diff --git a/src/core/game3/field.lua b/src/core/game3/field.lua
index 4b41c10f..2df79993 100644
--- a/src/core/game3/field.lua
+++ b/src/core/game3/field.lua
@@ -1497,7 +1497,6 @@ function Field.executeFieldMove(payload)
     showMon(function()
       if payload.se then Audio.playSe(payload.se) end
       FieldEffects.startSweetScent(function()
-        Field.locked = false
         Field.finishSweetScent(payload)
       end)
     end)
@@ -1514,18 +1513,68 @@ function Field.finishSweetScent(payload)
     local Map = package.loaded["src.core.game3.map"]
     mapId = Map and Map.current
   end
+
+  local function showFailMessage()
+    local RomText = lazyReq("src.core.game3.rom_text")
+    local Message = lazyReq("src.ui.game3.message")
+    local failText = payload and payload.failText
+    local failKey = payload and payload.failKey
+    local textToShow
+    if type(failText) == "table" then
+      textToShow = failText
+    elseif failKey and RomText and RomText.has and RomText.has(failKey) then
+      textToShow = RomText.box(failKey)
+    elseif type(failText) == "string" and RomText and RomText.has and RomText.has(failText) then
+      textToShow = RomText.box(failText)
+    elseif type(failText) == "string" and #failText > 0 and not failText:match("^Text_") and not failText:match("^gText_") then
+      textToShow = failText
+    else
+      local FieldMoves = lazyReq("src.core.game3.field_moves")
+      local k = FieldMoves and FieldMoves.textKey and FieldMoves.textKey("NO_SWEET_SCENT_MONS")
+      if k and RomText and RomText.has and RomText.has(k) then
+        textToShow = RomText.box(k)
+      else
+        textToShow = "Looks like there's nothing here…"
+      end
+    end
+
+    local ok, err = pcall(function()
+      Message.show(textToShow, {
+        session = session,
+        done = function()
+          Field.locked = false
+          Message.close()
+        end,
+      })
+    end)
+    if not ok then
+      Field.locked = false
+      print("[game3/field] sweet scent fail message error: " .. tostring(err))
+    end
+  end
+
   local rules = Encounters.rules()
   if rules.sweetScentFacility then
     local handled = rules.sweetScentFacility(mapId)
     if handled == true then return end
     if handled == false then
-      if not payload.failText then return end
-      local Message = lazyReq("src.ui.game3.message")
-      Message.show(RomText.box(payload.failText), { session = session, done = function() Message.close() end })
+      showFailMessage()
       return
     end
   end
-  local terrain = Encounters.terrainAt(Player.cellX, Player.cellY)
+
+  -- Weather suppression check: heavy precipitation (rain, downpour, snow) & fog suppress sweet scent
+  local Weather = lazyReq("src.core.game3.weather")
+  local curWeather = Weather and Weather.get and Weather.get()
+  local weatherSuppressed = curWeather == Weather.RAIN
+    or curWeather == Weather.SNOW
+    or curWeather == Weather.RAIN_THUNDERSTORM
+    or curWeather == Weather.DOWNPOUR
+    or curWeather == Weather.FOG_HORIZONTAL
+    or curWeather == Weather.FOG_DIAGONAL
+
+  local px, py = (Player and Player.cellX) or 0, (Player and Player.cellY) or 0
+  local terrain = not weatherSuppressed and Encounters.terrainAt(px, py) or nil
   local enc = (terrain == "land" or terrain == "water") and Encounters.rollSweetScent(mapId, terrain) or nil
   if enc then
     local BattleBridge = lazyReq("src.core.game3.battle_bridge")
@@ -1533,9 +1582,8 @@ function Field.finishSweetScent(payload)
     if ok then return end
     print("[game3/field] sweet scent startWild failed: " .. tostring(err))
   end
-  if not payload.failText then return end
-  local Message = lazyReq("src.ui.game3.message")
-  Message.show(RomText.box(payload.failText), { session = session, done = function() Message.close() end })
+
+  showFailMessage()
 end
 
 -- pokefirered/src/wild_encounter.c:446
diff --git a/src/core/game3/field_moves.lua b/src/core/game3/field_moves.lua
index 400cbc01..b82fce8b 100644
--- a/src/core/game3/field_moves.lua
+++ b/src/core/game3/field_moves.lua
@@ -276,11 +276,28 @@ local function textKey(key)
 end
 FieldMoves.textKey = textKey
 
+local TEXT_FALLBACKS = {
+  NO_SWEET_SCENT_MONS  = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+  CANT_USE_HERE        = "Can't use that here.",
+  NOT_ENOUGH_HP        = "Not enough HP.",
+  TREE_CAN_BE_CUT      = "This tree looks like it can be CUT down!",
+  MON_MAY_SMASH_ROCK   = "This rock looks like it can be smashed with a POKéMON move!",
+  MON_MAY_PUSH_BOULDER = "It's a big boulder, but a POKéMON may be able to push it aside.",
+  CUT_NOTHING          = "There's nothing to CUT here.",
+  FLASH_IN_USE         = "FLASH is already in use.",
+  ALREADY_SURFING      = "You're already surfing.",
+  CANT_SURF_HERE       = "You can't surf here.",
+}
+
 FieldMoves.TEXT = setmetatable({}, {
   __index = function(_, key)
     local k = textKey(key)
-    if k then return lazyReq("src.core.game3.rom_text").ascii(k) end
-    return nil
+    local okRt, RomText = pcall(lazyReq, "src.core.game3.rom_text")
+    if okRt and RomText and k and RomText.has and RomText.has(k) then
+      local okAscii, res = pcall(RomText.ascii, k)
+      if okAscii and res then return res end
+    end
+    return TEXT_FALLBACKS[key] or nil
   end,
 })
 
@@ -672,9 +689,35 @@ function FieldMoves.teleportFromMenu(ctx)
   }
 end
 
+local function hasMovePp(mon, moveIdentifier)
+  if not mon then return false end
+  local targetId = FieldMoves.normalizeMoveId(moveIdentifier)
+  local moves = mon.moves or {}
+  for idx, m in ipairs(moves) do
+    local mId = FieldMoves.normalizeMoveId(m)
+    if mId == targetId then
+      if type(m) == "table" and m.pp ~= nil then
+        return (tonumber(m.pp) or 0) > 0
+      end
+      if type(mon.pp) == "table" and mon.pp[idx] ~= nil then
+        return (tonumber(mon.pp[idx]) or 0) > 0
+      end
+      return true
+    end
+  end
+  return false
+end
+FieldMoves.hasMovePp = hasMovePp
+
 --- Sweet Scent from Party Menu
 function FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu(ctx)
   local mon = ctx.mon or FieldMoves.partyMoveUser(ctx.party, "SWEET_SCENT")
+  if not mon then
+    return { ok = false, text = FieldMoves.TEXT.CANT_USE_HERE }
+  end
+  if not hasMovePp(mon, "SWEET_SCENT") then
+    return { ok = false, text = FieldMoves.TEXT.CANT_USE_HERE }
+  end
 
   return {
     ok = true,
@@ -682,7 +725,8 @@ function FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu(ctx)
     mon = mon,
     se = FieldMoves.SE.SWEET_SCENT,
     hasEncounter = ctx.hasWildEncounters == true,
-    failText = FieldMoves.TEXT.NO_SWEET_SCENT_MONS,
+    failText = FieldMoves.TEXT.NO_SWEET_SCENT_MONS or "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+    failKey = FieldMoves.textKey("NO_SWEET_SCENT_MONS"),
   }
 end
 
