In Yarimono, taking on Leo without relying on cheats or shortcuts is a real challenge, but with the right strategy, you can conquer this tough battle. This guide walks you through how to defeat Leo fairly and effectively, giving you a step-by-step plan to prepare for and defeat him.
How to Defeat Leo in Yarimono
Here’s a detailed walkthrough for players who want to achieve victory over Leo without using cheat tactics or ramming through the fight. This strategy requires careful planning and leveling but ensures a satisfying win.
1. Preparations Before the Battle
Before you begin your journey, head to the starting village and purchase 10 Energy Mushrooms. These will be crucial during your fight with Leo, so don’t hesitate to spend the 5000 coins on them. It’s important not to reload the game just to save money—you’ll need these mushrooms later.
Along the way, make sure to interact with any statues you come across. Collecting all 10 statues will allow you to level up your trainer rank and unlock an important achievement.
2. The Starting Path
Start by heading southwest into the grass, where you’ll find a Sunglasses Mushroom. Pick it up and use it to level up. From here, you’ll want to fight all the trainers you encounter, except for Caretaker Girl Kozue (recommended level 28).
While on this path, you may run into a Chochu. If you do, catch it and train it, as this will help you gain valuable experience for future battles.
By the time you reach the big city, your level should be around 12. After the event with Leo, make sure to heal at the Pokémon Center, then head towards the ruins by taking the path just above the starting road.
3. Leveling Up Before the Fight
Once you enter the ruins, exit to the northwest to reach the southern ancient path. This is where you’ll want to catch a Massa. Use experience shards to level up both Massa and Chochu to level 12 before heading into the fight with Leo.
4. The Leo Battle Strategy
Before you engage Leo, save your game. This is a tough fight, and you’ll need to be well-prepared. Start the battle by using Chickup and let it take down Leo’s first two Pokémon. Once Leohowl enters the battle, switch to Massa.
Here’s where things get strategic: rely on the abilities of Massa and Chochu to trigger Curse and Burn on Leohowl. Make sure to use your Energy Mushrooms to keep your team revived, wearing down Leo slowly but steadily.
If you don’t trigger Curse within the first four turns, reload your game. Leo’s Lightsaber has the ability to heal him, so if you delay triggering Curse, you’ll end up wasting your revives. Once you defeat Leo, your trainer level should rise to 13.
5. Post-Battle Progress
After your victory, follow the storyline and head straight to the central city, avoiding unnecessary trainer battles. Don’t forget to collect another Sunglasses Mushroom in the northeastern grass before entering the city.
If the story-related fight results in your team being knocked out, don’t worry—your story will continue normally. Once your Chickup evolves and you regain free movement, focus on collecting the remaining Sunglasses Mushrooms in this order:
- The Burning Hidden Cave (blocked by Elite Trainer Jill on the starting path)
- The Deep Green Hidden Cave (north on the Seaside Road, past the Holy Path, and behind the church)
- The eastern grass in Port Town
- The Hidden Cave in the Inlet
By this point, your level should have increased to 18.
6. Battling NPCs in the Big City
After gathering the Sunglasses Mushrooms, return to the big city and battle these NPCs in the following order:
- Buzzcut Boy Shota – Recommended level: 10
- Central Police Officer Watson – Recommended level: 15
- Craftsman Jinpei – Recommended level: 15
- Gentle Brother Rokuro – Recommended level: 16
- Senior Office Worker Yoshimitsu – Recommended level: 25 (immune to Burn)
- Tomboy Girl Natsumi – Recommended level: 35 (unaffected by status effects)
You’ll also need to challenge the Big City Non-Elemental Gym. Start with:
- Male Student Shingo – Recommended level: 10
- Leona – Recommended level: 25 (can be easily defeated with Chickup’s normal attacks)
7. The Holy Path Battles
Next, head to the Holy Path and face the following trainers:
- Rebel Nun Nene – Recommended level: 21
- Matsuki of the Chitoryu Shrine – Recommended level: 20
- Central Church Nun Ami – Recommended level: 22
8. Seaside Road Battles
Make your way along the Seaside Road and defeat these opponents:
- Battle Idol Haruka – Recommended level: 15 (inside the central teahouse)
- Water Sports Athlete Shizaki – Recommended level: 24
- Male Caretaker Taiga – Recommended level: 24
- Mohawk Musician Gunn – Recommended level: 27
- Big Sister by the Beach Fran – Recommended level: 28
- Big Guy Mampuku – Recommended level: 28
9. Mokuhane Ranch Challenges
Lastly, head over to Mokuhane Ranch, where you’ll face:
- Aridream Breeder Mina – Recommended level: 20 (with a level 25 Black Crow Crow)
- Cowboy Girl Emily – Recommended level: 21 (with a level 33 Goo Goo Chicken Snake, defeated with Curse)
By now, your trainer level should be 37. If you haven’t replaced your Aridream, your Chochu and Massa should be strong enough to carry you through the remainder of the game. At this stage, both of them should be fully evolved.
10. Final Stages
You shouldn’t face too much difficulty with the remaining trainers, but be mindful of Aridreams, like Shelled Snails, that are immune to status effects. Continue battling all the trainers you come across, and by the time you reach Wa Village, your level should be around 50 or higher.
At level 40, visit the church to obtain the Magic Broom. This will make traveling much easier. Once you’ve mastered the strategy of triggering Curse and countering Leo’s healing, the game will become more manageable.
That’s the guide for efficiently defeating Leo and progressing through the rest of the game! Follow these steps, and you’ll breeze through the toughest challenges without cheats.