Pokémon XD builds on the basics of Colosseum while making them more accessible: levels that progress more gently, free saving and wild Pokémon. Here is what you need to know to get started.

Michael, the hero of Pokémon XD.

The story in a nutshell

Michael lives at the Pokémon HQ Lab in Orre with his mother, Lily, and his little sister, Jovi. Professor Krane developed the Snag Machine there, a device that captures other Trainers’ Pokémon, along with a purification device. When Cipher hijacks the S.S. Libra using XD001, a Shadow Lugia, and then kidnaps Krane, Michael takes to the roads of Orre, five years after the events of Pokémon Colosseum.

Eevee, the starter Pokémon.
XD001 attacks the S.S. Libra at the start of the game.

The mechanics to know

  • Snagging: you capture the Shadow Pokémon of enemy Trainers with a Poké Ball. Weaken them without knocking them out.
  • Double Battles: most battles are played two against two.
  • Reverse Mode: a Shadow Pokémon can go haywire and obey only half the time; call out to it to calm it down, which also lowers its Shadow gauge.
  • Purification: at the Purification Chamber in the lab or at the Relic Stone in Agate Village. See purification.
  • Poké Spots: three places where you catch wild Pokémon using Poké Snacks. See the Poké Spots.
  • The P★DA: map, Pokédex, purification status, messages and the Poké Spot screen.
  • Free saving: you can save anywhere, just like on Game Boy Advance.
The Snag Machine, handed over at the Pokémon HQ Lab.
The P★DA.

Choosing Eevee’s evolution

In Gateon Port, a shop sells the items that make Eevee evolve, including into Espeon and Umbreon, without waiting for happiness. The evolution is permanent, so think before you choose. Our comparison: which evolution for Eevee?

Our tips

  1. Snag the six color-coded Cipher Peons’ Pokémon in the Shadow Pokémon Lab: they are your first serious reinforcements.
  2. Always keep Poké Balls and a few Great Balls: every admin has at least one Shadow Pokémon.
  3. Don’t panic if you fail: Miror B. recovers most of the Shadow Pokémon you missed (see his second chances).
  4. Fill the Purification Chamber as soon as it is available: it purifies while you play.
  5. Drop Poké Snacks in the Poké Spots every time you pass by: Wooper, Surskit and Trapinch are rare there.

What’s next: the complete walkthrough.