How to Play Pokelike

Quick tips before your next battle

• Plan the full Kanto Story route
• Look up an item effect

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

• Check HP after every win. In the recorded opening, Bulbasaur remained at 0 HP after the party won and gained levels; keep a usable teammate ready.
• Choose a capture for its displayed move as well as its defensive types. Staryu’s Bubble added Water attacks to our Grass-using Bulbasaur.
• Match a held item to a move you currently use. Our Mystic Water supported Staryu’s Bubble; after equipping it, check the Pokémon portrait rather than only the bag.
• Treat Rare Candy as +3 levels to one Pokémon, not a party revive. A question-mark node can also trigger a battle, so do not rely on it as guaranteed healing.

Start a new Classic Kanto run

Use the official game link below. On a new save, choose Story, keep the Classic option, then select Kanto. The interface also offers Nuzlocke, but the flow described here uses Classic.

Choose your trainer, then choose one of the three level-5 starters. In the checked session, Johto was locked behind beating Kanto. Other modes and an existing save may show different choices.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

Compare the starters on the screen you have

The observed starting moves are listed below. Read the current move, damage category, and power in your own game before deciding. These are interface observations, not a claim that one starter wins every run.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

Build your first pair from the choices you actually get

After choosing Bulbasaur, we chose the Poké Ball map node. The encounter offered Bellsprout, Paras, and Staryu at level 4. We selected Staryu: its displayed attack was Bubble, a Water-type Special move, giving this team an attack type other than Bulbasaur’s Grass move. Your offers can differ.

Read the displayed move before choosing. A Pokémon’s two defensive types do not mean it attacks with both. Use the Analyzer with your actual members and manually enter their current attack types; it does not know the moves in your live run.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening · Pokémon types & type chart

A win can still leave your team in trouble

Our next choice was a Bug Catcher, shown as a +2-level encounter. Against its level-2 Venonat, Bulbasaur fainted and Staryu finished the fight. The result screen showed Bulbasaur at level 7 with 0 HP and Staryu at level 6 with 9/19 HP.

After Continue, Bulbasaur’s party detail still showed 0 HP. Winning and gaining levels did not revive it. Check HP and your usable teammates before advancing; the number of portraits in the party is not the number able to fight.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

Equip the item that supports a move you use

The next item node offered Choice Specs, Mystic Water, and Quick Claw. We chose Mystic Water, whose displayed effect was +40% Water move damage and an attempt to use Water attacks when able. In the equip window we selected Staryu, which already used Bubble.

The equip window also offered Keep in Bag. Equipping immediately made the held item visible beside Staryu’s portrait. An empty bag afterward did not mean the item had vanished: it was attached to the Pokémon. This was a move-based choice for this run, not a universal item ranking.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

Use a consumable, then re-check levels and HP

With Bulbasaur still fainted, we chose another item node instead of the offered Fire trainer. Its options were Scope Lens, Assault Vest, and Rare Candy. We took Rare Candy, clicked its bag icon, and selected Staryu in the target window. Staryu went from level 6 to level 9 and the candy disappeared from the bag.

Before the next fight the interface showed Staryu at 14/24 HP and Bulbasaur still at 0/23 HP. Do not treat a level-up item as a team revival. Its displayed promise is +3 levels to one Pokémon.

We then chose a question-mark node. It triggered an Ace Trainer battle against another Venonat, not a guaranteed rest or free reward. Staryu won and the result showed level 11 with 17/27 HP. Check the actual outcome of a random event before deciding your next step.

Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening

Check evolution rules in the right game

Pokelike can use different evolution levels from main-series Pokémon games. The reviewed Pokelike species guides show the game-specific rule first and keep base Pokémon data separate. Level is not the only condition: Eviolite and no-evolution challenges can prevent an otherwise eligible evolution.

Sources: Pokelike official v3.1 client — evolution, encounter and Trait evidence

After each capture or replacement

• Record the team in its current order.
• Check shared weaknesses, then see whether another member resists those attacks.
• Enter the attack types your current moves actually use.
• Inspect active Trait Tiers and the points needed for the next Tier.
• Compare one replacement and keep both gains and losses visible.
• Use the mobile guide if you need a home-screen shortcut; an APK is not required.

Continue from the opening to a complete Story run

This page records the opening decisions. Use the Kanto walkthrough for the eight gyms, the Elite Four and Gary. If your save has reached Johto or Hoenn, select that region so that enemy teams and progression match your run.

• Kanto / Gen 1 walkthrough
• Johto / Gen 2 walkthrough
• Hoenn / Gen 3 walkthrough
• Elite Four preparation by region