How battles work
Your team fights automatically. Your job is to build the best lineup, choose useful items, and keep enough coverage for each boss.
Quick Start
Play Pokelike, then learn how to win
Pokelike is a browser-based Pokemon roguelike autobattler. Choose a starter, build a team through branching map routes, pick items, defeat Gym Leaders, and unlock Battle Tower stages after a champion clear.
How routes work
Each map offers battles, catches, items, trades, healing, move tutors, and boss fights. Riskier paths can create stronger late-game teams.
How saves work
Local progress is stored in your browser. Cloud save should use this site's own backend before you ask players to register.
Community Tips
Pokelike questions players are already asking
These notes summarize public Reddit discussions so new players can find practical answers without digging through scattered comment threads.
How do you beat Sinnoh Palkia?
Community answer: Palkia punishes slow teams, so the plan is to snowball before it appears. Players point to Dragon tier bonuses, clearing Empoleon and Heatran early, then reaching Dialga and Palkia with enough damage to one-shot or two-shot them.
Source: Reddit Palkia thread
How do you beat Arceus in Sinnoh?
Community answer: common replies mention Flying tier 3, Poison plus Flying tier 2, and a bit of luck. One detailed route uses Bug tier 2 early, then Charmander into Charizard. Rocky Helmet is also called out because Arceus attacks twice.
Source: Reddit Arceus thread
How do you find Shiny Dratini?
Community answer: there is no confirmed trick yet. Players say it mostly comes down to repeated attempts, with reports of shiny Dragonite near the end of Sinnoh Battle Tower and shiny encounters from question-mark events in Normal Mode.
Source: Reddit Shiny Dratini thread
Hardstuck in Unova Fire?
Community answer: this route is still being solved. Replies treat the second and third badges as real walls, and one player mentions shiny Gastly as a possible carry before losing later. This is a good question for collecting more run screenshots.
Source: Reddit Unova Fire thread
How do you clear Hoenn Battle Tower?
Community answer: one shared clear plan uses a strong Arcanine and Alakazam, aiming for Fire and Psychic bonuses with heavy attack investment. Other replies point toward teams built specifically to kill Dragon threats.
Source: Reddit Hoenn thread
Best Johto Battle Tower starter?
Community answer: the thread is sparse, but Charmander is the direct recommendation players give. This answer needs more proof, so winning Johto screenshots would be valuable future content.
Source: Reddit Johto starter threadAchievement Guide
Pokelike achievements and long-term goals
Pokelike already tracks achievements in the browser, including Gym clears, champion wins, Battle Tower stages, Pokédex completion, shiny hunting, and max-stat challenges.
Normal Mode achievements
Boulder BasherClear Map 1 and defeat Brock.
Cascade CrusherClear Map 2 and defeat Misty.
Thunder TamerClear Map 3 and defeat Lt. Surge.
Rainbow RangerClear Map 4 and defeat Erika.
Soul CrusherClear Map 5 and defeat Koga.
Mind BreakerClear Map 6 and defeat Sabrina.
Volcano VictorClear Map 7 and defeat Blaine.
Earth ShakerClear Map 8 and defeat Giovanni.
Pokemon MasterDefeat all Elite Four members and the Champion.
Champion LeagueBeat the game 10 times total.
Immortal ChampionBeat the game 100 times total.
Grass ChampionChoose Bulbasaur and beat the game.
Fire ChampionChoose Charmander and beat the game.
Water ChampionChoose Squirtle and beat the game.
One is EnoughBeat the game with only one Pokemon on your team.
True MasterEnable Nuzlocke Mode, then beat the game.
Bird KeeperBeat the game with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres on your team.
No Rest for the WickedBeat the game without stopping at a Pokemon Center.
MinimalistBeat the game without picking up a single item.
Type SupremacyBeat the game with at least four team members sharing the same type.
Shiny SquadBeat the game with every Pokemon on your team shiny, minimum three.
On a RollBeat the game twice in a row without losing between wins.
Hat TrickBeat the game three times in a row without losing between wins.
Battle Tower achievements
Kanto ChampionDefeat Ash Ketchum and clear Stage 1 of Battle Tower.
Johto ChampionDefeat Lance and clear Stage 2 of Battle Tower.
Hoenn ChampionDefeat Steven Stone and clear Stage 3 of Battle Tower.
Sinnoh ChampionDefeat Cynthia and clear Stage 4 of Battle Tower.
Unova ChampionDefeat N and clear Stage 5 of Battle Tower.
Oak's ChallengeWin Stage 1 starting with Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle.
Elm's ChallengeWin Stage 2 starting with Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile.
Birch's ChallengeWin Stage 3 starting with Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip.
Rowan's ChallengeWin Stage 4 starting with Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup.
Juniper's ChallengeWin Stage 5 starting with Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott.
Collection and shiny achievements
Gotta Catch 'Em AllCatch all Gen 1 Pokemon across any number of runs.
Shiny HunterCatch a shiny version of every Gen 1 Pokemon.
Ultimate Shiny HunterCatch a shiny version of every Pokemon across all gens.
Johto CompletionistCatch all Gen 2 Pokemon across any number of runs.
Hoenn CompletionistCatch all Gen 3 Pokemon across any number of runs.
Sinnoh CompletionistCatch all Gen 4 Pokemon across any number of runs.
Unova CompletionistCatch all Gen 5 Pokemon across any number of runs.
First PeakMax out one stat on a single Pokemon.
Double PeakMax out two stats on a single Pokemon.
Triple PeakMax out three stats on a single Pokemon.
Quad PeakMax out four stats on a single Pokemon.
Perfect SpecimenMax out all five stats on a single Pokemon.
Shiny SparkCatch 100 different shiny Pokemon.
Shiny FlashCatch 200 different shiny Pokemon.
Shiny BlazeCatch 300 different shiny Pokemon.
Shiny StormCatch 400 different shiny Pokemon.
Shiny LegendCatch 500 different shiny Pokemon.
Shiny ImmortalCatch 600 different shiny Pokemon.
Share Your Run
Turn winning teams into shareable run cards
Stuck on Game
Stuck on a Pokelike boss?
Stuck on a boss, looking for a shiny, or unsure which starter to pick? Ask here, compare clears, and vote useful answers upward.
The browser talks only to this site's Worker API. D1, R2, and moderation tokens stay server-side.
FAQ
Pokelike FAQ
Is Pokelike free to play?
Yes. Pokelike runs in the browser with no download required.
Does Pokelike work on mobile?
The game has responsive mobile layouts for starter selection, map panels, catch screens, item screens, and battle views.
Why can the first run feel slow?
The game fetches Pokémon data and sprites from external APIs on first load. Browser caching usually makes later runs faster.
How do I unlock Battle Tower?
Battle Tower unlocks after a completed champion run is saved in the Hall of Fame.
Is this an official Pokémon game?
No. Pokelike is a fan-made browser game inspired by Pokémon-style team building and roguelike route choices.