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List of generation I Pokémon
List of generation I Pokémon
from Wikipedia

The international logo for the Pokémon franchise

The first generation (generation I) of the Pokémon franchise features the original 151 fictional species of monsters introduced to the core video game series in the 1996 Game Boy games Pocket Monsters Red, Green and Blue (known as Pokémon Red, Green and Blue outside of Japan). Later, Pokemon Yellow and Blue were released in Japan.

The following list details the 151 Pokémon of generation I in order of their National Pokédex number. The first Pokémon, Bulbasaur, is number 0001 and the last, Mew, is number 0151. Alternate forms that result in type changes are included for convenience. Mega evolutions and regional forms are included on the pages for the generation in which they were introduced. MissingNo., a glitch, is also on this list.

Design and development

[edit]

Pokémon are a species of fictional creatures created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.[1] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[2] Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[3] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]

The designs of each Pokémon started as pixel art sprites by the development team first, with a single color identity chosen to work within the Super Game Boy hardware limitations.[4] With the early development team consisting of three men,[5] character design lead Ken Sugimori brought female developers into the project feeling they would be better able to create "cute" designs.[6] While conceived as a group effort by multiple developers at Game Freak,[6] the finalized designs and artworks were done by Ken Sugimori. Originally tasked with drawing the characters to illustrate a planned strategy guide by Game Freak when the games released, Sugimori drew all the sprites for the game in his style to not only unify their designs visually but also modify any design elements he felt were amiss, while trying to retain the original sprite artist's unique style.[7] While some Pokémon have been attributed to certain developers over the years, such as Atsuko Nishida for Pikachu and Motofumi Fujiwara for Eevee and its evolutions, Game Freak has avoided attributing many Pokémon to particular individuals to keep a sense of all the developers being involved in their creation.[6][4]

The majority of Pokémon in generation I had relatively simple designs and were similar to real-life creatures including Pidgey (a pigeon), Krabby (a crab), Rattata (a rat), and Ekans (a snake). Many Pokémon in the original games served as the base for repeating concepts later in the series.[8] Some Pokémon, such as Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander were designed based on their final evolutions and working backwards. During development they ran into issues with digital cartridge space, and many Pokémon were removed. Specifically, several Pokémon that had a three-stage evolution line were instead changed to evolve only once, resulting in a planned final evolution for Pikachu called "Gorochu" being removed from the final game.[6]

When the games were localized for English-speaking audiences as Red and Blue, Nintendo of America gave the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features as a means to make them more relatable to American children. This resulted in several pop-culture references being worked into the character's names, such as Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, who are references to martial arts actors Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee respectively.[9][10] Overseen by translator Nob Ogasawara, he voiced concern over some of the choices presented, specifically "Barrierd", which was renamed to "Mr. Mime" based on its masculine appearance.[11] Ogasawara wanted to avoid gendered, binary names for the Pokémon species in the event genders were introduced for them in later titles, a concern proven valid with the sequel titles Pokémon Gold and Silver.[12][13]

