Trainer ID number
A Pokémon Trainer's ID number (Japanese: IDNo.) is a randomly generated number that is assigned to a player when they create a new save file. Any Pokémon that this Trainer obtains have the number shown in their summary; it is used, in conjunction with the Trainer's name and gender, to identify whether the Pokémon is an outsider Pokémon. The ID numbers of a player's Pokémon are also used in the Loto-ID to determine whether they will win a prize, and if so which prize they will win. Finally, starting in Generation III, whether a Pokémon is Shiny is determined by a formula that takes into consideration their ID number and personality value.
The smallest possible Trainer ID number is 0. Prior to Generation VII, the largest was 65535; starting in Generation VII, it is instead 999999.
Eggs use ????? (prior to Generation VII) or ?????? (from Generation VII onwards) as their ID number until they are hatched. Unpurified Shadow Pokémon also use ????? as their ID number until they are purified, at which point the number changes to that of the Trainer who snagged the Pokémon.
Secret ID
From Generation III onward, in addition to their regular ID numbers, Trainers and Pokémon are also assigned a second, unseen ID number different from the visible one. This number exists to reduce the chances of the games erroneously identifying a Pokémon from another Trainer as not being an outsider Pokémon, since even if two Trainers share the exact same name, gender and Trainer ID number, the game will still recognize their Pokémon as coming from different Trainers should their secret ID numbers be different. A Pokémon's secret ID number is also used along with its main ID number and personality value in determining if it is Shiny. Although a secret ID number cannot be viewed without cheating devices, it is possible to calculate it. If two different Trainers have the same Trainer name and gender, as well as identical ID numbers and secret ID numbers (a 1 in 4,294,967,296 chance), the games will recognize the two Trainers as the same, and so will not consider their Pokémon to be outsider Pokémon.
Secret IDs of Pokémon obtained prior to Generation VII are five digits long; those of Pokémon obtained in Generation VII onwards are four digits long. Pokémon transferred to Pokémon Bank from the Virtual Console releases of Generations I and II are given a secret ID of 00000.
Alterations in Generation VII
From Generation VII onward, the ID number is a six-digit number, rather than a five-digit number as it previously was. A five-digit Trainer ID and a five-digit secret ID are still generated, but are then used to calculate the final ID number by using the following formula: IDfinal = IDtrainer + (IDsecret × 65536). The last six digits of the resulting number are used as the ID number.
For example, consider a new save file in which the player's assigned Trainer ID and secret ID are 00033 and 34262, respectively. The ID number will be 33 + (34262*65536) = 2245394465. However, only the last six digits are used, so the final ID number will be 394465.
If a Pokémon is transferred to Generation VII or later from a previous generation, its Trainer ID number will remain 5 digits long.
Special ID numbers
- Main article: List of notable ID numbers
In most cases, Pokémon received from in-game trades, events, or other such special conditions have a predetermined ID number.
Loto-ID
- Main article: Pokémon Lottery Corner
Once per week in Generation II and once per day in Generations III, IV, VI, VII, and VIII, the player may take part in the Loto-ID. This involves the generation of a random five-digit number, which is compared with the player's Pokémon's ID numbers. Depending on the game and the nature of the matching digits, the player can receive a prize. This feature was not included in the Generation I or Generation V games, and was also absent from Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Differing events
Some events in the games differ depending on the player's ID number. These usually utilize the last digit or the number modulo as the number of variations of the event. As the ID number can't be modified after the creation of a save file, these events are set as soon as a new file is created. These events include:
Generation II
- The encounter rate of each headbutt tree.
Generation III
- Which one of the old guys will appear in Mauville City.
- Which Berry the Beauty will give daily in Route 120.
- Which nurse will appear in the Lilycove City Pokémon Center.E
- Which Trainer class will represent the player in a Secret Base when they mix records.
Mixing records allows players to exchange events.
Generation IV
- Where two of the four Honey Trees that have a chance of containing Munchlax are located.
- Which of two Fossils (Armor or Skull) will appear in the Underground.Pt
Generation V
- Which shop the first visitor on Join Avenue will open.B2W2
Generation VI
- Which Berry the Aroma Lady will give daily in Route 120.ORAS
Others
Additionally, some features such as the coloration of nicknamed Pokémon in Pokémon Stadium 2, the password for resetting time in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Walda's wallpapers in Pokémon Emerald, and Primo's gifts are calculated using the player's ID number for their outputs. A password generator, such as the one found in filb.de, is required to determine the inputs to trigger some of these events, while others, such as the rate at which specific Unown forms spawn in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen or the two remaining Munchlax Honey Trees, use the secret ID number for their calculations.
In other languages
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |