Alpha Pokémon

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If you were looking for the other uses of Alpha, see Alpha (disambiguation).
The alpha Pokémon wallpaper in Pokémon HOME

An alpha Pokémon (Japanese: オヤブン boss) is a variety of Pokémon found in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. They are larger-than-normal Pokémon that appear in Hisui with increased combat capabilities. Alpha Pokémon can be identified with the Alpha icon.png icon in the Pokémon's summary screen and on their health bar in the wild (if transferred to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, they have the Alpha Mark instead). Additionally, wild alpha Pokémon have glowing red eyes, except for Zubat. However, they do not stay that way after they have been captured.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon who were previously identified as alpha Pokémon will have the title "Former Alpha" and with the Alpha Mark Alpha Mark.png instead.

In the core series games

Story

Shortly after the player joins the Survey Corps, an alpha Kricketune intrudes Deertrack Heights. Mai, the warden who oversees Wyrdeer, enlists Akari/Rei to help defeat the Kricketune, who in turn asks the player to aid Mai due to their skill in Pokémon battles.

While Ingo is leading the player through Wayward Cave, an alpha Crobat appears along the route. Ingo insists that the player not battle it due to the reduced visibility caused by the absence of the cave's torches, and leads them on a detour to avoid it. The player is unable to battle or catch this particular alpha Pokémon until Ingo reinstalls the torches in the cave.

During the three Trials of the Lake guardians, the player has to face an alpha Pokémon at each lake; Hisuian Goodra at Lake Verity, Overqwil at Lake Valor, and Hisuian Zoroark at Lake Acuity.

During the post-game, when the player goes to meet Volo at Grueling Grove, the two are ambushed by an alpha Vespiquen. After defeating the Pokémon, the player receives a Stone Plate from her.

Gameplay

In the wild, alpha Pokémon will be at a higher level than other species of the same kind that can be found in that area, will have at least three stats with individual values of 31 (expressed in this game as initial effort levels of 3) and will know and have mastered a move that cannot be learned by leveling up. Alpha Pokémon cannot be caught outside of battle if they are significantly higher level than the player's current obedience level. They can, however, be caught regardless of level during a battle with them. If caught, alpha Pokémon will count as heavy specimens and large specimens for research tasks. Regardless of the species' normal behavior, alpha Pokémon (except for Mantyke and Mantine) are always aggressive towards the player and will never run away, unless a space-time distortion appears around it or it is a species which only appears in the wild at certain times of day. If an alpha Pokémon spots the player, it will roar out a shockwave which, if close enough, will cause the player to be knocked to the ground; they are also forcibly dismounted from their Ride Pokémon if riding Wyrdeer, Ursaluna, or Sneasler.

Upon entering battle, wild alpha Pokémon are filled with Wild Might (Japanese: 野性の力 Wild Strength), as indicated by their glowing red eyes. This increases all of a Pokémon's stats, independently of in-battle stat boosts, and reduces damage from status conditions. Alpha Pokémon can also use agile style and strong style moves in battle.

There are three types of ways alpha Pokémon may spawn:

  • Fixed alpha Pokémon spawns will always be generated upon entering a given area of the Hisui region, and will be at a fixed level; for instance, the alpha Rapidash in the Obsidian Fieldlands is always Lv. 40. These alpha Pokémon will also automatically respawn after two full in-game days.
  • Random alpha Pokémon spawns may occur after the player has quelled the area's noble Pokémon. Alpha Pokémon, of the same species as the location's standard spawns, each have a small chance of appearing (between a 0.2% and 2% chance). Each location has its own rates for how likely each alpha Pokémon may spawn, including space-time distortions. Prior to the Daybreak update, during mass outbreaks, at most one alpha Pokémon could appear, however this limit was later lifted to account for the "exclusively alpha" bonus waves of massive mass outbreaks.
  • During a massive mass outbreak, clearing all Pokémon in a location may cause a second wave of Pokémon to appear in the same location; if this occurs, the second wave may be composed entirely of alpha Pokémon.

During the battle against Giratina at the Temple of Sinnoh, it will be filled with Terrible Might (Japanese: すさまじい力 Tremendous Strength), which has an identical effect to Wild Might.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, alpha Pokémon transferred from Legends: Arceus will gain the Alpha Mark. They will not retain their unique sizes in these games, but will return to their alpha size when brought back to Legends: Arceus. Instead, they will be appear as the largest non-alpha height value that the species could have.

