UPDATE: The Fancy pattern Vivillon will be available as a mystery gift until July 31st to anyone who signs in online and gets it. So get it while you can!

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I have miraculously completed my Vivillon collection. Sometimes I still can’t believe it. Despite the odds I managed to track down all eighteen international patterns. It took a grueling effort on my part and over 110 hours of game play – an ungodly amount of which was spent stalking the Vivillon section of the GTS. But eventually it all paid off.

My obsession – which has consumed my life for basically the last two weeks entirely – can now taper away. Though I am only like four or five patterns away from having a second full set so… No, Sam. Stop. Having accomplished the impossible, I know how hard the process can be so I decided that I wanted to do what I could to help. I know that a lot of people are still having some problems completing their own collections.

To give you all a better idea of how you can complete your collection, I’ve written up a few tips on how you, too, can accomplish this incredible feat. Some of them are common sense, some of them you may have thought of before, but by following the first four tips you can definitely get all the patterns you need. It’s how I did it!

1. Don’t Spend Too Much Time on GTS and Wonder Trade – But Don’t Discount Them Either!

The first place most people are inclined to check for their missing Vivillon patterns is the online GTS or Global Trading Station. There, people with spare Vivillons can post their Pokemon in exchange for others.

Unfortunately, the Vivillon trade on the GTS has become a very inaccessible place. There is no way for anyone to differentiate between the patterns when posting a Pokemon for trade so people with one rare pattern looking for another rare pattern can’t post an Ocean Vivillon and get only trades for a Savanna Pokemon. According to the Pokedex they are all the same. So someone who puts up a rare Sandstorm asking for Monsoon pattern in return will probably just wind up with an Elegant Vivillon in return. Which is kind of sad because they get shafted in that deal.

Really, the only way to get those rare ones is to snipe one – and be the person sending them that Elegant Vivillon – or to give into the requests that people post asking for legendaries or other equally difficult to attain Pokemon. Scatterbugs are even worse because at least with Vivillon trades you know the pattern you are going to get.

Several times I have traded Scatterbugs with people who put up Scatterbugs from regions other than their own and been duped out of a Lvl. 1 starter I’ve had for trade only to get an Elegant or High Plains pattern from someone from Hokkaido (which should be Tundra) or Okinawa (which should be Monsoon)!

BUT.

There are some benefits to using the GTS. You can pick up a lot of common patterns for straight Vivillon for Vivillon trades. If you need High Plains, Elegant, Modern, or Polar Vivillons those will be easy to get. Even Garden, Ocean, and Continental patterns show up fairly often.

Wonder Trade is a terrible way to get Vivillons (I rarely ever see them on there), but a fantastic way to get Scatterbugs. You never know what pattern your Scatterbug will evolve into and with the new Exp. Share it’s super easy to level them up and find out. I think it’s a pretty fun game. And with people on Tumblr trying to initiate ‘Scatterbug Saturdays’ where people flood the WT with their local Scatterbugs there’s the opportunity to pick up a large number of patterns you may not have or some extras for trade very easily.

Vivillons Aquired This Way: Continental, Marine, Garden, Modern, Polar, Elegant, Meadow (GTS)

2. Trade With Random Passersby

One of my favorite ways to collect Vivillons has been to initiate random trades with the ‘Passersby’ on my online feed. These are random players from random countries that just happen across your game. I get a lot of people from all over the place – including Aruba, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. If those places aren’t somewhat significant to you then you  haven’t been in the Vivillon game for very long. Basically, they are some of the places you can get some of the rarer Vivillon patterns. So what do you do when these people show up?

Ask them to trade!

I got THREE of my rare patterns this way – Sun, Savanna, and Sandstorm. Now, it’s sometimes hard to let people know what you want from them. I usually start off by offering a Vivillon (a rarer one than my Native High Plains) and then if they make a non-Vivillon offer I’ll switch to another Vivillon to show that I have several patterns. Some people get the hint. Some people don’t. It just depends on the person.

