Mirage Rifts and alphas
Look for a purple tear on the Town Map. Walk to it on the marked route and interact to enter a shared biome. A rift stays open for 20 minutes. You can leave through the portal at the arrival point. When time runs out, players still inside return to where they entered.
When and where do rifts open?
Each open region has its own timer when rifts are enabled. Its next opening comes one to six hours after its last rift closes. A region can have one rift at a time. There are ten biome maps, including plains, meadow, forest, wetland, rocky beach, volcano and meteor crater. A portal appears on a route, and players who step through that portal share the same biome.
What can I catch?
Each opening rolls a new pool suited to the biome. It aims for about 25 species across land and, where available, water. The pool mixes familiar species with rarer finds from generations 6–9, regional forms and older Pokémon without a regional wild home. A biome with fewer matching species can have a smaller pool.
| Method | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Grass or cave floor | The rift’s swarm takes 40% of grass encounters when present. The ordinary land pool rolls its rare group at 15% when both groups are available. |
| Surf | Water biomes have a separate pool. A surf encounter rolls its rare group at 15% when both groups are available. |
| Fishing | On a bite, the rare-group roll is 5% with the Old Rod, 15% with the Good Rod and 25% with the Super Rod. |
| Rock Smash | Each biome has four rocks. A smash has a 50% chance of starting a battle. Your region of entry determines the badge requirement. |
Ordinary wilds generally sit two to seven levels below your regional gym cap. After Champion, their range is 55–65. Alphas have their own level range.
The rift swarm
Every ordinary opening rolls a swarm, with a 50% chance of a second species. Each visitor gets their own visible Pokémon. The ordinary walkers have at least two perfect IVs. The alpha stands out with a red glow, ranges from level 65 to 85, and has at least three perfect IVs. Its combat stats rise on the first, third and subsequent odd-numbered failed throws, up to six stages. Catching or defeating a walker removes it for you. Running lets you try it again while the rift lasts.
For the other kind of outbreak, see overworld swarms and their locations.
What about Mirage Island?
Hoenn’s Mirage Island is a separate discovery on Route 130. Ask the watcher in Pacifidlog whether it’s visible for your party that day. A match between the day’s number and a Pokémon in your party reveals the island when you enter the route. Watch for Wynaut in the grass and the Liechi Berry tree. Other players can see open sea in the same place.
Where is Mirage Tower?
In Hoenn, look in the desert on Route 111. Before you’ve taken its fossil, the tower can appear when you enter the route. Climb to the fourth floor to choose the Root Fossil or the Claw Fossil. Taking one causes the tower to collapse. This is a Hoenn story event with a lasting choice.