Weather
Weather conditions (Japanese: てんき Weather) are mechanics of the Pokémon games, and have been included in every main series game since Generation II. The weather system was expanded on in Generation III, and again further expanded in Generation IV. In each generation, the weather has been determined either by the location of the battle or the Pokémon involved. Only one weather condition may be present at one time, and only the most recent weather condition will take effect.
In all generations, some moves, such as Thunder and SolarBeam, take advantage of certain weather conditions and have increased power and accuracy. Other moves can directly cause or cease weather, such as Sunny Day and Defog. Beginning in Generation III, some abilities have revolved around weather effects: among other effects, two of Hoenn's legendaries can cause changes in the weather; while another neutralizes it.
History
Generation II
In the second-generation games, three moves were introduced that could change the weather during a battle to alter the playing field slightly. These moves were Sunny Day, which created five turns worth of intense sunlight and allowed a Pokémon to attack with SolarBeam without waiting a turn; Rain Dance, which gave five turns of heavy rain and increased Thunder's accuracy to 100%; and Sandstorm, which made a wild sandstorm that lasted for the same amount of turns. These three moves could change the course of a battle, with intense sun and heavy rain powering up Fire- and Template:Type2 moves, and powering down the other, respectively, and a sandstorm slightly damaging any Pokémon not of the Rock-, Ground-, or Template:Type2s.
Although weather conditions were introduced in this generation, they could not be seen in the overworld until the following set of games.
Generation III
In the third generation, the featured Pokémon in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald had weather-related abilities. In Ruby, Groudon's ability allowed for intense sunlight to fill the arena until the battle ended, or another weather effect took its place. Likewise, its Sapphire counterpart Kyogre's ability made heavy rain that lasted until the end of the battle or until another weather effect superseded it. Emerald's mascot, however, had a different way of affecting the playing field. While Rayquaza is battling, all effects of the weather are essentially negated, though the actual sunlight/rain/sandstorm/hail remains going. Psyduck and Golduck may also have a similar ability.
Another Pokémon, one which was not available in Ruby or Sapphire without trading, also had a weather-based ability. Tyranitar, once fully evolved from a Larvitar captured in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, has the ability Sand Stream, which causes a sandstorm that lasts until the end of the battle or until another weather-changing move is made. This makes it almost useless for a Tyranitar to have the move Sandstorm itself, as the sandstorm is automatically activated as it comes into battle. Other Pokémon have abilities that benefit from weather that is already in effect, such as Lotad's Swift Swim.
Ruby and Sapphire also debuted another weather-changing move, Hail, which, like Sunny Day, Rain Dance, and Sandstorm before it, changes the weather for five turns, this time to an icy hailstorm. However, this move, and weather effect, have more in common with Sandstorm than with the other two. For the five turns that it's hailing, all Pokémon who are not Template:Type2 are damaged.
During part of the game, Groudon and Kyogre's weather effects could be seen out of battle; some routes also are naturally affected by the weather. Route 119, for example, is often covered in rain; Route 111 has an area in which a sandstorm always blows. These field weather effects would carry through to later games. A location in Hoenn, the Weather Institute is dedicated to the study of weather. The Weather Institute is said to have created a Pokémon that changes with the weather.
Castform
- Main article: Castform
One of the 135 Pokémon released in Generation III was designed to take full advantage of the varying weather conditions. When in a battle where no weather effects are present, Castform, a Template:Type2 Pokémon, is quite unremarkable. However, when any of the effects besides a sandstorm or Shadow Sky are applied, Castform's type and shape change to match the weather, due to its ability, Forecast. Also, when it is leveled up, it learns a move called Weather Ball, which also changes type with the weather, doubling its power when any weather was in effect. Unlike Forecast, Weather Ball's type differs even in a sandstorm, becoming a Template:Type2 move, as well as in Shadow Sky, becoming a Template:Type2 move. However, it should be noted that when battling against Rayquaza, Psyduck, and Golduck, due to their ability to negate all weather effects, Castform is incapable of changing forms and incapable of having a different-typed Weather Ball.
Generation IV
The fourth generation of Pokémon games takes full advantage of the weather conditions. Within the three regions in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, there are routes which are constantly rainy, sandy, or (for the first time) covered in snow. A new weather condition was also introduced: fog. Unlike the other conditions, fog cannot be caused by a move; instead there is a move to clear it.
A new ability is introduced that acts as a counterpart to some of the abilities introduced in Generation III. Snow Warning will unleash a hailstorm for the duration of the battle, as Drizzle will cause rain. Four held items were also introduced. These each correspond to a certain weather condition and will increase the duration of the weather condition, if activated by the holder, by three turns.
More interesting things introduced within Generation IV were other conditions that had nothing to do with the weather, but behaved similarly to the weather-activating moves. Like the weather conditions, these moves would affect all Pokémon on the field for five turns, and in various ways. For example, Gravity would rid Levitating Pokémon of their powers, and force both them and Template:Type2s to take damage from Template:Type2 moves, as well as disabling moves like Fly and Bounce, whereas another, Magnet Rise, makes the user invulnerable to Template:Type2 moves, again for five turns. Also, Trick Room alters the dimensions for five turns, making slower Pokémon attack first; and Tailwind increases the Speed of the user's team for three turns.
Acid rain, a weather-related glitch, is present in HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum Versions.
Generation V
The fifth generation added a few new abilities that make use of the weather. Sand Paddle and Sand Power both benefit a Pokemon during a sandstorm, while Dust Proof negates the damage taken in a hailstorm and sandstorm. With the addition of Dream World, many old Pokemon now have access to weather related abilities. Most notability, Drought and Drizzle, previously available only to Groudon and Kyogre, are now available to more common Pokemon. Specifically, Vulpix and Ninetails now have access to Drought, while Politoed now has access to Drizzle.
Weather in the main series
There have been six different weather conditions that affect battling in the main series of Pokémon games, and six different conditions that have effects in the overworld.
In battle
Intense sunlight
- Effect: Increases the power of Template:Type2 moves by 50%, weakens the power of Template:Type2 moves by 50%. SolarBeam can be used instantly, lowers accuracy of Thunder and Windstorm to 50%. Causes Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun to recover 2/3 of max HP (full HP in Generation II), causes Growth to raise Attack and Special Attack two stages each*. Activates the following abilities: Chlorophyll, Dry Skin, Flower Gift, Forecast, Leaf Guard, Solar Power. Changes Weather Ball to a Template:Type2 move and doubles its power, Castform to its Sunny form, Cherrim to its Sunshine form, and reduces the chance of Pokémon becoming frozen. Can be lengthened from 5 to 8 turns with the use of the Heat Rock.
- Activating move: Sunny Day
- Activating ability: Drought
- Routes where it is encountered naturally: Eastern Hoenn Water routes (after Groudon is awakened, before it is captured) (Ruby/Emerald); Routes where Terra Cave appears (Emerald)
Heavy rain
- Effect: Increases the power of Template:Type2 moves by 50%, weakens the power Template:Type2 moves by 50%, causes SolarBeam to only deal half of its normal damage, and allows Thunder and Windstorm to bypass accuracy check and, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, to hit through Protect and Detect 30% of the time. Causes Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun to recover ¼ of max HP. Activates the following abilities: Dry Skin, Forecast, Hydration, Rain Dish, Swift Swim. Changes Weather Ball to a Water-type move and doubles its power, and Castform to its Rain form. Also prevents Pokémon from exploding in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. Can be lengthened from 5 to 8 turns with the use of the Damp Rock.
- Activating move: Rain Dance
- Activating ability: Drizzle
- Routes where it is encountered naturally: Route 119 (some days); Route 120 (always); Route 123 (some days); eastern Hoenn Water routes (after Kyogre is awakened, before it is captured) (Sapphire/Emerald); Routes where Marine Cave appears (Emerald); Route 212 (always); Route 213 (sometimes); Route 214 (south leg); Route 215 (always); Route 33 (always, Generation IV only); Lake of Rage (sometimes, Generation IV only)
Sandstorm
- Effect: Damages Pokémon not of the Rock-, Ground-, Template:Type2 which don't have Sand Veil, Sand Paddle, Sand Power, Dust Proof, or Magic Guard; and raises the Special Defense of all Rock-types by 50%. Causes Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun to recover ¼ of max HP and SolarBeam to deal only half of its normal damage. Activates the following abilities: Sand Veil and Sand Paddle. Pokemon with the Sand Power ability also have the power of their Rock-, Ground-, and Template:Type2 moves increased by 30%. Changes Weather Ball to a Template:Type2 move and doubles its power, but does not change Castform's form. Can be lengthened from 5 to 8 turns with the use of the Smooth Rock.
