How Long Does It Take to Complete Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
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So, you’ve just picked up Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet, ready to dive into the expansive world of Paldea. The big question on everyone’s mind: how long will it take to actually finish this thing? The answer, as always, is “it depends.” Expect to spend around 25-35 hours beating the main storyline. However, reaching a true 100% completion can easily push you past 70-80 hours or more. This all depends on how much of a completionist you are and how easily distracted you get by shiny Pokémon (and let’s be honest, we all get distracted!).
What Affects Playtime?
Several factors influence how long it will take you to complete Pokémon Scarlet & Violet:
- Playstyle: Are you a speedrunner focusing only on the critical path? Or a meticulous explorer who wants to see every nook and cranny? Your approach has the biggest impact.
- Pokémon Catching Habits: Do you meticulously catch every Pokémon you see, or only the ones you need for your team? Completing the Paldean Pokédex adds significant time.
- Side Activities: Do you engage with side quests, cook every sandwich recipe, or spend hours decorating your picnic setup? These activities eat up time, but they greatly enhance the experience for some players.
- Difficulty: While the game doesn’t have traditional difficulty settings, if you find yourself struggling with battles, you might need to spend extra time grinding levels and finding better Pokémon, extending your playtime.
- Multiplayer: Teaming up with friends to complete raids or trade Pokémon can be a faster way to catch version exclusives and complete certain challenges.
- DLC Completion: The two DLC releases also add to the time needed. The first DLC, The Teal Mask, can add about 5 hours if only completing the main story.
Main Story Completion Time
Focusing solely on the main story, which involves conquering the Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends storylines, will take roughly 25-35 hours. This assumes you’re engaging in a reasonable amount of exploration and trainer battles along the way. If you primarily focus on advancing the main story as quickly as possible, you can likely beat the game in closer to 25 hours.
100% Completion Time
Achieving 100% completion is a different beast. This typically involves:
- Completing the Paldean Pokédex (catching all 400 Pokémon).
- Finishing all story quests and side quests.
- Evolving Pokémon and completing their individual challenges.
- Collecting all items, including hidden treasures and rare candies.
- Beating all trainers, including Gym Leaders and Elite Four rematches.
- Mastering sandwich recipes and cooking all possible meals.
- Finding and catching the Treasures of Ruin Quartet.
- Completing all DLC content.
Aiming for this level of completion will require dedication and a significant time investment. It will take at least 70-80 hours, if not more.
Post-Game Content
Even after beating the main story, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet offer a wealth of post-game content that can further extend your playtime. This includes:
- The Academy Ace Tournament: A challenging series of battles against strong trainers.
- Hunting for Shiny Pokémon: A notoriously time-consuming, but rewarding, endeavor.
- Completing a Living Pokédex: Collecting one of every Pokémon species and form.
- Raiding: Taking on the harder Tera raids with powerful Pokémon.
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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions that provide additional insight into the game’s length and content:
1. How long is Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC?
The Teal Mask DLC’s main story is roughly 5 hours long. Future DLC releases may provide further hours of gameplay.
2. How many Pokémon does it take to complete the Pokédex in Scarlet Violet?
You need to catch 400 Pokémon to complete the Paldean Pokédex in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
3. How long is 1000 steps in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
1000 steps in the game are equal to about 5 laps around the Mesagoza typing circle, which takes roughly 2 minutes.
4. Is Scarlet and Violet a hard game?
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet aren’t necessarily “hard,” but the lack of level scaling can make certain areas challenging if your Pokémon aren’t appropriately leveled. Strategic team building is crucial.
5. Can you get all 400 Pokémon in Violet?
You can catch all 400 Pokémon with trading between game versions because some Pokémon are version exclusives.
6. How many endings are in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has a definitive ending after you’ve completed all three main storylines (Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends). After the credits roll, there is post-game content to enjoy.
7. Why is my Pokedex stuck at 199?
If your Pokédex is stuck at 199, you are likely missing number 194, as the red and blue versions of Basculin are not initially registered.
8. Is SV DLC worth it?
The SV DLC‘s worth depends on your tolerance for performance issues and your enjoyment of the Pokémon collecting aspect. It’s worth it if you enjoy collecting Pokemon and a cute story.
9. Is Teal Mask worth it?
The Teal Mask has received mixed reviews. Many players dislike its performance issues, predictable storyline, and lack of freedom.
10. Which is the longest Pokémon game?
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are the longest Pokémon games, requiring approximately 40.5 hours to beat the main game, 93 hours for the main game plus extras, and 260 hours for complete completion.
11. Which version is better, Scarlet or Violet?
Both versions offer unique experiences with version-exclusive Pokémon. Whether Scarlet or Violet is “better” depends on your preference for past or future Pokémon designs.
12. How many DLCs are there for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
There are two DLC expansions for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk.
13. What do you do after beating Pokemon Scarlet Violet?
After beating the game, you can collect all Gimmighoul coins, hunt for shinies, complete a Living Pokedex, find and catch the Treasures of Ruin Quartet, and play the Academy Ace Tournament.
14. What Pokemon is 320 in Scarlet?
Eiscue is Pokémon number 320 in Scarlet and Violet.
15. Who is the hardest trainer in Scarlet and Violet?
Many players consider Professor Turo (in Violet) or Professor Sada (in Scarlet) the hardest trainers due to their powerful teams and diverse move sets.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the time it takes to complete Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is entirely dependent on your individual play style and goals. Whether you’re a casual player aiming to beat the main story or a dedicated completionist striving for 100%, the game offers a vast and engaging experience that can keep you entertained for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. So grab your Poké Balls, jump on your legendary ride, and embark on an unforgettable journey through the Paldea region!