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How to Activate the Withered Wasteland Waterwheel - Version 2 vs Version 3
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11Overview22The Withered Wasteland contains two waterwheels in its northern area that can be activated to generate electricity. Powering these waterwheels requires routing water onto them using the Suck ability, which you learn from Paldean Wooper. Once running, a waterwheel produces steady power for nearby machines and creates the Waterwheel Spot habitat, which attracts Prinplup or Empoleon.44Prerequisites66Before you can activate a waterwheel, you need two things: access to the northern Withered Wasteland and the Suck ability.88Unlock Rock Smash1011The waterwheels are located in the northern section of the Withered Wasteland, which is blocked by soil bricks. You need Rock Smash to break through them. Build an Exercise Resting Spot habitat (a punching bag and bench) to befriend Hitmonchan, then give Hitmonchan 2 Stones to learn Rock Smash.1213Learn the Suck Ability1415The Suck Up Liquids ability is required to gather and place water. To unlock it:1617Progress through Bleak Beach until Piplup's quests become available.Complete the "Make a Waterfall" quest from Piplup.Build the Marshy Tall Grass habitat and feed Paldean Wooper 3 Tomatoes.Paldean Wooper teaches Ditto the Suck ability, allowing you to inhale and spit out liquids.1819Step-by-Step Activation2021With Rock Smash and Suck both unlocked, follow these steps to activate a waterwheel.2223Step 1: Locate the Waterwheel2425Head to the northern area of the Withered Wasteland. Use Rock Smash on any soil bricks blocking your path. You will find two waterwheels in pits near elevated terrain.2627Step 2: Gather Water2829Use the Suck ability on any water source in the Withered Wasteland. Stand in or near a body of water, hold Y, and press ZR to inhale. Ditto will inflate and hold the liquid in its mouth. Waterfalls are ideal because they regenerate after being drained.3031If no natural water sources are nearby, you can use a powered vending machine to obtain a Fresh Water drink. Drinking it fills Ditto with regular water that can be spit out. Vending machines dispense one drink per day and require electricity to operate.3233Step 3: Place Water on Elevated Ground3435Climb to an elevated block near the waterwheel pit. Aim so the blue targeting tile sits on the elevated surface above the pit. Press A to spit the water out. The water will flow downhill from the elevated position into the pit where the waterwheel sits.3637Important: Water must flow downward onto the waterwheel. If your water source is at the same level as or below the wheel, it will not activate. Always place water on a block that is higher than the waterwheel.3839Step 4: Confirm Activation4041Once water flows into the pit, the waterwheel begins spinning automatically. You do not need to interact with it further. The waterwheel is now generating power.4243Connecting Power to Machines4445An active waterwheel generates electricity, but that power needs to be distributed using utility poles. Here is how to connect devices:4647Place a utility pole directly next to the waterwheel.Chain additional utility poles in a line toward the machines or lights you want to power.A pole lights up when it is successfully receiving electricity from the grid.Any machine or light within range of a powered pole will turn on.4849Devices you can power include vending machines, streetlights, 3D Printers inside rebuilt Pokemon Centers, Cash Registers for Trade shops, and various other machines.5051Waterwheel Spot Habitat5253Activating a waterwheel creates the Waterwheel Spot habitat in the area around it. This habitat attracts either Prinplup or Empoleon, both Water/Steel-type Pokemon from Generation 4. These Pokemon are useful for completing the Habitat Dex and the Pokedex.5455Power Sources Comparison5657The waterwheel is one of four power-generating structures in Pokemon Pokopia. Here is how they compare:5859Power SourcePower OutputFuel RequiredNotesWaterwheelModerateNone (water flow)Requires Suck ability and elevated water placementWindmill10 unitsNone (passive)Easiest to build; works immediately after placementFurnace Generator15 to 25 unitsLumber or other fuelHighest output but consumes resources continuouslyAbandoned Power PlantHighNoneLate-game structure; doubles as Zapdos habitat6061Troubleshooting6162ProblemSolutionWaterwheel is not spinningCheck that water is flowing downward onto the wheel. The water source must be on a block higher than the waterwheel pit.No water sources nearbyUse a vending machine drink (Fresh Water) or carry water from another part of the Withered Wasteland using the Suck ability.Cannot reach the northern areaYou need Rock Smash from Hitmonchan. Build an Exercise Resting Spot habitat first.Utility poles are not lighting upMake sure there are no gaps in the pole chain. Place poles close enough together to form a continuous line from the waterwheel to your target.Waterwheel Spot habitat not appearingThe habitat spawns automatically when the waterwheel activates. If Prinplup or Empoleon do not appear immediately, wait for the next in-game day cycle.6364Tips6465Waterfalls regenerate their water supply, making them the best source for filling the waterwheel pit. Suck from a waterfall rather than a small pool to avoid draining it permanently.The second waterwheel in the northern Withered Wasteland works the same way. Activating both gives you two power sources and two Waterwheel Spot habitats.Combine waterwheel power with a Windmill to cover a larger area of the settlement without relying on fuel.Remember that liquids are restricted to the biome where you collected them. Water sucked up in the Withered Wasteland cannot be carried to other regions.If you have not progressed through Bleak Beach yet, consider completing the Piplup quest chain early to unlock Suck. It opens up a lot of building options across all areas.
