Generation VII: Difference between revisions

The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

Generation VII
Title screen of Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
Debut EN November 18, 2016 JA November 18, 2016 Pokémon 802 (81 new)SM 807 (5 new)USUM 809 (2 new)PE* Main games Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon Region(s) introduced Alola Other RPGs Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Contains remakes of Generation I Storage games Bank (Version 1.4+)SMUSUM, HOMEPE End EN November 15, 2019 (1092 days) JA November 15, 2019 (1092 days)

The seventh generation (Japanese: 第七世代 seventh generation) of Pokémon games is the seventh installment of the Pokémon video game series starting with Pokémon Sun and Moon, continuing with Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and ending with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. Unlike previous generations, the core series games of the seventh generation were released on two different Nintendo platforms, with the Alola-based games released on the Nintendo 3DS and the Kanto-based games released on the Nintendo Switch. It is the last generation released on the 3DS and the first one on the Switch.

History

The seventh generation of Pokémon was announced with the reveal of Pokémon Sun and Moon on February 27, 2016, the Pokémon 20th Anniversary. These are the first pair of games in the generation and were released worldwide on November 18, 2016, except in Europe where they were released on November 23, 2016.

The second pair of games in this generation, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, were revealed in a Pokémon Direct held on June 6, 2017. The games take place in Alola once again, but with a new story and includes Pokémon that cannot be found in Sun and Moon. The games were released worldwide on November 17, 2017.

The third and final pair of games, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, were revealed at the Pokémon 2018 Video Game Press Conference held on May 29, 2018. The games take place in Kanto and are inspired by Pokémon Yellow. The games were released worldwide on November 16, 2018.

Some of the Generation VII games can communicate with games from previous generations. Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can communicate with the application Pokémon Bank, via which Pokémon from the Generation VI games can be received. By way of Poké Transporter, Pokémon Bank can also receive Pokémon from the Generation V games and the Virtual Console releases of the Generation II and Generation I games, from which they can be moved to Generation VII games. Combined with other inter-generational transfer methods, this makes the seventh generation the first generation since Generation II able to communicate with all previous games.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! can communicate with the mobile app Pokémon GO and is able to receive Pokémon that originate from the app and can send a special Pokémon to Pokémon GO. It currently cannot communicate with any other core series games.

In-game continuity

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Pokémon Sun and Moon occurs two years after the events of Black 2 and White 2 and X and Y. Various characters from previous generations such as: Sina, Dexio, Looker, Anabel, Colress, Red, and Blue make appearances, with many of them looking significantly older than in previous games.

During the postgame missions in Sun and Moon, it is revealed that Anabel fell into an Ultra Wormhole prior to the events of Sun and Moon and became a Faller, which are individuals who have passed through Ultra Wormholes, and is hinted to be the same Anabel that appeared in Pokémon Emerald's Battle Tower, however, she suffers from retrograde amnesia. Professor Burnet who originated from the side game, Pokémon Dream Radar, is revealed to be living in Alola and is researching the phenomena surrounding Ultra Wormholes.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are set in an alternate universe similar, but slightly different, to Sun and Moon. The events of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon follow those of the first games, but slightly diverge in its details. Some of the worlds that the player may visit through the Ultra Warp Ride are hinted at being alternate versions of Alola, such as: the Ultra Space Wilds, and the Ultra Ruin, the latter being a world that is thoroughly hinted at being a destroyed Hau'oli City from an alternate dimension. In Episode RR, Team Rainbow Rocket takes over the Festival Plaza and Aether Paradise in hopes of taking over other worlds using the Ultra Wormhole technology developed by the Aether Foundation. Team Rainbow Rocket is later revealed to be composed of the villainous team leaders from previous generations, with Team Aqua and Team Magma's leaders, Archie and Maxie, appearing as they did in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. It is also revealed that each of the villainous team leaders are from alternate universes where they were able to successfully achieve their plans; further cementing the concept of alternate universes. Colress plays a major role in Episode RR by sending all of the villainous leaders back to their original dimensions; when Ghetsis is being confronted, he and Colress recognize each other, despite being from alternate dimensions, showing that Colress had involvements with Team Plasma in both universes.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! seems to take place in an alternate universe from Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen as Team Rocket was never disbanded, and Red and Blue have already defeated the Indigo League and are now renowned Pokémon Trainers. Because of this, the player characters are now composed of Chase and Elaine with Blue's role as rival being replaced by Trace.

Since Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of Pokémon Yellow, characters from the anime like Jessie and James make appearances and similar events from the anime occur. The games seem to occur less than five years before Sun and Moon, as Mina, albeit slightly younger, makes an appearance in Vermilion City. Despite this, the overall continuity between these games and those that precede them is not clear.

Advances in gameplay

• The addition of 81 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 802.
• The addition of 80 new moves, bringing the total to 701.
• The addition of 41 new Abilities, bringing the total to 232.
• A new region to explore, the Alola region, based on Hawaii.
• The return of different overworld music depending on the time of day, which was originally introduced in Generation IV.
• A new villainous team, Team Skull.
• 18 Generation I Pokémon have a form unique to Alola known as a regional form; this aspect of Generation VII is based on selective pressures which occur in the real world.
• The addition of the Rotom Pokédex, a special Pokédex inhabited by a Rotom that doubles as a real-time map on the bottom screen of the Nintendo 3DS.
• The 3D models used for characters on the overworld are refined, and Trainers can be seen behind their Pokémon during battle, similar to Pokémon Colosseum, XD: Gale of Darkness, and Battle Revolution.
• Certain NPC trainers may keep their Pokémon in Poké Balls other than the standard Poké Ball.
• A new battle mechanic, Z-Moves, powerful moves that Pokémon can learn and perform once per battle.
• The addition of the island challenge, a traditional rite in the Alola region involving trials guided by Trial Captains, battling Totem Pokémon, and battles with Island Kahunas.
• The introduction of Greninja's Ash-Greninja form and Zygarde's four alternate forms, previously shown in the XY&Z arc of the anime's Pokémon the Series: XY.
• Six new Pikachu forms based on Ash's Pikachu.
• Two new battle modes:
  • A battle that takes part between four Trainers called a Battle Royal, where each participating Trainer aims to defeat each other. The battle ends when all of one Trainer's Pokémon are knocked out, with the winner being the Trainer who has the highest combined number of knockouts and number of remaining Pokémon.
  • A battle where wild Pokémon can summon allies to assist them called an SOS Battle.
• The new QR Scanner allows players to register Pokémon in their Pokédex and receive event Pokémon.
• The addition of Poké Rides, which allow players to summon Pokémon that they can ride to access otherwise inaccessible areas.
• The addition of Hyper Training, a system that allows players to exchange special Bottle Caps to maximize the IVs of their Level 100 Pokémon.
• The introduction of the Zygarde Cube, an item that allows the player to collect Zygarde Cells and Cores scattered across the region to assemble their own Zygarde.
• The addition of the Festival Plaza, a hub accessible from the menu that allows the player to interact with other players locally or via the internet, as well as access various shops similarly to Join Avenue.
• The addition of the Poké Pelago, an option accessible from the menu that allows the player to send Pokémon that are stored in a PC Box to various islands, allowing them to gather items, discover wild Pokémon, and even raise their levels and statistics.
• The player can now replace one of their party Pokémon with a newly caught Pokémon without having to use a PC.
• One new variant of Poké Ball, the Beast Ball, retaining the 26 found in previous games.
• The introduction of a new Evolution stone, the Ice Stone.
• During a Pokémon battle, the bottom screen now displays a move's type effectiveness once the player has encountered the Pokémon again.

