Pokédex

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Zukan redirects here. For Japanese figures named after the Pokédex, see Pokémon Zukan figures.

File:AshPokedex1.PNG
Professor Oak handing Ash his Pokédex.

A Pokédex (Japanese: ポケモン図鑑 illustrated Pokémon encyclopedia, sometimes also rendered as ポケモンずかん illustrated Pokémon encyclopedia) is an invaluable tool to a Trainer in the Pokémon world. It gives information about all Pokémon in the world that are contained in its database. In the games, it lists the number of Pokémon seen and caught. In the anime, simply pointing it at a target Pokémon will give someone the Pokédex entry for that Pokémon. In both the anime and Pokémon Special, the Pokédex also confers all the information shown by the interface in the games; that is, a Pokédex can display a Pokémon's stats, level, and moves. Another function of the Pokédex is that it is waterproof, as seen in The Misty Mermaid and in the Generation III games where the player can go under water. Pokédexes in the games, anime, and manga are not given to all trainers, but given to trainers of exceptional potential and skill. Just the same, anime Pokédexes take the place of the trainer card in that they store the identification information of their owner. In the anime, Ash and Gary both received their Pokédexes from Prof. Oak, much like their game counterparts Red and Blue. Ash was notorious for using his Pokédex early in his journey in situations where he had no idea what was going on, and was just as notorious for always being behind Gary in Pokédex entries.

In the Pokémon continuity, the Pokédex was invented by Professor Oak. When a young "Sammy" Oak was accidentally warped to a future of his own time, Ash explains to him how the Pokédex works, unknowingly giving him an idea.

In The Evolution Solution it was mentioned that the Pokédex entries in Ash's Pokédex were written by Professor Westwood V of the Seafoam Islands.

Pokédex entries are typically only two- or three-sentence bits of information about the Pokémon referred to. In some events it gives background information on the habitat or activities of this Pokémon in the wild; at other times it gives other bits of information on the Pokémon's history or anatomy. A typical entry would be one of Bulbasaur, which states:

"A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon."

To date, there have been five different numbering systems used: the National Pokédex, and various Regional Pokédexes.

Kanto (Generation I)

The first version of the Pokédex, model number HANDY505, recorded data on the first 151 Pokémon, focusing on Pokémon mostly native to Kanto. It listed them in number sequence, and it recorded data on height, weight, number, species, cry, and nesting area. However, in Red and Blue, Pokémon only found in Cerulean Cave would be listed as "Area Unknown". In Pokémon Yellow, the option to print Pokédex entries using the Game Boy Printer was added.

In the anime, the Pokédex model's program is referred to as Dexter, as well as the programs for most models of the Pokédex. When Misty got Togepi, Professor Oak updated this model with new software that included data on a handful of Johto Pokémon, and its voice gets redone (via a different reverb effect). Its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki and its English voice actor is Eric Stuart. Internationally, it is played by Wellington Lima in the Brazilian dub. It also has the ability to identify a Pokémon's moveset, as shown when it identified all of the known moves that Misty's Psyduck can learn in The Ninja Pokémon Showdown!

The numbering of Pokémon in this generation is the same as those in the National Pokédex. Therefore, see the first 151 Pokémon of List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number.

Johto

File:Johto Pokedex.png
The second-generation Pokédex.

The second Pokédex, model HANDY808, had many improvements. Data on 251 species of Pokémon could be recorded. Pokémon could be listed in the Kanto (or National) order, a new order focusing on Johto, or alphabetically by name. It also included an Unown Dex that can be unlocked by capturing three different forms of Unown. A new search option allowed users to find specific Pokémon by type. Entries were expanded to include a Pokémon's footprint (if it had feet). Also, the design of this Pokédex is markedly similar to that of Nintendo's Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color.

In the anime, its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki and its English voice actor is Eric Stuart.

For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Johto Pokédex number.

Hoenn

File:Pokedex Hoenn Region.png
The Hoenn region's Pokédex.

The third Pokédex could record data on 202 species of Pokémon native to the Hoenn region. An upgrade called the National Pokédex was unlocked if a trade with Kanto was made in Ruby and Sapphire, or if the Elite Four were defeated in Emerald, which would allow 386 species to be recorded. Pokémon could also be listed by weight and size. The search option was expanded to include the first letter of a name, as well as color of the Pokémon. The most interesting addition was size charts that compared a 10-year old child to individual Pokémon in terms of height. This allowed Trainers to get a better idea of how large individual Pokémon were, which often conflicted with depictions in the anime. The print option was removed, however, as no Game Boy Printer was made for the Game Boy Advance.

File:PokedexHoennView.png
Viewing the Hoenn Pokedex in the games.

In the anime, this Pokédex model's program is referred to as Dextette instead of Dexter, and it has a female voice to match. Its Japanese voice actress is 林原めぐみ Megumi Hayashibara and its English voice actress is Rachael Lillis. Internationally, it is played by Alex Minei (AG041-AG092, AG103-AG128), Márcio Marconato (AG093-AG103) and Wellington Lima (AG129-AG191) in the Brazilian dub.

For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Hoenn Pokédex number.

Kanto (Generation III)

File:Pokedex FRLG.png
Kanto region's Pokédex.

The fourth Pokédex, model HANDY909, could record data on 151 species of Pokémon native to the Kanto region. An upgrade called the National Dex was unlocked if the Elite Four were defeated and the player had caught 70 different Pokémon, which would allow 386 species to be recorded. In addition to the improvements made in the Hoenn version, Pokémon were all organized into habitat categories, where similar Pokémon were typically listed together on the same pages (such as Jynx and Mr. Mime, for instance), and Pokémon who are cross-generation evolutions are also displayed next to each other, such as Onix and Steelix. Nest display was also expanded to include the Sevii Islands.

In the anime, this model comes in both red and yellow. Its Japanese voice actor is 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki and its English voice actors are Eric Stuart (4Kids) and Bill Rogers (Pokémon USA). Internationally, it is played by Wellington Lima in the Brazilian dub.

For the regional Pokédex list, see the first 151 entries of List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number.

Sinnoh

The fifth Pokédex, model HANDY910is can naturally record data on the 151 Pokémon native to Sinnoh, with the National Dex upgrade allowing for the 493 Pokémon available to players of Diamond and Pearl to be recorded. Strangely, some of the Pokémon first encountered in Generation IV are not in the Sinnoh Dex order, such as the two new evolutions of Eevee. Nest display includes time of day as part of its functions now.

In the anime and Pokémon Special manga, it seems that the color of the Pokédex casing is customizable. Dawn has a pink one, Ash and Platina have a red one, Diamond has a blue one, Pearl has an orange one and Paul has a dark blue one. This Pokédex also has a female voice. Its Japanese voice actresses are 川上とも子 Tomoko Kawakami and Satsuki Yukino and its English voice actress is Michele Knotz. Internationally, it is played by Leila Castro in the Brazilian Portuguese dub.

File:Paul's dex.jpg
Paul's Pokédex

Its appearance is similar to that of the Nintendo DS, and it may have a touchscreen as well. The placement of buttons and other features suggest it is based on its second version, the Nintendo DS Lite.

For the numbering list introduced in this version of the Pokédex, see List of Pokémon by Sinnoh Pokédex number.

This Pokédex, as shown in the anime by Paul, is able to scan a Poké Ball to see what moves the Pokémon inside it can use.

In the anime, it was also shown by Dawn to be able to identify moves like the Generation I Pokédex, as was the case with Dawn's Aipom's Double Hit.

Platinum

File:Giratina platinum sinnoh dex.PNG
Giratina in the Platinum Sinnoh Pokédex
File:Giratina Platinum National Dex.PNG
Giratina in the Platinum National Pokédex

The sixth Pokédex, an expansion on the fifth, can naturally record data on 210 Pokémon, a majority native to Sinnoh, with the National Pokédex upgrade that allows for the recording of data on the 493 Pokémon known at this time.

This Pokédex, which is available to players of Platinum, works similar to the ones in Diamond and Pearl.

In Pokémon Special

The Pokédex makes a signal when all three regional Pokédexes are close to each other. Another signal shows that they are being held by the correct owner, as seen in PS085. More usefully, they can display moves known by a Pokémon, and health that the Pokémon has, in a manner that looks identical to the battle screens in games. A feature included in Pokémon Yellow, interacting with Pikachu to see its mood, was added to Red's Pokédex.

Trivia

File:AshPokedex2.PNG
Ash's original Pokédex
  • For DP002, Professor Oak's lecture is about the Sinnoh Pokédex. He writes this Pokémon senryū about it: こまったら ひらいてみよう ポケモンずかん Komattara hiraite miyō, Pokémon zukan. "When troubled, let's open the Pokédex."
  • In Pokémon Super Contests, there is a judge, who also serves as the MC, named Dexter.
  • Most of the Pokédexes appear similar to one of Nintendo's handhelds. The Johto Pokédex looks similar to a Game Boy Color, the Hoenn Pokédex appears similar to the Game Boy Advance, the Generation III Kanto Pokédex looks similar to a Game Boy Advance SP, and the Sinnoh Pokédex looks like a Nintendo DS Lite.
  • All five of Ash's Pokédexes have been red, while others have had other colors. May had a yellow one in Kanto, Paul has a dark blue Pokédex and Dawn has a pink Pokédex.
  • The Pokédex is shown to be cased in material that is invulnerable to almost anything within the realm of reason. It has been electrocuted, shot with flame, and soaked in water with no effect, however, this could be an example of Anime physics. It is also voice-sensitive.
    • However, it has been shown to not function properly if the Pokémon in question is wearing mechanical armor (for instance, when Gary's Pokédex failed to identify Mewtwo (who was in it's "focus/leech" battle armor at the time), the display screen had static interference as well.)
    • A Pokédex also can only identify the Pokémon itself, and not what appears to be where it is, as seen in The Ghost of Maiden's Peak when Gastly uses illusions to scare Ash and his friends.
  • Pokédex entries in LeafGreen are identical to those in Red and Blue for the Generation I Pokémon, while those for FireRed are identical to those from the original Red and Green. Likewise, FireRed's entries for Generation II Pokémon are identical to the entries found in Silver, and the same is true of Pokémon LeafGreen and Gold.
File:Computer pokédex.jpg
Giovanni's computer
  • The Kanto regional Pokédex and the Sinnoh regional Pokédex (Diamond and Pearl) have 151 members, the smallest of all regional Pokédexes. The largest regional Pokédex is the Johto regional Pokédex, with 251 members.
  • The TCG features several cards based on the Pokédex, the original Pokédex, New Pokédex, PokéDex HANDY909, Pokédex HANDY910is. Interestingly, the Hoenn region's model is the only one not to receive a TCG card, while the Generation I and Generation II Pokédexes, which featured model numbers on the Japanese card, did not show these model numbers on the English card.
  • In The Thief That Keeps On Thieving!, Giovanni's computer had a function similar to the Pokédex, scanning for what's inside the Poké Ball.
  • The online Pokédex at Pokémon.com uses Pokédex entries from Pokémon Diamond.
  • James uses cards of Pokémon to sometimes identify the Pokémon and the moves they can learn.
  • Excluding gender differences and minor form variations, there are 540 unique Pokémon designs.
  • Due to the Pokédex in the Generation I and II games listing Pokémon weights in pounds rounding the weights of all Pokémon other than Gastly and Haunter to whole pounds (the games didn't switch to rounding to tenths of a pound until Generation III), this created a unique anomaly in the anime episode Ring Masters when shown in the United States, where a Kangaskhan was entered in the Sumo Conference competition, where the weight minimum is 80.0 kg (176.4 lbs). According to Generation II games that record weight in kilograms, Kangaskhan weighed 80.0 kg and thus eligible to compete at its game-canon weight; however, according to Generation II games that record weight in pounds, Kangaskhan weighed 176.0 lbs and thus one at its at-the-time game-canon weight would be ineligible to compete for being four-tenths of a pound too light. The anomaly could have been avoided had the games started rounding Pokémon weights to tenths of a pound one generation earlier; once the games started rounding Pokémon weights to tenths of a pound, Kangaskhan's weight was listed at 176.4 lbs and hence eligible for the Sumo Conference at game-canon weight. (Such an anomaly would have also affected Starmie had one been entered in the competition; it most likely would have also affected Swalot had it existed in Generation II and one been entered in the competition.) It should be noted, however, that there were Pokémon entered in the Sumo Conference competition whose game-canon weights do not meet the weight minimum on either weight scale.