Pokemon Pokopia is a unique Pokémon spin-off for the Nintendo Switch 2 that blends island-building and habitat creation with classic Pokémon charm. The Withered Wastelands is the game’s first major biome – a dry, desolate area that you, as a Ditto, must transform into a lush oasis to progress the story. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how to raise the humidity in Withered Wastelands, make Slowpoke yawn to trigger rain, and ultimately rescue Onix trapped in a cave.
We’ll cover every step in detail – from restoring plants and opening water sources to building key habitats and solving common humidity problems – so you can complete the “Yawn Up a Storm” quest and rebuild the Pokémon Center in this area. Let’s get started on turning the Withered Wastelands from arid to vibrant!
What is the Withered Wastelands area in Pokemon Pokopia
The Withered Wastelands is the starting tutorial zone in Pokémon Pokopia. It is a barren wilderness with withered plants and empty riverbeds where the player, a Ditto, must restore the environment by building habitats and introducing water. Completing this area is required to unlock the rest of the world. Guided by Professor Tangrowth, players learn core gameplay like collecting materials, constructing habitats, and recruiting Pokémon like Timburr and Scyther. Humidity management is the central mechanic; raising it from 50% to 100% causes rain, which is necessary to free a trapped Onix. The area also contains Pokémon Center ruins that serve as a future base of operations once Onix is rescued.
Why humidity is stuck at 71% in Pokemon Pokopia
Humidity often caps at 71% because progress is tied to storyline triggers. Once you reach this threshold, you must complete specific quests from Pokémon like Professor Tangrowth, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle to advance. Reaching 70% prompts a request from Bulbasaur, which allows the level to climb to 80%, at which point Squirtle provides a quest to reach 100%. Humidity may also appear stuck if players haven’t discovered hidden water sources concealed behind breakable rocks. The game prevents reaching 100% through manual watering alone to ensure players engage with the inhabitants.
How to increase humidity in Pokemon Pokopia Withered Wastelands (fastest methods)
To raise humidity efficiently, players should use Water-type moves like Water Gun on dry ground and withered trees, which increases moisture through transpiration. Planting new vegetation, such as wildflowers to create a Field of Flowers, and creating water sources by smashing cracked rocks to release springs are also effective. Placing a Horsea Fountain near water adds a further boost. The fastest way to progress is to combine these environmental actions with completing Pokémon requests from Bulbasaur and Squirtle, as these quests often remove the humidity “caps.”
How to start “Yawn Up a Storm” quest in Withered Wastelands
The “Yawn Up a Storm” quest begins after finding Onix trapped behind boulders in a cave near the western beach. After reporting the situation to Professor Tangrowth, you are tasked with bringing a Slowpoke to the area to cause rain. To attract Slowpoke, plant four patches of tall grass near the ocean to create a Seaside Tall Grass habitat. Once Slowpoke arrives, you must escort him to the Pokémon Center ruins by clearing debris and moistening the dry path. The quest officially starts when Slowpoke reaches the center and declares it is too dry for him to yawn.
How to get Slowpoke to yawn and make it rain in Pokemon Pokopia
To trigger the rain, you must first raise the humidity to 100% through environmental restoration. Next, you must build a Rain Dance Site using two Castform Weather Charms, one Plate, and a Leppa Berry. Once constructed, lead Squirtle to the site to perform a ritual dance. Finally, speak to Slowpoke at the Pokémon Center ruins and ask him to yawn. This creates a rainstorm, triggering a cutscene where the legendary Kyogre appears. Speaking with Kyogre makes the rainfall permanent, softening the environment and completing the quest.
Best things to build to raise humidity in Withered Wastelands
Several structures and habitats are specifically designed to boost humidity:
- Field of Flowers: Created by planting 8 wildflowers together.
- Hydrated Tall Grass: Created by planting 4 tall grass patches next to at least 2 water tiles.
- Horsea Fountain: A decorative item that sprays water to amplify humidity.
- Opened Streams and Ponds: Unblocking natural springs with Rock Smash to create flowing water.
