Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

This article is about the game. For the animated special, see Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness.

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky ポケモン不思議のダンジョン　空の探検隊
Boxart of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky drawn by Ken Sugimori
Basic info
Platform:	Nintendo DS Wii U (Virtual Console)
Category:	Roguelite
Players:	1
Connectivity:	DS Wireless, Wi-Fi
Developer:	The Pokémon Company/Chunsoft
Publisher:	Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Part of:	Generation IV spin-off
Ratings
CERO:	A
ESRB:	E
ACB:	G
OFLC:	G
PEGI:	3
GRAC:	N/A
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	April 18, 2009 (DS) July 20, 2016 (Wii U VC)
North America:	October 12, 2009 (DS) June 23, 2016 (Wii U VC)
Australia:	November 12, 2009 August 18, 2016 (Wii U VC)
Europe:	November 20, 2009 August 18, 2016 (Wii U VC)
South Korea:	N/A
Hong Kong:	N/A
Taiwan:	April 18, 2009
Websites
Japanese:	Pokémon.co.jp Nintendo.co.jp
English:	Pokémon.com (US) Pokémon.com (UK) Nintendo.com
Japanese boxart Explorers of Sky Japanese boxart

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (Japanese: ポケモン不思議のダンジョン　空の探検隊 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky) is a game developed by Chunsoft. It is an enhanced version of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, similar to how Pokémon Platinum is an enhanced version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. It is the fifth entry in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. The game was first announced in CoroCoro, which released the first details in January 2009. It was officially released in Japan on April 18, 2009 and in North America on October 12, 2009.

The game was released for the Wii U Virtual Console in the United States on June 23, 2016, in Japan on July 20, 2016, and in Australia and Europe on August 18, 2016. The Virtual Console release became unavailable after the Wii U Nintendo eShop was discontinued on March 27, 2023.

New features

• Players can now play as four new hero Pokémon: Phanpy, Vulpix, Riolu, and Shinx. Munchlax and Meowth are no longer playable as the hero, and Eevee returns from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. Moreover, every hero Pokémon, in addition to Meowth and Munchlax, are available as partner Pokémon.
  • Skitty is no longer available as a male, as Shinx now occupies the Hasty nature for males.
  • Some of the hero and partner Pokémon can now start with an Egg Move.
• Players can now play the music used in the game with the Sky Jukebox.
• Five Special Episodes are introduced, which can be played beside the main game.
  • Poké stored in Duskull Bank and items stored in Kangaskhan Storage can be used in both the Special Episodes and the main game.
• There is a new place called Spinda's Café where the following can be found:
  • Spinda's Juice Bar grants access to several exclusive dungeons (Lush Prairie, Serenity River, Happy Outlook, Lost Wilderness, Destiny Tower), and it also allows players to make drinks out of food items.
  • Recycle Shop allows players to exchange excess items for other items. The more items exchanged, the better the items available will be. Players may also trade items for Prize Tickets (more kinds of tickets can be unlocked by a team's rank; for example, Silver Tickets are only available to teams in the Silver rank). Prize tickets can be used in a lottery, where the player gets to choose from three colors for the drawing (red, blue, and yellow). The player can sometimes get rare items this way.
  • The player's team recruits who are currently in the party can now be found in Spinda's Café instead of the crossroads (once it opens).
  • Job requests can also be found here, and can be accepted or rejected by talking to the client to the left of the exit.
  • Dungeons that were previously only attainable through special job requests available before graduation are now found in Spinda's Juice Bar and the Recycle Shop. The ones available post graduation are still unlocked this way.
• There is a new location called the Secret Bazaar which is found randomly in dungeons. It is run by Kirlia. The bazaar has several stalls found inside.
  • Mime Jr.'s stall restores the team's Health Points (HP), Power Points (PP), and fill the belly for 100 Poké.
  • Swalot's Grab Bag Shop gives players Grab Bags for 100 Poké. They may hold useful items inside them.
  • Lickilicky will clean the player's items in their inventory for 100 Poké.
  • Shedinja's gives players a chance to escape the dungeon sooner for 100 Poké.
• A new location, Shaymin Village, is unlocked after completion of the main game, featuring a tribe of Shaymin, where the player also allies with Team Frontier to reclaim the trail leading to the top of the nearby Sky Peak mountain. An accompanying Shaymin demonstrates its ability to instantly purify polluted environments, its use of the Gracidea to transform into its Sky Forme, and can be later recruited into the player's party.
• Players can find a statue of Arceus in a new dungeon called Destiny Tower. The story here involves a new item called the Space Globe.
• Players only lose half of their money when defeated in a dungeon, instead of all of it.
• Tradeable items can be traded for any others now, provided they are available at Croagunk's Swap Shop.
• Using DS Download Play, the player can send their friends a demo of the game.
• The Luxray and Luxio tribe that was the boss of Amp Plains has been replaced by the Manectric and Electrike tribe. This is possibly due to one of the hero and partner choices in this game being Shinx.
• A new item called the Sky Gift can be obtained in an area consisting of ten dungeons called Sky Peak Mountain Path.
• Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are now found in Southeastern Islands, Inferno Cave, and Treacherous Waters respectively and are no longer acquired with the Mystery Part and Secret Slab or in Final Maze. These dungeons are unlocked through random challenges in Spinda's Cafe, but the only way to get these challenges is to unlock the Secret Rank.
  • The same applies for Mewtwo, but it can be fought in Sky Stairway instead.
  • Jirachi is now fought in Star Cave, only accessible through Wonder Mail codes or Spinda's Café. The Special Episode "Bidoof's Wish" must be completed first.
• Occasionally, bottles containing job requests will wash up along the beach. Upon finding a bottle, the player has the option to take or reject the request. Rejected jobs remain on the beach until taken. However, if the player wants, they can accept the job and then delete it to remove the bottle.
• Some of the items found in a dungeon might not be what they seem to be. These items are called Lookalike Items. For example, a blue Berry found in a dungeon might not be of the healing Oran variety, but the damaging Oren.
• Outlaws may react to the player's appearance. While some just attack as normal, others are located in a Monster House, while others may run away, similarly to if a Foe-Fear Orb was used on them. Their reaction is hinted at by the title and description of the job.

