Weather

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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Generation VI details; Gates to Infinity descriptions

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The weather (Japanese: 天気 weather) is a set of mechanics in the Pokémon games that change the battle environment, activating Abilities, modifying certain moves, and potentially damaging the Pokémon in battle or affecting their stats. They have been included in every main series game since Generation II. In battle, weather is either determined by the location of a battle, due to overworld weather, or by a Pokémon creating a new weather condition with a move or Ability. Only one weather condition may be present at a time, and only the most recent weather condition will take effect.

In Generation II, only moves that cause weather were introduced and weather was only present in battles, not in the overworld. Generation III introduced overworld weather and weather-related Abilities, as well as a new weather-causing move. The biggest modification to weather in Generation IV was the introduction of four rocks that, when held, would increase the duration of weather caused by a weather move. Generation V mostly introduced greater overworld weather variability, especially in seasons affecting the weather in certain locations.

Types of weather and effects

• Clear skies: Actually the absence of weather. This is the condition found in most locations.
• Intense sunlight: Strong sunlight shines on the battlefield. This condition has only occurred in the overworld in the Hoenn region, due to Groudon's presence in an area.
  • Extremely harsh sunlight: Extremely harsh sunlight shines down, negating Water-type attacks and causing weather-changing moves and Abilities to fail.
• Rain: Rain falls on the battlefield. Different variations of this weather may appear on the overworld. This is the most common weather pattern that may be found on routes and occasionally in cities.
  • Heavy rain: Heavy rain slants across the battlefield, negating Fire-type attacks and causing weather-changing moves and Abilities to fail.
• Sandstorm: Stinging sand whips across the battlefield. In Generations III through V, every new region had a specific area where a sandstorm was always occurring.
• Hail: Pelting hail falls on the battlefield. Different variations of this weather may appear on the overworld, and there may even be benign falling snow that does not cause hail in a battle.
  • Diamond dust: A special, purely aesthetic version of snow. It was an easter egg first revealed in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and is known to appear in every core game since.
• Shadowy aura: Bursts of light rain down from a shadowy aura in the sky. This weather condition is only present in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness and has no overworld manifestation anywhere.
• Fog: A thick fog clouds the battlefield. This condition only had an in-battle effect during Generation IV, but it has been present in the overworld in other Generations in a purely aesthetic form.
• Strong winds: An air current blows across the battlefield, eliminating the Flying type's weaknesses and causing weather-changing moves and Abilities to fail.

There is also a glitch that occurs in Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, called acid rain, that results in the simultaneous occurrence of all then existing weather conditions at once, damaging all Pokémon on the field.

In Generation V, the weather conditions were given icons which appeared on the DS or 3DS's bottom screen in a battle whenever that weather was occurring. Since fog and shadowy auras were only present in-battle before Generation V, they have no icons. When there is no weather, no icon is shown.

Game	Intense sunlight	Rain	Sandstorm	Hail

In Generation VI the background of the bottom screen shows an animation of the active weather condition.

Most of the weather conditions have a move or Ability that will cause that weather.

	Clear skies	Intense sunlight	Rain	Sandstorm	Hail	Shadowy aura	Fog
Move	Defog*	Sunny Day	Rain Dance	Sandstorm	Hail	Shadow Sky	—
Ability	Air Lock, Cloud Nine	Drought	Drizzle	Sand Stream	Snow Warning	—	—

In addition, Defog may clear fog from an overworld area (in Generation IV only). It is the only move that has any effect on weather conditions in the overworld.

Weather normally lasts for 5 turns when it is called by a move. Prior to Generation VI, weather conditions created by an Ability would continue until the battle ended or another weather condition took its place; since Generation VI, though, weather conditions created by Abilities also last for only 5 turns. However, there are four held items that can increase the duration of summoned weather effects, so that they last 8 turns. The rock that affects each type of weather is shown below.

Intense sunlight	Rain	Sandstorm	Hail
Heat Rock	Damp Rock	Smooth Rock	Icy Rock

Three of the weather conditions can do damage to Pokémon in battle at the end of a turn. In a sandstorm, hail, or shadowy aura, any Pokémon that is not Rock-, Ground-, or Steel-type; Ice-type; or a Shadow Pokémon (respectively) will be damaged for ¹/₁₆ of its maximum HP. Certain Abilities prevent damage from weather effects, though, and a Pokémon holding Safety Goggles is also immune to damage from weather effects.

Sandstorm and fog both affect the stats of Pokémon on the battlefield. Since Generation IV, in a sandstorm, the Special Defense of Rock-type Pokémon is increased by 50%. In fog, the accuracy of all Pokémon in battle is decreased.

During intense sunlight, all Pokémon are immune to freezing.

Intense sunlight and rain both affect the power of certain types of moves. Intense sunlight strengthens the power of Fire-type moves by 50% and weakens the power of Water-type moves by 50%, while rain does the opposite, strengthening Water-type moves while weakening Fire-type moves.

Certain specific moves are also affected in special ways by the presence of a specific weather condition.

