Alpha Pokémon

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This article is about the wild Pokémon variant. For other uses, see Alpha (disambiguation). For the Pokémon whose category is "Alpha Pokémon", see Arceus.

The alpha Pokémon wallpaper in Pokémon HOME, featuring an alpha Ursaring

An alpha Pokémon (Japanese: オヤブン boss) is a variety of Pokémon that were introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. They are larger-than-normal Pokémon that appear in the wild with increased combat capabilities. Alpha Pokémon can be identified with the 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, unless it doesn't have eyes, such as Zubat or Greavard; this trait is not retained upon capture.

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

Alpha Pokémon returned in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, retaining the same traits and behavior as in Legends: Arceus.

In the core series games

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

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 it.

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, selected at random from among the species' list of Move Tutor moves. 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 at the largest non-alpha height value that the species can have.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Alpha Pokémon recently began appearing in Lumiose City, but the reason was never confirmed. Like in Legends: Arceus, alpha Pokémon are larger than is typical of their species, have red glowing eyes, and will chase and attack the player. Alpha Pokémon are always classified as XL-sized, though they are noticeably larger than non-alpha XL specimens. Alpha Pokémon will start to appear throughout Lumiose City after completing Main Mission 05: "The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower".

Alpha Pokémon all have the following benefits:

  • At least three random IVs at the maximum value of 31
  • Already have the maximum 252 EVs in HP
  • Know a mastered move not normally learn by level up; each species always gets the same mastered TM move

Wild alpha Pokémon tend to prioritize directly attacking the player over attacking their Pokémon. Unlike in Legends: Arceus, the player is not stunned if they are within range of an alpha's shockwave, instead receiving a minor amount of damage, which can cause blacking out if the player is at critical health. When in battle, wild alpha Pokémon have

  • ×2 applied to their Attack, Defense, Sp. Atk, and Sp. Def stats; this is analogous to their Wild Might buff from Legends: Arceus, but is never stated in-game
  • ×0.5 applied to their catch rate; this penalty is negated if the alpha Pokémon is knocked out, applying ×3 during the catch window (effectively ×1.5)

The real-time battle system gives the size of alpha Pokémon an impact on battles. Larger Pokémon are easier to hit, especially by indirect attacks in Z-A Battle Club. They also can get stuck more easily. Ranged attacks coming from a certain part of the body may come out at less accurate angles. However, direct attacks can benefit from larger hitboxes.

Fixed alpha Pokémon

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Also known as "static" 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
Golbat 35 Near Oreburrow Tunnel Nighttime All
0047
Parasect 30 Nature's Pantry All All
0065
Alakazam* 60 Sandgem Flats All All
0075
Graveler 30 Near Obsidian Falls All All
0078
Rapidash* 40 Horseshoe Plains All Sunny
0123
Scyther 42 Near Grandtree Arena All All
0129
Magikarp 55 Near Oreburrow Tunnel All All
0130
Gyarados 60 Lake Verity All All
0143
Snorlax 45 Near Sandgem Flats All All
0214
Heracross 45 Grueling Grove All All
0234
Stantler 42 Deertrack Heights All All
0242
Blissey 62 Near Obsidian Falls All All
0392
Infernape* 65 Ramanas Island All All
0397
Staravia 32 Windswept Run All All
0400
Bibarel 16 Tidewater Dam All All
0402
Kricketune 30 Near Tidewater Dam All All
0404
Luxio 40 Floaro Gardens All All
0419
Floatzel 31 Near Worn Bridge All All
0428
Lopunny 40 Near The Heartwood All All

Crimson Mirelands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0026
Raichu* 52 Near Golden Lowlands All All
0095
Onix 50 Near Diamond Settlement All All
0111
Rhyhorn 45 Diamond Heath All All
0217
Ursaring 55 Near Gapejaw Bog All All
0217
Ursaring 41 Ursa's Ring All All
0340
Whiscash 64 Lake Valor All All
0389
Torterra* 65 Holm of Trials All All
0407
Roserade* 50 Cloudpool Ridge Daytime All
0416
Vespiquen 61 Near Cottonsedge Prairie All All
0417
Pachirisu 40 Near Gapejaw Bog All All
0430
Honchkrow 55 Cloudpool Ridge Nighttime All
0435
Skuntank 45 Scarlet Bog All All
0450
Hippowdon 46 Gapejaw Bog All All
0454
Toxicroak 47 Holm of Trials All All
0455
Carnivine 43 Near Cottonsedge Prairie All All
0463
Lickilicky 52 Shrouded Ruins All All
0465
Tangrowth* 45 Gapejaw Bog All All
0469
Yanmega 58 Droning Meadow All All
0705
Sliggoo
Hisuian Form
50 Holm of Trials All All

Cobalt Coastlands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0038
Ninetales* 61 Firespit Island All All
0055
Golduck 50 Bathers' Lagoon All All
0067
Machoke 40 Ginkgo Landing All All
0073
Tentacruel 50 Near Lunker's Lair All All
0113
Chansey 51 Tombolo Walk All All
0130
Gyarados 58 Near Sand's Reach All All
0211
Qwilfish
Hisuian Form
55 Near Islespy Shore All All
0224
Octillery 46 Castaway Shore All All
0226
Mantine 50 Tranquility Cove All All
0365
Walrein 50 Ginkgo Landing All All
0395
Empoleon* 69 Islespy Shore All All
0414
Mothim 56 Spring Path All All
0423
Gastrodon 61 Seagrass Haven All All
0424
Ambipom 50 Near Hideaway Bay All All
0432
Purugly 45 Veilstone Cape All All
0452
Drapion* 45 Near Ginkgo Landing All All
0457
Lumineon 60 Seagrass Haven All All
0477
Dusknoir* 65 Deadwood Haunt Nighttime All

Coronet Highlands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0036
Clefable* 62 Fabled Spring Nighttime All
0076
Golem* 60 Bolderoll Ravine All All
0169
Crobat 60 Wayward Cave All All
0207
Gligar 52 Near Celestica Ruins All All
0208
Steelix* 60 Celestica Trail All All
0405
Luxray 55 Sacred Plaza All All
0414
Mothim 55 Wayward Wood All All
0429
Mismagius* 61 Stonetooth Rows Nighttime All
0437
Bronzong 55 Near Clamberclaw Cliffs All All
0444
Gabite 56 Near Clamberclaw Cliffs All All
0455
Carnivine 52 Lonely Spring All All
0464
Rhyperior* 74 Near Sacred Plaza All All
0466
Electivire* 69 Cloudcap Pass All All
0472
Gliscor* 77 Near Primeval Grotto All All
0476
Probopass* 73 Near Primeval Grotto All All
0706
Goodra*
Hisuian Form
70 Near Ancient Quarry All All

Alabaster Icelands

# Pokémon Level Sub-Location Time of Day Weather
0068
Machamp* 70 Arena's Approach All All
0125
Electabuzz 65 Icebound Falls All All
0215
Sneasel 61 Near Avalugg's Legacy All All
0220
Swinub 62 Near Bonechill Wastes All All
0221
Piloswine 65 Arena's Approach All All
0282
Gardevoir* 70 Heart's Crag Daytime All
0358
Chimecho 65 Near Lake Acuity All All
0362
Glalie 62 Bonechill Wastes All All
0445
Garchomp* 85 Avalanche Slopes All All
0448
Lucario 70 Icebound Falls All All
0460
Abomasnow 68 Bonechill Wastes All All
0473
Mamoswine* 68 Avalugg's Legacy All All
0475
Gallade* 70 Snowpoint Temple All All
0478
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 Location Sub-Location Mission/Request Tutor move
0362
Glalie 64 Alabaster Icelands Arena's Approach Request 86: "Gone Astray...in the Icelands" Iron Head
0402
Kricketune 12 Obsidian Fieldlands Deertrack Heights Mission 5: "A Request from Mai" False Swipe
0416
Vespiquen 60 Obsidian Fieldlands Grueling Grove Mission 20: "The Researcher of Myths" Sludge Bomb
0571
Zoroark
Hisuian Form
58 Alabaster Icelands Acuity Cavern Mission 16: "The Trial of Lake Acuity" None
0706
Goodra
Hisuian Form
58 Obsidian Fieldlands Verity Cavern Mission 14: "The Trial of Lake Verity" Iron Tail
0904
Overqwil 58 Crimson Mirelands Valor Cavern Mission 15: "The Trial of Lake Valor" Ice Ball

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Similar to Legends: Arceus, fixed alpha Pokémon in Legends: Z-A always appear in their alpha form in a specific location.

Species marked with * cannot be found anywhere in the wild except as alpha Pokémon, outside of Mega Dimension.

# Pokémon Levels Location Time of Day
0014 Kakuna 19-21 Magenta District All
0015 Beedrill 51-52 Wild Zone 15 Daytime
0016 Pidgey 24-26 Wild Zone 1 All
0018 Pidgeot 40-42 Jaune District All
0024 Arbok 50-52 Wild Zone 10 All
0024 Arbok 59-60 Lysandre Labs All
0025 Pikachu 40-42 Wild Zone 6 All
0035 Clefairy 58-60 Wild Zone 19 Nighttime
0069 Bellsprout 24-25 Wild Zone 5 All
0070 Weepinbell 46-47 Wild Zone 13 Daytime
0080 Slowbro* 42-44 Wild Zone 11 All
0120 Staryu 30-32 Wild Zone 2 Nighttime
0129 Magikarp 30-32 Wild Zone 2 Daytime
0167 Spinarak 20-21 Wild Zone 4 All
0181 Ampharos* 52-53 Wild Zone 16 All
0229 Houndoom 32-33 Wild Zone 6 All
0303 Mawile 56-57 Wild Zone 17 All
0310 Manectric 40-41 Wild Zone 9 All
0319 Sharpedo 41-43 Wild Zone 10 All
0323 Camerupt* 39-40 Wild Zone 8 All
0354 Banette 52-53 Wild Zone 15 Nighttime
0373 Salamence* 61-62 Wild Zone 18 All
0428 Lopunny* 55-56 Wild Zone 18 All
0460 Abomasnow* 43-45 Wild Zone 12 All
0504 Patrat 21-24 Vert District All
0505 Watchog 41-43 Wild Zone 10 All
0511 Pansage 23-26 Rouge District All
0511 Pansage 24-27 Bleu District All
0513 Pansear 23-26 Rouge District All
0513 Pansear 24-27 Bleu District All
0515 Panpour 23-26 Rouge District All
0515 Panpour 24-27 Bleu District All
0530 Excadrill 48-49 Wild Zone 14 All
0544 Whirlipede 27-28 Wild Zone 5 All
0552 Krokorok 37-38 Wild Zone 8 All
0568 Trubbish 21-23 Vert District All
0569 Garbodor 38-40 Jaune District All
0661 Fletchling 30-31 Wild Zone 3 All
0662 Fletchinder 32-33 Wild Zone 7 All
0667 Litleo 23-24 Wild Zone 3 All
0668 Pyroar
Male
56-57 Wild Zone 15 All
0669 Flabébé
Red Flower
20-23 Jaune District All
0669 Flabébé
Orange Flower
21-23 Jaune District All
0669 Flabébé
Yellow Flower
21-23 Jaune District All
0669 Flabébé
Blue Flower
21-23 Jaune District All
0669 Flabébé
White Flower
20-23 Jaune District All
0676 Furfrou 58-61 Wild Zone 19 Daytime
(except mornings)
0678 Meowstic
Male
41-42 Wild Zone 9 Nighttime
0678 Meowstic
Female
41-42 Wild Zone 9 Daytime
0682 Spritzee 26-29 Rouge District All
0684 Swirlix 28-31 Magenta District All
0688 Binacle 32-34 Wild Zone 6 All
0693 Clawitzer* 42-44 Wild Zone 11 All
0709 Trevenant 47-48 Wild Zone 13 Nighttime
0711 Gourgeist
Medium Variety
52-53 Wild Zone 15 All
0713 Avalugg* 54-56 Wild Zone 12 All

Wild Zone 20

Each time the player enters Wild Zone 20, two random spawns are chosen to appear at the center of the zone, each of which can be any of the following alpha Pokémon.

# Pokémon Levels # Pokémon Levels # Pokémon Levels # Pokémon Levels
0026 Raichu* 63-64 0036 Clefable 63-64 0065 Alakazam* 64-65 0068 Machamp* 64-65
0071 Victreebel* 63-64 0094 Gengar 63-64 0115 Kangaskhan 64-65 0121 Starmie 63-64
0127 Pinsir 63-64 0130 Gyarados 64-65 0134 Vaporeon* 63-64 0135 Jolteon* 63-64
0136 Flareon* 63-64 0149 Dragonite* 64-65 0168 Ariados 63-64 0214 Heracross 63-64
0225 Delibird 63-64 0227 Skarmory 63-64 0248 Tyranitar* 64-65 0282 Gardevoir 64-65
0302 Sableye 63-64 0306 Aggron 64-65 0308 Medicham 63-64 0334 Altaria 64-65
0359 Absol 64-65 0376 Metagross* 64-65 0407 Roserade 63-64 0445 Garchomp* 64-65
0448 Lucario 64-65 0450 Hippowdon 63-64 0470 Leafeon* 63-64 0471 Glaceon* 63-64
0475 Gallade* 64-65 0478 Froslass* 63-64 0512 Simisage* 63-64 0514 Simisear* 63-64
0516 Simipour* 63-64 0545 Scolipede 63-64 0553 Krookodile* 63-64 0560 Scrafty 63-64
0569 Garbodor 64-65 0584 Vanilluxe* 63-64 0604 Eelektross* 64-65 0609 Chandelure* 64-65
0618 Stunfisk 63-64 0660 Diggersby 63-64 0663 Talonflame 63-64 0666 Vivillon
Meadow Pattern
63-64
0671 Florges
Red Flower
64-65 0673 Gogoat 63-64 0675 Pangoro* 64-65 0676 Furfrou 63-64
0681 Aegislash 64-65 0687 Malamar 64-65 0689 Barbaracle 64-65 0691 Dragalge 64-65
0695 Heliolisk* 64-65 0700 Sylveon* 63-64 0701 Hawlucha 63-64 0702 Dedenne 63-64
0703 Carbink 63-64 0706 Goodra* 64-65 0707 Klefki 63-64 0711 Gourgeist
Medium Variety
63-64
0715 Noivern 63-64 0780 Drampa 64-65 0870 Falinks 64-65

Unique alpha Pokémon

During Main Mission 40: "The One That Gives", three unique Alpha Pokémon spawn, and each of them must be caught or defeated to progress the mission. If they are defeated without being caught, they will be permanently missed, and can never respawn again. They are referred to as "Anomalous Alphas" by Mable and in her Pokédex Research, specifically Investigating Anomalous Alphas.

# Pokémon Level Location
0208 Steelix* 70 Wild Zone 3
0475 Gallade* 70 Wild Zone 5
0675 Pangoro* 70 Wild Zone 9

In animation

An alpha Garchomp in Pokémon: Hisuian Snow

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
French Pokémon Barons
German Elite-Pokémon
Italian Pokémon alfa
Korean 우두머리 Udumeori
Spanish Espécimenes alfa

Wild Might

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 野性之力 Yéhsing jī Lihk
Mandarin 野性之力 Yěxìng zhī Lì
French Force sauvage
German Kraft der Wildnis
Italian Potenza selvatica
Korean 야성의힘이 Yaseong-ui Himi
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
French Force effroyable
German Unheilvolle Kraft
Italian Potenza spaventosa
Korean 무시무시한힘 Musimusihan Himi
Spanish Poder tremebundo

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