Other minor differences

• Certain dialogue is slightly different; for example, when the player robs a Kecleon in Time/Darkness, he says, "Robbed! I've been robbed! Catch the thief!". In Sky, he says, "My precious merchandise! Catch the thief!" instead.
  • When weather is activated, the game now describes its effect, rather than simply telling its name. Additionally, fog and sandstorm apply different graphical effects to the screen.
  • The descriptions for Wonder Guard, Insomnia, Vital Spirit, Effect Spore, Synchronize, and Cute Charm are updated.
  • The descriptions for Natural Gift and Memento are updated.
• Vulpix, Graveler, Magnemite, Haunter, Eevee, Igglybuff, Smoochum, Grovyle, Jirachi, and Magmortar have slightly updated portraits.
• Wonder Mail is replaced with a new format called Wonder Mail S, which is not compatible with Time/Darkness, and making Time/Darkness Wonder Mail codes incompatible with Sky.
• In the beginning, when the game asks if the player has played Time/Darkness, and if the player answers yes, some dungeon Pokémon will have their recruitment rate doubled.
• The segment during the personality quiz in which the player's aura is identified now features artwork of the Aura Bow, which changes color from white to the player's aura color upon identification, rather than simply filling the top screen with the player's aura color.
• When the introduction screen for each chapter is shown, there is now an image in the background based on what will happen in that chapter.
• Certain scenes and maps had their special effects and/or visuals altered, such as Sentry Duty or the purely visual mist in Steam Cave.
• The amount of time it takes to save the player's game is shorter.
  • The game can be saved at the well near the entrance to Treasure Town.
  • When saving their game, the player can choose whether they want to continue playing or return to the main menu.
• When withdrawing or depositing items, storage capacity is displayed.
• When storing items, pressing the shoulder buttons together will select everything at once.
• Multiple items can be purchased from Kecleon in town by pressing the left shoulder button.
• It is possible to view which teammates can learn a selected TM.
• The IQ Skill a Pokémon will learn next is displayed on the status screen.
• Certain moves have been slightly modified, such as their base power.
  • Pokémon learnsets are changed to account for Platinum.
  • The move summary now displays approximation of their accuracy and power (if applicable).
  • Surf, Thunder, Psychic, Fire Blast, Megahorn, Focus Punch, Hydro Cannon, and Frenzy Plant are stronger.
  • Taunt affects Fling and Assist, but not Vacuum Cut.
  • Fissure received a new move animation.
• The Counter and Mirror Coat statuses are affected by the Physical/Special split.
• Storm Drain and Lightning Rod now draw moves only from the same room, rather than entire floor.
• Unown Stones are stronger (90 attack power instead of 60).
• Ginseng affects the topmost move instead of the set move.
• Two new traps are added: Random and Grudge.
• Tactics in a dungeon can be changed for the entire team at once.
• When the team leader tries to switch places with a teammate while they are on a terrain the teammate cannot normally walk on, the teammate will warp right back to the player, whereas in previous games, it would warp the teammate to a random spot.
• If a member of the player's party is damaged by weather, the damage animation no longer plays every turn.
• When the player recruits a Pokémon, and the team is full, it allows the player to choose who they would like to send back to the guild, instead of immediately sending the new recruit back. Likewise, the same goes if the player tries to do an escort mission and the team is full.
  • Additionally, a Pokémon who already has been recruited will have their name in orange, rather than the usual blue.
• Money rewards from jobs are now stated as the complete reward before it says that the team received its share of the reward.
  • When money appears in amounts of 1,000 Poké or more, it now includes a comma in the normal place.
• Additional Ranks are added.
  • Point rewards for A-Rank missions and above are increased.
• The hero and partner can evolve as soon as Marine Resort is unlocked.
• Giratina will appear in its Origin Forme in any of the newly-added dungeons.
• The player's held item is no longer unequipped at the end of the day.
• The theme "Crystal Cave" had one of its instruments changed.
• The ending theme "Memories Returned" has been extended slightly, to account for additional dialogue in the accompanying scene.
• A glitch may cause the game to softlock when evolving a Pokémon that has 10 characters in its name or nickname. This glitch is only present in North American and Australian releases of the game.

