DexNav: Master Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
The DexNav feature in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is a revolutionary tool designed to enhance your catching experience, offering a more targeted and strategic approach to building your Pokémon team. Gone are the days of mindlessly wandering through tall grass, hoping for a rare encounter. The DexNav transforms this process into a focused hunt, providing invaluable information and unique opportunities to catch Pokémon with desirable traits. Mastering this system can significantly alter your journey through the Hoenn region, from building a competitive team to completing your Pokédex.
Understanding the Core of the DexNav
At its heart, the DexNav is an upgraded version of the classic PokéNav. Once you receive it from Professor Birch after encountering your first wild Pokémon, it becomes an indispensable part of your adventure. The DexNav displays a list of Pokémon you have encountered or caught, along with their current levels and locations. However, its true power lies in what happens when you activate it in tall grass.
When you use the DexNav in an area where Pokémon can be found, it will begin to “search” for Pokémon. As it finds them, icons representing those Pokémon will appear on the top screen. Initially, you’ll see generic icons indicating a Pokémon has been found. However, as you encounter and defeat or catch specific Pokémon, the DexNav will start to register that species. Each time you successfully encounter a Pokémon of a particular species, the DexNav’s “chain” for that species increases. This chain is crucial for unlocking advanced features.
Benefits of Chaining with the DexNav
The primary benefit of chaining Pokémon with the DexNav is the increased likelihood of encountering rarer Pokémon. As your chain for a specific species grows, the DexNav will begin to highlight these Pokémon with a special shimmering aura. These “shimmering” Pokémon are not only more likely to appear but also have a higher chance of possessing desirable traits.
One of the most significant advantages of the DexNav is its ability to reveal Pokémon with Hidden Abilities. Hidden Abilities are powerful variations of standard abilities that are often unavailable through normal gameplay. By chaining Pokémon and encountering those with the shimmering aura, you significantly increase your chances of finding a Pokémon with its Hidden Ability. This is invaluable for players looking to strategize for battle or complete specific challenges.
Furthermore, DexNav chaining increases the odds of encountering Pokémon with good IVs (Individual Values). IVs are hidden stats that determine a Pokémon’s potential in specific areas like Attack, Defense, and Speed. Higher IVs generally translate to stronger Pokémon. As your DexNav chain increases, so does the chance that the encountered Pokémon will have at least three perfect IVs. This is a game-changer for competitive Pokémon players, as it streamlines the process of breeding or catching Pokémon with excellent base stats.
Finally, the DexNav can also reveal Pokémon with specific Egg Moves. Egg Moves are special moves that a Pokémon can only learn through breeding with another Pokémon that knows the move. By chaining and encountering Pokémon with the shimmering aura, you have a higher probability of finding one that already knows an Egg Move, saving you the breeding process for certain move sets.
How to Effectively Use The DexNav Feature In Pokémon Omega Ruby And Alpha Sapphire
To effectively use the DexNav feature in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a strategic approach is key. Upon entering an area with tall grass, activate the DexNav. It will scan for Pokémon. You’ll see icons appear on the top screen. When you encounter a Pokémon, you have a few options: catch it, defeat it, or run away.
Catching: This is the most straightforward way to increase your DexNav chain. Each Pokémon caught adds to the count for that species. If you’re specifically hunting for a Pokémon with a Hidden Ability or good IVs, this is your primary method once the shimmering Pokémon start appearing.
Defeating: While catching is ideal for building a chain, defeating a Pokémon also counts towards your chain progress. This can be a viable option if you’re not concerned about keeping that particular individual.
Running Away: Running away from a wild Pokémon breaks your DexNav chain. It’s crucial to either catch or defeat every Pokémon you encounter if you want to maintain and increase your chain.
When the DexNav indicates a Pokémon has been found, a small arrow will appear next to its name on the top screen. If you press the “A” button while this arrow is present, the DexNav will attempt to locate another Pokémon of that same species. You can then approach the shimmering Pokémon. These are the ones that have a higher chance of possessing desirable traits.
To initiate a search for a specific Pokémon, you first need to have encountered it at least once. Then, simply equip the DexNav and walk around in tall grass. The DexNav will periodically update, showing you icons of Pokémon it has detected. If you see an icon for a Pokémon you want, approach it. Once you’ve encountered that Pokémon, the DexNav will start to register its presence more effectively.
Advanced Techniques and Tips
Stealth and Patience: When a shimmering Pokémon appears, try to approach it slowly and carefully. Sometimes, moving too quickly or making too much noise can cause it to flee. The DexNav will indicate when a Pokémon is close.
Refreshing the Search: If the Pokémon you’re looking for isn’t appearing, or if you’ve broken your chain, you can often refresh the DexNav’s search by moving to a slightly different spot or exiting and re-entering the tall grass area.
The Sweet Scent Move: Using the move “Sweet Scent” in battle will automatically trigger a wild Pokémon encounter. This can be a quick way to initiate searches and keep your chain going, especially if you’re having trouble finding Pokémon quickly.
Beware of Status Conditions: Some Pokémon found through the DexNav might have abilities or moves that inflict status conditions. Be prepared with status-healing items or Pokémon with abilities like “Guts” to mitigate these risks.
Focus on One Species at a Time: For the most efficient hunting of Hidden Abilities or specific IVs, it’s best to focus on chaining one Pokémon species at a time until you achieve your desired outcome.
By understanding and implementing these strategies, the DexNav becomes more than just an in-game tool; it transforms into your ultimate guide for Pokémon acquisition in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. It encourages a deeper engagement with the game’s mechanics, rewarding patience and strategic thinking with some of the most sought-after Pokémon traits. So, equip your DexNav and embark on a new era of Pokémon hunting!