Regional form

Kantonian and Alolan Vulpix in the anime

A regional form (Japanese: リージョンフォーム region form), also known as a regional variant, is an alternate form of a Pokémon species that is found in a specific region. These forms differ from those found in the region where the Pokémon was introduced — even, in most cases so far, to the point of having a different type.

As of Generation IX, Pokémon can have the following regional forms:

• Alolan form (Japanese: アローラのすがた Alola's form) in Alola, originally introduced as Alola form;
• Galarian form (Japanese: ガラルのすがた Galar's form) in Galar;
• Hisuian form (Japanese: ヒスイのすがた Hisui's form) in Hisui;
• Paldean form (Japanese: パルデアのすがた Paldea's form) in Paldea.

As of Generation IX, 55 Pokémon are known to have regional forms, and 58 regional forms are known in total. Apart from Meowth and Tauros, which have two and three respectively, each Pokémon with a regional form has only one.

Terminology

Main article: Terminology of regional forms

In Generation VII, they were introduced as regional variants, which is also mentioned in some Pokémon GO Community Day events from 2023. From Generation VIII onwards, they have been consistently known as regional forms in the core series games.

The place name adjective (such as "Alolan") is used before the Pokémon species. In running text, both the original form and the new regional forms are sometimes treated this way, such as "Kantonian Meowth" and "Alolan Meowth". Conversely, sometimes the Pokémon species are simply mentioned in running text without using the regional adjective. For instance, if the player encounters a wild Galarian Meowth, the battle dialogue would simply indicate "You encountered a wild Meowth!"

In Generation VII games, the Pokédex displays "Alola Form" as the title of this form. From Generation VIII onwards (including in Pokémon HOME), the adjectives for the place names are consistently used instead. For instance, "Alolan Form", "Galarian Form", "Hisuian Form", and "Paldean Form". The original form (such as the Kantonian Meowth) is not named in the Pokédex.

In running text (as seen on Pokémon.com), the word "form" has been consistently written in lowercase. In the Generation VII era, this used to be "Alola form". From Generation VIII onwards, this includes "Kantonian form", "Alolan form", "Galarian form", etc.

In the core series games

In the Alola, Galar, Hisui, and Paldea regions, certain Pokémon species have regional forms.

Pokémon with regional forms have uniquely adapted to habitats that are different than those where its species naturally live in other parts of the world. As such, many things may be different about them, from their appearance and way of living to even their type, moves, Abilities, base stats, height, and weight. This is analogous to a form of real-world evolution known as peripatric speciation, where a population that is isolated from the rest of the species develops unique traits and may eventually evolve into a new species.

When breeding Pokémon whose offspring have a regional form, the offspring will normally take on the form corresponding to the region in which it was bred, regardless of its parents' forms. However, if one of the parents of the same evolutionary family held an Everstone when the Egg was produced, the offspring will be the same form as that parent. This does not apply to White-Striped Basculin and Basculegion, which will always produce White-Striped Basculin regardless of region or held Everstones. If the parents are the same species but different forms and in different balls, then the offspring has a 50 percent chance of inheriting either parent's ball regardless of what form the offspring takes.

If a Kantonian Tauros is bred in Paldea and isn't holding an Everstone, then the resulting offspring will always be Combat Breed Paldean Tauros and never the Blaze Breed or Aqua Breed Paldean Tauros.

If a Pokémon without a regional form evolves into a Pokémon with a regional form, it will evolve into the form native to the region it is currently in.

From Generation VIII onward, regional forms may have an evolution that their regular form does not have, or evolve into a different species than the regular form, becoming something similar to a branched evolution.

