I’ve said it before in previous articles I’ve written about Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and I’ll say it again: it’s an amazing game. I know some people miss the traditional Pokémon style which is fair, but this is the first Pokémon game in years that I just didn’t wanna put down. I’m sure many players feel that way too.
However, that feeling of never wanting to put a game down tends to come with the fear, and sometimes the realization, of running out of things to do in said game. It’s only inevitable when you continue to play certain games, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it sucks when it’s a game you like so much.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus may seem like a game with nothing to do after you’ve “seeked out all Pokémon,” but there’s quite a few things to do, even more so thanks to the free Daybreak update. I’ll be telling you what those things are and the point in doing them, so you can try them if they interest you. Now, let’s get into it.
Shiny Hunting All Pokémon
Shiny hunting is definitely the biggest appeal of Pokémon Legends: Arceus’s post-game. That’s no doubt due to the mass outbreak and massive mass outbreak mechanics (among others like Pokémon research) making the odds of finding the alternatively colored creatures several times better than they used to be, as well as the Shiny Charm item being easier to obtain this time around. Whether the lower shiny rates are an issue or not is a different topic, but in terms of something to do, working towards having a full Pokédex of shiny Pokémon is a reasonable challenge. Legendary Pokémon as well as Pokémon you get in very specific instances would be exempt, sadly.
Completing All Requests
If you’re like me, you’ve completed all the side requests before catching Arceus, at least prior to the Daybreak update. But if you’re not like me, and still have loads of those requests to do, it’s well worth it to get those completed. Some of them not only reward you well with some helpful items, but others will assist in completing or perfecting Pokédex entries in the long run. There are also requests that go towards improving the facilities, like the shops and the photography studio. And now, because of the Daybreak update, there are some more to complete. Some of those requests include…
Boarding The Path of Solitude
The Path of Solitude is a new battle mode you can participate in at the Training Grounds. This battle mode makes you battle with only one Pokémon in your party against another Pokémon of Ingo’s choice. As I said in that very clever transition earlier, some Path of Solitude battles are given to you as requests (like Bidoof, Eevee, Roselia, and more), which will further reward you for completing them. Completing the Path of Solitude with any Pokémon will grant you a special mark in that species’ Pokédex entry. If you’re up to the challenge, you can try completing the Path of Solitude with all Pokémon species.
Completing/Perfecting Pokédex Entries
Since I’ve sorta mentioned it already, this is something worth talking about as well. Completing Pokédex entries means getting the Research Levels for specific species to 10 by completing various tasks, such as catching the Pokémon under specific conditions or using certain moves in battle. Some tasks are also a part of the side requests I’ve mentioned earlier. Completing each Pokémon’s entry will grant you the also previously mentioned Shiny Charm. Completing and perfecting Pokédex entries will both increase your shiny odds for a specific species as well. While the game doesn’t even take notice of you perfecting each Pokémon’s dex entry, your odds of finding shinies across the board will be a lot easier.
Finding All of The Old Verses
While traveling across Hisui, you can dig up many items with the help of Ursaluna, including a collection of Old Verses. Old Verses are poems scattered across the various regions of Hisui. Collecting them doesn’t serve a purpose other than giving lore and detailing how things came to be the way they are. Some of them, such as Old Verse 19, are interesting reads. If that’s something you’d like to spend time doing, then hop on Ursaluna and search for them. There are 20 Old Verses to find, meaning there’s four in each area, so good luck!
Hopefully you find interest in these tasks and continue playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus. If you don’t though, it’s fine to just put it down and take a break, or move on to the next thing. There’s loads of Nintendo games coming out this year, including new Pokémon games, so even if you can’t find things to do in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, I’m sure you won’t be left bored for too long.
Have you already done all of these things? Do you plan on doing any of them if you haven’t? Are there other things you can do in the game that missed? I’d love to hear your thoughts.