Gender

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The gender (Japanese: 性別 sex) of a Pokémon is a concept introduced in Generation II, though touched upon in Generation I. In Gold and Silver Versions, most species of Pokémon were assigned a gender, male (Japanese: オス male) or female (Japanese: メス female); however, the genders of some species of Pokémon were left unknown (Japanese: 不明 unknown). This feature allowed for Pokémon breeding, as well as introducing the concept of a Pokémon Egg to the series. Gender makes no difference in the stats of a Pokémon after Generation II, unless the two Pokémon are a different species entirely, such as Nidoran.

In Pokémon Crystal, a choice of between a male (Japanese: 男性 male) and female (Japanese: 女性 female) player character became available for the first time. However, both men and women have been featured in the Pokémon games since Generation I.

Pokémon

Gender differences

Main article: List of Pokémon with gender differences

Generation IV premiered minimal differences in sprite between two Pokémon of the same species. For example, a male Raichu will have the full tail seen in previous games, while the female is missing the very tip of it. Generations V and VI would introduce Pokémon with more drastic differences in appearance.

The only Pokémon with gender differences that are not just aesthetic is Meowstic, which has different learnsets and Hidden Abilities depending on its gender. The male Meowstic has Prankster and the female Meowstic has Competitive as its Hidden Ability. Furthermore the male Meowstic learns mostly status moves, with all of its gender-exclusive moves being status moves, while at the same levels, the female Meowstic learns mostly special moves, with only one of its gender-exclusive moves, Me First, being a status move. Below are Meowstic's learnsets.

Lv. 678Meowstic-Male.png
Meowstic
 Psychic 
678Meowstic-Female.png
Meowstic
 Psychic 
1 Quick Guard Stored Power
Mean Look Me First
Helping Hand Magical Leaf
Scratch
Leer
5 Covet
9 Confusion
13 Light Screen
17 Psybeam
19 Fake Out
25 Psyshock
28 Charm Charge Beam
31 Miracle Eye Shadow Ball
35 Reflect Extrasensory
40 Psychic
43 Role Play
45 Imprison Signal Beam
48 Sucker Punch
50 Misty Terrain Future Sight
55 Quick Guard Stored Power
Moves in bold are STAB. Moves in italics do no damage.

Single-gender Pokémon

Related species

The Nidoran family is a special case in terms of gender. Introduced in Generation I, before gender was known for all Pokémon, Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂ are considered separate species of Pokémon and indeed have many differences, from appearance to moveset. However, all Nidoran Eggs have a 50/50 chance of hatching into either Nidoran♀ or Nidoran♂, confirming that they are related.

Male Female
032Nidoran.png
Nidoran♂
029Nidoran.png
Nidoran♀
033Nidorino.png
Nidorino
030Nidorina.png
Nidorina
034Nidoking.png
Nidoking
031Nidoqueen.png
Nidoqueen

In a manner similar to Nidoran, Eggs produced by Illumise may hatch into Volbeat. While Latias and Latios are in the Undiscovered Group in the games, likely due to being Legendary Pokémon, Latias have produced Eggs containing Latios in the anime, confirming that they are similarly related.

Male Female
313Volbeat.png
Volbeat
314Illumise.png
Illumise
381Latios.png
381Latios-Mega.png
Latios
380Latias.png
380Latias-Mega.png
Latias

Gender-based evolutions

Some Pokémon may have different ways of evolving depending on their gender. These Pokémon may therefore have one or more evolutions that can only be a single gender.

Pre-evolution Evolved
281Kirlia.png
Kirlia
Male only

Dawn Stone
475Gallade.png475Gallade-Mega.png
Gallade
Either
gender

Level 30+
282Gardevoir.png282Gardevoir-Mega.png
Gardevoir
361Snorunt.png
Snorunt
Female only

Dawn Stone
478Froslass.png
Froslass
Either
gender

Level 42+
362Glalie.png362Glalie-Mega.png
Glalie
412Burmy-Plant.png
412Burmy-Sandy.png
412Burmy-Trash.png
Burmy
Male only

Level 20+
414Mothim.png
Mothim
Female only

Level 20+
413Wormadam-Plant.png413Wormadam-Sandy.png
413Wormadam-Trash.png
Wormadam
415Combee.png
Combee
Female only*

Level 21+
416Vespiquen.png
Vespiquen
757Salandit.png
Salandit
Female only*

Level 33+
758Salazzle.png
Salazzle

Other single-gender Pokémon

The following is a list of all Pokémon that are either 100% male or 100% female and have not been mentioned in an above section. In particular, these Pokémon have no explicit relation to a Pokémon of the opposite gender through evolution or breeding.

Male
236Tyrogue.png
Tyrogue
106Hitmonlee.png
Hitmonlee
107Hitmonchan.png
Hitmonchan
237Hitmontop.png
Hitmontop
128Tauros.png
Tauros
538Throh.png
Throh
539Sawk.png
Sawk
627Rufflet.png
Rufflet
628Braviary.png
Braviary
641Tornadus.png641Tornadus-Therian.png
Tornadus
642Thundurus.png642Thundurus-Therian.png
Thundurus
645Landorus.png645Landorus-Therian.png
Landorus
Female
440Happiny.png
Happiny
113Chansey.png
Chansey
242Blissey.png
Blissey
115Kangaskhan.png115Kangaskhan-Mega.png
Kangaskhan
238Smoochum.png
Smoochum
124Jynx.png
Jynx
241Miltank.png
Miltank
488Cresselia.png
Cresselia
548Petilil.png
Petilil
549Lilligant.png
Lilligant
629Vullaby.png
Vullaby
630Mandibuzz.png
Mandibuzz
669Flabébé.png
Flabébé
670Floette.png
Floette
671Florges.png
Florges
761Bounsweet.png
Bounsweet
762Steenee.png
Steenee
763Tsareena.png
Tsareena

In battle

The Love Ball is more effective when catching Pokémon that are of the sameGSC/oppositeHGSS gender of the player's Pokémon.

The following moves are dependent on gender:

Gen Move Category Contest Power Accuracy PP Target Description
II Attract Status Cute 100% 15 (max 24)
     
     
Any adjacent Pokémon
If it is the opposite gender of the user, the target becomes infatuated and less likely to attack.
IV Captivate Status Cute 100% 20 (max 32)
     
     
All adjacent foes
If any opposing Pokémon is the opposite gender of the user, it is charmed, which harshly lowers its Sp. Atk stat.
All details are accurate to Generation VII games. For details that have changed between generations, please see an individual move's page. Target data assumes user is in the lower left.

The following Abilities are dependent on gender:

Gen Ability Description
III Cute Charm Contact with the Pokémon may cause infatuation.
IV Rivalry Becomes competitive and deals more damage to Pokémon of the same gender, but deals less to Pokémon of the opposite gender.
All details are accurate to Generation VII games. For details that have changed between generations, please see an individual Ability's page.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, a male Pokémon has increased critical hit ratio. A female Pokémon has increased evasion.

Humans

Main article: :Category:Characters by gender

In the games

Choosing to play as male or female in Pokémon Black and White

Starting in Pokémon Crystal, players were given the option of choosing to play as a boy or girl Trainer at the start of the game. Since then, every game in the main series has included that choice. Starting in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the opposite-gender player character can also be encountered in the game.

Some Trainer classes have male and female variants, such as Swimmers, while others appear to be counterparts, such as Campers and Picnickers. Others, such as Kimono Girls, have no opposite-gender counterpart.

Certain in-game events may differ depending on the player character's gender. For example, in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Curtis will be encountered if the player is female, and Yancy if the player is male. In Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Sun and Moon, availability of different clothing is gender-specific. Also, only the female player character has the option of changing their lip color using lipstick stored in a Makeup Bag in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Game Male Female
C Crystal Ethan.png
Ethan
Crystal Kris.png
Kris
R Ruby Sapphire Brendan.png
Brendan
Ruby Sapphire May.png
May
S
FR FireRed LeafGreen Red.png
Red
FireRed LeafGreen Leaf.png
Leaf
LG
E Emerald Brendan.png
Brendan
Emerald May.png
May
D Diamond Pearl Lucas.png
Lucas
Diamond Pearl Dawn.png
Dawn
P
Pt Platinum Lucas.png
Lucas
Platinum Dawn.png
Dawn
HG HeartGold SoulSilver Ethan.png
Ethan
HeartGold SoulSilver Lyra.png
Lyra
SS
B Black White Hilbert.png
Hilbert
Black White Hilda.png
Hilda
W
B2 Black 2 White 2 Nate.png
Nate
Black 2 White 2 Rosa.png
Rosa
W2
X XY Calem.png
Calem
XY Serena.png
Serena
Y
OR Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Brendan.png
Brendan
Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire May.png
May
AS
S Sun Moon Protagonist male.png
Sun
Sun Moon Protagonist female.png
Moon
M

In side games

Many side games in the Pokémon franchise allow the player to choose between a male or female player character as well.

