The Friend Safari still works in Pokémon X and Y. Enter the Hall of Fame, get the TMV Pass from Professor Sycamore at Lumiose Station, ride to Kiloude City and go to the small building in the northeast. Every registered 3DS friend gives you one safari with one type and two Pokémon to start. The third Pokémon opens once that friend has entered the Hall of Fame and your games have met in the PSS, which now means local wireless. Safaris you already unlocked keep working offline.
Friend Safari at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Northeast Kiloude City, after the Hall of Fame |
| What can I catch? | 189 species across 18 types, with one Pokémon per slot in each safari |
| What level? | Every encounter is level 30 |
| Perfect IVs? | At least two stats at 31; Togepi, Tyrogue and Riolu get at least three |
| Hidden Abilities? | About 1 in 3 encounters. The dependable way to get them is a friend who has entered the Hall of Fame, then a PSS meeting |
| Shiny odds? | About 1 in 819.6, or 1 in 585.6 with the Shiny Charm |
| Different in Y? | No, X and Y share the same list |
| Safari Balls or a timer? | Neither. You battle with your own team and your own Poké Balls, and stay as long as you like |
Reach Kiloude · Unlock slot 3 · All 18 types · Shiny odds · Missing slot
How to reach the Friend Safari
- Beat Diantha, enter the Hall of Fame and let the credits finish.
- Go to Lumiose Station. Professor Sycamore gives you the TMV Pass there; scan it at the gate and take the train to Kiloude City.
- From Kiloude Station, walk up to the northeast corner of the city and enter the small building. Check in at the counter and pick a friend’s safari.
The Battle Maison, the rival battle in Kiloude and the Mega Ring upgrade are all separate. You can visit the safari before any of them.
The Kalos map shows the rest of the city and the safari lists by type.
What still works after the online shutdown?
Nintendo shut down 3DS online play on April 8, 2024 (April 9 in some regions). Friend Safari unlocks are stored in your save, so nothing you already opened goes away.
- A friend on your 3DS Friend List gives you that safari’s first two slots. They don’t even need to own X or Y.
- A third slot you opened before the shutdown stays open, and the friend doesn’t have to be around when you visit.
- Opening a new third slot means meeting that friend in person, both of you running X or Y, with their save already past the Hall of Fame.
Adding someone’s Friend Code to the Friend List only gets you the first two slots. If you’re adding a new friend while the two systems are side by side, register each other locally.
Nintendo’s service announcement covers what ended and what still runs over local communication.
How to unlock the third Pokémon locally
You need two 3DS-family systems (2DS and New 3DS count), each with Pokémon X or Y. If both players want each other’s third slot, both saves have to be past the Hall of Fame.
- Add each other to the HOME Menu Friend List. Local registration is easiest when you’re together.
- Turn wireless on for both systems, start X or Y on each and keep them close.
- Open the Player Search System on the lower screen and wait until the other player shows up under Friends. Local wireless is enough; you don’t need the Internet button.
- Go back to the Friend Safari counter and check that friend’s entry. Three slots should now be listed.
- Go in and battle each Pokémon once so its icon fills in, then save.
Hidden Abilities
The dependable way to get slot 3 and Hidden Abilities is to have your friend enter the Hall of Fame and then meet them on PSS. After that, Pokémon from all three slots of that safari can have their Hidden Ability, about 1 time in 3. Check the Ability on the Summary screen after each catch. A few regular Abilities in a row are normal at those odds.
Each encounter rolls separately, so three catches don’t guarantee one. In X and Y an Ability Capsule only swaps between a Pokémon’s two regular Abilities and can’t give it the Hidden one.
Every Friend Safari type and Pokémon
Each safari gets one Pokémon per slot from the lists below. A Normal safari might have Aipom, Minccino and Eevee. That safari will never have Ditto as well, because Ditto and Eevee share slot 3. For Ditto you need another friend whose Normal safari has Ditto there.
The percentage column is how often that Pokémon is the one picked for its slot when a safari is assigned. A 50% Pokémon turns up in twice as many safaris as a 25% one. It isn’t an encounter rate. Inside a safari the open slots come up about equally: roughly half each with two slots, roughly a third each with three.
