Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon are any Pokémon that are not currently owned by a Pokémon Trainer. They are encountered in most parts of the Pokémon world, most commonly outside of cities and towns, often in tall grass, in caves, or on water. A Trainer may choose to battle a wild Pokémon or run from it. If a Trainer chooses to battle, they may either attempt to catch the Pokémon with a Poké Ball or to defeat it outright.

## Types of Encounters

### Grass Types

#### Tall Grass

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

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.

#### Long Grass

Long grass is a type of tall grass that is taller than usual. These patches of grass have grown longer than the usual grass patches, containing different species of Pokémon. Long grass can be found in every region but Kanto. Some Trainers hide in the long grass patches, concealing themselves from view and surprising the player to a battle. Long Grass raises the relative encounter probability per step by the same amount a Bike would in regular Tall Grass. It is impossible to ride a Bike in long grass.

Long grass can be normal or dark, functioning just like tall grass: phenomena can occur in normal long grass, while Double Battles can occur in dark long grass.

#### Dark Grass

Dark tall grass exclusive to Unova. In dark grass, not only are Pokémon found usually at much higher levels than those in regular grass, but there is a chance of encountering two wild Pokémon at a time, in a Double Battle. Pokémon encountered in dark grass are often similar to those found in normal grass areas of the route, but not identical (in particular, Pokémon encountered in dark grass may be slightly more difficult to catch). Often, Pokémon which are rare in normal grass are more common in dark grass. Pokémon encountered in dark grass may also have a 1% chance of holding a special item.

Patches of dark grass are typically separated from patches of normal grass. Dark grass does not rustle. There is also long dark grass, which behaves like both types of grass simultaneously.

### Water Types

#### Surfing

Surfing is a mechanic that allows movement on water tiles which is the habitat for many species of wild Pokémon. The player may encounter many different wild Pokémon. Water comes in various different settings in the Pokémon world from oceans, to ponds, and have various Trainer classes that correspond with that body of water.

#### Seaweed

Seaweed is located underwater in Hoenn as an underwater equivalent to tall grass on land. Seaweed can be found underwater on Route 124 and Route 126. The chance of encountering Pokémon in seaweed is lower than that of tall grass.

#### Fishing

Fishing is a way to use a fishing rod to catch wild Pokémon in the water. In fact, some Pokémon can only be caught by using a fishing rod.

These fishing rods can be used in almost any body of water. Each fishing rod allows the player to encounter different Pokémon. In the Kanto and Johto regions, each one is given out by a Fishing Brother. The Good Rod normally allows encountering higher level Pokémon than the Old Rod, and the Super Rod normally allows encountering higher level Pokémon than the Good Rod.

The Unova region includes only the Super Rod, which is given out by Looker during the post-game.

### Desert Types

#### Deep Sand

Deep sand is a special type of sand that appears both Hoenn and Unova. By entering patches of deep sand, wild Pokémon may appear and battle the player, making it the desert equivalent of tall grass. In Hoenn, it is found in the desert section of Route 111. In Unova, it is found on Route 4 and in the Desert Resort. It slows down the bicycle to speeds slower than the walking speed.

### Cave Types

#### Cave

A cave is an underground area. Caves tend to have Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon, although Pokémon based on cave-dwelling specimens such as Zubat may also be found.

Caves can be found in every region of the Pokémon world. They serve as roadblocks: travelers cannot reach their destination without passing through. Often, these caves are dark and it is impossible to see even a few feet ahead; this problem can be remedied through use of the move Flash. They are almost always winding and maze-like, making it easy to get lost. Villainous teams such as Team Magma and Team Aqua make their hideouts in isolated caves.

The encounter rate is typically quite high. All caves contain cave tiles, and often water tiles; caves also contain ice tiles, sand tiles, cracked tiles, holes, ledges and puddles. Often, rare Pokémon can be found in caves. Items can also be found within the depths of caves, presumably dropped in the darkness by other travelers. Some caves contain Legendary Pokémon at their deepest point.

#### Rocks

Breakable rocks are a type of obstacle appearing in many regions, commonly found on rugged routes and in caves. To get past them, the player must use the help of a Pokémon to break them. They can be broken using the field move Rock Smash.

In regions other than Sinnoh, it is possible for the player to find something after breaking a breakable rock.

### Item Types

#### Lures

Lures are a type of item that can be purchased from any store or from the giftshop for RP. When used the player has a chance to encounter a unique Pokémon for the location. This occurs for each step taken up to a certain number steps based on the lure used.

### Special Types

Phenomena is a mechanic in the Unova region. Phenomena are a means of encountering wild Pokémon, and in some cases items. There are four types of phenomena: rustling grass, dust clouds, flying Pokémon's shadows, and rippling water. Some Pokémon can only be obtained via this method.

A phenomenon is randomly triggered for all trainers across the PokeMMO world. When one appears any trainer can travel to the location and encounter it. The phenomenon will then disappear after being active for 10 minutes.

Different phenomena are distinguished in-game by audio and visual effects; in most cases, they are named for the visual effect shown on-screen when each phenomenon occurs. The audio of a phenomenon reflects the distance between it and the player: if the player is close, the sound will be louder, and if the player is farther away (such as if the phenomenon is off-screen), the sound will be fainter but will also never stop.

#### Rustling Grass

Rustling grass is a phenomenon that only occurs in tall grass. Rustling grass allows the encounter of a wild Pokémon. Audino can be found in any patch of rustling grass. Various other Pokémon, such as the elemental monkeys in Pinwheel Forest and Lostlorn Forest, or evolved forms of Pokémon found in non-rustling grass. Rustling grass does not occur in dark grass, but it does in long grass.

#### Rippling Water

Rippling water is a phenomenon that only occurs on water tiles. Rippling water allows the encounter of a wild Pokémon when Surfed on or fished in.

#### Dust Cloud

Dust clouds are a phenomenon that only occur in caves. They may reveal held items, Evolution stones, wild Drilbur, or wild Excadrill.

All items may be found in any location, but the Pokémon are only found in certain locations.

#### Shadow

Flying Pokémon's shadows are a phenomenon that can occur in some regions. They may reveal wings or wild Flying-type Pokémon.

### Hordes

In wild Horde Encounters, all Pokémon are of the same species. 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 very rarely in all encounter types except dark grass and special types. Horde Encounters can also be purposefully initiated by using Honey or Sweet Scent. 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 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.