- Rain Dance Site: A ritual ground required for the story quest.
- Seaside Tall Grass: Created with 4 grass patches near the ocean to attract Slowpoke.
While the Smooth Tall Grass habitat is required for Onix post-rescue, it does not contribute to humidity. To maximize moisture, players should focus on large-scale vegetation and expanded water features.
How to use Water Gun to restore trees, grass, and plants for humidity
Water Gun is an early-game move for Ditto, obtained by befriending a Water-type like Squirtle or via quest rewards. It is the primary tool for reviving parched vegetation in the Withered Wastelands. Revived plants contribute to humidity through transpiration, whereas dead plants do not. Using Water Gun on specific targets yields different results:
- Withered Trees: Sustain watering on gray, leafless trees to turn them green. These provide significant humidity gains and may drop Leppa Berries.
- Dead Bushes/Tall Grass: Watering brittle shrubs turns them into healthy green vegetation, which can form habitats to attract more Pokémon.
- Dry Ground and Dirt: Spraying dusty ground darkens it into moist soil. While the humidity boost per tile is small, wetting large areas, especially along Slowpoke’s path, adds up.
- Saplings or Stumps: Watering these can cause new trees to grow or plants to bloom.
Water Gun has no PP limit and can be used indefinitely, though its range is limited. Reviving greenery with Water Gun is a necessary prerequisite to trigger the “Yawn Up a Storm” quest and eventual rainfall.
How to open blocked streams and springs with Rock Smash in Withered Wastelands
Restoring natural water channels is essential for raising humidity. To do this, players must obtain the move Rock Smash by befriending Hitmonchan (achieved by building an Exercise Resting Spot and providing 2 Stones). Once obtained, Rock Smash can be used on damp or dripping rock formations to release water:
- Northern Spring: A cracked rock north of the Pokémon Center ruins that creates a stream or pond when broken.
- Central Fountain Stream: Clearing blocks near the center of the map allows water to flow into a built-in stone fountain structure.
- Eastern Stream: Located near the Bleak Beach gate, breaking this rock connects an inland spring to the ocean.
- Cave Water: Breaking rocks inside Onix’s cave may reveal moisture or yield materials like Smooth Rocks.
Opening these springs transforms dry channels into rivers and basins into ponds, directly increasing humidity through evaporation and unlocking new features like fishing spots.
Where to place the Horsea Fountain to increase humidity
The Horsea Fountain is a functional item purchased from the Pokémon Center shop for 50 Life Coins once the Environment Level reaches 3. It must be placed near or in a water source to function. The most effective location is the northern spring pond revealed by Rock Smash. By placing the fountain in this new body of water, players combine the humidity boost of the open spring with the fountain’s water-spraying mechanism. This “dual source” method is one of the fastest ways to significantly increase the area’s humidity percentage.
How to activate the second fountain and expand the water flow
The Withered Wastelands contains a “second” dormant stone fountain located in the riverbed north-central of the map. To activate it, players must chain-reactivate the environment’s water features:
- Place and start the purchased Horsea Fountain at the northern spring.
- Use Rock Smash to clear debris and rocks along the downstream riverbed.
- Extend the water flow until it physically touches the base of the second stone fountain.
Once the water reaches the structure, the second fountain will automatically begin circulating and spraying water. This creates a continuous moisture source that often pushes the humidity level to the final 100% requirement. Activating both fountains visually transforms the landscape from a dry ditch into a flowing, misty river system.
How to create the Field of Flowers habitat in Pokemon Pokopia
The Field of Flowers habitat is essential for increasing humidity and completing Bulbasaur’s requests. To create it, you must plant 8 wildflowers in a contiguous, adjacent cluster (forming a square or rectangle). Wildflowers can be gathered from the environment, obtained through Drilbur’s Rototiller move, or received as gifts from Bulbasaur. Once the 8th flower is placed in a connected block, the habitat is formed, often raising the humidity cap to 80%. This habitat can attract Pokémon such as Ivysaur, Venusaur, and Vespiquen.
