Walking Pokémon
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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Tables of the quotes from interacting with walking Pokémon in each game, including location- or Pokémon-specific quotes |
Walking Pokémon are Pokémon that walk alongside their Trainer when they normally would be inside their Poké Balls outside of battle.
A walking Pokémon will follow behind its Trainer and can be interacted with if the player turns back and talks to them. The first game that this appeared in was Pokémon Yellow. This feature returns in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum and to a greater extent in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Walking and rideable Pokémon also appear in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. Pokémon walking alongside their Trainers is a common occurrence in the animated series as well as the Pokémon Adventures manga.
In the core series games
Pokémon Yellow
- Main article: Pikachu (Yellow)
In Pokémon Yellow, when the player runs into Professor Oak at the entrance of Pallet Town, a wild Pikachu appears and attacks Oak, forcing him to capture it to keep the player out of danger. Back in the Oak Pokémon Research Lab, Blue takes an Eevee, the Pokémon originally intended for the player, so Professor Oak gives the player the Pikachu that he caught instead. Pikachu refuses to stay in its Poké Ball and insists on following the player around on foot.
By turning around and talking to Pikachu, the player can learn how it feels and what it thinks about them. At the beginning of the game, Pikachu is unhappy to be stuck with the player. By using it in many battles and keeping it healthy, however, it will change its attitude towards the player. Pikachu displays a variety of expressions, including anger, shock, fear, and love, as it reacts to both the player and its surroundings. If Pikachu is traded to another game, evolved into a Raichu, then traded back, it will no longer be treated as the player's partner Pikachu.
Pikachu has many expressions, and some events will trigger certain expressions. For example, when it first meets the player, Pikachu is not happy to see them and will sometimes turn its back towards them. If the player decides to speak to Pikachu, a small image of its current emotion will pop up. The image also indicates how much Pikachu likes the player. When Pikachu enters the Pokémon Fan Club, it will fall in love with a Clefairy, changing its expression again. When first going into the Sea Cottage, Bill, who was experimenting with his cellular teleportation device, is stuck in the form of a Pokémon. Pikachu will run to him and exchange confused looks. After Bill is rescued and transformed back to his original self, Pikachu will have a look of shock. Pikachu will also change its expression when it is inflicted with a status condition, such as poison, where Pikachu will feel sick, or sleep. In Pewter City's Pokémon Center, there is a Jigglypuff that will sing a lullaby if talked to, and Pikachu will fall asleep and not move unless awakened by the player—Nurse Joy will comment on Pikachu's sleep if talked to. When entering the Pokémon Tower, Pikachu will feel scared and shudder fearfully. If the player uses a fishing rod, then checks Pikachu, it will appear with a bucket over its head. Besides showing Pikachu's emotions and friendship, the image can also show several other 'events' such as when Pikachu learns Thunderbolt, where it will shock the player. Also, if the player tries to use a Thunder Stone on it, Pikachu will shake its head in refusal.
If the player character jumps over a ledge and leaves Pikachu above it for a short while, Pikachu will start to dance. Pikachu also blocks the line of sight of NPC Trainers to the player; they will not approach the player for battle if Pikachu is standing in the way.
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
- Main article: Amity Square
Amity Square, located on the north side of Hearthome City in Sinnoh, allows several select Pokémon to follow the player around within its borders. An expansion on the concept introduced in Pokémon Yellow, Amity Square allows the player's Pokémon to pick up Accessories for Super Contests and Berries, which vary depending on which Pokémon is allowed in.
Only 11 of the 493 Pokémon are allowed into Amity Square in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Pikachu, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Torchic, Shroomish, Skitty, Pachirisu, Drifloon, Buneary, and Happiny. These Pokémon typically have some appearance elsewhere in Sinnoh, or are regarded as popular Pokémon in the franchise; most have somewhat of a mascot status due to appearing under the ownership of a main character of Pokémon the Series.
In Diamond and Pearl only, if the Pokémon is Shiny, it will not appear Shiny in the overworld. In Pokémon Platinum, nine additional Pokémon are allowed into Amity Square: the Sinnoh region's first partner Pokémon and their evolutions. In addition, Amity Square itself has been redesigned and expanded.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Walking Pokémon return to their former prominence in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, being able to walk with players throughout the entire game.
