Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are getting an auto-battle feature, Cut Grind

Yesterday, the official Pokemon Website announced that November scarlet and violet will introduce an auto-battle feature to the long-running creature-collecting series. The feature, called “Let’s Go!”, allows players to send a Pokémon into the world to automatically collect items and battle with wild Pokémon. This could make exploring Paldea much more efficient than navigating the worlds of yore Pokemon Play and cut through the frustrating grind of battling a million starter mobs.

Not only will Pokémon be able to fend off wild creatures on their own, but they can also gain experience points and items to do so. And it’s about time. For eight generations Pokemon, party members could do nothing without the precise commands of their trainer. It was as if they had lost all instinct for bloodlust once domesticated. Not in scarlet and violet. Sprigatito might be a beginner Pokémon, but it still remembers the thrill of the chase.

I absolutely love auto battles. Several mobile games such as Dragalia lost (REST IN PEACE), Arknightsand Alchemy Stars have an auto battle feature that makes everyday life less frustrating. one player even points out that while auto-battles are fairly commonplace in mobile titles, they rarely make their way to PC and console games. Still, auto-fighting feels like a perfect fit for Pokemon since grinding is also a central aspect of its gameplay loop. Also, I never say no to a mechanic that allows me to see my Pokémon in the overworld.

However, not everyone is excited about the new feature. “I play Pokemonno JRPG”, said a Twitter userwho obviously doesn’t know what genre Pokemon is. Another complained that the completely optional feature “take away the gameplay.” You know, the satisfying gameplay loop of one-shotting a level 3 Lechonk early in the game. Several players too expressed concern that their freed, self-sufficient Pokémon could knock out a shiny one inadvertently. As such, it’s probably best to turn the feature off if you’re hunting shiny. Or just keep an eye on your Pokémon as they go exploring.