(WIP) Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness - RetroAchievements/guides GitHub Wiki
1) Introduction
This guide will cover all of the missable achievements, as well as showing at which level your Pokémon should be at that point in the story. I will try to minimize story spoilers as much as I can.
The guide is broken up into max level to help keep track of what the next max level should be for your Pokémon.
2) Pokémon XD specific mechanics
Differences from mainline Pokémon games
Shadow Pokémon
The GameCube Pokémon games introduced a concept called "Shadow Pokémon". These are special Pokémon that can't be caught in the wild and you have to literally steal them from trainers mid-battle. The game makes it very obvious when a Pokémon is a shadow Pokémon. You also cannot steal any non-shadow Pokémon, meaning you have a very limited selection for your party in the early game.
While a Pokémon is a shadow Pokémon, there are a few special aspects to them:
- They cannot level up but they do continue to gain XP.
- Two of their move slots are forced to be shadow moves, which are weak but super-effective against non-shadow Pokémon .
- During battle there's a chance for them to go into "Reverse mode", which just means they will take damage every turn. To get them out of Reverse mode, simply use the "Call" ability.
Purification
Early in the story you unlock a few methods to purify shadow Pokémon. Every shadow Pokémon's XP bar is replaced with a "Heart Gauge" that shows how far it is from being able to be purified. The heart gauge goes down when either the Pokémon is in your party or when it is in the purification chamber with non-shadow Pokémon.
When the heart gauge is empty, the game will tell you it can be purified, which you can do in either Agate Village or in the purification chamber at Pokémon HQ Lab. When purified, the Pokémon will regain its normal move set and gain all of the XP and friendship it earned before being purified; this means the Pokémon can level up immediately if it had enough XP stored, so keep that in mind for the level-capped achievements.
Wild Pokémon
Wild Pokémon will not appear until partway through the story. Once you unlock wild Pokémon, you can catch them from very specific places and you have to use bait for them to appear. Other than that, the entire game is trainer battles. You actually don't need to catch wild Pokémon to complete the game, and honestly the only reason to do it is if all of your Pokémon are too high level (see notes on level-capped achievements).
Mt. Battle
To make up for the lack of wild Pokémon, early in the game you get access to Mt. Battle which is a repeatable series of trainer battles. Mt. Battle multiple areas that are separated by level range and you can revisit any particular area whenever you want. You still get money and XP even on repeat battles, and it's free to do as much as you want.
Also important to note that your party heals after each match in Mt. Battle, making it easier than some of the other events.
3) Notes on level-capped achievements
This set is mostly level-capped achievements, but only some of them are truly missable. Either way, it's easier to do them when your preferred team is at that level rather than having to use suboptimal Pokémon because you leveled too much.
The way that level-capped achievements work in this set is that all Pokémon in your party need to be at that level or lower when starting the event, not the whole way through.
For example, let's look at the first level-capped achievement:
Battle Maestro II (3)
Completed Area 2 of Mt. Battle [Start at <= Lv. 13 | No Rare Candy | No Legendaries]
The achievement starts tracking as soon as you start the first battle, and at that point all of your Pokémon in your party must be level 13 or less. Once the achievement starts tracking, your Pokémon can level as much as they want. That's also the reason for the "No Rare Candy" clause on most of these, because theoretically you could start the event, beat the first encounter, then use a ton of rare candies to level up and trivialize the rest of the event.
Here are the ways to handle the level caps, from most recommended to least recommended:
- Don't purify shadow Pokémon until they are too low level to be useful. Shadow Pokémon do not level until you purify them, so they have a built-in level cap. Note that you can keep them as Shadow Pokémon even with an empty heart gauge, it's not until you purify them that they gain XP.
- Rotate your non-shadow Pokémon! Keep an eye on their levels, and if any of them get to the level cap for the next achievement, put them in the PC or purification chamber and bring out someone else. This doesn't mean giving up your favorites, just spacing them out so they're available when it matters. Most trainer battles only have two or three Pokémon so you don't need to be very efficient either.
- Catch wild Pokémon. Wild Pokémon are caught in the level 10-20 range, which covers all of the level-capped achievements. This is a fallback if you run out of options, but you do need rare wild Pokémon for the trade achievements if you're going for 100%.
For ease of reference, at the end of the guide I've attached a checklist for all level-capped achievements.
4) Warnings for achievements with lockouts
These achievements are ones you need to be aware of before going to the level-capped guide. The warnings here pertain to achievements that you can lock yourself out of if you're not careful.
Overwhelmed Aferd (10)
Defeated Supertrainer Aferd's best team with no more than 4 Pokemon [<= Lv. 50 | No Legendaries] (Warning: This Trainer can only be fought a limited amount of times)
Overwhelmed Cida (10)
Defeated Cooltrainer Cida's best team with no more than 3 Pokemon [<= Lv. 50 | No Legendaries] (Warning: This Trainer can only be fought a limited amount of times)
Overwhelmed Equin (10)
Defeated Cooltrainer Equin's best team with no more than 3 Pokemon [<= Lv. 50 | No Legendaries] (Warning: This Trainer can only be fought a limited amount of times)
These three achievements can be missed just by battling those trainers too many times. You have the ability to re-battle them, but for some reason it only works a few times. It's safest to avoid these particular trainers until after finishing the main story.
Aferd is at the Pokemon HQ Lab
Cida is in Agate Village
Equin is in Phenac Stadium.
You're a Snag Machine (25)
Snagged 82 Shadow Pokemon
This one is straight-forward, you just need to make sure you capture every single Shadow Pokémon you come across. Most of them can actually be caught later on if you missed them, but some are one-time only.
Note that some achievements will say to defeat a trainer without snagging their Pokemon. In those cases, you will be able to re-battle them after the achievement to get another chance to snag them. We will be point it out in the guide when explaining the achievement.
Max Level: 13 (then 16 after that)
Pokémon HQ Lab | Total points: 2
Top Kek (1)
You found the hidden Kecleon!
Missable due to not being available later in the story.
This is available very early on, and you have to go to this room as part of the story anyway. Just interact with the area to the immediate left of the gentleman underneath the table.
There's No Honour In Being Merciless (1)
Obtained an extra Pokeball after storing all your spares
Missable but extremely easy to get. During the story you'll be given Pokeballs. Just immediately go to the PC and deposit them all, and in the next battle you'll be given the Pokeball. Don't forget to pull them back out of the PC afterwards!
Gateon Port/Agate Village
There actually isn't a missable achievement here, but this is more a note about the level cap. Because you have so few Pokémon, it's very easy to over-level Eevee before the first level-capped achievement. If you don't intend to use your Eevee for it then you're good and can skip this section.
Here are some pointers to help you keep Eevee at level 13:
- This might not be obvious, you can put Eevee into the PC even if you only have one other Pokémon. Despite all fights in Pokémon XD being Doubles format, you are allowed to go down to one Pokémon in your party.
- There are two Shadow Pokémon you can catch in Gateon Port. If you strictly stick to the storyline you won't see them, but they are side characters you can fight.
- In Agate Village they force you to purify a Pokémon before you can continue the story. There are two main ways to get a Pokémon's heart gauge down at this point in the story:
- Use Cologne Scents. Expensive but limits XP gain. Scents are items you can use to lower a shadow Pokémon's heart gauge. You are given a Cologne Case during the story, and if you want to minimize the amount of XP and levels your mandatory purification gains then this is the best way to do it. For me, my chosen Shadow Pokémon was at 3/5 bars of the heart gauge, but it still required me to buy five of the most expensive scent to get it almost empty (6000 dollars).
- Battle Trainers. The game provides repeatable trainer battles to provide you a way to lower the heart gauge at this point of the story. However, since your Shadow Pokémon still gain XP and immediately gains those levels when you purify them, you risk them leveling past the cap.
Mt. Battle | Total points: 6
Battle Maestro (3)
Completed Area 1 of Mt. Battle [No Legendaries]
Battle Maestro II (3)
Completed Area 2 of Mt. Battle [Start at <= Lv. 13 | No Rare Candy | No Legendaries]
Here we are, our first level-capped achievement! The first one listed here, Battle Maestro, isn't actually missable or level-capped; I just wanted to make you aware that it exists if you want to keep your unlocks in chronological order.
To make sure you don't gain unnecessary XP, here's a rough outline of the recommended way to do this section:
- Make sure any Pokémon that are level 12 or 13 that you want to use are in your PC when you first come here.
- The first time you do Mt. Battle is a story event where you face three trainers. This does NOT count for either the two achievements listed, so try to limit XP gain if possible.
- After speaking with Vander, the lady at the counter will tell you they're still doing a rookie session. Just leave and come back, and you can then choose whichever area you want.
- You start with the first three areas open. Area 1 are all Pokémon level 12 or less, so you should be able to do it with just your two remaining Shadow Pokémon. If you're having trouble though, then you could just save, then run through real quick for the achievement, then load your save again and start Area 2.
- Remember for the level-capped achievements like Battle Maestro II that you need to do it all in one session if your Pokémon are close to leveling. For example, if you start the first fight, level to level 14, then leave or save and load, then you won't be able to continue the achievement. I would highly recommend just doing it all in one session to be safe.
- The next level-capped achievement after Battle Maestro II is Level 16, so you may want to make sure that none of your Pokémon go above Level 16. Luckily that achievement is right after these so you don't have to worry too much.
Max Level: 16 (then 20 after)
Cipher Lab | Total points: 5
No One May Know That You Are a Hexagon Brother (5)
Defeated all Hexagon Brothers without snagging their Pokémon, before entering the Cipher Lab and without leaving [Start at <= Lv. 16 | No Rare Candy]
This one's a bit complicated, but essentially it's a gauntlet. When you first enter Cipher Lab and approach the main door, the Hexagon Brothers will all appear. You have to defeat all of them with the following criteria:
- Defeat them all in one session without entering the Lab or leaving the area.
- Do not capture any of their Shadow Pokémon; you are able to fight them again after getting the achievement to capture their Shadow Pokémon.
- All Pokémon in your party start the event at level 16 or less.
This one is difficult since you don't heal between each fight and can't change your team once you start. I would recommend stocking up on potions and other items before starting this fight.
Max Level: 20 (then 21 after)
Cipher Lab | Total points: 10
Lab Accident (5)
Defeated all trainers in Cipher Lab
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (5)
Snagged Delcatty and defeated Cipher Admin Lovrina [<= Lv. 20 | No Master Ball]
Missable because all of the trainers inside the Lab leave when you progress the story. Straight-forward, just make sure to get all of the trainers as you go through the lab.
Important: This area shown below is the last free-roam area! As soon as you go up those stairs, you fight the last trainer for the Lab Accident achievement, and then have to do Every Rose Has Its Thorn without being able to heal or change your team.
- Make sure that for Lab Accident you only have one trainer remaining.
- Make sure every Pokémon in your party is Level 20 or less after defeating that last trainer.
Pyrite Town | Total points: 20
| Badge | Title | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pyrite Pro I | Completed Round 1 of Pyrite Colosseum [Start at <= Lv. 20 - No Legendaries] | 5 |
 |
Pyrite Pro II | Completed Round 2 of Pyrite Colosseum [Start at <= Lv. 20 - No Legendaries] | 5 |
 |
Pyrite Pro III | Completed Round 3 of Pyrite Colosseum [Start at <= Lv. 20 - No Legendaries] | 5 |
 |
Pyrite Pro IV | Completed Round 4 of Pyrite Colosseum [Start at <= Lv. 20 - No Legendaries] | 5 |
Not missable, but might as well do it now so you don't have to catch wild pokemon. Similar to Mt. Battle where you heal between each match. The fights aren't too difficult so you should be able to do this with all shadow Pokémon if you're worried about over leveling.
Each round has four matches, meaning overall you need to complete sixteen matches. Each round is tracked separately, so if you're using non-shadow Pokémon then you'll need to make sure to rotate out any that are above Level 20 before starting the next round.
Max Level: 21 (then 23 after)
Pyrite Town : Total points: 1
Helping Hand (1)
Obtained the Soothe Bell by reuniting a family
Missable because the side quest goes away after progressing the main story. On the second floor in one of the rooms is a little girl who's lost. You just need to take her to her mother on the third floor and you're done!
Cave Poké Spot | Total points: 5
Bust A Groove (5)
Snagged Voltorb and defeated Wanderer Miror. B [<= Lv. 21 | No Master Ball]
Missable but just a level cap.
Max Level: 23 (then 27 after)
Pyrite Town | Total points: 10
Breaking News! (5)
Defeated all trainers in ONBS
Missable because the trainers leave when you progress the story.
Just make sure you have the achievement before going in this door:
Commander Conquered (5)
Snagged Mawile and defeated Cipher Commander Exol [<= Lv. 23 | No Master Ball]
Missable but straightforward.
Max Level: 27 (then 28 after)
Mt. Battle | Total points: 5
Battle Maestro III (5)
Completed Area 3 of Mt. Battle [Start at <= Lv. 27 | No Rare Candy | No Legendaries]
Not missable but might as well do this now.
Remaining Story WIP
Level-capped Achievement Checklist
For reference, here are all of the level-capped achievements ordered by level then chronologically (No description to avoid spoilers):
