In Pokémon Pokopia, a helpful Drifloon offers players access to Dream Islands, special locations that can be visited daily and are rich in resources. These islands function similarly to the Nook Islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, providing randomized environments and daily access to new locales.
To embark on a journey to a Dream Island, players first need to acquire Pokémon dolls. These dolls can be found in shining spots scattered throughout the game world. Access to specific dolls often appears to be tied to visiting certain areas; for instance, the Arcanine plush may only become available after exploring Rocky Ridges. Unlocking the Starmie doll for the Bubbly Basin DLC requires completing a request from Frillish.
Once a Pokémon doll is obtained, placing it in the world and interacting with it will summon a Drifloon. This Drifloon will then offer passage to a Dream Island themed around the doll. These islands are a primary source of materials for crafting. For example, if players are seeking sea glass, they might need to visit the island associated with Bleak Beach.
Players are limited to visiting one Dream Island per day, though they can explore that same island multiple times until the daily reset. While Drifloon's evolved form, Drifblim, can be recruited to a player's island, it does not possess the ability to transport to Dream Islands.
Types of Dream Islands and Their Resources
Several distinct types of Dream Islands exist, each offering unique materials based on their biome. To access these specific islands, players must use corresponding Pokémon dolls:
Pikachu Ocean Dream Island yields twine, sea glass, and shells. Eevee Wasteland Dream Island provides Leppa berries, vine, and mushrooms. Dragonite Sky Dream Island contains wastepaper, Pokémetal, and crystal fragments. Clefairy Rock Peak Dream Island offers cave mushrooms, copper ore, and limestone. Arcanine Volcanic Dream Island is a source of iron ore, gold ore, and glowing stone. The Starmie (DLC only) Basin Dream Island provides sea grapes, small coral, and grubby pearls.
These islands are designed to mirror the various biomes found within Pokémon Pokopia, allowing players to target specific resources by visiting the corresponding Dream Island. Additionally, the Ditto and Substitute dolls act as wildcards, transporting players to a random island rather than a predetermined location.
Finding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
Dream Islands are also notable for the potential to encounter legendary and mythical Pokémon. Raikou can be found on the Ocean Dream Island (Pikachu), typically within a room walled by metal blocks. Entei resides on the Volcanic Dream Island (Arcanine), in an area surrounded by lava rocks. Suicune is located on the Wasteland Dream Island (Eevee), within a chamber constructed of ice. Mewtwo appears on the Sky Dream Island (Dragonite), in a room resembling a building. Phione can be discovered on the Basin Dream Island (Starmie), amidst underwater ruins.
To locate these rare Pokémon, players should explore the center of their respective islands, looking for caves. Deeper caves, often indicated by breakable brown, cracked rocks requiring Rock Smash, may lead to hidden areas. Players can also check their Pokédex by setting the filters to "all" registrations and "in this area" to see if these Pokémon are present on the current Dream Island.
These legendary and mythical Pokémon can also appear on the random islands accessed with Ditto or Substitute dolls, but using the specific themed dolls is more efficient for targeted hunting. It's worth noting that Raikou may only appear after completing the Bleak Beach storyline, and Mewtwo after finishing a key request in Sparkling Skylands.
Other Discoveries on Dream Islands
Beyond crafting materials and rare Pokémon, Dream Islands are filled with various collectible items. Players are encouraged to clear their inventories before visiting, as anything found will vanish at the end of the day. In addition to the previously listed materials, players can find:
Randomized structures containing items or furniture, which can be freely taken. Random items, marked by red Poké Balls. Habitat hints, indicated by golden Poké Balls. Rarer items, such as rare Pokémetal, also found in golden Poké Balls. Stardust, which can be used to craft star pieces for multiplayer sessions. Human records, including CDs found on shelves, and relics and fossils discovered in glowing ground spots.
It is recommended to arrive with an empty inventory, carrying only essentials like food for stamina or ability-enhancing items. The game also offers further assistance through guides on island customization, a Pokédex, and a Habitat Dex. Walkthroughs are available for key story quests, and information on multiplayer restrictions is also provided.