2 Getting Started
Before you go in your DexNav journey there's a couple of things you will need to accomplish your goal.
2.1 Items
You need to stock up on some key items before attempting to DexNav chain.
- Super/Max Repels: Since chaining only counts the pokemon you find through the DexNav search function you need to avoid random wild pokemon. I prefer using Max Repels because it interrupts less frequently compared to Super Repels. When the repel wears off a message will appear asking if you want to use another repel, this can be dangerous if this happens next to a pokemon you are sneaking on as it can break your sneaking motion if you are not careful.
- Pokeball of choice: Chances are you want to catch the pokemon you are looking for in a specific pokeball so make sure you bring a lot of them.
- Elixir/Ether/Leppa Berries: You will need PP restoring items to restore the moves of your pokemon as you need to either KO or catch the pokemon you find to continue the chain. Alternatively you can also use the PP O-power.
- HP and Status restoring items: Your False Swiper might get hit or statused occasionally while chaining so having these items on hand is a must.
2.2 Pokemon recommendations
Once you have a good amount of the items you need for chaining you will also need some pokemon that have useful field abilities and a strong pokemon to defeat/catch your targets easily.
Synchronizer: This is a pokemon with the Synchronize ability. If a pokemon with this ability is in the lead of your party it will give you a 50% chance of finding a wild pokemon with the same nature (This works even if the Synchronizer is fainted). Probably one of the most important pokemon to have while chaining as specific natures are needed for certain competitive pokemon sets. Because repels only work if your lead pokemon in your party is of higher level than the wild pokemon around you, your Synchronizer must be leveled up to be at least one level higher as the strongest wild pokemon available. Example: In (Hoenn) 121 route the stronges pokemon are level 30 and the weakest is 27, your Synch needs to be level 30 or higher. A level 50 Synchronizer should be strong enough to be used in any situation. If the pokemon you want to catch can use different natures you could take 2 or more different Synchronizers with you so that when you catch one with good IVs and nature you switch to a Synch with different nature.
Ralts-Kirlia-Gardevoir Level 50
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: The one you want your wild pokemon to have
Egg Moves:
Note: Memento or Healing Wish will let you faint your synchronizer easily so that you don't need to make it faint by fighting pokemon. If it is fainted in the first slot of your party you can fight with your False Swiper directly and still get the benefits from Synchronize.
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Cute Charmer: This is a pokemon with the Cute Charm ability. If a pokemon with this ability is in the lead of your party it will give you a 50% chance of finding a wild pokemon of the opposite gender (This works even if the Cute Charmer is fainted). This pokemon should be used if you are hunting for a shiny and don't care about the nature or you are hunting for a female to use in your next breeding project.
Because repels only work if your lead pokemon in your party is of higher level than the wild pokemon around you, your Cute Charmer must be leveled up to be at least one level higher as the strongest wild pokemon available. Example: In (Hoenn) 121 route the stronges pokemon are level 30 and the weakest is 27, your Cute Charmer needs to be level 30 or higher A level 50 Cute Charmer should be strong enough to be used in any situation.
Buneary-Lopunny Level 50
Gender: Male if you want to encounter females; Female if you want to encounter males.
Ability: Cute Charm
Moves:
Note: Healing Wish will let you faint your Cute Charmer easily so that you don't need to make it faint by fighting pokemon. If it is fainted in the first slot of your party you can fight with your False Swiper directly and still get the benefits from Cute Charm.
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False Swiper: This is a pokemon that is used for its ability to use the move False Swipe, which is an attack that will never KO a pokemon always leaving it with 1HP. This makes catching pokemon easy so you should definitely bring one or two on your hunt. The False Swiper will also be in charge of KOing the pokemon you don't want to catch so other traits this pokemon should have to be more effective is a high Attack stat, access to status moves and strong attacking moves with high PP.
Breloom Level 100
Ability: Technician or Poison Heal
Nature: Adamant or Jolly
Moves: Mach Punch, Bullet Seed,
, Spore/StunSpore
Item: Leftovers or Toxic Orb
Note: Mach Punch and Bullet Seed have high PP and hit hard if you have Technician as ability. Spore is a 100% accurate sleep inducing move that will help you increase your catch rate but it wears off so Stun Spore is also a good option to induce paralysis which doesn't wear off. Poison Heal is an useful ability in conjuction with Toxic Orb that way Breloom is immune to status and heals by itself. Technician boosts the power of False Swipe so I prefer to use that ability. Bullet Seed can OHKO Sturdy pokemon like magnemite making it very useful
Bisharp Level 100
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Adamant or Jolly
Moves: Iron Head, Night Slash, False Swipe, Thunder Wave
Item: Leftovers
Note: Bisharp is another option with different STAB moves in case the pokemon you want resists Breloom's moves. It can be used as a secondary false swiper in case you run out of PP restoring moves or you get bored of using Breloom.
Smeargle Level 100
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant
Moves: Soak, False Swipe, Glare/Spore, Crunch/Shadow Claw
Item: Leftovers
Note: Smeargle can capture Ghost-types thanks to it being able to use Soak to remove the their immunity to Normal-type moves and False Swipe. A Dark/Ghost move is used to KO the Ghost you don't want to capture.
If you don't have a Smeargle and do not want to use a Status move Mega Pinsir can use a Flying-type False Swipe to hit Ghosts.
2.3 Time
If you are planning on DexNav chaining a pokemon in search of a shiny or a competitive Pokemon you will need to reserve some time for this. There is no set time for you to get what you are looking for as it depends on luck(RNG). That being said you not only need time but patience as there are a lot of little things that can be annoying while chaining and it can also be very boring and monotonous so find something you like to do while you chain, preferably something that doesn't require your full attention.
If you just want a female with Hidden ability or you are looking for a rare egg move it should only take 15 mins or so.
