Pokémon Crystal: Swarms Guide + All Swarm Locations

Swarms are special events where a rare Pokémon species overruns an area. This makes them the most common Pokémon in tall grass, water, or a cave.

Three NPCs around Johto and Kanto can alert you of ongoing Pokémon Swarms near their location. They’ll call you on the PokéGear phone and tell you to come check it out.

Pokémon Swarm Watchers & Locations
Watcher	Pokémon	Location
Bug Catcher Arnie (Route 35)	Yanma	Route 35
Hiker Anthony (Route 33)	Dunsparce	Dark Cave
Fisher Ralph (Route 32)	Qwilfish	Route 32 (Fishing)

If you want any of those NPCs to warn you of ongoing Swarm events, you must first defeat them in battle and exchange phone numbers.

How To Find Pokémon Swarms

The only way to find Pokémon Swarms is to get a call from one of the trainers mentioned above.

Getting a call from Arnie about a Yanma Swarm.

Before that happens, you need to find and beat them in battle. Then, talk to them again to register their phone numbers.

Let’s go over how to find each of these NPCs:

Bug Catcher Arnie (Yanma Swarm)

Arnie is located on Route 35, with Goldenrod City to the south and the National Park to the north.

Starting at the National Park, head to the right and enter the tall grass.

Route 35, near the National Park.

Arnie will be standing next to a small tree to the right.

Approaching Arnie in Route 35.

Hiker Anthony (Dunsparce Swarm)

Anthony is standing halfway between Azalea Town and the Dark Cave.

Start by going right from the Pokémon Center and exiting Azalea Town toward Route 33.

Exiting Azalea Town toward Route 33.

Turn down and go south when you reach the Slowpoke Well, then continue going right toward Dark Cave.

Passing by the Slowpoke Well on Route 33.

You’ll find Anthony standing on the side of the road right before the climb toward the Dark Cave begins.

Approaching Hiker Anthony on Route 33.

Fisher Ralph (Qwillfish Swarm)

Ralph hangs around a fishing spot on Route 32, south of Violet City.

It’s easiest to find him by starting at the Pokémon Center on the southern end of Route 32, near the entrance to the Union Cave. From there, follow the road to the northwest.

Going north of the Pokémon Center in Route 32.

Continue following the road as it turns northeast, and you’ll come across a bridge crossing a body of water. That’s where you want to go.

Approaching the fishing spot on Route 32.

Ralph is located a few steps up on the bridge.

Approaching Fisher Ralph on Route 32.

How To Get More Swarm Calls

There’s no way to cause Pokémon Swarms on purpose in Pokémon Crystal. But you can encourage the Swarm Watchers to call you sooner.

Here’s what you need to do:

Erase every possible number from your phone but Arnie, Anthony, or Ralph (depending on what Swarm you want to get).
Go to your Mom in New Bark Town and repeatedly change to and from Daytime Savings.

Reducing your contact list ensures you don’t waste time talking to others while waiting for the Swarm Watcher to call.

You can do it by navigating to the Phone app on your PokéGear, then choosing a number and pressing “Delete.”

PokéGear phone book with only Swarm Watcher numbers.

But what really speeds up the process is changing to and from Daytime Savings Time with Mom.

To do this, approach her in your house in New Bark Town and say “Yes” when she asks whether you want to change to or from DST.

Changing to DST at Mom’s in New Bark Town.

Every time DST changes, there’s a 50% chance of getting a phone call from one of your contacts. Normally, you’d have to wait until it happened on its own.

Tip: Read what the Watchers say when they call you. Sometimes they just want a rematch. If so, keep trying!

Why Are Pokémon Swarms Useful?

Pokémon Swarms make rare critters easy to catch by drastically increasing their encounter rate.

SCROLL

All Pokémon Swarms
Pokémon	Location	Original Encounter Rate	Swarm Encounter Rate
Yanma	Route 35	1%	30%
Dunsparce	Dark Cave	1%	40%
Qwilfish	Route 32 (Fishing)	Super Rod: 10%	Old Rod: 15% Good Rod: 65% Super Rod: 100%

Not only does this make them easier to catch, but it allows you to catch many of them quickly.

This is fantastic for Shiny Hunting or getting the best DVs (IVs) you can.

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon Crystal Full Strategy Guide

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Nelson Chitty

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Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.

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