This is where players quit. Team Flare grunts now use competitive strategies (Toxic stall, Baton Pass, Weather teams).
In vanilla X/Y, your starter choice didn't matter much. In Eternal X, it dictates your early-game survival.
Pro Tip: Regardless of your starter, catch a Riolu on Route 22 (before Gym 1). It is available at Level 8 with Bullet Punch. Lucario carries the first three gyms. pokemon eternal x guide
Before starting, you must choose your difficulty. Eternal X comes in several variants:
| Version | Difficulty | Best For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Standard | Similar to Pokémon Platinum or USUM. Gyms have 4-6 mons; enemy levels scale higher. | First-time hack players. | | Insanity | Extremely brutal. Bosses have perfect IVs, optimized EV spreads, and competitive items (Choice Scarf, Life Orb). Requires full team planning. | Veterans seeking a nuzlocke or hardcore challenge. | | Rebalanced | Same difficulty as Standard, but Pokémon stats/moves are tweaked (e.g., Mega Audino, buffed Beedrill). | Players who want fresh gameplay. | This is where players quit
Recommendation: Start with Standard unless you enjoy grinding and resetting.
Every major boss has a full, strategic team. Here are a few examples: Pro Tip: Regardless of your starter, catch a
| Boss | Notable Pokémon | Key Threat | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Grant (Cyllage Gym) | Tyrunt (Dragon Dance), Relicanth (Sturdy + Head Smash) | Tyrunt can sweep if not stopped. | | Korrina (Shalour Gym) | Hawlucha (Unburden + Berry), Mega Lucario (Adaptability + Bullet Punch) | Mega Lucario outspeeds most. | | Elite Four (Malva) | Talonflame (Gale Wings), Mega Charizard Y (Drought + Solar Beam) | Sun + Solar Beam covers water counters. |
Rival Battles (Serena/Calem): Their team adapts based on your starter. They always carry a Mega Evolution and a coverage move for their weakness.
Before you pick your starter, you must understand the rules of the land.