I randomly traded a girl in Saudi Arabia named Johara for a Sandstorm pattern and it took us two goes to really understand one another. I traded her a Vivillon for a starter she had (because I wanted to give her one of my local ones anyway) and ended the trade. But then she immediately asked me for a trade and gave me an awesome Lvl. 30 Sandstorm. The guy in Brazil who gave me his local pattern also took a couple tries to get across that I was interested in a Vivillon.

It’s a much easier way to get rare patterns than spending hours trying to snipe them from the GTS! (Which, let’s just all agree, is pretty bad form when people are specifically asking for one pattern or another.)

Vivillons Acquired This Way: Sun, Savanna, my second Sandstorm, my Lvl. 67 Icy Snow

3. Check Websites and Pokemon Forums Regularly

It may seem super nerdy but you really should join different Pokemon Fansite Forums or just Video Game site forms in general. People post trades up all the time and they are really receptive to trading Friend Codes and working out deals.

Reddit is also another great source with their /r/PokemonTrades or the much more specific /r/Vivillon and /r/VivillonExchange subreddits. I’ve had a lot of success setting up trades on Bulbapedia and Serebii as well as NeoSeeker.

There are a lot of people out there who are also trying to complete their collections and some people with super rare patterns are missing the simplest of Vivillon. I saw someone with native Monsoon Vivillons trading for River and Marine which – while not super common – aren’t nearly as rare. Occasionally I even find people willing to just give away rarer patterns like Icy Snow, Sandstorm, and Monsoon!

Honestly, this will be the easiest way to bulk up your collection. The vast majority of my Vivillon trades were arranged this way. There’s no guess work, no surprises, and no random chance like there is on the GTS. You know what you are getting and you see it before you trade. And people are often willing to work out other trades, too!

Sometimes you’ll even find some really awesome people out there who are just willing to give away rare patterns. There have been people on Tumblr catching or breeding Archipelago and Ocean pattern Scatterbugs to give away en masse and I’ve see people giving away Icy Snow, Jungle, and Monsoon patterns as well. It’s all about finding the right forum post and getting in on it while the going is good!

Vivillons Acquired This Way: Icy Snow, Tundra, Jungle, Ocean (fansites); Monsoon (Reddit)

4. Make Friends With Other Vivillon Collectors

When it comes to collecting Vivillon everyone is in more or less the same boat. Everyone has only one native pattern and, while their pattern may be rarer than some, they still have to go through the effort of setting up trades. It takes time. It takes patience. It also requires that you reach out to people in some way or another. Whether it’s anonymously via GTS/Wonder Trade or directly on forums, Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. you have to have some sort of contact with other people to make sure you get the Vivillons you need.

So why not take the opportunity to make friends?

Sure, you can post up offers on the various Pokemon websites or you can make posts on Tumblr or Twitter and just sort of get what you need and go but why? Take a chance to get to know people. Start up conversations. Fangirl/Fanboy the shit out of things.

Not just Pokemon, either! Get all excited about the things you like. You’ll meet people with similar interests and maybe make some new friends. And it’s a lot easier to go it together, you know? If you find someone willing to trade for a rare pattern from their native locale you can always ask them for a second for a friend. Then if your new found friend manages to find another rare pattern they can do the same. Even if you can’t get a second pattern you can always point others in the right direction.

Basically, you can divide and conquer the Internet! But you have to make those connections first! I’ve met some pretty great people on different Pokemon boards and on Tumblr who have been more than willing to help me out with things, not only Vivillon trades but other trades as well. There are really great people out there. You just need to take the time to get to know them.

Vivillons Acquired This Way: My first Sandstorm, Archipelago, River, some spare Oceans for friends

5. Cheat

If all else fails, I guess you could cheat. In theory you can restart your game or – if you bought both X and Y – use one of the games to get other patterns. In theory you can reset the location on your 3DS and have your native location change as you do so.

Scatterbugs are available in basically the very first area you can catch Pokemon so it wouldn’t take too long to get to that point. Plus afterward – especially if you decide to keep playing on that particular cartridge – you could use them as trading fodder.

But cheating is lame. It’s perfectly possible to get all the patterns on your own without needing to try to cheat the system. Just follow the other tips and you can do it!

