What kind of game is PokeBonk?
PokeBonk is a 3D survivor game (think Vampire Survivors or Megabonk) set in a Pokémon-style world. Your partner attacks automatically. Your job is to move, dodge, collect experience and choose upgrades. A run ends when your partner faints or you clear the final challenge, and the Stardust you earned carries over to make the next run stronger.
It runs in the browser at pokebonk.com on desktop and mobile. There is nothing to download and nothing to buy.
Controls
On desktop you can play with keyboard and mouse or a controller. The default keyboard layout:
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | W A S D |
| Camera | Mouse |
| Jump | Space |
| Slide | Shift |
| Interact | E |
| Ultimate | R |
| Aim | Q |
| Pause | P or Esc |
Every key can be rebound in Settings. On phones and tablets the game shows touch controls instead.
Tip: slide is your best escape tool. Slide through gaps in a swarm instead of running around it.
How a run works
- Pick a mode. Classic takes you through regions with zone guardians and a shrine at the end. Survival is endless, with stronger bosses on a timer.
- Pick a partner. New accounts start with one of the three starters. See which starter to pick.
- Fight and collect. Defeated Pokémon drop experience. Each level-up offers a set of cards: a new move, an upgrade to a move you have, or a vitamin (a stat boost).
- Beat the guardians. Each zone has a guardian boss. Clearing them pushes the run forward.
- Spend Stardust. After the run, Stardust goes into permanent Lab upgrades.
What to pick on level-up
Early on, the order that works for most players is:
- Get your damage online first. Take a second attacking move in the first few levels so you can clear waves before they surround you.
- Then level what you have. Upgrading a move you already use is usually stronger than adding a fourth or fifth weak move.
- Take defense before the first guardian. One armor, shield or healing pick makes the first boss far more forgiving.
- Vitamins fill the gaps. Grab them when the move cards on offer do not help your build.
From Season 2 onward you can also combine two max-level moves into a move fusion at Bill’s Machine, so leveling a pair of moves to max is a strong long-term plan.
How to spend your first Stardust
Lab upgrades are permanent, so your first Stardust decides how fast later runs go. A good beginner order:
- Cheap stat upgrades such as Training (damage) and Stamina (health). They help every run.
- Fourth move slot (1,275 Stardust in Season 2), so your build has room to grow.
- Revive (4,250 Stardust in Season 2) once you start reaching late bosses, so one mistake does not end the run.
Prices can change between patches, so check the in-game Lab before saving up. To plan several upgrades at once, use our Lab calculator.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Standing still. Your partner attacks on its own. Keep moving to pull enemies into a line.
- Taking every new move. Too many low-level moves spread your damage thin.
- Ignoring the League. Clearing League challenges unlocks new partners. See the unlocks guide.
- Forgetting your password. There is no password recovery, so save it somewhere safe. More in the FAQ.
Next steps
Once you can clear your first region, read up on unlocking the legendaries and keep an eye on the patch notes: the game updates almost every day, and balance changes can make yesterday’s best build worse.