Fixed alpha Pokémon

Fixed alpha Pokémon are specimens that always appear in their alpha form in a specific location. Some of these specimens do not spawn until after parts of the main story are completed, usually needing the region's frenzied Noble to be tamed before appearing in the overworld.

Species marked with an * can only be found as that single fixed alpha specimen, in rare or massive mass outbreaks, or a space-time distortion, but not anywhere else in the overworld.

Obsidian Fieldlands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0042
Menu LA 042.png
Golbat 35 Near Oreburrow Tunnel Nighttime All
0047
Menu LA 047.png
Parasect 30 Nature's Pantry All All
0065
Menu LA 065.png
Alakazam* 60 Sandgem Flats All All
0075
Menu LA 075.png
Graveler 30 Near Obsidian Falls All All
0078
Menu LA 078.png
Rapidash* 40 Horseshoe Plains All Sunny
0123
Menu LA 123.png
Scyther 42 Near Grandtree Arena All All
0129
Menu LA 129.png
Magikarp 55 Near Oreburrow Tunnel All All
0130
Menu LA 130.png
Gyarados 60 Lake Verity All All
0143
Menu LA 143.png
Snorlax 45 Near Sandgem Flats All All
0214
Menu LA 214.png
Heracross 45 Grueling Grove All All
0234
Menu LA 234.png
Stantler 42 Deertrack Heights All All
0242
Menu LA 242.png
Blissey 62 Near Obsidian Falls All All
0392
Menu LA 392.png
Infernape* 65 Ramanas Island All All
0397
Menu LA 397.png
Staravia 32 Windswept Run All All
0400
Menu LA 400.png
Bibarel 16 Tidewater Dam All All
0402
Menu LA 402.png
Kricketune 30 Near Tidewater Dam All All
0404
Menu LA 404.png
Luxio 40 Floaro Gardens All All
0419
Menu LA 419.png
Floatzel 31 Near Worn Bridge All All
0428
Menu LA 428.png
Lopunny 40 Near The Heartwood All All


Crimson Mirelands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0026
Menu LA 026.png
Raichu* 52 Near Golden Lowlands All All
0095
Menu LA 095.png
Onix 50 Near Diamond Settlement All All
0111
Menu LA 111.png
Rhyhorn 45 Diamond Heath All All
0217
Menu LA 217.png
Ursaring 55 Near Gapejaw Bog All All
0217
Menu LA 217.png
Ursaring 41 Ursa's Ring All All
0340
Menu LA 340.png
Whiscash 64 Lake Valor All All
0389
Menu LA 389.png
Torterra* 65 Holm of Trials All All
0407
Menu LA 407.png
Roserade* 50 Cloudpool Ridge Daytime All
0416
Menu LA 416.png
Vespiquen 61 Near Cottonsedge Prairie All All
0417
Menu LA 417.png
Pachirisu 40 Near Gapejaw Bog All All
0430
Menu LA 430.png
Honchkrow 55 Cloudpool Ridge Nighttime All
0435
Menu LA 435.png
Skuntank 45 Scarlet Bog All All
0450
Menu LA 450.png
Hippowdon 46 Gapejaw Bog All All
0454
Menu LA 454.png
Toxicroak 47 Holm of Trials All All
0455
Menu LA 455.png
Carnivine 43 Near Cottonsedge Prairie All All
0463
Menu LA 463.png
Lickilicky 52 Shrouded Ruins All All
0465
Menu LA 465.png
Tangrowth* 45 Gapejaw Bog All All
0469
Menu LA 469.png
Yanmega 58 Droning Meadow All All
0705
Menu LA 705H.png
Sliggoo
Hisuian Form
50 Holm of Trials All All


Cobalt Coastlands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0038
Menu LA 038.png
Ninetales* 61 Firespit Island All All
0055
Menu LA 055.png
Golduck 50 Bathers' Lagoon All All
0067
Menu LA 067.png
Machoke 40 Ginkgo Landing All All
0073
Menu LA 073.png
Tentacruel 50 Near Lunker's Lair All All
0113
Menu LA 113.png
Chansey 51 Tombolo Walk All All
0130
Menu LA 130.png
Gyarados 58 Near Sand's Reach All All
0211
Menu LA 211H.png
Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
55 Near Islespy Shore All All
0224
Menu LA 224.png
Octillery 46 Castaway Shore All All
0226
Menu LA 226.png
Mantine 50 Tranquility Cove All All
0365
Menu LA 365.png
Walrein 50 Ginkgo Landing All All
0395
Menu LA 395.png
Empoleon* 69 Islespy Shore All All
0414
Menu LA 414.png
Mothim 56 Spring Path All All
0423
Menu LA 423E.png
Gastrodon 61 Seagrass Haven All All
0424
Menu LA 424.png
Ambipom 50 Near Hideaway Bay All All
0432
Menu LA 432.png
Purugly 45 Veilstone Cape All All
0452
Menu LA 452.png
Drapion* 45 Near Ginkgo Landing All All
0457
Menu LA 457.png
Lumineon 60 Seagrass Haven All All
0477
Menu LA 477.png
Dusknoir* 65 Deadwood Haunt Nighttime All