The Pokémon in the player's party that would be sent into battle walks with the player in the overworld. This means that if the Pokémon in the first slot is fainted, the Pokémon in the second slot will walk with them, and so on.
When sent into battle, the player's walking Pokémon appears from the side rather than from a Poké Ball (like the Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow). If a walking Pokémon uses a field move, such as Cut or Headbutt, it will be shown to use the move in the overworld.
There are few instances wherein the first Pokémon in the party will not follow players. For example, riding a bicycle will send the Pokémon back to its Poké Ball. Certain locations, such as Blackthorn Gym and the Global Terminal, also prohibit the walking Pokémon from following players. Large Pokémon, such as Wailord, will be sent back to their Poké Balls when entering most buildings. If the Pokémon is not following the player, it will be sent into battle from a Poké Ball instead of entering from the side, even if it would be walking with the player if it could.
Much like in other games, it is possible to interact with the walking Pokémon. Checking the Pokémon will cause a small image of its current mood to pop up (like in Pokémon Yellow). The walking Pokémon will also sometimes interact with the overworld; for example, an event Pichu becoming interested in a wild Pichu from the past in Ilex Forest, or an event Arceus allowing players to obtain a member of the Pokémon of Myth at level 1. Walking Pokémon will occasionally pick up Accessories, depending on the location it found the item. In some cases, the Pokémon will refuse to hand over the item it has picked up, and will remain angry at the player for a while after trying to take it. Certain Pokémon will react in a unique way if spoken to in a certain place. For example, speaking to a Sudowoodo on Route 36 will cause it to imitate a tree. When the player calls Lyra or Ethan, they will give information on which Pokémon will react to the player's current location.
Some Pokémon will react either happily or unhappily depending on the environment they are in. For example, Fire-type Pokémon react unhappily if they are forced to walk in water on a beach. The game then states that the Pokémon does not like to get wet feet. The game also states that Fire-type Pokémon will appear unhappy for some reason if they are forced to enter a rainy route. Grass-type Pokémon will react unhappily if they are in icy terrains, such as Ice Path, or hotter places, such as Blackthorn Gym.
Sometimes, the walking Pokémon can find a Shiny Leaf, a very rare item, while walking on certain routes. When it is found by a Pokémon, it will have no apparent presence other than in that Pokémon's status screen. Once five Shiny Leaves are found, Lyra/Ethan will make a Leaf Crown out of the Shiny Leaves, which adds a star on the player's Trainer card.
When fishing, the odds of getting a bite are impacted by the friendship of the walking Pokémon. The higher the walking Pokémon's friendship is, the higher chance the player has of getting a bite.
When breaking rocks, the odds of finding an item are increased by flat 5% if the action is performed by the walking Pokémon.
Non-player characters
Certain non-player characters also let their Pokémon follow them around. Marill follows Ethan/Lyra throughout the character's encounters with the player. Lance is accompanied by his Dragonite during his raid on the Team Rocket HQ. Magnus is followed by his faithful Poliwrath during his tour of the Pokéathlon Dome. As a testament to his changed attitudes towards training his partners, Silver's stolen first partner Pokémon is let out of its Poké Ball during their training in the Dragon's Den. Notably, like the player's own walking Pokémon, those that are seen being sent into battle are correctly shown entering from the side of the screen rather than emerging from a Poké Ball.
Gallery
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Main article: Humilau City
In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, in the northwest of Humilau City, there is a house the player can visit. Inside is a Socialite who has a Mienfoo. She will ask the player to walk her Mienfoo, and if the player accepts, the Mienfoo will follow the player entirely around the building in the manner of a walking Pokémon from the previous generations. If the player walks with Mienfoo until it is satisfied, the Socialite will give the player a Pearl as a reward. However, if they quit before Mienfoo is satisfied, she will not give them an item and they will be unable to walk Mienfoo until the next day.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
While the player themselves cannot walk with their own Pokémon, they are able to interact and play with multiple Pokémon found on the overworld. Hau's first partner Pokémon is often seen outside its Poké Ball, and Hau will lead with it, using a special animation where it appears without being released from its ball, until it reaches its final evolutionary form. According to the Ultra Recon Squad, Trainers from Ultra Space typically do not keep their Pokémon in Poké Balls, as shown by Ultra Sun's Ultra Forest Kartenvoys. The Recon Squad take to using Beast Balls after studying Alolan culture.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
The ability for Pokémon from the player's party to follow the player around returned in this title. These Pokémon may find items for the player in specific locations, an action that can be repeated daily. In some cases, certain Pokémon will give distinct reactions to certain objects. The player can ride certain larger Pokémon, including Charizard, Arcanine, Onix, Rapidash, Dodrio, and Dragonite. In addition, their partner, PikachuP/EeveeE, can always be seen riding on their shoulder or head regardless of what Pokémon they have selected to follow them.
