Roaming Pokémon

Roaming Pokémon is a feature first introduced in Generation II. Roaming Pokémon are Legendary Pokémon that appear randomly across a certain region and do not remain stationary unlike most other Legendary Pokémon. When encountered, they will attempt to flee in every turn of the battle unless Mean Look, Block, or Spider Web is used before they flee, or if the player's lead Pokémon has a trapping ability such as Shadow Tag or Arena Trap, preventing their escape.

When they are encountered and escape, they will go to a different route. Some roaming Pokémon will automatically go to a different area when other Pokémon are encountered when the player is close to them. Any damage from previous encounters carries over the next battle, including statuses.

In Generation II and III games, the player can track their ever-changing locations by checking their location in the Pokédex. In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Roaming Pokémon can be tracked using the Marking Map Pokétch App. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, they can be tracked using the same method as in Generation II and III games. In Generation V games, Roaming Pokémon can be tracked by checking the Bulletin Boards for strange weather.

In Pokémon Platinum and on, if the Roaming Pokémon is defeated, the player can respawn the Pokémon by defeating the Elite Four again and triggering any events that were required to start the roaming.

Capture methods

The most efficient way to catch a roaming Pokémon is to simply use a Master Ball the moment it is encountered, as they are by far the most difficult legendary Pokémon to capture given the frustration and tedious process of even encountering it in the first place. Aside from the Master Ball, it is recommended to have a fast, high-Level Pokémon with a trapping move or Ability such as Mean Look, as well as the usual False Swipe and non-damaging status move. One example of a Pokémon that can obtain all of these is Smeargle.

Upon encountering a roaming Pokémon, you must use your trapping move immediately to prevent them from fleeing, and only then beginning the usual process of reducing their HP to nearly zero, afflicting them with with the relevant status condition, and throwing many Poké Balls (Dusk Balls at night are generally recommended).

The fact that damage and status carry over between encounters can be used to the player's advantage to make the Quick Ball uniquely effective, as it is the only situation where the low-HP, status, and massive Quick Ball catch rate boost can all be used at once. To do this, allow the roaming Pokémon to flee after reducing their HP and inflicting status, then encounter them again and throw a Quick Ball on the first turn. Note that the roaming Pokémon will flee right after this, unless your lead Pokémon happens to have a trapping Ability such as Shadow Tag.

Pokémon

Generation II

Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Raikou	Encountered at Burned Tower	40	Gold, Silver and Crystal
Entei	Encountered at Burned Tower	40	Gold, Silver and Crystal
Suicune	Encountered at Burned Tower	40	Gold and Silver

Generation III

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Latias	Defeat the Elite Four	40	Sapphire and Emerald
Latios	Defeat the Elite Four	40	Ruby and Emerald

FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game	Conditions
Raikou	Actives after Lorelei returns to the Elite Four	50	FireRed and LeafGreen	Squirtle as a starter
Entei	Actives after Lorelei returns to the Elite Four	50	FireRed and LeafGreen	Bulbasaur as a starter
Suicune	Actives after Lorelei returns to the Elite Four	50	FireRed and LeafGreen	Charmander as a starter

Generation IV

Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Articuno	Talk to Professor Oak in Eterna City	60	Platinum
Zapdos	Talk to Professor Oak in Eterna City	60	Platinum
Moltres	Talk to Professor Oak in Eterna City	60	Platinum
Mesprit	Encounter at Lake Verity	50	Diamond, Pearl and Platinum
Cresselia	Encounter at Fullmoon Island	50	Diamond, Pearl and Platinum

HeartGold and SoulSilver

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Raikou	Encounter at Burned Tower	40	HeartGold & SoulSilver
Entei	Encounter at Burned Tower	40	HeartGold & SoulSilver
Latias	Deliver Copycat's doll	35	HeartGold
Latios	Deliver Copycat's doll	35	SoulSilver

Generation V

Black and White

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Tornadus	Obtain the Legend Badge and go through the Route 10 gate	40	Black
Thundurus	Obtain the Legend Badge and go through the Route 10 gate	40	White

Generation VI

X and Y

Instead of battling for a while before fleeing, these Pokémon immediately flees when encountered. The Pokémon eventually settles at Sea Spirit's Den where it can be battled.

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Articuno	Defeat the Pokémon League, depending on the starter Pokémon	70	X & Y
Zapdos	Defeat the Pokémon League, depending on the starter Pokémon	70	X & Y
Moltres	Defeat the Pokémon League, depending on the starter Pokémon	70	X & Y

Generation VIII

Sword and Shield Expansion Pass: The Crown Tundra

The roaming Pokémon are now seen in the overworld instead, like normal overworld encounters. They also have different mechanics:

• Galarian Articuno roams the Crown Tundra. It stops in front of the player and makes two clones. The right one will flap its wings, then spin with the other two clones. If the player gets close to the rignt one, Articuno will soon teleport right in front of the player; otherwise, it flies away and begins to roam again.
• Galarian Zapdos roams the Wild Area. It runs away from the player at high speeds, but stops running after being chased for a while.
• Galarian Moltres roams the Isle of Armor. It is usually unaware of the player, but if the player passes in front of it, it makes a cry and attacks the player.

Pokémon	Method for encounter	Level	Game
Articuno	Story: A Legendary Tree of a Legendary Three!	70	SWSHCT
Zapdos		70	SWSHCT
Moltres		70	SWSHCT