Master These Color Game Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Score Instantly

I remember the first time I booted up Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, that familiar mix of excitement and anticipation washing over me. Having played nearly every mainline Pokémon game since Red and Blue, I thought I knew exactly what to expect—the predictable rhythm of waking up at home, meeting a rival, choosing between three starters, and embarking on a carefully guided adventure. But what struck me almost immediately was how quickly the game cuts you loose. Sure, the opening sequences follow tradition: You select your starter (I went with Sprigatito, for the record), meet your energetic rival Nemona, and get the basic tutorial on catching and battling. Yet within what feels like just 30-40 minutes, the training wheels come off, and you’re handed an impressive degree of freedom. For longtime fans like me, who’ve occasionally groaned through drawn-out introductions in earlier titles, this brisk pacing feels like a breath of fresh air.

Once Nemona sets you free, the world of Paldea unfurls in a way that’s both exhilarating and, at times, overwhelming. I recall stepping into the open fields near Cabo Poco, the sun shining on sprawling landscapes dotted with trainers and wild Pokémon. It’s here that the game’s unique approach to exploration truly begins to shine—and where smart strategies can make all the difference. Unlike previous games, which often funnel you along a set path, Scarlet and Violet let you tackle huge portions of the map early on. I remember thinking, “Wait, I can just…go anywhere?” And you really can. Within my first two hours, I’d explored three separate provinces, battled dozens of optional trainers, and caught over 50 different species of Pokémon. That freedom, however, comes with its own challenges. Without a rigid level curve, it’s easy to stumble into areas where wild Pokémon are 10 or even 15 levels higher than your team. I learned this the hard way when a pack of Growlithes near Cortondo wiped out half my party in one hit.

This brings me to what I consider one of the most underrated aspects of boosting your score—or in this case, your effectiveness—in Scarlet and Violet: mastering the game’s color-coded environment and visual cues. Early on, I noticed how the terrain and Pokémon distributions aren’t just random; they follow subtle patterns tied to color and ecology. For example, grass-type Pokémon tend to cluster in vibrant green meadows, while water-types gather near azure rivers and lakes. Fire-types, like Fletchling and Houndour, often appear in reddish-orange rocky areas or near volcanic terrain. Paying attention to these environmental clues doesn’t just help with completing your Pokédex—it lets you plan your team composition and type matchups more strategically. I started prioritizing encounters in certain colored zones based on what I needed. If I wanted to train against bug-types, I’d seek out lush, flower-filled clearings. If I needed electric-types, I’d hunt near yellow-tinted industrial areas or power plants. It sounds simple, but this approach helped me raise my battle win rate by nearly 25% in the early game.

Another trick I picked up revolves around the game’s three main questlines—Victory Road, Path of Legends, and Starfall Street. While the introduction to these story arcs does slow the pacing down a bit, it’s a small price to pay for the depth they add. What I appreciate is how each questline encourages a different style of play. Victory Road, with its traditional gym challenge, rewards careful team-building and type coverage. Path of Legends, which focuses on hunting Titan Pokémon, emphasizes exploration and puzzle-solving. And Starfall Street, where you take on Team Star, often requires quick thinking and handling multiple opponents in succession. By alternating between these quests, I kept my gameplay experience varied and engaging. I’d spend an hour grinding gym badges, then switch to hunting Titans to break the monotony. This not only kept things fresh but also allowed me to gain experience and resources from multiple sources, accelerating my progress.

Let’s talk about Nemona for a second—your “peppy, battle-hungry rival,” as the game describes her. I’ll be honest: At first, I found her constant challenges a bit annoying. But over time, I realized she’s one of the best tools for improving your skills. Every time she pops up for a battle, it’s an opportunity to test new strategies or refine your team’s synergy. I started treating these encounters as mini-exams, experimenting with different move sets and held items. One battle, I had my Quaxly hold a Mystic Water item to boost its water-type moves, and it completely turned the tide. These small tweaks, tested in low-stakes rival battles, gave me the confidence to take on tougher opponents later. Plus, Nemona’s team evolves in predictable ways, so by paying attention, you can anticipate her strategies and counter them effectively. It’s a subtle form of pattern recognition that pays off immensely.

Exploration is another area where a little foresight goes a long way. Scarlet and Violet’s open-world design means you’re often rewarded for going off the beaten path. I made it a habit to check every nook and cranny—hidden caves, isolated beaches, even the tops of plateaus. One of my favorite discoveries was a hidden grotto in South Province Area Three, where I found a Tandemaus holding a Rare Candy. Moments like these remind me that the game is filled with small, easily missed opportunities. I estimate that by thoroughly exploring each area before moving on, I collected around 40% more useful items and encountered at least 15 additional Pokémon species in the first 10 hours alone. That extra resources gave me a significant edge in battles and made team-building much smoother.

Of course, no strategy is complete without discussing the actual act of catching Pokémon. In Scarlet and Violet, the catching mechanics are more dynamic than ever. Wild Pokémon roam freely, and their behavior varies—some flee at the first sign of danger, while others aggressively chase you down. I quickly learned to use the environment to my advantage. Tall grass isn’t just for hiding; it can block line of sight, giving you time to plan your approach. I also started paying closer attention to time of day and weather, as these factors influence which Pokémon appear. During a thunderstorm in East Province Area Two, for example, I managed to catch a rare Luxio that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. By aligning my exploration with in-game conditions, I filled out my Pokédex faster and assembled a more versatile team.

In the end, what makes Scarlet and Violet so compelling is how they balance freedom with structure. Yes, the opening hours move quickly, and yes, the world is vast—but it’s that very openness that invites players to develop their own strategies. Whether it’s leveraging environmental color cues, alternating between questlines to avoid burnout, or using rival battles as training grounds, the game rewards creativity and adaptability. I’ve played through Paldea twice now, and each time I’ve discovered new tricks and nuances that improved my experience. So if you’re looking to boost your score—or just enjoy the journey a little more—don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes the best tips aren’t found in guides, but in the quiet moments between battles, when you’re simply taking in the vibrant, living world around you.