List of Ridable Pokémon
| Pokémon | Additional effects | |
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Charizard | Fly over obstacles* Can encounter flying wild Pokémon* |
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Persian | Speed up |
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Arcanine | Speed up |
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Machamp | N/A |
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Rapidash | Speed up |
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Dodrio | N/A |
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Haunter | N/A |
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Onix | Can encounter flying wild Pokémon |
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Rhyhorn | Speed up |
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Rhydon | N/A |
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Kangaskhan | N/A |
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Starmie | N/A |
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Tauros | N/A |
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Gyarados | While using Sea Skim |
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Lapras | While using Sea Skim |
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Aerodactyl | Fly over obstacles* Can encounter flying wild Pokémon* |
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Snorlax | N/A |
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Dragonite | Fly over obstacles* Can encounter flying wild Pokémon* |
Pokémon Sword and Shield
In Sword and Shield, after completing the third trial in the Master Dojo, Mustard will allow the Pokémon in the player's first party slot to follow them around the Isle of Armor. Some will even follow the player into the water if they are a Water-type Pokémon capable of swimming or if they are a Flying-type Pokémon or Pokémon capable of flying or levitating. Otherwise, Pokémon that do not follow these attributes will disappear if the player enters the water, but will reappear once the player reaches land. The speed at which Pokémon move will vary from individual Pokémon. This feature can be toggled off by an NPC in the Master Dojo if the player so wishes.
The feature carries over to the Crown Tundra once the player reaches Freezington and first meets the mayor, who will give the player the right to have the first Pokémon in their party follow them around the Crown Tundra. The same features from the Isle of Armor carry over, and likewise, the feature can be toggled off by an NPC in Freezington.
Walking Pokémon is exclusive to the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra locations, and does not carry over to mainland Galar.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the player may walk with a Pokémon after visiting Amity Square. Pokémon may follow the player in most outdoor areas, such as towns and routes, but are returned to their Poké Balls in indoor locations and certain other areas, like the lakes of Sinnoh.
While a Pokémon is walking, it may find a Berry. The game gives no indication of this until the player interacts with the Pokémon, when it will give them the Berry. The Berries a Pokémon can find are determined by its Nature; some Berries within each set appear to be rarer than others. If no walking Pokémon has found a Berry in the last 4 hours, then every 200 steps the Pokémon moves (whether to catch up with the player or by being pushed), it has a chance of finding a Berry. The chance of finding a Berry is tied to the Pokémon's friendship, with Pokémon with 1 friendship having approximately a 5% chance every 200 steps and Pokémon with 255 friendship having approximately a 45% chance. If the walking Pokémon has found a Berry and is put away or the game is reset (with a save point after it found the Berry), the Berry is lost; the timer still counts from when the Pokémon found the Berry.
| Hardy, Brave, Adamant, Naughty, Bold, Impish, Hasty, Sassy, Quirky |
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 Figy Berry
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 Iapapa Berry
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 Tamato Berry
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 Yache Berry
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 Chople Berry
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 Payapa Berry
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 Tanga Berry
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 Colbur Berry
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 Babiri Berry
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 Salac Berry
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 Lansat Berry
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 Micle Berry
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| Lonely, Docile, Timid, Quiet, Bashful, Calm, Gentle, Careful |
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 Wiki Berry
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 Pomeg Berry
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 Kelpsy Berry
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 Qualot Berry
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 Hondew Berry
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 Grepa Berry
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 Passho Berry
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 Kebia Berry
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 Charti Berry
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 Chilan Berry
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 Apicot Berry
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 Enigma Berry
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 Jaboca Berry
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| Relaxed, Lax, Serious, Jolly, Naive, Modest, Mild, Rash |
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 Mago Berry
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 Aguav Berry
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 Occa Berry
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 Wacan Berry
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 Rindo Berry
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 Shuca Berry
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 Coba Berry
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 Kasib Berry
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 Haban Berry
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 Petaya Berry
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 Starf Berry
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 Custap Berry
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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- Main article: Let's Go!
At the beginning of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, after Clavell leaves the three first partner Pokémon with the player, they will follow him/her around Cabo Poco until they reach Nemona's house. After the player chooses one of them, the Let's Go! feature is unlocked. It allows the player to send out the lead Pokémon in their party to follow them around the overworld. New features introduced in this generation include auto-battling wild Pokémon and some Pokémon needing to meet certain criteria using the Let's Go! feature to evolve.
The Artazon Gym's test consists of finding 10 Sunflora that will follow the player upon interacting with or defeating them.
In The Teal Mask DLC, Ogerpon will temporaily follow the player after saving her from the Loyal Three at the Dreaded Den.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon GO
- Main article: Buddy Pokémon
In Pokémon GO, the player can walk with one of their Pokémon as a Buddy Pokémon in order to earn Candy for that Pokémon's evolutionary line.
Pokémon Ranger series
In the Pokémon Ranger series, the captured Pokémon follow the player character.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Several Pokémon walk with their Trainers outside of their Poké Balls in the animated series.
The most well known walking Pokémon in the series is Ash's Pikachu. On Ash's first day as a Trainer, Pikachu adamantly refused to go back into his Poké Ball after being sent out from it in Professor Oak's Laboratory, and afterward revealed to Ash that he did not like being inside the Ball. Although Ash insisted Pikachu to go inside for protection against the angry flock of Spearow, Pikachu still did not. Pikachu has not been inside of his, or any, Poké Ball since then, except for Mewtwo Strikes Back, where he was confined in one of Mewtwo's Mewtwo Balls.
Meowth is the only walking Pokémon in the series who does not have a Trainer while spending prolonged time with humans; as Jessie and James are his teammates assigned to him by Giovanni rather than any of the three humans officially owning him. As seen several times in Pokémon the Series: Black & White and during A Frenzied Factory Fiasco!, Poké Balls will draw Meowth inside for a capture attempt, showing that he is still a wild Pokémon. In his case, however, he strongly resists capture and will attempt to break out of the device every time.
Misty's Togepi is another Pokémon in the series famous for never being recalled to a Poké Ball, and even more notably, having never been seen to be in a Poké Ball at all. Ash found it as an Egg in Grampa Canyon in Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, and it was cared for by Brock until it was stolen by Team Rocket, subsequently hatching in Misty's arms. It served as a companion to Pikachu throughout the series from its debut until Misty's departure, and was eventually released as a Togetic by Misty during her brief return in A Togepi Mirage!. Some do not count it as a walking Pokémon since it never had any Poké Ball, even though it acted like a caught Pokémon for an extensive period of time.
Several of Team Rocket's Pokémon travel with them out of their Poké Ball. As a running gag, Jessie's Wobbuffet emerges from his Poké Ball frequently, without his Trainer's asking, and often at inappropriate times. James's Chimecho and Mime Jr. are also often outside of their Poké Balls.
Dawn's Piplup is typically a walking Pokémon. Although he was seen more often inside his Poké Ball at the beginning of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, since Journey To The Unown!, Dawn often carries him around in her arms. In some episodes, Piplup is shown to ride on either her head or her shoulder. Unlike Pikachu, Piplup has not indicated that he has ever had a problem with staying inside his Poké Ball, and he will let himself be recalled before being used in Pokémon Contests so his entrance can be enhanced with the use of Ball Capsule and Seals.
Iris's Axew is another walking Pokémon, as instead of staying in a Poké Ball, he enjoys staying in Iris's hair. When the elder of the Village of Dragons first presented him to Iris, he was seen in a basket without a Poké Ball around it. As a Haxorus, he now appears to stay in his Poké Ball.
Clemont's Dedenne is another walking Pokémon in Ash's group, usually appearing in Bonnie's bag. While Dedenne was officially caught by Clemont, he caught Dedenne on Bonnie's request and allows her to take care of it. Clemont even left Dedenne in Bonnie's possession while he returned to Lumiose Gym to train for his battle with Ash.
