Fateful encounter

During the history of Pokémon games, several event Pokémon given away have been set to show them as received in a fateful encounter, as opposed to a normal capture. While this was a separate location listed in Generation III, in Generation IV, it became merely another statistic of a Pokémon, allowing different areas to be listed while maintaining the specialness of the Pokémon.

Due to this flag, special events can be accessed in Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum when specific Pokémon that are encountered by way of fateful encounters are in the party.

List of in-game events activated by fateful encounter Pokémon

• Shaymin
  • Pokémon Platinum - in Floaroma Town, players can receive a Gracidea from a woman.
  • Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - in the Goldenrod City Flower Shop, players can again receive a Gracidea Flower from a woman.
  • Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum - only Shaymin obtained in a fateful encounter can use the Gracidea to become Sky Forme.

• Regigigas
  • Pokémon Platinum - Activates the appearance of Rock Peak, Iceberg, and Iron Ruins where the other Regis can be captured.

• Pikachu-colored Pichu
  • Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - Activates an event involving an encounter with the Spiky-eared Pichu.

• Arceus
  • Pokémon Platinum - in Oreburgh Mine, a Hiker will give away a Flame Plate and a book in the Canalave Library will become available with the inscriptions on all plates.
  • Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - When selected as partner Pokémon, the player will be able to teleport from the Ruins of Alph to the Shinto Ruins far to the north. This allows the player to obtain either a level 1 Dialga, Palkia or Giratina. It also allows the player to obtain the Griseous Orb if Giratina is chosen.

• Jirachi
  • Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - activates Edge of the Night's Sky PokéWalker area.

• Celebi
  • Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver - activates an event with an encounter and battle with Giovanni after being taken back in time with Celebi.

Trivia

• In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the Shaymin that is captured in the Flower Paradise will not be a fateful encounter Shaymin, while in Pokémon Platinum, it will be. This was likely implemented due to the tweaking and Surf glitches, which allow access to Shaymin in Diamond and Pearl, while this was removed in Platinum. Due to the way receipt and use of the Gracidea is programmed, if the Platinum Shaymin were not given this status, despite being able to be legitimately obtained with Oak's Letter, it would not be able to transform into Sky Forme.
  • Interestingly, this makes this Shaymin the only fateful encounter Pokémon that can be obtained with any Poké Ball available in Platinum, as all others are contained only in Cherish Balls and given out in events, while this one is encountered in the wild and captured.