So what are you waiting for? You have the tools you need to complete your own epic quest to collect all the Vivillon. Get out there, get trading, and make friends! And if you feel like setting up trades in the comments go for it. Anything I can do to help you all reach the same sense of accomplishment I have in collecting all these pretty, pretty butterfly Pokemon!

277 thoughts on “How To Complete Your Vivillon Collection”

    1. There are no consequences – you can change it back any time you like. It will not, however, make a differnce if you are already playing the game. Like, you can’t change your location after starting and get a new Vivillon pattern.

      1. I’m a nice person too! 😛 For example I’m trading some Legit Event Pokemon for an English Meadow, Korean Sandstorm and English Pokeball Vivillon :3

  1. Also to add, my only reason for choosing the “cheat” way to getting the forms is because I want to actually name and have certain genders for my vivillons. You know, make them my own and give them personality. If that makes any sense >.>;;

  2. Hi this is so late but I literally just made an account to post on this. I really want a tundra vivillon but I haven’t even got past the first gym yet, I just got the game and haven’t had much time. I’m willing to trade any starter, I’ll just restart and wifi trade it? Reply to me or post on my page if you can trade for this. Sorry but I can’t give much in return.

    K.

  3. Wait, I start with Garden by the way. It’s not my favourite, to be honest it’s my least favourite but if you want it I can get that for you? I’m fine if you just trade the spewpa/scatterbug to me too, preferably the lowest level possible because I’m new to the game and don’t want it to be too easy. Thanks.

    K.

    1. Will you add my friend code, for fun and profit? I have posted it towards the bottom of the thread. I’m not always online but if you reply I will make an effort to match your time

  4. That’s good, I’ll be on at 6/11 5-8pm gmt. Reply back to me saying that you’d like a Garden ? I’ll be able to give it at like, lvl 12 only sorry and I’d prefer as low a level as possible. No EV training or anything necessary. Thanks

  5. I have polar vivillon and am willing to trade for almost any others. I also have elegant, modern, high plains, and a sun to trade. REALLY want ocean.

  6. Hello, I’m looking for Garden, Icysnow, Sandstorm, and Jungle pattern Vivillons. I have Modern, High Plains, Continental, Tundra, Polar, Elegant (I know, common, but it’s there), Marine, and Ocean Vivillons that I can trade (unlimited Modern and Ocean. the others are extras I’ve obtained from the GTS, so I may run out of them). My Friend Code is 3093-7119-3534. Thank you!

  7. Hello, my name’s Vixy. I just started a Vivillon collection, and sadly, start with the High Plains version. I have been able to gather Continental, Garden, and Elegant. I am not far into the game, so I don’t have anything amazing to trade, all mine came from wonder trades, and my garden was from a friend of mine. I’d gladly offer what I can for another Vivillon for my set :3
    My friend code is 3969-4977-4341

  8. Hi there! I’ve bern trying hard to get as many vivillon pattern as possible, but I still miss icysnow, archipelago, river, sandstorm, monsoon, sun, ocean and jungle

    I have savanna cause I am from brazil, so I can get as many as I want. Even if
    Someone doesn’t have anything I want I am still willing to trade cause the more you have the more likely you can trade. This is driving me crazy so I’d rather spread the pattern I have than ask for legendary pokemon as I see on GTS. ^_^

    Let’s spread vivillions everwhere!

    1. If you’re still looking for Ocean and Archipelago, I have Ocean Vivillon in one of my games and I -think- I have Archipelago in one of my other two (I set the region to one that -should- get Archipelago before starting the file on that one). I still need to raise a Scatterbug in that one to be sure… but I can definitely get you Ocean if you will trade a Savannah, and the same trade will apply if I do in fact have Archipelago in my other copy. Let me know if this sounds good!

    2. Any time tomorrow (Friday) after around 2:00 PM EST will work for me. I’m in the Eastern US, if that helps figure out the time. My Friend Code is 3093-7119-3534. Savannah is one of my favorite forms, so I’m definitely looking forward to trading! … Speaking of favorite forms, what are yours? Mine are: Monsoon, Ocean, Savannah, and Jungle.

