Rifts & Migrations

Rifts and migrations are surprise events in the overworld. A message in chat tells you where one just opened, and you have 10 minutes to get there and catch one of its Pokemon. Some are full of shinies, some are full of strong battlers, and some bring a group of legendaries through.

The short version

• Watch chat. The message gives you the event and its coordinates.
• Follow the bar at the top of your screen. It counts down and tells you how far away you are.
• You can catch one Pokemon from each event, so look around before you throw.
• You can battle them, but nothing else hurts them.
• They only happen while at least two players are online.

The four kinds

A Legendary Migration takes its name from what is in it, so you may see a Mythical, Ultra Beast or Paradox Migration instead. The chat message always tells you the species. Here is what two of them look like:

Getting there

1. Note the coordinates from the chat message.
2. Follow the bar. It shows the time left and how many blocks away you are. If the number goes up, you are heading the wrong way.
3. Look for the glow. Event Pokemon have a colored outline you can see through trees and hills, and a ring of particles marks the area.

Events usually open fairly close to someone who is online, so they are often within flying distance. If the area looks empty as you approach, keep going: the Pokemon appear once the first player gets close.

Making your catch

• Pick before you throw. Once you catch a Pokemon from an event, your Poke Balls won't work on the rest of that event. A ball that breaks free doesn't count, so keep trying.
• Battle to weaken them, the same as any wild Pokemon. Just watch their HP: if one is knocked out, it is gone for everyone.
• Nothing else can hurt them. Swords, arrows, fire and explosions do nothing, so nobody can clear the area out before you arrive.
• They don't come back. Once every Pokemon in an event is caught or knocked out, the event ends early.
• Normal catching is untouched. Regular wild Pokemon nearby don't count toward your one catch.

Events on the water

In a migration, Water-type Pokemon always spawn out on the water, not along the shore. Every Water Migration happens over open water, and so do migrations of Kyogre, Lugia, Manaphy, Phione and Tapu Fini. Bring something that flies or swims fast.

Common questions

How often do they happen? There is no schedule. They are random, never back to back, and only while two or more players are online. On a busy day you might see several.

Can I start one? No. Every event is random, and nobody can buy one.

What happens to the ones nobody catches? When the 10 minutes are up, the event ends and whatever is left disappears.

Do they happen in other dimensions? No, only in the overworld.

What a Type Migration can bring

Each type has its own list, and one migration never repeats a species. Pokemon that don't normally spawn in the wild show up at level 60 to 70.

18 Pokemon

SnorlaxBlisseySlakingPorygon-ZKangaskhanTaurosUrsalunaLopunnyStaraptorPidgeotExploudAmbipomZangooseMiltankDittoEeveeBewearBraviary

18 Pokemon

CharizardTyphlosionBlazikenInfernapeEmboarDelphoxIncineroarCinderaceSkeledirgeArcanineNinetalesRapidashMagmortarHoundoomChandelureVolcaronaTalonflameFlareon

19 Pokemon

BlastoiseFeraligatrSwampertEmpoleonSamurottGreninjaPrimarinaInteleonQuaquavalGyaradosLaprasMiloticVaporeonKingdraStarmieAzumarillSlowbroToxapexDewgong

19 Pokemon

VenusaurMeganiumSceptileTorterraSerperiorChesnaughtDecidueyeRillaboomMeowscaradaLeafeonRoseradeBreloomFerrothornTangrowthExeggutorLilligantWhimsicottAbomasnowAmoonguss

17 Pokemon

PikachuRaichuJolteonAmpharosElectivireMagnezoneLuxrayRotomZebstrikaEelektrossGalvantulaToxtricityPawmotManectricVikavoltLanturnKilowattrel

17 Pokemon

LaprasGlaceonMamoswineWeavileFroslassAbomasnowGlalieWalreinCloysterJynxAvaluggBearticVanilluxeFrosmothBaxcaliburCetitanDewgong

18 Pokemon

MachampLucarioConkeldurrHitmonleeHitmonchanHitmontopGalladeHeracrossMedichamHariyamaToxicroakMienshaoHawluchaKommo-oAnnihilapePoliwrathSirfetch'dBreloom

18 Pokemon

GengarNidokingNidoqueenCrobatMukWeezingArbokToxapexSalazzleToxicroakRoseradeDrapionScolipedeDragalgeSkuntankTentacruelVileplumeGlimmora

18 Pokemon

GarchompExcadrillKrookodileHippowdonDonphanRhyperiorGliscorFlygonGolurkDugtrioSandslashSteelixGastrodonClaydolMudsdaleGolemUrsalunaClodsire

19 Pokemon

CharizardDragoniteGyaradosSalamenceTogekissStaraptorPidgeotCrobatAerodactylSkarmoryTalonflameCorviknightNoivernBraviaryAltariaHonchkrowSwellowToucannonGliscor

19 Pokemon

AlakazamEspeonGardevoirGalladeMetagrossSlowbroSlowkingStarmieBronzongReuniclusGothitelleHattereneEspathraXatuMr. MimeWobbuffetDelphoxArmarougeMalamar

18 Pokemon

ScizorHeracrossVolcaronaPinsirScytherButterfreeBeedrillGalvantulaVikavoltYanmegaForretressShuckleArmaldoGolisopodCentiskorchFrosmothKleavorEscavalier

19 Pokemon

TyranitarAerodactylGolemRhyperiorGigalithKabutopsOmastarAggronLycanrocGarganaclCoalossalTyrantrumAurorusCradilyRampardosBastiodonArcheopsSudowoodoGlimmora

19 Pokemon

GengarMimikyuChandelureDragapultAegislashBanetteDusknoirFroslassMismagiusSableyeSpiritombTrevenantGourgeistCofagrigusJellicentCeruledgePolteageistDrifblimHoundstone

19 Pokemon

DragoniteGarchompSalamenceHydreigonHaxorusDragapultGoodraKommo-oKingdraFlygonAltariaNoivernTyrantrumDruddigonBaxcaliburDuraludonDrampaTurtonatorTatsugiri

18 Pokemon

TyranitarUmbreonWeavileHoundoomAbsolHonchkrowHydreigonKrookodileKingambitZoroarkMandibuzzGrimmsnarlObstagoonDrapionCrawdauntSharpedoMabosstiffGreninja

19 Pokemon

MetagrossScizorLucarioAggronSteelixSkarmoryExcadrillMagnezoneBronzongFerrothornAegislashCorviknightKingambitMawileCopperajahTinkatonGholdengoKlinklangEmpoleon

19 Pokemon

GardevoirSylveonTogekissClefableWigglytuffGranbullMimikyuHattereneGrimmsnarlTinkatonAzumarillWhimsicottFlorgesAromatisseSlurpuffRibombeeAlcremieKlefkiPrimarina