Uncovering the Story Paths in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

As an avid Pokemon fan who lives and breathes these games, I could not wait to dive into the brand new open-world adventure that Scarlet and Violet had to offer. One aspect that made me particularly excited was the ability to tackle objectives like gyms, villains and titans in any order I desired.

After spending over 150 hours completing multiple playthroughs, I‘ve mapped out what I believe to be the optimal routes through each of these three story paths. Join me as I break down my journeys through Victory Road, Starfall Street and the Path of Legends – from the early game all the way to the epic endgame clashes!

Analyzing Victory Road Gym Leaders

Victory Road allows you to challenge Paldea‘s gyms in any order, but their leaders and puzzle mechanics pose different levels of difficulty. Here is my breakdown of their battling strengths and weaknesses:

Katy (Bug) – Low Initial Difficulty

I recommend starters challenge Katy first, as her Bug types like Tarountula and Bombirdier have noticeable weaknesses to Fire, Flying and Rock moves in the early game. Her puzzle focuses on planting seeds and making plants bloom – very straight-forward.

Brasius (Grass) – Watch for His SpA

Brassius can surprise novice trainers with high special attack moves like Giga Drain. But otherwise his green thumb team succumbs easily to Fire, Bug, Ice and Poison damage. Manipulating irrigation pipes takes some thinking to solve his gym mission.

Iono (Electric) – Her Speed Is Dangerous

I struggled against Iono‘s quick electric rodents, who can outpace your slower tanks using Discharge and Electro Ball. Her teleport maze requires backtracking know-how to traverse successfully.

Kofu (Water) – Creative Stadium Challenge

Kofu‘s water bottling Plant obstacle provides a creative change of pace from typical gyms. And his rain-focused squad is heavily susceptible to Grass and Electric skills – just watch out for his Crash Gyarados!

Larry (Normal) – Deceptively Tricky

Do not underestimate Larry and his diverse Normal move pool – Body Press, Retaliate and Sucker Punch made battles very close for me. Delivering packages teaches you the lay of his town.

Ryme (Ghost) – Her Curses Drain HP

Ryme‘s haunted house is atmospheric but maze-like in its design. Her Ghosts can cripple you with curses – I leaned on Dark Pulses from my Umbregon to counter. Stick together to avoid ambushes!

Tulip (Psychic) – Watch for Confusion Status

Tulip‘s Psychics like Orthworm can leave your team hitting themselves via confusion – so come prepared with Yellow Herbs and Mental Herbs. Her dreamscape gym plays tricks on your mind.

Grusha (Ice) – Studied Tactics Required

Leave Grusha‘s icy challenge for last. Her tanky Frosmoth and powerful Cetoddle demand smart countering – I finally won by leading Fire and Fighting attacks. Memorize her book sorting gameplan.

Once you gather all 8 badges, you can take on Victory Road‘s Elite Four and Paldea‘s deadly Champion!

My Optimal Victory Road Progression

Based on the gym analysis above, here is the order I would recommend for beginners wanting to progressively ramp up the challenge factor:

1. Cortondo Gym – Katy (Levels 12-14)
2. Artazon Gym – Brassius (Levels 16-18)
3. Grind in South Province Forest and Riverbank (Levels 21-28)
4. Levincia Gym – Iono (Levels 26-29)
5. Cascarrafa Gym – Kofu (Levels 31-34)
6. Train against Delibirds in Cascarrafa Mountains (Levels 37-41)
7. Medali Gym – Larry (Levels 39-42)
8. West Paldea Plains – Farm Tauros/Duduns (Levels 44-49)
9. Alfornada Gym – Tulip (Levels 46-50)
10. North Province Sea – Fish for Wugtrios (Levels 52-57)
11. Glaseado Gym – Grusha (Levels 58-62)
12. Final Victory Road Grind – Circhester Ruins (Levels 63-70)
13. Elite Four and Champion (Recommended Level 65+)

This route spaces out the trickier matchups while providing solid windows for organic training against wild species. Ultimately grind your main Battle Team into their 60s before the final five Victory Road challenges!

Battling Strategies for Each Starfall Street Crew

Team Star has set up camps across Paldea for you to systematically take down. Here are the specialized strategies I used against each crew leader:

Giacomo (Dark) – Boost Your Fighting Attacks

Giacomo‘s sneaky dark fox Pokemon hit hard but have below average stamina. I set up Power-Up Punch boosts with a Lucario, then mowed his team down with Close Combats before they could out-damage me.

Mela (Fire) – Water and Ground Moves

Mela‘s fiery Arcanines can be menacing with extreme speed and biting moves, but collectively weak to aquatic attacks. My Quaxly‘s Liquidations and Hippowdon‘s Earthquakes made short work of her canine squad.

Atticus (Poison) – Psychic Skills Crush Him

Atticus relies almost exclusively on poisoning your Pokemon then stalling out the battle. My powerful Espathra psychic beams bypassed his toxic stalling completely and cleared out his creatures with ease.

Ortega (Fairy) – Lead Steel and Poison Strikes

Ortega focuses heavily on Tinkatons, whose Dazzling Gleams can overwhelm you quickly. I led with my trusty Umbregon‘s Iron Head flinches plus some backline Toxitricity sludge waves to negate her pixies.

Eri (Fighting) – Flying and Psychic Counters

Eri packs huge punching power between Pokelions and Annihlargs – so soak their Close Combats with sturdy fliers like Wiglett. Then clean up using mind moves like my Garlance‘s Psyshock and Espathra‘s Psychic.

Finally, unite all your strategies into one master gameplan to counter the villainous Cassiopeia herself!

My Recommended Starfall Street Progression

When taking on Team Star, I preferred picking off their crews one-by-one to gradually improve my own team. Here was my preferred order:

1. Ruchbah Hideout – Giacomo (Levels 22-25)
2. Grind Fighting moves against local Stuffuls (Levels 28-32)
3. Schedar Hideout – Mela (Levels 30-34)
4. Train against Salandits in Azuridge Mines (Levels 36-40)
5. Bandit Jacqeline on Naranja Bridge (Levels 38-42)
6. Segin Hideout – Ortega (Levels 44-48)
7. Practice against Comfey and Bounsweets (Levels 49-53)
8. Montenevera Hideout – Eri (Levels 52-56)
9. Final Cassiopeia Prep – Circhester Ruins (Levels 58-63)
10. Team Star Boss – Cassiopeia (Recommended Level 65+)

This ordered approach spaces out the trickier matchups, giving you time to specifically counter-train against any weaknesses in your roster. Ultimately challenge the mysterious Cassiopeia once your levels hit the low 60s across your main Battle Team!

Comparing the Titan Showdowns

The colossal Titans of Paldea‘s past offer unique matchups separated from your gym collecting journey. Here is how I rank their difficulty after besting them all:

Klawf (Rock) – Introduction to Titans

Klawf makes for a perfect entry-level Titan, packing strong but predictable Rock Type moves from its angular stone body. I took it down around level 16 – Grass, Water and Fighting moves crush this first colossus.

Bombirdier (Flying/Fire) – Watch for Burns!

Bombirdier‘s explosive attacks from its active volcano home inflict dangerous burn statuses. But I otherwise found this Titan straight-forward using Electric and Rock strikes – felled it around Level 21 with some dedicated training.

Orthworm (Steel/Bug) – Pack your Fighters!

Orthworm‘s metallic exoskeleton makes Bug moves hit even harder – its Megahorn tossed around my entire squad! Lean heavily on Fire, Fighting and Ground skills to crack through. I barely won at Level 37 after serious prep.

Great Tusk (Ground/Dark) – Quick Footwork Necessary

Great Tusk‘s Earthquakes and Crunches forced me to constantly reposition my footing in our duel. Prioritize Flying, Bug and Fighting creatures who can artfully dodge its brutal steps and horns. Finally conquered this beast around Level 51.

Dondozo (Dragon/Electric) – My Toughest Titan Fight

Dondozo‘s sheer power and shocking thunder moves forced countless re-challenges from me even into my 60s, making it the definitive Titan peak. You absolutely need solid Ice, Dragon, Fairy and Rock options to reliably counter and finally triumph. My winning run occurred at Level 72 after catching the mighty Dragonite!

After toppling the Titans, one final Legendary battle remains on the Path of Legends – the mysterious Arven…

My Path of Legends Journey

Here is the progression I would recommend when battling these epic Titans as an intermediate player:

1. Stony Cliff – Klawf (Levels 15-18)
2. Grind against local Digletts and Geodudes (Levels 19-24)
3. Open Sky Titan – Bombirdier (Levels 22-25)
4. Train against Flying Tems like Pidoves (Levels 28-33)
5. Lurking Steel Titan – Orthworm (Levels 35-40)
6. Practice at Soaprock Isle against Magnemites (Levels 42-48)
7. Quaking Earth Titan – Great Tusk (Levels 50-55)
8. Final Legend Prep – North Province Sea (Levels 60-70)
9. False Dragon Titan – Dondozo (Recommended Level 65+)
10. Mysterious Arven (Recommended Level 70+)

This route allows you to steadily gain power between the major Titan battles, while specifically targeting weaknesses you noticed from previous losses. Ultimately challenge dondozo and Arven once your Battle Team sits in the late 60s, ready to channel all your skills!

Putting It All Together: My Complete Recommended Playthrough

While each story path stands independently, I found the most rewarding way was to intermix milestones across all three journeys. Here is my recommended comprehensive path:

1. Cortondo & Artazon Gyms (Levels 12-16)
2. Klawf Titan Battle (Level 16)
3. Bombirdier Titan Clash (Level 22)
4. Ruchbah Team Star Base (Level 24)
5. Levincia & Cascarrafa Gyms (Levels 26-31)
6. Schedar Team Star Lair (Level 30)
7. Orthworm Titan War (Level 37)
8. Medali, Alfornada & Montenevera Gyms (Levels 38-45)
9. Great Tusk Titan Skirmish (Level 51)
10. Segin & Caph Team Star Crews (Levels 44-56)
11. Glaseado Gym & Dondozo Titan (Levels 58-65)
12. Postgame Training for Arven & League (Levels 65-75 )
13. Mysterious Arven Battle (Recommended Level 70)
14. Elite Four & Champion (Recommended Level 75)

This interwoven route spaces out key battles across all stories, providing a fresh but steady challenge as your journey progresses. It builds organically too – early game gyms prepare you for Titans, who themselves get you ready for the villainous Team Star threats. Master all these threats, and you will be fully prepared to conquer the Elite Four and mysterious Arven by the epic endgame!

I hope these paths give you a clearer picture of how to approach Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s open-ended adventure. Mix and match the objectives that most appeal to your playstyle – just make sure to keep your Battle Team appropriately leveled as the challenges grow fiercer! This will lead to a well-paced, rewarding trek across Paldea culminating in some extremely memorable endgame showdowns. Let me know if you have any other gym battle or Titan fighting questions as you embark on your journey to become Champion!