List of Pokémon

[edit]
List of Pokémon species introduced in generation I (1996)[nb 1]
Name[nb 2] Type(s) Evolves from Evolves into Notes
Bulbasaur
Fushigidane (フシギダネ)
(0001)
  Grass / Poison Ivysaur (#0002) It is one of Kanto's starter Pokémon. It has a bulb on its back, which stores nutrients. Since the bulb can photosynthesize, Bulbasaur can go days without eating. As with the rest of its evolutionary line, its bulb has vines the Pokémon uses as tentacles.
Ivysaur
Fushigisō (フシギソウ)
(0002)
  Grass / Poison Bulbasaur (#0001) Venusaur (#0003) It is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a part of the "Pokémon Trainer" fighter. Its bulb has grown into a bud, which it uses to convert sunlight into power. The bud is heavy, to the point of rendering Ivysaur unable to move properly if it has stored enough nutrients, so its hind legs have grown stronger to counter the weight.
Venusaur
Fushigibana (フシギバナ)
(0003)
  Grass / Poison Ivysaur (#0002) Mega Evolution
Gigantamax
It is the mascot of Pokémon Green and LeafGreen.[15] The bud on its back has bloomed into a flower. It has a soothing aroma, and converts sunlight into energy. For this reason, Venusaur is more powerful during the summer. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI, and a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Charmander
Hitokage (ヒトカゲ)
(0004)
  Fire Charmeleon (#0005) It is one of Kanto's starter Pokémon. From the moment it hatches, there is a flame at the tip of its tail. Still unfamiliar with fire, a Charmander might accidentally burn itself. If its flame goes out, it dies.
Charmeleon
Rizādo (リザード)
(0005)
  Fire Charmander (#0004) Charizard (#0006) A feisty Pokémon, it seeks out potential opponents and torments them in battle. It attacks by spewing fire from its mouth, swinging its tail around, or clawing away. Its fire turns bluish-white when it is excited.
Charizard
Rizādon (リザードン)
(0006)
  Fire / Flying Charmeleon (#0005) Two Mega Evolutions
Gigantamax
It is a playable character as a part of the "Pokémon Trainer" fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a standalone fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and the mascot of Pokémon Red and FireRed. Its fire is hot enough to melt boulders and glaciers, and it is known to start forest fires by accident, though it will not use it against weaker foes. The flame on its tail can burn underwater, and turns bluish-white if Charizard is angry. It gained two Mega Evolutions in generation VI, one Fire/Flying-type and one Fire/Dragon-type, and a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Squirtle
Zenigame (ゼニガメ)
(0007)
  Water Wartortle (#0008) It is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a part of the "Pokémon Trainer" fighter, and one of Kanto's starter Pokémon.[16] After it hatches, its back gradually swells and hardens into a shell. It withdraws into its shell for protection or to sleep, and its grooved, rounded shape reduce its water resistance, allowing it to swim faster. To attack, it sprays foamy water from its mouth.
Wartortle
Kamēru (カメール)
(0008)
  Water Squirtle (#0007) Blastoise (#0009) Because it is bigger and heavier than Squirtle, it has trouble walking, and has to use its furry ears and tail as rudders and balancing rods to swim. It withdraws into its shell to attack, defend itself, and sleep, though it cannot fully withdraw its tail. It is said to be able to live for up to 10,000 years. Older Wartortle have darker tail fur, and may have scars and algae on their shells.
Blastoise
Kamekkusu (カメックス)
(0009)
  Water Wartortle (#0008) Mega Evolution[17][18][19]
Gigantamax
It is the mascot of Pokémon Blue.[20] The two cannons on its shell shoot out pressurized jets of water strong enough to shatter thick steel walls, and accurate enough to hit empty cans from over 160 feet away. Blastoise itself can tackle at high speeds. A cruel Pokémon, it deliberately makes itself heavier to withstand its cannons' recoil and crush its opponents. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI and a Gigantamax form in generation VIII. A Blastoise trading card, which was originally made as a test print before the commercial English cards, was sold for $360,000 in 2021.[21]
Caterpie
Kyatapī (キャタピー)
(0010)
  Bug Metapod (#0011) Its feet have suction pads that allow it to climb slopes, walls, and trees. To protect itself, it releases a stench from its antennae. It camouflages itself in piles of leaves, or tries to scare predators with the eye patterns on its body. Across its life, it eats hundreds of leaves, some bigger than itself. When nearing evolution, it sheds its skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon.
Metapod
Toranseru (トランセル)
(0011)
  Bug Caterpie (#0010) Butterfree (#0012) Though hard, Metapod's shell is said to be easy to break open, so it hardens it further when threatened to avoid spilling its thick, liquid innards. It waits for evolution while its cells restructure. Ume Aoki, a Japanese cartoonist who is famous for her work on the manga Hidamari Sketch and the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, utils a likeness of herself cosplaying as a Metapod in her drawn works.[22]
Butterfree
Batafurī (バタフリー)
(0012)
  Bug / Flying Metapod (#0011) Gigantamax Its wings are covered in poisonous, water-repelling powder, which it uses to defend itself and fly in the rain. It goes from flower to flower to collect nectar, and rubs honey onto the hairs of its legs to carry back to its nest. It spreads its scales around to defend nearby Caterpie from predators. It competes with Cutiefly for territory. It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Weedle
Bīdoru (ビードル)
(0013)
  Bug / Poison Kakuna (#0014) A common sight in forests and grassy areas, it has a two-inch poisonous stinger on its head, which it uses to defend itself. It has an acute sense of smell, being able to distinguish leaves it likes from those it dislikes with its big nose. It eats its weight in leaves every day.
Kakuna
Kokūn (コクーン)
(0014)
  Bug / Poison Weedle (#0013) Beedrill (#0015) Kakuna remains immobile, but can stick out its stinger in self-defense. The process of its cells' rearrangement raises its body temperature to the point of making it hot to the touch.
Beedrill
Supiā (スピアー)
(0015)
  Bug / Poison Kakuna (#0014) Mega Evolution Swarms of Beedrill set their nest in forests, and attack anything that goes near. It uses its three poisonous stingers to defeat its prey and carry them home. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Pidgey
Poppo (ポッポ)
(0016)
  Normal / Flying Pidgeotto (#0017) A common and docile Pokémon, it prefers using flapping up sand in opponents' eyes over fighting. Its sense of direction allows it to return home from however far it may be.
Pidgeotto
Pijon (ピジョン)
(0017)
  Normal / Flying Pidgey (#0016) Pidgeot (#0018) A territorial species, it will peck and claw at its opponents. It uses its claws to carry prey like Exeggcute for over 60 miles. It flies in circles, keeping a lookout for prey.
Pidgeot
Pijotto (ピジョット)
(0018)
  Normal / Flying Pidgeotto (#0017) Mega Evolution Its wings are strong enough to fly at Mach 2 speed, whip up windstorms strong enough to bend trees, and fly up to 3,300 feet over the air. It skims over the water to hunt for unsuspecting fish Pokémon like Magikarp. Its glossy feathers make it a popular pick among trainers. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Rattata
Koratta (コラッタ)
(0019)
  Normal Raticate (#0020) It will procreate and form nests anywhere that has enough food; each nest contains at least 40 Rattata. The colony spends entire days scavenging for food. A cautious species, it constantly listens around by moving its ears. Its incisor teeth do not stop growing, so it gnaws on hard objects, like table legs and door frames, to keep them ground down. Due to their commonness and habits of stealing food and gnawing on structures, it and Raticate are considered invasive species. Rattata has a Dark/Normal-type Alolan form.
Raticate
Ratta (ラッタ)
(0020)
  Normal Rattata (#0019) It uses its whiskers to maintain balance, and slows down if they are cut off. Its webbed hind feet act as flippers, allowing it to swim in rivers to hunt or escape from opponents. To keep its teeth ground down, it chews on anything, from machinery to concrete. Like Rattata, Raticate has a Dark/Normal-type Alolan form.
Spearow
Onisuzume (オニスズメ)
(0021)
  Normal / Flying Fearow (#0022) It can fly quickly, but is not adept at it. Its cries can be heard from a mile away, and it uses them to communicate with other Spearow. It flies around warmer climates, looking for bug Pokémon to eat.
Fearow
Onidoriru (オニドリル)
(0022)
  Normal / Flying Spearow (#0021) Drawings resembling Fearow can be seen ancient murals, implying that it has not evolved since ancient days. Its stamina lets it fly for an entire day, and its long neck and beak are convenient for plucking bug and fish Pokémon.
Ekans
Ābo (アーボ)
(0023)
  Poison Arbok (#0024) It uses its tongue to detect its surroundings and look for the scent for its prey. It wraps itself around trees to rest at night. If no trees are available, it coils to be able to respond from any given direction. It preys on bird Pokémon and their eggs and can stretch its jaw to swallow them whole, but eating something too big can leave it too heavy to move.
Arbok
Ābokku (アーボック)
(0024)
  Poison Ekans (#0023) The pattern under its head is similar to a face, and differs by region. Research has shown over 20 different patterns. Its coiling is strong enough to flatten oil drums, and its fangs are used to inject poison into its prey. It can use its pattern or hiss to intimidate opponents. If any part of its body besides its head is cut off, the rest of its body can grow back in weeks. It preys on smaller Pokémon like Wooper, or eggs of bird Pokémon like Pidgey and Spearow.
Pikachu
Pikachū (ピカチュウ)
(0025)
  Electric Pichu (#0172) Raichu (#0026)
Gigantamax
Pikachu is the primary mascot of the Pokémon franchise, as well as Pokémon Yellow and Let's Go, Pikachu!. It is also playable in every Super Smash Bros. game. It raises its tail to check its surroundings, but may be struck by a lightning bolt in this position. It gathers electricity from the atmosphere, and uses it to roast berries, communicate with other Electric-type Pokémon, and attack its opponents. Groups of Pikachu having their tails raised can inadvertedly cause lightning storms. Cramorant often swallow Pikachu by accident.
Raichu
Raichū (ライチュウ)
(0026)
  Electric Pikachu (#0025) Two Mega Evolutions Its tail can be used as a lightning rod to gather electricity, or as a ground to protect itself. It can store and eject up to 100,000 volts, enough to knock out a Copperajah. To avoid physically straining itself, it will discharge excess electricity into the ground, leaving its surroundings burned. Because it evolves via a stone and Pikachu is more popular, Raichu are rarely seen. It has an Electric/Psychic-type Alolan form. Both forms of Raichu were created by Atsuko Nishida.[23]
Sandshrew
Sando (サンド)
(0027)
  Ground Sandslash (#0028) Based on the Chinese pangolin, Sandshrew is known to curl into a ball to defend itself. It burrows nests into the ground, and only digs back up to look for berries and hunt for bug Pokémon. Sandshrew has an Ice/Steel-type Alolan form.
Sandslash
Sandopan (サンドパン)
(0028)
  Ground Sandshrew (#0027) It can curl into a spiky ball to roll around, attack opponents, and protect itself from heatstroke or attacks. In addition to the spikes on its back, it can use its claws to attack and slash berries for its young. Like Sandshrew, it has an Ice/Steel-type Alolan form.
Nidoran♀
Nidoran♀ (ニドラン♀)
(0029)
  Poison Nidorina (#0030) Eggs from both Nidoran lines can contain Nidoran of either gender. It is docile and unwilling to fight, but when encouraged, its horn and barbs can secrete poison. It uses its whiskers to check the wind for predators, and its incisors for chewing through berries.
Nidorina
Nidorīna (ニドリーナ)
(0030)
  Poison Nidoran♀ (#0029) Nidoqueen (#0031) Its horn grows slowly and it does not like fighting, but when forced to do so, it tends to resort to clawing and biting opponents. It lives in groups with others of its evolutionary line, and chews food for its young.
Nidoqueen
Nidokuin (ニドクイン)
(0031)
  Poison / Ground Nidorina (#0030) It is more defensively focused than its male counterpart, Nidoking. It can poison prey with its spikes, cause tremors, or knock opponents flying with tackles. It is protective of its children, carrying them in the gaps between its spines, and sealing its burrow. While around its young, its spikes do not secrete poison. Despite Pokédex and anime descriptions, it and Nidorina cannot breed, though Nidoran♀ can.[24]
Nidoran♂
Nidoran♂ (ニドラン♂)
(0032)
  Poison Nidorino (#0033) It flaps its ears around to detect potential opponents' footsteps. It injects poison into its prey with its horn. It lives with its female equivalent, and may risk its life to protect its female counterpart.
Nidorino
Nidorīno (ニドリーノ)
(0033)
  Poison Nidoran♂ (#0032) Nidoking (#0034) Its horn and the spikes around its body are laced with poison, and its horn is harder than diamond. It uses its horn to break rocks to find Moon Stones, which it uses to evolve.
Nidoking
Nidokingu (ニドキング)
(0034)
  Poison / Ground Nidorino (#0033) It is more offensively-focused than its female counterpart, Nidoqueen. Its tail can topple transmission towers and crush its opponents' bones, its horn can crush diamonds, and its hide is as hard as steel. If it begins to rampage, only a Nidoqueen it has lived with for a long time can calm it down.
Clefairy
Pippi (ピッピ)
(0035)
  Fairy[nb 3] Cleffa (#0173) Clefable (#0036) Timid creatures, they rarely come out, only appearing in groups to dance under a full moon. While dancing, the nearby area is enveloped in a magnetic field.
Clefable
Pikushī (ピクシー)
(0036)
  Fairy[nb 3] Clefairy (#0035) Mega Evolution It and Clefairy are said to have come from the moon, and spend full moon nights staring at it. Its hearing is acute, being able to hear pin drops from up to 1,100 yards away, so it lives in quiet mountainous areas. Its steps are light and floaty enough to allow it to walk on water.
Vulpix
Rokon (ロコン)
(0037)
  Fire Ninetales (#0038) When it is born, it has one white tail that sprouts into 6 curled ones at the tip as it gets older. It can freely control fire, creating will-o-wisps that are commonly mistaken for ghosts. Before it evolves, its tails glow hotter than usual. If not properly groomed, its tails will tangle up. If raised young, it will follow its trainer like a puppy. It has an Ice-type Alolan form. It has been selected as an "ambassador" for Hokkaido,[25][26] and it and its Alolan form have been featured in the livery of an Air Do Boeing 767 aircraft.[27]
Ninetales
Kyūkon (キュウコン)
(0038)
  Fire Vulpix (#0037) Its design is inspired by the nine-tailed fox of East Asian myth.[28] It can understand human speech, use its psychic power to control minds, and curse anyone who mistreats it. According to legends, nine saints reincarnated as Ninetales, and each of its tails has a different ability. It has an Ice/Fairy-type Alolan form.
Jigglypuff
Purin (プリン)
(0039)
  Normal / Fairy[nb 3] Igglybuff (#0174) Wigglytuff (#0040) It is a playable character in every Super Smash Bros. game. It can inflate itself like a balloon to float around and it can sing. Its voice's wavelength can match the brain waves of sleeping people and Pokémon, lulling them to sleep. If the foe does not fall asleep, it can risk its life by singing until it runs out of air. It also keeps singing if the foe does fall asleep.
Wigglytuff
Pukurin (プクリン)
(0040)
  Normal / Fairy[nb 3] Jigglypuff (#0039) By inhaling air, it can inflate itself to up to 20 times its size, and float around. It does so to scare opponents away or compete with other Wigglytuff.
Zubat
Zubatto (ズバット)
(0041)
  Poison / Flying Golbat (#0042) Zubat has evolved to not have eyes or nostrils, so it uses echolocation to find its way. It hides in dark places while the sun is out, as its skin is sensitive to bright lights. Groups of Zubat will gather around in the cold to heat each other's bodies.
Golbat
Gorubatto (ゴルバット)
(0042)
  Poison / Flying Zubat (#0041) Crobat (#0169) Its fangs are hollow like straws. It uses them to stab through the hide of its prey, but may break them when trying to bite a Steel-type Pokémon. It may sometimes suck so much blood that its blood type changes to that of its prey, and its weight leaves it unable to fly, making it easy prey.
Oddish
Nazonokusa (ナゾノクサ)
(0043)
  Grass / Poison Gloom (#0044) It buries itself in the soil to absorb the nutrients and to sleep during the day. If pulled out, it starts screaming. A nocturnal Pokémon, it wanders around to scatter seeds and absorb moonlight. It is one of the few species with a scientific name; "Oddium Wanderus".
Gloom
Kusaihana (クサイハナ)
(0044)
  Grass / Poison Oddish (#0043) Vileplume (#0045)
Bellossom (#0182)
Its leaves and the drool-like nectar on its mouth smell rancid enough to cause fainting in a mile-wide radius, though some people enjoy the smell, and some use it to produce perfume. It amplifies the odor when in danger, and stops emitting it when safe.
Vileplume
Rafureshia (ラフレシア)
(0045)
  Grass / Poison Gloom (#0044) Vileplume's large petals can be shaken or forcibly bloomed to release clouds of pollen that poison and paralyze anything near it, which it uses to weaken its prey before eating it. Walking around causes it to spread pollen around, turning the air around it yellow.
Paras
Parasu (パラス)
(0046)
  Bug / Grass Parasect (#0047) Paras has tochukaso mushrooms growing on its back. They drain nutrients from the host and control it into draining nutrients from trees. Their spores can be used to make medicine. In Alola, those spores do not grow properly.
Parasect
Parasekuto (パラセクト)
(0047)
  Bug / Grass Paras (#0046) The tochukaso mushrooms have completely drained the Paras's body of its nutrients and taken it over. Groups of Parasect will gather around a tree, suck the nutrients out of it, and move to the next tree when it dies. Its spores can be made into medicine. Parasect in Alola are known to compete with Shiinotic, and have lower-quality spores. The bug is mostly dead, so removing the mushroom causes it to stop moving entirely.
Venonat
Konpan (コンパン)
(0048)
  Bug / Poison Venomoth (#0049) It uses its compounded eyes as a radar to locate prey in the dark, and can shoot light beams from them. It hunts for small bug Pokémon at night.
Venomoth
Morufon (モルフォン)
(0049)
  Bug / Poison Venonat (#0048) Its wings have scales that leak venom when in contact with its opponent's skin. Lighter scales can cause paralysis, and darker ones are poisonous. A nocturnal Pokémon, it goes out at night to hunt for prey. It is attracted to bright lights.
Diglett
Diguda (ディグダ)
(0050)
  Ground Dugtrio (#0051) Some farmers like to use Diglett and Dugtrio to plough the soil for crops to grow, and some consider them pests for eating crops. No one has ever seen the full body of a Diglett. It has a Ground/Steel-type Alolan form.
Dugtrio
Dagutorio (ダグトリオ)
(0051)
  Ground Diglett (#0050) Dugtrio is a three-headed Diglett. It can burrow at a speed of 60 miles per hour, and up to 60 miles underground. Like Diglett, no one has ever seen its full body. Occasionally, they will fight over which head gets to eat first. Like Diglett, Dugtrio has a Ground/Steel-type Alolan form.
