Horde Encounter

A Horde Encounter (Japanese: 群れバトル Herd Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle in the Generation VI games, which involves one of the player's Pokémon facing five opponents at once.

A horde of wild Axew

A horde of Trainers' Poochyena

In Pokémon X and Y, Horde Encounters are restricted to wild Pokémon, but in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, special scripted events allow five Trainers to engage the player in a Horde Battle.

Mechanics

In wild Horde Encounters, all Pokémon are usually of the same species, but in some cases, one of them may instead be a counterpart or a similar Pokémon to the majority. The Pokémon in hordes are at approximately half the level of other Pokémon in the area and may be a lower evolutionary stage of a Pokémon that normally inhabits 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.

Not all locations have wild hordes, but where they exist, hordes may be randomly encountered at approximately a 5% rate in tall grass or flowers (but not in long grass in Pokémon X and Y) or in caves. Horde Encounters can also be purposefully initiated by using Honey or Sweet Scent; however, in Pokémon X and Y, Honey and Sweet Scent will not cause a wild encounter if the overworld weather is not clear. As in all wild battles, a Trainer cannot throw a Poké Ball unless there is only one wild Pokémon remaining. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, while Horde Encounters can be forced at any time with Honey or Sweet Scent, they only otherwise appear in long grass.

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 three opponents and two allies. Moves that target multiple Pokémon simultaneously (like Rock Slide and Surf) are able to strike all five Pokémon at once.

Mixed hordes

A mixed-species horde of Tauros and Miltank

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

Pokémon X and Y

• A Plusle horde on Route 5 will always include one Minun in Pokémon X, and vice versa in Pokémon Y.
• A Zangoose horde on Route 8 will always include one Seviper in Pokémon X, and vice versa in Pokémon Y.
• A Nidoran♂ horde on Route 11 will always include one Nidoran♀.
• A Roggenrola horde in Reflection Cave may include one Carbink.
• A Tauros horde on Route 12 will always include one Miltank.
• A Durant horde on Route 18 may include one Heatmor.
• A Trevenant horde on Route 20 may include one Sudowoodo.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

• A Makuhita horde in Granite Cave may include one Geodude.
• A Minun horde on Route 110 may include one Plusle in Pokémon Omega Ruby, and vice versa in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.
• An Oddish horde on Route 117 will always include one Zigzagoon.
• A Lotad^AS horde on Route 114 will always include one Swablu.

Mixed hordes with enemy species

If a mixed horde consists of Zangoose and Seviper or Heatmor and Durant, the different species will direct attacks at each other (likely due to the species being natural enemies) instead of at the player's Pokémon if possible. The exception to this is moves such as Leer that cannot target allies. Once all the Pokémon of one species have fainted, the horde will begin attacking the player's Pokémon.

In contrast to Triple Battles, Pokémon attacking each other in a horde have no range limit; a Pokémon in a far-left position can attack a Pokémon in a far-right position.

List of Horde Encounters

Pokémon X and Y

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Connecting Cave
Zubat	X			Y			Horde Encounter	8	35%
Whismur	X			Y			Horde Encounter	7	60%
Axew	X			Y			Horde Encounter	8	5%
Reflection Cave
Mime Jr.	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	60%
Roggenrola	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	35%
Roggenrola	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	5% with Carbink
Carbink	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	5% with Roggenrola
Azure Bay
Slowpoke	X			Y			Horde Encounter	13	35%
Exeggcute	X			Y			Horde Encounter	14	5%
Wingull	X			Y			Horde Encounter	13	60%
Frost Cavern
Smoochum	X			Y			Horde Encounter	21	5%
Vanillite	X			Y			Horde Encounter	20	60%
Cubchoo	X			Y			Horde Encounter	20	35%
Terminus Cave
Geodude	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	35%
Larvitar	X			Y			Horde Encounter	24	5%
Aron	X			Y			Horde Encounter	24	5%
Durant	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	60%
Pokémon Village
Poliwag	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	35%
Lombre	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	5%
Foongus	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	60%
Victory Road
Geodude	X			Y			Horde Encounter	28	60%
Graveler	X			Y			Horde Encounter	29	35%*
Lickitung	X			Y			Horde Encounter	30	5%
Floatzel	X			Y			Horde Encounter	29	35%*
Route 5
Plusle	X			Y			Grass/Purple Flowers	6	5% with Minun
Minun	X			Y			Grass/Purple Flowers	6	5% with Plusle
Gulpin	X			Y			Grass/Purple Flowers	5	60%
Scraggy	X			Y			Grass/Purple Flowers	5	35%
Route 7
Psyduck	X			Y			Horde Encounter	7	35%
Hoppip	X			Y			Horde Encounter	7	60%
Roselia	X			Y			Horde Encounter	8	5%
Route 8
Taillow	X			Y			Horde Encounter	7	5%
Wingull	X			Y			Horde Encounter	7	60%
Zangoose	X			Y			Horde Encounter	8	35% with Seviper
Seviper	X			Y			Horde Encounter	8	35% with Zangoose
Route 10
Yanma	X			Y			Horde Encounter	10	35%
Houndour	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	5%
Nosepass	X			Y			Horde Encounter	10	60%
Electrike	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	5%
Route 11
Nidoran♀	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	60% with Nidoran♂
Nidoran♂	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	60% with Nidoran♀
Starly	X			Y			Horde Encounter	12	5%
Stunky	X			Y			Horde Encounter	11	35%
Route 12
Tauros	X			Y			Horde Encounter	14	5% with Miltank
Mareep	X			Y			Horde Encounter	13	35%
Miltank	X			Y			Horde Encounter	14	5% with Tauros
Wingull	X			Y			Horde Encounter	13	60%
Route 14
Ekans	X			Y			Horde Encounter	17	5%
Bellsprout	X			Y			Horde Encounter	16	60%
Skorupi	X			Y			Horde Encounter	16	35%
Route 15 & 16
Murkrow	X			Y			Horde Encounter	18	60%
Foongus	X			Y			Horde Encounter	18	35%
Klefki	X			Y			Horde Encounter	19	5%
Route 18
Geodude	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	60%
Heatmor	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	5% with Durant
Durant	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	35%
Durant	X			Y			Horde Encounter	23	5% with Heatmor
Route 19
Arbok	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	5%
Weepinbell	X			Y			Horde Encounter	24	60%
Gligar	X			Y			Horde Encounter	24	35%
Route 20
Sudowoodo	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	5% with Trevenant
Foongus	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	60%
Trevenant	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	35%
Trevenant	X			Y			Horde Encounter	25	5% with Sudowoodo
Route 21
Scyther	X			Y			Horde Encounter	27	5%
Spinda	X			Y			Horde Encounter	26	60%
Swablu	X			Y			Horde Encounter	26	35%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Petalburg Woods
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	3	35%
Wurmple	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	3	60%
Shroomish	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	3	5%
Rusturf Tunnel
Whismur	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	5	100%
Granite Cave 1F
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	60%
Geodude	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	35% with Makuhita
Makuhita	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	35% with Geodude
Makuhita	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	5%
Granite Cave B1F
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	60%
Aron	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	40%
Granite Cave B2F
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	60%
Sableye	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	5%
Mawile	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	5%
Aron	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	35%
New Mauville
Magnemite	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	35%
Voltorb	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	65%
Fiery Path
Grimer	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	35%
Koffing	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	35%
Slugma	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	5%
Numel	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	60%
Jagged Pass
Machop	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	10	65%
Spoink	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	10	35%
Meteor Falls 1F 1R
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	100%
Meteor Falls 1F 2R & B1F 1R
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	100%
Meteor Falls B1F 2R
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	95%
Bagon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	5%
Scorched Slab
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	14	100%
Safari Zone
Oddish	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	35%
Psyduck	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	5%
Doduo	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	60%
Mt. Pyre interior
Shuppet	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	100%
Mt. Pyre exterior & summit
Vulpix	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	5%
Meditite	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	35%
Shuppet	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	60%
Shoal Cave at high tide
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	40%
Spheal	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	60%
Shoal Cave at low tide
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	60%
Spheal	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	40%
Shoal Cave ice room
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	60%
Snorunt	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	5%
Spheal	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	17	35%
Seafloor Cavern
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	18	100%
Cave of Origin
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	18	100%
Sky Pillar
Golbat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	23	60%
Ariados	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	23	35%
Swablu	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	23	5%
Victory Road
Zubat	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	60%
Loudred	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	5%
Aron	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	20	35%
Route 101
Poochyena	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	5%
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	95%
Route 102
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	60%
Lotad	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	35%
Seedot	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	35%
Ralts	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	5%
Route 103
Poochyena	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	35%
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	60%
Wingull	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	5%
Route 104 (south)
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	95%
Wingull	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	5%
Route 104 (north)
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	2	95%
Taillow	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	3	5%
Route 110
Magnemite	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	60%
Plusle	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	35%
Plusle	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	5% with Minun
Minun	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	35%
Minun	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	6	5% with Plusle
Route 111
Sandshrew	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	11	100%
Route 112
Machop	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	35%
Numel	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	8	65%
Route 113
Skarmory	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	5%
Spinda	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	95%
Route 114
Lotad	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	35% with Swablu
Seedot	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	35%
Swablu	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	35% with Lotad
Swablu	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	9	65%
Route 115
Swablu	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	10	100%
Route 116
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	4	60%
Nincada	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	4	35%
Skitty	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	4	5%
Route 117
Oddish	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	7	60% with Zigzagoon
Marill	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	7	5%
Zigzagoon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	7	60% with Oddish
Roselia	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	7	35%
Route 118
Wingull	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	35%
Electrike	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	60%
Kecleon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	5%
Route 119
Oddish	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	12	100%
Route 120
Oddish	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	13	60%
Marill	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	13	35%
Kecleon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	13	5%
Route 121 & Route 123
Wingull	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	35%
Kecleon	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	5%
Shuppet	OR			AS			Horde Encounter	15	60%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Trainer battles

Being engaged in a Horde Battle with Team Magma Grunts

Trainer	Pokémon
Team Magma Hideout
Team Magma Grunts OR Reward: $720 Horde Trainer Battle	Poochyena♂ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♂ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♂ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♂ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♂ Lv.18 No item
Team Aqua Hideout
Team Aqua Grunts AS Reward: $720 Horde Trainer Battle	Poochyena♀ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♀ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♀ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♀ Lv.18 No item
	Poochyena♀ Lv.18 No item
Mossdeep Space Center
Team Magma Grunts OR Reward: $1,000 Horde Trainer Battle	Mightyena♂ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♂ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♂ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♂ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♂ Lv.25 No item
Team Aqua Grunts AS Reward: $1,000 Horde Trainer Battle	Mightyena♀ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♀ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♀ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♀ Lv.25 No item
	Mightyena♀ Lv.25 No item
Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.

Trivia

• In Pokémon X and Y, if the player selects a move that targets an adjacent ally, the user's spot is not highlighted, while the spots of the two opponents in the places where the Pokémon allies would be in a Triple Battle are highlighted as if either of them could be targeted (even if those Pokémon have fainted), despite the user being forced to target itself.
• In Pokémon X and Y, if the player selects Acupressure or a move that targets the user and all allies, the user's spot and the spots of the two opponents in the places where the Pokémon allies would be in a Triple Battle are highlighted (but not joined) as if any of them could be targeted (even if those Pokémon have fainted), despite the user being forced to target itself.

In other languages

Language Title French Rencontres de Horde German Massenbegegnungen Italian Gruppi di Pokémon Korean 무리배틀 Muri Battle Portuguese Encontro de Horda Spanish Encuentros de horda

Related articles

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