Game Mode

Pokémon Sardonyx: Raised to Win has three game modes that change aspects of the game. These modes are selected at the beginning of the game and cannot be changed later.

Mode Selection

Modes are selected after choosing New Game, and appear before Professor Spruce's introductory sequence. The player has the option to skip mode selection, though the game will explain that this sets game modes to the default setting of none activated and will ask for confirmation. The modes are presented as a yes/no choice as to whether the player wishes to activate them; the default selection is to leave the mode disabled. After working through the choice options, the game will give an overview of what modes have been selected and ask for confirmation.

Game modes cannot be changed by the player after this point. EVO can be asked about game modes in its Enabled Modes option, and it will list any modes that have been turned on. It is recommended to not play on Hard Mode or the Randomizer on a first playthrough.

Implemented Game Modes

Hard Mode

• Not a Nuzlocke mode.
• Deathmatches cannot be cancelled in the Pokémon selection menu; if a Circuit Trainer spots the player, the battle is forced.
• Zoltan forces the player into a Deathmatch in Rubina City. The player can fight him twice, first with a level 16 Sneasel and then with Volos as normal. Only the Sneasel is required.
• The levels of several important battles are slightly increased.
• Rhodie replaces his Starly with a Fletchling. If he has a Mienfoo, it has Iron Fist.
• Noro introduces himself to you in the lab after you get your starter and has a male Nidoran by default.
• Kaden has an Altaran Magikarp instead of Kantonian, and his Pichu evolves before he appears in Amaris City.
• Healing at a Pokémon Center costs 100 Poké per living Pokémon.
  • This fee is waived if the player blacks out, or if the player has to wake up the nurse in Citrivale City's Pokémon Center.
• Pokémon are not healed in the PC.
• When fighting Gym Leaders, the player is restricted to only using as many Pokémon as the Gym Leader has.
• The player is locked to Set battle style.
• Items cannot be used in trainer battles.

PG Mode

• Recommended for youtubers and streamers.
• Removes most words widely considered swear words.
  • Some milder words, such as "hell" or "crap", may be left in.
• Removes most social commentary, and makes the rest more subtle.
• Omits some, but not many, overt references to blood, sex, and violence that aren't story- or quest-relevant.
  • Most of these are not removed, in fact, only a few.

Randomizer

• Randomizes all wild, trainer, and Lone Egg Pokémon.
  • Leaves a few alone.
  • Movesets are changed to match the new Pokémon at the current level, except in the case of a forced loss, where the moveset is kept to minimize the risk of a softlock.
  • Static overworlds that the player must interact with in order to fight are not randomized even though the battle is.
  • Several Pokémon are blacklisted for various reasons, and cannot appear at all.
  • Pokémon are randomized on battle start; routes do not have consistent encounter lists and reloading in front of an overworld will change the battle.
  • Mystery Gifts are unaffected.