Coronet Highlands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0036
Menu LA 036.png
Clefable* 62 Fabled Spring Nighttime All
0076
Menu LA 076.png
Golem* 60 Bolderoll Ravine All All
0169
Menu LA 169.png
Crobat 60 Wayward Cave All All
0207
Menu LA 207.png
Gligar 52 Near Celestica Ruins All All
0208
Menu LA 208.png
Steelix* 60 Celestica Trail All All
0405
Menu LA 405.png
Luxray 55 Sacred Plaza All All
0414
Menu LA 414.png
Mothim 55 Wayward Wood All All
0429
Menu LA 429.png
Mismagius* 61 Stonetooth Rows Nighttime All
0437
Menu LA 437.png
Bronzong 55 Near Clamberclaw Cliffs All All
0444
Menu LA 444.png
Gabite 56 Near Clamberclaw Cliffs All All
0455
Menu LA 455.png
Carnivine 52 Lonely Spring All All
0464
Menu LA 464.png
Rhyperior* 74 Near Sacred Plaza All All
0466
Menu LA 466.png
Electivire* 69 Cloudcap Pass All All
0472
Menu LA 472.png
Gliscor* 77 Near Primeval Grotto All All
0476
Menu LA 476.png
Probopass* 73 Near Primeval Grotto All All
0706
Menu LA 706H.png
Goodra*
Hisuian Form
70 Near Ancient Quarry All All


Alabaster Icelands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0068
Menu LA 068.png
Machamp* 70 Arena's Approach All All
0125
Menu LA 125.png
Electabuzz 65 Icebound Falls All All
0215
Menu LA 215H.png
Sneasel 61 Near Avalugg's Legacy All All
0220
Menu LA 220.png
Swinub 62 Near Bonechill Wastes All All
0221
Menu LA 221.png
Piloswine 65 Arena's Approach All All
0282
Menu LA 282.png
Gardevoir* 70 Heart's Crag Daytime All
0358
Menu LA 358.png
Chimecho 65 Near Lake Acuity All All
0362
Menu LA 362.png
Glalie 62 Bonechill Wastes All All
0445
Menu LA 445.png
Garchomp* 85 Avalanche Slopes All All
0448
Menu LA 448.png
Lucario 70 Icebound Falls All All
0460
Menu LA 460.png
Abomasnow 68 Bonechill Wastes All All
0473
Menu LA 473.png
Mamoswine* 68 Avalugg's Legacy All All
0475
Menu LA 475.png
Gallade* 70 Snowpoint Temple All All
0478
Menu LA 478.png
Froslass 72 Ice Column Chamber All All


Unique alpha Pokémon

These unique alpha Pokémon can only be found once during the storyline. With the exception of Vespiquen, they do not have the usual guarantee of any stats with individual values of 31 (starting effort levels of 3). The alpha Pokémon found in Acuity, Verity, and Valor Caverns are prevented from being Shiny, and have Scale values of 128 instead of 255. Hisuian Zoroark and Overqwil do not have other fixed alpha spawns on the map.

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Mission/Request Tutor move
0362
Menu LA 362.png
Glalie 64 Arena's Approach Request 86: "Gone Astray...in the Icelands" Iron Head
0402
Menu LA 402.png
Kricketune 12 Deertrack Heights Mission 5: "A Request from Mai" False Swipe
0416
Menu LA 416.png
Vespiquen 60 Grueling Grove Mission 20: "The Researcher of Myths" Sludge Bomb
0571
Menu LA 571H.png
Zoroark
Hisuian Form
58 Acuity Cavern Mission 16: "The Trial of Lake Acuity" None
0706
Menu LA 706H.png
Goodra
Hisuian Form
58 Verity Cavern Mission 14: "The Trial of Lake Verity" Iron Tail
0904
Menu LA 904.png
Overqwil* 58 Valor Cavern Mission 15: "The Trial of Lake Valor" Ice Ball


In animation

Pokémon: Hisuian Snow

In Two Hues, an alpha Garchomp attacked Alec and the Galaxy Team, but it was driven away by a Hisuian Zoroark that Alec had befriended in his youth as a Zorua.

Trivia

  • There is a third variant of the Wild Might effect in game data, called Terrific Might (Japanese: 偉大な力), which is a version of Wild Might without the stat boosts. Its usage within the game is unknown.
  • When alpha Combee and Gastrodon appear in the wild, only two of their eyes glow red.
  • When alpha Spiritomb appears in the wild, the lines in its Odd Keystone also glow red.
  • Interestingly, Arceus itself is also known as the Alpha Pokémon, though this similarity does not hold in Japanese.
  • Alpha Pokémon are guaranteed to have 31 in at least 3 of their IV stats, a trait that Legendary and Mythical Pokémon have also had since Generation VI.
  • Alpha Pokémon have a slightly different music track in battle. If the player starts a battle with an alpha Pokémon and one or more non-alpha Pokémon at the same time, then catches or defeats the alpha Pokémon, the music will transition back into the standard wild battle track.

Origin

Alpha Pokémon might be based on the concept of dominance hierarchy in biology. Amongst animal groups, an alpha is a member of the species that has a higher rank in the group's hierarchy, contrary to the beta members who are the more submissive ones. Alpha animals often employ aggression tactics to assert dominance and leadership over their specific groups. This concept may be seen in gameplay, where alpha Pokémon display an aggressive disposition even when members of said species typically would not. They also serve as leaders of the pack, as alpha Pokémon are regularly found in places where unevolved members of their species gather, and even show signs of territorialism, as some alpha Pokémon tend to come to the aid of the lesser members when alerted. Their Japanese name "boss" seems to reinforce this idea of hierarchical leadership.

In other languages

Alpha Pokémon

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 頭目 Tàuhmuhk
Mandarin 頭目 / 头目 Tóumù
France Flag.png French Pokémon Barons
Germany Flag.png German Elite-Pokémon
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokémon alfa
South Korea Flag.png Korean 우두머리 Udumeori
Spain Flag.png Spanish Espécimenes alfa

Wild Might

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 野性之力 Yéhsing-jī Lihk
Mandarin 野性之力 Yěxìng-zhī Lì
France Flag.png French Force sauvage
Germany Flag.png German Kraft der Wildnis
Italy Flag.png Italian Potenza selvatica
South Korea Flag.png Korean 야성의힘이 Yaseong-ui Himi
Spain Flag.png Spanish Poder salvaje

Terrible Might

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 驚駭之力 Gīngháaih-jī Lihk
Mandarin 驚駭之力 / 惊骇之力 Jīnghài-zhī Lì
France Flag.png French Force effroyable
Germany Flag.png German Unheilvolle Kraft
Italy Flag.png Italian Potenza spaventosa
South Korea Flag.png Korean 무시무시한힘 Musimusihan Himi
Spain Flag.png Spanish Poder tremebundo


Related articles

Pokémon forms and variants
Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (animated series)
Gender differencesForm differences (GO) • Brilliant PokémonAlpha Pokémon
Transformations: Mega Evolution (ShuffleMastersGO) • Primal Reversion (GO) • Bond Phenomenon
Ultra BurstDynamax (GO) • Gigantamax (GO) • EternamaxTerastal phenomenon
Groups: Totem PokémonNoble PokémonTitan Pokémon
Regional forms: AlolanGalarianHisuianPaldean
Analogous species: Paradox PokémonEcologically similar Pokémon
Species-specific: Arbok variantsPikachu variants (SurfingFlyingCosplayCap) • Ditto transformations
Miscellaneous: Giant PokémonSpiky-eared PichuPartner Pokémon (LGPE)
Fusions (GO) • Human–Pokémon transformation
Side series original: Colo/XD: Shadow PokémonShadow Lugia
Spin-off original: GO: Shadow Pokémon (GO)Battle-Only FormMighty Pokémon
Mystery Dungeon: Primal DialgaRumble: Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon)
Pokkén: Shadow MewtwoQuest: PokéxelNew Snap: Illumina phenomenon
Animation original: Pokémon the Series: Pink ButterfreeClone PokémonCrystal Onix
Mirage PokémonMeta GroudonGreen-crystal Deoxys
Manga original: Adventures: Thu-Fi-ZerElectric Tale: Black FogGolden Boys: Black Tyranitar
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