      1. Hi there! Now we’re friends! 🙂

        I like icysnow a lot, but monsoon is nice too! Let’s trade tomorrow afternoon! 😉

      2. Sorry that I haven’t been on much! I’m quickly raising a Scatterbug right now (which will evolve into Ocean), so I’ll be ready to trade soon.

    3. Ocean is ready! Still haven’t finished evolving in my other game, though, to test for Archipelago, but I’ll let you know when I get it!

      1. Archipelago is ready, now! If you’re around tomorrow afternoon (Saturday), I’ll send a trade request. ^_^

  9. Hi I currently have modern, elegant, continental, high plains, polar, sun, and meadow. I will take any of the other 11, but preferably garden or ocean. Message me back for offers.

    1. I have native Ocean in one game and native Archipelago in another. Not picky about what I get in return, though Shiny Stones or a Sun Vivillon (only if you have a spare! I don’t want to take it if it’s your only one!) would be greatly appreciated.

    2. Well, it was very hard to find you online… I guess you were on GTS? 🙂

      I hope to have helped you. I sent everything I had extra. If you find archipelago, send me two. For friends of mine! ^_^

  10. Well, I am from Brazil so I have savannah, Now I am looking for icysnow, sun, archipelago, jungle, garden, sandstorm, river and monsoon.

    If you have one of those it’d help me a lot. I also have some spare ones, let’s try to trade and let me see if I can help you! ^_^

    My FC is 2766-9315-1101

  11. Modern is my native, but I also have elegant, sun, continental, high plains, polar, and meadow. I would be happy with any of the others, but prefer garden and ocean. Please message me back.

  12. I have native Ocean in one game and native Archipelago in another. Not picky about what I get in return, though Shiny Stones or a Sun Vivillon (only if you have a spare! I don’t want to take it if it’s your only one!) would be greatly appreciated.

    1. It’d be great if you let me have your Archipelago and Ocean.
      Thank you 🙂
      FC: 3582-9663-0751. 3DS: Andres. IGN: Andrew

  13. Sonelle would you exchange one of those for mine. I would prefer giving you a modern, but I can give you an elegant, or if you want something else I can try to get to you.

    1. Anything works, as long as it’s not a Bidoof or Bibarel (those things absolutely PLAGUED me back in 4th Gen… @_@). My friend code is:

      3093-7119-3534

  14. Hi guys

    sorry I couldn’t replay before

    I can offer my savannah vivillons, as many as you’d like.

    MEBBAR we’re now friends. I can provide you savannah and anything spare I have. No problem if you only have modern. I take whatever you give me cause I want to help you

    Sonelle9060, I’d love to have two archipelago vivillons. They’re pretty hard to find, and I am trying to help two friends of mine. Unfortunately I only have one sun (from my collection) I am still trying to find the other three for the people I am currently helping. ^_^
    About the ocean vivillon well, one of my friends still need it. Can you help me?

    I am online now, and during the week it’s the time I arrive from work. If it works for you, let’s trade friends! ^_^

    I just love to make new friends while trying to trade vivillons!

    1. I have multiple Ocean Vivillons ready to trade, if you’d like. I’ll need some time to get you the two Archipelagos, though, since I haven’t reached the daycare yet on that file. Also, I was really lucky and managed to grab a spare Monsoon on the GTS, so I could trade that to you, too, for one of your Savannahs. These are all on separate files, though, so we’ll need to trade three separate times (same friend code, of course!).

      1. I understand that. I can wait for it, cause as I told you, I bet it’ll be impossible to find one before that! LOL

        Did you get one monsoon on GTS? Gosh, the only thing I could grab there was garden and the archipelago from my collection. I almost cried when I saw that!

        How can we make it work? I am not very knowleadgeble you know… 😉

      2. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated at all on your end! I’ll just need to switch between my games for each Vivillon form, that’s all!

    2. I’ll get you the two Archipelago Vivillons soon, but I’ll need to catch the Scatterbugs first, since I haven’t reached the daycare in that game. Enjoy the Monsoon Vivi!

