Horde Encounter

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A Horde Encounter (Japanese: 群れバトル Herd Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle introduced in Pokémon X and Y. Horde Encounters consist of the appearance of a group of five wild Pokémon. Unlike wild Double Battles, Pokémon in a horde are usually of the same species, but may include a single instance of a similar Pokémon or counterpart of a different species.

A horde of Axew
A mixed-species horde of Tauros and Miltank

Pokémon in hordes are at approximately half the level of other Pokémon in the same area and in some routes may be a lower evolutionary stage of Pokémon that normally inhabit the area (such as a horde of Geodude occurring in areas dominated by Graveler). Pokémon encountered in hordes may also have their Hidden Ability. Some Pokémon can only be found in hordes.

Hordes are encountered randomly by running through the tall grass, or they can be forcefully initiated using Honey or Sweet Scent; however, Honey and Sweet Scent cannot be used unless the weather is clear in the overworld. As in all wild battles, a Trainer cannot throw a Poké Ball unless there is only one wild Pokémon remaining.

The player's moves in a Horde Encounter act as if the player was in the center of a Triple Battle, except with all five other locations being treated as opponents instead of allies. A move like Tackle would only be able to hit one opponent, while a move like Rock Slide would be able to hit all five. Unlike in Triple Battles, there is no range limit; a Pokémon in a far-left position can attack the Pokémon in a far-right position.

Mixed hordes

In all cases of mixed hordes, four of one Pokémon species will appear, joined by one of another species.

  • A Tauros horde may include one Miltank, and vice-versa.
  • A Trevenant horde may include one Sudowoodo.
  • A Seviper horde may include one Zangoose, and vice-versa. The Seviper and Zangoose will attack each other before attacking the player's Pokémon.
  • A Nidoran♂ horde may include one Nidoran♀, and vice-versa.
  • A Roggenrola horde may include one Carbink.
  • A Durant horde may include one Heatmor, and vice-versa. The Durant and Heatmor will attack each other before attacking the player's Pokémon.
  • A Plusle horde may include one Minun, and vice-versa.

Mixed hordes with enemy species

If a mixed horde includes Zangoose and Seviper or Heatmor and Durant, the wild Pokémon will ignore the player's Pokémon; instead, each Pokémon will attack the Pokémon of the other species with the exception of status moves. Once all the Pokémon of one species have fainted, the rest of the horde will begin attacking the player's Pokémon.

In other languages

Language Title
  French Rencontres de Horde
  German Massenbegegnungen
  Italian Gruppi di Pokémon
  Korean 무리배틀 Muli Battle
  Spanish Encuentros de horda


Pokémon battle variations
Double BattleMulti BattleTriple BattleRotation BattleHorde EncounterSOS BattleSupport PlayMax Raid BattleFull Battle
Contest BattleLauncher BattleSky BattleInverse BattleBattle RoyalDynamax AdventureAuto BattleTera Raid BattleScripted battle
Battle modes


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