Special Pokémon

Special Pokémon (Japanese: 特別なポケモン Special Pokémon) is a term referring to a group of Legendary Pokémon in the core series games and side games that are restricted or banned from certain official tournaments, battle facilities, and link battle formats. With the exception of Mewtwo and Zygarde, they are all game mascots (but not all game mascots are Special Pokémon). While the concept exists in all generations, the term was not used until Generation IV.

Whenever special Pokémon are restricted or banned, Mythical Pokémon are banned. While often only special Pokémon are mentioned to be banned when both special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are, the description of the GS Cup indicates that Mythical Pokémon are not special Pokémon.

List

#		Type
0150	Mewtwo	Psychic
0249	Lugia	Psychic	Flying
0250	Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying
0382	Kyogre	Water
0383	Groudon	Ground
0384	Rayquaza	Dragon	Flying
0483	Dialga	Steel	Dragon
0484	Palkia	Water	Dragon
0487	Giratina	Ghost	Dragon
0643	Reshiram	Dragon	Fire
0644	Zekrom	Dragon	Electric
0646	Kyurem	Dragon	Ice
0716	Xerneas	Fairy
0717	Yveltal	Dark	Flying
0718	Zygarde	Dragon	Ground

Usage restrictions

Official tournaments

In Generation I, many official tournaments banned Mewtwo and Mew, the only existing Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon, respectively. As subsequent generations expanded both groups, the additional members were also banned from most official tournaments. However, some tournaments, such as the Mobile Cup 2001 and Pokémon Emerald Ultimate Frontier Brain Battle, only banned Mythical Pokémon and allowed Special Pokémon. Several online competitions specifically allow special Pokémon, or special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon.

At the Pokémon Video Game Showdown 2008, Dragonite, Tyranitar, and all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned. In the 2009 Pokémon Video Game Championships, Tyranitar and all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the 2010 Pokémon Video Game Championships, a player could have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the Pokémon Video Game Championships from 2011 to 2015, all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the 2016 Pokémon Video Game Championships, a player can have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon are banned.

Battle facilities

In Generation II, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon can only enter the Battle Tower if the level chosen is 70 or higher (Eggs are not allowed to enter).

From Generation III onward, Eggs, Spiky-eared Pichu, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from all battle facilities (except Trainer Tower and Trainer Hill). Additionally, in Generation IV, Rotom will revert to its normal form when entered in a battle facility.

Battle modes

Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from all cups in Pokémon Yellow's Colosseum 2, and all Stadium Cups except Prime Cup in Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2.

In the Generation IV games' special rulesets in link battles, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from the Fancy Cup and Light Cup (and the Little Cup implicitly). In the GS Cup, a player can only have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon are banned.

In Generation VI, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon cannot participate in Rating Battles in Battle Spot Random Matchup.

Global Trade System

In Generation VI on the Global Trade System, the player can choose to filter out people seeking special Pokémon. Doing so also filters out players seeking Mythical Pokémon.