You've probably spent hours circular-running in the tall grass of Paldea, praying for a Frigibax to finally show up. Or maybe you're stuck at 399/400 and can't for the life of you figure out which version-exclusive Paradox mon you're missing. Completing the scarlet and violet dex isn't just a completionist's fever dream; it's a massive, multi-layered puzzle that changed how we think about "catching 'em all" in the modern era.
Let's be real. The days of just tossing a Poké Ball and calling it a day are over.
If you're aiming for that Shiny Charm or the recently added rewards in Pokémon HOME, you have to navigate three different regional maps, weird evolution methods, and version-specific hurdles that honestly feel like a full-time job. But it's doable. Totally doable. You just need to know which corners to cut and where the real traps are hidden.
The 400-Strong Paldea Grind
The base game starts you off with 400 entries. It sounds like a lot until you realize how many of these are just the same bird with a slightly different hat. Kidding, mostly. But filling this out is the only way to get the Shiny Charm from Jacq back at the academy.
You've probably noticed that Jacq is basically your boss for this entire journey. He’s the one who gives you the False Swipe TM early on (absolute lifesaver, by the way) and checks your progress milestones. Most people forget to check the actual "Rewards" tab inside the Pokédex menu. If you hit the X button while looking at your list, you get a ton of free stuff—Ultra Balls, evolution stones, and even a Beast Ball at the very end.
Don't ignore the sandwiches.
If you're looking for a specific type, like a Ghost-type for your team or just to fill a slot, Encounter Power is your best friend. Trying to find a Glimmet without a Poison or Rock-type sandwich is basically asking for a headache. The spawns in this game are heavily dictated by these hidden "rates," and if you aren't eating, you aren't catching.
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Version Exclusives and the Paradox Problem
This is where the scarlet and violet dex gets tricky. You literally cannot finish it alone. Scarlet has the "Ancient" Paradox forms—think primal, toothy versions of Jigglypuff (Scream Tail) or Misdreavus (Flutter Mane). Violet goes the "Future" route with robotic versions like Iron Bundle (Delibird) and Iron Valiant (Gallade/Gardevoir).
Trade codes used to be the wild west, but now they’re fairly standardized. If you're on Scarlet and need an Iron Treads, you'll likely be trading away a Great Tusk. It’s a 1-for-1 swap system that the community basically built themselves because, honestly, the in-game trading interface isn't exactly helpful.
The DLC Expansion: Kitakami and the Blueberry Academy
Once you finish the main 400, you aren't actually done. Not even close. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC added two entire sub-dexes that you’ve got to tackle if you want the "true" completion.
- The Kitakami Dex: 200 Pokémon. This is a mix of old favorites like Poliwag and new weirdos like Dipplin.
- The Blueberry Dex: Another 200+ entries. This one is set in an underwater terrarium where the starters from every single previous generation can be caught in the wild.
The Blueberry Academy is actually where the "endgame" of the scarlet and violet dex lives. You have to spend BP (Blueberry Points) to "upgrade" the biomes. If you don't do this, you won't see things like Charmander or Totodile spawning. It’s a grind, but seeing a wild Blastoise just chilling in a canyon is a weirdly satisfying reward for all that effort.
The Shiny Meloetta Reward
Here is the thing most people are missing right now: the 2026 updates and Pokémon HOME integration. If you finish the Paldea, Kitakami, and Blueberry dexes and sync them to the mobile version of HOME, you get a Shiny Meloetta.
This is huge. For the longest time, Shiny Meloetta was one of those "impossible" gets. Now, it's basically the ultimate trophy for finishing the entire Gen 9 collection. If you've already completed them, you just have to go into the "Games" tab in the HOME app and claim it.
Evolution Methods That Make No Sense
We need to talk about Gimmighoul. Collecting 999 coins to get a Gholdengo is arguably the most tedious part of the entire scarlet and violet dex. You have to hunt down those tiny little guys on top of signs and ruins. Pro tip: The "Chest Form" Gimmighouls give way more coins than the roaming ones, but they only respawn every 24 hours (and even then, it's only a chance).
Then there's Pawmot and Brambleghast.
They require you to walk 1,000 steps in "Let’s Go" mode. I've spent way too much time running in circles at the Mesagoza central plaza just to trigger an evolution. If you put them back in their ball before they level up, the step counter resets. It’s annoying. It’s quirky. It’s Pokémon.
How to Actually Finish Fast
If you're staring at a half-empty Pokédex, don't panic. Start with the "low-hanging fruit."
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- Tera Raids: Check the 5 and 6-star raids. Often, you'll find final evolutions there that would otherwise take forever to level up or require rare stones.
- The Auction House: Porto Marinada has auctions every day. You can often snag "difficult" items like the Chipped Pot for Polteageist or various evolution stones for cheap.
- Surprise Trade: It’s a gamble, but you’d be surprised how many people send out version exclusives or Rare Candies attached to random Lechonks.
- The "Seen" List: If you've seen a Pokémon but haven't caught it, your map will actually show you its habitat. Use the "Habitat" tab in the dex and it will highlight the specific zones where they spawn.
The scarlet and violet dex is less about the destination and more about how you exploit the systems. Use the sandwiches, abuse the trade codes, and for the love of Arceus, don't try to find a shiny without the charm.
Your Next Steps for Completion
Stop trying to catch everything in one sitting. Pick one province—like South Province Area Five—and clear it out. Once you hit the 400 mark in Paldea, head straight to the Biology lab. Jacq will give you that Shiny Charm, and suddenly, those random encounters in the DLC areas become a lot more exciting. If you’re pushing for the Shiny Meloetta, make sure your Pokémon HOME account is linked to your Nintendo Account before you start mass-transferring, otherwise, the credit might not pop correctly.
Focus on the Paradox Pokémon first; they're the hardest to get via trade because everyone wants them. Once those are out of the way, the rest is just a matter of walking, evolving, and eating a few ham sandwiches.