Tall grass

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Tall grass is a mechanic in the Pokémon main series and the habitat for many species of wild Pokémon. By entering patches of tall grass, a wild Pokémon may appear and begin to battle the player.

Ethan and Cyndaquil explore the tall grass on Route 29

Tall grass is found on most routes of the Pokémon world, with some routes containing more tall grass patches than others. If the player enters a patch of tall grass, they may randomly enter a wild Pokémon battle. People are warned to stay out of tall grass if they don't have a Pokémon due to the possibility of being attacked by wild Pokémon.

In Generation I and Generation II, using Cut causes a map tile composed of four walkable tiles of tall grass to be cut down directly in front of the player. In Generation III, this instead erases a 3x3 area around the player. In Generation II, long grass, such as that in the National Park, would be cut down gradually, while in Generation III it is instantaneous. From Generation IV onwards, Cut has no effect on tall grass.

Differences between games

File:Rby grass.png
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File:Gsc grass k.png
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File:Gsc grass j.png
RSE
File:Rse grass.png
FRLG
File:Frlg grass.png
File:Dp grass.png
File:Pt grass.png
File:Hgss grass.png
File:Bw Grass Sp.png File:Bw Grass Su.png File:Bw Grass Au.png File:Bw Grass Wi.png


Technical mechanics

Determining the rate of encounter

The rate of Pokémon encounter is determined from a simple mathematical formula:

1 in (187.5 / ( x )) per step

Let x equal the a value which determines how rare the Pokémon is. The higher the encounter rate, the more common the Pokémon is.

Encounter-rate table
Encounter Type Encounter Rate
Very Common 10
Common 8.5
Semi-Rare 6.75
Rare 3.33
Very Rare 1.25

Poké Radar

Main article: Poké Radar
File:PokéRadarShinyFormula.png
The formula for the probability of finding a Shiny Pokémon. Nc is the number of Pokémon in the chain, up to 40.

The Poké Radar is a device introduced in Generation IV that is used to seek out wild Pokémon hiding in long grass. If the Pokémon that is found is knocked out or captured in a Poké Ball, a chain will begin. These chains consist of multiple members of the same Pokémon species encountered one after another. The only catch is this: a player must not encounter any Pokémon just by walking through non-wiggling grass, only by walking into the grass that shakes. Therefore, it is recommended that Repel is used in order to ensure this and achieve a higher chain. Entering the same type of grassy patch the chain was started in that is the farthest away increases the chances of meeting the same kind of Pokémon consecutively. Long chains increase the chance of finding a Shiny Pokémon, which is indicated by the patch of grass glowing white twice rather than shaking. In Generation IV, long grass does not shake when the Poké Radar is used.

Alternative areas

Long grass

 
Long grass on Route 119

Some areas in the Pokémon world have larger patches of grass than usual. These patches of grass have grown longer and more widespread than the usual grass patches, hiding many different species of Pokémon. Because of the length and thickness of the grass, it is impossible to ride a bicycle or run through the patches in Generation III, but one can run through them in Generation IV. Some Trainers hide in the long grass patches, concealing themselves from view and surprising the player to a battle. Long grass was introduced in Generation II, where it was found in Johto's National Park. In Generation III, it is found on Route 119 and Route 120, in Generation IV on Route 210, and in Generation V on Route 7.

In Generation V, long grass can be normal or dark, and behaves just like standard grass: the normal one can rustle, while in the dark one double wild encounters may occur.

File:Gsc tall grass.png
RSE
File:Rse tall grass.png
File:Dppt tall grass.png
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File:Bw tall grass sp.png File:Bw tall grass su.png File:Bw tall grass au.png File:Bw tall grass wi.png
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File:Bw dark tall grass sp.png File:Bw dark tall grass su.png File:Bw dark tall grass au.png File:Bw dark tall grass wi.png


Seaweed

 
Patch of seaweed

Seaweed, found only in Generation III, is located underwater in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, as an underwater equivalent to tall grass on land. Seaweed can be found while using Dive on dark patches of water on Route 124 and Route 126. The chance of encountering Pokémon in seaweed is lower than that of tall grass.

RSE
File:Rse seaweed.png


Dark grass

This kind of grass was introduced in Generation V. In dark grass, not only are Pokémon usually at much higher levels than those in the regular grass, but there is a chance of encountering two wild Pokémon at a time, who will be engaged in a Double Battle. Pokémon encountered in dark grass are often similar to those found in the normal grass of the route, but not identical. Often Pokémon which are rare in normal grass are more common in dark grass. Patches of dark grass are always separate from patches of normal grass. Dark grass does not rustle. There is also dark tall grass, which behaves like both types of grass simultaneously.

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File:Bw dark tall grass sp.png File:Bw dark tall grass su.png File:Bw dark tall grass au.png File:Bw dark tall grass wi.png


Rustling grass

Main article: Phenomenon

Rustling grass is found in Generation V, in virtually any area with patches of tall grass. Occasionally a patch of grass can be seen shaking. Entering such a patch triggers a battle with a wild Pokémon. The Pokémon found in rustling grass differ from route to route, but all areas contain Audino. In most areas, it is possible to encounter in rustling grass the evolved forms of Pokémon found in regular grass. Regular tall grass has a chance to start rustling for every step the player takes. Rustling grass will stop shaking if the player enters a battle, or if they leave the area (even if that specific grass patch remains on the screen). Dark grass does not rustle.

       


In battle

In Generation III, tall grass gives Secret Power a 30% chance of poisoning its target and gives it the appearance of Needle Arm; it causes Nature Power to become Stun Spore. Long grass gives Secret Power a 30% chance of putting its target to sleep and gives it the appearance of Magical Leaf; it causes Nature Power to become Stun Spore. Seaweed gives Secret Power a 30% chance of lowering its target's Defense and gives it the appearance of Waterfall; it causes Nature Power to become Hydro Pump.

In Generation IV and V, tall grass gives Secret Power a 30% chance of putting its target to sleep and gives it the appearance of Needle Arm; it causes Nature Power to become Seed Bomb.

Camouflage makes the user Grass-type when used in grass, and Water-type when used in seaweed.


Special tiles in the Pokémon games
Cave tileHoleIce tileLedgeMarsh tilePuddleSand tileSnow tile
Spin tileSoft soilTall grassTrapWarp tileWater tile
Dungeon tile


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.