• The recovery moves Synthesis, Morning Sun, and Moonlight will recover different amounts* of HP depending on the weather: in clear skies, they recover ¹/₂ of the user's maximum HP; in intense sunlight, they recover ²/₃ HP; and in other weather conditions, they recover ¹/₄ HP.
• The accuracy of Thunder, Hurricane, and Blizzard is affected by different weather conditions. In hail, Blizzard ignores accuracy and evasion checks*, while Thunder* and Hurricane do the same in rain. During intense sunlight, however, Thunder and Hurricane only have 50% accuracy. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Blizzard and Thunder also had a 30% chance to hit through Protect or Detect when used in their favored weather conditions.
• Solar Beam becomes a 1-turn move in intense sunlight, skipping its charge turn, but in rain, sandstorm, or hail, Solar Beam's power is halved.
• Growth's stat increases double in intense sunlight (since Generation V).
• When used as a field move in Generation IV or later, Sweet Scent will fail to work if there is a weather condition in effect in the area.

Activated Abilities

The following Abilities are activated when a weather condition comes into effect. Unless a weather condition is in effect, none of these Abilities has any effect.

Intense sunlight	Rain	Sandstorm	Hail
Forecast	Forecast	Sand Veil	Forecast
Dry Skin	Dry Skin	Sand Rush	Ice Body
Chlorophyll	Hydration	Sand Force	Snow Cloak
Flower Gift	Rain Dish
Leaf Guard	Swift Swim
Solar Power

In addition to the above Abilities, Harvest is guaranteed to restore a Berry whenever it triggers in intense sunlight, and the Abilities Overcoat and Magic Guard will prevent weather-related damage.

Castform and Weather Ball

Main article: Castform (Pokémon)

Main article: Weather Ball (move)

Castform is a Pokémon uniquely designed to take advantage of weather conditions. Its Ability, Forecast, causes it to change form when a weather condition is present. Forecast does not cause a unique change for every possible weather condition, though.

Normal  Normal  During clear skies, fog, sandstorm, or shadowy aura

Sunny Form  Fire  During intense sunlight

Rainy Form  Water  During rain

Snowy Form  Ice  During hail

Weather Ball is a move that uniquely takes advantage of weather conditions. In Generation III, it was introduced along with Castform and was Castform's signature move. Since then, a number of other Pokémon have become able to learn Weather Ball, but Castform remains the only Pokémon able to learn it by leveling up, without needing the services of a move relearner.

Whenever there is a weather condition present, Weather Ball's base power will double to 100. Weather Ball's type also changes during most weather conditions.

During clear skies*  Normal

During intense sunlight  Fire

During rain  Water

During sandstorm  Rock

During hail  Ice

During shadowy aura  ???

During fog  Normal

Because of its Ability, Castform has a unique synergy with Weather Ball that no other Pokémon that can learn Weather Ball has. In intense sunlight, rain, or hail, Castform will always get STAB thanks to its Ability.

Weather-dependent evolution

Starting at level 50, Sliggoo will evolve into Goodra if it is leveled up while it is raining in the overworld.

	Middle	Trigger → Level 50 while raining	Highest
	Sliggoo		Goodra

Weather in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Various weather effects appear in certain dungeons in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Weather effects can change from floor to floor, and can also be altered through the use of Wonder Orbs. In Gates to Infinity, Pokémon will not restore health via walking unless the weather is Clear.

• Clear: Allows Pokémon to restore HP by walking or holding the A and B buttons.
• Sunny: Fire-type moves increase power by 50%, while the power of Water-type moves is cut in half.
• Fog: The power of Electric-type moves is cut in half.
• Snow: Ice-type Pokémon have an increased movement speed.
• Rain: Water-type moves increase power by 50%, while the power of Fire-type moves is cut in half. Also prevents explosions from traps and moves like Selfdestruct.
• Hail: Deals 5 points of damage to non-Ice types every 10 turns.
• Sandstorm: Deals 5 points of damage to non-Rock, Ground, and Steel types every 10 turns.
• Cloudy: Reduces the damage of all non-Normal-type moves by 25%.

Gates to Infinity descriptions

Clear	Sunny	Fog	Snow	Rain	Hail	Sandstorm	Cloudy
The weather is clear and pleasant. In this weather, you can restore your HP naturally just by walking.	The sun blazes. In this weather, you can't restore your HP naturally. It boosts the power of Fire-type moves and weakens Water-type moves.			It's rainy and humid. In this weather, you can't restore your HP naturally. It boosts the power of Water-type moves and weakens the power of Fire-type moves.		A sandstorm rages. In this weather, you can't restore your HP naturally. Also, all Pokémon, except Ground, Rock, and Steel types, keep taking damage. Sp. Def of Rock types goes up.

Trivia

• The Weather Institute in Hoenn is dedicated to the study of weather. It is said to have created Castform, a Pokémon that changes with the weather.
• All weather-creating Abilities (Drought, Drizzle, Sand Stream, and Snow Warning) debuted the generation after their respective moves/weather (Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, and Hail).

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