User:N. Harmonik/Mandatory Party Pokémon

The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

A Mandatory Party Pokémon is a specific Pokémon that is mandatory to be in the party in certain events in the games. Frequently, this applies early in games when the player has only their first partner Pokémon and has not yet been given the ability to acquire other Pokémon or access trading or storage functionality. However, there are occasionally certain other scenarios in which this concept may apply. From XY onward, it is ensured that the player's storage can't legally be full when a mandatory catch comes by making sure the final box stays locked until the moment the player catches it so there's always a place to put it.

Generation V

At the climax of Pokémon Black and White, inside N's Castle, Reshiram^B/Zekrom^W will appear in front of the player and challenge them. The player must capture it to proceed to the final confrontation with N. The only exception occurs if the player has a full party, and a completely filled Storage System (a total of 726 individual Pokémon). In this case, Reshiram^B/Zekrom^W will reappear at the peak of Dragonspiral Tower after defeating N and Ghetsis.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y, after battling Korrina at the Gym, she will immediately invite the player to a rematch atop the Tower of Mastery. There, the Lucario that had become close to the player temporarily joins their team, and the two have a one-on-one battle, using just their Lucario, both holding a Lucarionite. Win or lose, the player has the option of getting the Lucario that joined them for the battle.

In the player's final confrontation with Team Flare at their secret headquarters in Geosenge Town, Xerneas^X or Yveltal^Y will be awakened and attack the player. Similar to Reshiram and Zekrom in Black and White, the player must capture it to proceed to the final confrontation with Lysandre; If it is defeated, it will instantly respawn. The only exception occurs if the player has a full party, and a completely filled Storage System (a total of 726 individual Pokémon). If the player's party is full, the player will have the chance to send one of their Pokémon to the PC to make room for the Legendary Pokémon. Xerneas or Yveltal is forced to move to the front of the party if there is room for it upon capture, but if the player already has a full team, they can choose to send it to the PC in which case, it's not forced to be in the party.

In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Rayquaza will insist on being in the party upon being captured and will then battle Zinnia, then Deoxys. If the player used hacks to fill up the locked box, the game will teach Dragon Ascent to a Pokémon other than Rayquaza.

Generation VIII

In the Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion pack, after completing all three trials, the player will receive a Kubfu from Mustard. The player is then tasked with training at either the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters with Kubfu alone. Completing its training will cause it to evolve into Urshifu in either its Fighting/Dark Single Strike Style or Fighting/Water Rapid Strike Style, depending on the place it trained.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it is necessary to have the Dialga or Palkia the player caught at Spear Pillar in the party in order to leave Jubilife Village to battle its counterpart.