How do the seasons change Pokemon on Unova routes?

Unova cycles through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with each real month counting as one season. Some route Pokemon only appear in certain seasons, and Deerling and Sawsbuck even switch color and form, so it's worth revisiting a route across the year.

Does winter change where I can go in Unova?

Yes. In winter, deep snow piles up so you can reach ledges and item spots that stay blocked in other seasons, mostly around the snowy Icirrus City, Route 8, and Twist Mountain area. That same snow covers some Twist Mountain cave entrances and freezes puddles into ice tiles, so a few paths close as others open.

Black & White Route 4

Half desert, half construction site. Sandstorms scour the skeleton streets while the work crews wait on weather that never clears, and Castelia's skyline fades fast behind you.

Route 4 is in Unova, with Nimbasa City to the north. In the story you arrive from Castelia City to the south and continue west to Desert Resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

Type Coverage

Water-Heavy AreaBring Electric or Grass type

WATER10GROUND2DARK1FIRE1

Only Found Here· 5

Pokemon Encounters

Sandile and Darumaka split the sand at 40% each, two of the hardest-hitting story attackers on offer, with Scraggy behind them at 20%. The post-game rod turns up Relicanth at 60% in the ripples, plus the Clamperl line's version split at 5%.

Type

Grass3

#554Darumaka

40% - Lv 15–18

#551Sandile

40% - Lv 15–18

#559Scraggy

20% - Lv 16–17

Surf3

#592Frillish

100% - Lv 5–15

#594Alomomola

95% - Lv 5–20

Shaking/Bubbling spots

#593Jellicent

5% - Lv 5–20

Shaking/Bubbling spots

Fish8

Super Rod8

#098Krabby

65% - Lv 35–55

#369Relicanth

60% - Lv 35–60

Shaking/Bubbling spots

#366Clamperl

30% - Lv 35–55

#370Luvdisc

5% - Lv 35–60

Shaking/Bubbling spots

#368Gorebyss

5% - Lv 45–70

Shaking/Bubbling spots

White

#367Huntail

5% - Lv 45–70

Shaking/Bubbling spots

Black

#099Kingler

5% - Lv 35–70

Shaking/Bubbling spots

#370Luvdisc

5% - Lv 35–55

#592

Frillish

WaterGhost

Evolves into Jellicent at Lv 40

Encounter rate

100% Common

Level

5–15

EV yield

1 Sp. Def

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Frillish — about 36s of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~36s-54s

to catch one

Poke Ball37%

Great Ball51%

Ultra Ball62%

Nuzlocke

100%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Sp. Def

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected40h 58m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 4 other locations

Driftveil CityLv 10–25

100%P2 LaboratoryLv 5–15

#594

Alomomola

Water

Encounter rate

95% Common

Level

5–20

EV yield

2 HP

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Alomomola — about 36s of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-4m

to catch one

Poke Ball18%

Great Ball25%

Ultra Ball31%

Nuzlocke

95%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - HP

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected43h 7m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 4 other locations

Driftveil CityLv 10–30

95%P2 LaboratoryLv 5–20

#098

Krabby

Water

Evolves into Kingler at Lv 28

Encounter rate

65% Common

Level

35–55

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Krabby — about 54s of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~54s-2m

to catch one

Poke Ball42%

Great Ball57%

Ultra Ball70%

Nuzlocke

65%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected63h 1m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 2 other locations

Route 13Lv 35–55

65%Driftveil CityLv 35–55

55%

Krabby page →

#369

Relicanth

WaterRock

Encounter rate

60% Common

Level

35–60

EV yield

1 HP, 1 Defense

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Relicanth — about 54s of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~5m-8m

to catch one

Poke Ball8%

Great Ball11%

Ultra Ball13%

Nuzlocke

60%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - HP, 1 Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected68h 16m

Charm1/2,731

Relicanth only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Relicanth page →

#554

Darumaka

Fire

Evolves into Darmanitan at Lv 35

Encounter rate

40% Common

Level

15–18

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Darumaka — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-4m

to catch one

Poke Ball26%

Great Ball36%

Ultra Ball44%

Nuzlocke

40%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected102h 24m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 1 other location

Desert ResortLv 19–20

30%

Darumaka page →

#551

Sandile

GroundDark

Evolves into Krokorok at Lv 29

Encounter rate

40% Common

Level

15–18

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Sandile — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-3m

to catch one

Poke Ball36%

Great Ball49%

Ultra Ball60%

Nuzlocke

40%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected102h 24m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 2 other locations

Relic CastleLv 19–22

50%Desert ResortLv 19–22

40%

Sandile page →

#449

Hippopotas

Ground

Evolves into Hippowdon at Lv 34

Encounter rate

40% Common

Level

EV yield

1 Defense

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Hippopotas — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-3m

to catch one

Poke Ball29%

Great Ball40%

Ultra Ball50%

Nuzlocke

40%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected102h 24m

Charm1/2,731

Hippopotas only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Hippopotas page →

#366

Clamperl

Water

Evolves into Huntail via trade

Encounter rate

30% Common

Level

35–55

EV yield

1 Defense

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Clamperl — about 1m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-3m

to catch one

Poke Ball47%

Great Ball62%

Ultra Ball77%

Nuzlocke

30%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected136h 32m

Charm1/2,731

Clamperl only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Clamperl page →

#559

Scraggy

DarkFighting

Evolves into Scrafty at Lv 39

Encounter rate

20% Uncommon

Level

16–17

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 5wild encounters

will be Scraggy — about 2m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~3m-4m

to catch one

Poke Ball36%

Great Ball49%

Ultra Ball60%

Nuzlocke

20%

first wild (est.)

TierMid

PickRisky

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected204h 48m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 4 other locations

Route 18Lv 28–35

40%Route 1Lv 33–35

25%P2 LaboratoryLv 29–31

14%Desert ResortLv 20–20

10%

Scraggy page →

#370

Luvdisc

Water

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

35–60

EV yield

1 Speed

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Luvdisc — about 20m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~9m-14m

to catch one

Poke Ball42%

Great Ball57%

Ultra Ball70%

Nuzlocke

first wild (est.)

TierLow

PickLottery

EV - Speed

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected819h 12m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 4 other locations

Driftveil CityLv 35–60

5%Route 13Lv 35–60

5%Undella BayLv 35–60

5%Undella TownLv 35–60

Luvdisc page →

#368White exclusive

Gorebyss

Water

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

45–70

EV yield

2 Sp. Atk

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Gorebyss — about 20m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~23m-38m

to catch one

Poke Ball16%

Great Ball21%

Ultra Ball26%

Nuzlocke

first wild (est.)

TierLow

PickLottery

EV - Sp. Atk

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected819h 12m

Charm1/2,731

Gorebyss only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Gorebyss page →

#367Black exclusive

Huntail

Water

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

45–70

EV yield

1 Attack, 1 Defense

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Huntail — about 20m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~23m-38m

to catch one

Poke Ball16%

Great Ball21%

Ultra Ball26%

Nuzlocke

first wild (est.)

TierLow

PickLottery

EV - Attack, 1 Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected819h 12m

Charm1/2,731

Huntail only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Huntail page →

#099

Kingler

Water

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

35–70

EV yield

2 Attack

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Kingler — about 20m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~23m-38m

to catch one

Poke Ball16%

Great Ball21%

Ultra Ball26%

Nuzlocke

first wild (est.)

TierLow

PickLottery

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected819h 12m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 2 other locations

Driftveil CityLv 35–70

5%Route 13Lv 35–70

Kingler page →

#370

Luvdisc

Water

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

35–55

EV yield

1 Speed

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Luvdisc — about 20m of fishing to catch one.

Luvdisc page →

#593

Jellicent

WaterGhost

Encounter rate

5% V.Rare

Level

5–20

EV yield

2 Sp. Def

+10

1 in 20wild encounters

will be Jellicent — about 20m of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~23m-38m

to catch one

Poke Ball16%

Great Ball21%

Ultra Ball26%

Nuzlocke

first wild (est.)

TierLow

PickLottery

EV - Sp. Def

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected819h 12m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 4 other locations

Driftveil CityLv 10–30

5%P2 LaboratoryLv 5–20

5%Route 18Lv 5–20

5%Route 17Lv 5–20

Jellicent page →

ITEMS

All field items and hidden pickups at Route 4.

TM2

TM28 Dig

TM41 Torment

NPC gift1

Ultra Ball

Item ball6

Burn Heal

Ether

Great Ball

Hyper Potion

Super Potion

X Accuracy

Hidden5

Burn Heal

Ether

Hyper Potion

Pearl

Ultra Ball

TM28 Dig

From a Worker inside the northern rest house

Move

DigGroundPhysical

Power

Accuracy

100%

The user of Dig will burrow its way underground on the first turn, disappearing from view and becoming invulnerable to most attacks.

TM41 Torment

On the ground to Worker Shelby's northwest

Move

TormentDarkStatus

Power

—

Buried a short way to the rest house's northwest (hidden)

Effect

Tries to catch a wild Pokémon. Success rate is 2×.

TM2

TM28 Dig

From a Worker inside the northern rest house

Move

DigGroundPhysical

Power

Accuracy

100%

The user of Dig will burrow its way underground on the first turn, disappearing from view and becoming invulnerable to most attacks.

TM41 Torment

On the ground to Worker Shelby's northwest

Move

TormentDarkStatus

Power

—

Accuracy

100%

Opponent cannot use the same move in a row.

NPC gift1

Ultra Ball

NPC GIFT

Ultra Ball

From Professor Juniper when she meets you and Cheren at the northern gate to Nimbasa City

A short way northwest after you enter the route from Castelia City in the south

Effect

Raises accuracy by one stage in battle. Raises happiness.

Hidden5

Burn Heal

HIDDEN

Burn Heal

Buried a little to the north of Worker Gus (hidden)

Effect

Cures a burn.

Ether

HIDDEN

Ether

Buried a short way to Worker Shelby's northwest (hidden)

Effect

Restores 10 PP for one move.

Hyper Potion

HIDDEN

Hyper Potion

Buried a little to the northeast of Backpacker Waylon (hidden)

Effect

Restores 200 HP.

Pearl

HIDDEN

Pearl

By the water, a few steps southeast of where Fisherman Andrew stands (hidden)

Effect

Sell for 700 Pokédollars, or to Ore Collector for 1400 Pokédollars.

Ultra Ball

HIDDEN

Ultra Ball

Buried a short way to the rest house's northwest (hidden)

Effect

Tries to catch a wild Pokémon. Success rate is 2×.

TRAINERS

2 trainer battles at Route 4. Team rosters, levels, and weakness coverage for each.

Trainer2

CherenLv 22₱0

BiancaLv 20₱2,000

TRAINER

Cheren

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱0

Party

AbilitySuper LuckNatureFixedItem-

Leer

Quick Attack

Air Cutter

Roost

AbilityUnburdenNatureFixedItem-

Sand Attack

Fury Swipes

Pursuit

Torment

AbilityGluttonyNatureFixedItem-

Vine Whip

Fury Swipes

Leech Seed

Bite

AbilityBlazeNatureFixedItemSitrus Berry

Defense Curl

Flame Charge

Arm Thrust

Smog

Type

ICE

FLYING

BUG

Win: ₱0

Route 4 Guide

Unova cycles through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with each real month counting as one season. Some route Pokemon only appear in certain seasons, and Deerling and Sawsbuck even switch color and form, so it's worth revisiting a route across the year.
Yes. In winter, deep snow piles up so you can reach ledges and item spots that stay blocked in other seasons, mostly around the snowy Icirrus City, Route 8, and Twist Mountain area. That same snow covers some Twist Mountain cave entrances and freezes puddles into ice tiles, so a few paths close as others open.