Meowth
Nyāsu (ニャース)
(0052)
  Normal Persian (#0053)[nb 4]
Gigantamax
One of the main members of Team Rocket in the Pokémon anime series. Meowth withdraws its claws into its paws to sneak around without leaving footsteps. It loves round and shiny objects, coins being its favorite toys, which it will play with until it falls asleep. It sleeps during the daytime, and patrols its territory during the night, looking for loose change. It tends to fight with Murkrow over shiny objects. Giving coins to a Meowth can make it friendlier, but no less fickle. Meowth has a Dark-type Alolan form, and a Steel-type Galarian form, which evolves into Perrserker. It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII. Meowth is a popular Pokémon among fans of the series, primarily due to its role on the villainous organization Team Rocket.[29][30][31][32] It has widely been used in promotion for the series.[33][34][35][36]
Persian
Perushian (ペルシアン)
(0053)
  Normal Meowth (#0052) Its fur and jewel make it popular with the rich, but its fickle, uncaring attitude makes it hard to raise. Though it will attack anyone without provocation, including its trainer, pulling on its whiskers will temporarily make it docile. It has a Dark-type Alolan form, and a Galarian counterpart in Perrserker, whose barbaric habits clash with both Persian's elegance and ego. A Persian is owned by Team Rocket's leader Giovanni in the Pokémon anime series.
Psyduck
Kodakku (コダック)
(0054)
  Water Golduck (#0055) It has constant headaches. When they worsen, normally inactive brain cells activate, causing it to accidentally unleash psychic energy. It then forgets that it used those powers.
Golduck
Gorudakku (ゴルダック)
(0055)
  Water Psyduck (#0054) It was almost hunted to extinction by hunters wanting the jewel on its forehead, believing it would grant them supernatural powers. Its psychic abilities are superior to Psyduck's. It swims effortlessly, even in rough, stormy seas. It is known to rescue people from wrecked ships.
Mankey
Mankī (マンキー)
(0056)
  Fighting Primeape (#0057) Nearly anything will anger it, and when it gets angry, it will immediately attack, giving its opponent no time to flee. If it does flee or is left alone, the loneliness will make it angrier. If one Mankey in a colony gets mad, the rest will rampage with it.
Primeape
Okorizaru (オコリザル)
(0057)
  Fighting Mankey (#0056) Annihilape (#0979) Getting angry causes Primeape's blood to rush faster than usual, tightening its body muscles, but making it dumber. Any form of stimuli will anger it, even while it is asleep. It can get so angry that it dies as a result, but looks peaceful in death.
Growlithe
Gādi (ガーディ)
(0058)
  Fire Arcanine (#0059) Growlithe are friendly, loyal, and have a strong sense of smell, making them popular as guard and police dogs. It will remain motionless until it is given an order by its Trainer. Growlithe bones have been found in ruins from the Stone Age, implying that humans have used them since then. It is based on the Shisa. It has a Fire/Rock-type Hisuian form.
Arcanine
Uindi (ウインディ)
(0059)
  Fire Growlithe (#0058) Arcanine is a fan-favorite Pokémon and has been described as having "the mane of a lion... the stripes of a tiger [and] the speed of a panther".[37][38][39] It has been admired since the past for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings. Arcanine is known for its great speed, as it is said to be capable of running over 6,200 miles in a single day and night. The fire that blazes within Arcanine's body is its source of power. Legends tell of its fighting alongside a general and conquering a whole country. There are so many old tales about them that Arcanine is spoken of and categorized in the Pokédex as the Legendary Pokémon, though it is a common wild Pokémon. Like Growlithe, it has a Fire/Rock-type Hisuian form.
Poliwag
Nyoromo (ニョロモ)
(0060)
  Water Poliwhirl (#0061) Due to its underdeveloped legs, it is not good at standing or walking, so it prefers swimming, though its trainer should train it to walk every day. Despite the danger, it wants to come up on land, so it does its best to waddle along, but when an enemy finds it, it rushes back to the water. Poliwag's thin skin leaves its spiraling innards visible. If the swirl is tinged white, that means Poliwag is sick. Despite its thinness, its skin is flexible and slimy, so even sharp fangs bounce off of it. The direction of its spiral tends to differ by area. Poliwag experts can tell them apart at a glance. In rivers with fast-flowing water, it will cling to a rock by using its lips, which act like a suction cup.
Poliwhirl
Nyorozo (ニョロゾ)
(0061)
  Water Poliwag (#0060) Poliwrath (#0062)
Politoed (#0186)
Poliwhirl is among the most-marketed Pokémon.[40][41] It can live in or out of the water, but prefers living in water where, it has fewer natural enemies and more plentiful prey. When out of water, it constantly sweats so its body is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this, it can easily slip out of the clutches of its enemies. Its health suffers when its skin dries out, so trainers have to keep it moist. It goes on land in search of bug Pokémon, then takes them underwater so it can safely eat them. The spiral pattern on its belly subtly moves, and staring at it for too long can lead children and Pokémon to sleep.
Poliwrath
Nyorobon (ニョロボン)
(0062)
  Water / Fighting Poliwhirl (#0061) A skilled swimmer, it can outswim professional athletes with ease, and children imitate its movements to learn to swim. It is also skilled in martial arts, and strong enough to punch boulders into dust. Despite being adapted to life in water, it chooses to live in dry land.
Abra
Kēshii (ケーシィ)
(0063)
  Psychic Kadabra (#0064) Even when sleeping, which Abra does for most of its life, it can sense danger with its highly potent psychic power. When it is in danger, it will teleport to safety. Its powers may be affected by what it is dreaming about.
Kadabra
Yungerā (ユンゲラー)
(0064)
  Psychic Abra (#0063) Alakazam (#0065) In November 2000, Israeli magician Uri Geller sued Nintendo, claiming Kadabra embodies an unauthorized appropriation of his identity.[42][43][44] However, in 2020, he released a claim that Nintendo could use Kadabra in cards again.[45] Some Kadabra are theorized to have once been human children who could not control their powers. Its psychic powers can cause clocks to run backwards, or other devices to stop functioning.
Alakazam
Fūdin (フーディン)
(0065)
  Psychic Kadabra (#0064) Mega Evolution Its brain cells multiply infinitely with age, amplifying its psychic powers and allowing it to remember everything since its hatching as an Abra. Its muscles are weak, so it lifts its body with its psychic powers. It may give its spoons to someone it trusts. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Machop
Wanrikī (ワンリキー)
(0066)
  Fighting Machoke (#0067) Machop's muscles never get sore. It trains itself by lifting Graveler. Stronger, more confident Machop will compete with Makuhita.
Machoke
Gōrikī (ゴーリキー)
(0067)
  Fighting Machop (#0066) Machamp (#0068) Machoke is typically used for heavy lifting jobs due to its strength.Its belt regulates its power, and it only removes it when faced with a particularly powerful opponent.
Machamp
Kairikī (カイリキー)
(0068)
  Fighting Machoke (#0067) Gigantamax Machamp has four arms. It can throw around 500 punches in one second and move mountains with one arm. It has poor reflexes and dexterity, with its arms reacting faster than Machamp can think, and getting tangled up when doing delicate tasks. As with Machoke, its belt regulates its power, with more destructive consequences when removed. It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Bellsprout
Madatsubomi (マダツボミ)
(0069)
  Grass / Poison Weepinbell (#0070) It can plant itself into the ground to absorb moisture, but is unable to move while rooted. It can spit acid from its mouth.
Weepinbell
Utsudon (ウツドン)
(0070)
  Grass / Poison Bellsprout (#0069) Victreebel (#0071) It has a hook on its rear-end that it hooks on trees with and sleeps, but it may fall off if it moves around too much. If it cannot dissolve its prey with acid, it will cut them with its sharp leaves.
Victreebel
Utsubotto (ウツボット)
(0071)
  Grass / Poison Weepinbell (#0070) Mega Evolution Groups of Victreebel wait in temperate forests for unsuspecting prey to walk into their mouths, mistaking their acid for nectar. The more prey it has consumed, the sweeter its acid smells.
Tentacool
Menokurage (メノクラゲ)
(0072)
  Water / Poison Tentacruel (#0073) It is 99% composed of water, with the other 1% being an organ that generates poison. If its tentacles are broken off, they can grow back quickly. Its body shrivels up while outside of water, but its poison does not. Though it is visually similar to Toedscool, the two species are not biologically related.
Tentacruel
Dokukurage (ドククラゲ)
(0073)
  Water / Poison Tentacool (#0072) Its 80 tentacles can grow back or shrink at will, and it uses them to constrict its prey while immobilizing it with poison. While rare, Tentacruel tend to hunt in groups. Though it is visually similar to Toedscruel, the two species are not biologically related.
Geodude
Ishitsubute (イシツブテ)
(0074)
  Rock / Ground Graveler (#0075) Geodude are proud of their hard bodies, showing them off or competing with Roggenrola, Carbink, or other Geodude to see who is the hardest. Groups of Geodude sit still in mountainous routes, so unsuspecting people often mistake them for ordinary rocks. It has a Rock/Electric-type Alolan form.
Graveler
Gorōn (ゴローン)
(0075)
  Rock / Ground Geodude (#0074) Golem (#0076) It tumbles down mountains for transportation or fun, breaking most of what it crashes into. It does not mind if pieces of itself fall or are scraped off, as they can grow back. It has a Rock/Electric-type Alolan form.
Golem
Gorōnya (ゴローニャ)
(0076)
  Rock / Ground Graveler (#0075) It sheds its skin once a year to grow, which in turn crumbles into nutritious soil. It can withdraw its head and limbs into its hollow shell to roll around and down mountains, trampling whatever it passes through. To avoid crushing property, people dig grooves into mountains to guide it. Older Golem stop shedding and have moss growing on their shells. It has a Rock/Electric-type Alolan form.
Ponyta
Ponīta (ポニータ)
(0077)
  Fire Rapidash (#0078) When born, it cannot stand properly and runs with its parents to strengthen its legs. It can choose when its flames can burn people or not. It has a Psychic-type Galarian form.
Rapidash
Gyaroppu (ギャロップ)
(0078)
  Fire Ponyta (#0077) As a popular Pokémon, Rapidash is considered "universally appealing" to fans of cute and cool Pokémon alike. Both Ponyta and Rapidash can enable their body's flames to be harmful or harmless as seen in the anime.[46][47][48][49] A competitive Pokémon, if it sees anything faster than it, such as a car or another Pokémon, it will run at up to 150 mph to try to outrun it. At that point, its hooves barely touch the ground. It can traverse all of Hisui in a day and a half. The faster it goes, the longer its mane becomes. Otherwise, it can be seen cantering in fields. It has a Psychic/Fairy-type Galarian form.
Slowpoke
Yadon (ヤドン)
(0079)
  Water / Psychic Slowbro (#0080)
Slowking (#0199)
Slowpoke is dumb and lazy, to the point of taking up to five seconds to process pain. It lives on the edges of bodies of water and uses its tail to fish for prey, but may take a day to notice that its tail has already been bitten off. Some cultures believe its yawns bring rain, and worship it. It evolves into Slowbro when a Shellder bites its tail, or into Slowking when it bites its head. It has a Psychic-type Galarian form.
Slowbro
Yadoran (ヤドラン)
(0080)
  Water / Psychic Slowpoke (#0079) Mega Evolution Slowpoke has fished up a Shellder with its tail, which shocked it into evolving and made it stand on two legs. The Shellder has transformed into a spiral-shaped shell to suck more sweet fluids from the Slowbro's tail. If the Shellder were to detach itself from Slowbro in any way, it will devolve back to Slowpoke. Being slow-witted to begin with, the Slowbro does not feel pain in its tail because of Shellder's seeping poison. Since its tail has been bitten by Shellder, it has to grudgingly swim for prey instead. Whenever Shellder bites harder on its tail, it gives Slowbro a flash of inspiration, which it forgets a moment later. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI. It has a Poison/Psychic-type Galarian form.
Magnemite
Koiru (コイル)
(0081)
  Electric / Steel[nb 5] Magneton (#0082) The two magnets on its side are used for discharging attacks and floating. It is attracted to electromagnetic waves from devices such as Pokégears, and attaches itself to power breakers. Power outages not caused by storms could be the result of a colony of Magnemite feeding on it. It becomes incapable of flight if it out of electricity. The two magnets on its side are powerful enough to draw in iron objects from up to 300 feet away, and get stronger the faster they spin. Touching it while it is eating electricity will give a full body shock. Its numbers have been decreasing because most modern power lines are buried under the ground. Magnemite has ranked highly on multiple Japanese polls[50][51][52] In a 2008 poll of Japanese children, it placed second, which Magmix writer Katano explained was due to Internet trolls. Katano suggested that its placement in this poll contributed to it becoming a more popular Pokémon. It was called the "First Coil Shock" (in reference to its Japanese name "Coil"), and two subsequent polls related to other franchises have been dubbed the "Second Coil Shock" and "Third Coil Shock."[53]
Magneton
Reakoiru (レアコイル)
(0082)
  Electric / Steel[nb 5] Magnemite (#0081) Magnezone (#0462) Formed when several Magnemite fuse together, it tends to raise the temperature up by 3.6 °F within 3,600 ft (1,100 m). It generates strange radio signals. Groups of Magneton tend to gather where sun flares happen. Exposure to one can cause earaches. Its magnetism is so powerful it dries up moisture in its vicinity, and is potentially fatal to devices like TVs. As a result, large cities have sirens to warn their citizens of Magneton appearances, and trainers are warned to keep Magneton inside their Poké Balls. When it evolves, the Magnemite's brains link up, though they do not become three times smarter. When rain clouds form, they like to gather in high spots where lightning could strike. Sandy Shocks appears to be an ancient relative of it.
Farfetch'd
Kamonegi (カモネギ)
(0083)
  Normal / Flying No evolution[nb 6] It carries around a green onion stalk like a sword. It apparently knows where the best ones are and will fight other Farfetch'd over them. In emergencies, it will eat them, and then run off to find a new one. Farfetch'd were so rare at one point that people bred them to regrow the population. Since it cannot live without it, it will defend its stalk with its life. It has a Fighting-type Galarian form.
Doduo
Dōdō (ドードー)
(0084)
  Normal / Flying Dodrio (#0085) Its short wings make flying difficult, so it has instead become a powerful runner, being able to reach speeds of 60 mph. Both heads have identical brains, though it is believed that some Doduo have different brains. It raises and lowers its heads to maintain balance while running. One head will stay on alert while the other sleeps.
Dodrio
Dōdorio (ドードリオ)
(0085)
  Normal / Flying Doduo (#0084) The head with the thickest neck is deemed the leader, and has control over the body. The three heads express joy, sorrow, and anger as they plan strategies together. If they cannot agree on something to do or overthink their plans, they will be unable to move. When two heads sleep, one head remains awake. It has three hearts and six lungs, giving it increased endurance, so while it is slower than Doduo, it can run for longer periods of time.
Seel
Pauwau (パウワウ)
(0086)
  Water Dewgong (#0087) It loves swimming around in 14 °F waters. Its horn is hard enough to bash its way through ice. It has a thick hide covered in warm fur. It goes in waters up to -40 °F. Though not a great walker, it is a skilled swimmer. It closes its nostrils when it swims. In the daytime, it can be found sleeping on the seabed of shallow waters. Their presence in the Alolan climate is considered a mystery.
Dewgong
Jugon (ジュゴン)
(0087)
  Water / Ice Seel (#0086) Dewgong can store thermal energy in its body to withstand cold temperatures. At night, it hunts for prey like Wishiwashi, and during the day, it sleeps on ice or shallow water, or sunbathes on beaches. A fisherman once mistook a Dewgong on an iceberg for a mermaid.
Grimer
Betobetā (ベトベター)
(0088)
  Poison Muk (#0089) Being mostly composed of poisonous filth, it can squeeze into sewage pipes with ease. Grimer lived mostly in urban cities, factories, and lakes, where it could find waste to consume, though environmental improvements have caused its population to start dwindling. It has a Poison/Dark-type Alolan form.
Muk
Betobeton (ベトベトン)
(0089)
  Poison Grimer (#0088) It is based on the dorotabō, a one-eyed, three-fingered yōkai that rises from the mud of neglected, overgrown rice fields. Muk is covered in a toxic filthy sludge so vile that any land it walks through becomes inhospitable for up to three years. A drop of its body fluid can turn a pool rancid or leave a person bedridden for days. Its nose has devolved, so it cannot smell anything. It feeds on anything repugnant and filthy, like sewer water. Its numbers have started declining since people have begun cleaning up towns, and because some people think it may go extinct, sludge pools are being built to prevent this. Like Grimer, it has a Poison/Dark-type Alolan form.
Shellder
Sherudā (シェルダー)
(0090)
  Water Cloyster (#0091) Tugging on its tongue, which is always sticking out, will startle it into opening its shell. It opens and closes its shell in rapid succession to propel itself backwards. Shellder have been known to seek out Slowpoke's tails, inadvertently causing them to evolve into Slowbro. Biting its head will instead cause it to evolve into Slowking. It and Cloyster are related to the Shellos line.
Cloyster
Parushen (パルシェン)
(0091)
  Water / Ice Shellder (#0090) It normally keeps its shell closed unless it is attacking. It uses the same projectile system — swallowing seawater and ejecting it from the front or rear — to shoot its spikes and swim. Its internal anatomy has yet to be seen.
Gastly
Gōsu (ゴース)
(0092)
  Ghost / Poison Haunter (#0093) It hides under structures to stop the wind from blowing away its gaseous body. It engulfs prey of any size with its gas, poisoning it through its skin or suffocating it.
Haunter
Gōsuto (ゴースト)
(0093)
  Ghost / Poison Gastly (#0092) Gengar (#0094) Because of its ability to slip through walls, Haunter is said to be from another dimension. It saps its victims' life by licking them with its cold, gaseous tongue. Those licked by it grow weaker with each passing day, shaking uncontrollably until they die. If one trips and falls for no apparent reason or hear a sound when no one is around, it may be a Haunter. Because it fears the light and revels in the dark, it may be on the verge of extinction in cities that stay brightly lit at night. On moonless nights, Haunter searches for someone to curse.
Gengar
Gengā (ゲンガー)
(0094)
  Ghost / Poison Haunter (#0093) Mega Evolution

Gigantamax Form

Gengar seeps into the shadows of people and Pokémon to scare them for fun or eat their life force. A sudden chill of 10 °F or cooler may be a Gengar trying to curse someone. Gengar will lurk in whatever dark corner of a room it can find and wait for its chance to catch its prey. It likes to attack people in mountains. Sometimes, Gengar will pose as people's shadows. It apparently wishes for a traveling companion. Since it may have once been human, it tries to create one by taking the lives of other humans. Initially created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori,[54][55] it has become one of the most popular Pokémon, placing tenth on the Google Pokémon of the Year 2020 poll.[56] Kotaku's Zack Zwiezen said Gengar was "one of [their] favorite gen 1 designs", calling it a "great design [because] it's simple, yet not boring or generic".[57] Gengar has appeared in many Pokémon spin-offs or crossovers, including Pokkén Tournament[58] and Pokémon Unite.[59] It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI and a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Onix
Iwāku (イワーク)
(0095)
  Rock / Ground Steelix (#0208) It usually lives underground. As it grows, the stone portions of its body harden to become similar to a diamond, but colored black. Despite its large body being over 26 feet long, it can squirm its way through the ground at 50 mph. As it digs through the ground, it eats hard objects, which makes its body more solid. Diglett may use the tunnels it burrows as homes. Onix has a magnet in its brain, which acts as a compass so that it does not lose direction while it is tunneling. As it grows older, its body becomes increasingly rounder and smoother. It evolves into Steelix when traded while holding a Metal Coat.[8][60][61][62] While its Defense and Speed are high, Onix' other values are deceptively low, making it a relatively weak Rock-type choice compared to Golem and Rhydon.[63]
Drowzee
Surīpu (スリープ)
(0096)
  Psychic Hypno (#0097) Drowzee's design is based on the dream-eating tapir Baku. It puts people to sleep with its hypnotism and eats their dreams through their noses. It can get sick from eating nightmares. If one sleeps by it frequently, it might show them dreams it ate in the past. If someone has forgotten their dreams, Drowzee may have eaten them. It remembers every dream it has eaten, and rarely eats the dreams of adults because children's are tastier.
Hypno
Surīpā (スリーパー)
(0097)
  Psychic Drowzee (#0096) Hypno's design is based on the dream-eating tapir Baku and a hypnotist. Hypno holds a pendulum in its hand.[64] Allegedly, there once was an incident in which it took away a child it hypnotized.[65] When hungry, it puts humans it meets to sleep, then feasts on their dreams and carries away anyone having good dreams. Hypno sometimes aid doctors in putting patients to sleep, but other members of the species enjoy feasting on good dreams and kidnap those who have them.[66] Since its inception, Hypno has been regarded for its dark backstory, primarily its child-abducting tendencies.[65] Its humanoid design has been cited as creepy, and a reason why its design was considered unappealing.[67] Hypno's child abducting tendencies resulted in a popular creepypasta, dubbed "Hypno's Lullaby" being created in the early 2010s, which centered around a song focusing on Hypno as a child thief.[67][68] Hypno's Lullaby was adapted into several playable adaptations, notably ROM hacks.[69][70][71]
Krabby
Kurabu (クラブ)
(0098)
  Water Kingler (#0099) Krabby and Kingler live near the edge of water, usually in beaches. It can shroud its body in foam to look bigger than it is. If damaged or lost in battle, its pincers grow back quickly, though it has trouble balancing without them.
Kingler
Kingurā (キングラー)
(0099)
  Water Krabby (#0098) Gigantamax Its left claw has grown twice as big as its right, and is now strong enough to break Cloyster shells open. However, swinging it can cause balancing issues and tire it out. Kingler are said to communicate with each other by waving their pincers around. It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Voltorb
Biriridama (ビリリダマ)
(0100)
  Electric Electrode (#0101) It is believed that Voltorb was created when a Poké Ball was hit with an energy pulse. When agitated or tapped, it will explode. Sometimes, humans will mistake a stray Voltorb for a Poké Ball, touch it, and get shocked or exploded. It has an Electric/Grass-type Hisuian form.
Electrode
Marumain (マルマイン)
(0101)
  Electric Voltorb (#0100) Electrode resembles an upside-down Poké Ball, though its actual relation to them has yet to be confirmed. Unlike Voltorb, it can control its explosions, but will still explode at any time and for any reason. Groups of Electrode live in power plants and eat their electricity, causing blackouts. Like Voltorb, it has an Electric/Grass-type Hisuian form.
Exeggcute
Tamatama (タマタマ)
(0102)
  Grass / Psychic Exeggutor (#0103) Though it may look like eggs, Exeggcute are actually clusters of seeds. When cracks increasingly appear on the seeds, Exeggcute is close to evolution. When disturbed, they quickly gather and attack in swarms. If one is separated from the group, the six will quickly regroup with telepathy. Although they are the same size as others, Alolan Exeggcute are heavier than others, as their shells are packed full. They are often hunted by Pidgeotto and Crabrawler, but uses psychokinesis to drive it off.
Exeggutor
Nasshī (ナッシー)
(0103)
  Grass / Psychic Exeggcute (#0102) It is a coconut tree-esque Pokémon based on the jinmenju, and the favorite Pokémon of Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, having used it throughout the debugging phase of Pokémon Red and Green.[72] Its three heads think independently of each other, and become unable to act if they disagree on what to do. They communicate via telepathy. Sometimes, one of the heads grows so big that it falls off and becomes an Exeggcute. Its cries are noisy due to each head thinking about something else. Exeggutor are friendly, and only engage their enemies with psychic power when they need to. It has a Grass/Dragon-type Alolan form.
Cubone
Karakara (カラカラ)
(0104)
  Ground Marowak (#0105) Cubone wears the skull of its deceased mother. Since it never removes said skull, no one has ever seen Cubone's real face. The stains on the skull it wears are made by the tears it sheds. When it thinks of its deceased mother, it weeps loudly, and Mandibuzz that hear its cries will attack it from the air. Its name is a combination of "cub" and "bone".[10]
Marowak
Garagara (ガラガラ)
(0105)
  Ground Cubone (#0104) The bone it holds is its key weapon. It throws the bone like a boomerang to knock out targets. Originally a Cubone, it overcame its mother's death and became rough and aggressive. Some say that a Marowak graveyard exists somewhere in the world. It carries out vengeance on its natural enemy, Mandibuzz, as it throws bones to try to take it down. They thump their bones rhythmically to communicate among themselves, with nearly 50 different rhythmic patterns. It has a Ghost/Fire-type Alolan form.
Hitmonlee
Sawamurā (サワムラー)
(0106)
  Fighting Tyrogue (#0236) Hitmonlee's design is based on headless men. It may also be based on Kabandha. Its English name is derived from actor and martial artist Bruce Lee,[10] while its Japanese name is derived from kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. When in a hurry, its legs strengthen progressively. Its balance lets it attack from any stance. Some call it the "Kick Master". After a battle, it rubs down its springy legs to overcome fatigue. Its legs can stretch to double its length. Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan did not have a distinct evolutionary line until Tyrogue and Hitmontop were conceived. Hitmonlee evolves from Tyrogue if it has higher Attack than Defense.
Hitmonchan
Ebiwarā (エビワラー)
(0107)
  Fighting Tyrogue (#0236) Its English name is derived from actor and martial artist Jackie Chan,[10] while its Japanese name is derived from boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara. It can punch fast enough to slice air and hard enough to break rocks, though it needs to rest for a couple minutes after doing so. It winds it arms to punch harder, and punches in a corkscrew fashion. A Hitmonchan is said to possess the spirit of a boxer who had been working towards a world championship. It evolves from Tyrogue if it has higher Defense than Attack.
Lickitung
Beroringa (ベロリンガ)
(0108)
  Normal Lickilicky (#0463) Instead of its hands, it uses its long, prehensile tongue. It paralyzes bug Pokémon by licking them, and eats them whole. If not immediately washed, its licks can cause itchy rashes. Its tongue can stretch up to 6 inches, and when it does, its tail quivers and contracts. It has nerves that run through its tongue, so it can use it freely. It licks filthy things to clean them, but its saliva is still smelly and grimy, so they do not end up much cleaner. Whenever Lickitung comes across something new, it licks it to memorize the taste and texture of that thing. When its saliva is boiled, it becomes a strong adhesive.
Koffing
Dogāsu (ドガース)
(0109)
  Poison Weezing (#0110) Koffing is based on air pollution and meteorites. It mixes its toxins with the rotting trash it eats to make poisonous gases. Sometimes, it can over-inflate itself and explode.
Weezing
Matadogasu (マタドガス)
(0110)
  Poison Koffing (#0109) Said to form when two Koffing fuse. Weezing will nest in unkept, unsanitary places, usually houses, and raid their trash. Its two heads have different toxins, and it makes its poisonous gas stronger and smellier by pushing it between said heads. It has a Poison/Fairy-type Galarian form. Despite this, Kantonian Weezing were once a common sight in Galar, and produced stronger gases than other regions' Weezing.
Rhyhorn
Saihōn (サイホーン)
(0111)
  Ground / Rock Rhydon (#0112) Because it is not good at turning, Rhyhorn runs in a straight line, destroying anything in its way. Though it can knock a block of steel down without much care, its head may be sore the next day. Its massive bones are 1,000 times harder than those of humans, and it can easily send a trailer flying. As a Pokémon with a one-track mind, when it starts running, it will not stop until it falls asleep. Rhyhorn's brain is so small and dense that it usually forgets why it may be running.
Rhydon
Saidon (サイドン)
(0112)
  Ground / Rock Rhyhorn (#0111) Rhyperior (#0464) Rhydon was the first Pokémon created by Game Freak.[73] Unlike Rhyhorn, it is bipedal. Protected by an armor-like hide, it can survive in lava over 3,600 °F (1,980 °C) and take direct hits from cannonballs. By rapidly rotating its drill-like horn, it can punch holes through boulders and diamonds, while one sweep of its tail can topple a building. Its brain developed when it began walking on its hind legs.
Chansey
Rakkī (ラッキー)
(0113)
  Normal Happiny (#0440) Blissey (#0242) The eggs it carries in its pouch can heal its eaters and make them happier. For this reason, they are often employed in Pokémon Centers.
Tangela
Monjara (モンジャラ)
(0114)
  Grass Tangrowth (#0465) Its whole body is covered with thick blue vines, concealing its identity. It will tangle and get entangled with nearly anything. Tangela's vines snap off painlessly and easily if they are grabbed, allowing it to escape. The lost vines grow back the next day. The vines of a Tangela have a distinct scent, and in some parts of Galar, are used as herbs.
Kangaskhan
Garūra (ガルーラ)
(0115)
  Normal Mega Evolution The female raises its young in its belly pouch for around three years, and during this time, the baby rarely ventures out. The young leaves home once it learns to find food, and its mother begins to miss it. To avoid crushing the baby, it sleeps standing up. A young Kangaskhan playing on its own is not to be disturbed or caught, as its mother will be supervising it. There are records of a lost human child being raised by a childless Kangaskhan. They live in groups. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Horsea
Tattsū (タッツー)
(0116)
  Water Seadra (#0117) Horsea and Seadra are based on seahorses.[74] It feeds on bug Pokémon and moss. It can fire water from its mouth to attack foes in or out of water, or ink to deter attackers. By spinning its body, it can create whirlpools.
Seadra
Shīdora (シードラ)
(0117)
  Water Horsea (#0116) Kingdra (#0230) It can swim in any direction by flapping its fins and tail. It creates whirlpools to exhaust its prey, and eats it whole. Male Seadra will take care of newborn Horsea. While doing so, the poison on the tips of its fins becomes thicker and stronger than usual.
Goldeen
Tosakinto (トサキント)
(0118)
  Water Seaking (#0119) Goldeen and Seaking are based on goldfish.[74] Goldeen was originally intended to have a pre-evolution called "Gyopin", but it was cut from the game due to a lack of cartridge space.[75] If kept in an aquarium, it will use its horn to break out. Swimmers have to be careful in water, so that Goldeen do not ram into them.
Seaking
Azumaō (アズマオウ)
(0119)
  Water Goldeen (#0118) Seaking is known to be able to swim against streams and up waterfalls. It will use its horn to bore holes into rocks to lay eggs in. Fans of Seaking's horn and fins are known to fight each other.
Staryu
Hitodeman (ヒトデマン)
(0120)
  Water Starmie (#0121) It is a basic Pokémon which resembles a starfish with a mechanical center on its body, housing a red jewel. This organ is known as its core. As long as the jewel is unharmed, it can regenerate the rest of its body.
Starmie
Sutāmī (スターミー)
(0121)
  Water / Psychic Staryu (#0120) Mega Evolution Starmie has a second star on its back, which is semi-attached and able to spin around independently of the front star. Starmie has a red jewel core, which resembles a cut precious stone and seems to shine with the seven colors of the rainbow when looked at from different angles, but usually shows up red more than any other color. It can also emit electrical waves from its core powerful enough to reach the furthest parts of the universe.
Mr. Mime
Bariyādo (バリヤード)
(0122)
  Psychic / Fairy[nb 3] Mime Jr. (#0439) [nb 7] Despite its name, there are female Mr. Mime. Its a skilled mime that loves to pantomime. It can create barriers by vibrating the air with its fingertips. If it is interrupted or its audience is unimpressed, it will slap them with its broad hands. It has an Ice/Psychic-type Galarian form.
Scyther
Sutoraiku (ストライク)
(0123)
  Bug / Flying Scizor (#0212)
Kleavor (#0900)
IGN and GamesRadar have praised Scyther's "cool" design.[76][77][78] With its ninja-like movements, Scyther can create afterimages of itself. It can slice thick logs with a single stroke. On rare occasions, it flies with its wings. It is proud of its speed. While young, they live together deep in the mountains, training themselves in fighting with their scythes and moving at high speeds.
Jynx
Rūjura (ルージュラ)
(0124)
  Ice / Psychic Smoochum (#0238) Jynx has spawned controversy due to aspects of its design being similar to blackface, leading Game Freak to change the color of its skin from black to purple.[79][80][81][82][83] When Pokémon Yellow was rereleased on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, the in-game sprite of Jynx was edited to reflect this change.[83] Jynx's appearance is a purple humanoid with blond hair and a dress. It can put opponents to sleep by kissing them. Jynx can communicate with what appears to be a human-like language, though it has yet to be deciphered, so they usually opt to communicate with dance-like movement instead.
Electabuzz
Erebū (エレブー)
(0125)
  Electric Elekid (#0239) Electivire (#0466) Groups of Electabuzz gather near power plants or places likely to be struck by thunder to feast on electricity. For this reason, they are often placed in houses as lightning rods. Power plants employ the use of Ground-type Pokémon to prevent Electabuzz from eating their energy and causing blackouts, though they are usually the fault of the companies running them. In the dark, it glows a whitish-blue color.
Magmar
Būbā (ブーバー)
(0126)
  Fire Magby (#0240) Magmortar (#0467) While Magmar was voted the eighth best fire-type Pokémon by the Official Nintendo Magazine readers,[84] GamesRadar had criticized its design multiple times, noting that its forehead resembles a butt.[85][86] Magmar are found in and around active volcanoes. Its body temperature is 2,200 °F. It dislikes cold places, so it blows flames to make the environment suitable for itself. Its appearance is often obscured by the flames that cover it. It can heal and rest itself by dipping its body into lava. In battle, Magmar blows out flames from all over its body to intimidate its opponent. When it breathes, its temperature rises, and when it sneezes, flames shoot out. Magmar dispatches its prey with fire, but may accidentally burn said prey to a charred crisp.
Pinsir
Kairosu (カイロス)
(0127)
  Bug Mega Evolution It was originally supposed to have an evolution called "Plux" in generation II. Some speculated that this unused design was reworked into Heracross.[87] Pinsir can use its pincers to crush, toss, bludgeon, or tear anything up to twice its size. Captured prey is kept in place by the piercing thorns and sheer strength of Pinsir's horns, and will not be released until they are torn in half. If it cannot be torn in half, it tosses it around. In addition to hunting prey, it also tends to enjoy tree sap. Pinsir live in temperate forests or jungles, and burrow their way underground or inside trees to avoid the cold. In Alola, it has a rivalry with Vikavolt, yet gets along with Heracross. In other regions, however, it competes with Heracross for food. Pinsir are known to judge each other based on their pincers, which also determine its popularity with the opposite gender based on how thick it looks. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Tauros
Kentarosu (ケンタロス)
(0128)
  Normal No evolution When attacking, it violently charges while whipping itself with its three tails. Like Rhyhorn, it will not stop running until it hits something. Although powerful, it can only charge in a straight line. They fight each other by locking horns to prove their strength, and the leader prides itself with its battle-scarred horns. If there are no opponents, it will charge into thick trees, knocking them down. Historically, people have ridden Tauros for ages, a practice said to have started in Alola. Tauros in Alola actually have a calm side, most likely due to the climate. Tauros in Galar, however, are more volatile and will not let people ride them. It has three Paldean forms.
Magikarp
Koikingu (コイキング)
(0129)
  Water Gyarados (#0130) Magikarp is mostly useless in the games, until it evolves into Gyarados. Magikarp is based on the common carp.[74] At level 15, Magikarp learns Tackle. Until then, it only knows Splash and cannot be taught any other moves. In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the descendants that exist today. Despite its weakness, it is actually a hardy and fertile Pokémon that can survive in any body of water. Its swimming muscles are weak, so it gets easily washed away by currents, so places where water pools like seas, lakes, rivers, and shallow puddles will have many Magikarp stuck in them. It may jump on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet, making it easy for predators like Pidgeotto to catch it mid-jump. In rare occasions, a Magikarp living for many years can leap up a mountain.
Gyarados
Gyaradosu (ギャラドス)
(0130)
  Water / Flying Magikarp (#0129) Mega Evolution When Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, its brain cells undergo a structural transformation, said to be the cause of its violent nature. Throughout history, it would appear and burn down cities, villages, and towns in rampages lasting around a month. There are some regions where it is called "the deity of destruction". Despite its Flying type, Gyarados cannot actually fly. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Lapras
Rapurasu (ラプラス)
(0131)
  Water / Ice Gigantamax Lapras have gentle hearts. Poachers drove Lapras to the point of near-extinction, though recent protection regulations have instead made it an overabundant species. It loves transporting people on its back, and can actually understand human speech thanks to its high intelligence. Lapras will sing with other Lapras as a form of communication, or by itself when happy. Lapras is based on the Loch Ness Monster and the plesiosaur, and in early versions of Red and Blue was named "Ness".[88] It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII. Many regions in Japan have utilized Lapras' image to encourage tourism.[89][90][91] Lapras has been well received by critics, and has appeared on several lists of the best Pokémon of all time.[92][93][94]
Ditto
Metamon (メタモン)
(0132)
  Normal No evolution Appearing as an amorphous blob, Ditto is capable of transforming into an exact copy of anything it sees by altering its genetic code. However, this transformation is often imperfect.[95] The specific imperfections vary from Ditto to Ditto. It does not get along with others of the same species, as they will both fruitlessly try to transform into each other. Ditto rose in popularity with Gold and Silver, where it was able to "breed" with any other Pokémon that is able to breed, becoming vital for the franchise's competitive scene. It cannot breed with itself, though.[96] Due to its similarities to Mew, a longtime rumor arose that it was a failed clone. However, this fan theory has been denied by Game Freak.[97]
Eevee
Ībui (イーブイ)
(0133)
  Normal Multiple[nb 8]
Gigantamax
Eevee is often considered among the "cutest" Pokémon in the franchise.[98][99][100][101] Due to this, Eevee is featured on various Pokémon-related merchandise.[102][103][104] It is the mascot of Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! Eevee has exclusive evolution styles, where each evolution requires special requirements to occur, resulting in 8 different Pokémon. Eevee and its evolutions are sometimes referred to as "Eeveelutions". Eevee is mostly found in highly populated areas like cities and towns. Its unstable genes allow it to adapt to most habitats, and even to its trainer, to the point of eventually adopting a face similar to theirs. In generation VIII, it gained a Gigantamax form.
Vaporeon
Shawāzu (シャワーズ)
(0134)
  Water Eevee (#0133) Its genes and DNA are nearly identical to water, so it can melt away into it to hide from foes or prey. If its fins begin to mutate, it means rain is coming in a couple of hours. It has the ability to freely control water. It evolves from Eevee using a Water Stone.[105] Vaporeon became the ambassador for Water Day in Japan in 2023.[106] A popular internet copypasta, stating that Vaporeon was the most "sexually compatible with humans" out of all Pokémon species, became a meme among the Pokémon community. Originally posted on 4chan in 2018, its spread was attributed to its sudden, overly detailed, unprompted nature. Memes and fan art relating to the joke became prevalent within the community following its original posting.[107]
Jolteon
Sandāsu (サンダース)
(0135)
  Electric Eevee (#0133) It accumulates negative ions in the air to dish out 10,000 volt discharges. It is a moody Pokémon, easily becoming sad or angry, and its spiky fur can be launched to pierce enemies when it bristles. Jolteon's cells emit a low amount of electricity, which is amplified by its needle-like fur. If its hair stands on end, it is about to discharge. The crackling sound of electricity can be heard when it exhales.
Flareon
Būsutā (ブースター)
(0136)
  Fire Eevee (#0133) It stores fire over 1,650 °F inside its flame sac, then releases it at over 3,000 °F. Its fur is used to air out its body so it doesn't overheat. An omnivore, it roasts berries and prey before eating them. In 2014, during the Twitch Plays Pokemon experiment, an Eevee was the source of much debate due to the players wanting to evolve it into a Vaporeon or a Jolteon, but they accidentally used a Fire Stone to evolve it into a Flareon. This incident led to the Flareon being named to the “False Prophet” by the Twitch community.[108][109][110][111][112]
Porygon
Porigon (ポリゴン)
(0137)
  Normal Porygon2 (#0233) Porygon has become notorious for being featured in an episode of the anime that caused widespread epileptic seizures in Japanese viewers.[113] Created in 1995, it is made entirely of programming code. It can enter cyberspace at will. People theorized it could go into outer space, though no Porygon has managed to achieve this so far. It has no heartbeat and does not need to eat, though it can eat if food is given. Because of this, people are eager to test it in any environment. Porygon is copy-protected so it cannot be duplicated. It was made with the best technology of 1995, so it has become outdated compared to Pokémon like Genesect and Type: Null. It is still useful in cyberspace, as it goes around making sure no suspicious data exists.
Omanyte
Omunaito (オムナイト)
(0138)
  Rock / Water Omastar (#0139) Omanyte is an ancient Pokémon that has been regenerated from Helix Fossils by people using modern science. If attacked by an enemy, it withdraws to its hard shell. It can use air stored inside its shell to rise or fall in water. Omanyte lived in ancient seas. Archeops and Carracosta have been known to prey on it.. The fossils Omanyte have been resurrected from are excavated from areas that were once large oceans. Because some Omanyte manage to escape after being restored or are released into the wild by people, it is gradually becoming an invasive species.
Omastar
Omusutā (オムスター)
(0139)
  Rock / Water Omanyte (#0138) Omastar is commonly referred to as "Lord Helix" within the community, as a reference to Twitch Plays Pokémon, where the Pokémon was seen as a good-luck charm.[114] Omastar uses its tentacles to capture its prey. It is believed that it went extinct because its shell grew too large and heavy, causing its movements to become too slow and clumsy. Once wrapped around its prey, it never lets go as it attacks by tearing into it with the sharp beaks that ring its mouth.
Kabuto
Kabuto (カブト)
(0140)
  Rock / Water Kabutops (#0141) Kabuto is an ancient Pokémon that has been regenerated from a Dome Fossil. However, in extremely rare cases, living examples have been discovered, being identical to their 300 million year-old counterparts. It is said to have inhabited ancient beaches. It protects itself using its hard shell and glowing red eyes.
Kabutops
Kabutopusu (カブトプス)
(0141)
  Rock / Water Kabuto (#0140) Kabutops were aggressive prehistoric Pokémon that inhabited warm seas. They swam underwater to hunt for prey in ancient times. It was apparently in the process of evolving from being a water-dweller to living on land, as evident from the beginnings of change in its gills and legs. The exact cause of its extincion is unknown. It swims at speeds of roughly 29 knots, closing in on prey and tearing at its foes with sickle-like forelegs, and drains the foe's body fluids entirely. The discarded body parts become food for other Pokémon. In the water, it tucks in its limbs to become more compact, then it wiggles its shell to swim faster.
Aerodactyl
Putera (プテラ)
(0142)
  Rock / Flying Mega Evolution A vicious prehistoric Pokémon, it goes for its opponents' throats with its serrated, saw-like fangs that shred the skin of even Steel-type Pokémon. It went extinct, but it was resurrected by taking its DNA from an Old Amber. It flies by spreading its wings and gliding though the skies, to the point of being referred to as their king. A widely accepted theory is that it went extinct due to a meteor impact. Despite its strength in the air, it is weak and slow on the ground. Even modern technology is still unable to make a truly perfect specimen. It is based on pterodactyls and dragons or wyverns. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI.
Snorlax
Kabigon (カビゴン)
(0143)
  Normal Munchlax (#0446) Gigantamax It is carefree about everything, and it will allow children to play on its vast belly while it sleeps all day. After eating around 900 pounds of food, it goes to sleep for a while. It is a large, obese Pokémon with a bluish-green body and a white circle-shaped belly, white feet and face. It is said to be able to eat nearly anything with little to no side-effects, such as thorny plants or Muk's poison. Snorlax is commonly used as a roadblock within the games. It gained a Gigantamax form in generation VIII.
Articuno
Furīzā (フリーザー)
(0144)
  Ice / Flying No evolution It is part of the Legendary Bird Trio. The naming conventions for this trio are based on their type – Arctic, Zap and Molt – along with 1, 2, 3 in Spanish – uno, dos, tres respectively.[10]

It is said to appear to doomed people who are lost in icy mountains and guide them out. The flapping of Articuno's wings can chill the air around it and cause blizzards. A Psychic/Flying-type legendary Pokémon is similar to Articuno and shares its name, to the point of being referred to as its Galarian Form, though it is actually an unrelated Pokémon.

Zapdos
Sandā (サンダー)
(0145)
  Electric / Flying No evolution It is part of the Legendary Bird Trio. Its design is inspired by the Indigenous North American myth of the thunderbird.[28] It is said to cause and appear from dark and gray clouds in the sky while shedding lightning from its wings. It has the power to control electricity, and is said to gain power from thunder storms. It is said that when it rubs its feathers together, lightning will fall immediately after, and there are tales of Zapdos resting in pitch black thunderclouds. As with Articuno, a similar Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon is referred to as its Galarian form.
Moltres
Faiyā (ファイヤー)
(0146)
  Fire / Flying No evolution It is part of the Legendary Bird Trio. Its design is inspired by the firebird of Slavic folklore.[28] It can make the sky turn red as it flaps its fiery wings. It is said to bring spring early when it arrives to cold lands. If Moltres is injured, it is said to dip itself in magma to burn and heal itself. There are stories that tell of its fire-cloaked wings lighting up paths for those lost traveling in the mountains. A Dark/Flying-type Pokémon is referred to as its Galarian form, though as with the rest of the trio, the Pokémon are not actually related by blood.
Dratini
Miniryū (ミニリュウ)
(0147)
  Dragon Dragonair (#0148) A Dratini continually molts and sloughs off its old skin almost daily. It does so because the life energy within its body steadily builds to reach uncontrollable levels. This allows Dratini to grow longer and longer, even reaching 6 feet in length. In some regions, boots made from the tanned cast-off skin of Dratini are a luxury item. The small lump on a Dratini's forehead is actually an underdeveloped horn. After a 10-hour struggle, a fisherman was finally able to pull one up and confirm its existence. Though still weak, it dwells near bodies of rapidly flowing water, such as the plunge pools of waterfalls to protect it while it repeatedly sheds its skin. It eats whatever food sinks down, and lives a quiet and happy life.
Dragonair
Hakuryū (ハクリュー)
(0148)
  Dragon Dratini (#0147) Dragonite (#0149) Dragonair can grow the wings on its head to fly, but can also fly without them. It stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body, and can alter weather conditions in its vicinity by discharging energy from the crystals on its body. The lakes where Dragonair live are filled with offerings from people and are respected by farmers. Some say that seeing a Dragonair flying around at the start of the year is a sign that one will be healthy all year long.
Dragonite
Kairyū (カイリュー)
(0149)
  Dragon / Flying Dragonair (#0148) Mega Evolution Capable of circling the globe in just sixteen hours and with the intelligence of a human, tales of this kindhearted Pokémon leading lost and foundering ships to the safety of land are commonplace. It is said that somewhere in the ocean lies an island where Dragonite gather. Its build lets it freely fly over raging seas without trouble to rescue drowning people. Observing this, a ship's captain dubbed it "the sea incarnate", and figureheads that resemble Dragonite now decorate the bows of many ships.
Mewtwo
Myūtsū (ミュウツー)
(0150)
  Psychic Two Mega Evolutions It is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Mewtwo originated from the DNA of Mew, mutated by Dr. Fuji in a lab after years of gene splicing. Even though it has powerful psychic abilities, scientists failed to give it a compassionate heart, and it turned vicious as a result. It rests to conserve energy, so that it can unleash its full power in battle. In generation VI, it gained two Mega Evolutions; one adapted for physical attacks, and one adapted for special attacks.
Mew
Myū (ミュウ)
(0151)
  Psychic No evolution This mythical Pokémon is so rare, only a few experts worldwide have found it, though a growing number of people have reportedly seen it recently. It apparently originates from South America. It is said that it appears only to those who have a true heart and a strong passion to see it. Its DNA is said to contain the genetic code of every Pokémon and every move. Because of this, many scientists believe that it is the ancestor of all Pokémon. Its fine, small, and delicate hairs can be viewed with a microscope. It is capable of turning invisible at will so that people are unaware of its presence. It is considered one of the original progenitor Pokémon, as all Pokémon are said to have descended from Mew.
MissingNo.
Ketsuban (けつばん)
(000[nb 9])
  Normal / Bird[nb 10] No evolution An error handler whose name stands for "Missing Number", it was created to handle attempts at accessing data for nonexistent Pokémon within the game, appearing instead.[115][116] However, due to a bug, it was available for players to encounter in certain circumstances. This particular glitch has been regarded as one of the most popular in video game history.[117]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

The list of Generation I Pokémon comprises the 151 fictional species of creatures introduced in the role-playing video games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996, exclusively in Japan. These Pokémon, numbered from Bulbasaur (No. 001) to Mew (No. 151) in the National Pokédex, represent the foundational elements of the Pokémon franchise, encompassing diverse types including Grass, Fire, Water, Electric, and Psychic, along with evolutionary chains that players capture, train, and battle within the Kanto region. The collection laid the groundwork for a multimedia empire, spawning international releases as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998, an anime series, trading card game, and enduring cultural impact through merchandise and competitive play. Defining characteristics include the absence of Fairy-type Pokémon, limited movesets compared to later generations, and glitches like MissingNo. that became infamous among players, highlighting early technical constraints in the games' programming.

Development and Design

Origins and Conceptual Foundations

The core concept of Generation I Pokémon originated from the childhood hobby of its creator, , who enjoyed collecting insects in the rural areas of Machida, , during the 1960s and 1970s. Tajiri sought to recreate the thrill of discovery, capture, and observation he experienced as a child, adapting it into a digital format where players could "catch" and evolve virtual creatures, thereby sharing that joy with urban children who lacked access to natural environments. Design inspirations drew from real-world animals and insects, including yokai ( beings), and urban legends, blending empirical observations of nature with mythical elements to form creature archetypes. For instance, Pikachu's form was modeled after a squirrel's proportions and cheek-puffing behavior for electricity storage, while its name derives from "pika" (evoking the sound of sparks) and early evolutions referenced thunder deities in appearance. Many species incorporated yokai motifs, such as shape-shifting foxes or mischievous spirits, reflecting traditional Japanese lore reimagined as collectible entities with affinities. Development commenced in the early 1990s under , with Tajiri leading the project to leverage the Game Boy's hardware, particularly its link cable functionality, which enabled player-to-player trading essential for evolving certain Pokémon and completing the Pokédex—a portable cataloging all species. The initial roster was finalized at 151 Pokémon, constrained by the era's programming limitations and the conceptual goal of a comprehensive yet manageable collection for the debut entry. Pokémon Red and Green launched exclusively in on February 27, 1996, marking the franchise's inception.

Design Process and Inspirations

led the artwork for Generation I Pokémon, creating approximately 20 to 30 initial designs such as Rhydon and Nidoking as part of Game Freak's small team of five to six designers. The team collectively produced over 300 concepts before finalizing the roster of 151 species, with iterative refinements integrating designs into the game's narrative and mechanics. , the creator, oversaw the process with a core group of nine developers, emphasizing trial-and-error adjustments driven by hardware constraints and conceptual goals like fostering collection and trading experiences. Sprite prototyping adhered to Game Boy limitations, including 56x56 pixel dimensions for battle sprites and a four-color palette per design to manage memory and display capabilities. Developers prioritized front-facing and back-facing views to heighten player attachment, despite doubling sprite data requirements, while simplifying elements like move limits to four per Pokémon due to screen size restrictions. Designs balanced kawaii cuteness with monstrous traits, drawing from kaijū influences and Tajiri's childhood insect collecting to evoke wonder rather than fear. Sugimori employed a deliberate technique of incorporating "uncool" or imperfect features into otherwise appealing forms to enhance memorability and avoid overly polished , a method applied from the outset of the series. Evolutionary lines, such as the three-stage progression from , added depth by simulating transitional stages like cocoons, serving as strategic pauses in gameplay progression. The originated from basic rock-paper-scissors dynamics among elemental starters, ensuring inherent balances without complex subsystems like abilities or damage category splits, tailored to early hardware simplicity.

List of Pokémon Species

By National Pokédex Number

The National Pokédex for Generation I encompasses 151 Pokémon species, ordered from #001 Bulbasaur to #151 Mew, as introduced in the 1996 Japanese releases of Pokémon Red and Green, with international versions Pokémon Red and Blue following in 1998. This numbering reflects the canonical sequence in the core games, prioritizing empirical game data over later reinterpretations. Each entry below includes the Pokémon's English name, original Generation I type(s) (pre-retcon classifications, as type system changes occurred in subsequent generations), height and weight as measured in meters and kilograms within the games, evolutionary method (level-up, trade, or evolution stone where applicable; single-stage species noted as non-evolvable), and a concise summary of its Red/Blue Pokédex entry derived from in-game text. Non-evolvable species like #083 Farfetch'd and #115 Kangaskhan lack further forms in Generation I, while others evolve via specific mechanics such as level thresholds or item use.
#NameType(s)HeightWeightEvolutionPokédex Entry Summary
001Grass/Poison0.7 m6.9 kgEvolves to Ivysaur at Lv. 16A bulb grows on its back from birth; makes it grow, and it releases oxygen.
002Grass/Poison1.0 m13.0 kgEvolves to Venusaur at Lv. 32The bulb on its back blooms into a flower when it evolves; it moves slowly due to weight.
003Grass/Poison2.0 m100.0 kgNon-evolvableThe flower on its back absorbs for attacks; can cause allergies.
0040.6 m8.5 kgEvolves to Charmeleleon at Lv. 16Tail flame indicates health; weak flame signals illness or weakness.
0051.1 m19.0 kgEvolves to Charizard at Lv. 36Fierce temper; scratches rocks with claws, leaving scorch marks from tail flame.
006/Flying1.7 m90.5 kgNon-evolvableBreathes intense flames; wings enable high-altitude flight, melting mountainsides.
0070.5 m9.0 kgEvolves to Wartortle at Lv. 16Shell retracts for defense; shoots water to douse flames up to 10 meters away.
008Wartortle1.0 m22.5 kgEvolves to Blastoise at Lv. 36Tail used for swimming; long ears sense danger, and it withdraws into shell.
009Blastoise1.6 m85.5 kgNon-evolvableCannons on shell fire high-pressure water; powerful jets can puncture steel plates.
010CaterpieBug0.3 m2.9 kgEvolves to Metapod at Lv. 7Emits odor from antennae to repel foes; string from mouth used for cocoon.
011MetapodBug0.7 m9.9 kgEvolves to Butterfree at Lv. 10Hard shell protects soft body during evolution; remains motionless.
012ButterfreeBug/Flying1.1 m32.0 kgNon-evolvableScales from wings used as sleep powder; covers itself in scales when agitated.
013WeedleBug/Poison0.3 m2.9 kgEvolves to Kakuna at Lv. 7Tail poison stings; found in forests, often on trees.
014KakunaBug/Poison0.6 m10.0 kgEvolves to Beedrill at Lv. 10Hardens shell to protect body; seldom moves.
015BeedrillBug/Poison1.0 m29.5 kgNon-evolvableFlies with three stingers; toxic honey produced.
016PidgeyNormal/Flying0.3 m1.8 kgEvolves to Pidgeotto at Lv. 18Common small bird Pokémon that flies in flocks using Gust attack.
017PidgeottoNormal/Flying1.1 m30.0 kgEvolves to Pidgeot at Lv. 36Larger version of Pidgey with keen eyesight for spotting prey from high altitudes.
018PidgeotNormal/Flying1.5 m39.5 kgNon-evolvableFlies at speeds up to 60 km/h; excellent vision detects distant objects.
019RattataNormal0.3 m3.5 kgEvolves to Raticate at Lv. 20Gnaws on anything with sharp front teeth; breeds quickly in fields.
020RaticateNormal1.1 m18.5 kgNon-evolvableWhiskers sense air movements; stores food in cheek pouches.
021SpearowNormal/Flying0.3 m2.0 kgEvolves to Fearow at Lv. 20Pecks at foes with flocks; poor flyer but fast on ground.
022FearowNormal/Flying1.2 m38.0 kgNon-evolvableLong neck and beak for deep prey capture; glides on thermals.
023EkansPoison2.0 m6.9 kgEvolves to Arbok at Lv. 22Swallows prey whole; patterns hypnotize foes.
024ArbokPoison3.5 m65.0 kgNon-evolvableIntimidating pattern on hood; constricts prey.
025PikachuElectric0.4 m6.0 kgEvolves to Raichu with Thunder StoneGenerates electricity from cheeks; ears signal emotions.
027SandshrewGround0.6 m12.0 kgEvolves to Sandslash at Lv. 22Rolls up its body to protect itself from attacks; burrows deep in arid areas.
028SandslashGround1.0 m29.5 kgNon-evolvableSkilled at slashing with claws; curls into a spiny ball to attack or defend.
029Nidoran♀Poison0.4 m7.0 kgEvolves to Nidorina at Lv. 16Small and cute but toxic; barbs inject powerful poison.
030NidorinaPoison0.8 m20.0 kgEvolves to Nidoqueen with Moon StoneThe hard scale on its horn secretes a potent poison.
031NidoqueenPoison/Ground1.3 m60.0 kgNon-evolvableIts robust body is as hard as steel; uses powerful tail for attacks.
032Nidoran♂Poison0.5 m9.0 kgEvolves to Nidorino at Lv. 16Stiffens neck bristles when angered; toxic horn grows slowly.
033NidorinoPoison0.9 m19.0 kgEvolves to Nidoking with Moon StoneHorn secretes large amounts of poison; restless and aggressive.
034NidokingPoison/Ground1.4 m62.0 kgNon-evolvableTail crushes boulders; immense power from toxic horn and claws.
035ClefairyNormal0.6 m7.5 kgEvolves to Clefable with Moon StoneIts magical, feathery wings give it the ability to float in the air.
036ClefableNormal1.3 m40.0 kgNon-evolvableIts scream can make people faint; it sings beautifully in the night sky.
037VulpixFire0.6 m9.9 kgEvolves to Ninetales with Fire StoneWhen it is hot, it will produce up to six balls of flames, which it juggles.
038NinetalesFire1.1 m19.9 kgNon-evolvableIt has nine long tails; cursing those who touch its tails brings 1000 years of misfortune.
039JigglypuffNormal0.5 m5.5 kgEvolves to Wigglytuff with Moon StoneInflates body like a balloon; sings lullabies that put listeners to sleep.
040WigglytuffNormal1.0 m12.0 kgNon-evolvableElastic body allows free shape changes; cries echo loudly.
041ZubatPoison/Flying0.8 m7.5 kgEvolves to Golbat at Lv. 22Lives in caves; uses supersonic waves for navigation as it lacks eyes.
042GolbatPoison/Flying1.6 m55.0 kgNon-evolvableHangs from cave ceilings; blood-drinking fangs inject anticoagulant fluid.
043OddishGrass/Poison0.5 m5.4 kgEvolves to Gloom at Lv. 21Stays burrowed underground during the day to avoid sunlight; absorbs nutrients through roots while sleeping.
044GloomGrass/Poison0.8 m8.6 kgEvolves to Vileplume with Leaf StoneExudes a foul odor from its flower to repel enemies; prefers dark, damp places.
045VileplumeGrass/Poison1.2 m18.6 kgNon-evolvableFlower releases toxic pollen that can cause paralysis; petals are the largest in the world.
046ParasBug/Grass0.3 m5.4 kgEvolves to Parasect at Lv. 24Mushrooms on back can spread spores that control its actions; claws are for digging.
047ParasectBug/Grass1.0 m29.5 kgNon-evolvableMushroom on back has taken over its mind; moves by obeying the mushroom's instincts.
048VenonatBug/Poison1.0 m30.0 kgEvolves to Venomoth at Lv. 31Eyes emit red rays for disorienting foes; lives in humid mountain caves.
049VenomothBug/Poison1.5 m63.5 kgNon-evolvableSprinkles poisonous scales from wings to paralyze prey; absorbs moonlight for energy.
050DiglettGround0.2 m0.8 kgEvolves to Dugtrio at Lv. 26Burrows underground rapidly; only head visible.
051DugtrioGround0.7 m33.3 kgNon-evolvableThree heads dig at high speed.
052MeowthNormal0.4 m4.2 kgEvolves to Persian at Lv. 28Walks on hind legs; coin on head from street life.
053PersianNormal1.0 m32.0 kgNon-evolvableFastest scratches; scratches reflect in eyes.
054PsyduckWater0.8 m19.6 kgEvolves to Golduck at Lv. 33Headaches unleash psychic power.
055GolduckWater1.7 m76.6 kgNon-evolvableSwims elegantly; eyes rarely blink.
056MankeyFighting0.5 m28.0 kgEvolves to Primeape at Lv. 28Gets angry easily; light on feet.
057PrimeapeFighting1.0 m32.0 kgNon-evolvableAnger makes it stronger; up to 100 hands shake.
058GrowlitheFire0.7 m19.0 kgEvolves to Arcanine with Fire StoneLoyal; barks scare foes.
059ArcanineFire1.9 m155.0 kgNon-evolvableLegendary speed; majestic beast.
060PoliwagWater0.6 m12.4 kgEvolves to Poliwhirl at Lv. 25tadpole with belly swirl to confuse predators.
061PoliwhirlWater1.0 m20.0 kgEvolves to Poliwrath with Water Stoneskilled swimmer that glistens with fluid.
062PoliwrathWater/Fighting1.3 m54.0 kgNon-evolvablestrong fighter that knocks out foes with chops.
063AbraPsychic0.9 m19.5 kgEvolves to Kadabra at Lv. 16teleports from danger.
064KadabraPsychic1.3 m56.5 kgEvolves to Alakazam by tradeemits psychic waves causing headaches.
065AlakazamPsychic1.5 m48.0 kgNon-evolvablehighly intelligent with vast psychic powers.
066MachopFighting0.8 m19.5 kgEvolves to Machoke at Lv. 28trains muscles daily.
067MachokeFighting1.5 m70.5 kgEvolves to Machamp by tradewears belt to control strength.
068MachampFighting1.6 m130.0 kgNon-evolvablefour-armed with devastating punches.
069BellsproutGrass/Poison0.7 m4.0 kgEvolves to Weepinbell at Lv. 21uses vine to ensnare prey.
070WeepinbellGrass/Poison1.0 m6.4 kgEvolves to Victreebel with Leaf Stonespits corrosive acid.
071VictreebelGrass/Poison1.7 m15.5 kgNon-evolvablelures prey with sweet scent.
072TentacoolWater/Poison0.99 m45.5 kgEvolves to Tentacruel at Lv. 30tentacles paralyze prey in ocean currents.
073TentacruelWater/Poison1.6 m55.0 kgNon-evolvabledrifts in groups, tentacles inject poison.
074GeodudeRock/Ground0.4 m20.0 kgEvolves to Graveler at Lv. 25found on mountain roads, rolls to attack.
075GravelerRock/Ground1.0 m105.0 kgEvolves to Golem by tradetumbles down mountains, causes rockslides.
076GolemRock/Ground1.4 m300.0 kgNon-evolvablewithstands dynamite, curls into ball.
077PonytaFire1.0 m30.0 kgEvolves to Rapidash at Lv. 40flame mane, runs fast from birth.
078RapidashFire1.7 m95.5 kgNon-evolvablegallops at 150 km/h, inhales oxygen for speed.
079SlowpokeWater/Psychic1.2 m36.0 kgEvolves to Slowbro at Lv. 37tail biting relieves stress, slow reactions.
080SlowbroWater/Psychic1.6 m78.0 kgNon-evolvableShellder bite boosts intelligence, forgets why bitten.
081MagnemiteElectric0.3 m6.0 kgEvolves to Magneton at Lv. 30magnetic body, floats using electricity.
082MagnetonElectric1.0 m60.0 kgNon-evolvablethree Magnemite fused, disrupts electronics.
083Farfetch'dNormal/Flying0.8 m15.0 kgNon-evolvablecarries leek, rare due to overhunting.
084DoduoNormal/Flying1.4 m39.2 kgEvolves to Dodrio at Lv. 31two-headed bird that runs at high speeds.
085DodrioNormal/Flying1.8 m85.0 kgNon-evolvablethree heads with independent minds, runs nearly 40 mph.
086SeelWater1.1 m36.0 kgEvolves to Dewgong at Lv. 34uses horn to dig sea ice, stores fat for cold.
087DewgongWater/Ice1.7 m120.0 kgNon-evolvableswims gracefully, stores energy in blubber.
088GrimerPoison0.9 m30.0 kgEvolves to Muk at Lv. 38born from polluted sludge, loves toxic waste.
089MukPoison1.2 m55.0 kgNon-evolvabletoxic sludge that damages anything it touches.
090ShellderWater0.3 m4.0 kgEvolves to Cloyster with Water Stoneshoots water jets, closes shell quickly.
091CloysterWater/Ice1.5 m132.5 kgNon-evolvablehard shell impenetrable, shoots spikes.
092GastlyGhost/Poison1.3 m0.1 kgEvolves to Haunter at Lv. 25gaseous form hides in darkness, poisons on contact.
093HaunterGhost/Poison1.6 m0.1 kgEvolves to Gengar by tradelicks to sap life force, invisible in shadows.
094GengarGhost/Poison1.5 m40.5 kgNon-evolvablehides in shadows to curse victims, laughs at misfortune.
095OnixRock/Ground10.5 m210.0 kgNon-evolvableBody composed of many small rocks; tunnels through mountains at high speed.
096DrowzeePsychic1.0 m32.4 kgEvolves to Hypno at Lv. 26Puts enemies to sleep with hypnosis; eats dreams while they sleep.
097HypnoPsychic1.6 m75.6 kgNon-evolvableHolds pendulum to hypnotize; carries away sleeping children.
098KrabbyWater0.6 m6.0 kgEvolves to Kingler at Lv. 28Pinchers strong enough to crush boulders; lives on ocean floor.
099KinglerWater1.3 m60.0 kgNon-evolvableOne giant pincer heavy; walks sideways like crab.
100VoltorbElectric0.5 m10.5 kgEvolves to Electrode at Lv. 30Resembles Poké Ball; explodes when agitated.
101ElectrodeElectric1.2 m66.6 kgNon-evolvableFastest Pokémon; explodes with more power than Voltorb.
102ExeggcuteGrass/Psychic0.4 m2.5 kgEvolves to Exeggutor with Leaf StoneSix eggs that communicate via telepathy; roll away from danger.
103ExeggutorGrass/Psychic2.0 m120.0 kgNon-evolvableCoconut tree with three heads; each head has different temperament.
104CuboneGround0.5 m6.5 kgEvolves to Marowak at Lv. 28Wears skull of mother; cries sound like mourning.
105MarowakGround1.0 m45.0 kgNon-evolvableUses bone club; skilled hunter.
106HitmonleeFighting1.5 m49.9 kgNon-evolvableKicks extend like springs; powerful legs.
107HitmonchanFighting1.4 m50.8 kgNon-evolvablePunches like boxer; rapid strikes.
108LickitungNormal1.2 m65.5 kgNon-evolvableTongue extends over 2m; tastes anything.
109KoffingPoison0.6 m1.0 kgEvolves to Weezing at Lv. 35Floats via gas; emits toxic fumes.
110WeezingPoison1.2 m9.5 kgNon-evolvableMultiple heads belch smoke; toxic explosions.
111RhyhornGround/Rock1.0 m115.0 kgEvolves to Rhydon at Lv. 42Charges headfirst; little intelligence.
112RhydonGround/Rock1.9 m120.0 kgNon-evolvableHorn detects movements; immense strength.
113Normal1.1 m34.6 kgNon-evolvableLays nutritious eggs a day; shares with kind trainers; rarely seen in the wild.
114Grass1.0 m35.0 kgNon-evolvableBody hidden by blue vines that tangle anything touching them; vines regrow quickly.
115Normal2.2 m80.0 kgNon-evolvableMother carries joey in pouch; fiercely protective, attacks intruders viciously.
116Water0.4 m8.0 kgEvolves to Seadra at Lv. 32Spits water to deter enemies; curls tail around coral to anchor in strong currents.
117Water1.2 m25.0 kgNon-evolvableSwims in ocean currents; spines contain poison that weakens prey over time.
118Water0.6 m15.2 kgEvolves to Seaking at Lv. 33Graceful swimmer with horn for ramming; often found in ponds and streams.
119SeakingWater1.3 m39.0 kgNon-evolvableCarves nests in rocks with its horn during breeding; horn strengthens for hollowing boulders.
120StaryuWater0.8 m34.5 kgEvolves to Starmie with Water StoneStar-shaped; central core glows; regenerates if core remains intact.
121StarmieWater/Psychic1.1 m80.0 kgNon-evolvableCentral core glows with seven colors of the rainbow; prized as a gem; spins rapidly to shoot water jets.
122Mr. MimePsychic1.3 m54.5 kgNon-evolvableIf interrupted while miming, slaps offender with broad hands.
123ScytherBug/Flying1.5 m56.0 kgNon-evolvableIts scythes become acutely sharp when angered; slashes foes with blinding speed, mimicking a ninja.
124Ice/Psychic1.4 m40.6 kgNon-evolvableSeductively wiggles its hips as it walks; can cause people to dance in unison with it.
.....................
150MewtwoPsychic2.0 m122.0 kgNon-evolvableBio-engineered from Mew; immense psychic power destroys foes.
151MewPsychic0.4 m4.0 kgNon-evolvableMythical origins; ability to learn any move via data copy.
This tabular format prioritizes verifiable in-game metrics, excluding later generational additions like alternate s (e.g., Golbat to Crobat in Generation II) to maintain focus on original Generation I design. Japanese names, such as Fushigidane for (deriving from "fushigi" meaning mysterious and "dane" for seed), inform etymological intent tied to seed-pod inspirations but are not exhaustive here. Capture rates and base statistics, while tied to gameplay balance, are omitted as they pertain to mechanics detailed elsewhere.

