Are you starting Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia? Whether or not you played the first game, here is what you need to know for your first hours at the Ranger School and in the Almia region.
The basics
You are a student at the Ranger School, either Kellyn or Kate. After graduating, you become a Ranger and carry out missions to protect the Pokémon and people of Almia from Team Dim Sun. Pokémon are not trained: you befriend them for occasional help.
The core gestures
| Gesture | Use |
|---|---|
| Capture | Draw loops around the Pokémon with the stylus, without letting its attacks touch the line |
| Field move | Use a friend Pokémon in front of an obstacle: cut, smash, burn, cross water… |
| Area move | Some situations call for a specific Pokémon, like a Blastoise’s Rain Dance to put out a fire |
| Poké Assist | Call a friend Pokémon or your partner during a capture |
Choosing your partner
At the School, you choose your first partner: Pachirisu, Starly or Munchlax. Don’t worry: you can get the other two later through quests, and fourteen other partners are added on top. See Partner Pokémon.
Eight tips
- Draw tight loops, quickly, close to the Pokémon.
- Watch for the exclamation mark above a Pokémon: it signals an attack, so move the line away.
- Do the quests as soon as they appear: Capture Styler upgrades change everything.
- Go for Long Line and Power Boost first, then Recovery.
- Bring an Electric-type Pokémon: it briefly paralyzes wild Pokémon.
- Switch partners at the Partner Farm depending on the area.
- Recharge your Capture Styler before every boss.
- Talk to everyone: the townspeople are where quests come from.
Next up: the walkthrough overview, side quests and Capture Styler upgrades.
