Mystery Gift

Mystery Gift (Japanese: 不思議なおくりもの Mystery Gift) is a system available in the core series games since Generation II that allows players to receive exclusive items and Pokémon.

Model of the Mystery Gift box from Sword and Shield

Differences between generations

Generation II

In Generation II, the Mystery Gift system is used in conjunction with the infrared port on top of the Game Boy Color to communicate with other Mystery Gift-enabled games in order to provide other players with room decorations or items. It can also be used with Pokémon Stadium 2 from Carrie and Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS. Mystery Gift can be used a maximum of five times a day, receiving no more than one gift from each player. Mystery Gift will fail if not used between two cartridges of the same language.

In the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases, Mystery Gift uses the Nintendo 3DS's infrared port. The Virtual Console versions can only perform Mystery Gift with other Virtual Console versions—they cannot connect to the Game Boy Color versions, Pokémon Stadium 2, or Pokémon Pikachu 2.

To activate the Mystery Gift system in the Generation II games, the player must talk to the girl in green on the fifth floor of the Goldenrod Department Store and save the game. In the original releases, Mystery Gift can only be unlocked while playing the game on a Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance system; in the Virtual Console releases, Mystery Gift can be unlocked as normal, because the game is being emulated as if it were being played on a Game Boy Color. After being unlocked, the option to use Mystery Gift becomes available from the main menu. While Mystery Gift can be activated on a Game Boy Advance system or Game Boy Player, it cannot be used on them due to the lack of an infrared port.

When Mystery Gift is used to connect to another Generation II core series game, each of the connected games will receive a random item, and the opponent in the Trainer House will be replaced by that other player. When it is used to connect to Pokémon Stadium 2, the handheld game will receive an item. When connecting to Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, the Pokémon Pikachu 2 player decides on a number of Watts to transfer from the device, and the item received will depend on the amount of transferred Watts.

Decorations obtained via Mystery Gift are automatically sent to the player's PC. Items obtained via Mystery Gift can be collected at any Pokémon Center, from an NPC behind the leftmost counter on the second floor. In Pokémon Stadium 2, items waiting to be picked up can be transferred to the trainer's pack, trainer's item box, or the N64 Metal Case at the Pokémon Lab.

In core series games

When one player sends a Mystery Gift to another player, the sender's game chooses a possible item and decoration separately. The sender's game also sends a bit (0 or 1) to tell the recipient whether they're supposed to receive a decoration; if so and they already have that decoration, they will get the item that the sender chose instead.[1]

Choosing a specific item or decoration gift to send occurs in two stages. First, the game selects a set from which the gift will come. Then, it uses a part of the sending player's Trainer ID number to determine which gift from that set to send. (Below, bit 0 refers to the least significant bit of the Trainer ID and bit 15 refers to the most significant bit. Given the Trainer ID 32768, which translates to 1000000000000000 in binary, bit 15 is 1 and bit 0 is 0.)

To select the set that the gift will come from, the game picks up to three random numbers (ranging from 0-255), as described in the table below.

Random number Range Gift set Overall rate (approx.)
1st 26-255 Common 90%
0-25 N/A (pick a 2nd number)
2nd 51-255 Uncommon 8%
0-50 N/A (pick a 3rd number)
3rd 51-255 Rare 1.6%
0-50 Very rare 0.4%

Once a set is selected, the game will select a specific gift. For common and uncommon gifts, the game picks a random number from 0-7 or 0-3 and combines that with a specific bit from the sender's Trainer ID to determine which gift to send. For rare and very rare gifts, the gift is determined solely by a bit or bits from the sender's Trainer ID. The bits used differ slightly for items and decorations.

Common
1/8 If bit 7 is 0 Berry 1/8 If bit 15 is 0 Jigglypuff Doll
If bit 7 is 1 PRZCureBerry If bit 15 is 1 Poliwag Doll
1/8 If bit 0 is 0 Mint Berry 1/8 If bit 8 is 0 Diglett Doll
If bit 0 is 1 Ice Berry If bit 8 is 1 Staryu Doll
1/8 If bit 1 is 0 Burnt Berry 1/8 If bit 9 is 0 Magikarp Doll
If bit 1 is 1 PSNCureBerry If bit 9 is 1 Oddish Doll
1/8 If bit 2 is 0 Guard Spec. 1/8 If bit 10 is 0 Gengar Doll
If bit 2 is 1 X Defend If bit 10 is 1 Shellder Doll
1/8 If bit 3 is 0 X Attack 1/8 If bit 11 is 0 Grimer Doll
If bit 3 is 1 Bitter Berry If bit 11 is 1 Voltorb Doll
1/8 If bit 4 is 0 Dire Hit 1/8 If bit 12 is 0 Clefairy Poster
If bit 4 is 1 X Special If bit 12 is 1 Jigglypuff Poster
1/8 If bit 5 is 0 X Accuracy 1/8 If bit 13 is 0 Super NES
If bit 5 is 1 Eon Mail If bit 13 is 1 Weedle Doll
1/8 If bit 6 is 0 Morph Mail 1/8 If bit 14 is 0 Geodude Doll
If bit 6 is 1 Music Mail If bit 14 is 1 Machop Doll
Uncommon
1/4 If bit 15 is 0 MiracleBerry 1/4 If bit 7 is 0 Magnaplant
If bit 15 is 1 Gold Berry If bit 7 is 1 Tropicplant
1/4 If bit 8 is 0 Revive 1/4 If bit 0 is 0 NES
If bit 8 is 1 Great Ball If bit 0 is 1 Nintendo64
1/4 If bit 9 is 0 Super Repel 1/4 If bit 1 is 0 Bulbasaur Doll
If bit 9 is 1 Max Repel If bit 1 is 1 Squirtle Doll
1/4 If bit 10 is 0 Elixer 1/4 If bit 2 is 0 Pink Bed
If bit 10 is 1 Ether If bit 2 is 1 Polkadot Bed
Rare
If bit 12-14 = 0 Water Stone If bit 4-6 = 0 Red Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 1 Fire Stone If bit 4-6 = 1 Blue Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 2 Leaf Stone If bit 4-6 = 2 Yellow Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 3 Thunderstone If bit 4-6 = 3 Green Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 4 Max Ether If bit 4-6 = 4 Jumboplant
If bit 12-14 = 5 Max Elixer If bit 4-6 = 5 Virtual Boy
If bit 12-14 = 6 Max Revive If bit 4-6 = 6 Big Onix
If bit 12-14 = 7 Scope Lens If bit 4-6 = 7 Pikachu Poster
Very rare
If bit 15 is 0 HP Up If bit 7 is 0 Big Lapras
If bit 15 is 1 PP Up If bit 7 is 1 Surf Pikachu Doll

In Pokémon Stadium 2

When a player receives a Mystery Gift, the game chooses two possible gifts: first an item, then a decoration. If the player doesn't already have the decoration, they receive that; otherwise, they get the item.

Choosing a specific item or decoration gift to send occurs in two stages. First, the game selects a set from which the gift will come. Then, it uses a part of the receiver player's Trainer ID number to determine which gift from that set to send. (Below, bit 0 refers to the least significant bit of the Trainer ID and bit 15 refers to the most significant bit. Given the Trainer ID 32768, which translates to 1000000000000000 in binary, bit 15 is 1 and bit 0 is 0.)

To select the set that the gift will come from, the game picks up to three random numbers (ranging from 0-255), as described in the tables below. Due to the way the game generates random numbers, not all combinations of random values are possible. In the tables below, "theoretical" indicates the rates if the random numbers are truly random, while "practical" indicates the actual outcomes that are possible from the output of the random number generator.

