List of Pokémon with form differences

Form differences are when, within one species of Pokémon, there are major, visible differences between individuals. Sometimes, this will as well extend to the Pokémon's types and stats, though this is not always the case.

When there are differences in the forms of legendary Pokémon, the different forms are apparently spelled with a capital F and an "e" at the end of the word, as with Deoxys's Attack Forme or Giratina's Origin Forme.

In the games

Unown

Unown was the first Pokémon revealed to have visual differences between individuals of the species. Each individual Unown, at least in Generation II, would have a form that corresponded to one of the twenty-six letters of the Latin alphabet. In Generation III, two more forms were added, for the punctuation marks ? and !. The Unown Dex of Generation II also listed various words that corresponded to the Unown's different forms, though the differences between Unown appearance do not affect its stats.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

File:201Question.png ?

File:201Exclamation.png !

Spinda

Like Unown, Spinda has many visual variations among the species, involving the placement of its spots. Like Unown's letter, the spot placement is generated based on the personality value of each of the individuals. The location of the spots has no effect on the Spinda's stats. Unlike Unown, though, these differences are very rarely repeated, as they are based on random integers that are different for each of the spots on its face and ears. In fact, there are more than four billion different forms of Spinda.

File:Spr 3e 327.gif Spinda from Emerald

Spinda from Diamond and Pearl

Castform

The first Pokémon to change its type, as well as its appearance, was Castform. However, unlike other Pokémon, Castform does not retain its changes outside of battle, and can actually change as the battle is going on. Castform's current form is dependent on the weather in the battle: If the battle is being conducted in clear conditions, a sandstorm, or fog it appears in its Normal form and is a Template:Type2. If the sun is shining brightly, though, Castform will assume its Sun form and the Template:Type2. During rain, it will transform into its Rain form and assume the Template:Type2. Finally, while it is hailing, Castform will change into its Hail form and become an Template:Type2 Pokémon. The type and form will change at any time the weather does.

Normal form

File:351s.png Sunny form

File:351r.png Rain form

File:351h.png Snow-Cloud form

Deoxys

Deoxys is the first Pokémon to have its actual base stats, as well as appearance, change depending on the form it takes, with Defense, Normal, Attack, and Speed Formes. They are game-specific, with the Defense Forme appearing only in LeafGreen, the Normal Forme appearing only in Ruby and Sapphire, the Attack Forme appearing only in FireRed, and the Speed Forme appearing only in Emerald. All four Formes can be found in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, and changed at will by inspecting the fallen meteors in Veilstone City.

Normal Forme (R/S)

File:386FR.png Attack Forme (FR)

File:386LG.png Defense Forme (LG)

File:386E.png Speed Forme (E)

Burmy and Wormadam

Both Burmy and its female evolution, Wormadam, have three separate forms, though only Wormadam's form makes a difference on its type. Burmy's form changes after each battle it participates in: if it last battled outside, it will be in its Plant Cloak, covered in leaves; if it was in a building, it would assume its Trash Cloak, a form that is seemingly covered in insulation; and if it last battled inside of a cave, it dons its Sandy Cloak, covered in what seems to be dirt and rocks. Wormadam's three forms are named in the same manner, however, the form is permanent after evolution (females only), and the type that she will be is either Bug/Grass if she is in her Plant Cloak, Bug/Steel if she is in her Trash Cloak, or Bug/Ground if she is in her Sandy Cloak. Her stats and move compatibility vary as well.

Plant Cloak	File:Spr 4d 412-Ground.png Sandy Cloak	File:Spr 4d 412-Steel.png Trash Cloak
Plant Cloak	File:Spr 4d 413-Ground.png Sandy Cloak	File:Spr 4d 413-Steel.png Trash Cloak

Cherrim

Like Castform, Cherrim changes its appearance depending on the weather, though not with all kinds. It will be in its normal Overcast form if the weather is anything but sunny, and its Sunshine form when the sun shines brightly. Due to its ability, its Attack and Special Attack will also increase in its Sunshine form. Unlike Castform, however, its type does not change.

File:Spr 4d 421b.png Overcast form

Sunshine form

Shellos and Gastrodon

Another Sinnoh-native evolution family, Shellos and Gastrodon also have a difference, depending on, this time, whether the Pokémon in question was caught in the east or west of Sinnoh. The West Sea variation of Shellos and Gastrodon is pink, while the East Sea variation is blue. There is also some difference in their bodily appearance whether they are an East Sea Shellos/Gastrodon or a West Sea one.

Rotom

In August of 2008, five silhouettes were shown of Pokémon that would be in Pokémon Platinum. On September 10th, these Pokémon were revealed to be forms of Rotom. Rotom takes the shape of five different appliances, each with their own types. The forms can apparently be changed using the Secret Key, and the resulting form depends on where it is used.

The five different forms resemble a refrigerator, fan, washing machine, lawn mower, and an oven. Each of these forms can perform a move of a certain type that Rotom would typically not be able to perform. The refrigerator can perform an Template:Type2 move, the fan can perform a Template:Type2 move, the washing machine can perform a Template:Type2 move, the lawn mower can perform a Template:Type2 move, and the toaster/oven can perform a Template:Type2 move. However, Rotom remains an Electric/Template:Type2 Pokémon.

Normal Rotom	Heat Rotom	Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom	Spin Rotom	Cut Rotom

Giratina

In mid-February, 2008 it was announced that Giratina would have two different forms in Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin. One of these is the familiar form that appears in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and in Ken Sugimori's artwork, known as Another Forme, while the other is a new, more serpentine form known as the Origin Forme, which was later revealed to be the form Giratina takes during Pokémon Platinum, the third version of Generation IV.

Another Forme (D/P)

Origin Forme (Pt)

Shaymin

As with Giratina, an alternate form of Shaymin was announced to appear in Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin and Pokémon Platinum. This form, known as the Sky Forme (whereas the previous form is known now as the Land Forme) takes on a different type, Grass/Flying, and changes appearance completely.

Land Forme (D/P)

Sky Forme (Pt)

Arceus

The seeming god of all Pokémon, Arceus has multiple forms with slight palette differences that represent the seventeen elemental types. These depend on the plate which Arceus holds. Strangely, there is a Template:Type2 Arceus sprite, but no possible plate to make it this type.

								Unknown

Other Pokémon

The Pokédex entry for Arbok states that the markings on its belly differ from region to region. Shellder also changes between bivalve and spiral-shaped variations depending on whether or not it is attached to a Slowpoke's Template:P2 or Template:P2. Likewise, in Generation IV, there are many Pokémon with slight sprite differences based on their gender. A Dialga changed its appearance when it lost control of time in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2. Lastly, Mantyke's Pokédex entry in Pearl says that the special patterns on its back vary from region to region. However, this has yet to be proven, since this Pokémon only has been catchable in one region during the latest generation.

Other form differences

There are several other differences that Pokémon have. For detailed descriptions of them, see Variant Pokémon.