History of the Pokémon world

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There is no solid evidence for or against some parts of this article.
If you were looking for the character ages, see List of character ages.

This is the history of the Pokémon world in the games, and the order which events occurred, or, for events which happened outside the games, where they happened in relation to the games.

In the core series games

Timeline

many years
3 years
2 years
2 years

Several occurrences in the core series Pokémon games depend on the games being connected to each other in a timeline, but a complete timeline cannot be drawn from the games themselves. Series producer Junichi Masuda, in an interview with GameInformer on October 24, 2019, stated that Game Freak does not apply a timeline to the Pokémon world rigorously.[note 1]

Deleted tweet by Toshinobu Matsumiya

On May 7, 2014, Game Freak employee Toshinobu Matsumiya's Twitter account posted a timeline of the core series Pokémon games up to that point.[1] However, the tweet was subsequently deleted.

This tweet in conjunction with other evidence suggests the following timeline:

Porygon's creation

Porygon's Pokédex entries in Pokémon Sun, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon state that it was created 20 years ago.[note 5] Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia states that Porygon was created in 1995, as well as stating that 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered as of 1996, alluding to the player having completed their Pokédex in Pokémon Red and Green,[note 6] thus implying that Pokémon Red and Green take place in either 1995 or 1996. This would mean that Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon take place 19–20 years after Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow; from this information and the time lengths between other games in the series, it can be calculated that the time period between Generation II/IV and Pokémon Black and White is 12–13 years long. However, the length of this time gap has never been explicitly confirmed in any official material, with Toshinobu Matsumiya having described it as "secret" on Twitter.[3]

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Although Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, they contain some references to features from the original games as having been present about a decade ago,[note 7] while others have not yet come about, such as the Battle Frontier, which is under construction. Despite this, the remakes are implied to happen at the same point in the timeline as the original games, as the Royal Unova and a device to visually reproduce the dreams of Pokémon having not yet been created reveals them to take place before Pokémon Black and White[note 8][note 9] and Mr. Bonding gaining O-Powers reveals them to take place before Pokémon X and Y.[note 10]

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

Although Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of Pokémon Yellow, Red and Blue are known to have already finished their journeys years ago, and Mina's age mentioned in her concept art would suggest that the games are set a maximum of six years before Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon,[4][note 11] implying that they take place later than the original game. However, this is contradicted by Sabrina having a vision of meeting a special Trainer in three years, referencing the protagonist of Generation II, suggesting these games may not necessarily adhere to the timeline of the rest of the core series.

References to real-life years and release dates

The specific years of events are not mentioned in the games themselves, but Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia implies that Pokémon Red and Green take place in 1995 or 1996, the latter being the year in which they were released; this year is also referenced in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon on Red's shirt, which features a symbol resembling the number "96". Pokémon Gold and Silver are known to occur three years later, also aligning with their release in 1999. Similarly, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are set two years after Pokémon Black and White, which was also the amount of time that passed between the releases of the games. References to the passage of time in real life also appear in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in which the player's mother states that she saw the Litleonids when they last occurred 12 (in the Japanese and Korean versions) or 11 (in the English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish versions) years ago, referencing the time between the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and their remakes, and Norman mentions having seen the Eon Ticket 11 years ago, referencing how long had passed from the item's original distribution in 2003 to the release of the games. Similarly, in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, the description of the Member Card mentions that the last date marked on it was 50 years ago; the date shown on the card's official artwork (1958.12.1) is exactly 50 years prior to its first distribution.

Alternate universes

The existence of multiple alternate universes is alluded to or stated in some of the games.

Beginning of the Pokémon universe

 
The clash between Groudon and Kyogre as depicted in ancient paintings

This information is based primarily on the mythology of both the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.

  • In a vortex of complete chaos and nothingness, a single Egg comes into being, which then hatches into Arceus, the first being in existence. Arceus then creates time, space, and anti-matter. Giratina, as punishment for its destructive nature, is sent by Arceus to live in the Distortion World. Dialga and Palkia then succeed in creating the universe and Pokémon world and retreat into their own dimensions afterwards, with a point of access being at the ancient Spear Pillar in Sinnoh.
  • Kyogre and Groudon then proceed to fill the sea and create land, respectively. A chance meeting turns the two into rivals, and a conflict for dominance over the Pokémon world begins. This battle continues until Rayquaza quells it, causing Kyogre and Groudon to retreat to special caverns, where they rest until the events of Generation III many years later. The Red and Blue Orbs are created to prevent the reawakening of Kyogre and Groudon, and are left at Mt. Pyre for safekeeping. At this time, Mew may have been plentiful and lived in large numbers. Rayquaza flies around the ozone layer, occasionally coming to rest at Sky Pillar.
  • The Sinnoh region is created around Mt. Coronet. During this violent procedure, Stark Mountain is created due to shifts in the crust of the world, and Heatran is formed in a pool of lava. Arceus creates the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs before falling into a deep slumber.

