West Province Area One isn't exactly the flashiest part of Paldea. If you're playing Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, you probably zoomed through here on your way to Cascarrafa or the Team Star Dark Crew base. But honestly? You’re missing out if you treat it as just a highway. It’s a rugged, windswept stretch of land that serves as a massive difficulty gate for players who wander too far north too early.
The geography here is a mess of vertical cliffs and winding dirt paths. It’s located just west of Cortondo and leads straight into the heart of the desert. If you’ve spent any time here, you know the feeling of trying to scale a cliff only to realize Koraidon or Miraidon hasn't learned to climb yet. It’s frustrating. It’s beautiful. It’s surprisingly dense with items.
Why West Province Area One is a Training Goldmine
Most players hit this area when their team is hovering around level 15 to 20. That's a mistake. While the southern entrance near the Pokémon Center (West Province Area One - South) is manageable, the level curve spikes as you move toward the windmills. You’ll find everything from the tiny, frantic Bombirdier (the Open Sky Titan) to herds of Donphan that will absolutely wreck a team that isn't prepared for Ground-type moves.
The windmills are the landmark everyone remembers. They aren't just for show. The wind actually affects how certain Pokémon spawns behave, and the area around the base of these structures is often littered with TMs. If you’re looking for TM019 Disarming Voice or TM027 Aerial Ace, they’re tucked away in the nooks of these cliffs. I remember spenting twenty minutes just trying to find a ramp up to a specific platform, only to find a Rare Bone. It felt like a prank.
The Titan Problem
Let’s talk about Bombirdier. As the Open Sky Titan, this bird is the primary reason people visit West Province Area One. It’s a Flying/Dark type, which catches people off guard if they’re relying on Psychic or Ghost types. The "rocks" it drops aren't just a gimmick; they're part of the lore of the area. The local NPC dialogue hints at the "stony rain" that plagues the path.
Beating this Titan unlocks the swimming ability for your mount. That's huge. Without it, half of Paldea remains locked behind rivers and lakes. Most speedrunners prioritize this specific spot because the movement upgrade is more valuable than almost any other early-game reward.
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Real Talk: The Spawns and the Scenery
If you want a Shiny Salandit, don’t look here. You’ll find plenty of males, but the female ones—the ones that actually evolve into Salazzle—are a nightmare to find in the rocky outcroppings. Instead, use this area for its abundance of Rockruff and Psyduck. The ponds near the central Pokémon Center are surprisingly good for farming Psyduck Down, which you’ll need for crafting high-tier TMs later in the game.
The weather is another story. It rains. A lot. This isn't just a visual effect; it triggers moves like Hurricane and Thunder to have perfect accuracy. If you're battling a wild Pokémon with a high-damage, low-accuracy movepool during a storm in West Province Area One, you're going to have a bad time.
Exploring the Windmill Heights
There’s a specific ridge overlooking the sea where the sunsets are actually stunning. It’s one of the few places in the game where the draw distance doesn't feel like it’s struggling quite as hard. From here, you can see the Asado Desert shimmering in the distance.
- Common Spawns: Hoppip, Pawmi, Lechonk (near the south).
- Uncommon Spawns: Shinx, Mareep, and the occasional Cyclizar.
- The "Trap" Pokémon: Be wary of the high-level Tera Pokémon glowing in the distance. There's a Tera Jigglypuff near the cliffs that has survived more than one of my under-leveled attempts at a capture.
The verticality is the real challenge. Unlike the South Province, which is mostly rolling hills, West Province Area One requires you to think in 3D. There are caves tucked into the sides of the mountains that aren't marked on the mini-map. Inside, you'll find items like Everstones and Hard Stones, which are essential for competitive breeding and boosting Rock-type damage.
How to Actually Navigate This Place
First off, stop trying to jump over the fences near the windmills. There are designated paths for a reason. If you haven't defeated the Stony Cliff Titan (Klawf) yet, your mount won't have the dash ability, making the long stretches of West Province Area One feel like an eternity.
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- Start at the West Province Area One (Central) Pokémon Center.
- Head north toward the windmills if you're level 20+.
- Stick to the coast if you’re looking for Water-type spawns or looking to avoid the aggressive herds of Tauros.
- Keep an eye on the sky. Bombirdier isn't the only bird here; Wattrel frequently spawns over the cliffs, and they’re great for Electric/Flying coverage.
Honestly, the best way to handle this area is to treat it as a hub. It connects the starting areas to the mid-game challenges of Cascarrafa. If you rush it, you’ll be under-leveled for the Gym Leader Kofu. If you stay too long, you’ll outpace the rest of the story. It’s a delicate balance.
The Technical Reality of the Area
We have to address the elephant in the room: performance. West Province Area One is notorious for frame rate drops, especially near the windmills. The rotation of the blades seems to tax the engine more than other assets. If you notice your game stuttering, try tilting the camera toward the ground or away from the moving parts. It’s a bit of a "pro-tip" for a game that sometimes feels like it's held together by tape.
The NPC trainers here are mostly hikers and students. They use a lot of Rock and Ground types. If you started with Quaxly or Sprigatito, you’re in luck. If you chose Fuecoco, you might want to bench him for a bit or give him a defensive Tera type. The "Hiker" archetype is alive and well here, often using Geodude or Mudbray variants.
What You’re Probably Missing
Most people don't realize there’s a small beach area at the very base of the western cliffs. It’s a long drop down, and you usually need the "glide" or "climb" ability to get back up easily, but the items down there are top-tier. I found a Silk Scarf tucked behind a rock near the shoreline. It’s these little pockets of design that make the area feel like a real place rather than just a level in a video game.
Also, check the ruins. There are crumbling stone walls scattered throughout the province. These are prime locations for Gimmighoul coins. If you see a small chest or a tiny gold figure on top of a wall, grab it. You need 999 of those things to get a Gholdengo, and West Province Area One has about a dozen spawn points if you know where to look.
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Practical Steps for Your Journey
If you’re currently standing in West Province Area One or planning to head there, do these three things immediately:
- Check your levels: If you aren't at least level 19, the trainers on the path to the windmills will likely white you out.
- Visit the Watchtower: There’s a Sights of Paldea watchtower in this region. Climbing it provides a fast travel point that is infinitely more useful than the Pokémon Centers because of its central location.
- Farm the TMs: Don't buy what you can find. Explore the circular paths around the windmills to snag TM097 Fly (eventually) and other movement-based moves.
West Province Area One isn't just a transition zone. It’s a test of your patience with the game’s climbing mechanics and a reward for those who like to poke around in corners. Take your time, watch the wind, and maybe keep a Water-type in your lead slot just in case a wild Donphan decides it doesn't like the way you're looking at it.
Once you’ve cleared the Bombirdier Titan, your next logical step is to head north into the Asado Desert. The transition is seamless, but the difficulty spike is real. Make sure you’ve stocked up on Great Balls at the central station before you leave the grassy cliffs behind. The desert doesn't offer much shade, and the Pokémon there are significantly more aggressive than the ones you've seen so far.
Actionable Insights:
- Prioritize the Titan: Beat Bombirdier immediately to unlock the swim ability, which makes the rest of the province much easier to navigate.
- Hidden Items: Look for the gold sparkles on the windmill platforms; they often contain high-value items like Nuggets or Rare Candies.
- Evolution Stones: This area is one of the earliest places to find Thunder Stones and Leaf Stones as random floor spawns near the rocky outcrops.
- Fast Travel: Unlock the Area One Watchtower first. It saves you minutes of backtracking through the winding cliff paths.