Loading...
Loading...
Withered Wasteland
March 7, 2026 at 09:37 AM
Add 2 relevant images to article
The Withered Wasteland is the first area players explore in Pokemon Pokopia. Based on Fuchsia City from the Kanto region, this area has dried out from lack of rain and Pokemon activity. It serves as the tutorial zone where Ditto wakes from its slumber and meets Professor Tangrowth for the first time. Every core mechanic in the game is introduced here: building, crafting, learning moves, creating habitats, befriending Pokemon, and increasing the environment level.
After completing the Withered Wasteland's main quest, "Yawn Up a Storm," players unlock access to both Bleak Beach (based on Vermilion City) and Rocky Ridges (based on Pewter City), and advance to Great Trainer Rank.
"Yawn Up a Storm" is the main Important Request in the Withered Wasteland. The goal is to increase the area's humidity enough for Slowpoke to produce a rain-inducing yawn, which softens the rocks trapping Onix in a cave and triggers a legendary encounter with Kyogre.
After waking up and receiving guidance from Professor Tangrowth, players learn Water Gun from Squirtle. Using Water Gun on dry patches of ground creates Tall Grass habitats, which attract Bulbasaur. After watering ten patches, Bulbasaur teaches Leafage. Charmander appears under a tree and will light any placed campfire when it walks nearby.
Construct a Leaf Den using 3 Sturdy Sticks and 3 Leaves. Place at least three pieces of furniture inside and claim it with a Ditto Flag. Timburr can be befriended by creating a Boulder-Shaded Tall Grass habitat (Tall Grass x4, Large Boulder x1), and it assists with construction using its Build specialty.
Hitmonchan appears after you restore the Exercise Resting Spot habitat by placing a Punching Bag and any Seat. Complete its request by providing 2 Stones to unlock Rock Smash. Use Rock Smash to break through rocks blocking the western paths, opening up new areas of the Wasteland.
Slowpoke is found by creating a Seaside Tall Grass habitat: place four grass patches next to the ocean at the beach. Slowpoke explains it wants to follow you to the Pokemon Center but the path needs clearing and the humidity is too low for its yawn to work.
Humidity is the percentage shown when you talk to Slowpoke. It increases through environmental restoration:
Water plants and trees using Water Gun. Hit everything you can: grass, trees, flowers, dirt patches.
Create water features by breaking blocks behind the Pokemon Center to reveal hidden springs and direct water flow.
Build the Rain Dance Site habitat following Squirtle's advice. This requires 2 Castform Weather Charms (one found in Professor Tangrowth's wheelbarrow, others in caves or the shop), 1 Plate, and 1 Leppa Berry.
Build a Field of Flowers habitat by planting wildflowers on elevated land, as suggested by Bulbasaur.
Build Hydrated Tall Grass by placing four patches of grass next to a body of water, as suggested by Squirtle.
Once humidity is high enough, Slowpoke will follow you. Clear the path between Slowpoke's habitat and the Pokemon Center of all debris and obstacles. Build at least 10 sets of stairs at uneven terrain and lay down wooden pathing for smooth travel. If Slowpoke stops moving, talk to it for guidance on what is blocking the way. Slowpoke can jump up single blocks, so you do not need stairs for every small step.
When Slowpoke arrives near the Pokemon Center, speak to it again. Slowpoke releases an enormous yawn, triggering a rainstorm across the entire Withered Wasteland. The rain softens the rocks trapping Onix in the cave. Follow the other Pokemon south to the ocean, where Kyogre appears with a dramatic cry. This is the first legendary Pokemon encounter in the game. After this event, use Rock Smash to free Onix from the weakened rocks.
After reaching Environment Level 3, you can purchase the Pokemon Center Rebuilding Kit from the PC Shop for 50 Life Coins. Rebuilding requires gathering specific materials and assembling a team of eight Pokemon.
Material | Quantity | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
Lumber | 20 | Scyther's Chop specialty on Small Logs |
Stone | 20 | Found throughout the Wasteland; break red cracked blocks |
Leaves | 10 | Pull from plants after rain or use Cut on tall grass |
Vine Rope | 10 | Bellsprout's Litter specialty, or Cut vines in caves |
Three of the eight Pokemon must have specific specialties: one with Bulldoze (Onix), one with Build (Timburr), and one with Chop (Scyther). The remaining five can be any species. Construction takes until the next in-game day to finish. Once rebuilt, the Pokemon Center lets you restore PP, trade items with Pokemon, and duplicate items using the 3D Printer.
