Mass outbreak
Pokémon outbreaks (Japanese: 大量発生 mass outbreak), also known as swarms and—in Generation IV—Mass Outbreaks, are a feature introduced in Generation II that allows the player to catch Pokémon that are usually rare or otherwise unobtainable.
Generation II
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Levels for swarming Pokémon |
Pokémon outbreaks originated in Generation II. In that generation, if the player registered a certain Trainer in the Pokégear, that Trainer would occasionally call to tell the player that he saw or heard about a large number of Pokémon in a certain area; for the next 30 minutes after such a call (in real time, not play time), the swarming Pokémon would appear in the given area with much greater frequency than the usual 1%.
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
# | Pokémon | Location | Levels | Notifier | Game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
128 | Tauros | Route 38 | 13 | Lass Dana (Route 38) | G | S | C | ||||
183 | Marill | Mt. Mortar | 15 | Hiker Parry (Route 45) | G | S | C | ||||
193 | Yanma | Route 35 | 12-14 | Bug Catcher Arnie (Route 35) | G | S | C | ||||
206 | Dunsparce | Dark Cave | 2-4 | Hiker Anthony (Route 33) | G | S | C | ||||
209 | Snubbull | Route 38 | 13 | Schoolboy Chad (Route 38) | G | S | C | ||||
211 | Qwilfish | Route 32* | 10, 20, 30 | Fisher Ralph (Route 32) | G | S | C | ||||
223 | Remoraid | Route 44* | 10, 20 | Fisher Wilton (Route 44) | G | S | C |
Generation III
In Generation III this method allows the player to catch Pokémon that cannot be caught normally and make rare Pokémon temporarily more common. This was possible due to the record mixing feature of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The outbreaks are advised by televisions in houses, where the Pokémon and its location is told.
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
# | Pokémon | Location | Levels | Game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
270 | Lotad | Route 114* | 13 | R | S | E | ||||
273 | Seedot | Route 117* | 13, 16 | R | S | E | ||||
274 | Nuzleaf | Route 114 | 15 | R | S | E | ||||
283 | Surskit | Routes 102, 114 or 117* | 15 | R | S | E | ||||
300 | Skitty | Route 116 | 15 | R | S | E |
Generation IV
Pokémon outbreaks were largely expanded in Generation IV. Once the player attains the National Pokédex, every day in a particular location, a "swarm of Pokémon" appears, which changes the probability of finding the given Pokémon from 0% to 40%. Outbreaks last only one day and are random events. Information about Pokémon outbreaks can be found in Sandgem Town by talking to Lucas/Dawn's sister or by watching the Sinnoh television DPPt, or by listening to Professor Oak's Pokémon Talk HGSS.
When players all join the same group, they will all experience the same outbreak on any given day.
The species of an outbreaks seems to be determined using a formula, because it is not chosen randomly when the player starts the game that day. It is also possible that the species is determined the day before, though there is no additional evidence to support this. If the DS clock is changed or a different DS is used, then the game will detect this and will not change the species swarming until 12:00 AM.
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
By also using the Poké Radar and dual-slot mode in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, players can get all Pokémon excluding Tangela, Tropius, the starter Pokémon, and legendary Pokémon of previous generations, while Tangela, Tropius and two Legendary Trios can be regularly acquired in Pokémon Platinum.
Many of the Pokémon obtained through Pokémon outbreaks are outside of the Sinnoh Pokédex, and are usually exclusive to other regions. However, the player can obtain information about the current outbreak by talking to, depending on their own gender, Dawn's or Lucas's sister in Sandgem Town, or seeing the news report on a TV.
Due to higher catching rates for Pokémon that appear during outbreaks, they make longer and better chains when using Poké Radar.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
The feature also appears in HeartGold and SoulSilver, where all the wild Pokémon available include all those that were available in Generation II, Ditto, Chansey, and Pokémon from Hoenn and Sinnoh. Information on swarms can now be found by listening to Professor Oak's Pokémon Talk on the Pokégear radio.
