List of glitches (Generation I)

This is a list of minor glitches in the Pokémon games.

In multiple generations

Error codes

Main article: Error codes

In Generations I and II, there are several error codes that appear when the game is not functioning correctly. Problems such as these often crop up when the game's memory access is corrupted or when experimenting with glitches such as the Mew glitch. Usually, when an error code appears, the game does not freeze and the player is allowed to continue playing the game without resetting. Occasionally mixed errors occur.

Experience underflow glitch

Main article: Experience#Experience underflow glitch

In Generations I and II, level 1 Pokémon using the "medium-slow" growth algorithm will jump from level 1 to level 100 after gaining a low amount of experience points.

By TTEchidna

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Trade evolution glitch

Generation I Pokémon that can evolve by trading can be taught glitch moves through this glitch. This can be achieved by trading a trade evolution Pokémon from a Generation I game to a Generation II, at a level where its evolved form will learn a move not in Generation I. Trading the Pokémon back to the Generation I game will cause the move to become a glitch move. For example, trading a level 48 Haunter from Pokémon Red to Pokémon Gold will make the Haunter evolve into Gengar. Since it is level 48, it will learn Mean Look. If it is then traded back to Pokémon Red, it will still have the move, but the game won't recognize it properly since it is a Generation II move, so will become TM12.

Graphical glitches

Main article: Graphical glitches

Shiny Ditto glitch

The Shiny Ditto glitch requires a game from Generation I and Generation II, but only has an effect on a Generation II game. By trading any Shiny Pokémon to a Generation I game, having a wild Ditto transform into that Pokémon, then catching and trading the Ditto into a Generation II game, the Ditto will be shiny.

In Generation I

0 ERROR

Main article: 0 ERROR

A glitch similar to the Mew glitch that causes Route 6 to become glitched.

Cycling Road glitch

If the player does not have a Bicycle (or it has been deposited in the PC), it is still possible to reach Cycling Road by holding down the left button while the guard attempts to prevent the player from entering the Cycling Road. Upon entering Cycling Road, the player will be automatically riding a bike, despite not having one.

Deposit glitch

It is possible for the player to deposit all Pokémon except fainted ones and a black out will occur but only after four steps in the same session. It is possible to progress further by saving the game before traveling four steps to reset the 'remaining step count' to 4 when the game is reset. The player can trigger the 'wild appeared' misnomer if entering a battle with just fainted Pokémon.

Evolutionary stone glitch

	This glitch is in need of research. Reason: Glitch Pokémon which evolve by items You can discuss this on the talk page.

Pokémon can be evolved without the use of an evolutionary stone, provided that the player has sent out a Pokémon with the equivalent identifier of the relevant evolutionary stone item and finishes the battle with that Pokémon in the same battle that a Pokémon that evolves using an evolutionary stone levels up.

The starter Pikachu from Pokémon Yellow is no exception to this glitch and will still evolve into a Raichu, if it levels up and the player switches to Growlithe, finishing the battle.

Some glitch Pokémon with unusual evolutionary flags may evolve this way according to the game 'after exposure to an item' which isn't an evolutionary stone.

Pokémon	Stone
Exeggutor	Moon Stone
Missingno.*	Fire Stone
Psyduck	Leaf Stone
Growlithe	Thunderstone
Onix	Water Stone

Fishing in statues

The player can use a Fishing Rod when facing the right or left of a gym statue. It will always say "Looks like there's nothing in here...", except in the Cerulean Gym, where all the Pokémon obtainable in the gym can be caught. The player is also able to surf on these statues.

Ghost glitch

When encountering a ghost in Pokémon Tower without having a Silph Scope, it is possible to see its true identity by viewing the stats of any Pokémon in the player's party. However, this glitch is only graphical, and it is still impossible to fight or catch it.

Ghost Marowak glitch

Using a Poké Doll on the ghost Marowak in Pokémon Tower with or without the Silph Scope will cause it to permanently disappear.

Hall of Fame glitch

Main article: Missingno.#Glitches caused

When glitch Pokémon have been seen on the save file, the player's Hall of Fame is badly corrupted with entirely different Pokémon, even glitch Pokémon, and very glitched characters, names and levels. This does not affect the Pokémon themselves, rather the data seen in the Hall of Fame.

Invisible tree

Main article: Cut glitch#Invisible tree

There is a tree near the bottom of Route 14. If this particular tree is cut down and then the player walks five steps west from where the tree was (so that the spot where the tree used to be is at the edge of the screen) and then walks back their path will be blocked as if a tree was still there. Even though the tree is not visible, it can still be cut down normally using the move Cut.

Invisible PC

In Generation I, there is an invisible PC in the hotel in Celadon City. This fact is explained by the close resemblance between the hotel and a Pokémon Center. This was less a glitch, and more likely an oversight by the programmers, who may have forgotten to remove the code to activate the PC at that particular point, though the sprite of the PC itself is no longer there. It is possible to walk on the tile where the PC is.

Lookout station glitch

Certain lookout stations which can be accessed after the player passes Cycling Road will have guards that restrict the player from passing if the Bicycle is deposited in the PC, even though the player does not require a Bicycle.

Man on roof

If the player does not have the Secret Key to the Cinnabar Gym, and surfs on the east coast and returns to land directly in front of the gym, a man will appear on the roof of the gym.

A similar effect happens if the player walks into the Vermilion Gym, walks directly left and then up so that they are facing the bottom-left trash can and press A to inspect it, or if the player is in the gatehouse to Cycling Road. One of the Trainers in the gym will be misplaced and return to his usual spot once the text box disappears, and when in the gatehouse there may be a man standing on an object somewhere behind the guard.

Both of these variations of this glitch were fixed in some European versions of Red and Blue, such as the Spanish version, as well as all versions of Yellow.

Prevented progress

If the player's starter Pokémon evolves before they obtain their Pokédex from Prof. Oak, the game will assume, since they have 2 Pokémon registered as caught, that they already have a Pokédex, and will not allow them to proceed. This glitch is only present in the Japanese Red and Green Versions.

By ChickasaurusGL

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Q Glitch

Main article: Q#Q glitch

Q and Charizard 'M enable a player to swap Pokémon's moves. It involves depositing Q and other Pokémon into Bill's PC in a certain order, and then when they are retrieved, the Pokémon's moves and stats will be transferred from one Pokémon to another.

Silent Indigo Plateau glitch

In the battle against Blue at Indigo Plateau, if the player evolves a Pokémon in battle and defeats Blue, the music will be muted until Professor Oak takes the player into the Hall of Fame.

Standing on a tree

Main article: Cut glitch#Standing on a tree

In Generation I, if the player cuts down a tree, stands on the spot where the object was, saves, turns the game off, then loads it, the player will be standing on the tree. It is no longer possible to stand on a tree in later generations, nor is it possible to stand on a boulder.

This glitch occurs because the Generation I engine would not store the data needed to remember that the tree had been cleared.

Stuck in a wall

If the player lures an NPC into the grass above Pallet Town, she will block the player from following Professor Oak correctly, causing the player to become stuck in the wall of Oak's laboratory.

In Generation II

Coin Case glitches

Main article: Coin Case glitches

Dratini glitch

After the player speaks to the Dratini in Blackthorn City or listens to its cry in the Pokédex, then uses the Coin Case, the Coin Case's display will change what the coin case says from "Coins: ..." to "Which move?he pp of" permanently unless the game is turned off without saving.

Machop glitch

After the player listens to the cry of Machop, Machoke or Machamp, then uses the Coin Case, the game enters the "glitch dimension".

Egg black out glitch

If an egg is obtained before any other Pokémon, the player will repeatedly black out and be forced to restart the game. This was remedied in Generation III and later games by requiring the player to have two Pokémon with them in order to trade, rather than just one.

Infinite continues glitch

Main article: Infinite continues glitch

The infinite continues glitch is a glitch that can be performed in Pokémon Stadium 2 with any Stadium Cup. It does not work in the original Pokémon Stadium. If there is a previously suspended game and the player is playing the Stadium Cup, suspending the game after a loss causes a warning message to pop up, telling the player that there is already a suspended game. If "Continue without Suspending" is selected, a rematch with the opponent who just defeated the player will be triggered, but no continue will be used.

Thick Club glitch

If a Marowak with a maximum Attack stat (maximum IVs and Stat Exp in Attack) uses Swords Dance while holding a Thick Club, its Attack will overflow to 8. This glitch is not present in Pokémon Stadium 2. ^[1]

Trainer House glitch

Main article: Trainer House glitch

This glitch affects the Trainer in the Trainer House. It is caused by corrupted RAM for save data in Gold and Silver Versions. It is not present in Crystal Version.

In Generation III

Focus Punch glitch

This glitch is triggered by selecting Focus Punch in a double battle on the first Pokémon, pressing the "B" button, then switching out the first Pokémon. When the battle is conducted, the first Pokémon will tighten its focus in preparation for Focus Punch, then switch out.

Poké Flute glitch

When the player plays the Poké Flute and while the melody is playing, if the Help Menu is activated and deactivated, the music will be muted until Snorlax wakes up.

Infinite ball glitch

The infinite ball glitch is a glitch in Pokémon Colosseum that enables the player to reuse any type of Poké Ball. It does not work in the Player's Choice version or in Pokémon XD.

The glitch is performed by selecting a Poké Ball with the player's first Pokémon's turn. Then, on the second Pokémon's turn, switching the location of the Poké Ball in the bag chosen with another Poké Ball in the bag (using the "Y" button). After the Ball is thrown, the Poké Ball pocket will still have the same amount of Poké Balls, as if the Ball just thrown had not been used.

Sometimes, if using a Master Ball, the game will freeze and bring the "An error occurred" message the Nintendo GameCube gives when it fails to properly read a game.

Also, if the second Pokémon is using a multiple-turn move that has been selected on a previous turn, the attack prevents the glitch from working, which causes the thrown Snag Ball to be used.

Ledge glitch

East of Mauville City there is an Aroma Lady that will battle the player. If the player stands right behind the ledge in her line of sight, she will see the player and walk onto the ledge and stay there until the player leaves the area. This does not occur in Emerald due to her not walking around.

Mirage Tower glitch

In Mirage Tower, on the second floor near the stairs there is no rock, but the player cannot walk there.

Pay Day glitch

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the wrong amount of money received from Pay Day will be displayed if the Amulet Coin is held, leaving the impression that the it does not affect Pay Day. Yet, upon checking the Trainer card, the player will discover that the money earned from Pay Day has been doubled and added to their total savings. This error was fixed in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and all subsequent games.

By ChickasaurusGL

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Purification glitch

Pokémon Colosseum only. In Agate Village, the cliffs directly to the left and right of the hill at the entrance are glitched. If the player walks downward while on these small cliffs, there are two specific points where the player will hit the edge and continue to walk, and the screen will start to shake. This will cause all Shadow Pokémon in the player's party to be purified at the same rate as if the player is walking around.

Roaming Pokémon glitches

Roaming IV glitch

Main article: Roaming IV glitch

The roaming Pokémon glitch is a glitch in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen Versions that causes roaming Pokémon to have extremely low IVs. The glitch is not present in Emerald Version.

Explanation

In Generation III, the data for a Pokémon's IVs are stored in a 32-bit integer. However, when a roaming Pokémon is captured, only the last eight bits are transferred. While the HP IV is unaffected, the Pokémon can only have a maximum Attack IV of 7. The other IVs will always be 0.

Roaming Roar glitch

If a roaming Pokémon uses Roar to flee from battle, it will permanently disappear from the game.

Sticky hold glitch

This glitch occurs when Thief or Covet is used to knock out a Pokémon holding an item that has the Sticky Hold ability. It causes the sprite of the defeated Pokémon to stay in a ghost-like form. This lasts until the screen is changed. Switching to the item list or Pokémon list will cause it to disappear.

If it is a battle against a team of six Pokémon, defeating the next Pokémon will cause that Pokémon's sprite to vanish normally, but the ghost-like sprite will remain. If the second Pokémon is defeated without leaving the battle screen, a third Pokémon will come out, but the second Pokémon's sprite will not remain. The original ghost-like sprite will remain and get recolored to match. This is because the game stores color palettes separately to the pictures themselves.

Step-by-step photos

0 1 2 3 4 5

Thunder glitch

In some copies of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, using Thunder or Thunderbolt may cause the game to freeze during the moves' animation sequences. This can be remedied by turning off the battle animations in the options menu. Also, in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, the sound of Thunder or Thunderbolt may get stuck until the game resets.

In Generation IV

Ace Trainer Kate glitch

In HeartGold and SoulSilver, there is a slight glitch with Ace Trainer Kate on Route 34. She will only battle with the player if they walk straight down the path. If the player walks to either side of her, she will apologize as she would after the player has defeated her. If the player walks down the path towards her after talking to her on the side she will somehow see them while facing the wrong way and then battle.

Black Belt glitch

Pokémon Platinum only. Due to consecutive spaces, Black Belt Eddie in Sinnoh's Victory Road will say "Done in" with every letter on an alternating line.