How to create the Hydrated Tall Grass habitat (humidity requirements)
Suggested by Squirtle, the Hydrated Tall Grass habitat acts as a mini-wetland. Construction requires placing 4 patches of tall grass adjacent to at least 2 water tiles, such as the edge of a pond or stream. You can obtain grass patches by using a Grass-type move on the ground or uprooting them with moves like Leafage. Successfully building this habitat allows Squirtle to move in and typically boosts humidity to approximately 90%. It also attracts Water-type and wetland Pokémon like Wartortle, Blastoise, and Sliggoo.
How to create the Rain Dance Site habitat in Withered Wastelands
The Rain Dance Site is a specific ritual space required to summon rain. To build it, you need two Castform Weather Charms, one Wooden Plate, and one Leppa Berry. The charms must be mounted onto a vertical surface, such as a cliff face or the ruins of the tall tower south of the Pokémon Center. The Wooden Plate with the Leppa Berry must be placed on the ground directly beneath or between the two charms. While it doesn’t passively raise humidity, performing the ritual here with Squirtle triggers the rainfall necessary to reach 100% humidity.
Castform Weather Charm location in Withered Wastelands
Castform Weather Charms are key items for the rain ritual. Professor Tangrowth provides two charms, which are located in a sparkling wheelbarrow at his former home—the starting cave/tutorial area of the Withered Wastelands. Additionally, players can purchase a charm from the PC shop at the Pokémon Center using Life Coins. While Tangrowth’s stash is sufficient for the main quest, the shop provides an alternative or extra charms for building additional sites.
How to check if humidity is high enough for a 100-point Slowpoke yawn
Progress toward the required 100% humidity level is tracked through Slowpoke. By speaking to Slowpoke at the Pokémon Center ruins, he will provide feedback on his sleepiness; a “100-point yawn” is required to trigger rain. Players can check the current level via the quest menu (e.g., “Slowpoke’s Yawn Power: 71/100”) or by attempting to make Slowpoke yawn, which reveals the current point intensity. Environmental cues, such as increasing mist, and hints from Bulbasaur or Squirtle also indicate when humidity thresholds are met. Once the 100-point mark is achieved, Slowpoke’s yawn will successfully start the rainstorm.
Withered Wastelands walkthrough: all main objectives in order
To complete the Withered Wastelands, follow these steps in sequence:
- Activate the area: Follow Professor Tangrowth to the ruined Pokémon Center and interact with the PC terminal to unlock the shop and quest log.
- Build habitats and recruit Pokémon: Construct habitats for Charmander (Tall Grass), Scyther (Tree-Shaded Tall Grass), Hitmonchan (Exercise Resting Spot), Timburr (Boulder-Shaded Tall Grass), and Drilbur (Fresh Veggie Field).
- Learn moves: Befriend Pokémon to learn Cut (Scyther), Rock Smash (Hitmonchan), Rototiller (Drilbur), and Water Gun (Squirtle).
- Establish a base: Reach Environment Level 2, gather Leaves and Sturdy Sticks, and have Timburr build a Leaf Hut. Claim it by placing a berry flag.
- Start the PC rebuild: Reach Environment Level 3, purchase the Pokémon Center Rebuilding Kit for 1,000 coins, and place it at the ruins.
- Find Onix: Use Rock Smash to reach the western beach. Enter the northern cave to find Onix trapped behind hard rocks.
- Attract Slowpoke: Consult Tangrowth, use Rock Smash to open the southern beach, and plant 4 patches of grass by the ocean to create a Seaside Tall Grass habitat.
- Escort Slowpoke: Build Wooden Steps and Path planks, then use Water Gun to moisten the dirt route so Slowpoke can reach the Pokémon Center.
- Raise Humidity: Talk to Bulbasaur to build a Field of Flowers (8 wildflowers), purchase and place a Horsea Fountain in a new spring (unlocked via Rock Smash), and connect water to a second fountain.
- Summon Rain: Build a Hydrated Tall Grass habitat for Squirtle, retrieve 2 Castform Weather Charms from Tangrowth’s starting cave, and build a Rain Dance Site (Charms + Plate + Leppa Berry). Perform the ritual with Squirtle.
- The Yawn: Ask Slowpoke to yawn once humidity hits 100%. Speak to Kyogre south of the beach to make the rain permanent.
- Free and house Onix: Use Rock Smash on the now-brittle rocks in Onix’s cave. Build a Smooth Tall Grass habitat (1 Smooth Rock + 4 Dry Tall Grass) for him to move in.
- Complete the Center: Deposit 20 Lumber, 20 Rocks, 10 Leaves, and 10 Vine Ropes into the PC material box. Assign Onix (Bulldoze), Scyther (Chop), Timburr (Builder), and 5 other Pokémon to the project. Wait one real-world day for construction to finish.
How to rescue Onix in Withered Wastelands
Onix is found in a cave at the north end of the western beach. Initially, the rocks trapping him are too hard for Rock Smash. Players must increase area humidity to 100% and trigger a rainstorm via Slowpoke’s yawn to soften the terrain. Once it is raining, return to the cave and use Rock Smash to break the brittle rocks. After being freed, Onix provides the Bulldoze and Crush specialties. To keep Onix on the team, you must build a Smooth Tall Grass habitat using 4 patches of Dry Tall Grass and a Smooth Rock found within his cave.
How to rebuild the Withered Wastelands Pokemon Center (materials list)
After reaching Environment Level 3 and placing the 1,000-coin Rebuilding Kit, you must deposit the following into the construction crate:
- 20 Lumber: Processed from logs using Scyther’s Cut move.
- 20 Rocks: Collected by smashing rocks throughout the environment.
- 10 Leaves: Obtained by cutting grass or shaking trees.
- 10 Vine Ropes: Dropped by long grass, Bellsprout, or gifted by Bulbasaur.
The project requires a crew consisting of one Pokémon with the Bulldoze specialty (Onix), one with Chop (Scyther), one with Builder (Timburr), and five additional Pokémon. Construction takes 24 hours of real-time to complete, though players can advance their system clock to finish it instantly. Once finished, the Center provides healing, item trading, and storage.
Common humidity problems and fixes (fountains, water routes, watering checklist)
If humidity stops rising, check these common issues:
- Progression Caps: Humidity is gated by quests. If stuck at 71%, you must complete Bulbasaur’s flower quest. If stuck near 90%, you must complete Squirtle’s Rain Dance ritual.
- Fountain Functionality: The Horsea Fountain from the shop must be placed directly in or adjacent to a water source (like a spring opened with Rock Smash) to function.
- Water Connectivity: Ensure all water routes are unblocked. Use Rock Smash on brown blocks with droplets to ensure water flows into the second built-in fountain.
- Missed Vegetation: Scan high ledges and the perimeter of the map for withered trees or grass that still need Water Gun treatment.
- Quest Logs: Check the “Important Requests” menu to ensure all subtasks for Bulbasaur and Squirtle are marked complete.
Where to go after completing Withered Wastelands (next biomes unlocked)
Once the Withered Wastelands are restored, two new areas become available:
- Bleak Beach (East Gate): A coastal biome focused on electrical restoration. Objectives include repairing a lighthouse and power plant. Players can recruit Piplup to learn Surf for water traversal.
- Rocky Ridges (West Gate): A volcanic mountainous region. This area focuses on advanced crafting with materials like Copper Ingots and Bricks. It features Fire- and Rock-type Pokémon and involves navigating high-elevation terrain and lava.
Players can choose either path, though Bleak Beach is often recommended first to unlock the Surf ability.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
- How do I raise the humidity above 71% in Withered Wastelands?
If humidity stops at 71%, you must progress story quests. Talk to Bulbasaur and Professor Tangrowth to trigger the “Field of Flowers” quest. Manual watering cannot surpass this checkpoint until specific Pokémon requests are completed. - How do I get Slowpoke to appear in Pokemon Pokopia?