Prehistory

This information is based primarily on the study of Fossils and other archaeological remains. Some of this information is also based on scientific research.

Millions of years before Generation I:

  • The earliest known prehistoric Pokémon existed at this time. It is possible that the Mew population may have decreased at this stage, as they slowly gave way to other Pokémon species.
  • 300,000,000 years ago: An ancient version of Genesect was born. Kabuto and Kabutops lived in the sea.
    • Team Plasma later used Genesect's DNA to create an infinitely stronger version of it with cybernetic technology.
  • An unspecified hundreds of millions of years ago: Carbink begins its undisturbed underground sleep after its birth. It was born from deep underground temperatures and pressures.
  • Relicanth is said to have remained unchanged for over 100,000,000 years.
  • Anorith is stated to have existed in primordial seas, with its eight legs at some point developing into its known eight wings.
  • 2,000,000 years ago:
  • 1,000,000 years ago: The Great Crater of Paldea is created.
  • 20,000 years ago:
    • A meteorite containing Eternatus fell in the Galar region.
    • The first Claydol was brought to life from a clay doll.
  • 10,000 years ago:
    • During the last Ice Age, the Mamoswine population flourished, then decreased when the Ice Age ended.
    • Oldest known mural depictions of Cyclizar being ridden by humans.
  • At some point in the distant past, the Magikarp population mutates due to unknown reasons and becomes weaker.
  • At some point after the Iron Age, Regigigas is sealed away in the Snowpoint Temple, and Regirock, Regice, and Registeel are sealed away at various points across the Hoenn region after years of human worship.
  • 5,000 years ago: Gogoat is domesticated & humans begin using them for transport.

3,000 years before Generation V:

3,000 years before Generation VI:

 
AZ and the ultimate weapon

3,000 years before Generation VIII:

  • A black storm called the Darkest Day occurred and was stopped by Zacian and Zamazenta.
  • Melmetal is worshipped by ancient humans for its ability to create metal from nothing.

2,500 years before Generation V:

2,000 years before Generation V:

  • Conkeldurr is said to have taught humans how to make concrete using centrifugal force.

2,000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

  • Hoenn is plagued by meteor showers. A meteor turns the homeplace of the Draconid people into Meteor Falls.
  • The world overflowed with natural energy which Groudon and Kyogre, in their primal forms, fought over. They ravaged the earth and were only calmed by Rayquaza after the Draconid people summoned it using a wish on a meteor at Meteor Falls. The people of Hoenn begin to revere Rayquaza as a savior.

2,000 years before Generation IX:

  • The Paldean Empire began to rule Paldea.
  • The emperor of Paldea ushers in the Great Age of Exploration by sending expeditions into The Great Crater of Paldea to find the treasure rumored to lie inside.

1,500 years before Generation I:

  • The earliest known system for writing is developed and used at the Ruins of Alph, Tanoby Ruins, and Solaceon Ruins. Archaeologists are currently unsure whether the nearly identical Unown preceded or succeeded the writing system, but it is assumed they share some sort of connection.
  • The Farfetch'd population decreases due to overhunting.

1,000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

  • A thousand years after the events at Meteor Falls, a meteor struck Hoenn, creating Sootopolis City. Groudon and Kyogre reawakened to fight over the wellspring of primal energy which came from it. The people of Hoenn wished on Rayquaza to save them, and using the meteor, Rayquaza performed the world's first Mega Evolution and calmed the two. Sky Pillar was built in Rayquaza's honor, and the Draconid people promised to pass down the prophecy that in 1,000 years the meteor would return - causing the events of the Delta Episode.

805 years before Generation IX:

800 years before X and Y:

  • Xerneas released life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to a forest, where it went to sleep in the form of a tree.
  • Yveltal absorbed life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to the mountains, where it went to sleep in the form of a cocoon.

Recent history

This information is based on historic records.

