Illumina phenomenon
The Illumina phenomenon (Japanese: イルミナ現象 Illumina phenomenon) is responsible for a specific glow that affects both Pokémon and vegetation of the Lental region. It is the main research area of Professor Mirror.
Story
The cause of the Illumina phenomenon is ultimately unknown. Professor Mirror initially hypothesizes that it was caused by the Tellur Meteorite that descended on the Lental region 2000 years prior to the events of New Pokémon Snap. However, murals in the Outaway Cave and Ruins of Remembrance indicate that the Illumina Pokémon existed before then, and they were responsible for warding off the disaster that the meteor would have caused.
100 years prior to the events of the game, an explorer named Captain Vince encountered an Illumina Pokémon as a child; he thereafter endeavoured to meet the other Illumina Pokémon, recording his experiences in the Lental Travelogue.
During the events of the game, Professor Mirror seeks to understand the Illumina phenomenon. He enlists the help of Rita, the player, and later Phil and Todd Snap to help him uncover the secrets of the phenomenon. The player's love for Pokémon eventually attracts the attention of the Illumina Pokémon, gradually helping Professor Mirror to discover the locations of the others.
Gameplay
The Illumina phenomenon causes Pokémon and Crystabloom flowers to emit a glow. While glowing, a Pokémon is said to be in the Illumina state. For Pokémon, this increases the quality of photos taken while in Illumina state, as judged by Professor Mirror; for Crystablooms, only a bloom in Illumina state is eligible for judgement. Crystablooms in the Illumina state will also affect Pokémon within a certain radius, or those that interact with the flowers. Initially, the phenomenon can only be witnessed under its natural occurrence; select Crystablooms on select courses will be in Illumina state, imparting the effect to nearby Pokémon. After photographing a Crystabloom undergoing the phenomenon, however, Professor Mirror will bestow the player Illumina orbs, which can be thrown onto Pokémon and Crystablooms to temporarily put them into Illumina state.
Some Pokémon will react to Illumina orbs with actions that are unavailable in normal gameplay. Putting Crystablooms into Illumina state via Illumina orbs will occasionally have an impact on the surrounding environments, or may cause Pokémon nearby to take poses unseen in normal gameplay.
Illumina Pokémon are Pokémon that respond uniquely to the Illumina phenomenon; when in Illumina state, their bodies are covered in vibrant patterns that are unseen under normal circumstances. These Pokémon can only be seen in Illumina Spots found on each of the islands on Lental. The first time the player travels through an Illumina Spot course, the Illumina Pokémon is the only Pokémon to be seen on that course; successfully photographing the Illumina Pokémon while it is in Illumina state will automatically elevate the player's research level for that course, which may cause more Pokémon to appear to be photographed.
List of Illumina Pokémon
| Course | Pokemon | Behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Florio Island Illumina Spot |  Meganium |
Meganium wanders peacefully through the Illumina Spot, occasionally interacting with Crystablooms in Illumina state and putting Meganium into Illumina state itself. This is the only Illumina Pokémon that can be photographed before acquiring Illumina orbs, and no special effort is needed to take the required photos. |
| Belusylva Island Illumina Spot |  Milotic |
Milotic spends the majority of its time under the water in the Illumina Spot; Illumina orbs will not penetrate the surface of the lake. Throwing a fluffruit into the lake to hit Milotic will cause it to surface, where it can be affected by an Illumina orb. Once the Illumina state ends, Milotic will submerge again, and must be lured out with a fluffruit once more. |
| Maricopia Islands Illumina Spot |  Wishiwashi |
Many Solo Form Wishiwashi are scattered throughout the Illumina Spot; they are not considered Illumina Pokémon, and affecting them with Illumina orbs will not make them eligible for an Illumina Pokémon photograph. If many Wishiwashi are put into Illumina state, they will gather and enter School Form for a period, which can be struck with an Illumina orb for a requisite photo. |
| Voluca Island Illumina Spot |  Volcarona |
Two Volcarona appear in the Illumina Spot; both are normally surrounded by fire, in which state Illumina orbs cannot affect them. Striking a Volcarona with two fluffruits will cause its flames to disperse, whereupon it can be affected by Illumina orbs. After the Illumina state ends, Volcarona will depart, returning after again being surrounded by flames. |
| Durice Island Illumina Spot |  Steelix |
Steelix moves in and out of several holes throughout the Illumina Spot, and can be lured out by throwing Fluffruits into its hiding place. Unlike other Illumina Pokémon, it must be struck with multiple Illumina orbs in order for it to enter Illumina state. |
| Aurus Island Illumina Spot |  Xerneas |
Xerneas spends most of its time in the form of a ball of light while it travels through the Illumina Spot. Striking it with an Illumina orb will cause it to fully manifest, whereupon striking it with another will cause it to enter Illumina state. It will only remain fully manifested for a brief period before retaking the ball-of-light form. |
In other languages
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |
