diff --git a/.beans/nuzlocke-tracker-rfg0--core-encounter-processing.md b/.beans/nuzlocke-tracker-rfg0--core-encounter-processing.md
index 019b11b..eecf004 100644
--- a/.beans/nuzlocke-tracker-rfg0--core-encounter-processing.md
+++ b/.beans/nuzlocke-tracker-rfg0--core-encounter-processing.md
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
 # nuzlocke-tracker-rfg0
 title: Core encounter processing
-status: in-progress
+status: completed
 type: task
 priority: normal
 created_at: 2026-02-11T08:43:12Z
-updated_at: 2026-02-11T09:03:52Z
+updated_at: 2026-02-11T09:12:59Z
 parent: nuzlocke-tracker-bs05
 blocking:
     - nuzlocke-tracker-gkcy
diff --git a/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/__main__.py b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/__main__.py
index b976551..d1c0064 100644
--- a/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/__main__.py
+++ b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/__main__.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from .loader import load_pokedb_data, load_seed_config
 from .mappings import PokemonMapper, LocationMapper, build_version_map, map_encounter_method
 from .processing import filter_encounters_for_game, process_encounters, build_routes
+from .sprites import download_sprites
 
 SEEDS_DIR_CANDIDATES = [
     Path("backend/src/app/seeds"),                # from repo root
@@ -131,8 +132,11 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
             print(f"    - {m}", file=sys.stderr)
 
     # Spot-check pokemon mapping on actual encounter data
-    form_ids_in_encounters = {e.get("pokemon_form_identifier", "") for e in pokedb.encounters}
-    form_ids_in_encounters.discard("")
+    form_ids_in_encounters: set[str] = set()
+    for e in pokedb.encounters:
+        fid = e.get("pokemon_form_identifier")
+        if fid:
+            form_ids_in_encounters.add(fid)
     mapped_forms = 0
     for fid in form_ids_in_encounters:
         if pokemon_mapper.lookup(fid) is not None:
@@ -182,6 +186,12 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
         print(f"  Routes: {total_routes}")
         print(f"  Encounter entries: {total_enc}")
 
+    # Download sprites for all encountered pokemon
+    print("\nDownloading sprites...")
+    sprites_dir = output_dir / "sprites"
+    sprite_map = download_sprites(pokemon_mapper, form_ids_in_encounters, sprites_dir)
+    print(f"  Sprite map covers {len(sprite_map)} forms")
+
     print("\nProcessing complete. Output not yet written (subtask gkcy).")
 
 
diff --git a/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/mappings.py b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/mappings.py
index 1b1f245..973a0a5 100644
--- a/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/mappings.py
+++ b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/mappings.py
@@ -464,6 +464,19 @@ class PokemonMapper:
 
         return None
 
+    def get_sprite_url(self, pokemon_form_identifier: str | None) -> str | None:
+        """Get the PokeDB CDN sprite URL (100x100 medium) for a form identifier."""
+        if not pokemon_form_identifier:
+            return None
+        form_record = self._pokedb_form_index.get(pokemon_form_identifier, {})
+        return form_record.get("main_image_normal_path_medium")
+
+    def get_form_data(self, pokemon_form_identifier: str | None) -> dict | None:
+        """Get the full PokeDB form record for a form identifier."""
+        if not pokemon_form_identifier:
+            return None
+        return self._pokedb_form_index.get(pokemon_form_identifier)
+
     def report_unmapped(self) -> None:
         """Print warnings for any unmapped identifiers."""
         if self._unmapped:
diff --git a/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/sprites.py b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/sprites.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7fc451d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/import-pokedb/import_pokedb/sprites.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Download and manage PokeDB pokemon sprites."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+import urllib.request
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+from .mappings import PokemonMapper
+
+
+def download_sprites(
+    pokemon_mapper: PokemonMapper,
+    encountered_form_ids: set[str],
+    sprites_dir: Path,
+) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Download sprites for all encountered pokemon forms.
+
+    Returns a mapping of pokemon_form_identifier → local sprite filename.
+    Skips already-downloaded sprites.
+    """
+    sprites_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+    to_download: list[tuple[str, str, Path]] = []  # (form_id, url, dest)
+    result: dict[str, str] = {}
+
+    for form_id in sorted(encountered_form_ids):
+        info = pokemon_mapper.lookup(form_id)
+        if info is None:
+            continue
+
+        pokeapi_id, _ = info
+        sprite_url = pokemon_mapper.get_sprite_url(form_id)
+        if not sprite_url:
+            continue
+
+        filename = f"{pokeapi_id}.webp"
+        dest = sprites_dir / filename
+        result[form_id] = filename
+
+        if not dest.exists():
+            to_download.append((form_id, sprite_url, dest))
+
+    if not to_download:
+        print(f"  Sprites: {len(result)} already cached")
+        return result
+
+    print(f"  Downloading {len(to_download)} sprites ({len(result) - len(to_download)} cached)...")
+
+    failed = 0
+    for i, (form_id, url, dest) in enumerate(to_download, 1):
+        try:
+            urllib.request.urlretrieve(url, dest)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"  Warning: Failed to download sprite for {form_id}: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            failed += 1
+            # Remove the failed entry from results
+            result.pop(form_id, None)
+
+        # Progress every 100
+        if i % 100 == 0:
+            print(f"    {i}/{len(to_download)}...")
+
+    if failed:
+        print(f"  Sprites: {len(result)} downloaded, {failed} failed")
+    else:
+        print(f"  Sprites: {len(result)} total ({len(to_download)} new)")
+
+    return result
+
+
+def sprite_path_for_pokemon(pokeapi_id: int, sprites_dir_name: str = "sprites") -> str:
+    """Generate the relative sprite path for use in pokemon.json.
+
+    Returns a path like "sprites/25.webp" suitable for the sprite_url field.
+    """
+    return f"{sprites_dir_name}/{pokeapi_id}.webp"