Phenomenon
Phenomena are a game mechanic in Generation V. It is a different means of encountering wild Pokémon, and in some cases items. There are four types of phenomenon: rustling grass, dust clouds, flying Pokémon's shadows, and rippling water. Some Pokémon can only be obtained via this method. Phenomena will only appear after the player has the first Badge.
Phenomena will continue to exist if the player moves off-screen and away from the phenomenon (without leaving the area or room entirely), accesses their game menus, or hatches an Egg. They do not vanish until they are entered, unless the player enters an unrelated battle, picks up a visible item, interacts with an NPC, or exits the area or room entirely. They will also vanish if an NPC steps on it. Only one phenomenon will be in the area at any given time. Saving before entering a phenomenon will not preserve the phenomenon upon reset.
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, can be found in rustling grass, but usually at a lower encounter rate than Audino. This phenomenon does not occur in dark grass, but it does in long grass.
Pokémon Black and White
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Dust cloud
Dust clouds are a phenomenon that only occur in caves. It may reveal held items, evolutionary stones, or wild Drilbur, Excadrill, OnixB2W2, and SteelixB2W2.
Pokémon Black and White
The chance of finding a Drilbur or Excadrill in a dust cloud is 40%. The chance of finding a gem is roughly 50%, while the chance of finding a stone is roughly 10%.
All items may be found in any location, but the Pokémon are only found in certain locations.
- Drilbur: Wellspring Cave, Chargestone Cave, Mistralton Cave, Twist Mountain
- Excadrill: Challenger's Cave, Victory Road, Giant Chasm
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Shards can only be found in Relic Passage and Reversal Mountain, and all other items can be found everywhere else dust clouds appear in Unova.
In addition, the Pokémon are only found in certain locations.
- Drilbur: Relic Passage, Chargestone Cave, Mistralton Cave
- Excadrill: Clay Tunnel, Twist Mountain, Underground Ruins, Victory Road, Reversal Mountain, Wellspring Cave, Seaside Cave, Giant Chasm
- Onix: Relic Passage, Clay Tunnel, Twist Mountain, Underground Ruins, and Victory Road
- Steelix: Clay Tunnel, Twist Mountain, Underground Ruins
Flying Pokémon's shadow
Flying Pokémon's shadows are a phenomenon that only occur on the Driftveil Drawbridge and Marvelous Bridge. They may reveal wings or wild Ducklett (on the Driftveil Drawbridge) and Swanna (on the Marvelous Bridge).
Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2
The chance of encountering a Ducklett or Swanna in a shadow is 20%, while the chance of finding a wing is 80%. If a wing is found, there is a 10% chance it will be a Pretty Wing.
| Possible encounters | |||
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Ducklett | 
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Swanna |
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Health Wing | 
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Muscle Wing |
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Resist Wing | 
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Genius Wing |
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Clever Wing | 
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Swift Wing |
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Pretty Wing | ||
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. While Basculin's Red-Striped form is found in Black and Black 2 and its Blue-Striped form found in White and White 2 under normal circumstances, the opposite form can be found in rippling water.
Pokémon Black and White
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Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
