Why is completing the Pokedex so hard these days?

[VanitasFan26]

Unless you own Multiple Switches and Multiple Copies of the Pokémon games to trade with yourself, I don't see how anyone can complete the Pokedex. The pokédex has to deal with Pokémon that are like Version Exclusives, Time-Locked, Event-Locked, and Region-Locked Pokémon. Don't even get me started on the Evolution of Pokémon Walk: walk 1,000 steps without letting it fail. Have a high friendship. Please give it a weird item. Trade it while holding that weird ite.m Make it level up in particular,r in the zone. Have it level up knowing a specific move.

Now I know you're going to say, "OH, just use Pokémon Home." Here's the thing. They expect you to own Pokémon GO Sword/Shield: Legend Arceus BDSP Scarlet/Violet. Gee, if only I had Pokémon Bank and a way to transfer from Pokémon GBA, DS, and 3DS games, since there is no legitimate way to do so. Please give it a weird item.

Completing the full National Dex now means syncing like six games and a blood pact with Professor Oak. Completing the Pokédex is a fun and challenging task. Now it's a part-time job that makes you question your life choices.

But hey… You get a certificate and a shiny charm.
Worth 80 hours of your sanity, right?

 

[Rainy.Nights]

It takes lots of time playing and a good amount of trades. I've spent years trying to complete the national dex (as many different forms as I can find included) in Pokemon Home and as many game dexes as possible. Working on it is fun for me and I don't mind helping people with their dex so feel free to dm me and lmk if you need help! I don't have everything though. Currently I have 1014 unique Pokemon registered to Home with only gens 1-6 fully completed, and most in the other gens minus a few legendaries and mythicals mainly. If you didn't download Pokemon Home (also Poke Transporter) before the 3DS server shutdown I believe you can no longer download it, but I still have that and it still works, so I can get some Pokemon from there if I'm able to find them on the versions of the games I have.

There are many game versions you don't need to personally play to get certain Pokemon, because they appear in other versions. If you don't want to play too many different games, really most can be found in trades. I can't think of any exclusive Pokemon species that is only found in games older than the 3DS ones (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). I skipped BDSP, it has no new Pokemon. The only unique Pokemon from Pokemon Go I can think of is Melmetal, other than that only certain forms are exclusive, so that one's pretty optional too but can make some Pokemon easier to find.

Overall, when playing a new Pokemon game, I start by playing the game normally and catching all the different ones I see. It can also help fill out some entries by doing surprise trades with extras you don't want. When I feel like I have about everything I can find, I figure out what is missing and start with whatever is easiest to catch or evolve, gradually progressing to the more difficult ones. Trading on Home really helps with finding version exclusives. For the hardest to find ones, I'd usually look for trades on online Pokemon communities.

Getting the shiny charm was always worth it for me, I have a few of those. Good luck with your Pokemon collecting!

 

[azurill]

It really is crazy how long it takes to complete it. I very happy when I can get them completed . I have two Pokemon left on my blueberry Pokédex on Violet before I can complete it. They are both Scarlet exclusive so I am trying to go through the story again on my second switch lite just to get two Pokemon I can trade for them. If I wanted them on my own I would have to get both Scarlet and DLC for it. Then there is the Pokemon you can’t evolve unless you are playing with friend. I was lucky and someone was nice enough to play with me so that finizen could evoke. I was so happy when I finally got the Pokédex in Arceus completed. I am definitely thankful for home since it has helped me get my violet dex completed.

 

[stitchmaker]

Trading is easier with the Universal Code Trade Exclusive List.
Pokemon Home on the Switch has one free box. If you have both games on one Switch you can trade using Pokemon Home.

One of my profile on my main Switch just had the free Pokemon Home box. To get the missing/evolved Pokemon my main Profile that has paid Pokemon logged into home and than Switched Home Profile to the profile that needed the Pokemon. Added them, save/quit, removed to my main Profile and save/quit. It's a good way to check the stats for profile that just have the free box or to get their shiny pokemon.

There are raid that will help with special Evolutions. I found a Palafin and other Evolve raids.

 

[Romaki]

Pokémon X/Y was so userfriendly, especially with online being free at the time. I loved completing that Pokédex.