Version-exclusive Pokmon - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

Publish date: 2024-08-23

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Version-exclusive Pokémon, also known as game-exclusive Pokémon, are Pokémon that are only found in one or two games within a particular set, to encourage trading between players. For example, between Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Mawile appears only in Ruby, while Sableye appears only in Sapphire. Therefore, a player with Sapphire would not be able to obtain Mawile in-game and could trade with a player of Ruby to obtain one, and vice versa. Version-exclusive Pokémon usually complement each other in design, type, and location in the wild.

It is typical for several evolutionary families of Pokémon that are version-exclusive between the original versions of a set to be obtainable in the upper versions, while some families that are obtainable in each of the original versions will be unobtainable in the upper versions. For example, the Weedle, Koffing, and Jynx families were obtainable in both Pokémon Red and Blue, but unobtainable in Pokémon Yellow.

In the core series games

Below is a list of Pokémon exclusive to games. The games are separated by generation as well as by regional Pokédex, meaning that for example, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are grouped together separately from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and from Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. Any Pokémon that appears in only some of the games in a group will be listed.

Generation I

Listed below under the "Blue" header is the Pokémon distribution in the Japanese Pokémon Blue. This is not the same as the Western Pokémon Blue; the Pokémon distribution in the Western Pokémon Blue is the same as that of the Japanese Pokémon Green.

Generation II

Phanpy, Donphan, Teddiursa, and Ursaring are available in the opposite paired version in Japan that they are internationally, with the first two in the Japanese and Korean Pokémon Gold and the latter two in the Japanese and Korean Pokémon Silver. This list reflects the international version of the games.

Generation III

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Mixing records with a player of a different game allows mass outbreaks to be transferred between the two games. This allows for Surskit swarms to be transferred from Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire to Pokémon Emerald, and Seedot and Nuzleaf swarms to be transferred from Pokémon Emerald to Pokémon Sapphire.
Wild Mightyena are exclusive to Pokémon Emerald, but Poochyena can be encountered in the wild in all three versions, and can evolve into Mightyena.
Wild Banette are exclusive to Pokémon Sapphire and Emerald, while wild Dusclops are exclusive to Pokémon Ruby, but both Shuppet and Duskull can be encountered in the wild all three versions, and can evolve into Banette and Dusclops respectively.
If the player obtains an event item, the Eon Ticket, they can encounter whichever of Latios and Latias they could not encounter in their game.
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Deoxys is always in its Normal Forme; in Pokémon Emerald, Deoxys is always in its Speed Forme. However, Deoxys cannot be obtained in any of these games during normal gameplay.

Emerald (National Pokédex)

The following are only found in Pokémon Emerald, once the National Pokédex is obtained:

FireRed and LeafGreen

Wild Weezing and Seadra are exclusive to Pokémon FireRed, while wild Muk and Kingler are exclusive to Pokémon LeafGreen. However, wild Grimer, Krabby, Koffing and Horsea can be encountered and evolved in both games.
In Pokémon FireRed, Deoxys is always in its Attack Forme; in Pokémon LeafGreen, Deoxys is always in its Defense Forme. However, Deoxys cannot be obtained in either game during normal gameplay.

Generation IV

Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

Cranidos and Shieldon cannot be encountered in the wild; instead, they must be revived from a fossil. The fossils themselves are version-exclusive, but they can be traded between games as held items, technically allowing each fossil Pokémon to be obtained in any game.
- Additionally, in Platinum only one of these fossils can be obtained depending on the Trainer ID number. An odd ID number will give fossils to revive Cranidos, while an even ID number will give fossils to revive Shieldon.
Although wild Elekid and Magby appear in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl in Dual-slot mode with FireRed and LeafGreen respectively, they appear in Pokémon Platinum without a second cartridge.
Wild Mr. Mime are exclusive to Pokémon Diamond and Platinum, while wild Sudowoodo are exclusive to Pokémon Pearl and Platinum, but both Mime Jr. and Bonsly can be encountered in the wild in both Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and can evolve into Mr. Mime and Sudowoodo respectively.
Wild Seel and Spheal are exclusive to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl respectively, but they can be obtained in Pokémon Platinum by breeding Dewgong and Sealeo respectively.
Wild Silcoon and Beautifly are exclusive to Pokémon Diamond and Platinum, while wild Cascoon and Dustox are exclusive to Pokémon Pearl and Platinum, but Wurmple can be encountered in the wild in both Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and can evolve into either Silcoon or Cascoon, which can then evolve into Beautifly or Dustox respectively.
The legendary giants, Rotom's appliance forms, and Sky Forme Shaymin are exclusive to Pokémon Platinum, but each requires an event item or Pokémon to be encountered.

HeartGold and SoulSilver

Omanyte, Kabuto, Lileep, and Anorith cannot be encountered in the wild; instead, they must be revived from a fossil. The fossils themselves are version-exclusive, but they can be traded between games as held items, technically allowing each fossil Pokémon to be obtained in either game.
If the player obtains an event item, the Enigma Stone, they can encounter whichever of Latios and Latias they could not encounter in their game.
While wild Meowth are exclusive to SoulSilver, either version could obtain it from the Pokéwalker via a Japanese-only event course, Sightseeing.
While wild Sableye are exclusive to HeartGold, either version could obtain it from the Pokéwalker via a Japanese-only event course, Rally.

Generation V

Black and White

While Genesect is holding a Drive, the light on its cannon changes color. The Burn and Shock Drives are exclusive to Pokémon Black, while the Douse and Chill Drives are exclusive to Pokémon White.
Wild Cottonee and Whimsicott are exclusive to Pokémon Black, while wild Petilil and Lilligant are exclusive to Pokémon White. However, there is an in-game trade in Nacrene City where the player can trade whichever of Cottonee or Petilil they can encounter in the wild for the other, which can then be evolved into Whimsicott or Lilligant respectively.
Wild Volbeat are exclusive to Pokémon Black, while wild Illumise are exclusive to Pokémon White. However, Illumise can breed with Ditto or any male Pokémon in the Bug Egg Group or Human-Like Egg Group to produce Eggs that have a 50% chance of hatching into Volbeat, while Volbeat can breed with Ditto to produce Eggs that have a 50% chance of hatching into Illumise.
Wild Huntail are exclusive to Pokémon Black, while wild Gorebyss are exclusive to Pokémon White, but Clamperl can be encountered in the wild in both games and can evolve into either Huntail or Gorebyss.
Metapod, Butterfree, Misdreavus and Poochyena are exclusive to Pokémon White, while Kakuna, Beedrill, Murkrow and Houndour are exclusive to Pokémon Black; however, these Pokémon were also available in the Pokémon Dream World.

White Forest

The following Pokémon can only be found in White Forest, or can only be obtained by breeding or evolving a Pokémon caught in White Forest, which is exclusive to Pokémon White:

These Pokémon's fully-evolved forms can be battled in Trainer battles in Black City, which is exclusive to Pokémon Black, but as these are Trainer battles the Pokémon cannot be caught. Furthermore, each game needs to connect with other players in order to increase the number of Pokémon they have. Only the unevolved forms appear in White Forest.
Pidgey, Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂, Abra, Machop, Magnemite, Gastly, Rhyhorn, Mareep, Elekid, Magby, Lotad, Surskit, Marill, Ralts, Trapinch, Corphish, Bagon, Starly, and Shinx were also obtainable from the Pokémon Dream World.

Black 2 and White 2

While Genesect is holding a Drive, the light on its cannon changes color. The Burn and Shock Drives are exclusive to Pokémon Black 2, while the Douse and Chill Drives are exclusive to Pokémon White 2.
Wild Cottonee and Whimsicott are exclusive to Pokémon Black 2, while wild Petilil and Lilligant are exclusive to Pokémon White 2. However, there is an in-game trade on Route 4 where the player can trade whichever of Cottonee or Petilil they can encounter in the wild for the other, which can then be evolved into Whimsicott or Lilligant respectively.
Wild Volbeat are exclusive to Pokémon Black 2, while wild Illumise are exclusive to Pokémon White 2. However, Illumise can breed with Ditto or any male Pokémon in the Bug Egg Group or Human-Like Egg Group to produce Eggs that have a 50% chance of hatching into Volbeat, while Volbeat can breed with Ditto to produce Eggs that have a 50% chance of hatching into Illumise.
In the grass on Route 12 and in Lostlorn Forest, wild Pinsir only appear in Pokémon White 2 and wild Heracross only appear in Pokémon Black 2; however, in Lostlorn Forest's Hidden Grotto (which is not tracked by the Pokédex), both can appear in either version.
Wild Stunky and Glameow can only be found randomly in Hidden Grottos, and only while playing specific, version-exclusive Funfest Missions. However, if one player starts such a mission, other nearby players regardless of version will be able to join the mission, whereupon they may find the Pokémon and catch it in their own game.
Wild Huntail are exclusive to Pokémon Black 2, while wild Gorebyss are exclusive to Pokémon White 2, but Clamperl can be encountered in the wild in both games and can evolve into either Huntail or Gorebyss.
In Pokémon Black 2, Benga gives the player a Shiny Gible, which cannot otherwise be obtained in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 (outside of Poké Transfer); in Pokémon White 2, he gives the player a Shiny Dratini, but Dratini can be encountered in the wild in both games.
Using the Key System, the player can encounter Regice in Pokémon Black 2 by transferring the key from Pokémon White 2, and can encounter Registeel in Pokémon White 2 by transferring the key from Pokémon Black 2. Regice and Registeel cannot otherwise be encountered in either game.

Generation VI

X and Y

For the version-exclusive Pokémon in these games that have Mega Evolutions (Pinsir, Heracross, Houndoom, Manectric, Tyranitar, and Aggron), each game can obtain the Mega Stones for the Pokémon that appear in the opposite game, but not the ones for Pokémon exclusive to that game.
Omanyte, Kabuto, Lileep, and Anorith, cannot be encountered in the wild; instead, they must be revived from a fossil. The fossils themselves are version-exclusive, but they can be traded between games as held items, technically allowing each fossil Pokémon to be obtained in either game.
While single encounters for wild PlusleX and MinunY on Route 5 are version-exclusive, they can still be found in a Horde Encounter in both games.
While single encounters for wild ZangooseX and SeviperY on Route 8 are version-exclusive, they can still be found in a Horde Encounter in both games.
Wild Huntail are exclusive to Pokémon X, while wild Gorebyss are exclusive to Pokémon Y, but Clamperl can be encountered in the wild in both games and can evolve into either Huntail or Gorebyss.
Some otherwise-exclusive Pokémon on this list - CloysterY, PinsirX, HeracrossY, PupitarY, MightyenaX, ManectricY, LiepardY, ThrohY, SawkX, SpritzeeY, and SwirlixX - can be found in either game in the Friend Safari with certain 3DS friend codes registered. Interestingly, this list includes more of Pokémon Y's exclusives than X's.

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Omanyte, Kabuto, Cranidos, Shieldon, Archen, and Tirtouga cannot be encountered in the wild; instead, they must be revived from a fossil. The fossils themselves are version-exclusive, but they can be traded between games as held items, technically allowing each fossil Pokémon to be obtained in either game.
While single encounters for wild MinunOR and PlusleAS on Route 110 are version-exclusive, they can still be found in a Horde Encounter in both games. Consequently, they can also be encountered as single encounters by forcing them to appear as hidden Pokémon using the DexNav's search function.
If the player obtains an event item, the Eon Ticket, they can encounter whichever of Latios and Latias they could not encounter in their game.

Generation VII

Sun and Moon

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Totem-sized Pokémon

The player can obtain unique Totem-sized Pokémon from Samson Oak at Heahea Beach by collecting Totem Stickers. With the exception of Mimikyu, these Pokémon are version-exclusive.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

The version-exclusive Partner the player starts with cannot be traded to other games.
While the player can receive a single Persian in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and a single Arcanine in Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! as a gift Pokémon, they cannot be encountered in the wild in those respective games.
While other version-exclusive Pokémon aren't available during normal gameplay, they can be transferred through the GO Park.

Generation VIII

Sword and Shield

Wild Ninetales and Hitmonlee are exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild Arcanine and Hitmonchan are exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, in both games, they can be found in Max Raid Battles, and Vulpix, Growlithe and Tyrogue can be caught and evolved.
Wild male Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild female Indeedee is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, both genders can be obtained in either game through breeding.
Wild male Meowstic is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild female Meowstic is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, both genders can be obtained by evolving Espurr of the appropriate gender.
Wild Sawk is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild Throh is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, there is an in-game trade on Circhester where the player can trade a Vanillish to obtain ThrohSw/SawkSh.
Wild Escavalier is exclusive to Pokémon Sword, while wild Accelgor is exclusive to Pokémon Shield. However, Shelmet and Karrablast can be obtained in both versions, enabling players to collect both if they trade with another player in order to evolve them. Alternatively, if the Expansion Pass is purchased, then wild Escavalier and Accelgor can be found in both versions.
Passimian and Oranguru are exclusive to Sword and Shield, respectively, in the base game. However, the opposite version can be obtained if the Expansion Pass is purchased.

The Isle of Armor

The Crown Tundra

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: By unlocking a legendary path for a non-native version-exclusive Legendary, does that mean it can be randomly encountered normally like other Legendaries, or only by the location notes?

Players can obtain legendaries that cannot be found in their game by joining other players' Dynamax Adventures. Once encountered, the player unlocks its path.

Gigantamax Raid exclusive

These raids are exclusive to their particular game, but players from either game can be recruited to participate. Additionally, if the player has purchased the Pokémon Sword Expansion Pass or the Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, they can obtain any Gigantamax Pokémon by feeding their Pokémon Max Soup, regardless of which version they are playing.

Although the appearance of Gigantamax Alcremie doesn't change with its form, wild Gigantamax Alcremie have been made exclusive to specific games through the Wild Area News with Salted Cream and Ruby Swirl Alcremie originally exclusive to Pokémon Sword and Caramel Swirl and Rainbow Swirl Alcremie originally exclusive to Pokémon Shield. Later events released Milcery with the Gigantamax Factor in this way, allowing players to evolve them into Alcremie of any form.
Although the appearance of Gigantamax Toxtricity doesn't change with its form, wild Gigantamax Toxtricity have been made exclusive to specific games through the Wild Area News with Amped Form Toxtricity exclusive to raids in Pokémon Sword while Low Key Form Toxtricity exclusive to raids in Pokémon Shield.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Cranidos and Shieldon cannot be encountered in the wild; instead, they must be revived from a fossil. The fossils themselves are version-exclusive, but they can be traded between games as held items, technically allowing each fossil Pokémon to be obtained in either game.
While Houndour, Poochyena, Aron, and Spheal families are not version-exclusive like in Diamond and Pearl because they are all available in Grand Underground on both versions, they retain the version-exclusive encounter locations from the original games on surface Sinnoh.
Wild Mr. Mime are exclusive to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, while wild Sudowoodo are exclusive to Pokémon Shining Pearl, but both Mime Jr. and Bonsly can be encountered in the wild in both Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and can evolve into Mr. Mime and Sudowoodo respectively.
Wild Silcoon and Beautifly are exclusive to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, while wild Cascoon and Dustox are exclusive to Pokémon Shining Pearl, but Wurmple can be encountered in the wild in both Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and can evolve into either Silcoon or Cascoon, which can then evolve into Beautifly or Dustox respectively.

Generation IX

Scarlet and Violet

The Teal Mask

The Indigo Disk

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

As trading is not possible between these games, the listed Pokémon will appear in the wild only after a rescue mission involving the Pokémon is completed. This requires a Wonder Mail Code from the alternate version, in which the Pokémon is normally found.

Because Red Rescue Team was not released in South Korea, the Korean version of Blue Rescue Team has every Pokémon available by default.

Red and Blue Rescue Team

Porygon2, while only available in Blue Rescue Team (without a Wonder Mail mission), is also available via evolving Porygon in Red Rescue Team.

Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky

All version-exclusive Pokémon in Time or Darkness can be unlocked in the other game through Wonder Mail, except Mewtwo and Celebi. The only way to obtain Mewtwo and Celebi in the opposite version was through a Wi-fi exclusive downloadable mission. This mission is unique in that it does not have a Wonder Mail code, meaning it cannot be reproduced by legitimate means.
Pokémon exclusive to Sky cannot be unlocked in Time and Darkness.
Riolu and Lucario will only appear after graduating from the guild in Explorers of Sky, due to Riolu being a first Pokémon in that game.

Keep Going! Blazing, Let's Go! Stormy, and Go For It! Light Adventure Squad!

In the anime

The fourteenth movie released in two different versions: White—Victini and Zekrom and Black—Victini and Reshiram. Much like the games, there are Pokémon that are exclusive to each movie.

Pokémon The Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom and Black—Victini and Reshiram

Ash's Tranquill appears in both White and Black; however, in White, wild Tranquill also appear in the intro.
Blitzle appears in both White and Black, but under different circumstances. In Black, wild Blitzle appear in the intro; while in White, one appears under the ownership of Luisa.
Golurk appears in both White and Black, under the ownership of Juanita. However, it is Shiny in Black.
Hydreigon appears in both White and Black, under the ownership of Carlita. However, it is Shiny in White.

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