Phenomenon

Phenomena are a mechanic in the Generation V core series games. Phenomena are a means of encountering wild Pokémon, and in some cases items. There are four types of phenomena: 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.

A phenomenon can be randomly triggered whenever the player takes a step in an area. Only one may be active at a time. An active phenomenon will generally continue to exist if the player moves away from it so long as they stay in the same overall location or room. A phenomenon will vanish after it is encountered or if the player picks up a visible item, encounters a wild Pokémon, interacts with an NPC, or exits the area or room entirely; it will also vanish if an NPC steps on it. Using a Repel does not prevent wild Pokémon from being encountered in a phenomenon. An active phenomenon is not saved when the game is saved.

Different 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 outside Pinwheel Forest

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, evolved forms of Pokémon found in non-rustling grass, or Pokémon that would otherwise be only available in the opposite version can be found in rustling grass, but are less common than Audino. Rustling grass does not occur in dark grass, but it does in long grass.

Pokémon Black and White

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Dust cloud

A dust cloud in Chargestone Cave

Dust clouds are a phenomenon that only occur in caves. They may reveal held items, Evolution stones, or wild Drilbur, Excadrill, Onix^B2W2, and Steelix^B2W2.

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

Possible encounters
	Fire Gem		Normal Gem
	Water Gem		Everstone
	Electric Gem		Moon Stone
	Grass Gem		Sun Stone
	Ice Gem		Fire Stone
	Fighting Gem		Water Stone
	Poison Gem		Thunderstone
	Ground Gem		Leaf Stone
	Flying Gem		Shiny Stone
	Psychic Gem		Dusk Stone
	Bug Gem		Dawn Stone
	Rock Gem		Hard Stone
	Ghost Gem		Oval Stone
	Dragon Gem	Template:MSP/Old	Drilbur
	Dark Gem	Template:MSP/Old	Excadrill
	Steel Gem

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

Possible encounters
	Fire Gem		Red Shard
	Water Gem		Blue Shard
	Electric Gem		Yellow Shard
	Grass Gem		Green Shard
	Ice Gem		Fire Stone
	Fighting Gem		Water Stone
	Poison Gem		Thunderstone
	Ground Gem		Leaf Stone
	Flying Gem		Moon Stone
	Psychic Gem		Sun Stone
	Bug Gem		Shiny Stone
	Rock Gem		Dusk Stone
	Ghost Gem		Dawn Stone
	Dragon Gem		Everstone
	Dark Gem		Oval Stone
	Steel Gem	Template:MSP/Old	Onix
	Normal Gem	Template:MSP/Old	Steelix
Template:MSP/Old	Drilbur	Template:MSP/Old	Excadrill

Flying Pokémon's shadow

A shadow on the Driftveil Drawbridge

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
Template:MSP/Old	Ducklett	Template:MSP/Old	Swanna
	Health Wing		Muscle Wing
	Resist Wing		Genius Wing
	Clever Wing		Swift Wing
	Pretty Wing

Rippling water

Rippling water on Route 11

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

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Related articles

• Ambush encounter

In other languages

Language Title German Phänomene Italian Fenomeno

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