 
Ecruteak City

Hundreds of years before Generation II:

  • The Sinjoh Ruins are built by two groups of people, from Sinnoh and Johto's Ruins of Alph. The site's architecture expresses a fusion of the two group's ideas and mythology.

Sometime before Generation IV:

c. 700 years before Generation II:

c. 500 years before Generation II:

c. 500 years before Generation IV:

c. 500 years before Generation VII:

  • Magearna is created by a scientist who used the life energy of other Pokémon to create its Soul-Heart, and is presented to a king's daughter.

c. 400 years before Generation I:

c. 400 years before Generation II:

  • Azalea Town in Johto is struck by long-term drought. After bringing the rain back once again by yawning, Slowpoke gains an honorable position in that town.

c. 400 years before Generation VIII:

  • Rolycoly is first discovered in a coal mine.

c. 300 years before X and Y:

c. 200 years before Generation V:

c. 150 years before Generation II:

c. 100 years before Generation V:

1925

c. 50 years before Generation V:

  • Elgyem is seen for the first time when it appeared from far in the desert.

c. 50 years before Generation VIII:

c. 40 years before Generation III:

  • Lunatone is seen for the first time in a crater.

c. 32 years before Generation VIII:

  • Mustard is dethroned as Champion of the Galar League after an 18-year long victory streak, and retires soon after.

Several decades before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

1969:

11 years before Generation III:

10 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

1995

  • The first Pokémon created by scientific engineering, Porygon, is created.[7]

Less than 10 years before Generation I:

Some years prior to Generation I:

  • A team of scientists discover a new Pokémon (at the time) deep in a jungle in Guyana, South America on July 5. They name the Pokémon Mew on July 10. Mewtwo, a clone of Mew, is born on February 6. Mewtwo escapes from and destroys Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Mansion on September 1 and then goes to Cerulean Cave.
  • Sabrina's Gym is declared the official Gym of Saffron City after a Pokémon battle between Sabrina and the leader of the Fighting Dojo.
  • Giratina returns to the Pokémon world.
  • The Battle Resort opens in Hoenn.
  • Goldenrod Radio Tower is torn down due to being old and creaky. During the process, the Radio Tower Director comes across the Clear Bell, which he keeps for the time being. A new Goldenrod Radio Tower is built in its place.
  • Construction of the Royal Unova begins.

Ten years prior to Generation IX

A year and a half prior to Generation IX

One year prior to Generation I:

Contemporary history

From the Pokémon games:

Generation I/III:

PE:

Between I/III and II/IV:

Three years after Generation I/Generation III/ORAS (Generation II/Generation IV/BDSP):

Between Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Generation V:

Between Generation II/IV and Generation V:

A few years after Generation II/Generation IV (Generation V):

 
N and Zekrom
  • The events of Black and White:
    • Hilbert/Hilda along with their friends Cheren and Bianca receive their very first Pokémon in the bedroom of Hilbert/Hilda's house in Nuvema Town from Professor Juniper. The three decide to leave Nuvema Town and go on a journey across their region of Unova, with Cheren wanting to learn as much about every kind of Pokémon possible and Bianca going against the wishes of her dad. Upon arriving in Accumula Town they encounter the nefarious Team Plasma who announce their plans for Pokémon liberation to separate Pokémon from humans. Hilbert/Hilda then battle Team Plasma's leader, a mysterious man known only as N who claims Pokémon are his friends. Hilbert/Hilda make a journey across the land of Unova challenging all eight Gyms and earning all eight Badges. After earning the eighth Badge, they travel to the Pokémon League where they defeat the Elite Four. Upon defeating the Elite Four, they discover that N has already defeated the Champion Alder and promptly summons his castle, destroying the Pokémon League Castle. Ghetsis, one of the members of the Seven Sages reveals that he had the plan to separate people and Pokémon so that he could be the only person in the whole world with Pokémon. After defeating N and Ghetsis with Reshiram/Zekrom N becomes sorry for all his wrongdoing and flies off to distant lands on his dragon of legend. Hilbert/Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca continue their journey in Unova and get recruited by an undercover officer codenamed Looker to discover and arrest the remaining six of the Seven Sages. After the arrest of all six, Hilbert/Hilda returns to the Pokémon League, re-defeats the Elite Four, then challenges and defeats Alder, becoming Champion of Unova.

Between Black and White and Black 2 and White 2/X and Y:

Two years after Black and White (Generation VI):

 
Encountering Xerneas
  • The events of Black 2 and White 2 and X and Y:
    • Nate/Rosa receives their first Pokémon from Bianca in their hometown of Aspertia City. Together with Hugh, who hopes to take back his sister's Purrloin from Team Plasma, the duo takes on the new lineup of Gyms in the Unova region. After earning their seventh badge from Drayden, Team Plasma attacks Opelucid City, covering the city in unbreakable ice. The Shadow Triad takes the opportunity to steal the DNA Splicers from Opelucid Gym. Nate/Rosa and Hugh chase Team Plasma to Humilau City, where after earning their final badge, they confront Zinzolin, Colress, and the Shadow Triad at the Giant Chasm. After the Triad releases Hugh's sister's Purrloin, now a Liepard, Hugh tells Nate/Rosa to go ahead and confront Team Plasma's leader, Ghetsis. Just before Ghetsis freezes Nate/Rosa alive with Kyurem's Glaciate, N flies in on Reshiram/Zekrom, saving them. However, Ghetsis uses Kyurem's power to turn Reshiram/Zekrom back into an orb, then uses the DNA Splicers to turn Kyurem into Black/White Kyurem. Nate/Rosa knocks out Kyurem, causing the two Dragon Pokémon to separate, then defeats an enraged Ghetsis. Thankful, N suggests that Nate/Rosa proceed to the Pokémon League. Heeding his words, Nate/Rosa ascend Victory Road, defeats the Elite Four, and emerges victorious in battle with the new Champion, Iris. After returning home, Hugh's sister thanks to the player for helping her big brother, and tells Nate/Rosa that she has been dreaming of a Zoroark calling Nate/Rosa's name. At Hugh's suggestion, Nate/Rosa returns to Victory Road, finding a Zoroark that leads them to the ruins of N's Castle, where N and Reshiram/Zekrom challenge them to battle. After being defeated, N says goodbye to his dragon and releases it by asking it to turn back into an orb to give to Nate/Rosa. Nate/Rosa climbs to the top of Dragonspiral Tower, and faces Reshiram/Zekrom again, this time, in an attempt to capture it.
    • Calem/Serena leave their home in Vaniville Town meeting Shauna and Serena/Calem who invite them to join them for a meeting in Aquacorde Town. Calem, Serena and Shauna receive their first Pokémon from Tierno and a Pokédex from Trevor on behalf of Professor Sycamore. After delivering a letter to their Mom from Professor Sycamore, they head on an adventure traveling across Kalos challenging eight Gyms in order to earn eight Badges to then challenge the Pokémon League. Along their journey, they come into contact with Team Flare, an organization whose goal is to create a "beautiful and better" world while making money. They try to do this by stealing fossils from Glittering Cave, siphoning electricity from the Kalos Power Plant, stealing the Poké Balls from the Poké Ball Factory in Laverre City, and attempting to agitate and capture an Abomasnow. Calem/Serena also encounters a mysterious giant called AZ on several occasions, the first being on Kalos Route 13. After earning their seventh badge from Olympia, Calem/Serena are contacted by Lysandre, a man introduced by Professor Sycamore, who reveals himself to be the leader of Team Flare and his intention to use the ultimate weapon to eliminate all life in the world. Calem/Serena battle Lysandre first in Lysandre Labs and again in the Team Flare Secret HQ, before making their way down to the basement where they find XerneasX/YveltalY and battle them, before battling against Lysandre once more. Even though Lysandre is defeated, and Calem/Serena and their friends reason with him, he still fires the ultimate weapon. The blast the weapon emits destroys it and buries Lysandre and the HQ, ultimately disbanding Team Flare. Calem/Serena then heads to the Pokémon League where they defeat the Elite Four and Diantha, becoming Champion of Kalos. After becoming Champion, Looker contacts Calem/Serena to help him fight crime in Lumiose City.

Between Black 2 and White 2/X and Y and Generation VII:

Two years after Black 2 and White 2/X and Y (Generation VII):

 
Lillie and Nebby as a Solgaleo

Some time before Generation VIII:

Generation VIII:

  • The events of Sword and Shield and their Expansion Pass:
    • Victor/Gloria and Hop receive their first partner Pokémon from Leon, the undefeated Champion, and meet a mysterious Pokémon in the Slumbering Weald. The two receive Pokédexes from Sonia, Dynamax Bands from Professor Magnolia, and endorsements from Leon to enter the Gym Challenge. They head on an adventure traveling across Galar challenging Gyms in order to earn eight Badges to enter the Champion Cup. Over the course of their journey, they encounter a group called Team Yell, whose members support Marnie in the Gym Challenge. They also encounter another group called Macro Cosmos, a conglomerate led by Rose, who has endorsed his ward Bede in the Gym Challenge. During the Champion Cup in Wyndon Stadium, Rose interrupts the Championship Match by reawakening Eternatus and bringing about the Darkest Day in an attempt to provide energy for the Galar region in 1,000 years. Victor/Gloria and Hop find a Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield and head to the Energy Plant in Hammerlocke, where they battle Rose and summon Zacian and Zamazenta. After defeating it, Victor/Gloria manages to catch Eternatus and returns to Wyndon to defeat Leon in the Championship Match, becoming the new Champion of Galar.
    • Sometime during their journey, Victor/Gloria travels to the Isle of Armor, where they meet a new rival, KlaraSw/AverySh, and are taken under the wing of former Champion Mustard as a student of his dojo. Victor/Gloria competes in a series of trials with their new rival, eventually defeating them in a final battle, earning them the right to inheirit the Dojo's "secret armor", the Legendary Pokémon Kubfu. After bonding with each other, Victor/Gloria and Kubfu challenge one of the Towers of Two Fists, culminating in a battle against Mustard and his own Kubfu. Victor/Gloria is successful, and Kubfu learns the secret of the tower, allowing it to evolve into Single Strike Style or Rapid Strike Style Urshifu.
    • Sometime during their journey, Victor/Gloria travels to the Crown Tundra, where they meet the retired Gym Leader Peony, who recruits them as the leader of his exploration team, and tasks them with investigating three mysteries surrounding the tundra. In the first mystery, Victor/Gloria meets Calyrex, the former king of the Crown Tundra, and helps it reunite with its steed, Glastrier or Spectrier. In the second mystery, they investigate ruins scattered around the tundra, encountering and catching the legendary giants. In the third mystery, Victor/Gloria pursues and catches the Galarian legendary birds across Galar. Upon solving these mysteries, Victor/Gloria finds a note describing a fourth mystery that Peony does not recall writing. Upon bringing it to the Max Lair, Victor/Gloria learns about Ultra Beasts and Necrozma, and is eventually able to catch Necrozma in a Dynamax Adventure.
    • After becoming Champion, Victor/Gloria and Hop stop the plans of Sordward and Shielbert, who cause chaos around the region in their misguided attempt to restore the Galarian monarchy. In the process, Victor/Gloria catches one of the two Legendary Pokémon of Galar, and Hop sets out to be a Pokémon Professor.
    • After resolving the incident with Sordward and Shielbert, Victor/Gloria returns to the Master Dojo, where they find Hop conducting research on Sonia's behalf. Mustard tells them that Urshifu hates the taste of Max Soup, so, in order for it to unlock its Gigantamax potential, a special ingredient is needed to make it drink the Max Soup. He doesn't reveal what this ingredient is, though, and leaves it to the duo to figure it out on their own. After a few bad guesses, Victor/Gloria and Hop travel to Honeycalm Island, where Victor/Gloria gets thrust into a Max Raid Battle against a Dynamax Vespiquen. After defeating it, they find the missing ingredient: Max Honey. Upon returning to the dojo, Mustard informs Victor/Gloria that he wants to battle them in a no-holds-barred battle, where he uses his full power. In the battle, Mustard uses his own Gigantamax Urshifu. After being defeated, Mustard declares that he has nothing more to teach Victor/Gloria.
    • After the events of the incident with Sordward and Shielbert, The Isle of Armor, and The Crown Tundra, Victor/Gloria receives a call on their Rotom Phone from Leon, who invites them and many other strong Pokémon Trainers from Galar to a new type of competition called the Galarian Star Tournament (in which Trainers form duos and compete in Multi Battles) at Wyndon Stadium. Victor/Gloria partners with Hop or Marnie in the inaugural tournament, and emerges victorious after defeating Leon and Raihan (if their partner is Hop) or Raihan and Piers (if their partner is Marnie) in the finals, after which Leon announces that further Galarian Star Tournaments will occur.

Some time after Generation VIII (Generation IX):

  • The events of Scarlet and Violet and their expansion:
    • Florian/Juliana, a child who recently moved to Paldea, starts their Pokémon journey with their neighbor Nemona, receiving their first partner Pokémon from Director Clavell of Naranja AcademyS/Uva AcademyV. Despite being a Champion-ranked Trainer, Nemona chooses to also raise a new first partner Pokémon and team alongside Florian/Juliana. Soon after their departure from Cabo Poco, Florian/Juliana encounters a mysterious Pokémon called KoraidonS/MiraidonV and a boy named Arven, the son of Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV, who gives them the Pokémon's Poké Ball. Arriving in Mesagoza, Florian/Juliana learns about the Terastal phenomenon, saves a girl named Penny from being harassed by a group of academy delinquents called Team Star, and is contacted by Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV, who tells asks them to look after KoraidonS/MiraidonV in their stead. Three days later, the academy's independent study assignment, the Treasure Hunt, sending academy students to search for their own personal treasure across the region.
    • Encouraged by Nemona, Florian/Juliana starts taking on the eight Gyms across Paldea to earn eight Gym Badges and become a Champion like her. Along the way, they encounter the eight Gym Leaders of Paldea, members of the Paldea Elite Four, and Top Champion Geeta, as well as battle Nemona on several occasions. With eight Gym Badges in hand, Florian/Juliana travels to the Pokémon League, defeating the Elite Four and Geeta to become a Champion-ranked Trainer. An enthusiastic Nemona then challenges them to one more battle, happy to be able battle without holding back anymore. Despite losing, Nemona is still happy to see Florian/Juliana having become as strong as they have.
    • A mysterious individual referring to themselves as Cassiopeia requests Florian/Juliana's help in taking down Team Star in an operation called "Operation Starfall". Clavell, disguised as a student named Clive, accompanies them on their journey to defeat the team's five squads at their respective bases around Paldea. During this quest, Florian/Juliana learns that members of Team Star are actually not bullies, but falsely accused victims of bullying themselves. Once all give squads have been defeated, Cassiopeia reveals themselves as Team Star's mysterious Big Boss and challenges Florian/Juliana to one last confrontation at the academy, where they are revealed to be Penny. After Penny has been defeated, Clavell takes off his disguise and issues a formal apology to Team Star, revoking their threat of being expelled.
    • Arven enlists Florian/Juliana's help in defeating the five Titan Pokémon around Paldea and collecting their respective Herba Mystica, mythical herbs said to have amazing healing capabilities. During this quest, Arven reveals that he wants to use the Herba Mystica to help heal his seriously injured partner Pokémon, Mabosstiff. In consuming some of the Herba Mystica itself, KoraidonS/MiraidonV also regains some of its lost abilities. One Mabosstiff has been fully healed, a call from Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV summons Florian/Juliana to Area Zero in the Great Crater of Paldea.
    • With Nemona, Penny, and Arven's independent storylines completed, they join Florian/Juliana on their journey down to Area Zero. At the very bottom of the area, they discover the Professor's laboratory, the Zero Lab, and not only discover the existence of mysterious Pokémon called Paradox Pokémon and find out that the Professor constructed a time machine to pull them into the modern day from a different era, but leatn that the Professor is actually dead, with a robot equipped with an artificial intelligence having been talking to them throughout their adventure. Following the AI's request, Florian/Juliana assists them in stopping the time machine from flooding Paldea with an influx of Paradox Pokémon, though the AI is forced to travel to another era using the machine to stop it completely. Returning back to the academy, Florian/Juliana eases back to their school life and takes part in the Academy Ace Tournament to crown the strongest Trainer at the academy.
    • Sometime during their journey, Florian/Juliana joins several other students on a class trip to the land of Kitakami in the east, organized in cooperation with Blueberry Academy in Unova. Two students of Blueberry Academy, a timid boy named Kieran and his aggressive big sister Carmine, are Kitakami natives and meet Florian/Juliana on their arrival to Mossui Town. The students are told to learn of the history of Kitakami by visiting three signboards that detail the story of Ogerpon and the Loyal Three. Florian/Juliana pairs up with Kieran for this task. During the first night of the annual Festival of Masks, Florian/Juliana and Carmine have an encounter with Ogerpon, which Carmine forces them to keep secret from Kieran. The next day, Florian/Juliana and Carmine learn that the Loyal Three were actually the bad guys, while Ogerpon was their victim, the opposite of what most people of Kitakami believe. Kieran, overhearing the story, feels betrayed for having been kept from learning the truth about Florian/Juliana and Carmine's encounter with Ogerpon. When the Loyal Three are suddenly resurrected from their grave and steak Ogerpon's three masks from Kitakami Hall, Florian/Juliana work hard to retrieve them, while Kieran succeeds in convincing the townspeople of Ogerpon's innocence. Instead of returning to its home, however, Ogerpon chooses to come with Florian/Juliana, making Kieran feel even more betrayed when he and Carmine are forced to return to Blueberry Academy.
    • After the stopping the time machine and the events of The Teal Mask, Florian/Juliana travels to Blueberry Academy as an exchange student, where Kieran is revealed do have become the Champion of the school's BB League. Despite their exchange student status, Florian/Juliana is eventually approved to receive a permission to participate in it. Defeating the BB League Elite Four, Florian/Juliana is given the right to challenge Kieran, who, despite his significant improvement, ultimately loses to them once again. After his defeat, Briar, a teacher at Blueberry Academy, invites Florian/Juliana, Carmine, and Kieran to join her on an expedition to Area Zero to discover Terapagos. They succeed in accessing the Area Zero Underdepths and finding Terapagos, which Kieran hopes to use to finally defeat Florian/Juliana. When Terapagos's powers go out of control, however, he is instead forced to join Florian/Juliana in defeating it, allowing Florian/Juliana to catch it for themselves. Kieran, experiencing a change of heart, reconciles with Florian/Juliana as they return to Blueberry Academy.