Boulder glitch

In the Japanese version of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a boulder in Slowpoke Well can be pushed over a ledge into the water. The boulder (unlike in FireRed and LeafGreen) will act as if it was on dry land. The boulder was removed in international releases.

By Zowayixx

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

Broken escalator

This is one of two glitches in Generation IV officially acknowledged by Nintendo, with the other being the surf glitch. In Diamond or Pearl, after entering the Union Room on the second floor of the Pokémon League building, when the player goes up to the second floor of a Pokémon Center, the player will end up in a wall and not be able to return.

In the case where the player has not saved the game while trapped, it is possible to work around this bug:

1. Restart the game from the previous save state.
2. Go to the Super Contest Hall in Hearthome City.
3. Speak to the leftmost attendant (there is no need to actually participate in a Super Contest).
4. Save the game and restart.

Dress-up hiker glitch

The glitch only occurs in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. When talking to the hiker at Jubilife TV who allows Pokémon to be dressed up, if a button on the D-pad is pressed so that the player is facing away from the hiker just before the screen to select which Pokémon will be dressed up opens, the player will not walk on the set path; this can lead to walking through walls or the hiker, or canceling the action altogether.

Egg nature glitch

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum only. A well timed switch between boxes will allow the player to see the nature, ability and type of the Pokémon inside an egg.

Fire Fang glitch

In Generation IV, Fire Fang affects Pokémon with Wonder Guard, even if it is used on a Pokémon that does not have a weakness to Fire-type moves. This does not apply to Ice Fang and Thunder Fang. This was corrected in Generation V.

Global Terminal glitches

Main article: Global Terminal#Glitches and Manipulation

Morphing glitch

Main article: Global Terminal#Morphing glitch

Causes Pokémon up for trade on the GTS to change species and hold a Seal Bag.

Level display glitch

Main article: Global Terminal#Level display glitch

Pokémon Platinum only. In some copies of Platinum, the levels of a Pokémon might not be displayed on the GTS. In order to fix this, the player must contact Nintendo.

Trade evolution glitch

Main article: Global Terminal#Trade evolution glitch

In a Generation IV game, if the player deposits any Pokémon on the GTS that can evolve through trade (holding any necessary items), and then either waits for over 24 hours before taking it back, or trades for another Pokémon before taking the first back, it will evolve after being received.

Vanishing glitch

Main article: Global Terminal#Vanishing glitch

After uploading a Pokémon to the server and checking its summary without changing the Pokémon, the "summary" button is sometimes replaced with "deposit", suggesting that the Pokémon has been traded. Selecting "Deposit" will cause a communication error, and the player will return to the front desk. Logging on to the server again will cause the Pokémon to reappear, with no noticeable changes.

HM05 Defog glitch

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, HM05 (Defog) appears as a Water-type HM rather than a Flying-type one. However, in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, HM05 was replaced with a Water-type move, Whirlpool.

Indigo Plateau guard glitch

This glitch only occurs in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. If the player attempts to enter the GS Cup in the Indigo Plateau Wireless Club and checks the list of special Pokémon, the guard blocking the Elite Four entrance will not move until the player re-enters the room.

Kadabra Trade Glitch

If a Kadabra is traded while it is holding an Everstone, it will still evolve into Alakazam.

Pal Park glitch

Main article: Pal Park#Manipulation

Allows the player to migrate any number of Pokémon via the Pal Park, this is used to overcome the 6 Pokémon per 24 hours limit.

Silent Route 214 glitch

This glitch occurs in Diamond and Pearl if the player goes onto Spring Path off Route 214, where the music changes. If the player views the TM & HM section of the bag, closes it, then returns to Route 214, there will be no music. Sound effects such as collision sounds still occur and if the player encounters a wild Pokémon, the normal battle music will play. The same glitch can also be activated by changing the music so that it is not the default in any other way. For example, by using the Bicycle.

External links

Glitch City Labs page

Tower Tycoon event skip

In Diamond and Pearl, if the player achieves a 20 battle streak in the Battle Tower and battles the Tower Tycoon by choosing the option "REST" and then the option "NO" instead of choosing the option "KEEP GOING", a normal Trainer will appear instead; with the same roster of the Tower Tycoon. Interestingly, this Trainer gives the unused dialogue "Now come! Show me, the Tower Tycoon, what you're really made of!" If this Trainer is defeated, the player will receive 1 BP instead of the normal 20 BP.

In Generation V

Sky Drop glitch

Main article: Sky Drop glitch

This glitch only occurs in Pokémon Black and White. Due to the glitch, the move Sky Drop was banned in Wi-Fi Random Matches starting November 10, 2010.

