Roaming Pokemon

Raikou and Entei roam over Johto after you free the three Beasts, which is mandatory for challenging Morty, as in vanilla.

The roaming mechanics is much like vanilla's: see the vanilla hunting guide for details. Note that Polished Crystal has added a Gate between Violet and Route 36 as in HG/SS, so you'll have to tweak the vanilla hunting strategy.

Uncaught, knocked-out roamers will now respawn at a higher level when you beat the Champion. Although Suicune is initially stationary at Tin Tower, it'll respawn as a roamer in the same way if it faints. In addition, releasing a caught roamer now makes it respawnable, which is practically a re-roll.

List of Roamers

• Raikou, Lv. 40: Roar, Quick Attack, Spark, Reflect
  • Respawn - Lv. 50: Spark, Reflect, Crunch, Wild Charge
• Entei, Lv. 40: Roar, Fire Spin, Stomp, Flamethrower
  • Respawn - Lv. 50: Stomp, Flamethrower, Swagger, Flame Charge
• Suicune, only on respawn — Lv. 50: Aurora Beam, Light Screen, Mirror Coat, Air Slash

Preparations and Catching Strats

{{stub}}

• Master Ball(s) at the top of the Bag: two copies available throughout the game, besides the Lucky Number prizes
• Repels
• Lv. 25–40 Synchronize Xatu with Teleport and Fly

Notes:

• Xatu serves best to Teleport or Fly, to work with Repels, and to Synchronize (now effective on roamers) at the same time.
• For attempts without the Master Ball, throw a Quick Ball instead.
• There's a known issue where Soundproof doesn't properly block Roar, unfortunately.
  • Workaround: defeat the roamers and enter the Hall of Fame to make them respawn without Roar.
  • Once it's fixed, Soundproof Wigglytuff with Mean Look (available only on Modified) will be the best wall against the Roaring roamers, while also dealing damage to them and putting them to sleep. Have the Xatu fainted in the lead, followed by the Wigglytuff.

Finding Strats

Post-game Eusine will give you the roamers' Pokédex entries at Celadon.

Encounters without Pokédex Entries

1. Lead with the Xatu.
2. Fly to Mahogany.
3. Go west to R42, spend a Repel, and run/bike around the grass for 20 seconds.
4. For refreshes, Fly to Violet and go south to R32 for another 20-second search.
5. Fly back to Mahogany and try R42 again.
6. Repeat the refreshes and the searches until you encounter the target.

Encounters with Pokédex Entries

{{stub}}

1. Visit the Violet Pokémon Center.
2. Lead with the Xatu.
3. Look up the target's location in the Pokédex outside the Pokémon Center:
   1. R29, R31, or R35, then go through the eastern Gate to R31;
   2. R30, R34, R36, R38, or R42, then through the western Gate to R36;
   3. R32, then to either R31 or R36;
   4. R33, then to R32;
   5. Otherwise, use Teleport. (From Violet to Violet!)
4. At the Route, check the Pokédex again to see if the target and you are in the same place. Repel and encounter the target.
5. If not:
   1. If you're at R31 and the target at R29, go to R30 for the second chance;
   2. If you're at R36 and the target at R38 or R42, go to R37 for the second chance;
   3. Otherwise, Teleport back to Violet and, for refreshes, enter and exit the Pokémon Center before looking at the Pokédex for another try.

Trivia

• The Violet-R36 Gate was introduced in HG/SS alongside a new roaming mechanics where Gates weren't impactful.