In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, all of Ash's classmates at the Pokémon School have at least one or two walking Pokémon alongside them, including Lana's Popplio, Mallow's Tsareena, Sophocles's Togedemaru, Kiawe's Turtonator, Snowy, Sophocles's Charjabug, Kiawe's Marowak, Sandy, and the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin, although it was still a wild Pokémon as it was being taken care of. Ash himself has most of his Alolan Pokémon outside with him, including Rowlet, who usually sleeps in his backpack, Lycanroc, Torracat, the Ultra Beast Poipole, and the Mythical Pokémon Meltan.
Goh's first partner Pokémon from Galar are another group of walking Pokémon in Pokémon Journeys: The Series, as they usually stay out with him until two out of three evolved. Ash himself also gets another walking Pokémon in his Riolu, as he often had it stay outside its Poké Ball until it evolved.
Main characters
Recurring characters
Characters of the day
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
In Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Liko, Roy, and Dot have their Paldea first partner Pokémon — Floragato, Crocalor, and Quaxwell — walk with them. Liko's Hatenna also usually sat or rested in her hood before she evolved. Additionally, Dot's Tinkatink usually stayed outside her Poké Ball before she evolved. Different from the other Pokémon, Terapagos accompanies Liko even though it's not officially caught by her.
Main characters
Recurring characters
In the manga
Ash & Pikachu
Ash and Misty have a Pikachu and Togepi who are kept out of their Poké Balls.
List of walking Pokémon
| Pokémon | Trainer | First appearance |
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| Ash's Pikachu | Ash | Hoppip, the Wind Calls! |
| Misty's Togepi | Misty | Hoppip, the Wind Calls! |
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
Ash has a Pikachu that he met under the floorboards of his house.
List of walking Pokémon
| Pokémon | Trainer | First appearance |
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| Ash's Pikachu | Ash | Pikachu, I See You! |
Pokémon Adventures
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Expand with more examples |
Kanto
In the Yellow arc, Pika (Red's Pikachu) went together with Yellow on a quest to find Red, which was mysteriously missing. During this journey with Yellow, Pika was walking outside of his Poké Ball, because Red's Poké Balls disappeared with him. This may be a reference to the fact that the player's Pikachu follows him in Pokémon Yellow.
Hoenn
From the Ruby & Sapphire arc onwards, Peeko (Mr. Briney's Wingull) is often seen following him rather than kept inside of a Poké Ball.
Movie adaptations
Similar to the animated series, several Pokémon walk with their Trainers.
List of walking Pokémon
Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl
As with the animated series, Ash and Dawn have walking Pokémon.
List of walking Pokémon
| Pokémon | Trainer | First appearance |
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| Ash's Pikachu | Ash | PDP01 |
| Dawn's Piplup | Dawn | PDP02 |
Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!
Shu has a Pikachu who is kept outside of his Poké Ball.
List of walking Pokémon
| Pokémon | Trainer | First appearance |
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| Shu's Pikachu | Shu | Shu and Pikachu's Debut! |
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Red has some Pokémon that he kept outside of their Poké Balls.
List of walking Pokémon
| Pokémon | Trainer | First appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Red's Clefairy | Red | Introducing the Pokémon, Clefairy!! |
| Red's Pikachu | Red | Bring Down the Powerful Opponent Onix!! |
| Red's Togepi | Red | Hatch the Pokémon Egg!! |
| Red's Tyrogue | Red | Togepi's Determination |
In the novels
Pokémon Tales
In Pikachu's Unparalleled Adventure, a boy has a Elekid and a girl has a Pikachu. Those Pokémon walk alongside their Trainers.
In other media
POKÉMON Detective Pikachu
Since Poké Balls are illegal in Ryme City, most Pokémon in POKÉMON Detective Pikachu are seen walking alongside their Trainers. Most notably, Harry Goodman's Pikachu and Lucy Stevens's Psyduck are never seen in a Poké Ball throughout the movie.
Trivia
- Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire is the only series of Pokémon the Series to date to not have any walking Pokémon besides Pikachu in Ash's group.
- Pokémon Sun and Moon contains walking and running animations for Pokémon that mostly go unused. Some of them, however, are used in the games' Poké Finder function on the Rotom Pokédex. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon would expand on this with interactable NPC Pokémon the player could interact with. These animations would later be used in later core series games, as well as Pokémon GO.