Slot 3 is the one that needs the friend’s Hall of Fame and the PSS meeting. X and Y have the same lists.
Normal · Fighting · Flying · Poison · Ground · Rock · Bug · Ghost · Steel · Fire · Water · Grass · Electric · Psychic · Ice · Dragon · Dark · Fairy
Normal Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lillipup | 1 | 25% | Run Away |
| Dunsparce | 1 | 25% | Rattled |
| Teddiursa | 1 | 25% | Honey Gather |
| Aipom | 1 | 25% | Skill Link |
| Kecleon | 2 | 25% | Protean |
| Minccino | 2 | 25% | Skill Link |
| Loudred | 2 | 25% | Scrappy |
| Audino | 2 | 25% | Klutz |
| Eevee | 3 | 25% | Anticipation |
| Ditto | 3 | 25% | Imposter |
| Smeargle | 3 | 25% | Moody |
| Chansey | 3 | 25% | Healer |
Fighting Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditite | 1 | 25% | Telepathy |
| Mankey | 1 | 25% | Defiant |
| Machoke | 1 | 25% | Steadfast |
| Mienfoo | 1 | 25% | Reckless |
| Pancham | 2 | 50% | Scrappy |
| Throh | 2 | 25% | Mold Breaker |
| Sawk | 2 | 25% | Mold Breaker |
| Hariyama | 3 | 25% | Sheer Force |
| Tyrogue | 3 | 25% | Vital Spirit |
| Riolu | 3 | 25% | Prankster |
| Breloom | 3 | 25% | Technician |
Flying Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pidgey | 1 | 25% | Big Pecks |
| Spearow | 1 | 25% | Sniper |
| Farfetch’d | 1 | 25% | Defiant |
| Doduo | 1 | 25% | Tangled Feet |
| Hoothoot | 2 | 25% | Tinted Lens |
| Tranquill | 2 | 25% | Rivalry |
| Swanna | 2 | 25% | Hydration |
| Woobat | 2 | 25% | Simple |
| Rufflet | 3 | 25% | Hustle |
| Tropius | 3 | 25% | Harvest |
| Fletchinder | 3 | 25% | Gale Wings |
| Hawlucha | 3 | 25% | Mold Breaker |
Poison Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kakuna | 1 | 25% | None |
| Cascoon | 1 | 25% | None |
| Seviper | 1 | 25% | Infiltrator |
| Gloom | 1 | 25% | Stench |
| Venomoth | 2 | 25% | Wonder Skin |
| Swalot | 2 | 25% | Gluttony |
| Garbodor | 2 | 25% | Aftermath |
| Ariados | 2 | 25% | Sniper |
| Toxicroak | 3 | 25% | Poison Touch |
| Drapion | 3 | 25% | Keen Eye |
| Muk | 3 | 25% | Poison Touch |
| Whirlipede | 3 | 25% | Speed Boost |
Ground Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phanpy | 1 | 25% | Sand Veil |
| Wooper | 1 | 25% | Unaware |
| Trapinch | 1 | 25% | Sheer Force |
| Sandshrew | 1 | 25% | Sand Rush |
| Marowak | 2 | 25% | Battle Armor |
| Camerupt | 2 | 25% | Anger Point |
| Dugtrio | 2 | 25% | Sand Force |
| Nincada | 2 | 25% | Run Away |
| Palpitoad | 3 | 25% | Water Absorb |
| Gastrodon (West Sea) | 3 | 25% | Sand Force |
| Diggersby | 3 | 50% | Huge Power |
Rock Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwebble | 1 | 50% | Weak Armor |
| Nosepass | 1 | 25% | Sand Force |
| Boldore | 1 | 25% | Sand Force |
| Pupitar | 2 | 25% | None |
| Corsola | 2 | 25% | Regenerator |
| Onix | 2 | 25% | Weak Armor |
| Magcargo | 2 | 25% | Weak Armor |
| Rhydon | 3 | 25% | Reckless |
| Shuckle | 3 | 25% | Contrary |
| Barbaracle | 3 | 50% | Pickpocket |
Bug Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfree | 1 | 25% | Tinted Lens |
| Combee | 1 | 25% | Hustle |
| Ledyba | 1 | 25% | Rattled |
| Paras | 1 | 25% | Damp |
| Beautifly | 2 | 25% | Rivalry |
| Masquerain | 2 | 25% | Unnerve |
| Volbeat | 2 | 25% | Prankster |
| Illumise | 2 | 25% | Prankster |
| Vivillon | 3 | 25% | Friend Guard |
| Venomoth | 3 | 25% | Wonder Skin |
| Pinsir | 3 | 25% | Moxie |
| Heracross | 3 | 25% | Moxie |
Ghost Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuppet | 1 | 50% | Cursed Body |
| Lampent | 1 | 50% | Infiltrator |
| Phantump | 2 | 50% | Harvest |
| Pumpkaboo (Average Size) | 2 | 50% | Insomnia |
| Golurk | 3 | 25% | No Guard |
| Drifblim | 3 | 25% | Flare Boost |
| Dusclops | 3 | 25% | Frisk |
| Spiritomb | 3 | 25% | Infiltrator |
Steel Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferroseed | 1 | 50% | None |
| Mawile | 1 | 25% | Sheer Force |
| Magneton | 1 | 25% | Analytic |
| Metang | 2 | 25% | Light Metal |
| Klang | 2 | 25% | Clear Body |
| Skarmory | 2 | 25% | Weak Armor |
| Forretress | 2 | 25% | Overcoat |
| Bronzong | 3 | 25% | Heavy Metal |
| Excadrill | 3 | 25% | Mold Breaker |
| Klefki | 3 | 50% | Magician |
Fire Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponyta | 1 | 25% | Flame Body |
| Growlithe | 1 | 25% | Justified |
| Pansear | 1 | 25% | Blaze |
| Magmar | 1 | 25% | Vital Spirit |
| Charmeleon | 2 | 25% | Solar Power |
| Pyroar | 2 | 25% | Moxie |
| Slugma | 2 | 25% | Weak Armor |
| Larvesta | 2 | 25% | Swarm |
| Braixen | 3 | 50% | Magician |
| Fletchinder | 3 | 25% | Gale Wings |
| Ninetales | 3 | 25% | Drought |
Water Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krabby | 1 | 25% | Sheer Force |
| Bibarel | 1 | 25% | Moody |
| Panpour | 1 | 25% | Torrent |
| Octillery | 1 | 25% | Moody |
| Wartortle | 2 | 25% | Rain Dish |
| Quagsire | 2 | 25% | Unaware |
| Gyarados | 2 | 25% | Moxie |
| Floatzel | 2 | 25% | Water Veil |
| Frogadier | 3 | 50% | Protean |
| Azumarill | 3 | 25% | Sap Sipper |
| Poliwhirl | 3 | 25% | Swift Swim |
Grass Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oddish | 1 | 25% | Run Away |
| Tangela | 1 | 25% | Regenerator |
| Pansage | 1 | 25% | Overgrow |
| Sunkern | 1 | 25% | Early Bird |
| Ivysaur | 2 | 25% | Chlorophyll |
| Petilil | 2 | 25% | Leaf Guard |
| Sawsbuck (Spring) | 2 | 25% | Serene Grace |
| Swadloon | 2 | 25% | Overcoat |
| Quilladin | 3 | 50% | Bulletproof |
| Maractus | 3 | 25% | Storm Drain |
| Gogoat | 3 | 25% | Grass Pelt |
Electric Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrode | 1 | 25% | Aftermath |
| Emolga | 1 | 25% | Motor Drive |
| Dedenne | 1 | 25% | Plus |
| Pachirisu | 1 | 25% | Volt Absorb |
| Pikachu | 2 | 25% | Lightning Rod |
| Helioptile | 2 | 25% | Solar Power |
| Electabuzz | 2 | 25% | Vital Spirit |
| Stunfisk | 2 | 25% | Sand Veil |
| Luxio | 3 | 25% | Guts |
| Galvantula | 3 | 25% | Swarm |
| Zebstrika | 3 | 25% | Sap Sipper |
| Manectric | 3 | 25% | Minus |
Psychic Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abra | 1 | 25% | Magic Guard |
| Drowzee | 1 | 25% | Inner Focus |
| Grumpig | 1 | 25% | Gluttony |
| Munna | 1 | 25% | Telepathy |
| Wobbuffet | 2 | 25% | Telepathy |
| Sigilyph | 2 | 25% | Tinted Lens |
| Espurr | 2 | 50% | Own Tempo |
| Duosion | 3 | 25% | Regenerator |
| Xatu | 3 | 25% | Magic Bounce |
| Girafarig | 3 | 25% | Sap Sipper |
| Gothorita | 3 | 25% | Shadow Tag |
Ice Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snorunt | 1 | 25% | Moody |
| Delibird | 1 | 25% | Insomnia |
| Spheal | 1 | 25% | Oblivious |
| Snover | 1 | 25% | Soundproof |
| Bergmite | 2 | 50% | Sturdy |
| Sneasel | 2 | 25% | Pickpocket |
