The Merits of Sleep

Actually, aside from with the dream that I had the other day, I seemingly have not been getting a good amount of sleep. And yet, it's something so essential for any person. Come to think of it, it's also an essential part of Pokémon too, at least in the main series games or those that have interactions like them. Though I do not know the mechanics inside and out, I can at least highlight some of the important points.

Sleep can be induced through attacks or abilities, and this becomes a useful aversion for the combatants that induce it. It offers a moment or an opportunity to restrategize or launch a greater assault. However, sleep can also be self-induced through the move Rest, although in this state it only lasts for two turns. The interesting thing is that done this way, it "overrides" other status conditions and essentially eliminates them. Any way that it is caused, it becomes a slight advantage for either side.

Sleep also opens up new avenues for attacks. A sleeping Pokémon may become inflicted with a Nightmare or become hit with Dream Eater, losing HP in the process (and having it "stolen" by the opponent in the latter). On the other hand, a sleeping Pokémon may also peruse the moves Snore or Sleep Talk when available, inflicting damage directly or through a different move. Sleep presents a certain vulnerability that may be exploited or covered up on both sides of the battle.

Sleep can be used to keep wild Pokémon at bay for capture, though this is a temporary solution that may not work as well as other status conditions due to the Pokémon waking up from sleep intermittently. But in a pinch, it seems like a workable solution. Outside of battle, sleep is remanent, like any other status condition, and has to be healed accordingly; only in battle is sleep non-persistent. This may seem like basic knowledge, but every so often one has to be reminded about these.

Like any other game mechanic (and in particular status conditions), sleep is a vital part of any Pokémon battle, even if rarely executed or encountered. It means Trainers have to understand it even at a basic level to know how to deal with it and possibly leverage it. It's just something that has to be done.

And now, this Trainer has to get some sleep of his own. 💤💤

One year ago: Elite Four: "Courses" vs. "Selections"