Roaming Pokémon

Roaming Pokémon are a type of legendary Pokémon that, instead of remaining in one place as a special event, run around the region they appear in, seemingly at random. Roaming Pokémon have appeared in every main series game since Generation II.

In addition to their changing of routes (something that happens every time the player passes through a route boundary), they will also, on the first turn of battle, attempt to flee. The only way to prevent this is to either use a trapping move such as Mean Look or have the Pokémon sent out have a trapping ability such as Shadow Tag or Arena Trap.

In Generations II and III, a Trainer can use his or her Pokédex to check the ever-changing location of their target. However, in Generation IV, the Pokétch's Marking Map application and the PokéGear's map card serve this purpose, relieving the player from having to change through a multitude of screens, as was the case in past generations.

List of roaming Pokémon

Generation II

These Pokémon are found roaming Johto in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; however, Suicune is found at the Tin Tower in Crystal. They can be captured at any point after they are disturbed by the player in Ecruteak City's Brass Tower.

Pokémon		Games			Location	Levels	Rate
	Raikou	G	S	C	Grass	40	Event
	Entei	G	S	C	Grass	40	Event
	Suicune	G	S	C	Grass	40	Event
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Generation III

The Eon Pokémon can be caught in Hoenn after defeating the Elite Four for the first time. Only one will roam Hoenn (the other can be obtained on Southern Island with the Eon Ticket), depending on version, or in Emerald, depending on the color of Pokémon the player tells his or her mother.

Pokémon		Games			Location	Levels	Rate
	Latias	R	S	E	Grass	40	Event
	Latios	R	S	E	Grass	40	Event
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

These Pokémon are only present in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The only one that will appear will be the one whose type weakens the type of the player's chosen starter Pokémon.

Pokémon		Games		Location	Levels	Rate
	Raikou	FR	LG	Grass	50	Event
	Entei	FR	LG	Grass	50	Event
	Suicune	FR	LG	Grass	50	Event
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Generation IV

Sinnoh has five roaming Pokémon, each of which is available in the wild after certain events have taken place. Mesprit will roam after the player goes to Lake Verity after defeating Team Galactic at Mt. Coronet, Cresselia will appear after the player helps cure Eldritch's son's nightmares, and the legendary birds will appear in Platinum after the player first talks to Professor Oak in Eterna City.

Pokémon		Games			Location	Levels	Rate
	Mesprit	D	P	Pt	Grass	50	Event
	Cresselia	D	P	Pt	Grass	50	Event
	Articuno	D	P	Pt	Grass	60	Event
	Zapdos	D	P	Pt	Grass	60	Event
	Moltres	D	P	Pt	Grass	60	Event
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Raikou and Entei will roam Johto, and, after receiving the National Dex, Latios or Latias will roam Kanto.

Pokémon		Games		Location	Levels	Rate
	Raikou	HG	SS	Grass	40	Event
	Entei	HG	SS	Grass	40	Event
	Latias	HG	SS	Grass	35	Event
	Latios	HG	SS	Grass	35	Event
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.