Cave tile

File:Chargestone Cave.png

Hilbert exploring Chargestone Cave

Cave tile is a type of tile in the Pokémon main series that is the habitat for many species of wild Pokémon. Upon entering a cave, the player is immediately at risk of encountering a wild Pokémon. It shares many common qualities with tall grass.

Like the name states, cave tiles are found in caves and some dungeons of the Pokémon world. It is always possible to run into a Pokémon while in a cave, whether it is lit or not.

Changes between generations

RSE FRLG

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

Alternative areas

Dust cloud

Main article: Dust cloud

File:Dust cloud.png

A dust cloud in Chargestone Cave

Dust clouds were introduced in Generation V, a phenomenon likely caused by air currents passing through the cave. It occasionally appears in caves in the Unova region, and may reveal held items, evolutionary stones, or wild Drilbur and Excadrill.

Pokémon Black and White

Possible encounters
	Fire Gem		Normal Gem
	Water Gem		Everstone
	Electric Gem		Moon Stone
	Grass Gem		Sun Stone
	Ice Gem		Fire Stone
	Fighting Gem		Water Stone
	Poison Gem	File:Bag Thunderstone Sprite.png	Thunderstone
	Ground Gem		Leaf Stone
	Flying Gem		Shiny Stone
	Psychic Gem		Dusk Stone
	Bug Gem		Dawn Stone
	Rock Gem		Hard Stone
	Ghost Gem		Oval Stone
	Dragon Gem		Drilbur
	Dark Gem		Excadrill
	Steel Gem

Pokémon Black and White 2

Possible encounters
	Green Shard		Blue Shard
	Red Shard		Yellow Shard
	Dark Gem		Ground Gem
	Poison Gem		Steel Gem
	Rock Gem		Dragon Gem
	Electric Gem		Flying Gem
	Fire Gem		Psychic Gem
	Moon Stone		Fire Stone
	Dusk Stone		Everstone
File:Bag Thunderstone Sprite.png	Thunderstone		Sun Stone
	Dawn Stone		Shiny Stone
	Oval Stone		Onix
	Steelix		Drilbur
	Excadrill

In battle

In Generation III, cave terrain gives Secret Power a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch and gives it the appearance of Bite; it causes Nature Power to become Shadow Ball.

In Generation IV onwards, cave terrain gives Secret Power a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch and gives it the appearance of Rock Throw; it causes Nature Power to become Rock Slide.

Camouflage makes the user Rock-type when used in a cave.

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