Build a Seaside Tall Grass habitat by planting 4 patches of tall grass on the south beach shoreline. Once built, Slowpoke will appear and can be escorted to the Pokémon Center ruins. - What do I do to make Slowpoke yawn and cause rain?
Escort Slowpoke to the ruins and raise humidity to 100% by watering plants, activating springs, and completing quests for Bulbasaur and Squirtle. Once at maximum humidity, ask Slowpoke to perform a “100-point yawn” to trigger rain. - How do I get the Horsea Fountain and where should I place it?
Purchase it from the Pokémon Center Shop for 50 Life Coins at Environment Level 3. Place it in the northwestern spring pond opened with Rock Smash. Clear nearby rocks to ensure water flows into the second fountain basin to further boost humidity. - How can I unlock the Water Gun ability?
Recruit Squirtle by the western cave/beach and complete his request. This allows Ditto to transform or learn Water Gun to revive plants. - Where can I find Castform Weather Charms in Withered Wastelands?
During the “Yawn Up a Storm” quest, Professor Tangrowth will direct you to his old wheelbarrow in the starting cave. Inspect the sparkle there to retrieve two charms. - How do I create or reuse the Rain Dance Site to change the weather to rain?
Mount 2 Castform Weather Charms on a wall and place a plate with a Leppa Berry on the ground beneath them. Have Squirtle perform a dance at this site to summon rain. The site can be reused by providing a new berry offering. - What materials and Pokémon are needed to rebuild the Withered Wasteland Pokémon Center?
Deposit 20 Lumber, 20 Rocks, 10 Leaves, and 10 Vine Ropes into the PC material box. You need a team including Onix (Bulldoze), Scyther (Chop), Timburr (Build), and 5 other helpers. - How long does it take to rebuild the Pokémon Center, and can I speed it up?
Construction takes 24 real-world hours. You can skip this wait by advancing your Nintendo Switch system clock by one day. - Where do I go after completing the Withered Wastelands area?
You can choose Bleak Beach (East) to restore electricity and learn Surf, or Rocky Ridges (West) for mining and advanced material crafting. Bleak Beach is recommended for earlier access to water travel.
Conclusion
Restoring the Withered Wastelands transforms a desert into a lush ecosystem. By mastering habitat construction and environmental mechanics, you raise humidity to 100%, summon rain via Slowpoke, and rescue Onix. Freeing Onix provides the Bulldoze power necessary to rebuild the Pokémon Center, establishing a permanent base. These skills and the moves learned—such as Cut, Rock Smash, and Water Gun—prepare you for the challenges of Bleak Beach or Rocky Ridges. Enjoy your revitalized habitat and continue your journey as a paradise builder.
Sources and Citations
- S.E. Doster — Pokemon Pokopia – How To Increase The Humidity And Complete Withered Wastelands — GameSpot Guides, March 5, 2026.
- Tilly Lawton — How to free Pokopia’s Onix — Pocket Tactics, updated March 6, 2026.
- Jordan Middler — Pokémon Pokopia: Yawn Up A Storm walkthrough — VGC, March 5, 2026.
- Alana Hagues — Pokémon Pokopia: Withered Wasteland ‘Yawn Up A Storm’ Guide – How To Increase Humidity & Rescue Onix — Nintendo Life, March 2026.
- Jordan Middler — Pokémon Pokopia: Withered Wasteland Pokémon Center materials guide — VGC, March 5, 2026.
- Reddit / r/Pokopia — Humidity Simply wont go above 71% — direct permalink to ya_mum_suckysucky’s comment with the humidity tips.
- Game8 — Withered Wasteland Walkthrough | Pokemon Pokopia — this is the Game8 page that matches your “Pokopia Walkthrough Guide | Withered Wasteland” citation.
- GameSpot — Pokemon Pokopia Habitat Dex – How To Create All Habitats — GameSpot gallery guide, March 6, 2026.
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