Ready to dive into the world of shiny hunting and perfect IVs in Pokémon Vanguard? Soft resetting is a quintessential Pokémon mechanic, a speedrunner's secret, and a shiny hunter's best friend. Whether you're aiming for that elusive shiny starter or trying to get the perfect legendary, mastering the art of the soft reset is a game-changer. Let's get started!
Step 1: Prepare for the Hunt – The Crucial First Move!
Before you even think about pressing any buttons, you need to set the stage. This is the most important step and will save you from a lot of frustration. Don't just jump into the game and start mashing!
Locate your target. Are you soft resetting for a shiny starter at the beginning of the game, or a legendary Pokémon waiting to be caught in a specific location? Knowing your target is key.
Turn off Auto-Save. This is a non-negotiable step. If your game auto-saves after an encounter, your chances of soft resetting are gone. Navigate to your game's settings menu and make sure the auto-save feature is disabled.
Create a manual save file. Now that auto-save is off, you need to create a strategic save point. Save your game right before the event or encounter you want to reset. For a starter Pokémon, this means saving right before you choose your first partner. For a legendary, save right in front of it before you interact with it. This is your "reset point."
Get ready for the grind. Soft resetting is a game of patience and luck. The odds of finding a shiny are typically in older games and in newer ones without the Shiny Charm. Be prepared to do this many, many times.
Step 2: The Soft Resetting Process – The Button Combination!
Now for the main event! The soft reset is a keyboard shortcut or button combination that allows you to return to the game's title screen or a saved point without completely closing and reopening the game. This saves a massive amount of time on the loading screens.
For Pokémon fan games like Vanguard, which are often built on platforms like RPG Maker, the soft reset combination is typically a standard keyboard shortcut.
The Classic Soft Reset: The most common soft reset combination for fan games is to press and hold A + B + Start + Select simultaneously. However, this is often for older console games.
The Modern Fan Game Soft Reset: For most modern fan-made Pokémon games on a PC, the standard soft reset key is F12. This is a quick and easy way to reset the game back to the title screen.
Sub-heading: Executing the Soft Reset in Pokémon Vanguard
Let's assume you're at your chosen encounter point. Here's the routine:
Engage the encounter. Walk up to the Pokémon or interact with the object that triggers the event.
Check the result. Is the Pokémon shiny? Does it have the nature or IVs you want?
If it's not what you want: Immediately press and hold F12 on your keyboard. The game will quickly close and return to the main menu.
Reload your save. From the title screen, simply load the save file you created in Step 1. You will be right back at your save point, ready to try again!
Repeat! Rinse and repeat this process as many times as needed until you get your desired result.
Step 3: Rinse and Repeat – Persistence is Key!
Soft resetting is a grind, but it's also a meditative process. You can put on some music, watch a show, or listen to a podcast while you do it.
Track your resets. Many shiny hunters use a simple counter to keep track of their attempts. This can help you stay motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment when you finally succeed.
Take breaks. Don't burn yourself out. If you've been resetting for hours and are getting frustrated, take a break. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Celebrate the win! When you finally get that shiny or that perfect Pokémon, save your game immediately! Do not forget to save after all that hard work.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to soft reset for a shiny starter in Pokémon Vanguard?
Save your game just before you select your starter Pokémon. Then, press F12 to soft reset if it's not shiny, and reload your save to try again.
How to soft reset on a PC for Pokémon fan games?
In most fan games developed for PC, the soft reset key is F12. Pressing it will restart the game instantly.
How to soft reset for a legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Vanguard?
Save your game right in front of the legendary Pokémon, initiate the encounter, check if it's shiny, and if not, soft reset with F12 and reload your save.
How to increase the chances of getting a shiny Pokémon while soft resetting?
The base odds are fixed, but you can potentially increase your chances by obtaining the Shiny Charm in the game if it is available. This item typically halves the shiny odds.
How to know if a Pokémon is shiny in Pokémon Vanguard?
Shiny Pokémon have a different color palette than their normal counterparts and will often have a sparkling animation when they appear in battle.
How to turn off auto-save in Pokémon Vanguard?
Navigate to the game's settings menu (usually accessible from the main menu or a button like 'X' or 'Esc' in-game) and look for a setting to disable or toggle off "Auto-Save."
How to soft reset for Pokémon with a specific nature or IVs?
Follow the same steps as shiny hunting, but instead of checking for a shiny color, check the Pokémon's summary to see its nature and stats (IVs). Use a Pokémon with the Synchronize ability as your lead to influence the nature.
How to save my game progress in Pokémon Vanguard?
You can save your game in the menu by pressing the designated button (typically 'X' or 'Esc' on your keyboard) and selecting the "Save" option.
How to use a save state for soft resetting in an emulator?
If you're playing on an emulator, you can use save states. Save a state right before the encounter, and if you don't get the desired result, load that save state. This is often faster than a soft reset.
How to do a hard reset instead of a soft reset?
A hard reset involves completely closing the game application and then relaunching it. On PC, this would mean closing the game window and re-opening the .exe file. This is less efficient than a soft reset.
