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Start a solo Survival run
From the game menu choose Survival, labeled Endless mode underneath. Pick a partner already in your League, choose an available region and start the run. Viridian Forest is a useful first attempt if you already recognize the terrain from Classic. Choose Survival when you want to see how long a build can hold on one map as the horde evolves. Choose Classic when you want a route with portals, successive zones and a finish.
Try the mode first with a familiar partner so you can pay attention to the horde and the milestone indicator. In our opening on Viridian Forest, the indicator showed Milestone 1 · Guardian and counted down to Golduck. If you are still choosing a partner, the starter comparison explains their starting moves and defensive options.
Use the opening five minutes to prepare
Pick an open stretch where you can circle the horde without running into a dead end. Let your attacks make space, then pass through the experience drops once you have room to turn. If an upgrade makes a route safer, use the next lap to see whether you can keep that space.
- Open a loopFind a clear lane and room to turn before the crowd closes.
- Read the timerWatch the guardian milestone as you collect upgrades.
- Choose after the fightCompare the pact’s immediate benefit and lasting cost.
Example: with Squirtle in Viridian Forest, make a broad circuit with Water Gun and cross the experience trail on your next pass. If the horde closes the path, widen the circuit and leave those drops for later. As the milestone approaches, prioritize a lane you can use while watching the guardian’s attacks.
Read the milestone schedule
| Scheduled run time | Encounter and next action |
|---|---|
| 5:00 and 10:00 | Guardian. Keep an open lane for the fight, then check the pact offer. |
| 15:00 | Mew. Check your health and make space before the fight starts. |
| 30:00 | Moltres. Follow the milestone indicator if an earlier fight ended late. |
| 45:00 | Mewtwo. Finish the current encounter before relying on the next timer. |
Other five-minute slots through this stretch are guardian milestones. These are schedule markers for this edition. Active encounters or a delayed spawn can shift when the next fight begins. Use the in-game milestone display for the current run, especially if a fight has run long.
Judge the pact by the problem it solves
When you defeat a milestone boss, an offered pact lists what you gain now and what stays with you for the rest of the run. If no offer fits your build, use Decline and keep playing.
Worked decision: Glass Pact adds critical chance and critical damage while reducing maximum HP by 20%. If your first guardian left you struggling to survive single hits, that trade makes your immediate problem worse. Declining preserves your health pool. Consider taking it on a run where you have room to dodge and your damage relies on critical hits. The set of offered pacts can vary.
Move the fight when Siege appears
Survival can trigger a siege if you stay in a small area for too long. The warning tells you that wild Pokémon resist your hits. Move outside the indicated circle and continue fighting from new ground. Tight circles inside the warning area can keep you inside the same siege. Watch for the feedback that you broke it before resuming your usual loop.
Use the result to plan your next run
When the run ends, compare the survival time and progress with your own records. For the next attempt, change one decision you can remember, such as declining Glass Pact or moving to open ground before the guardian. That gives you a specific choice to evaluate when you return to the same map.
This edition uses local records. If you need a break, use the safe checkpoint steps between encounters. Wait for confirmation before closing the tab. During a boss or a choice screen, the game can refuse a checkpoint.