Is It Bad to Let Pokémon Faint? The Definitive Guide
In the world of Pokémon, the heat of battle can lead to tough choices. One question looms large for trainers of all levels: is it bad to let your Pokémon faint? The short answer is: it’s complicated. While not the end of the world, consistently allowing your Pokémon to faint has negative consequences, ranging from hindering their growth and bond with you, to outright failure in your journey. Let’s break it down.
Fainting in Pokémon games isn’t simply a matter of HP depletion. It’s a multi-faceted event with repercussions that touch on friendship, experience, in-game economy, and even the narrative itself. Understanding these effects is crucial for becoming a truly skilled and compassionate Pokémon trainer.
The Tangible Consequences of Fainting
Impact on Friendship
Perhaps the most significant consequence of repeated fainting is the impact on your Pokémon’s friendship level. In many games, a Pokémon’s happiness (or friendship) directly influences its performance in battle. A Pokémon that loves its trainer will have increased critical hit rates, endure attacks that would otherwise knock it out, and sometimes even shake off status conditions.
Frequent fainting directly lowers this friendship level, making your Pokémon less likely to perform these advantageous feats. While a single fainting incident might not drastically affect your bond, a pattern of negligence can lead to a disengaged and uncooperative Pokémon. The article mentioned “Happiness is only lowered by fainting (lowers by 1 on the scale from 0 to 255)…” so the effects are tangible, especially with repeated incidents.
Experience Points and Leveling
While Pokémon don’t lose experience points when they faint after participating in a battle, repeatedly fainting can hinder their overall growth. A fainted Pokémon isn’t actively contributing to the battle and, therefore, isn’t dealing damage or securing crucial KOs. This means it may earn less experience overall compared to a Pokémon that stays in the fight longer.
Moreover, relying on a single, powerful Pokémon while allowing others to faint repeatedly creates an uneven team dynamic. Your other Pokémon will fall behind in levels, making them less effective in later battles. So, the article stated directly “Nope. Once a pokemon has been assigned experience, fainting won’t take it away from them”.
Economic Burden
Potions and Revives aren’t free. As you progress through the game, you’ll rely heavily on healing items to keep your team in fighting shape. Repeatedly reviving and healing fainted Pokémon can put a significant strain on your in-game finances. Instead of investing in TMs, evolution stones, or other useful items, you’ll be constantly buying healing supplies.
Consider the cost-benefit ratio. Is it truly worth saving a few seconds by allowing a Pokémon to faint, only to spend precious Poké Dollars on Revives later?
Losing Battles and Blacking Out
Of course, the most immediate consequence of Pokémon fainting is the potential for losing battles. If all your Pokémon faint, you’ll “black out” or “white out,” and be transported back to the last Pokémon Center you visited. This can be frustrating, especially if you were close to defeating a challenging opponent or exploring a new area.
Losing battles also means losing money and valuable time. You’ll have to retrace your steps, rebattle trainers, and potentially face the same challenges with a weakened team.
The Subtle Psychological Impact
Beyond the tangible consequences, there’s a subtle psychological element at play. Pokémon, at their core, are presented as companions and partners. Neglecting their well-being by constantly allowing them to faint can impact your overall enjoyment of the game.
Playing with the goal of preventing your Pokémon from fainting encourages strategic thinking, careful planning, and a deeper understanding of your team’s strengths and weaknesses. This, in turn, fosters a more rewarding and immersive Pokémon experience.
How to Minimize Fainting
Strategic Team Building
A well-balanced team is crucial for minimizing fainting. Consider type matchups, individual strengths, and defensive capabilities when building your team. Having a diverse roster of Pokémon allows you to switch strategically, mitigating damage and exploiting weaknesses.
Proper Item Usage
Don’t be afraid to use healing items during battles. Potions, Super Potions, and Hyper Potions are your best friends. Learn when to use them effectively to keep your Pokémon healthy and in the fight.