Plot

This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.

Main article: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness → Plot

Being a sister game to Explorers of Time and Darkness, Explorers of Sky has a similar plot with minor differences.

Special Episodes

Main article: Special Episode

During the course of the game, players can engage in various scenarios that expand upon the story of some of the different characters.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Episode	Title	Information
	How to Unlock
	Bidoof's Wish	The first episode features the past of the Bidoof in Wigglytuff's Guild just after he entered the guild. He goes to the Star Cave to have his wish granted by a Jirachi.
	Arrest Drowzee in Chapter 3
	Igglybuff the Prodigy	The second episode features Wigglytuff as an Igglybuff. It explores his past and explains how he became an explorer.
	Return to the Guild in Chapter 9
	Today's "Oh My Gosh"	The third episode features the fellow guild member, Sunflora. She was given a mission to seek out a Haunter but was apparently unprepared for what she was about to face.
	Come up with the plan to capture Grovyle in Chapter 13
	Here Comes Team Charm!	The fourth episode features Team Charm and their past. Team AWD can also be found here.
	Return from the future in Chapter 15
	In the Future of Darkness	The fifth episode is set in the dark future after Grovyle pushes Dusknoir back into the future. Grovyle and Dusknoir work together when Primal Dialga tries to get rid of them or so it seems...
	Graduate from Wigglytuff's Guild

Blurb

Now you can go beyond darkness...outside the limits of time...to the skies!
Be a Pokémon and experience the world in a whole new way! Learn more secrets of Time and Darkness...Journey with your friends on remarkable adventures and save the world!

Characters

Playable characters

In the beginning of the game, the player takes a personality quiz. The answers to these questions determine a nature, which along with the player's gender is used to decide the hero Pokémon that the player plays as. Certain Pokémon are only available to players who select a certain gender.

Pokémon		Nature		Egg Move
		Male	Female
	Bulbasaur	Lonely	Docile	—
	Charmander	Docile	Brave	—
	Squirtle	Quirky	Bold	—
	Pikachu	Brave	Hasty	—
	Vulpix	—	Relaxed	Faint Attack
	Meowth*	—	—	Hypnosis
	Eevee	—	Jolly	Flail
	Chikorita	Calm	Quiet	—
	Cyndaquil	Timid	Calm	—
	Totodile	Jolly	Sassy	—
	Phanpy	Relaxed	—	AncientPower
	Treecko	Quiet	Hardy	—
	Torchic	Hardy	Rash	—
	Mudkip	Rash	Lonely	—
	Skitty	—	Naive	Zen Headbutt
	Turtwig	Bold	Timid	—
	Chimchar	Naive	Impish	—
	Piplup	Impish	Quirky	—
	Shinx	Hasty	—	Quick Attack
	Munchlax*	—	—	Zen Headbutt
	Riolu	Sassy	—	Bite

After the player's hero Pokémon is determined, they then choose their partner Pokémon. Their choices of partner Pokémon are any of the Pokémon shown above, but they must be a different type to the hero. Meowth and Munchlax are only available as partner Pokémon.

