PMD Beginner's Guide

So you've never played a PMD game before in your life, and want to give it a shot? Wondering what the general thoughts are on each game, and what games have what features? Well, this guide is for you, newcomer.



Red/Blue Rescue Team are the first games, and a good starting point for a newcomer. Has every pokemon up to Gen 3 in it, and a few features that never returned, like Friend Areas. Red is the GBA version and Blue is the DS version. Version exclusives are there, but you can use Wonder Mail codes to get them all in one game. I recommend Blue, as two screens are more useful. Some minor annoyances such as the smallest inventory size out of the series and visiting friend areas before missions if you want a team, but still very much worth playing. Keep playing after the credits!


Time/Darkness are obsoleted by Sky, don't play these if you can play Sky.


Explorers of Sky is the fan favorite of the series, although you may think differently. Every Pokemon up to gen 4, excluding Arceus, is here. Friend Areas are gone, replaced with Spinda's Cafe and the team not dispersing after every mission. Post credits has a very extensive postgame. Average dungeon length isn't as long as Rescue Team, but they still can become very challenging. Sky has 5 Special Episodes that give plot relevant characters more story, and are very much worth checking out.


Stormy/Blazing/Light Adventure Squad are the Japan only PMD games, released on Wiiware. All three link together automatically. There is no translation for these, and they are very hard to find. You'd almost certainly need an emulator, or a hacked Wii to play them. Has the least amount of story out of the series. Only for the truly obsessed or those fluent in Japanese.


Gates to Infinity is the black sheep of the series, for those that don't know about Adventure Squad anyways. Has the least amount of pokemon out of all PMD's, focusing on mainly Gen 5, barring a few pokemon. If you liked RT and Sky, I'd still check them out. Features such as Paradise and Mysteriosity are pretty major mechanics not seen again in the series. Hunger is not present in Gates, outside of a couple postgame dungeons. Some consider this one to have the best story out of the series, so it might be a good fit if you play more for the story.


Super Mystery Dungeon is the newest, and for some, the best PMD game. Super has loads of references to the past PMD's, so play this last if you're worried about spoilers. Every pokemon up to gen 6 not named Volcanion is here to recruit. The main story is considered to be the hardest in the series, due to the larger emphasis on using items. Home to some of the most controversial changes, like the break system and the Connection Orb. If you can look past both of these, it's very much worth your time. You recruit one of everything over time, so no double species unless you evolve pokemon. Quicksaving is gone, replaced with Progress Devices you place in dungeons to save while in them. Notable new features are Emeras, which act like findable IQ skills, and the ability to travel the world and do missions.




Q: What's the best pokemon to use?
A: Your favorite pokemon. Unlike the mainline games, every pokemon can his the same stat total of 255 in every stat that isn't HP, with enough work. So if you wanted to beat the hell out of Mewtwo as a Wooper or Marill, you can absolutely do that. What matters most is abilities and movesets.


Q: When should I use Gummis?
A: In Rescue Team, Friend Areas, they always give a stat up. In Sky, make a drink in Spinda's Cafe.


Q: What are the most dangerous enemies?
A: Anything with Agility, room hitting moves, and miltihit moves. Drifblim is the deadliest enemy in the series, don't fuck with this blimp.


Q: Do rescues work? I died in a dungeon.
A: Yes, just take a picture of the password (or QR Code in Super) and show it to us, one of us will rescue you.