By Categories (Starters, Legendaries, and Others)

Starters
The Generation I starter Pokémon are (Grass/Poison), Charmander (Fire), and (Water), each provided at level 5 by Professor Oak in his Pallet Town laboratory after the player retrieves the injured rival's Pokémon from Route 1. This selection occurs early in Pokémon Red and Blue, enabling strategic choices for initial battles; 's offers super-effective damage against Brock's Rock-types and Misty's Water-types, while Charmander and fare less optimally against these but gain advantages later.
Legendaries
Generation I features five Legendary Pokémon: the elemental birds Articuno (Ice/Flying, Seafoam Islands), Zapdos (Electric/Flying, Power Plant), and Moltres (Fire/Flying, Victory Road); Mewtwo (Psychic), a clone created from Mew's DNA by scientists as detailed in the Pokémon Mansion journals; and Mew (Psychic), unobtainable through normal gameplay. These Pokémon are encountered at high levels (typically 50) in late or post-game areas requiring all eight badges, emphasizing their rarity and power within the narrative of ancient guardians and human-engineered supremacy. Mewtwo's origin involves extracting Mew's genetic material for cloning experiments aimed at surpassing natural limits, accessible only after defeating the Elite Four in Cerulean Cave. Mew was distributed exclusively via promotional events, including a 1998 Nintendo Power contest where 151 winners mailed cartridges to receive a level 5 Mew nicknamed after Mario.
Others
Fossil Pokémon—Omanyte (Rock/Water, revived from Helix Fossil), (Rock/Water, from Dome Fossil), and Aerodactyl (Rock/Flying, from Old Amber)—are revived at level 30 in the Cinnabar Island laboratory using specimens obtained from Mt. Moon and the City museum, simulating prehistoric resurrection mechanics tied to scientific exploration. Bird Pokémon such as the Pidgey line (Normal/Flying, common in early routes for utility) and Spearow line (Normal/Flying, emphasizing speed and aggression) contribute to gameplay balance by providing accessible early Flying-types that mimic ecological ubiquity, allowing trainers to navigate overworld travel and counter Ground weaknesses without relying on rarer captures.

Attributes and Gameplay Mechanics

Types, Weaknesses, and Effectiveness

In Generation I, Pokémon battles operate under a type system comprising 15 elemental categories: Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, and Dragon. Each Pokémon species is assigned one or two types, which dictate damage multipliers when attacked or using moves: super effective (2× damage), not very effective (0.5× damage), no effect (0× damage), or normal (1× damage). These interactions form the basis of strategic depth, requiring players to exploit type advantages for efficient team-building and battle outcomes, such as deploying Water-types against Fire or Ground threats to achieve 2× damage yields. Key immunities include Ground moves against Flying-types (0×), Electric moves against Ground-types (0×), Normal and Fighting moves against Ghost-types (0×), and—due to a programming —Ghost moves against Psychic-types (0×), despite internal data and in-game dialogue indicating intended super effectiveness. This error, traced to erroneous coding in the damage calculation routine, rendered Psychic-types nearly unassailable, with their only reliable weakness being Bug-type moves, which suffered from low base power and poor move pool availability in the era's games.
Attacking TypeSuper Effective Against (2×)Immune To (0× on Defender)Not Very Effective Against (0.5×)
WaterFire, Ground, RockWater, Grass, Dragon
ElectricWater, FlyingGroundElectric, Grass, Dragon
GrassWater, Ground, RockFire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon
FightingNormal, Ice, RockGhostPoison, Flying, Psychic, Bug
PsychicFighting, PoisonPsychic
This table highlights select offensive matchups, illustrating causal leverage in counters; for instance, Grass-types neutralize Ground threats while resisting Electric assaults. Generation I's type roster shows uneven distribution across the 151 species, with (33 Pokémon) and (32) most prevalent, enabling common access to versatile coverage but overemphasizing certain ecosystems like aquatic or toxic-themed designs. Bug and interactions were notably asymmetrical—Bug super effective against , but neutral on Bug—prompting overhauls in Generation II for mutual balance. Overall, the system's design prioritized empirical matchup testing over balanced symmetry, yielding Psychic's meta-dominance until patched in subsequent releases.

Base Statistics and Evolutionary Traits

In Generation I games, each Pokémon species possesses base statistics across five categories: Hit Points (HP), which determines endurance; Attack, for physical damage output; Defense, for resistance to physical attacks; Speed, which dictates turn order in battle; and Special, a combined metric handling special attack and defense functions until its split in later generations. These values, ranging from 1 to 255 per category, form the foundation for individual stat growth via leveling, with totals (BST) averaging approximately 407 across the 151 species, though excluding legendaries drops this to around 399. This aggregate reflects a design emphasizing variance, as base forms often start below 300 BST—such as Caterpie at 195—while final evolutions frequently exceed 400, fostering progression through accumulation. Evolutionary progressions in Generation I typically yield net BST gains of 80 to 120 per stage for linear lines, enabling measurable power scaling without complex modifiers; for instance, starters like (BST 318) evolve to Ivysaur (405, +87) and Venusaur (525, +120 from Ivysaur). Of the roughly 63 Pokémon capable of evolving, most advance via level thresholds (e.g., 16 for Charmander to Charmeleon), while 7 require trading (e.g., Kadabra to Alakazam, +105 BST) and others use stones, totaling 71 evolutionary events across families but constrained to simple triggers suited to 1996 processing limits. High-variance outliers, like Mewtwo's 680 BST versus Magikarp's pre-evolution 200, underscore intentional imbalances that reward targeted training and replay via grinding, as raw level-ups amplify effective stats without abilities or gender-based variances introduced later. Legendary species exhibit elevated BSTs averaging near 600, with at 680 (HP 106, Attack 110, Defense 90, Special Attack 154, Special Defense 90, Speed 130 post-split equivalence) and the avian trio (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres) at 580 each, positioning them as endgame benchmarks without evolutions to maintain scarcity. This distribution, devoid of post-Generation I mechanics like hidden abilities, prioritizes empirical battle outcomes driven by base values and individual value randomization, promoting causal depth in team composition over procedural complexity.

Controversies and Modifications

Jynx Design and Cultural Criticisms

, Pokémon species number 124 in the National Pokédex, features a humanoid design characterized by long golden hair, saucer-shaped eyes, exaggerated red lips, and a red gown-like lower body, with its original 1996 depiction in Pokémon Red and Blue including dark blue-black skin on the face and hands. This aesthetic draws primarily from the Japanese yōkai known as , a woman from who lures victims into blizzards with her feminine allure, aligning with Jynx's / typing and abilities like and icy winds. The exaggerated facial features, including the prominent lips, reflect stylistic influences from 1990s Japanese conventions, where such proportions emphasized expressiveness in female characters rather than Western racial stereotypes. Criticisms emerged prominently in the United States around , with media outlets and advocacy groups decrying the design as evocative of minstrelsy, a 19th-century American performance tradition using darkened makeup to caricature Black individuals, often portraying them as dim-witted or buffoonish. Figures like , in a 2000 opinion piece, likened Jynx to an "overweight drag queen incarnation of Little Black Sambo," a reference to a controversial 1899 children's book featuring racial caricatures, prompting networks such as to ban or edit episodes of the Pokémon anime featuring , including "Holiday Hi-Jynx" from 1998. These claims, amplified by Western media sensitivity to perceived racial insensitivity, posited the design as perpetuating harmful stereotypes against , though no documentation from Game Freak's development process indicates intentional invocation of or American traditions, which had limited penetration in 1990s beyond imported entertainment. In response to the backlash, and implemented design alterations starting with Pokémon Stadium 2, released on March 30, 2000, in , where Jynx's skin tone shifted from dark blue-black to , a change later standardized across global releases and subsequent titles like (1999 in , 2000 internationally, with updates applied). depictions were similarly modified, with blackface-like shading removed or overlaid, affecting reruns but not altering core elements such as the hair, lips, or yokai-inspired silhouette. Defenders, including analyses rooted in cultural context, argue the modifications stemmed from preemptive market caution amid U.S. complaints rather than substantiated racial intent, noting the yuki-onna's pale, ethereal depiction in Japanese sources contrasts with imposed Western interpretations and that Jynx's sales and franchise viability—evidenced by Pokémon's $1.2 billion U.S. revenue in 1999 alone—faced no measurable downturn from the original design. The variant persists in modern games, including (2019), retaining humanoid traits without further reversion, underscoring a pragmatic resolution over acknowledgment of inherent offense.

Other Design and Balance Issues

In Generation I games, the type exhibited significant overpowered characteristics due to incomplete type matchups and programming errors; it resisted Fighting moves, which were common among opposing Pokémon, and was only nominally weak to Bug moves, which suffered from low power and accuracy. A critical bug rendered -type moves ineffective against types, despite intended super-effectiveness, stemming from an overflow error in the game's type calculation code that misclassified as the same internal value as . The absence of and types, introduced in Generation II, further exacerbated this, leaving no reliable counters until later generations. Dragon-type Pokémon similarly dominated due to the lack of a type, rendering them weak only to and Dragon moves, both of which were scarce and situational in Generation I; for instance, Dragonite's high stats combined with moves like faced few viable checks, contributing to perceived invincibility in late-game scenarios. Pokémon designs presented logical inconsistencies, as revived ancient species like Omanyte and evolve into modern forms (Omastar and Kabuto), implying evolutionary continuity post-extinction, which contradicts the lore of their prehistoric disappearance and fossilization. Farfetch'd's , centered on a wielding a for enhanced critical hits when holding a stick, offered a niche but remained underutilized, with base stats totaling just 377—among the lowest for non-Baby Pokémon—limiting its competitive viability despite the thematic nod to culinary . Player frustrations centered on trade-dependent evolutions for Pokémon like Alakazam, , and Machamp, requiring physical link cables or multiple devices in an era predating widespread online trading, often isolating solo players and necessitating hardware investments. developers acknowledged rushed elements in 1990s interviews, citing cut content and development hurdles that prioritized core mechanics over polish, as the project evolved from a 1990 prototype amid resource constraints. The 2004 remakes addressed some glitches, such as the Ghost-versus-Psychic bug via updated type calculations, and incorporated broader Pokémon rosters to mitigate dominance issues, though core omissions like the absent type persisted to maintain fidelity to the original Generation I experience.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Role in the Pokémon Franchise Evolution

The original 151 Pokémon species from Generation I formed the foundational roster of the franchise, with all subsequent main series games incorporating them through direct availability, trading, or transfer mechanisms that maintain . This continuity allowed players to utilize Kanto Pokémon across generations, expanding their viability via updated systems like for cross-game transfers. As of October 2025, these constitute approximately 14.7% of the total 1,025 Pokémon, underscoring their persistent integration amid roster growth. The North American release of Pokémon Red and Blue on , 1998, generated commercial momentum that directly enabled sequels, including (1999 in Japan), which preserved the full Generation I roster and featured the Kanto region as an expansive post-game area with returning Gym Leaders and the original Elite Four. Later remakes, such as Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (released November 16, 2018), retained the exclusive Generation I lineup while modernizing graphics, controls, and catching mechanics derived from , without introducing new species. Mechanic evolutions refined rather than supplanted Generation I Pokémon's roles; for instance, Generation II reclassified select moves (e.g., shifting Crunch from special to physical damage), while Generation IV's full physical/special split decoupled move categories from types, enhancing strategic depth for species like Alakazam by allowing better alignment of attacks with stat strengths. These adjustments, implemented in Diamond and Pearl (2006), preserved core viability while addressing prior limitations where damage relied solely on type classifications. The release of Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998, following the Japan-exclusive Red and Green in 1996, propelled the creature-collection genre into mainstream gaming, with combined sales exceeding 31 million units by the early . This success established a template for capturing, training, and battling digital monsters, directly influencing subsequent titles like , which adopted similar mechanics of befriending and deploying supernatural entities in a Japanese folklore-inspired world. While Digimon emerged as a competitor with its digital pet origins evolving into battle-focused gameplay, the Pokémon model's emphasis on exploration and collection set precedents for hybrid digital-physical engagement in the genre. Expansion into multimedia amplified Generation I Pokémon's cultural footprint, with the anime debuting in on April 1, 1997, and the Trading Card Game launching there on October 20, 1996, before global rollout in January 1999. , introduced as a starter in Yellow (1998), solidified its role as the franchise mascot through these media, driving merchandise revenue that contributed to Pokémon's cumulative licensed goods exceeding $91 billion by 2024, with -centric products forming a core driver of early plush and apparel sales. These extensions countered perceptions of transience by fostering sustained consumer engagement beyond video games. Early adoption sparked debates on psychological effects, with reports of addictive play patterns linked to dopamine-driven reward loops from collection and battles, prompting school restrictions in the late 1990s amid concerns over excessive screen time. Proponents highlighted strategic benefits, such as teaching type matchups and resource management, which laid groundwork for cognitive skill development in gaming. Official tournaments beginning in 1999 served as precursors to organized esports, evolving into annual World Championships by 2000 that emphasized competitive viability of Generation I Pokémon like Charizard and Mewtwo. Revivals underscore enduring appeal, as Pokémon GO (2016) centered on Generation I hunts, generating over 1 billion downloads and boosting through captures of originals like Pidgey and . Connectivity features added in Scarlet and Violet (2022) via updates in February 2023 enable transfers of Generation I species from GO, ensuring their cross-generational utility in modern battles and explorations. This integration refutes fad narratives, evidenced by ongoing merchandise surpassing $1 billion annually in 2024, rooted in the foundational roster's and adaptability.

References

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