Alterations from Generation VI

• The player can move freely in any direction in any area of the game, as opposed to the eight-directional grid of the previous generation.
• Several Pokémon can learn new moves upon evolution.
• Pokémon-Amie is replaced by Pokémon Refresh.
• The Player Search System is replaced and incorporated into the Festival Plaza.
• The abandonment of the following elements:
  • Counting how many of each species of Pokémon the player has encountered.
  • The National Pokédex, with Pokémon from outside the Alola Pokédex having no Pokédex entry at all.
  • Horde Encounters, Sky Battles, Inverse Battles*, Triple Battles, and Rotation Battles.
  • Super Training, O-Powers, and Poké Miles.
  • Contest Spectaculars, Cosplay Pikachu, Super-Secret Bases, Mirage spots, Soaring, and the DexNav from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
  • The Hall of Fame PC function.
• The experience formula once again takes in account the difference between the Pokémon's levels.
• A Pokémon's speed after Mega Evolution is used to determine the turn order, not its Speed before.
• The following status conditions have been altered:
  • Burn now only removes 1/16 of the Pokémon's maximum HP instead of 1/8.
  • Paralysis now decreases a Pokémon's speed to 50% instead of 25%.
  • Confusion only has a 33% chance of making the Pokémon hurting itself instead of 50%.
• Moves can no longer be used outside of battle.
• Twenty-six Pokémon from earlier generations receive an increase in one or more of their base stats. They are Arbok, Dugtrio, Mega Alakazam, Farfetch'd, Dodrio, Electrode, Exeggutor, Noctowl, Ariados, Qwilfish, Magcargo, Corsola, Mantine, Swellow, Pelipper, Masquerain, Delcatty, Volbeat, Illumise, Lunatone, Solrock, Chimecho, Woobat, Crustle, Beartic, and Cryogonal.
• Gengar's ability is changed to Cursed Body.
• The credits no longer replay upon every subsequent champion battle.

Further additions in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

• An altered story from Sun and Moon.
  • A new post-game scenario, Episode RR, featuring a new villainous team, Team Rainbow Rocket; an alliance between the leaders of the teams of the previous generations.
• Five new Pokémon are introduced: Poipole, Naganadel, Stakataka, Blacephalon, and the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora, bringing the total to 807.
• The introduction of several new forms.
  • Three new forms for Necrozma, which plays a central role in the story in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
  • An additional Pikachu form based on Ash's Pikachu as it appeared in the movie I Choose You!.
  • An additional form for Lycanroc which debuted in the anime's Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon.
• The addition of three new moves (Mind Blown, Photon Geyser, and Plasma Fists) and six new Z-Moves (Splintered Stormshards, Let's Snuggle Forever, Clangorous Soulblaze, Searing Sunraze Smash, Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom, and Light That Burns the Sky), bringing the total amount of moves to 719.
• One new Ability is introduced: Ultra Necrozma's Neuroforce, bringing the total to 233.
• An expanded Alola Pokédex, bringing the total to 403.
• A fleshed out Rotom Pokédex, including the Roto Loto feature.
• New hairstyles and clothing.
• The expansion of Ultra Space and several new locations in Alola.
• The introduction of a new Poké Ride and mini-game: Mantine Surf.
• The introduction of the Alola Photo Club.
• The introduction of the Battle Agency, an addition to the Festival Plaza.
• The replacement of Zygarde Cells and Cores with Totem Stickers, which the player can redeem to receive special, Totem-like Pokémon.

Further additions in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

• Two new Mythical Pokémon are introduced: Meltan and Melmetal, bringing the total to 809.
• The introduction of Partner Pokémon forms for the starter Pikachu and Eevee, both are stronger than their regular counterparts, can't evolve, and can be customized with clothes and accessories.
  • Partner Eevee has a new gender difference, with the female having a heart pattern on her tail.
• The addition of 13 new moves: Partner Pikachu's Zippy Zap, Splishy Splash, Floaty Fall, and Pika Papow; Partner Eevee's Bouncy Bubble, Buzzy Buzz, Sizzly Slide, Glitzy Glow, Baddy Bad, Sappy Seed, Freezy Frost, Sparkly Swirl, Veevee Volley; and Melmetal's Double Iron Bash. Double Iron Bash is not exclusive to Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
• The removal of wild battles, which are replaced by catching Pokémon similar to Pokémon GO.
• Wild Pokémon now appear in the overworld.
  • By catching multiple Pokémon of the same species and a row, the game will start a Catch Combo, which gives more items and experience, as well as having a higher chance of finding rarer Pokémon and shinies.
• The implementation of motion controls. The Joy-Con is used to throw Poké Balls. In handheld mode, wild Pokémon are caught by aiming the Poké Ball with motion controls.
• The introduction of two-player simultaneous multiplayer.
• The return of Walking Pokémon, working as replacements for Ride Pokémon.
• Secret Techniques are implemented as replacements for HMs.
• Nicknames can be changed at any time.
• The implementation of the Pokémon Box, a replacement for the Pokémon Storage System that is accessible from the player's bag.
• The removal of Z-Moves.
• The Exp. Share effects are now present from the start of the game and cannot be turned off.

Region

Alola

Alola

Main article: Alola

The Alola region was introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. This island region is made up of four main islands and one artificial island.

Starter Pokémon

The starters of the seventh generation follow the traditional Grass/Fire/Water trio setup. At the beginning of the game, the player must choose between the Grass and Flying-type Rowlet, the Fire-type Litten and the Water-type Popplio.

Rowlet		Litten		Popplio
Grass	Flying	Fire		Water
	Dartrix		Torracat		Brionne
Grass	Flying	Fire		Water
	Decidueye		Incineroar		Primarina
Grass	Ghost	Fire	Dark	Water	Fairy

Trial Captains and Totem Pokémon

In Sun and Moon, there are seven Trial Captains and eight Totem Pokémon, Pokémon which are bigger than the rest of their species and have "auras" that increase one of their stats at the beginning of battle. Upon a Totem Pokémon's defeat, the player will get the corresponding Z-Crystal of the same type of the trial.

In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, all of the trials are altered in some way. In addition, the final Trial Captain, Mina has a trial for the player to complete.

Trials
Generation VII		Region: Alola
Trial Captain Japanese	Location Japanese	Type	Totem Pokémon	Ally Pokémon
Ilima イリマ Ilima	Verdant Cavern 茂みの洞窟 Verdant Cavern	Normal	GumshoosSUS	YungoosSUS
			Alolan RaticateMUM	Alolan RattataMUM
Lana スイレン Suiren	Brooklet Hill せせらぎの丘 Brooklet Hill	Water	Wishiwashi (School Form)SM	Wishiwashi and AlomomolaSM
			AraquanidUSUM	Dewpider and MasquerainUSUM
Kiawe カキ Kaki	Wela Volcano Park ヴェラ火山公園 Wela Volcano Park	Fire	SalazzleSM	SalanditSM
			Alolan MarowakUSUM	SalazzleUSUM
Mallow マオ Mao	Lush Jungle シェードジャングル Shade Jungle	Grass	Lurantis	Trumbeak and CastformSM
				Comfey and KecleonUSUM
Sophocles マーマネ Mamane	Hokulani Observatory ホクラニ天文台 Hōkūlani Observatory	Electric	VikavoltSM	Charjabug ×2SM
			TogedemaruUSUM	Skarmory and DedenneUSUM
Acerola アセロラ Acerola	Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site) スーパー・メガやす　跡地 Supermarket Megacheap (Abandoned Site)	Ghost	Mimikyu	Haunter and GengarSM
				Banette and JellicentUSUM
None	Vast Poni Canyon ポニの大峡谷 Great Canyon of Poni	Dragon	Kommo-o	Hakamo-o and ScizorSM
				Noivern and ScizorUSUM
Mina マツリカ Matsurika	NoneSM	Fairy	NoneSM	NoneSM
	Seafolk Village 海の民の村 Seafolk VillageUSUM		RibombeeUSUM	Blissey and PelipperUSUM

Grand trials

After the player completes all the trials on an island, they must battle the kahuna of the island.

Grand trials
Generation VII		Region: Alola
Island Kahuna Japanese	Island	Location Japanese	Type
Hala ハラ Hala	Melemele Island	Iki Town リリィタウン Liliʻi Town	Fighting
Olivia ライチ Lychee	Akala Island	Ruins of Life 命の遺跡 Ruins of Life	Rock
Nanu クチナシ Kuchinashi	Ula'ula Island	Malie City マリエシティ Malie City	Dark
Hapu ハプウ Hapū	Poni Island	Vast Poni CanyonSM ポニの大峡谷 Great Canyon of Poni	Ground
		Exeggutor IslandUSUM ナッシー・アイランド Nassy Island

Kanto

Kanto

Main article: Kanto

In its fifth appearance, Kanto appeared in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! in a capacity similar to Generation I and its previous remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

Starter Pokémon

Unlike in other Pokémon games, the starter the player starts with corresponds with the game they are playing. Players of Let's Go, Pikachu! will start with Pikachu, while players of Let's Go, Eevee! will start with Eevee.

Partner PikachuP	Partner EeveeE
Electric	Normal

Gym Leaders

For the most part, Kanto's Gym Leaders are the same as they were in Generation I, but Blue takes control of Viridian Gym after the player becomes Champion and can be challenged.

Indigo League
Generation VII			Region: Kanto
Gym Leader Japanese		Location Japanese	Type		Badge
Brock タケシ Takeshi		Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi City	Rock		Boulder Badge
Misty カスミ Kasumi		Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City	Water		Cascade Badge
Lt. Surge マチス Matis		Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City	Electric		Thunder Badge
Erika エリカ Erika		Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City	Grass		Rainbow Badge
Koga キョウ Kyō		Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City	Poison		Soul Badge
Sabrina ナツメ Natsume		Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City	Psychic		Marsh Badge
Blaine カツラ Katsura		Cinnabar Island グレンじま Guren Island	Fire		Volcano Badge
Giovanni サカキ Sakaki	Blue グリーン Green	Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City	Ground	Various	Earth Badge

Alola thematic motif

The seventh generation focuses on themes of nature, alternate dimensions, tradition, and relationships. First and foremost, Z-Moves are said to be the physical manifestation of the bond between Trainer and Pokémon, in a similar vein to Mega Evolution. The storylines of the Alolan games also focus various characters whose motives and story arcs revolve around family- or relationship-based issues. The Aether Foundation is an organization that wishes to heal and protect Pokémon from threats such as Team Skull or predatory Pokémon like Mareanie. In fact, the Alolan Pokédex is filled with more examples of Pokémon predator-prey relationships than usual. In an interview with Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori, Sun and Moon were named with the idea of the revolutions of the sun and the moon in mind, and how they influence life on the Earth, as a way to "celebrate life" and express Pokémon as living creatures. In the same interview, they mention the revolutions of the celestial bodies as being an interesting metaphor for relationships.

Title screens

English title screens

Pokémon Sun	Pokémon Moon
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Pokémon Ultra Moon

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!	Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!

Japanese title screens

Pokémon Sun	Pokémon Moon
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Pokémon Ultra Moon

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!	Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!

Trivia

• Generation VII is the only generation in which:
  • Bicycles do not appear.
  • Mythical Pokémon that are part of an evolutionary family were introduced.
  • Brand new species of Pokémon are introduced in later games in the generation, and cannot be traded to the earlier games.
  • There are three different sets of paired core series games released.
  • Not all core series games are released exclusively on the same system.
  • The player's home in the original games is located on a route and not in a city or town.
• Generation VII is also the only generation that did not introduce:
  • A Pokémon with gender differences.
    • It did, however, introduce a gender difference for an existing Pokémon, the first time since Generation IV.
  • A notable Ice-type expert.
    • However, Sina, who was introduced in Pokémon X and Y but couldn't be battled in Generation VI, is revealed to be an Ice-type expert in Generation VII.
  • A new Gym Leader.
  • A Pokémon in the Human-Like Egg Group.
• Generation VII has introduced the most Legendary Pokémon, with eleven, as well as the most Mythical Pokémon, with five.
• Generation VII introduced the most genderless Pokémon, with a total of 29.
• Generation VII includes the most amount of core series games, having a total of six; this surpasses the previous record of five held by Generations III and IV.
• Generation VII is the first generation to:
  • Not introduce a Pokémon that evolves through trading.
  • Introduce a main female antagonist in the core series, Lusamine.
  • Introduce Legendary Pokémon that are part of an evolutionary family.
  • Remake a previous generation that had already been remade in another previous generation.
  • Remove HMs, field moves and the Dowsing Machine, which were replaced with the PokéRide feature in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and the Secret Technique, Partner Pokémon, and walking Pokémon in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
  • Have its core series games released in every year of the generation in all territories.
  • Have aesthetic differences appear on the startup and title screens due to in-game actions, being the chosen gender of the mascot Pokémon and their current outfit.
  • Have a core series game that does not include every Pokémon introduced in previous generations, as of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
  • Have all core series games only feature a regional Pokédex since Generation III. The National Dex is instead found on Pokémon Bank.
  • Not have Pokédex entries of every Pokémon known at the time in its core series games.
• Generation VII is the last generation to include compatibility in a single game with all the Pokémon species previously available up to that point.

References

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