In the side series games

Pokémon Colosseum

Pokémon Colosseum shares the same continuity as the core series games. The events of this game occur between I/III and II/IV core series games.

  • In the Orre region, a young man named Wes betrays Team Snagem, destroying their base and stealing their only portable Snag Machine, a device that allows one to steal Pokémon already owned by other Trainers. He subsequently rescues a girl named Rui, who has the ability to see the dark auras produced by Shadow Pokémon, Pokémon turned into heartless fighting machines by the criminal syndicate Cipher. Wes and Rui set out to snag all of the Shadow Pokémon across Orre in order to thwart Cipher's plans and purify the corrupted Pokémon back to their original states. In doing so, Wes repeatedly defeats Cipher's four Admins, ultimately confronting and defeating their boss Evice at the organization's base at Realgam Tower. Evice is arrested, and with Wes capturing and purifying the few remaining Shadow Pokémon, Orre returns to a state of peace.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness shares the same continuity as the core series games. The events of this game occur approximately two years after Generation II/Generation IV.

  • Five years after Wes and Rui's heroic tale, Cipher resurfaces in Orre with a new army of Shadow Pokémon. In Wes's absence, a boy named Michael, armed with a new Snag Machine and the new purification system known as the Purify Chamber created by Professor Krane, sets out to take down Cipher once more. In the process, he also encounters the former Cipher Admin and a current small-time criminal Miror B., who's likewise after any strong Shadow Pokémon he can find. After stopping Cipher's takeover of the ONBS news station, thwarting their plans to impersonate the citizens of Phenac City, getting his Snag Machine stolen by and retrieving it from Team Snagem, and destroying Cipher's Shadow Pokémon factory, Michael uses the Robo Kyogre built by the eccentric inventor Dr. Kaminko to make his way to Cipher's base on Citadark Isle. Defeating an army of Cipher Peons and all the new Cipher Admins along the way, he finally confronts Cipher's Grand Master Greevil and his ultimate Shadow Pokémon, the supposedly unpurifiable Shadow Lugia. With Greevil and Lugia eventually bested, Cipher is defeated once more. Convinced by one of his sons, Eldes, to atone for his wrongdoings, Greevil turns himself in. Michael then proceeds to purify Shadow Lugia with the Purify Chamber and snag the last remaining Shadow Pokémon from Miror B., ending the second "Shadow incident" and restoring peace to Orre once more.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Ranger series

The Pokémon Ranger series shares the same continuity as the core series games.

The events of Pokémon Ranger occur between I/III and II/IV core series games. The events of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, and Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs occur at the same time as II/IV core series games.

In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, there are legends about events from hundreds of years before Generation I.

In the anime

Main article: History of the Pokémon world (anime)

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: History of the Pokémon world (Adventures)

References

  1. Matsumiya tweet (archived from Twitter)
  2. Pokémon Sun and Moon Grimsley settei
  3. "Elapsed time is secret. Imagine freely!" - Toshinobu Matsumiya. May 10, 2014. Twitter
  4. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Mina settei
  5. Koga: TM06 contains Toxic! It is a secret technique over 400 years old!
  6. Old Man: "July 20, 1969! Humankind first set foot on the moon that day. I bought a color TV just so I could watch that news."
  7. According to the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia, Porygon was created in 1995.
  8. Pokédex from Sword: Rumor has it that the theft of top-secret research notes led to a new instance of this Pokémon being created in the Galar region.