# | Pokémon | Location | Levels | Game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
113 | Chansey | Route 13 | 23 | HG | SS | |||||
132 | Ditto | Route 47 | 34 | HG | SS | |||||
183 | Marill | Mt. Mortar | 15 | HG | SS | |||||
193 | Yanma | Route 35 | 12 | HG | SS | |||||
206 | Dunsparce | Dark Cave | 2-3 | HG | SS | |||||
209 | Snubbull | Route 38 | 16 | HG | SS | |||||
211 | Qwilfish | Route 32 | 40 | HG | SS | |||||
223 | Remoraid | Route 44 | 20 | HG | SS | |||||
261 | Poochyena | Route 1 | 2 | HG | SS | |||||
278 | Wingull | Vermilion City* | 35 | HG | SS | |||||
280 | Ralts | Route 34 | 10-11 | HG | SS | |||||
302 | Sableye | Route 9 | 13-15 | HG | SS | |||||
303 | Mawile | Route 9 | 13-15 | HG | SS | |||||
316 | Gulpin | Route 3 | 5 | HG | SS | |||||
333 | Swablu | Route 45 | 23 | HG | SS | |||||
340 | Whiscash | Violet City | 40 | HG | SS | |||||
343 | Baltoy | Route 3 | 5 | HG | SS | |||||
366 | Clamperl | Route 19 | 35 | HG | SS | |||||
369 | Relicanth | Route 12* | 40 | HG | SS | |||||
370 | Luvdisc | Route 27* | 20 | HG | SS | |||||
401 | Kricketot | Viridian Forest | 3 | HG | SS | |||||
427 | Buneary | Route 25 | 8-10 | HG | SS |
Generation V
The gates in Unova have a monitor inside that will alert the player where an outbreak is taking place.
Unlike previous games, the Pokémon outbreaks can be manipulated by soft resetting the game: turning the console off without saving the game beforehand, but only if the player has not saved their game at all that day. When the game is restarted, there will be a different Pokémon swarming.
Black and White
During winter, the monitor may occasionally not report on outbreaks, which is due to parts of Route 8, where Croagunk can be found, becoming frozen during Winter and not allowing the Pokémon to be caught there. All have the level range of 15-55.
# | Pokémon | Location | Levels | Game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
046 | Paras | Route 11 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
056 | Mankey | Route 15 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
083 | Farfetch'd | Route 1 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
084 | Doduo | Route 12 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
102 | Exeggcute | Route 18 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
161 | Sentret | Route 7 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
193 | Yanma | Route 14 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
204 | Pineco | Route 16 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
228 | Houndour | Route 9 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
235 | Smeargle | Route 5 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
236 | Tyrogue | Route 10 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
261 | Poochyena | Route 9 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
285 | Shroomish | Route 11 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
311 | Plusle | Route 6 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
312 | Minun | Route 6 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
313 | Volbeat | Route 3 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
314 | Illumise | Route 3 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
353 | Shuppet | Route 13 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
360 | Wynaut | Route 2 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
449 | Hippopotas | Route 4 | 15-55 | B | W | |||||
453 | Croagunk | Route 8 | 15-55 | B | W |
Black 2 and White 2
All have the level range of 40-55.
# | Pokémon | Location | Levels | Game | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
022 | Fearow | Route 15 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
079 | Slowpoke | Abundant Shrine | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
083 | Farfetch'd | Route 1 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
084 | Doduo | Route 12 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
097 | Hypno | Dreamyard | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
122 | Mr. Mime | Route 20 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
162 | Furret | Route 7 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
166 | Ledian | Route 22 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
168 | Ariados | Route 22 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
177 | Natu | Route 5 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
185 | Sudowoodo | Route 20 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
187 | Hoppip | Route 18 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
195 | Quagsire | Route 8 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
204 | Pineco | Route 16 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
277 | Swellow | Route 13 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
284 | Masquerain | Route 11 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
311 | Plusle | Route 6 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
312 | Minun | Route 6 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
313 | Volbeat | Route 3 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
314 | Illumise | Route 3 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
317 | Swalot | Route 9 | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
332 | Cacturne | Reversal Mountain | 40-55 | B2 | W2 | |||||
450 | Hippowdon | Desert Resort | 40-55 | B2 | W2 |
See also
This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |