Pokémon Duel has released today in English on the iOS App and Google Play stores. In this guide we’ll cover the basics on what the game is about and how to play!
What is Pokémon Duel?
Pokémon Duel is a free-to-play mobile strategy game, loosely based on an earlier Pokémon Trading Figurine game. The game requires a constant Internet connection. By using a party of Pokémon figurines, you fight on a game board against friends or the AI. The aim is to reach the opponent’s goal before they reach yours. You can play aggressively (rushing for the goal) or defensively (block your opponent’s routes first).
Each Pokémon figurine has different strengths and a number of steps they can take on the game board. Battles between Pokémon figurines are determined by Attacks on each Pokémon’s Data Disk. This acts like a roulette wheel. Spin to see which Attack will be used by both your Pokémon and the opponent’s. Strong Pokémon have better Attacks on their Data Disks.
Lastly, there are plates you can use at the start of your turn. These allow you to give power-ups to your Pokémon, or cast special effects such as swapping the positions of Pokémon in play.
Starting out
A character called Rosé via television broadcast introduces you to Carmonte Island for the PFG (Pokémon Figure Game) World Championships. The prize, incredibly, is a skyscraper. You then converse with Luca, who acts as the tutorial character. Upon landing on the Island you obtain a battle set and mask, and then can customise your character. You then have a tutorial battle.
Gameplay
The aim is to get your Pokémon figurines to the goal on the opponent’s side before they get to yours.
A roulette decides who gets the first go. Each player starts with six Pokémon figurines, lined up on the ‘bench’ ready to be positioned on the board. Tap a figurine to see its status and the number of spaces it can move. For the first turn, the Move Points (MP) is reduced by one for all Pokémon. Moving a figure counts as a turn. You can also position Pokémon on your own goal to protect it.
Battling
Positioning a figure in a space next to an opponent will initiate a battle. Battles involve a roulette wheel called a Battle Disk. Both yours and the opponent’s Pokémon’s Battle Disk is spun. The higher value Attack will win the battle. Same-valued Attacks result in a draw and no knock-outs. There also exist coloured Attacks:
- White Attacks are the standard damaging attacks.
- Red Attacks result in misses. If the opponent has even a weak attack selected they will win.
- Blue Attacks (e.g. Protect, Dodge) result in dodging.
- Purple Attacks have priority over standard attacks. They can inflict status like Poison.
- Gold Attacks overcome even Blue attacks.
Knocked out Pokémon move to a separate Pokémon Centre space off the board, and cannot be used while there. Once three Pokémon are sent to the Pokémon Centre, the first one goes back to the bench, but have to wait an extra turn before they can be used again.
You are unable to use more than three of the same species of Pokémon in your team.
Surrounding
If you surround an opponent’s figure on all sides with your own, you can automatically beat them without even battling. Move your figurines around carefully!
Plates
Plates grant you special powers, e.g. Meadow Power boosts the damage of Grass-type Pokémon by 20, and lasts until you knock out an opponent. However, Plates cost you a turn, so use them wisely!
Status conditions
Status conditions exist in Pokémon Duel which can affect yours and your opponent’s pieces. They are inflicted by Purple attacks, or special conditions of White attacks. Support cards can heal these conditions, and a knocked out Pokémon will be healed as well when brought back from the Pokémon Centre.
- Poison – move damage is reduced by 20
- Badly poisoned – move damage is reduced y 40
- Confusion – the spun move is shifted by one during combat.
- Paralysis – at the start of each battle round, one of the Pokémon’s moves becomes a Red miss attack.
- Sleep – the Pokémon is unable to move or attack. It can be woken up by an adjacent Pokémon.
Rewards
After a battle, you gain (or lose) points for your Rating. You can also win Key Fragments (3 for a win, 1 for a loss) and Gems, which are used for building your Pokémon team.
Building a team
You can collect stronger Pokémon figurines, and also raise the level of Pokémon and enhance their Data Disks through fusion. This can both increase the power of your attacks, and reduce the amount of times you could miss. There exist EX versions of Pokémon which have greater power.
Pokémon figures, plates and Gems from the Train Centre can be won by battling instructors with pre-determined teams.
Time Boosters are another way to get new items. These are able to be opened after waiting long enough once you select ‘Unlock’. Rarer Time Boosters (indicated by their colour) take longer to be opened. 10 Key Fragments allows you to open a Locked Booster.
Online
You can battle people online via the League Match button on the Home screen. You fight players with similar skill level. Winning such duels unlocks Time Boosters – sets that include Pokémon figures and other items. You also win Key Fragments from such battles regardless of the outcome.
In-Game Shop
You can buy Booster sets to acquire new Pokémon figures and plates, or buy plates separately. You can also trade collected materials (e.g. Key Fragments) for specific Pokémon.
The in-game currency is Gems. You get some in your in-game box for each day you play, and for completing Daily missions and winning battles. You can also buy Gems with real money.
This guide for Pokémon Duel is currently a work in progress as the game has only just come out! Let us know what you’d like to see in the guide.
Thanks to colours for images and information.
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Source: Daily.pokecommunity