Notes

  1. Game Freak Talks Sword And Shield's Champion, Wild Area Interactions, And More by Brian Shea
    Masuda: It starts to get a little complicated if you pay too much attention to timelines. Like, there might be a professor that appears and it wouldn’t make sense at all if we applied that kind of timeline logic. So we try not to apply it too rigorously. Maybe one hint is that if a character is appearing with Professor Oak, they’re living in the same era. Rather than some series where it makes sense to have the timeline progress as you go and the story evolve, the approach that Pokémon takes is expanding the world, like what the regions are, and making it richer as we go. Rather than a timeline, it’s more of a physical space thing.
  2. Jasmine: "I'm thinking maybe I should participate in this Contest in Sinnoh to try and be more vibrant."
    Erika: "How did it go?"
    Jasmine: "I couldn't bring myself to go to the Contest."
  3. Cynthia in HeartGold and SoulSilver: "This is the pattern that represents Giratina, the ruler of the world that is on the opposite side of ours, the world of antimatter..."
    Cynthia in Platinum: "No...! I'm so sorry I took so long. I think I finally found the answer from studying the myths. When this world was made, Dialga and Palkia appeared. Apparently, there was one more Pokémon that appeared at the same time. A Pokémon with as much power as Dialga and Palkia... But also one whose name was never to be spoken--Giratina! It's said to lurk in another world... A world on the opposite side of ours... That's what the shadow was. It must have been Giratina."
  4. Pokédex from Sword: Rumor has it that the theft of top-secret research notes led to a new instance of this Pokémon being created in the Galar region.
  5. Pokédex from Sun: Roughly 20 years ago, it was artificially created, utilizing the latest technology of the time. Pokédex from Ultra Sun: This Pokémon was created using the cutting-edge science of 20 years ago, so many parts of it have since become obsolete. Pokédex from Ultra Moon: It was built 20 years ago by scientists who dreamed of exploring space. Their dreams have yet to come true.
  6. Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia: As of 1996, thanks to the investigative and research efforts of Prof. Oak, 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered.
    #118. Porygon: In 1995, Silph Co., which undertakes R&D into Pokémon and related products, successfully applied state-of-the-art technology to create this man-made Pokémon.
  7. A Bug Catcher in Rustboro City's Pokémon Center: I heard that Pokémon Centers had two stories up until around 10 years ago! And they used to have a special area called a “Pokémon Cable Club”!"
    A Battle Girl in Dewford Gym: "A long time ago at Dewford Gym, it was always dark inside. We trained our minds by practicing in the dark!"
    An old man in Fallabor Town's Contest Hall: I just love making Pokéblocks! In the old days it used to take four of us to make a Pokéblock with this machine. A machine that was used to mix Berries in this region long ago."
    A man on Mt. Pyre: "This used to be a desolate place. The ground had holes here and there, and I used to fall in!"
    Mom: "The Litleonids, hmm? I remember going to see them with your dad 11 years ago when they last passed by!" (12 in the Japanese and Korean versions)
    Norman: "Hmm? Is that an Eon Ticket you have there? Hm...it’s been a good 11 years since I last saw a ticket like this..."
  8. (Oceanic Museum) “The Royal Unova” “A model of the sunset cruiser currently being built in the Unova region. It’s scheduled to be complete in — years.” The number is too faint to be read.
  9. Devon's scientist: "I'm trying to develop a device that visually reproduces the dreams of Pokémon... And I’ve heard that my rival, who lives far away, is doing the same research! I can't lose this race."
  10. Mr. Bonding: "HEY! This...this power! This power is incredible! I feel tied to these old men with such strong bonds now! I feel like a totally different man!"
  11. Mallow: "I mean, we have to move on from being captains when we turn 20 anyway". (Pokémon Moon)

See also


Nature: PokémonHumansAnimalsFlora
History: GamesAnimeAdventures
Culture: MagazinesMoviesRadioTelevision (Sinnoh)
Transportation (LandAirWater) • Weaponry
Mortality: IllnessDeathGhosts
Pokémon world templates


  This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.