Symbol encounter

The subject of this article has no official English name. The name currently in use is the official English translation of the Japanese name.

A symbol encounter (Japanese: シンボルエンカウント symbol encounter) is a type of wild Pokémon encounter introduced in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. It is when a wild Pokémon can be seen walking around in the overworld.

Unlike most wild encounters in previous core series games, a battle can be avoided by not making contact with the Pokémon in the overworld, similarly to phenomena and ambush encounters.

Differences between games

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, all regular wild encounters are symbol encounters.

Shiny symbol encounter Pokémon are visibly Shiny in the overworld.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, symbol encounters can have different responses to the player's presence. Upon noticing the player, a Pokémon may do one of the following depending on its species:

• Flee from the player, disappearing if it evades the player for long enough. This behavior is denoted by sweat drops emerging from the Pokémon.
• Ignore the player and resume its regular activity.
• Approach the player and greet them repeatedly with its cry and a species-specific animation. If ignored for long enough, it will return to its regular activity. This behavior is denoted by a speech bubble with a question mark "?" appearing above the Pokémon before it approaches.
• Pursue the player and attempt to force them into a battle. This behavior is denoted by a speech bubble with an exclamation mark "!" appearing above the Pokémon before it approaches.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, if the player knocks out a Pokémon, there is a 50% chance that the next symbol encounter the game generates will be of the same species and form as that defeated Pokémon, as long as it is possible for that species and form to appear as a symbol encounter.

Depending on the number of encounters the player has with a particular species, it has a chance of appearing in the overworld as a Brilliant Pokémon. Brilliant Pokémon visibly have a golden aura in the overworld, with only one Brilliant Pokémon being able to appear at a time. Brilliant Pokémon are the highest possible level in the possible level range, know an Egg Move (if possible), have at least two perfect IVs, and are more likely to be Shiny.

Shiny symbol encounter Pokémon are not visibly Shiny in the overworld—the player can only tell if a Pokémon is Shiny after they encounter it.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, symbol encounters exclusively occur in the Grand Underground. Whenever the player enters a Pokémon Hideaway, several symbol encounter Pokémon will be present, roaming the hideaway. New Pokémon will only spawn when the player leaves and re-enters the area—they do not spawn while the player is inside the hideaway.

If the player crosses a symbol encounter Pokémon's line of sight, it will notice the player (indicated by an "!" above it) and chase the player down, until the player leaves its line of sight and it resumes wandering.

Shiny symbol encounter Pokémon are not visibly Shiny in the overworld—the player can only tell if a Pokémon is Shiny after they encounter it.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, all regular wild encounters are replaced with symbol encounters. Unlike other games with symbol encounters, walking into a wild Pokémon will not start an encounter. Instead, players can choose to start a battle with the wild Pokémon by throwing one of their Pokémon at the wild Pokémon, or players can choose to avoid battle entirely and catch the Pokémon without entering a wild encounter. When wild Pokémon spot the player, it is likely that they will either attack the player or attempt to flee. The specific behavior of the wild Pokémon depends on its species. If a wild Pokémon that will attack the player spots the player, they will almost always become immune to Poké Balls until they are either stunned by items such as Spoiled Apricorns or the player starts a battle with the wild Pokémon.

Alpha Pokémon have glowing red eyes while still wild, and have special music for when the player is nearby. Wild Alpha Pokémon will always attack the player instead of running away. Some Alpha Pokémon are pre-determined and will periodically respawn in the same place, though all wild Pokémon have a low chance of becoming Alpha Pokémon after calming the Noble Pokémon in the map's section. When the player starts a battle, they have special music and are "filled with wild might." This increases their stats and reduces damage from effects such as status conditions and moves such as Stealth Rock.

Shiny Pokémon appear in the overworld in their shiny coloring. A sound effect plays when one spawns, along with the Shiny effect. When a battle starts, the effect plays again, and a symbol representing shininess is next to the name of the wild Pokémon.

See also

• Random encounter
• Wanderer
• Fishing
• Berry tree
• Pokémon Den

References

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