Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Full Game Guide

Complete guide to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Learn about all games, best starters, recruitment, dungeons, and tips for completing the story.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a spin-off series that puts you in the role of a human turned into a Pokémon. Unlike mainline Pokémon games, Mystery Dungeon is a roguelike dungeon crawler where you explore randomly generated dungeons. This guide covers the entire series.

Series Overview

The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series includes several games across multiple platforms. The main entries are: Red/Blue Rescue Team (GBA/DS), Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky (DS), Gates to Infinity (3DS), and Super Mystery Dungeon (3DS). Each game follows a similar formula: a human is transformed into a Pokémon and must explore dungeons to help other Pokémon.

Best Starter Pokémon

Your starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon is determined by a personality quiz at the beginning of the game. However, you can influence the result by answering questions in a specific way. Some of the best starters include:

• Charmander: Excellent Fire type with good stats and movepool.
• Mudkip: Water/Ground type with only one weakness.
• Treecko: Fast Grass type with good coverage moves.
• Pikachu: Electric type with Static ability and good Speed.
• Eevee: Normal type with Adaptability and versatile moveset.

Recruitment Guide

Recruiting Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon is different from mainline games. You recruit Pokémon by defeating them in dungeons, and the recruitment rate depends on several factors: your level, the Pokémon's recruitment rate, and whether you have the Friend Bow equipped.

To maximize recruitment chances, level up your team, equip the Friend Bow, and use moves that don't knock out the target Pokémon. Some Pokémon can only be recruited under specific conditions, such as having a certain Pokémon in your party or visiting a specific dungeon.

Dungeon Tips

Dungeons in Mystery Dungeon are randomly generated, meaning each visit is unique. Here are some key tips:

• Bring Reviver Seeds: These revive your Pokémon if they faint, preventing game over.
• Manage your Belly: Each step reduces your Belly meter. Bring Apples and Big Apples.
• Use Wonder Tiles wisely: They reset your stat changes, which can be good or bad.
• Watch out for monster houses: Rooms full of enemies that can wipe your team.
• Save at Kangaskhan statues: These are checkpoint saves in dungeons.

Story Guide

The story of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is known for its emotional depth and surprising twists. In the Rescue Team games, you must save the world from natural disasters. In the Explorers games, you must stop time from stopping. In Super Mystery Dungeon, you must save the world from being turned to stone.

Each game features a compelling narrative with memorable characters and emotional moments. The stories explore themes of friendship, sacrifice, and identity, making them some of the most beloved Pokémon spin-off stories.

Use our random Pokémon generator to find your Mystery Dungeon partner, and check our type chart to understand type matchups. Visit our blog for more Pokémon guides!