Trainers
In the game, you start out as a brand-new Pokémon Trainer. You’ll meet, catch, and raise many Pokémon on your journey to improve your skills and become the best Pokémon Trainer that you can be. Along the way, you’ll help all sorts of people and thwart the dastardly plans of those who wish to take advantage of Pokémon for their nefarious ends. Of course, you can’t accomplish this alone—you’ll need to work with your partner Pikachu or partner Eevee along with the rest of your Pokémon allies!
Partner Pokémon
You’ll meet either Pikachu or Eevee when you begin your adventure. Pikachu or Eevee will be your partner throughout your adventure and grow with you. Unlike regular Pokémon, your partner prefers to be out of its Poké Ball, so it will stay with you by hanging on your shoulder or riding on your head. It also seems to have no interest in evolving!
Your partner will look a little different depending on whether it’s a male or female. You’ll have to see for yourself which gender your partner will be!
Partner Pikachu
It has red electric sacs on its cheeks, and it raises its tail to check its surroundings. Your partner Pikachu will travel with you by riding on your shoulder. The tip of the tail of a female Pikachu is shaped like a heart.
Partner Eevee
It has a fluffy mane of fur around its neck. Some people say it can start to look like the Trainer that becomes its partner. Your partner Eevee will ride on your head during your adventure!
Female partner Eevee have a special appearance?!
Regular Eevee don’t look any different, regardless of whether they are male or female. But if you get a female Eevee as your partner, you’ll find that its tail seems to be marked by a heart-like pattern! But this is only the case for partner Eevee!
Secret Techniques
On any journey, you’re sure to run into obstacles. Maybe your path will be blocked, or maybe you’ll have to cross the sea to get where you need to go.
Thankfully, your partner can learn handy Secret Techniques to help you!
Secret Techniques are special skills your partner learns that can be used outside of battle. Clear away troublesome trees with Chop Down, or glide across the water with Sea Skim. Sky Dash allows you to quickly revisit towns and cities you’ve been to before. Your partner will make exploring the Kanto region easy as you continue on your adventure!
Exclusive Moves
Your partner can learn some exclusive moves that no other Pokémon can learn. Because it’s going to be by your side throughout your journey, your partner needs some reliable moves to make sure you’re ready to face any challenge!
As you shower your partner with love, it’ll sometimes send you a sign during battle. Wave your detached Joy-Con when the partner sign appears to have your partner use its special partner powers.
Your partner may even send you a sign when it’s not the one battling. If you respond, it’ll cheer on the Pokémon in battle by boosting its stats!
Pikachu
When you see the partner sign in battle, your partner Pikachu will be able to use Pika Papow. The power of this move will increase based on how good of friends you and your Pikachu are.
Pikachu can also learn the Water-type move Splishy Splash. This move has a chance to paralyze opponents!
Eevee
When you see the partner sign in battle, your partner Eevee will be able to use Veevee Volley. The power of this move will increase based on how good of friends you and your Eevee are.
Your Eevee also has a Water-type move it can learn—Bouncy Bubble. This move will heal Eevee for half the damage it deals to the opponent.
The Electric-type move Buzzy Buzz will leave the opponent paralyzed after the move hits.
Make good use of the Fire-type move Sizzly Slide. This move will always leave the opponent with the burned status condition!
Play with your partner
In between exploring and battling, it’s a good idea to relax with your Pokémon buddies. Enjoy a little playtime with Pikachu or Eevee in order to strengthen your bond with them. They will sit on your arm, allowing you to pet, feed, and even tickle it. Good things might happen as the two of you become closer.
You can play with your partner Pikachu or Eevee when you’re not in battle by selecting the Pikachu or Eevee icon on your main menu. The more time you spend with your partner, the more it’ll grow to love you! As you become closer, it’ll give you high fives or even find gifts for you as you travel. Lots of good things can happen if you’re friends with your partner!
Interact with your partner Pokémon by controlling the cursor with a detached Joy-Con. You can pet and play with your partner, and it may even grow closer to you as you become friendlier with it. In handheld mode, you’ll be able to play with your partner directly by using the touch screen.
Dress up your partner Pokémon
You can feel closer to your partner Pokémon by dressing alike! Yes, you can dress up your partner Pokémon in various outfits, give it accessories, and change its hairstyle. Coordinate your wardrobes by matching their outfit to yours or mix and match different items to give your partner its own style.
Outfits
Hairstyles
While playing with your partner, you can give it a quick makeover by ruffling its hair using the touch screen. Its hairstyle will change depending on your actions. Try out different things until you get a hairstyle you like. Find a good outfit to go with your favorite hairstyle to make your partner truly your own!
Pokémon Follow and Ride
Any Pokémon in the game can be your traveling companion. When you take a Pokémon out of its Poké Ball, it will walk with you to make your journey even more fun. As you explore the Kanto region with them, your Pokémon might even find hidden items.
Plus, different Pokémon can travel in different ways. Some Pokémon will even let you ride them, allowing you to move faster around the world. It’s a great way to experience the adventure with your favorite Pokémon!
Prepare for Mega Evolution!
Many Pokémon can evolve into new Pokémon, but were you aware that there is also "the Evolution that transcends Evolution"? It's called Mega Evolution, and it's a way to gain power beyond even what normal Evolution would grant. The might of Mega Evolution momentarily unleashes the energy within a Pokémon, and it can only be accomplished through a strong bond between a Pokémon and its Trainer.
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, you can Mega Evolve certain Pokémon once per battle if you have a Key Stone and a Mega Stone that corresponds to that specific Pokémon. Deciding which Pokémon to Mega Evolve—and when—will be a critical factor in deciding who wins a battle.
Let's take a look at some of the Pokémon you'll be able to Mega Evolve in the game.
Mega Venusaur
When Venusaur Mega Evolves into Mega Venusaur, the flower on its back grows larger and its legs become thicker and stronger to support its extra weight. Its Defense and Sp. Def greatly increase, allowing it to withstand just about any attack thrown at it.
Mega Charizard X / Mega Charizard Y
Charizard can Mega Evolve into two forms: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. In each battle, choose the form that will give you the most advantage.
Mega Charizard X's body color changes to black, and its flames turn blue because they burn so much hotter. It also changes types from a Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon to a Fire- and Dragon-type Pokémon.
Mega Charizard Y retains its orange coloring, but it gains sharp horns, a longer tail, and larger wings. It can fly faster than a jet plane!
Mega Blastoise
Blastoise normally has two water cannons on its shell, but when it Mega Evolves, the two cannons merge into a single large cannon that uses the power of Mega Evolution to launch superpowerful blasts. Its Sp. Atk greatly increases as well, allowing for more aggressive tactics in battle.
Battle Legendary Pokémon
In the world of Pokémon, there are certain special Pokémon that are hardly ever seen. These Pokémon are known as Legendary Pokémon. In the Kanto region, where you'll be having your adventures, three of these Legendary Pokémon are Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
You won't be able to catch these Legendary Pokémon the same way you catch most other Pokémon you encounter in the wild—you'll have to defeat them in a battle first! Once you defeat them, you'll have the opportunity to catch them.
If you are worthy to catch these Legendary Pokémon, they will become valuable members of your team. In addition, you can also have these mighty Pokémon follow you around as you explore the Kanto region!
Version Exclusives
Although the storyline is the same in both Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, there are some differences between the two versions. Of course, your first partner Pokémon will be either Pikachu or Eevee depending on which version you get, but the types and rarity of the wild Pokémon that you encounter also differ between the two games.
For example, Pokémon like Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe only appear in the wild in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!
While Bellsprout, Vulpix, and Meowth are only found in the wild in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
