Unlocking the Secrets of SOS Chaining: A Comprehensive Guide

SOS chaining, or S.O.S. Battles, is a unique mechanic found primarily in the Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games. It involves strategically manipulating wild Pokémon encounters to call for help, creating a continuous chain of battles that increase the odds of encountering rare Pokémon, Pokémon with better stats, and even coveted Shiny Pokémon. By understanding the nuances of this system, players can significantly improve their chances of obtaining Pokémon with desirable traits.

Understanding the Mechanics of SOS Chaining

The core principle behind SOS chaining is simple: when a wild Pokémon calls for help, a new Pokémon joins the battle. By repeatedly defeating the newly summoned Pokémon while keeping the original caller alive, you build a chain. Each increment in the chain increases the probability of certain beneficial outcomes.

Initiating and Maintaining a Chain

1. Starting the Encounter: Begin by encountering the Pokémon you wish to chain. Certain locations and times of day may be better for finding specific Pokémon.
2. Triggering SOS Calls: Reduce the HP of the initial Pokémon. Lower health increases the likelihood that the Pokémon will call for help. Avoid using moves that inflict status conditions like burn, paralysis, or sleep as these conditions prevent Pokémon from calling for help.
3. Passing Turns: If a Pokémon doesn’t call for help, or if a call goes unanswered, you’ll need to find a way to pass the turn. One method is using an Adrenaline Orb. The adrenaline orb does not do damage but triggers the initial Pokemon to be afraid of calling for reinforcements. This is not a guaranteed call for help, but makes the chances higher.
4. Knocking Out the Helpers: The core of chaining involves repeatedly knocking out the Pokémon that are called in for help, one after the other. This builds the chain.
5. Keeping the Chain Going: Ensure the original Pokémon that initiated the calls remains alive. This is crucial for maintaining the chain. You can use items like Leppa Berries to restore its PP (Move Points) if it runs low on moves. Moves such as holding a Recycle to restore used berries or moves to Heal can be extremely helpful!

Maximizing the Benefits

The benefits of SOS chaining are numerous and increase with chain length:

• Increased IVs (Individual Values): After defeating 5 Pokémon, the summoned Pokémon are guaranteed to have at least one maximum IV. After defeating 10, they are guaranteed two, and so on. This makes SOS chaining an excellent way to obtain Pokémon with competitive stats.
• Hidden Abilities: Higher chain lengths increase the likelihood of encountering Pokémon with their Hidden Abilities. Hidden Abilities are often more powerful or strategically useful than regular abilities.
• Shiny Pokémon: The primary goal for many players is to find Shiny Pokémon. The odds of encountering a Shiny Pokémon drastically improve with higher chain lengths. While the base odds of finding a Shiny Pokémon are around 1 in 4096, after a chain of 30 or more, these odds can improve to approximately 1 in 350 without the Shiny Charm and 1 in 270 with the Shiny Charm.

Ending the Chain

Be aware of how a chain can be broken. SOS battles will end if the player:

• Flees or Runs Out of Pokémon: Running away from the battle or having all of your Pokémon faint will break the chain.
• Pokémon Faint without Calling for Help: If all wild Pokémon faint without calling for help, the chain ends.
• Capture a Pokémon: Catching any Pokémon in the chain will end the chain.
• Left with Pokémon That Can’t Call: If you are left with only wild Pokémon that can’t call for help (Such as Happiny or Komala), the chain will end.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About SOS Chaining

Q1: Does the Shiny Charm affect SOS chaining?

Yes, the Shiny Charm significantly improves the odds of encountering Shiny Pokémon during SOS chaining. Without the Shiny Charm, the odds at a chain of 30 are roughly 1 in 350. With the Shiny Charm, the odds improve to around 1 in 270.

Q2: Why won’t the Pokémon call for help?

Several factors can prevent a Pokémon from calling for help:

• Status Conditions: Pokémon that are burned, poisoned, frozen, asleep, or paralyzed cannot call for help.
• Low HP: While low HP generally encourages calling for help, extremely low HP might prevent it.
• Specific Pokémon: Some Pokémon, such as Komala and Minior, are programmed not to call for help.
• Pokémon Species: If the first Pokémon in the battle calls for help from another Pokémon species, and you defeat the first Pokémon, that new Pokémon will not call for help.

Q3: Can SOS Pokémon have Egg Moves?

No, Pokémon encountered through SOS chaining cannot have Egg Moves. They also do not inherit optimal natures through this method.

Q4: What is the best strategy for ensuring Pokémon call for help?

• Lower HP: Reduce the Pokémon’s HP to the yellow or red zone without inflicting status conditions.
• Adrenaline Orbs: Use Adrenaline Orbs at the start of the battle to increase the likelihood of calls for help.
• False Swipe: Use moves like False Swipe, which guarantee to leave 1 HP, to consistently lower the caller’s health.
• Keep the Chain Going: Make sure the chain never ends.

Q5: How many times will a Pokémon call for help?

Under the right conditions, a single Pokémon will continue to call for help repeatedly as long as you knock out its summoned partners and keep the original caller alive.

Q6: Does Cute Charm work in SOS battles?

The ability Cute Charm only affects the initial encounter in SOS chaining. It does not work if the Pokémon with Cute Charm is switched into the battle after it has already begun.

Q7: Is SOS chaining faster than other Shiny hunting methods?

SOS chaining can be faster than random encounters, especially when combined with the Shiny Charm. The odds improve significantly after a chain of 30, making it a relatively efficient method.

Q8: What happens if I accidentally knock out the original caller Pokémon?

If you accidentally knock out the original caller, the SOS chain will end. You will need to start a new encounter to begin a fresh chain.

Q9: Are there specific items that can help with SOS chaining?

Yes, several items are useful:

• Adrenaline Orb: Increases the likelihood of Pokémon calling for help.
• Leppa Berry: Restores PP to the caller Pokémon, preventing it from running out of moves.
• Ether/Elixer: Restore PP if the original caller does not have a Leppa Berry.
• False Swipe TM: A move that is guaranteed to leave 1 HP.

Q10: What are IVs and why are they important?

Individual Values (IVs) are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in battle. Each stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed) has an IV ranging from 0 to 31. Higher IVs result in stronger stats, making IVs crucial for competitive battling.

Q11: What is a Hidden Ability and why is it valuable?

A Hidden Ability is a special ability that is not normally available to a Pokémon. Hidden Abilities are often more powerful or strategically useful than regular abilities, giving the Pokémon an edge in battle.

Q12: What is the ideal chain length for Shiny hunting?

While the probability of encountering a Shiny Pokémon increases with chain length, the maximum benefit is generally reached after a chain of 30. Continuing beyond this point yields diminishing returns.

Q13: Can I use Pokémon Refresh during SOS battles?

Yes, you can use Pokémon Refresh during SOS battles to heal status conditions, increase affection, and improve the Pokémon’s performance.

Q14: Are there specific locations that are better for SOS chaining certain Pokémon?

Yes, different Pokémon are found in different locations. Consult a Pokémon Sun and Moon or Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon location guide to find the best spots for the Pokémon you want to chain.

Q15: What is the Games Learning Society?

The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is an organization dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education. They conduct research, develop resources, and foster a community of educators, designers, and researchers who are passionate about leveraging the power of games for learning. You can learn more at their website: GamesLearningSociety.org.

By understanding the mechanics of SOS chaining and utilizing these strategies, you can significantly improve your chances of encountering rare Pokémon, Pokémon with better stats, and even Shiny Pokémon. Happy hunting!