| Beartic | 2 | 25% | Swift Swim |
| Lapras | 3 | 25% | Hydration |
| Cloyster | 3 | 25% | Overcoat |
| Dewgong | 3 | 25% | Ice Body |
| Piloswine | 3 | 25% | Thick Fat |
Dragon Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabite | 1 | 50% | Rough Skin |
| Fraxure | 1 | 50% | Unnerve |
| Shelgon | 2 | 25% | Overcoat |
| Dragonair | 2 | 25% | Marvel Scale |
| Noibat | 2 | 50% | Telepathy |
| Druddigon | 3 | 50% | Mold Breaker |
| Sliggoo | 3 | 50% | Gooey |
Dark Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawniard | 1 | 25% | Pressure |
| Vullaby | 1 | 25% | Weak Armor |
| Nuzleaf | 1 | 25% | Pickpocket |
| Mightyena | 1 | 25% | Moxie |
| Sneasel | 2 | 25% | Pickpocket |
| Sandile | 2 | 25% | Anger Point |
| Cacturne | 2 | 25% | Water Absorb |
| Crawdaunt | 2 | 25% | Adaptability |
| Liepard | 3 | 25% | Prankster |
| Inkay | 3 | 25% | Infiltrator |
| Absol | 3 | 25% | Justified |
| Sableye | 3 | 25% | Prankster |
Fairy Friend Safari
| Pokémon | Slot | Share of the slot | Hidden Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirlia | 1 | 25% | Telepathy |
| Snubbull | 1 | 25% | Rattled |
| Togepi | 1 | 25% | Super Luck |
| Dedenne | 1 | 25% | Plus |
| Mawile | 2 | 25% | Sheer Force |
| Jigglypuff | 2 | 25% | Friend Guard |
| Spritzee | 2 | 25% | Aroma Veil |
| Swirlix | 2 | 25% | Unburden |
| Floette (Red) | 3 | 25% | Symbiosis |
| Clefairy | 3 | 25% | Friend Guard |
| Floette (Yellow) | 3 | 25% | Symbiosis |
| Floette (Blue) | 3 | 25% | Symbiosis |
Forms and odd entries
Fairy slot 3 has red, yellow and blue Floette; orange, white and Eternal Flower Floette never appear. Pumpkaboo is Average Size, Gastrodon is West Sea and Sawsbuck is Spring Form. Vivillon comes in the pattern of your own game’s region, so the safari can’t give you the event Poké Ball Pattern.
Five Pokémon appear in two types: Dedenne (Electric, Fairy), Mawile (Steel, Fairy), Sneasel (Ice, Dark), Fletchinder (Fire, Flying) and Venomoth (Bug, Poison). Cascoon sits in Poison slot 1 even though it is a pure Bug type. Kakuna, Cascoon, Pupitar and Ferroseed have no Hidden Ability.
Which safari should you look for?
| Your goal | Look for | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding partner | Normal slot 3: Ditto | At least two perfect IVs (six is not guaranteed) |
| Hidden Ability Eevee | Normal slot 3: Eevee | Anticipation Eevee can pass its Hidden Ability on through breeding |
| Togepi | Fairy slot 1 | No slot 3 needed; at least three perfect IVs |
| Tyrogue | Fighting slot 3 | At least three perfect IVs |
| Skill Link Minccino | Normal slot 2 | Minccino itself is in an opening slot; for Skill Link, have the friend enter the Hall of Fame and then meet them on PSS |
| Prankster Sableye | Dark slot 3 | Check each catch; most Sableye have a regular Ability |
| Prankster Riolu | Fighting slot 3 | At least three perfect IVs; it becomes Justified when it evolves into Lucario |
| Kalos starters with Hidden Abilities | Grass slot 3: Quilladin; Fire slot 3: Braixen; Water slot 3: Frogadier | Bulletproof, Magician and Protean |
| More Lucky Eggs | Normal slot 3: Chansey | 5% of wild Chansey hold one, 20% with a Compound Eyes lead |
Related pages: Eevee locations, evolving Eevee into Espeon, farming Lucky Eggs and Shiny Stones for Togetic and Minccino.
