Battle Mechanics

Pokémon Legends Arceus, like past main series games, features a variety of Pokémon battles, but now they work differently to prior games. This page details the new battle mechanics

Battle Changes

In Pokémon Legends Arceus, your Pokémon's stats determine how many actions your Pokémon take and in what order. This allows for Pokémon to attack multiple turns in a row and allow you to alter your plans, heal in the middle and so forth. This is determined based on your Speed Stat and with each move it will reduce. If you a Pokémon is knocked out, the action speed modifier will carry over to the next Pokémon so it may attack you straight away

The Speed modifier can be altered based on the move you use, with many moves having their own modifiers in Normal, Strong and Agile styles, while Agile Styles can add to your opponent's Speed modifier. As the battle progresses, the value will go down until it makes a move and then will reset to the default based on the Pokémon's Speed.

The battles are started when you throw your Pokémon's PokéBall out in front of the opponent, this will cause the battle to start. If you catch the Pokémon unaware and hit them with the Poké Ball, you can startle them and get a guaranteed first turn move

Battle Image

Action Speed

Agile Style & Strong Style

As always, Pokémon remember 4 different moves at the same time. However, you can unleash moves in two different ways. Agile Style and Strong Style
Agile Style raises the Pokémon's speed which makes it move sooner but lose power. Most Agile Moves that target the opponent will add to their Speed modifier
Strong Style lowers your action speed but increases the power and effects such as HP recovery and chance of secondary effect

We have details of the effects in our Attackdex

Battle Styles

Stats

The stat system has been fully altered using Effort Levels and recalculated in a way different to before. This means there's less variation between levels so lower levelled Pokémon can still do significant damage to higher levelled Pokémon

Stat alterations in battle have also changed. Rather than an individual stat being raised or lowered, both offensive and defensive stats are altered. So if you use Baby-Doll Eyes, rather than just lowering the target's Attack, it lowered both Attack and Special Attack. Another difference in this is that these stat alterations will only last a few turns, and if a move sharply boosts it, it lasts longer. Using Agile or Strong variants of the moves also alters how long it lasts.

Battle Styles

Special Effects

In addition to the moves and the status conditions, there are also a few brand new effects that can happen in battle. These can be activated in a variety of means

NameEffectActivation
Frenzied MightThe Pokémon takes reduced damage from status conditions and move effects such as poisoning and splinters.Noble Pokémon
Wild MightAll the Pokémon's stats are boosted. The Pokémon also takes reduced damage from status conditions and move effects such as poisoning and splinters.Alpha Pokémon
Terrific MightThe Pokémon takes reduced damage from status conditions and move effects such as poisoning and splinters.Alpha Pokémon
Terrible MightAll the Pokémon's stats are boosted. The Pokémon also takes reduced damage from status conditions and move effects such as poisoning and splinters.Alpha Pokémon
FixatedPokémon focuses on a move but receives more damage in returnUse of moves such as Outrage etc.
EnragedOffensive and Defensive stats boosted for 4 turnsOn wild Pokémon if attempts to capture it fail
ObscuredIncreases a Pokémon's EvasionUse of moves such as Shelter etc.
PrimedIncreases the damage from a Pokémon's next moveBattles against certain wild Pokémon
Battle Styles