Regional form

For a complete list, see List of regional forms.

Regional forms, also called regional variants, is a mechanic introduced in Generation VII.

Description[]

A regional form is the alternate form of a Pokémon that is native to a specific region. The term does not apply retroactively to the original forms of certain Pokémon species prior to Generation VII.

Pokémon[]

A Pokémon usually receives a regional form when it arrives in a different habitat and adapts to adapts to the living conditions, whether it is their climate or their food source. Such Pokémon have a regional form with different behaviors and physical appearance, including weight, height, and category. Regional forms nearly always have a different type combination, and their Abilities and moves can also be different, as well as their evolved forms. Specifically, certain Pokémon such as Exeggcute evolve into the regional form of their evolutionary stages though lack any regional form themselves.

Contrarily, some regional forms are later said to be the original form of certain Pokémon species, such as Exeggutor being said to have originated in Alola as well as Zigzagoon from Galar.

Pokémon that hatch from a Pokémon Egg in a region always hatch in their regional form, even if neither parents are in their regional form. This can be changed only if the parents that is part of the same evolutionary line as the hatched Pokémon is holding an Everstone during the breeding process.

Unlike their normal form counterparts, regional variants do not have gender differences.

A few regional forms are the only among their group with a certain quality about them. Meowth is the only Pokémon with two regional forms. Paldean Tauros is the only regional form with more than one variation. Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are the only Legendary Pokémon with their own regional forms, specifically in Galar.

Darmanitan is the only Pokémon with multiple forms to have a regional form.

Some Pokémon can evolve in their regional form but not their regular counterparts, such as Galarian Corsola into Cursola but not regular Corsola. There are even regional forms that evolve into different species of Pokémon than their base counterpart, such as Galarian Yamask into Runerigus, whereas Yamask evolves into Cofagrigus.

Slowpoke is the only Pokémon whose regional form loses a type without receiving a different once in its place. Its evolved form Slowbro is the only Pokémon species with both a regional form and a Mega Evolution; however, this does not make its Galarian form Gigantamax. Additionally, Slowpoke and its evolutions are the only Pokémon with a split evolution line to have a regional form.

Generation VIII introduces evolved forms that can be achieved only while a Pokémon is in its regional form, such as Obstagoon from Galarian Zigzagoon.

Types[]

Dark is the type with the most regional forms, having a total of nine Pokémon. Contrarily, the Grass type and Dragon type are tied for the least regional forms, both having only Alolan Exeggutor.

There are no Bug-type regional forms nor any from Generation IV.

Regions[]

In the Alola region, featured in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, the only Pokémon to receive regional forms are from Generation I. The regional forms introduced in both pairs of games are titled Alolan forms.

In the Galar region, featured in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, regional forms of previous Pokémon includes not only Generation I games but also other generations, such as the Zigzagoon line from Generation III. These regional forms are known as Galarian forms.

In the Hisui region, featured in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there are Pokémon introduced in Generation I, II, V, VI, and VII. The regional forms of said region named Hisuian forms.

In the Paldea region, featured in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, the regional forms that appear are named Paldean forms.

Predecessors[]

Even before regional forms had been introduced, there have been similar concepts. The earliest of such is at Orange Islands in Pokémon the Series, where the Pokémon inhabiting there appear differently than in the Kanto region. Several Pokémon species on Valencia Island have a differently shaped body because of the different living conditions. Meanwhile, the Pokémon on Pinkan Island change colors as a result of eating certain pink fruits native to there. The episode The Crystal Onix is ​​about an Onix that has a body made of crystal glass instead of rock in order to survive in water. In Snorlax Snowman, Snorlax appear that have developed a light fur color to adapt to their snowy habitat.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game also has a similar concept with the Delta Species, which are exclusive to the Holon region.

An elongated Exeggutor resembling Alolan Exeggutor appeared on the cover of the Japanese release of Jungle.

Certain species of Pokémon have inherent characteristics that affects their appearance depending on the location. Arboks and Mantykes have different patterns depending on the region. Shellos and its evolved form, Gastrodon, appear differently colored depending on the environment.

Vivillon's wing colors change depending on where it is in the Pokémon World, allowing it to blend in with the environment. Uniquely, the mechanic in the core series is done in such a way that Vivillon's wing pattern corresponds to real locations, such as Pokémon X and Pokémon Y depending where the system has been registered.

Appearances[]

Core series[]

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon / Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon[]

Regional forms, specifically Alolan forms, first first appear in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. They retain their role in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon. In all four games, when, a Pokémon evolves into a regional form, the background is green instead of blue, and when a Pokémon Egg hatches the regional form of a Pokémon, the background is blue instead of yellow. Alolan Exeggutor is the first to have received a regional form.

The first regional forms of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, let alone overall, were revealed in a video on August 1, 2016.^[1] It showcased the Alolan forms of Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, and Exeggutor.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield[]

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are the first games to feature Galarian forms and evolved forms exclusive only to regional forms of certain Pokémon.

The first three Galarian forms that were revealed are Weezing, Zigzagoon, and Linoone, in a video on August 7, 2019.^[2]

The Galarian Legendary Birds were introduced in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass.

[]

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the first game where Hisuian forms appear. A non-playable character from Alola implies that regional forms were originally considered to be different species of the same Pokémon.

Growlithe and Braviary were the first Hisuian forms, during a Pokémon Presents presentation on August 18, 2021.

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet[]

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are the first games where Paldean forms appear. They introduce some Pokémon species that both resemble and are based on Pokémon from earlier generations but do not count as regional forms, like how Wiglett resembles a Diglett and Toedscool resembles a Tentacool. The games similarly introduce Paradox Pokémon, which also resemble certain Pokémon but are from a different timeline.