Item gift set
Random number Range Gift set Overall rate (approx.)
Theoretical Practical
1st 25-255 Common 90.2% 90.2% (231/256)
0-24 N/A (pick a 2nd number)
2nd 50-255 Uncommon 7.9% 8.2% (21/256)
0-49 N/A (pick a 3rd number)
3rd 50-255 Rare 1.5% 1.2% (3/256)
0-49 Very rare 0.4% 0.4% (1/256)
Decoration gift set
Random number Range Gift set Overall rate (approx.)
Theoretical Practical
1st 36-255 Common 85.9% 87.1% (223/256)
0-35 N/A (pick a 2nd number)
2nd 72-255 Uncommon 10.1% 9.8% (25/256)
0-71 N/A (pick a 3rd number)
3rd 72-255 Rare 2.8% 2.7% (7/256)
0-71 Very rare 1.1% 0.4% (1/256)
Gift selection

Once a gift set is selected, the game will select a specific gift. For common and uncommon gifts, the game picks a random number from 0-7 or 0-3 and combines that with a specific bit from the receiver's Trainer ID to determine which gift to send. (Once again, the cyclic random numbers will constrain the practical outcomes, but this mainly affects uncommon items, with NES/Nintendo64 being slightly more common and Bulbasaur Doll/Squirtle Doll being slightly less common for decorations, while Revive/Great Ball and Super Repel/Max Repel are slightly more common than the others for items. The table below portrays ideal outcomes.) For rare and very rare gifts, the gift is determined solely by a bit or bits from the receiver's Trainer ID. The bits used differ slightly for items and decorations.

Common
1/8 If bit 0 is 0 Berry 1/8 If bit 8 is 0 Jigglypuff Doll
If bit 0 is 1 PRZCureBerry If bit 8 is 1 Poliwag Doll
1/8 If bit 1 is 0 Mint Berry 1/8 If bit 9 is 0 Diglett Doll
If bit 1 is 1 Ice Berry If bit 9 is 1 Staryu Doll
1/8 If bit 2 is 0 Burnt Berry 1/8 If bit 10 is 0 Magikarp Doll
If bit 2 is 1 PSNCureBerry If bit 10 is 1 Oddish Doll
1/8 If bit 3 is 0 Guard Spec. 1/8 If bit 11 is 0 Gengar Doll
If bit 3 is 1 X Defend If bit 11 is 1 Shellder Doll
1/8 If bit 4 is 0 X Attack 1/8 If bit 12 is 0 Grimer Doll
If bit 4 is 1 Bitter Berry If bit 12 is 1 Voltorb Doll
1/8 If bit 5 is 0 Dire Hit 1/8 If bit 13 is 0 Clefairy Poster
If bit 5 is 1 X Special If bit 13 is 1 Jigglypuff Poster
1/8 If bit 6 is 0 X Accuracy 1/8 If bit 14 is 0 Super NES
If bit 6 is 1 Eon Mail If bit 14 is 1 Weedle Doll
1/8 If bit 7 is 0 Morph Mail 1/8 If bit 15 is 0 Geodude Doll
If bit 7 is 1 Music Mail If bit 15 is 1 Machop Doll
Uncommon
1/4 If bit 8 is 0 MiracleBerry 1/4 If bit 0 is 0 Magnaplant
If bit 8 is 1 Gold Berry If bit 0 is 1 Tropicplant
1/4 If bit 9 is 0 Revive 1/4 If bit 1 is 0 NES
If bit 9 is 1 Great Ball If bit 1 is 1 Nintendo64
1/4 If bit 10 is 0 Super Repel 1/4 If bit 2 is 0 Bulbasaur Doll
If bit 10 is 1 Max Repel If bit 2 is 1 Squirtle Doll
1/4 If bit 11 is 0 Elixer 1/4 If bit 3 is 0 Pink Bed
If bit 11 is 1 Ether If bit 3 is 1 Polkadot Bed
Rare
If bit 12-14 = 0 Water Stone If bit 4-6 = 0 Red Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 1 Fire Stone If bit 4-6 = 1 Blue Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 2 Leaf Stone If bit 4-6 = 2 Yellow Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 3 Thunderstone If bit 4-6 = 3 Green Carpet
If bit 12-14 = 4 Max Ether If bit 4-6 = 4 Jumboplant
If bit 12-14 = 5 Max Elixer If bit 4-6 = 5 Virtual Boy
If bit 12-14 = 6 Max Revive If bit 4-6 = 6 Big Onix
If bit 12-14 = 7 Scope Lens If bit 4-6 = 7 Pikachu Poster
Very rare
If bit 15 is 0 HP Up If bit 7 is 0 Big Lapras
If bit 15 is 1 PP Up If bit 7 is 1 Surf Pikachu Doll
Pseudorandom number generator limitations