- Activating move: Sandstorm
- Activating ability: Sand Stream
- Routes where it is encountered naturally: Route 111, Route 228
Hailstorm
- Effect: Damages Pokémon not of the Template:Type2 which do not have Ice Body, Snow Cloak, Magic Guard, or Dust Proof; allows Blizzard to bypass accuracy check and, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl only, to hit through Protect and Detect 25% of the time. Causes Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun to recover ¼ of max HP and SolarBeam will only deal half of its normal damage. Activates the following abilities: Forecast, Ice Body, Snow Cloak. Changes Weather Ball to an Template:Type2 move and doubles its power, and Castform to its Hail form. Can be lengthened from 5 to 8 turns with the use of the Icy Rock.
- Activating move: Hail
- Activating ability: Snow Warning
- Routes where it is encountered naturally: Route 216, 217, Mt. Coronet peak, Mt. Silver peak.
Shadow Sky
- Effect: Damages all Pokémon that are not Shadow Pokémon. Changes Weather Ball to a Template:Type2 move and doubles its power, but does not change Castform's form.
- Activating move: Shadow Sky.
- Activating ability: None.
- Routes where it is encountered naturally: Not encountered naturally.
Fog
- Effect: Lowers accuracy of all Pokémon battling, doubles the power of Weather Ball. Honey cannot be used to attract wild Pokémon in patches of grass or in caves. Causes Moonlight, Synthesis, and Morning Sun to recover ¼ of max HP.
- Clearing move: Defog
- Activating ability: None.
- Routes/areas where it is encountered naturally: Route 210 (north leg); Lost Tower (Platinum); Mt. Coronet basement; Victory Road (path to Route 224); Turnback Cave; Courtyard Colosseum
On the field
There have been several on-field weather conditions, most of which do the same as another on-field weather condition.
Sun
When the sun shines brightly, the screen brightens and dims alternately. The screen may also turn a shade of orange that flows while dark spots ride across.
Cloudy skies
Sometimes clouds gather over Route 213, and the whole area gets darker than usual. Rarely happens on Route 212.
Rain
There have been three different rain conditions.
- Normal rain: Rain falls. Found in all places where rain is found on the field.
- Heavy rain: Rains falls heavily, at a lower angle than in the other. Found occasionally on Route 212.
- Thunderstorm: Rain falls heavily, much like the Heavy Rain does, and occasionally, lightning will strike and thunder will rumble. Found on Route 119 as part of the four-day rain-thunderstorm-rain-clear cycle. Found on Route 212 on occasion. It happens on predetermined days, such as the anniversaries of the game's release in each country. It also appeared on St. Patrick's Day; February 29, 2008; and Christmas Day (December 25).
Sandstorm
There has been only one sandstorm condition. Wind whips sand around, making it difficult to see.
Snow/Hail
There have been four snowy conditions.
- Light snow: Snow falls lightly. Found in Snowpoint City, and less often, in Acuity Lakefront and on Route 216.
- Heavy snow: Snow falls more quickly and heavily. Found on Route 216 and in Acuity Lakefront.
- Blizzard: Snow whips around, making it difficult to see. Found on Route 217, and less often on Route 216.
- Diamond dust: Small ice crystals twinkle in the air. Found on certain special days in Snowpoint City and Mt. Silver. Diamond dust, however, does not have the same effect as other snowy conditions in battle and instead has no effect in battle.
Fog
There has been only one fog condition.
- Heavy fog: Thick fog blankets everything. Obstacles and Trainers are difficult to see. Can be cleared with Defog.
Overworld images
- Sunny Field.png
The blindingly hot sun shines down.
- Rainy Field.png
A gloomy day on Route 101.
- Sandstorm Field.png
A sandstorm rages.
- Fog.jpg
Fog looming ahead.
- Diamond Dust.gif
Diamond dust twinkles in Snowpoint.
- HGSS Diamond Dust.png
Diamond dust at Mt. Silver in HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions.
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.
- Sunny: Fire-type moves increase power by 50%, while Water moves are cut in half.
- Fog: The power of Electric-type moves is cut in half.
- Snow: Ice-type Pokémon have an increased movement rate.
- Rain: Water-type moves increase power by 50%, while Fire moves are 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%.
Trivia
- 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).
- Fog first appeared in Generation III on Mt. Pyre, but had no effect on battles.
- Snow technically exists as an overworld weather condition in Generation III, but is unused.
