain experience points and level up if your team wins the battle. It only doesn’t evolve if you lose the battle.
5. Do fainted Pokémon get XP?
No, fainted Pokémon do not receive experience points from a battle. They must be conscious (not fainted) at the end of the battle to gain XP.
6. Is fainting a Pokémon the same as killing it?
No, fainting means the Pokémon is unable to battle, not that it has died. It’s a game mechanic.
7. Is there a move that revives fainted Pokémon in battle?
Yes, Revival Blessing is the only in-battle move that can revive a fainted Pokémon without needing an item. Lunar Dance can restore a HP and PP after a pokemon switches out as well, essentialy reviving with a new healthy Pokemon.
8. Does Flame Body work if the Pokémon is fainted?
Yes, from Pokémon Emerald onward, if a Pokémon with the Flame Body ability is in your party (even if fainted), the number of cycles it takes for Pokémon Eggs to hatch is halved.
9. How much happiness do you lose when a Pokémon faints?
Fainting reduces a Pokémon’s happiness by a small amount, usually just 1 point.
10. What happens if a Shiny Pokémon faints during an encounter?
If you accidentally faint a Shiny Pokémon during an encounter and want another chance, reload a previous save file. If the Pokémon fainting is a guaranteed spawn, it will respawn when reloading to retry the encounter.
11. What’s the fastest way to revive Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
If you’re in a battle and your Pokémon are fainting, it may be faster to retreat, revive and heal your team with Max Revives, and then re-enter the battle. This can save time compared to waiting for all your Pokémon to faint and then reviving them individually.
12. Why am I not getting Revives in Pokémon GO?
Revives are random drops from PokéStops and Gyms. Spinning different stops consistently can increase your chances. You can also buy Max Revives in the in-game store.
13. Can Berries revive Pokémon?
No, Berries cannot revive fainted Pokémon. They can only restore HP to Pokémon that are still conscious.
14. Can you level up a fainted Pokémon with a Rare Candy?
Yes, using a Rare Candy on a fainted Pokémon will level it up and revive it.
15. Why do Pokémon only faint and not die?
Fainting is a game mechanic designed to provide a challenge and force players to manage their resources without introducing the darker implications of permanent death within the Pokémon world. You might want to explore the Games Learning Society to learn more about game mechanics and narrative design. GamesLearningSociety.org provides useful information on how game mechanics work.