Due to the way the pseudorandom number generator in Pokémon Stadium 2 works, the random numbers used for Mystery Gift selection fall into a cycle of 256 values (none repeating).[2] This essentially means that numbers after the first are not random: they cannot have their full range of possible values. Since decorations are checked immediately after items, decorations are also dependent on the value that was used when starting the item check. As a consequence, some items or decorations above may have rates slightly higher than their ideal rates (if all numbers were truly random); this most strongly affects uncommon items and decorations. It also affects two decorations that should be obtainable but are not.

The very rare gift set for decorations actually contains Big Lapras Doll, Surf Pikachu Doll, Tentacool Doll, and Pikachu Bed, but the last two are unobtainable. Upon reaching the very rare gift set for decorations, the game actually picks a fourth random number between 0 and 255 and performs the following logic. [3]

Random number Range Gift set Overall rate (approx.)
Theoretical Practical
4th 154-255 Big Lapras or Surf Pikachu Doll 0.47% 0.4% (1/256)
77-153 Tentacool Doll 0.35%
0-76 Tentacool Doll if Round 2 hasn't been unlocked 0.35%
Pikachu Bed if Round 2 has been unlocked

Because of the constraints of the random number generator, the sequence of numbers needed to arrive at the Tentacool Doll or Pikachu Bed outcomes (from the start of the Mystery Gift routine) will never occur. The only sequence which reaches the very rare decoration outcome is 14, 21, 112, 15, 34, 25 (14, 21, 112 produces a rare item outcome, which is followed by 15, 34, 25 which produces a very rare decoration), which is followed by 164 (Big Lapras Doll or Surf Pikachu Doll).

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In Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS

The following is a list of items obtainable in Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS and their cost in Watts.

Item Watts
Eon Mail 1
Berry 100
Bitter Berry 200
Great Ball 300
Max Repel 400
Ether 500
MiracleBerry 600
Gold Berry 700
Elixer 800
Revive 900
Rare Candy 999

Generation III

Mystery Gift

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Needs info on Wonder Cards and Wonder News. Explain "Wireless Communication" and "from a friend". What exactly are Wonder Spots and are they related to the Joy Spots? What is Mystery Event for, especially in Japanese Emerald where Mystery Gift is also available?

In Generation III, Mystery Gift is only available on Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald by using a Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter or (for Japanese games only) an e-Reader. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, a similar system called Mystery Event is instead available. In the Japanese version of Pokémon Emerald, both Mystery Gift and Mystery Event are available.

The primary use of the Mystery Gift system in this generation is to receive special items at Nintendo events. Altering Cave was also intended to utilize the feature to change the wild Pokémon available there. It is language-dependent, meaning the player can only receive Mystery Gifts that are intended for games of their language.

To activate the Mystery Gift system, the player must fill in the questionnaire found at any Poké Mart by entering the phrase below using the easy chat system (based on the language of the game) and save the game. The clerk behind the counter will then inform the player that the Mystery Gift system has been activated, and it will be accessible from the main menu from that point on.

Mystery Gifts can be received at any Pokémon Center, from an NPC on the second floor next to Teala.

Language Top left Top right Lower left Lower right
Japanese ともだち いっぱい ふしぎ つうしん
English LINK TOGETHER WITH ALL
French CONNEXION AVEC LES DRESSEUR
German LINK MIT ALLE ZUSAMMEN
Spanish CONEXIÓN CON TODOS (blank)
Italian INSIEME IN LINK !

In the Japanese games, the Mystery Gift system defaults to an e-Reader mode, but it changes to a Wireless Adapter mode if the Wireless Adapter is connected. In the e-Reader Mode, the system is referred to as ふしぎなもらいもの instead of ふしぎなおくりもの (the phrases are mostly synonymous, with the former focusing slightly more on the receiving or receiver and the latter focusing more on the giving or giver).

Mystery Gifts can be received via Wireless Communication or from a friend. In the Japanese versions, the Wireless Communication option is instead called Joy Spot (Japanese: ジョイスポット), the name of a service launched by Nintendo on March 25, 2004 to provide multiplayer gaming and wireless data distribution to players of the Game Boy Advance using the Wireless Adapter,[4][5] with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen being the first title to include support. According to the Japanese Wikipedia, the service ended on July 8, 2005.[6]

Mystery Event

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, there is a similar system called Mystery Event (Japanese: ふしぎなできごと Mystery Event), which requires an e-Reader. Mystery Events can only be unlocked after defeating Norman and receiving the Balance Badge. To access this feature, the player must talk to the NPC near the PC in the Petalburg City Pokémon Center and enter the phrase below using the easy chat system (based on the language of the game). The NPC will then inform the player that the Mystery Events system has been activated. After saving the game, it will then be accessible from the main menu from that point on.

Mystery Event is also available in the Japanese version of Emerald. Activating it in Emerald requires using the same questionnaire as is used for Mystery Gift, found at any Poké Mart, except that the phrase from below must be entered. It is disabled and hidden from the main menu if the Wireless Adapter mode of Mystery Gift is enabled.

Language Top left Top right Lower left Lower right
Japanese ふしぎ できごと わくわく ドキドキ
English MYSTERY EVENT IS EXCITING
French EVENEMENT MYSTERE EST PASSIONNANT
German GEHEIM GESCHEHEN IST JIPP!JIPP!
Spanish EVENTO MISTERIOSO ES DEMASIADO
Italian EVENTO SEGRETO È FANTASTICO

Generation IV

 
Mystery Gift in Generation IV
  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Which core series games can connect to the listed spin-offs?

In Generation IV, in addition to items and Pokémon, the Mystery Gift system can be used to obtain Pokétch apps, Goods, and Pokéwalker Routes. It can also be used to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, and Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, or receive items and Pokémon from Pokémon Battle Revolution. Gifts can be received wirelessly, via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, or from a friend. A specific gift can only be received once. As a result, a player can only get one of each item or Pokémon from events or the said games. Gifts are transferred via Wonder Card, which the player can store up to three of. If the player has three Wonder Cards, they must discard one before they can receive another Mystery Gift.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Mystery Gift system is activated at Jubilife TV. A TV producer on the third floor will activate the Mystery Gift system if the player answers his questions with the correct keywords as shown below (based on the language of the game) and saves the game. If the player receives a Wonder Card via a Nintendo event or another compatible game prior to activating the feature, Mystery Gift will be activated automatically regardless.

Mystery Gifts can be received at any Poké Mart, from an NPC standing by the counter.

Language Answer 1 left Answer 1 right Answer 2 left Answer 2 right
Japanese みんな ハッピー Wi-Fi つうしん
English EVERYONE HAPPY Wi-Fi CONNECTION
French TOUS HEUREUX CONNEXION Wi-Fi
German ALLE GLÜCKLICH Wi-Fi CONNECTION
Spanish CONEXIÓN Wi-Fi TODOS FELICES
Italian CHIUNQUE FELICE Wi-Fi CONNECTION
Korean 모두 두근두근 Wi-Fi 통신

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Mystery Gift system is automatically unlocked after receiving the Pokédex. Due to the addition of an option for connecting to the Pokéwalker in the main menu and its placement as the third entry, the player must scroll down on the touch screen to access the Mystery Gift option.

