Pokémon


 * This article is about the creatures called Pokémon. If you are looking for information on the games, please see the article, Pokémon (franchise). 



Pokémon (pronounced Poh-Kay-Mon, often mistakenly pronounced Poh-Key-Mon) are creatures from a Japanese franchise of the same name. The name comes from a combination of the words "Pocket Monsters," the original Japanese name. Pokémon are creatures in the wild that are meant to be found, caught, trained, and then battled to become a Pokémon champion. This is the focus of the popular Pokémon games.

Basic Information on the Creatures
Each Pokémon species is different. There were originally 151, but as the series continued, there came to be 890 total. Pokémon have different elements, or types, which are strong against other elements, but weak against others. For example, a fire Pokémon like Charizard using fire attacks is strong against a grass-type like Venusaur. However, it will take extra damage from water attacks from a Blastoise. In addition, some types of Pokémon are outright impervious to certain attack elements. Dark Pokémon like Alolan Raticate are immune to damaging psychic attacks.

This basic strength-weakness mechanic with the fact that Pokémon can use moves outside of their element (For example: A Pikachu has Iron Tail, a steel-type move), Pokémon with two elements (A Pokémon like Magcargo is both Fire-type and Rock-type), moves that affect stats, the limited use of attacks, only 6 Pokémon allowed in your team at a time and items that can heal or give stat bonuses, and you have a complicated battle full of strategy. Later games would introduce further complications such as Pokémon abilities.

Some Pokémon evolve as they level up. Originally, there were only three ways Pokémon could evolve: By reaching a certain level after lots of training; by using a special stone that you could find or buy that forced a Pokémon to evolve; or by trading it to a different game pack. For example, a Metapod evolves into a Butterfree at Level 10. A Vulpix can only evolve into a Ninetales with a Fire Stone. A Haunter can only evolve when it is traded. The stats of evolved Pokémon are much stronger than their unevolved counterparts. As the games grew, the evolution of certain Pokémon would be affected by happiness, time of day, and place. For example, Eevee can evolve into Espeon at high friendship during daytime after leveling up, while it evolves into Umbreon at night under conditions otherwise the same.

The games were a huge global success and have spawned many games, manga, a TV anime, and various other merchandise.

For more information, see the links below on different aspects of the Pokémon franchise.