Non-player characters

Main article: List of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky characters

Guild

Wigglytuff and Chatot

• Wigglytuff - Leader of the Wigglytuff Guild, known for his friendly, oblivious attitude and incredible power.
• Chatot - Wigglytuff's assistant, whom assigns jobs to the guild as a whole on a daily basis, as well as taking charge when Wigglytuff dozes off.
• Loudred - A guard for Wigglytuff's guild, working alongside Diglett to ensure no unwelcome visitors enter. He uses his loud voice for this task and is also the guild's alarm clock as he wakes the hero and partner in the mornings. He is roommates with Corphish and Bidoof.
• Diglett - Son of Dugtrio. A guard for Wigglytuff's Guild, Diglett assists Loudred in ensuring no unwelcome visitors enter. He identifies visitors by examining their footprints from underneath a grate in front of the entrance. Loudred keeps him aware of any incoming visitors.
• Dugtrio - Diglett's father; Calm and trustworthy, Dugtrio keeps the bulletin board current with the latest jobs. Dugtrio wishes to conquer his fear of water, and can be found at Sharpedo Bluff and alongside the Beach.
• Chimecho - A pokemon with a cheery but focused disposition, Chimecho runs the Chimecho Assembly on the first floor of the guild and is responsible for catering for the Guild, calling everyone for dinner each evening. She can be summoned with a bell added by the watering hole at Treasure Town Crossroads to adjust team layout. She shares a room with Sunflora.
• Croagunk - Croagunk runs the guild's swap shop from his cauldron on the bottom-most floor, and is known for his signature phrase 'meh-heh-heh...'
• Sunflora - Sunflora is the senior member of the apprentices and is always happy and seems to cheer people up easily. She is optimistic and keeps a journal by her bedside, and often uses the phrase 'Oh My Gosh!' in varying forms. Sunflora and Chimecho share a room in the Guild.
• Corphish - Corphish is very high-spirited and is usually quick to trust the hero in high-stress situations. He has a tendency to start nearly all of his sentences with the phrase "Hey, hey!". He is roommates with Loudred and Bidoof.
• Bidoof - Bidoof was the newest guild member prior to the hero and partner's arrival. He keeps a journal at his bedside. Bidoof also has a habit of saying "yup yup" and "by golly," similar to Corphish's manner of speaking. He is roommates with Corphish and Loudred.

Treasure Town

• Kangaskhan - As in previous Mystery Dungeon series, she will store items in Kangaskhan Storage for the player, though this time around there is a storage limit. The limit can be increased through story progression and explorer rank badge tiers, up to a maximum of 1000 items.
• Xatu - Xatu runs a shop where he will tell you what's in your Treasure Box - for a price.
• Kecleon - As in previous Mystery Dungeon series, the green and purple Kecleon Brothers run two shops. The green brother on the left specialises in consumables and equipment, and the purple brother on the right specialises in Wonder Orbs and TMs. The purple brother may occasionally stock Keys. They share a shopfront, but you speak to each brother individually to purchase goods.
• Duskull - Operates the Duskull Bank where the player can store their extra cash, forming a similar function to the Felicity Bank run by Persian in the Rescue Team games.
• Electivire - Electivire will link moves and allow the player to relearn forgotten moves, taking the place of Gulpin from the Rescue Team games.
• Chansey - Chansey runs the Day Care, and she will take care of eggs received from missions and other sources. She only handles one egg at a time.
• Marowak - Marowak runs the dojo where you can train and improve your battle skills, serving an equivalent role to Makuhita of the Rescue Team games. Marowak inherited the Dojo from his Grandfather at some point prior to the games beginning.
• Magnezone - The leader of the local police force, Sheriff Magnezone and their Deputy Magnemites deal with outlaws and speak with an all caps 'loud' formal voice, and often say things such as 'Bzz-bzz'. They appear in the story on multiple occasions and post outlaw cases on the righthand mission board, requesting assistance with difficult outlaws. They may occasionally request to join the player in capturing outlaws.

Exploration Teams

• Team Razor Wind
  • Zangoose
  • Scyther
  • Sandslash
• Team Seedgey
  • Pidgey
  • Seedot
• Team Glee
  • Togepi
  • Politoed
  • Ledyba
• Team Skull
  • Skuntank
  • Koffing
  • Zubat
• Team Charm
  • Lopunny
  • Gardevoir
  • Medicham
• Team Tasty
  • Swellow
  • Wurmple
• Team Poochy
  • Poochyena ×3
• Team Ebony
  • Shuppet
  • Murkrow
• Team Slacker
  • Slakoth
  • Slowpoke
• Team Flame
  • Camerupt
  • Ponyta
  • Bellsprout
• Team AWD (Japanese: 盗賊団MAD Team MAD)
  • Arbok
  • Weavile
  • Drapion
• Team Raider
  • Gallade
  • Roserade
  • Rhyperior

Bosses

While most of the Bosses in this game are the standard legendaries, there are some average Pokémon added to the mix. Unlike previous Mystery Dungeon games, the player may encounter multiple opponents that appear in certain dungeons. The following is a list of boss battles and their Dungeons, in storyline order.

