These Pokemon Survivor tips are the twelve that change how far a run goes, and each one is tied to a rule we read in the game's data. They are ordered from the things you do every minute to the things you do between runs.
If you have not played yet, read the Pokemon Survivor guide first.
Pokemon Survivor tips for positioning
- 1. Move in wide circles. This is the game's own advice. The crowd trails behind you instead of closing in from every side, and standing still is the fastest way to be surrounded.
- 2. Learn the warnings. Circles and lines that fill on the ground are attacks about to land. Bosses and rift legendaries also give a windup before each attack, from half a second for a volley of shots to a full second for a fan of beams. See the bosses guide for each attack.
- 3. Kill healers and shield casters first. A healer restores 7% of max health to every enemy within its reach, and more when your attack is boosted. A shielder puts a shield worth 35% of max health on up to six nearby enemies every 6 seconds. Each Pokemon's page says whether it behaves like one, and the Pokedex links them all.
Pokemon Survivor tips for cards and builds
- 4. Take the card that finishes an evolution. A move at its top level evolves once you have taken the stat card it needs. Those cards are weighted heavily, and then the evolution card itself always comes first. See move evolution.
- 5. Pick moves by the type chart, not by your Pokemon's type. There is no same-type bonus: a move's damage depends on its own type against the enemy's types. The type chart shows the multipliers.
- 6. Do not stack buffs for the same stat. Swords Dance and Dragon Dance share one attack counter, so carrying both never beats the better one alone, and the pool stops offering buff moves once you carry two.
- 7. Cooldown cards do not speed up orbit moves. Reflexes cards and Quick Claw change how often most moves fire, but orbit moves run on a re-hit timer that ignores cooldown bonuses.
- 8. Keep a melee move in your active group. Ordinary hits do 25% less damage to you while the active group has a melee move. Pure damage, such as the Judgment's hazards, ignores the discount.
Map, rifts and weather
- 9. Open locked chests when the screen is quiet. You have to stay beside one for a few seconds. A locked chest gives one to three gacha tickets and holds a held item half of the time.
- 10. Enter a rift healthy. If you win you get a bond, a held item and tickets. If you lose you return with no prize and come back at 30% HP. See rifts.
- 11. Use the weather. Rain makes Water moves hit 50% harder and Fire moves half as hard, and sandstorm and snow wear down every Pokemon that is not immune. See weather.
Between runs
- 12. Choose one main before you spend coins. Upgrades are bought per Pokemon, and a full set costs 40,000 coins for each one. See upgrades for the prices.
A word on the Judgment
Do not plan to beat Arceus at minute 30. It cannot be killed, and its touch removes 40% of your max HP. The Judgment of Arceus guide shows how long you can last there and what its attacks are.
Pokemon Survivor tips FAQ
What are the best Pokemon Survivor tips for beginners?
Keep moving. Wide circles keep the crowd in a line behind you, and standing still lets them surround you.
How do I evolve moves?
Level the move to its top level and take the stat card it needs at least once in that run. The evolution card then comes first at the next level-up, tagged with the move's name.
Does my Pokemon's type matter?
Only for which moves it can learn and which enemy attacks hurt it. There is no same-type bonus on damage.
Should I buy upgrades for every Pokemon?
No. Upgrades are bought for each Pokemon separately, so spend on the one you play most.