What is the Wild Area?
The Wild Area is the big open area in the Galar Region. It's connected to multiple towns and cities and features a diverse range of locations and styles including torn apart areas, lakes, fields and more.
This area has full camera control and allows for you to explore unincumbered by restrictions in the areas. However, you will often find Pokémon higher than you can catch it. These can be good to battle for experience but will not be able to be caught or be shiny.
Throughout the Wild Area you may also find Pokémon Dens that house Max Raid Battles.
Pokémon Galore
You will encounter wild Pokémon on the field in the Wild Areas. However, the Pokémon you encounter will vary depending on your location in the Wild Area as well as the weather. If it's raining, for example, more Water-type Pokémon will appear
Some Pokémon you will meet in the Wild Area include:
- - Pikachu
- - Snorlax
- - Gyrados
- - Butterfree
Pokémon typically react differently to you based on the species. Some will charge at you, others will run away. You can approach them slowly using the Control Stick or whistle to attract their attention.
Weather
The weather in the Wild Area determines which wild Pokémon can appear and, in some cases, which weather conditions and terrain appear in battle. The weather varies between subareas, and while neighboring subeareas can share the same weather, the weather in each is independently determined. However, since symbol encounters and wanderers spawn based on the weather currently experienced by players, it is possible for the weather of one subarea to affect these spawns in another subarea if players are near the border between them. The weather across the entire Wild Area changes each day at midnight.
Max Raid Battles
While in the Wild Area, you may come across glowing Pokemon Dens. When this spot gives off a pillar of light, it means a Dynamax Pokemon is hiding there.
Approaching the Pokemon Den and interacting with it will let you challenge the Dynamax Pokemon inside, which will vary by species and strength based on location and weather. You won't know exactly what the Pokemon inside is, but you'll be given a shadow outline of that Pokemon as well as its type.