Espeon, Umbreon, Furfrou, Cryogonal, Jynx and Smoochum are in no Friend Safari. For Espeon or Umbreon, catch Eevee and evolve it.
Level 30, perfect IVs and what to bring
Everything in the Friend Safari is level 30, even Muk and Drapion, which normally evolve at much higher levels. You fight with your own party and throw your own balls; there are no Safari Balls and no time limit.
At least two different stats have an IV of 31, and the rest can roll 31 too. Togepi (Fairy slot 1), Tyrogue and Riolu (Fighting slot 3) are in the No Eggs Discovered group, so each gets at least three.
Bring a Pokémon that can wear the target down without knocking it out, plus plenty of balls. If you want a specific Ability, check it before you release anything.
Friend Safari shiny odds, with and without the Charm
Each encounter has about a 1 in 819.6 shiny chance, or 1 in 585.6 with the Shiny Charm. That’s a per-battle chance. You could see one on your first encounter or go thousands without one.
| Encounter | Approximate chance | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary wild encounter, no Charm | 1 in 4,096 | 0.0244% |
| Friend Safari, no Charm | 1 in 819.6 | 0.1220% |
| Friend Safari with Shiny Charm | 1 in 585.6 | 0.1708% |
The game makes up to five shiny checks per safari encounter, or seven with the Charm: 1 − (4095/4096)^5 and 1 − (4095/4096)^7. The Friend Safari RNG reference explains the extra checks and how they stack with the Charm.
Those numbers are for any Pokémon in the safari. With three slots open and one target, about a third of your encounters are that target, so its shiny chance per encounter is about a third of the figure above. Opening slot 3 makes a slot 1 or slot 2 target show up less often. The shiny chance of each Pokémon you do meet stays the same.
Troubleshooting a missing safari or third slot
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| No friends listed | Friends must be on the 3DS HOME Menu Friend List, with both sides registered. PSS acquaintances don’t count |
| Only two slots | The friend has to be past the Hall of Fame, then meet you locally in the PSS with that save running |
| Friend beat the League but slot 3 is still locked | Your game hasn’t seen their progress yet. Meet in the PSS again; the old Friend List entry can’t update it |
| Three slots, but Poké Ball icons instead of Pokémon | Those are Pokémon you haven’t met yet. Go in and encounter them |
| Only regular Abilities after several catches | Make sure your friend entered the Hall of Fame before you met on PSS, then keep catching. Regular Abilities still come up about two times in three |
| Your friend is offline now | Safaris you already opened still work without them |
| No Ditto in a Normal safari | That friend’s slot 3 is Eevee, Chansey or Smeargle. Find another Normal safari with Ditto |
Friend Safari questions
Can I visit my own safari or change its type?
No to both. Your own safari never shows up on your system, so ask a friend to tell you its type and Pokémon. The type and Pokémon come from your Friend Code. Restarting your save, changing your team or walking in and out won’t reroll them.
Does every friend need a copy of X or Y?
Only for slot 3. Anyone on your Friend List gives you the first two slots. For the third, they need X or Y, a save past the Hall of Fame and a PSS meeting with you.
Are the Pokémon different in X, Y or on a 2DS?
No. The lists are the same in both versions and on any 3DS-family system, and version exclusives can still appear. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have no Friend Safari.
Do I need a modified console?
No. Old safaris and the local wireless method work on an unmodified system. Posting your Friend Code online won’t open anyone’s third slot by itself. Homebrew tools that open every safari exist, but they are unofficial; back up your save before trying one.
Further reading
Bulbapedia: Friend Safari · Serebii: Friend Safari · Bulbapedia: TMV Pass