The Chain, link the Pokémon by what they share
Pokémon in a row and, between two neighbours, a link: a type, a region, an ability, a move… Some Pokémon and some links are hidden. Find a Pokémon that fits the two links around it, or the link that joins two Pokémon. Three chains in a row, each longer than the last, and 45 to 90 seconds per gap.
Three chains, nine gaps
A run strings three chains together: Easy (5 Pokémon, 2 gaps), Medium (6 Pokémon, 3 gaps) and Hard (7 Pokémon, 4 gaps), 9 gaps in all. The Pokémon at both ends are always shown and two gaps are never next to each other, so every gap has its two clues in front of you.
Every link is true for both of its neighbours. On Easy and Medium, the links are ones you can see or know: type, home region, category (legendary, mythical, paradox, starter, baby), evolution method (stone, trade, friendship), gender, regional form, Mega. Medium accepts fewer answers per gap. Hard drops the type and adds abilities, moves and egg groups, with narrower links: fewer Pokémon share them.
Pokémon gaps and link gaps
A Pokémon gap is filled by a Pokémon that is true for both of its links: between Poison and Kanto, Zubat fits, and so do Ekans and Tentacool. Any true answer counts, not only the planned one. The same Pokémon can fill two gaps, but a Pokémon already shown in the chain does not count.
A link gap is filled by a link that is true for both of its Pokémon: pick the category first (Type, Ability, Region…), then the value. Vaporeon and Chinchou are both Water types. A link already shown in the chain does not count. The moves on offer are the ones that really tell Pokémon apart (not Protect or Rest, which nearly all of them learn), and it is enough for both Pokémon to have been able to learn it in one game.
The clock and the score
Each gap has 45 seconds on Easy, 60 on Medium and 90 on Hard, and a single guess. A wrong answer or running out of time reveals the planned answer, and the chain goes on. Between two chains, the transition screen does not count: the clock of the next chain starts when it appears.
Your score is the number of gaps found, out of 9. On a tie, the faster player ranks higher: the answer times of the 9 gaps are added up, a gap that ran out of time counting the full clock of its level. Every gap found is worth 1 point toward the cumulative score and 1 coin.
Falinks, the mascot
Falinks is a Fighting-type Pokémon from Galar: six members marching in formation, one leader and five troopers, a real chain. Seven days in a row on The Chain unlock it, and its shiny version can drop after a daily run in which you found at least one gap.
How to play
- Read the chain: every link is true for the two Pokémon it joins.
- Pokémon gap: type the name of a Pokémon that fits both neighbouring links.
- Link gap: pick a category, then the value that joins the two Pokémon.
- 45 to 90 seconds per gap, a single guess.
- Three chains, Easy, Medium and Hard: 9 gaps in all.
The day changes at midnight Paris time for everyone, and every player gets their own chains. Without an account you play as a guest, off the leaderboard, and you keep what you earned (coins, mascots) when you create your account.