Six of the thirteen moves in Pokemon Pokopia are learned in the Withered Wasteland. This is the most moves introduced in any single area.
Move | Teacher | Function | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
Water Gun | Squirtle | Spray water; revitalize dry ground | Story event at the start |
Leafage | Bulbasaur | Grow grass and plant patches | Water 10 dry patches |
Cut | Scyther | Chop trees and harvest logs | Build Tree-Shaded Tall Grass (Large Tree x1, Tall Grass x4); give Scyther 2 Sturdy Sticks |
Rock Smash | Hitmonchan | Break through soft terrain and rocks | Build Exercise Resting Spot (Punching Bag x1, Seat x1); give 2 Stones |
Rototiller | Drilbur | Till soil for farming | Break rocks east of Pokemon Center to find Drilbur's pond |
Jump | Magikarp | Basic jumping | Build Ocean Fishing Spot habitat for Magikarp |
The Withered Wasteland features the broadest selection of common Pokemon in the game, including all three Kanto starters and their evolution lines. The following Pokemon can be found or attracted here:
Pokemon | Habitat | Habitat Materials | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Bulbasaur | Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4 | Story encounter; teaches Leafage |
Charmander | Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4 | Appears under a tree; lights campfires |
Squirtle | Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4 | Story encounter; teaches Water Gun |
Timburr | Boulder-Shaded Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4, Large Boulder x1 | Build specialty |
Scyther | Tree-Shaded Tall Grass | Large Tree x1, Tall Grass x4 | Chop specialty; teaches Cut |
Hitmonchan | Exercise Resting Spot | Punching Bag x1, any Seat x1 | Teaches Rock Smash |
Drilbur | Found behind rocks (east) | N/A | Teaches Rototiller |
Magikarp | Ocean Fishing Spot | Near the ocean | Teaches Jump |
Slowpoke | Seaside Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4, next to ocean | Key quest Pokemon; triggers rain |
Onix | Smooth Tall Grass | Dry Tall Grass x4, Smooth Rock x1 | Trapped in cave; freed during main quest |
Oddish | Tall Grass | Tall Grass x4 | Nighttime only |
Drifloon | Riding Warm Updrafts | Campfire x3 in a line | Unlocks Dream Islands |
Bellsprout | Tree-Shaded Tall Grass | Large Tree x1, Tall Grass x4 | Produces Vine Rope |
Additional Pokemon including Pidgey, Machop, Paras, Cubone, and Geodude also appear through various grass-type habitats. Charmeleon and Ivysaur can appear once their pre-evolutions are befriended.
Where the player wakes up at the beginning of the game. Professor Tangrowth provides initial guidance, a Log Chair, and your first Pokedex here.
Located to the right of the Pokemon Center ruins, this abandoned building contains the Ninja Outfit Human Record titled "The Legendary Ninja Family." This is a reference to Koga and Janine, the Gym Leaders of Fuchsia City in the mainline Pokemon games.
A hidden underground room accessible by breaking a specific rock wall behind and slightly to the right of the Pokemon Center. Inside is a wall covered with Unown symbols. Players must collect Mysterious Slates from glowing blocks found across all regions and slot them into matching positions on the wall. Completing the mural with all 28 slates unlocks Mew, the final Pokemon in the Pokopia Pokedex.
Located on the west side of the Wasteland near the bridge to Palette Town. This is where you find Drifloon and build its "Riding Warm Updrafts" habitat to unlock Dream Islands.
A wooden crafting bench found to the northeast, near the pier. Used to craft stairs, wooden pathing, and basic furniture for Slowpoke's path and your first home.
The Withered Wasteland introduces the Environment Level system. As you complete challenges, build habitats, and restore the landscape, the environment level increases:
Level 1: Starting state. Learn basic moves and begin habitat creation.
Level 2: Unlocks the Leaf Hut purchase (50 Life Coins), Link Play for multiplayer, and additional shop items.
Level 3: Unlocks the Pokemon Center Rebuilding Kit (50 Life Coins) and expands the shop inventory further.
The Withered Wasteland is filled with references to its Fuchsia City origins. The Ninja Outfit Human Record references Koga and Janine. The Safari Zone, once Fuchsia City's signature attraction, is echoed in the area's wide open spaces with diverse wild Pokemon. The Mysterious Mural containing Unown symbols connects to the lore of ancient ruins found throughout the Kanto and Johto regions. After restoring the area through the "Yawn Up a Storm" quest, the landscape transforms from a barren wasteland into a green, rainy environment that more closely resembles the lush surroundings Fuchsia City was known for.