Game Male Female
Pokémon
Card GB2
Mark.png
Mark
Mint 2.png
Mint
Pokémon
Ranger
Ranger Lunick.png
Lunick
Ranger Solana.png
Solana
Pokémon
Ranger:
Shadows of
Almia
Kellyn.png
Kellyn
Kate.png
Kate
Pokémon
Ranger:
Guardian
Signs
Ben.png
Ben
Summer.png
Summer
Pokémon
Conquest
Conquest Hero I icon.png
Hero
Conquest Heroine I icon.png
Heroine

In the anime

In Kanto, O-Hina Town hosts a female-exclusive tournament during the annual Princess Festival. In Kalos, Pokémon Performers are exclusively female, as only girls may participate in Pokémon Showcases.

Trivia

Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂ show genders twice in Generation II, but only once in Generation III onward
  • In Generation II, a Pokémon's gender was determined through its Attack IV. Due to this, a female Pokémon could never have a maximized Attack stat (unless they were a member of an all-female species, such as Smoochum), because female Pokémon were given the lower portion of the IV range. This also prevented female Pokémon of a species with a gender ratio of seven males to one female, such as starter Pokémon or Eevee, from being Shiny, due to that also being based partly on the Attack IV. From Generation III onward, neither of these traits are determined by IVs, allowing for Pokémon species with two genders to have females with maximized Attack and simultaneously retain their chances of being Shiny.
  • Although its English and French names suggest that it is exclusively male, Mr. Mime may be of either gender. This is due to the fact that it was given its name prior to the introduction of gender to the series.
  • Since Azurill has a different gender ratio than Marill and Azumarill, one in three female Azurill will be male after evolving into Marill, dependent on the personality value of the Azurill in question, though this no longer happens in Generation VI.
  • In the international versions of Generation II, due to how the battlefield display is programmed, Nidoran♂ and Nidoran♀ have their gender icon shown twice, once in their name, and once after the level. This does not occur in the Japanese and Korean games, however, as the gender icon was present after all Pokémon's names due to the shorter character limit there. This was addressed in all later generations, which prevent the gender icon from showing up when an un-nicknamed Nidoran of either gender is on the field.
  • In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, the gender of a wild Pokémon in a dungeon is determined by the current number of floor the player stands on. If the number is odd, all wild Pokémon that can be male will be male; if it is even, all wild Pokémon that can be female will be female.

See also

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 性別 Singbiht
Mandarin 性別 / 性别 Xìngbié
Denmark Flag.png Danish Køn
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Geslacht
Finland Flag.png Finnish Sukupuoli
France Flag.png French Sexe
Germany Flag.png German Geschlecht
Israel Flag.png Hebrew Φύλο Fýlo
Italy Flag.png Italian Sesso
South Korea Flag.png Korean 성별 Seongbyeol
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Kjønn
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Sexo
Russia Flag.png Russian Пол Pol
Spain Flag.png Spanish Género
Sexo[1]
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Kön
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Giới tính

Male

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 雄性 Hùhngsing
Mandarin 雄性 Xióngxìng
Denmark Flag.png Danish Han
Finland Flag.png Finnish Uros
France Flag.png French Mâle
Germany Flag.png German Männlich
Italy Flag.png Italian Maschio
South Korea Flag.png Korean 수컷 Sukeot
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Hann*
Mannlig*
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Macho
Spain Flag.png Spanish Macho
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Manlig
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Đực

Female

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 雌性 Chīsing
Mandarin 雌性 Cīxìng / Cíxìng
Denmark Flag.png Danish Hun
Finland Flag.png Finnish Naaras
France Flag.png French Femelle
Germany Flag.png German Weiblich
Italy Flag.png Italian Femmina
South Korea Flag.png Korean 암컷 Amkeot
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Hunn*
Kvinnelig*
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Fêmea
Spain Flag.png Spanish Hembra
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Kvinnlig
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Cái

Unknown

Language Title
Denmark Flag.png Danish Ukendt
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Onbekend
Finland Flag.png Finnish Tuntematon
France Flag.png French Inconnu
Germany Flag.png German Unbekannt
Italy Flag.png Italian Sconosciuto
South Korea Flag.png Korean 불명 Bulmyeong
Norway Flag.png Norwegian Ukjent
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Desconhecido
Russia Flag.png Russian Неизвестно Neizvestno
Spain Flag.png Spanish Desconocido
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Okänt
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Chưa xác định

External links

References



Pokémon individuality
LevelStatsFriendshipGenderAbility (Hidden Ability) • NatureCharacteristic
Effort valuesIndividual valuesGo PowerEffort level
ConditionPerformanceAffectionMemory


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