How to use space-time distortions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Space-time distortions are a big part of the Pokemon Legends: Arceus experience. Here’s all you need to know about making the best use of them.

The latest installment of the Pokemon franchise is receiving strong reviews and a big part of that positive response is the new mechanics and rewards for exploration. Among these is space-time distortion. This phenomenon gives a chance at catching some rare Pokemon and an opportunity to farm items for cash and further evolving your Pokemon.

The trouble is that these areas are almost completely unexplained and are unlike anything seen in the series to this point. They’re also pretty scary, though not as scary as the real thing. So how do Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ space-time distortions work? 

What are space-time distortions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus?

Space-time distortions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus are timed events where an area of a map will spawn Pokemon that aren’t native to the region. A number of rare items will also appear on the ground.

Each map has its own set of Pokemon that will spawn in space-time distortions. Most of the Pokemon that can be found in space-time distortions can be found in other maps, but there are a few Pokemon that are exclusively found in space-time distortions.

Space-time distortions form seemingly at random. The player will receive an alert that a space-time distortion is forming, which can be seen on the minimap as a hurricane-shaped icon. Eventually, the space-time distortion will form and all the Pokemon native to the area will disappear while the new ones will spawn in. Items will also flash into the area and will sit on the ground.

The space-time distortion ends after a few minutes, at which point all the items and all the Pokemon that were brought into it will disappear.

Distortions have rare Pokemon, including Legends: Arceus starters

Most regions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus have access to rare Pokemon through space-time distortions. The list of Pokemon that are exclusively obtained in this way includes:

• Obsidian Fieldlands- Johtonian Sneasel, Weavile
• Crimson Mirelands- Porygon, Porygon 2
• Cobalt Coastlands- Magnemite, Magneton
• Coronet Highlands- Shieldon, Cranidos
• Alabaster Icelands- None

Certain Pokemon that require items to evolve will also spawn into these maps. Alongside the likes of Weavile and Porygon 2 are Scizor in the Alabaster Icelands, Magmortar in the Coronet Highlands, and others elsewhere.

Eevee is also a relatively common spawn in space-time distortions. Each map has a selection of Eeveelutions that can spawn as well, starting with Sylveon and Leafeon in the Obsidian Fieldlands.

After completing the story, the three starter Pokemon of Legends: Arceus and their Hisuian evolutions from the game are made available through space-time distortions as well. This includes the Cyndaquil line appearing in the Crimson Mirelands, the Rowlet line appearing in the Coronet Highlands, and the Oshawott line appearing in the Alabaster Icelands. Each of these Pokemon has a chance of appearing as alphas.

How to make space-time distortions form in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Players cannot force a space-time distortion to form in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. They occur seemingly at random while the player is roaming around an area.

If the player dies or closes out of their game while a space-time distortion is forming, the distortion will stop forming and will instead disappear. Some players have claimed that Pokemon Legends: Arceus has protections that will punish players if they try to save and quit out of a space-time distortion then load back into it. They say that this can result in space-time distortions being disabled for an extended period of time based on the Nintendo Switch’s in-game clock. But this has yet to be confirmed.