Summary
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offer an open-world experience with flexible main quests.
- There is an optimal progression route for completing quests based on player level and type advantages.
- Players should strategize early by catching specific Pokémon to help with upcoming battles and progress efficiently.
The transition to a fully-open world in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet means that players can complete the game's main objectives in any order they choose. There are three main questlines in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that will take players all across the Paldea Region: Path of Legends, Starfall Street, and Victory Road. While players can technically complete these quests and their associated tasks in any order, the lack of a level scaling system means there is an optimal way to complete each quest in line with the player's natural level progression.
Players just starting out will face a fairly linear route in the opening hours of the games' prologue that sees them obtain their starter Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet and make their way toward Mesagoza and the Academy for their first day of school. After this sequence, which sets up the three major story arcs of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, players set out on their Treasure Hunt, which is where the game really opens up. While it might seem intimidating at first given all the quest markers that will appear on the map, there is a single best progression route that takes into consideration the player's level and beneficial mons players can catch along the way.
Best Progression Route in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- Cortondo Gym (Bug) - Level 14
- Stony Cliff Titan Klawf (Rock) - Level 16
- Artazon Gym (Grass) - Level 16
- Open Sky Titan Bombirdier (Flying) - Level 19
- Team Star Dark Crew (Dark) - Level 20
- Levincia Gym (Electric) - Level 23
- Team Star Fire Crew (Fire) - Level 26
- Lurking Steel Titan Orthworm (Steel) - Level 28
- Cascarrafa Gym (Water) - Level 29
- Team Star Poison Crew (Poison) - Level 32
- Medali Gym (Normal) - Level 35
- Montenevera Gym (Ghost) - Level 41
- Quaking Earth Titan Great Tusk/Iron Treads (Ground) - Level 44
- Alfornada Gym (Psychic) - Level 44
- Glaseado Gym (Ice) - Level 47
- Team Star Fairy Crew (Fairy) - Level 50
- False Dragon Titan Dondozo/Tatsugiri (Dragon) - Level 55
- Team Star Fighting Crew (Fighting) - Level 55
- Path of Legends Finale - Level 58
- Starfall Street Finale - Level 60
- Victory Road Finale - Level 65
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Quickest Early Game Progression
The first place players should head for after their Treasure Hunt begins is the Bug-type Gym in Cortondo to the west of Mesagoza. For players who chose Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Fuecoco as a starter, this should be an easy gym, but other players may want to pick up a mon like Charcadet, Nacli, or Fletchling nearby to help. After defeating Katy, players will want to make their way east of Mesagoza towards the Stony Cliff Titan Klawf, but not before stopping just south of Mesagoza to pick up a Paldean Wooper who will come in handy for some upcoming battles, including the Stony Cliff Titan and following Artazon Gym.
After claiming the badge from Brassius, players will want to head back towards western Paldea to tackle the Open Sky Titan Bombirdier and Team Star's Dark Crew. Catching a Nacli or Tadbulb on the way can help take down the Titan Bombirdier, and grabbing a Mankey near the Titan can help with Team Star's Dark Crew. Paldean Wooper, who has likely evolved into Clodsire by this point, will be helpful for the next few major battles against Levincia's Gym Leader Iono, Team Star's Fire Crew, and the Lurking Steel Titan Orthworm.
Loose Ends Before Casscarafa
Before heading to Casscarafa for the Water Gym, it's worth considering stopping to catch a Wattrel in the area south of Levincia as it could be helpful for players whose team is in need of a way to deal with Water types ahead of the next gym. After defeating Kofu, the next stop is Tagtree Thicket to take on Team Star's Poison Crew, where, once again, Clodsire will prove to be a huge help. The Medali Gym is next, followed by the Montenevera Gym and having an Annihilape on the team can be very useful for dealing with both Normal and Ghost types.
Late Game Progression in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Following the defeat of both Larry and Ryme, the next stop will be Asado Desert to face the Quaking Earth Titan Great Tusk in Pokémon Scarlet and Iron Treads in Pokémon Violet. Catching a Water type from Casseroya Lake along the way can help with preparing to fight this Titan. Afterward, players will face the final two gyms, first heading south to Alfornada to face Tulip and the Psychic Gym, where bringing a Lokix that can be caught nearby is in the player's best interest. Then players should head north to Glaseado Mountain, potentially catching a Salazzle or Pyroar along the way to help in the battle with the Ice-type Gym Leader Grusha.
Now that all gyms have been defeated, players will want to head to the very northmost point of Paldea to battle Team Star's Fairy Crew, catching a Steel type like Bronzong on Glaseado Mountain along the way if necessary. The penultimate stop on this journey across Paldea is back to Casseroya Lake to face the final Titan duo of Dondozo and Tatsugiri, and catching a strong Electric type like Raichu or Jolteon from the area just north of the lake is a great idea for players who still need one. Now all that remains is to finish off Team Star's Fighting Crew to unlock the finales for each main quest line.
Walking the Path of Legends
With each of the three main quest lines nearing completion, players now have the option to tackle their finales in any order, but ideally, players will finish the Path of Legends first, as it only requires a battle with Arven to finish. Starfall Street is the next logical choice to finish, pitting players against Clavell and then Cassiopeia back at the Academy. Finally, players can finish off Victory Road, which requires the most intensive battles, as they will need to face the Elite Four, Paldea's Champion, and one final battle with Nemona. With these main quests completed, players will unlock the final quest, The Way Home in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and head into the depths of Area Zero for the finale of Gen 9 games.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are available for Nintendo Switch.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 48%
- Released
- November 18, 2022
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet hosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is "A Treasure Hunt." Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!
Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.
These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