diff --git a/tests/engine/game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test.lua b/tests/engine/game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..335f86c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/engine/game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+--   luajit tests/engine/game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test.lua
+-- Unit tests for Gen 3 Sweet Scent outside grass, weather suppression,
+-- lock management, PP validation, and script cache assertion safeguards.
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+
+local T = require("tests.harness")
+local check, eq = T.check, T.eq
+love = love or require("tests.love_stub")
+
+local Field = require("src.core.game3.field")
+local FieldMoves = require("src.core.game3.field_moves")
+local Encounters = require("src.core.game3.encounters")
+local Message = require("src.ui.game3.message")
+local Weather = require("src.core.game3.weather")
+
+-- =========================================================================
+-- 1. FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu: PP validation & safe cache lookups
+-- =========================================================================
+local monWithPp = {
+  species = 1,
+  moves = { "SWEET_SCENT" },
+  pp = { 20 },
+}
+local monNoPp = {
+  species = 1,
+  moves = { "SWEET_SCENT" },
+  pp = { 0 },
+}
+local monTableMovesNoPp = {
+  species = 1,
+  moves = { { id = "SWEET_SCENT", pp = 0 } },
+}
+
+local okRes = FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu({ mon = monWithPp })
+check(okRes.ok == true, "mon with PP: sweetScentFromMenu succeeds")
+eq(okRes.action, "sweet_scent", "action is sweet_scent")
+check(type(okRes.failText) == "string" and #okRes.failText > 0, "failText is a non-empty string fallback")
+
+local noPpRes = FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu({ mon = monNoPp })
+check(noPpRes.ok == false, "mon with 0 PP (array): sweetScentFromMenu returns ok = false")
+
+local noPpTableRes = FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu({ mon = monTableMovesNoPp })
+check(noPpTableRes.ok == false, "mon with 0 PP (move table): sweetScentFromMenu returns ok = false")
+
+local noMonRes = FieldMoves.sweetScentFromMenu({ party = {} })
+check(noMonRes.ok == false, "no mon knowing sweet scent returns ok = false")
+
+-- =========================================================================
+-- 2. Field.finishSweetScent outside grass (terrain == nil)
+-- =========================================================================
+Player = { cellX = 5, cellY = 5 }
+Field._session = { map = "MAP_PALLET_TOWN" }
+Field.locked = true
+Weather.current = Weather.NONE
+
+-- Mock encounters so terrainAt returns nil (not grass/water)
+local origTerrainAt = Encounters.terrainAt
+Encounters.terrainAt = function() return nil end
+
+local function dismissMessage()
+  if Message.open then
+    Message.advance() -- skip typewriter reveal
+    Message.advance() -- dismiss page
+  end
+end
+
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+})
+
+check(Message.open == true, "finishSweetScent outside grass opens dialogue")
+check(Field.locked == true, "Field.locked remains true while failure dialogue is open")
+
+-- Simulate player dismissing dialogue with A/B button
+dismissMessage()
+check(Message.open == false, "dialogue closes on advance")
+check(Field.locked == false, "Field.locked is released on dialogue closure")
+
+-- =========================================================================
+-- 3. String failText with no symbols: ensure RomText.box is NOT called with English string
+-- =========================================================================
+Field.locked = true
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Custom failure string that is definitely not in ROM cache",
+})
+check(Message.open == true, "un-cached custom string does not crash and opens Message")
+check(Field.locked == true, "Field.locked remains held")
+dismissMessage()
+check(Field.locked == false, "Field.locked released on dismiss")
+
+-- =========================================================================
+-- 4. Weather suppression: Sweet Scent fails in rain / thunderstorm / downpour / fog
+-- =========================================================================
+-- Restore terrain to pretend player IS in tall grass
+Encounters.terrainAt = function() return "land" end
+
+local origRoll = Encounters.rollSweetScent
+local rollCalled = false
+Encounters.rollSweetScent = function()
+  rollCalled = true
+  return { species = 16, level = 3 }
+end
+
+Weather.current = Weather.RAIN
+Field.locked = true
+rollCalled = false
+
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+})
+
+check(rollCalled == false, "Weather.RAIN suppresses rollSweetScent")
+check(Message.open == true, "Rain triggers failure dialogue")
+check(Field.locked == true, "Field.locked is true while dialogue is open")
+dismissMessage()
+check(Field.locked == false, "Field.locked released on dismiss")
+
+-- Fog suppression
+Weather.current = Weather.FOG_HORIZONTAL
+Field.locked = true
+rollCalled = false
+
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+})
+
+check(rollCalled == false, "Fog suppresses rollSweetScent")
+check(Message.open == true, "Fog triggers failure dialogue")
+dismissMessage()
+check(Field.locked == false, "Field.locked released on dismiss")
+
+-- Weather clear: battle roll is called
+Weather.current = Weather.NONE
+rollCalled = false
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+})
+check(rollCalled == true, "Clear weather allows rollSweetScent on land")
+
+-- =========================================================================
+-- 5. Facility rejection (handled == false)
+-- =========================================================================
+Encounters.rules = function()
+  return {
+    sweetScentFacility = function() return false end,
+  }
+end
+
+Field.locked = true
+Field.finishSweetScent({
+  action = "sweet_scent",
+  failText = "Looks like there's nothing here…",
+})
+check(Message.open == true, "facility rejection triggers failure message")
+check(Field.locked == true, "Field.locked held during facility rejection text")
+dismissMessage()
+check(Field.locked == false, "Field.locked released on facility rejection dismiss")
+
+-- Cleanup
+Encounters.terrainAt = origTerrainAt
+Encounters.rollSweetScent = origRoll
+Weather.current = Weather.NONE
+Field.locked = false
+
+T.finish("game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test")
diff --git a/tests/quick.list b/tests/quick.list
index 84a43e1c..123ae372 100644
--- a/tests/quick.list
+++ b/tests/quick.list
@@ -935,3 +935,4 @@ tests/engine/love_run_shell_matrix.lua
 tests/engine/pc_item_box_order_bug2840.lua
 tests/engine/town_map_og_obp0_bug2841.lua
 tests/engine/stick_rebind_isolation_test.lua
+tests/engine/game3_sweet_scent_fallback_test.lua