Paldean Wooper is the first Paldean form revealed for the games, during a Pokémon Presents presentation on August 3, 2022.

Spinoffs[]

New Pokémon Snap[]

In New Pokémon Snap, only a few regional forms appear in the Lental region that one can photograph, including Alolan Sandshrew and Alolan Vulpix on the Shiver Snowfields in Durice as well as Alolan Raichu at Blushing Beach in Maricopia.

Pokémon UNITE[]

In Pokémon UNITE, an Alolan Ninetales is one of the twenty playable characters since the launch of the game. Alolan Meowth and Alolan Persian are also wild Pokémon encountered at Shivre City in Quick Battle mode.

Crossover[]

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a few of the Poké Ball Pokémon that were added are Alolan forms of certain Pokémon, including Alolan Raichu, Alolan Vulpix, and Alolan Exeggutor.

Anime[]

Main[]

• Jessie and James travel with a Kantonian talking Meowth.
• James received his Kantonian Weezing when it was a Koffing but has since released it to protect its pre-evolved form alongside Jessie's Arbok.
• Brock:
  • Has a Kantonian Geodude that he had before traveling with Ash as he brings it with him or leaves at home.
  • Took care of a Kantonain Vulpix for Suzie for a while before returning it to her.
• Ash:
  • Caught a Kantonian Muk at a power plant in a city he and his friends were visiting.
  • Caught a group of Kantonian Tauros.
• James has a Kantonian Growlithe as he nicknamed it Growlie and had it since he was little, but leaves it at home with his family.
• Ash shares a Kantonian Mr. Mime that was nicknamed, Mimey, with Delia.
• Misty owns a Johtonian Corsola that she caught at the Whirl Islands.
• James caught a Unovan Yamask during his time in Unova but gave it to his boss at Team Rocket HQ but has been since return to him.
• Cilan caught a Unovan Stunfisk at a lake he and Ash were at in order to get some weed to help their poison Pokémon.
• Ash had a Kalosian Sliggoo as it evolved into a Goodra, but it has since been released.
• Lillie received her Alolan Vulpix as an Egg that she nicknamed Snowy when she hatched.
• Kiawe caught an Alolan Marowak by request when he decided to join him, after he return the Wela Crown that he stole.
• Goh:
  • Caught a Unovan Darmanitan during his first visit to Unova.
  • Caught a Kantonian Rattata before entering a film lot in Vermilion City.
  • Caught a Kantonian Farfetch'd even though it took him a couple of tries in Vermilion City.
• Ash caught a Galarian Farfetch'd during his third trip to Galar as he asked it to join him when he saw its fighting sprit. Farfetch'd has since evolved into Sirfetch'd.
• Goh:
  • Evolved his newly caught Pikachu into a Kantonian Raichu with a Thunder Stone.
  • Evolved his Exeggcute into a Kantonian Exeggutor with a Leaf Stone that Yamper found then caught an Alolan Exeggutor during his first trip to Alola.
  • Caught a Kantonian Geodude.
  • Caught a Kantonian Diglett.
  • Caught a Kantonian Raticate in Vermilion City.
  • Caught a Galarian Stunfisk during his eighth visit to Galar.
  • Caught an Alolan Geodude during his second visit to Alola.
  • Caught a Kantonian Voltorb but it was a shiny color.
  • Caught a Galarian Corsola during his tenth visit to Galar.
  • Caught a Unovan Lilligant during his sixth visit to Unova.
  • Caught a Kantonian Slowpoke during his second visit to Slowpoke Island.
  • Caught a Kantonian Graveler during a visit to the Seafoam Islands.

Recurring[]

• Giovanni has a Kantonian Persian.
• Gary Oak owns a Kantonian Arcanine
• Casey has a Kantonian Rattata that she caught.
• Professor Elm has a Johtonian Corsola.
• Harrison caught a Johtonian Sneasel.
• Tyson has a Kantonian Meowth that he found injured and treated it.
• Solidad has a Kantonian Slowbro.
• Conway has a Johtonian Slowking.
• Luke has a Unovan Zorua.
• Cameron owns a Unovan Samurott.
• Nini has a Kantonian Farfetch'd.
• Tierno has a Kantonian Raichu.
• Samson Oak has a Kantonian Vulpix that he received as an Egg.
• Professor Kukui owns a Unovan Braviary.
• Lusamine has a Unovan Lilligant.
• Matori caught an Alolan Meowth.
• Tupp owned an Alolan Grimer, and it's unknown if he still has it.
• Mohn/Gladion have a Unovan Zoroark.
• Hau:
  • Owns an Alolan Decidueye.
  • Has an Alolan Raichu.
• Samson Oak has an Alolan Exeggutor.
• Raihan has a Kalosian Goodra.
• Diantha owns a Kalosian Goodra.
• Leon owns a Mr. Rime.
• The Rising Volt Tacklers own an Alolan Muk.
• Lucius owned a Galarian Moltres.

Minor[]

• A group of Hikers caught an Alolan Golem.
• Alec befriended a Shiny Hisuian Zorua that later evolved into Zoroark.

Manga[]

Alolan forms are featured during the Sun & Moon Chapter and Galarian forms during the Sword & Shield Chapter.

Trading Card Game[]

Regional forms from Alola, Galar, Hisui, and Paldea have each been part of later expansions of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Gallery[]

Promotionals[]

Merchandise[]

TCG[]

Others[]

Trivia[]

• Alolan Exeggutor was the first regional form that Game Freak created.

References[]

v · d · e List of Pokémon with form differences
Mega Evolution · Primal Reversion · Bond Phenomenon · Ultra Burst · Dynamax (Gigantamax/Eternamax) · Regional forms · Gender differences · Illumina Phenomenon