Mega Start with Aerodactyl makes short work of Blaziken. Got an S and caught him on my first try.

@Jargon

Whaaa.... I'll try it tomorrow.

Got a Blastoisenite (sp?). Every time I think I'm out...

@Anand

Mega Blastoise is pretty powerful too IMO.

Do we know for sure how leveling up works yet? Because if it has to do with the amount of turns left over, Lickitung would seem like a good candidate. I can consistently finish with 15-18 turns left and that's even using weaker Pokemon. Would be nice because it's a lot faster than Ampharos.

@Jargon

Only thing I can suggest is to take miiverse screens before and after to see how much it truly moved. Though I think the higher the level, the longer and harder it'll be to level up so it in a sense is a moot point because the goal posts, which never have concrete numbers, change constantly.

@Jargon

I always thought it was number of matches made, which was why Ampharos was so good-More turns equals more matches. This would give a reason for having the 'bonus' matches.

It could be tied into scoring instead of just matches though. Final score is experience gained. Considering that remaining turns give you a score bonus too, that's where the turn theory may come into play.

@Shadowlink

If that's the case then Likitung would be great there too because you get a ton of matches. And amazing combos leading to a big score as well. So far I can't really tell though if it's working. Maybe I'll do one match with Ampharos and one match with Likitung, each time using a Level 1 Pokemon that I've never used before and see which one gets leveled up more.

Did the experiment. Did the Ampharos stage with optimal Pokemon but switching in Absol, previously unplayed. Finished with 16 turns remaining and he got about 4/5 of the way to Level 2. Did the Likitun stage with optimal Pokemon but switching in Pidgeot. Finished with 9 turns remaining (pretty bad luck) and he leveled up about 3/4 of the way to Level 2. Not really conclusive results but it seems like Likitung is at least close to as good if not better and considering how much quicker and more fun a level it is to do, I will be using that for grinding from now on.

I come to this thread expecting discussion on the free2play system and instead find discussion on tactics for the game in what appears to be a different language with talks of optimal play and stuff.

You guys have problems...

@Pokefreak911

Enjoy your primitive paid for games!

Hrrrm.

According to Gamefaqs, Japanese forums are saying they cracked the EXP formula. Here's what they figured out:

Each level gives [Total Moves] EXP. All EX Stages give 10 EXP, regardless of the time limit.
Remaining Moves, Bonus Combo, Overkill and Type Matchups have no effect.

If you don't manage to defeat the Pokemon, you get:
[Total Moves] * [Percentage Damage Done]% EXP.

For example 64% damage on Ampharos would get you 32 EXP (50*64%). The crowned Pokemon in the results gets a 2x multiplier, receiving double the EXP. The crowned Pokemon is the one that's removed the most, including those which are removed by a Mega Evolved Pokemon's effects.

The amount of EXP a Pokemon needs to level up depends on its starting Attack Power:
Starting Attack 30 = 50 Base EXP.
Starting Attack 40 = 55 Base EXP.
Starting Attack 50 = 60 Base EXP.
Starting Attack 60 = 65 Base EXP.
Starting Attack 70 = 70 Base EXP.
Starting Attack 80 = 75 Base EXP.

Other values are not checked yet.

Each level is harder to reach than the last.
Lv.2: Base EXP * 1
Lv.3: Base EXP * 2 (total: 3x)
Lv.4: Base EXP * 3 (total: 6x)
Lv.5: Base EXP * 3 (total: 9x)
Lv.6: Base EXP * 9 (total: 18x)
Lv.7: Base EXP * 15 (total: 33x)
Lv.8: Base EXP * 18 (total: 51x)
Lv.9: Base EXP * 21 (total: 72x)
Lv.MAX: Base EXP * 24 (total: 96x)

In other words, going from Lv.1 to Lv.5 takes as long as going from Lv.5 to Lv.6.

Ahh Pokemon. If there's no maths involved, why bother?

But just based off of that, it would seem that, yes Ampharos does provide the most XP based purely on the fact of 50 turns.

...And it will take anywhere between 96 to 144 completed plays of that stage to fully max out a pokemon from level 1, depending on it's starting power level.

I know there's got to be a trick to it since you only have 2 moves to S-rank him, but I cannot figure out how to S-rank Trubbish. I finally figured out the trick to Froslass, but I just have yet to successfully figure Trubbish out. Anyone have any advice?

There's still 5 Pokemon that I need to catch (all experts), and 25 main levels that I need to S rank. (As for the expert stages, I've only S-ranked stages 1 and 13.)

Anyone still having issues with Froakie? Give Tropius a whirl.His ability gives you a guaranteed removal of a non-support pokemon. 4 matches in and that highly annoying Froakie block in the middle is all gone.

Ugh, I got a 32% chance to catch Xerneas with a Great Ball and figured if I used three I was likely going to catch him. Nope. Used all my coins for nothing.

So I have started playing this. Almost finished the second world. It's fun, I like it. I wish this wasn't a free to play game though because I just want to keep playing and I can't because of the damn hearts.

@Pokefreak911

Now who has problems?

@Shadowlink

I think he might! Perhaps Pokefreak noticed that the discussion he was looking for was here and that this thread is where we have fun with this little title... and wait patiently as well.

@Shadowlink
Oh shush

The Safari Zone event is live. It's a thee-pokemon challenge where you should choose your strongest pokemon because you don't know who you are going up against.

I fought a Spinda, Cherubi, and that poison barracuda thing. Caught two of them. I have only seen the handful of pokemon.

Perhaps it'll be the different pokemon a day.

@DrFinkelstein

I've done a good job S-ranking them but haven't caught any. Not good odds and I've got no coins for Great Balls. I hope they don't change every day, because I want to catch these ones.