Strategic Switching
Switching Pokémon is a fundamental tactic in Pokémon battles. If a Pokémon is facing a disadvantageous matchup or is low on HP, switch it out for a teammate that can handle the situation.
Overleveling
While it can be tempting to overlevel your Pokémon, keep in mind that outsider Pokémon may disobey you if their level is too high. This can lead to unpredictable outcomes and increase the risk of fainting. The article mentions “…an outsider Pokémon may disobey the player if its level is greater than the maximum controllable level M granted by the player’s Badges”.
Gym Awareness
Know your opponents. Research the Gym Leaders of each city to prepare your Pokémon for success. The article mentions the following are some of the toughest gyms: “1 Saffron city…2 Opelucid City…3 Fusia City…4 Snowbelle City…5 Sootpolis City”.
Game Knowledge
Deep dive into status conditions and the items that cure them. Pay attention to when you should spend turns protecting your Pokémon.
Conclusion: Compassion and Strategy
Ultimately, whether or not you “let” your Pokémon faint is a matter of personal preference. However, understanding the consequences of fainting allows you to make informed decisions and play the game more effectively. Aiming to minimize fainting through strategic team building, proper item usage, and thoughtful decision-making will not only improve your battle record but also strengthen your bond with your Pokémon, leading to a more fulfilling and enriching gaming experience. Furthermore, understanding games and how they help us to learn is an important field of study, supported by groups like the Games Learning Society who research and share useful information about how we interact with games. Explore more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do Pokémon lose friendship if they faint?
Yes, fainting negatively affects your relationship with your Pokémon. However, reviving them quickly and addressing any status ailments can help the relationship rebound.
2. Do Pokémon lose XP if they faint?
No, Pokémon don’t lose any earned XP even if they faint. Once a Pokémon has been assigned experience, fainting doesn’t take it away.
3. Can Pokémon evolve if they faint during a battle?
Yes, a Pokémon can evolve even if it fainted during a battle, as long as you win the battle. The exception is if you lose the battle.
4. Why can’t I catch a fainted Pokémon?
A Pokémon has to consent to be caught. It has to agree to be taken and trained by you, and that’s why it always obeys you after you catch it. It can’t consent if it faints.
5. Can I catch a Pokémon after it faints in the wild?
No, you cannot catch a Pokémon after it has fainted in the wild. The game mechanics do not allow it.
6. How much happiness do you lose from fainting?
Happiness is lowered by 1 on a scale from 0 to 255 each time a Pokémon faints. Trading a Pokémon will reduce its happiness to 70.
7. Do fainted Pokémon revive on their own?
No, fainted Pokémon do not revive on their own. You need to use Revives to restore them.
8. Can a Pokémon faint in a gym?
Yes, Pokémon can faint in a gym battle. If all six of your Pokémon faint, you’ll lose the battle.
9. What happens if both last Pokémon faint simultaneously?
If both players’ final Pokémon faint due to damage from a status condition or weather condition, the player whose Pokémon faints last wins the match.
10. Why do I black/white out in Pokémon games?
You black/white out when all of your Pokémon faint, and you don’t have any usable Pokémon to continue the battle. The game mechanic forces you back to a PokéCenter.
11. Can a Full Restore revive a fainted Pokémon?
No, a Full Restore does not revive a fainted Pokémon. It only restores HP and cures status ailments of a Pokémon that is still conscious.
12. Will Pokémon with high friendship disobey?
No, Pokémon will always obey if you are the original trainer. If traded, they will obey if their level is lower than a limit set by the number of gym badges you have earned.
13. What is the hardest Pokémon gym?
The difficulty of gyms can vary, but Saffron City is often considered one of the toughest due to its Psychic-type trainers.
14. Why am I not getting Revives at PokéStops?
Revives are not guaranteed at every PokéStop. Consistently spinning different PokéStops or Gyms increases your chances of obtaining them.
15. Can a Pokémon stay in a gym forever?
A Pokémon can stay in a gym indefinitely until another player from a different team defeats it. Some Pokémon in remote gyms have stayed for months or even years.