This glitch can only occur in double and triple battles. It is activated when Gravity is used while two Pokémon are in the semi-invulnerable state after Sky Drop is used. Gravity will bring the user of Sky Drop down while the target will be stuck in the semi-invulnerable state, unable to move until it is knocked out.

Raimon Gym Trainer glitch

In Pokémon Black and White, if the player loses to Lady Colette in Raimon Gym while directly facing her when encountered, this glitch will occur. When the player comes back in she will be standing on the same spot and will battle the player. After she is defeated, she still remains on the tracks of the roller coaster, and can be passed through while riding the roller coaster to Kamitsure.

TM67 Retaliation glitch

In Pokémon Black and White, TM67 (Retaliation) (received from Aloe) appears as a Water-type TM, despite the move being a Normal-type type move. It is unknown whether this glitch is in the early releases of Pokémon Black and White or in all versions.

In the side games

Dungeon shop glitch

The Kecleon money glitch is a glitch in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. By placing an item on the carpet and quick saving the game, after the game is restarted Kecleon will continue to think that the item has been sold recently and will pay the sell price every time he is spoken to.

By MrAlbrave

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

False thief glitch

In Explorers of Time and Darkness, if a wild Pokémon is knocked out on a Kecleon shop and drops an item, the item is picked up like usual, but this will be considered as stealing. Even talking to Kecleon before leaving the shop won't do anything, as it wasn't set as a Kecleon shop item.

Kecleon glitch

A glitch in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness that allows the player to make Kecleon act as if it were part of the team without recruiting it. It is not present in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. It is not actually part of the team, only behaving as part of it, so it will not follow the team onto the next floor.

The team leader is required to wear a Pass Scarf and stand next to a Kecleon. When the team leader is attacked by a wild Pokémon and the attack is passed onto the Kecleon, Kecleon will attack the Pokémon who attacked it. After this Pokémon has fainted, Kecleon will be treated as if it were a team member for that floor, except it does not appear on the list as a team member. However, it is not actually a team member, so Kecleon will disappear once the team goes to the next floor.

By MrAlbrave

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

References

Glitches in the Pokémon games Multiple generations Transform glitches • Glitch Trainers • Cloning glitches • Error messages • Arbitrary code execution Generation I Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches -- • 0 ERROR • Broken hidden items • Cable Club escape glitch • Dual-type damage misinformation Experience underflow glitch • Fight Safari Zone Pokémon trick • Glitch City • Item duplication glitch • Item underflow Mew glitch • Old man glitch • Pewter Gym skip glitch • Pokémon merge glitch • Rhydon glitch • Rival twins glitch Select glitches (dokokashira door glitch, second type glitch) • Super Glitch Time Capsule exploit • Walking through walls • ZZAZZ glitch Generation II Glitches • Battle glitches Bug-Catching Contest glitch • Celebi Egg glitch • Coin Case glitches • Experience underflow glitch Glitch dimension • Glitch Egg • Teru-sama • Time Capsule exploit • Trainer House glitches • GS Ball mail glitch Generation III Glitches • Battle glitches Berry glitch • Dive glitch • Pomeg glitch • Glitzer Popping Generation IV Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Acid rain • GTS glitches • Pomeg glitch • Rage glitch Surf glitch • Tweaking • Pal Park Retire glitch Generation V Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Frozen Zoroark glitch • Sky Drop glitch Generation VI Glitches • Battle glitches • Overworld glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Lumiose City save glitch • Symbiosis Eject Button glitch • Toxic sure-hit glitch Generation VII Glitches • Battle glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Toxic sure-hit glitch • Rollout storage glitch Generation VIII Glitches Charge Beam additional effect chance glitch • Charge move replacement glitch • Choice item lock glitch Toxic sure-hit glitch • Rollout storage glitch • Party item offset glitch Generation IX Glitches Glitch effects Game freeze • Glitch battle • Glitch song Gen I only: Glitch screen • TMTRAINER effect • Inverted sprites Gen II only: Glitch dimension Lists Glitches (GO • Mystery Dungeon • TCG GB • Spin-off) Glitch Pokémon (Gen I • Gen II • Gen III • Gen IV • Gen V • Gen VI • Gen VII • Gen VIII) Glitch moves (Gen I) • Glitch types (Gen I • Gen II)

This glitch Pokémon article is part of Project GlitchDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on glitches in the Pokémon games.