Pokémon GO continually evolves, introducing new creatures and features to keep Trainers engaged. One such exciting addition is Scatterbug, a Bug-type Pokémon that eventually evolves into the beautifully patterned Vivillon. Collecting Scatterbug and its evolutions offers a unique challenge and a chance to explore the game’s global connectivity features. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to catch Scatterbug in Pokémon GO.
Understanding Scatterbug and Vivillon
Scatterbug, originally discovered in the Kalos region, is known for its transformation into Vivillon, a butterfly-like Pokémon with distinct wing patterns influenced by various climates. In Pokémon GO, Vivillon exhibits 18 different patterns, each corresponding to specific real-world regions. This diversity makes collecting all forms of Vivillon an engaging endeavor for Trainers.
The Role of Postcards in Encountering Scatterbug
Unlike many Pokémon that appear randomly in the wild, encountering Scatterbug requires interaction with the game’s Postcard system. Here’s how you can utilize this feature to add Scatterbug to your collection:
- Collecting Postcards: When you receive Gifts from friends, each comes with a Postcard showcasing the location where the Gift was obtained. To begin, open the Gift but hold off on opening the Postcard immediately.
- Pinning Postcards: Within the Gift interface, tap the thumbtack icon next to the Postcard to pin it to your Postcard Book. Pinning Postcards is crucial, as it directly influences your progress toward encountering Scatterbug.
- Vivillon Collector Medal: Upon pinning your first Postcard, you’ll unlock the Vivillon Collector Medal. This medal tracks your progress in collecting Postcards from different regions and is key to unlocking Scatterbug encounters.
Progressing Toward Scatterbug Encounters
The number of Postcards you pin from specific regions determines when you’ll encounter Scatterbug:
- First Encounter: Pin 3 Postcards from the same region to trigger your initial Scatterbug encounter.
- Second Encounter: After the first, pin an additional 9 Postcards from the same region.
- Subsequent Encounters: Each further encounter requires pinning 15 more Postcards from that region.
These encounters are tied to sub-medals within the Vivillon Collector Medal, each representing a different Vivillon pattern corresponding to various global regions.
Maximizing Your Postcard Collection
To efficiently collect the necessary Postcards:
- Global Friendships: Connect with Trainers worldwide. Exchanging Gifts with friends from diverse locations increases the variety of Postcards you receive, aiding in collecting different Vivillon patterns.
- Personal Postcards: You can pin up to three of your own Postcards daily. Visit various PokéStops and Gyms to gather Postcards from different areas, enhancing your collection.
Evolving Scatterbug into Vivillon
Once you’ve caught Scatterbug, evolving it into Vivillon involves two stages:
- Scatterbug to Spewpa: This first evolution requires 25 Scatterbug Candies.
- Spewpa to Vivillon: Evolving Spewpa into Vivillon requires an additional 100 Scatterbug Candies.
To accumulate the necessary Candies:
- Walking with Scatterbug: Set Scatterbug as your Buddy Pokémon. Walking a certain distance will earn you Scatterbug Candies.
- Using Berries: Feeding Scatterbug Pinap Berries during encounters doubles the Candies you receive upon capture.
- Transferring Pokémon: Transfer extra Scatterbugs to Professor Willow to gain additional Candies.
Exploring Vivillon Patterns
Vivillon’s wing patterns are influenced by the region from which the original Postcard was pinned. Each pattern reflects the climate of its native habitat. For instance:
- Archipelago Pattern: Found in regions like the Caribbean and parts of South Africa.
- Continental Pattern: Common in areas such as Central Europe and parts of Asia, including India.
- Elegant Pattern: Associated with regions like Japan.
To view the complete map of Vivillon patterns and their corresponding regions:
- Accessing the Vivillon Map: Navigate to your Vivillon Collector Medal in your profile. Tap on it to view the detailed map, which highlights different patterns and their associated global regions.
Participating in Events
Niantic occasionally hosts events that make collecting Scatterbug and Vivillon more accessible:
- Increased Gift Limits: During specific events, the number of Gifts you can open daily may increase, allowing for more Postcard collection opportunities.
- Special Research Tasks: Some events feature tasks that reward encounters with Scatterbug or provide bonuses to Candy accumulation.
Staying updated with official Pokémon GO announcements ensures you don’t miss these advantageous events.
Trading as an Alternative
If you’re aiming to collect all Vivillon patterns:
- Local Trading: Engage with local communities to trade Scatterbugs or Vivillons. This method can help you obtain patterns from regions you haven’t accessed through Postcards.
- Special Trades: Remember, trading Pokémon not already in your Pokédex or those with special attributes may require more Stardust and are limited to one per day.