  15. Well, thank you very much. My friend will be pleased to know I got her an ocean vivillon! ^_^

    Do you only need a sun vivillon? If I can trade that I’ll ask for 4, so I can send you one! 😉

    1. I’m actually working on a second set, and Sun is just one of the forms I need for it. I can get most of the other forms easily enough from some other friends that I have, though I’ll need to trade a lot for them (mostly legendary Pokemon and Hidden Ability Pokemon).

      1. Speaking of Hidden Ability Pokemon… If I can get it and breed it to get babies with their Hidden Abilities, I can trade one to you. I can easily get Togepi, Eevee, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie with their Hidden Abilities, and I’m pretty sure I have some others scattered throughout my boxes. Let’s keep Hidden Ability talk to a minimum here, though. If you want one that I’ve listed here, just put it into the message you broadcast to people in your game (where you have your “Vivillons!” message right now). I’ll see it! ^_^

      2. Thank you very much. I was thinking about what you wrote, so I will send you another message later cause I am interested in what you said

      3. Yesterday a very kind friend sent me some sun vivs over. Do you still need one? Send me a message if you do! ^_^

      4. That would be wonderful! If you want, I can send over a couple spare Oceans while we’re at it, or any Hidden Ability Pokemon you’re looking for (as long as I have one to breed!). ^_^

    1. The same applies if you get a Bug-type Friend Safari with Vivillon in it from someone else… They’ll always be the form from your region.

      1. Ah sobelle9060 yesterday I didn’t use the internet. I was trying to get out of that reflection cave. Endless place! >_<

        But can we trade tonight? I have some spare vivs. I will try asking my friends about an archipelago viv cause it's the one I am missing. If you have a spare!

        And I accept what you have to offer. Only after I finish the game will I talk to you about hidden abilities and a team to face battle maison!

  16. Hey guys, I am looking for Sun, Ocean, Icy, Archipelago, Marine, Sandstorm, Sun, Savanna and Tundra. Anyone Have one to trade for a A river, Modern or Polar? River being My native. FC is 3668 – 8768 – 3195

    1. I have savanna here! ^_^
      My friend who has sandstorm isn’t available now but when she returns I can ask her!

      I will add you tonight so we can trade. I accept your native cause it’s easier for you ok!? Sorry yesterday I couldn’t use the internet

      1. Hi there, I’d like you to trade me a Savannah, please. If you can put me in contact in your Sandstorm friend, it’d be awesome!
        Thank you 🙂
        FC: 3582-9663-0751. 3DS: Andres. IGN: Andrew

      2. Andrew. I didn’t understand if you wanted that viv or not. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to talk to my sandstorm friend for a week. I will send her another message. Let me know what you need and I’ll see what I can do

        1. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. Yeah, I wanted your Savanah and I’m looking for Samndstorm too. I think you got me by chance as a Passerby trade a liitle ago, however. Your name in game is Fabi, right? Thank you, anyway!

          I have Native Modern, BTW. If anyone somehow needs one of those, add me. I’d be glad to help.

  17. sonelle9060, When can we trade the sun viv you need? The weekend is perfect to do this! ^_^

    Now, and tomorrow (sunday) I will be available! Send me a message or a request! ^_^

  18. I have Modern (native, unfortunately), Elegant, Icy snow, Continential and high plains. I’m looking for the rest, hopefully it’ll be a bit fair, since I don’t have zapdos or anything

      1. I have Ocean (native in one of my games), if you’re still looking for it (same situation for Archipelago). Not asking for anything in particular in return, as long as it’s not Bunnelby, Bidoof, or other too-common Pokemon. I’d love any starter (even if it hasn’t hatched yet), but if you don’t have that, just send over a Modern Vivillon (or Scatterbug). It really doesn’t matter much. I hope this helps!

    1. Why zaptos? 😀

      Add me cause I can at least send you a savannah viv. And as you already have icysnow feel happy cause it took me a long time to find it ^_^

  19. Hi 🙂 My native is the MEADOW pattern! I have a lot of scatterbugs, so if you want some of them, just ask and I’ll send to you!
    I don’t want anything in particular, I have already finished the collection, but if you can send one of your native form, it would highly appreciated :3
    My FC is 0216-1202-8208

    1. Hey Dean, you’re just the person I was looking for! I was looking for a meadow pattern, and I’ll trade you my Polar pattern for it (or a continental one if you’re sick of the pattern). My FC is 5386-8450-1595

  20. I’m Lily in Kalos! the number’s 1650-1730-0371
    I have Polar natives and will happily trade with anyone 🙂 I’m still looking for the rare and moderately rare Vivis for my collection.
    Hope I’m not too late on this thread…

    1. Well, you’re not too late for an Archipelago or an Ocean. I have native Archipelago in one game and native Ocean in another. I’m not asking for anything in particular, as long as it’s not something that’s -too- common. Any level 1 starter will work or any Vivillon pattern other than Elegant, for example. Let me know what you think! I’ll post my fc soon, once I get home.

      1. Hello! honestly, Sonelle I was hoping you’d be back. Near-free Oceans and Archipelagos? Yippee! My vivis can have pokerus and friend guard, if you are interested in breeding those things into yours

      2. Friend Guard? I’ve been looking for Vivillons with that ability! I don’t mean to be greedy, but if you have two females with Friend Guard, that would be amazing (one for each of the two patterns that I have). If you don’t have two females, any two Friend Guard Vivillons will be absolutely fine. Pattern, nature, etc. aren’t important, so don’t worry if they’re Polar! =D

        Also, here’s my FC:
        3093-7119-3534

        Also, I ordered a Japanese 3DS LL (Japanese version of 3DS XL) with Pokemon X, so with any luck, I’ll be able to get native Monsoon before too long. I’d be happy to send one of those over as long as I’m able to actually get Monsoon, though you’ll need to wait for the 3DS LL to actually arrive here and for me to play enough to get a Vivillon to get it. If you’re still looking for Monsoon by that time (and even if you already have one), you can have one. =D (It’s never a bad thing to have an extra Monsoon or two!)

  21. By crazy luck, I have a Monsoon! Someone traded me for a River the other day :O Anyway, two females with friend guard are already stored up and waiting. I’m online mostly 10-midnight EST but on and off through the day. See you sometime

    1. I had a lot of fun trading! Thanks, it’s been a while since I’ve had such a great casual trading session. Most of the trades I’ve done since Diamond and Pearl have been much more structured… I think I almost forgot how much fun it could be to just randomly start trading with someone!

  22. This is Talad. I’m almost done my collection, but still need Sandstorm, IcySnow, and Ocean. Let me know if you can help me out! My native pattern is High Plains, but I also have some extra Modern, Meadow, Elegant (of course), Tundra, Polar, Continental, Sun, and River from my search.

    Also, I put up super size Pumpkaboos with 3 or 4 31 IV stats on the GTS requesting any Vivillon (that’s how I’ve built my collection so far). If you see this and are gun-shy about posting, look me up there and help me out. I check it as often as I can. Thanks in advance!

    Friend code is 3196-2858-1383. I’ll see you in Kalos.

    1. I have native Ocean in one of my games, so I can trade one (hidden ability (Rain Dish) Squirtle would be amazing if you have it, but I’ll accept many other things if you don’t. Just make an offer!). I’m not picky, as long as it’s not super-common.

      1. I was the one you were just trading with. I have one of my games set to Korean (I wanted Korean Vivillon data while I was getting Ocean, too). Trainer name in that game is Eline.

      2. Sorry, I’ve been traveling, so I’ve missed much on this feed. I’ve added you, and ocean would be awesome! I haven’t found the Wartortle safari yet, so I don’t have access to rain dish squirtle, but I have multiples of most of the vivillons (except the ones I’m asking for), and I have about 75% of the friend safari pokemon available. I also have a few 4 IV speed boost torchic, rough skin gibles, noibats, and skarmories lying around.

        Also Guilherme, I’ll be happy to help you out. FC and IGNS please?