Bosses		Level	Dungeon
Main Story
	Koffing and Zubat	6 3	Beach Cave (Pit)
	Drowzee	12	Mt. Bristle (Peak)
	Groudon (Fake)	30	Steam Cave (16F)
	Manectric and Electrike ×8 Amp Plains tribes	33 18	Amp Plains (20F)
	Mesprit	18	Quicksand Cave (B21F)
	Grovyle	44	Crystal Crossing (B14F)
	Spiritomb	37	Sealed Ruin (Deep)
	Kabutops Omastar ×2	42 35	Brine Cave (Lower)
	Dusknoir Sableye ×6	45 38	Hidden Land (Old Ruins)
	Primal Dialga	48	Temporal Tower (Pinnacle)
Post-Story
	Uxie	42	Steam Cave (16F)
	Mesprit	42	Quicksand Cave (B21F)
	Azelf	42	Crystal Crossing (B14F)
	Dialga	48	Temporal Tower (Pinnacle)
	Wigglytuff Wigglytuff's Guild	50	Mystifying Forest (14F)
	Froslass	41	Crevice Cave (Pit)
	Gyarados	46	Deep Miracle Sea (4F)
	Regigigas Hitmonlee ×4 Bronzong ×4	49 35 35	Aegis Cave Pit (Regigigas's Chamber)
	Palkia	48	Spacial Rift (Bottom)
	Darkrai Aggron Arbok Magcargo Magmortar Mismagius Rhyperior	53 36 36 36 36 35 36	Dark Crater (Bottom)

Connectivity

This game is capable of trading items with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness. Rescues may also be carried out between the three. If a rescue mail is sent from Sky to Time or Darkness, the mail will appear to have come from either Time or Darkness.

Reception

Gaming magazine Famitsu gave Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky a score of 35 out of 40. IGN rated the game a "Bad" 4.9/10. It holds a rating of 55.84% on GameRankings, based on 19 reviews.

Sales

As of March 31, 2010, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky has sold 1.40 million copies worldwide.

Japanese sales

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky sold 141,771 units on its first week on the Japanese market, with a sell-through of 39.28%. By January 2, 2011, the end of its 90th week, it had sold 411,649 copies.

Week	Week ending	Ranking	Units sold	Total units sold
1	April 19, 2009	1st	141,771	141,771
2	April 26, 2009	2nd	54,413	196,184
3	May 3, 2009	5th	42,950	239,134
4	May 10, 2009	1st	44,012	283,146
5	May 17, 2009	4th	15,569	298,715
6	May 24, 2009	7th	12,082	310,797
7	May 31, 2009	14th	-	-
8	June 7, 2009	11th	-	-
9	June 14, 2009	11th	-	-
10	June 21, 2009	11th	-	-
11	June 28, 2009	24th	-	-
12	July 5, 2009	22nd	-	-
13	July 12, 2009	20th	-	-
14	July 19, 2009	20th	-	-
15	July 26, 2009	29th	-	-
16	August 2, 2009	44th	-	-
17	August 9, 2009	44th	-	-
18	August 16, 2009	40th	-	-
38	January 3, 2010	39th	-	400,755
90	January 2, 2011	-	-	411,649

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

Gallery

• 
  Japanese logo
• 
  English logo
• 
  European game cover
• 
  The new hero Pokémon (and Skitty)
• 
  Grovyle and a Time Gear
• 
  Exploration of Mt. Horn, featuring Shinx, Vulpix, and Bidoof.
• 
  Chimchar and Phanpy helping an Oddish
• 
  Squirtle and Vulpix standing before a crystal in Crystal Cave
• 
  Giratina (Origin Forme), Riolu, and Pikachu explore a dungeon
• 
  Sky Jukebox
• 
  Using the Sky Jukebox
• 
  A message in a bottle
• 
  Destiny Tower artwork
• 
  Arceus statue at the top of Destiny Tower

Virtual Console icons

• 
  Wii U Virtual Console icon (English)
• 
  Wii U Virtual Console icon (Japanese)

Trivia

• This is the first and only sister game in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series.

In other languages

Language		Title
French		Pokémon Donjon Mystère: Explorateurs du Ciel
German		Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Erkundungsteam Himmel
Italian		Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Esploratori del Cielo
Spanish		Pokémon Mundo misterioso: Exploradores del cielo

External links

• Official PDF-file instruction manual for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (English)

Related articles

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