List of regional forms

Ndex	Pokémon	Original form	Alolan form	Galarian form	Hisuian form	Paldean form
#0019	Rattata			—	—	—
#0020	Raticate			—	—	—
#0026	Raichu			—	—	—
#0027	Sandshrew			—	—	—
#0028	Sandslash			—	—	—
#0037	Vulpix			—	—	—
#0038	Ninetales			—	—	—
#0050	Diglett			—	—	—
#0051	Dugtrio			—	—	—
#0052	Meowth				—	—
#0053	Persian			—	—	—
#0058	Growlithe		—	—		—
#0059	Arcanine		—	—		—
#0074	Geodude			—	—	—
#0075	Graveler			—	—	—
#0076	Golem			—	—	—
#0077	Ponyta		—		—	—
#0078	Rapidash		—		—	—
#0079	Slowpoke		—		—	—
#0080	Slowbro		—		—	—
#0083	Farfetch'd		—		—	—
#0088	Grimer			—	—	—
#0089	Muk			—	—	—
#0100	Voltorb		—	—		—
#0101	Electrode		—	—		—
#0103	Exeggutor			—	—	—
#0105	Marowak			—	—	—
#0110	Weezing		—		—	—
#0122	Mr. Mime		—		—	—
#0128	Tauros		—	—	—	Combat Breed
			—	—	—	Blaze Breed
			—	—	—	Aqua Breed
#0144	Articuno		—		—	—
#0145	Zapdos		—		—	—
#0146	Moltres		—		—	—
#0157	Typhlosion		—	—		—
#0194	Wooper		—	—	—
#0199	Slowking		—		—	—
#0211	Qwilfish		—	—		—
#0222	Corsola		—		—	—
#0215	Sneasel		—	—		—
#0263	Zigzagoon		—		—	—
#0264	Linoone		—		—	—
#0503	Samurott		—	—		—
#0549	Lilligant		—	—		—
#0554	Darumaka		—		—	—
#0555	Darmanitan	Standard Mode	—	Standard Mode	—	—
		Zen Mode	—	Zen Mode	—	—
#0562	Yamask		—		—	—
#0570	Zorua		—	—		—
#0571	Zoroark		—	—		—
#0618	Stunfisk		—		—	—
#0628	Braviary		—	—		—
#0705	Sliggoo		—	—		—
#0706	Goodra		—	—		—
#0713	Avalugg		—	—		—
#0724	Decidueye		—	—		—

In the spin-off games

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Alolan Raichu, Vulpix, and Exeggutor appear as Pokémon that can appear from Poké Balls in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Pokémon Shuffle

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Shuffle

Alolan forms appear in Pokémon Shuffle.

Pokémon GO

For a list of the regional forms, see Alolan form → Pokémon GO, Galarian form → Pokémon GO, and Hisuian form → Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, they are known in-game as regional variants. They often have special requirements to be obtained as opposed to simply encountering them in the wild.

Alolan Pokémon first appeared in Pokémon GO on May 30, 2018, with the appearance of Alolan Exeggutor. Initially, Alolan Pokémon were exclusive to 7 km Eggs and Raid Battles, but have occasionally reappeared in the wild since their debuts.

Galarian Pokémon first appeared on November 16, 2019, with the appearance of Galarian Weezing.

Hisuian Pokémon first appeared on January 30, 2022, with the appearance of Hisuian Voltorb.

Pokémon Duel

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Duel

Certain Alolan forms were included in Pokémon Duel.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main articles: Alolan form → Pokémon Masters EX and Galarian form → Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, the regional forms currently available are from Alola and Galar. However, they inconsistently use different naming systems: "Alola Form" and "Galarian Form".

New Pokémon Snap

Alolan Raichu, Sandslash, and Vulpix can be found and photographed in the Lental region.

Pokémon UNITE

Alolan Ninetales is a playable Pokémon in Pokémon UNITE. Alolan Meowth and Persian also appear as Wild Pokémon in the Shivre City stage.

In the anime

Main series

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, all Alolan forms appear. They were present since the first episode.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Hisuian form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, some Alolan form, Galarian form, and Hisuian form Pokémon appear.

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Some Galarian form Pokémon appear in Pokémon: Twilight Wings.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Some Alolan and Paldean form Pokémon appear in Pokémon Horizons: The Series.

Pokédex entries

Episode Subject Source Entry JN027 Regional form Goh's Rotom Phone Even among the same species of Pokémon, there can still be minor differences, depending on the region where they live or are raised. These differences are called regional forms.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Adventures

Sword & Shield arc

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon Adventures

In the TCG

Main articles: Alolan form → In the TCG, Galarian form → In the TCG, Hisuian form → In the TCG, and Paldean form → In the TCG

Regional forms are featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean Pokémon. Evolutions exclusive to regional forms are referred to with the same descriptors used for their pre-evolutions (for example, Galarian is used as a descriptor for both Galarian form Pokémon and their evolutions).

Notably, Alolan form cards brought the return of Attacks that cost zero Energy to use, a mechanic that was previously only seen during the TCG's Generation IV sets and has since remained exclusive to cards featuring either Alolan forms or Hisuian forms.

Similar concepts

Variant Pokémon

Main article: Variant Pokémon

A Valencia Island Butterfree

Prior to Generation VII, there were already certain Pokémon that had variations depending on their native geographical area, but, unlike regional forms, these Pokémon do not appear to have any functional difference from their original forms; rather, their differences are purely aesthetic, with their type, moves, Abilities, height, and weight remaining the same.

• The Generation I Pokédex entries for Arbok state that there are six variations of its face-like hood markings that differ between areas. Eight designs are known, but only three have appeared in the core series games (with a fourth in Pokémon Ranger). In Pokémon Adventures, Arbok gains a special ability depending on its pattern.
• In Sinnoh, Shellos and Gastrodon have different appearances on each side of Mt. Coronet. East Sea Shellos and Gastrodon only appear east of Mt. Coronet, whereas West Sea Shellos and Gastrodon only appear on the west side.
• Mantyke's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Pearl says that the pattern on its back varies from region to region. While it has the same appearance in all Generation IV games (due to using the same sprites), the "face" from Generation V onward appears wider.
• Vivillon, which was introduced in Generation VI, has a different appearance depending on where the game it was created in is from in the real world.
• In the anime episode Poké Ball Peril, a number of alternately colored Pokémon were seen on Valencia Island, including Butterfree, Raticate, Nidoran♂, Nidoran♀, Vileplume, Paras, and Weepinbell. Professor Ivy, the Pokémon Professor of the Orange Archipelago, studies these variations.
• The episode Fly Me to the Moon featured Pidgey native to Pudgy Pidgey Isle that were too heavy to fly due to an abundance of food and a lack of predators.
• In the Pikachu short Snorlax Snowman, several ice-blue Snorlax adapted to more frigid climates appeared.
• In the Pokémon Adventures round Off Course with Corsola, Bill mentioned that Kanto and Johto share many of the same Pokémon, but their colors and patterns are different between regions.

δ Delta Species

Main article: δ Delta Species (TCG)

A Metal type Pikachu

The Pokémon Trading Card Game introduced Delta Species Pokémon in Generation III. Like regional forms, these Pokémon would undergo a type change, but their appearance would stay generally the same. The backstory of EX Delta Species states that these changes were not due to natural adaptation but rather a mutation brought on by exposure to electromagnetic waves.

This seems to be an exclusive phenomenon on the island of Holon, the aforementioned waves a product of experiments by scientists in the area searching for the Mythical Pokémon Mew. Delta Species Pokémon appeared in the TCG from EX Delta Species to EX Dragon Frontiers.

Trivia

See also: Alolan form → Trivia, Galarian form → Trivia, Hisuian form → Trivia, and Paldean form → Trivia

• As of Generation IX, the only type not represented in a regional form is Bug.
  • Additionally, there are no Flying-type regional forms that weren't already that type in their original form.
• Dark is the most common type among regional forms, with 11, while Water, Dragon, and Fairy are tied for the least common type, with only 3 regional forms each.
• Out of the generations that introduced Pokémon that would later have regional forms, Generation I introduced the most, at 33, while Generation VII introduced the fewest, at one.
  • Generations IV, VIII, and IX are the only generations to not introduce any Pokémon that have regional forms.
• Out of the generations that introduced regional forms, Generation VIII introduced the most, with 36, while Generation IX introduced the fewest, with four (or only two if all three Paldean Tauros breeds are counted as a single regional form).
• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the only core series game following the introduction of regional forms to not feature them.
• Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the only core series game in which the original forms of regional form Pokémon are unobtainable, with Sneasel being the only exception to this.
• According to the Pokédex, researchers initially believed Wiglett and Wugtrio to be regional forms of Diglett and Dugtrio, respectively, before concluding they were separate species entirely.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 地區形態 Deihkēui Yìhngtaai * 地區型態 Deihkēui Yìhngtaai * Mandarin 地區形態 / 地区形态 Dìqū Xíngtài * 地區型態 Dìqū Xíngtài * Czech Regionální varianta Danish Regional variation* Alola-variant* Dutch Regionale variantSMUSUM Regionale vormSwSh Finnish Alueellinen muunnos* Alueellinen muoto* French Forme régionale Variante régionale* German Regionalform Hungarian Regionális változat Italian Forma regionale Korean 리전폼 Region Forme Norwegian Regional variasjon Polish Forma regionalna* Regionalny wariant* Portuguese Brazil Forma regional* Variante regional* Variação regional* Portugal Variante regionalSMUSUM Forma regionalSwSh Russian Региональный вариант Regional'nyy variantSMUSUMSwSh Региональная формa Regional'naya formaSwSh Spanish Forma regional Swedish Regional variant Turkish Bölgesel çeşitlilik Vietnamese Hình thái địa phương

See also

• List of Pokémon with form differences
• List of Pokémon with gender differences
• Variant Pokémon
• Mega Evolution
• Primal Reversion
• Bond Phenomenon
• Ultra Burst
• Dynamax
• Gigantamax
• Terastal phenomenon
• Paradox Pokémon

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.