Generation V

 
Mystery Gift in Generation V

The Mystery Gift system is now always enabled in the main menu of the game, even when a save file is not present.

Like in Generation IV, the player is able to receive gifts wirelessly or from Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Get from a friend feature was replaced by the use of serial codes and infrared to obtain event items.

The maximum amount of Wonder Cards a game can hold is increased to 12 for saved games. Games without a save file can only hold at most three Wonder Cards.

Mystery Gifts can be received at any Pokémon Center, from an NPC standing near the entrance.

Generation VI

The Mystery Gift system works like in Generation V. One notable difference is that all non-Nintendo Zone local events are no longer region-locked. The maximum amount of Wonder Cards a game can hold is now 24. In order to use Mystery Gift, the game must have a save file.

Mystery Gifts can be received at any Pokémon Center, from an NPC by the nurse.

Generation VII

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Mystery Gift works like it did in Generation VI. The maximum amount of Wonder Cards a game can hold can be up to 48. The game must have a save file to use. Items and objects obtained from other software such as Battle Points from Pokémon Bank are moved to being used as Wonder Cards instead of from Pokémon Link. The touch screen on the main menu will tell the player if they have any mystery gifts waiting to be picked up if there are any.

Mystery Gifts can be received at any Pokémon Center, from an NPC by the nurse.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

Mystery Gift can be accessed through the "Communicate" option in the menu. It is available as soon as you receive your Partner Pokémon and deliver Professor Oak's package.

The ability to receive events via local wireless is not available.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

The Mystery Gift system is now its own entry in the menu. It is obtained after encountering ZacianSw/ZamazentaSh in the Slumbering Weald and talking to the player's mother. Battle Stadium rewards can also be received. Sword and Shield are the only games on Nintendo Switch capable of obtaining a mystery gift via Local Wireless

The Wild Area News can be updated from the Mystery Gift menu.


Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

The Mystery Gift appears as an option on the menu. It is unlocked by telling the Jubilife TV director in the Jubilife TV building "EVERYONE HAPPY Wi-Fi CONNECTION". Alternatively, if the player has not already unlocked Mystery Gift when they earn their third Badge (regardless of which Badge that is), it is unlocked automatically.

Mystery Gifts can be obtained by password or by internet.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Mystery Gift is an option in the Communications menu, which becomes accessible once the player achieves their First Star in the Galaxy Team.

Mystery Gifts can be obtained by password or by internet.

Generation IX

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

The Mystery Gift system is found on the Poké Portal menu. It is obtained after stopping at the first Pokémon Center in the Los Platos. Poké Portal News can be updated from the Mystery Gift menu.

Mystery Gifts can be obtained by password or by internet.

Pokémon HOME

The mobile version of Pokémon HOME has its own Mystery Gifts option accessible from the main menu. From the Mystery Gifts menu the player can access local events, enter serial codes, scan QR codes, or receive reward Pokémon for completing certain tasks. These features are all accessible regardless of the player's subscription status.

Shiny Pokémon locking

Usually Pokémon obtained via Mystery Gift are either always Shiny or never Shiny.

If the Shiny lock is enabled, Eggs cannot hatch into Shiny Pokémon on the game they are received in, but if they are hatched in another game they can be. This is because the Shiny check uses the ID of the player who obtained the Egg, not the player who hatches it.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 神秘禮物 Sàhnbei Láihmaht
Mandarin 神秘禮物 / 神秘礼物 Shénmì Lǐwù
  Danish Mystisk gave
  Dutch Verrassingscadeau*
Geheime cadeaus*
  French Cadeau Mystère
  German GeheimgeschenkGen. VIII
GeheimgeschehenGen. II-VII
  Italian Dono Segreto
  Korean 이상한 소포 Mystery Gift
  Polish Tajemny Podarek[7]
  European Portuguese Presentes Mistério
  Russian Таиственный подарок Taistvennyy podarok[8]
  Spanish Regalo misteriosoGen. VIII
Regalo MisteriosoGen. II-VII
  Swedish Hemlig gåva

See also

References



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