Game mascot
The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information. |
The mascot of a Pokémon game is the Pokémon that appears on the boxart—and often label—of that game.
Early on, the mascot of a game was not necessarily relevant plot-wise, and did not even have to be met to complete the game. Generation III (with the exception of the Generation I remakes) began the trend of the game mascot being mandatory to encounter in order to progress the plot, and more recent games even force the player to catch the mascot to continue. Game mascot Pokémon are often given increased catch rates and the ability to respawn if they are defeated in order to account for this. All core series games have Legendary Pokémon as mascots, except for games where the player starts in Kanto, which feature a first partner Pokémon instead, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which lacks a game mascot on its boxart.
In general, only core series games have mascots, as most side series and spin-off games display multiple Pokémon on their box covers and so none of them qualify as mascots. The only current exceptions to this are Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Detective Pikachu, and Pokémon Sleep.
In most games, when pressing A or Start on the title screen, the game mascot's cry will be heard.
Core series
Generation I
Original games | Upper game(s) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
JP | Red Charizard |
Green Venusaur |
Blue Blastoise |
Pikachu Pikachu |
Final form of a first partner Pokémon | Sole first partner Pokémon | |||
INT | Red Charizard |
Blue Blastoise |
Yellow Pikachu | |
Final form of a first partner Pokémon | Sole first partner Pokémon |
Generation II
Original games | Upper game | |
---|---|---|
Gold Ho-Oh |
Silver Lugia |
Crystal Suicune |
Tower duo | Part of the legendary beasts |
Generation III
Original games | Upper game | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ruby Groudon |
Sapphire Kyogre |
Emerald Rayquaza | |||
Super-ancient Pokémon | |||||
Remakes | |||||
FireRed Charizard |
LeafGreen Venusaur | ||||
Final form of a first partner Pokémon |
Generation IV
Original games | Upper game | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diamond Dialga |
Pearl Palkia |
Platinum Origin Forme Giratina | |||
Pokémon of Myth | |||||
Remakes | |||||
HeartGold Ho-Oh |
SoulSilver Lugia | ||||
Tower duo |
Generation V
Original games | |
---|---|
Black Reshiram |
White Zekrom |
Two members of the Tao trio | |
Sequels | |
Black 2 Black Kyurem |
White 2 White Kyurem |
Formes of Kyurem, the third member of the Tao trio |
Generation VI
Original games | |
---|---|
X Xerneas |
Y Yveltal |
Two members of the aura trio | |
Remakes | |
Omega Ruby Primal Groudon |
Alpha Sapphire Primal Kyogre |
Primal forms of the rival members of the Super-ancient Pokémon |
Generation VII
Original games | Upper games | ||
---|---|---|---|
Sun Solgaleo |
Moon Lunala |
Ultra Sun Dusk Mane Necrozma |
Ultra Moon Dawn Wings Necrozma |
Light trio | |||
Remakes | |||
Let's Go, Pikachu! Pikachu |
Let's Go, Eevee! Eevee | ||
Partner Pokémon |
Generation VIII
Original games | Expansion Pass | ||
---|---|---|---|
Sword Crowned Sword Zacian |
Shield Crowned Shield Zamazenta |
The Isle of Armor Urshifu |
The Crown Tundra Calyrex |
Legendary heroes | The "secret armor" of the Master Dojo | King of Bountiful Harvests | |
Remakes | |||
Brilliant Diamond Dialga |
Shining Pearl Palkia | ||
Two members of the Pokémon of Myth |
Generation IX
Original games | The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero | ||
---|---|---|---|
Scarlet Apex Build Koraidon |
Violet Ultimate Mode Miraidon |
The Teal Mask Teal Mask Ogerpon |
The Indigo Disk Terastal Form Terapagos |
Paradox duo | The ogre of the land of Kitakami | The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero |
Side series
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
The picture used in this section is unsatisfactory. Please feel free to replace it so it conforms to Bulbapedia conventions. Reason: has compression artifacts |
Shadow Lugia |
XD001 the ultimate Shadow Pokémon |
Spin-off games
Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu |
Title character |
Pokémon Sleep
Snorlax |
Central character |
Related articles
This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |