Gender unknown

Egg Groups
Monster		Human-Like
Water 1		Water 3
Bug		Mineral
Flying		Amorphous
Field		Water 2
Fairy		Ditto
Grass		Dragon
No Eggs Discovered
Gender unknown

Gender unknown (Japanese: 性別不明(せいべつふめい) sex unknown) is a gender designation that species of Pokémon can have. Pokémon such as Voltorb, Staryu, and Mew that display neither a ♂ nor ♀ symbol in battle or on their summary screen are gender-unknown Pokémon.

Terminology

In English-language official media, these Pokémon are generally referred to as being gender unknown, as having or being of unknown gender, or simply by stating that their gender is unknown. As a prenominal adjective, it is generally hyphenated, such as in "gender-unknown Pokémon", though it has also appeared without being hyphenated.

Alternate terms that have been used officially include:

• no gender, which was used in a strategy article on Pokémon.com during Generation VIII and in various official guidebooks during Generations II and IV;
• genderless, which was used in the Prima Games Pokémon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide guidebook, in the Nintendo Power Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex guidebook, in Pokémon.com mailbag responses from November 2002 and January 2003, and in a previous version of the Play! Pokémon Video Game Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines document;
• neuter, which was used in Nintendo Power guidebooks during Generation II; and
• indeterminate gender, which was used in Pokémon Platinum: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, Picnicker Siena on Route 205 mentions that there are some Pokémon whose gender can't be told^DPBDSP or that are neither male nor female^Pt; both of these merely correspond to usages of 「性別不明(せいべつふめい)」 "sex unknown" in Japanese.

The Japanese versions of the games also refer to gender-unknown Pokémon as having (Japanese: せいべつなし no gender, formatted in kanji as 性別(せいべつ)なし no gender in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon HOME on the Nintendo Switch) in the search feature of the Pokémon Storage System and Pokémon HOME. The official Japanese site for Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 also refers to gender-unknown Pokémon as (Japanese: 性別のないポケモン Pokémon without a gender).

As an Egg Group

In Pokémon Stadium 2 and in official Japanese and Chinese guidebooks for the Generation II and III games, Gender unknown also refers to an Egg Group consisting of gender-unknown Pokémon that are able to breed with Ditto, but this Egg Group has never actually existed in the coding of the games. In these sources, gender-unknown Pokémon are listed in this Egg Group rather than in their actual Egg Groups. While Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Official Nintendo Player's Guide also lists Gender Unknown as an Egg Group, it lists the Pokémon with their actual Egg Groups in the data section.

In Pokémon Emerald: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Pokémon 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition Complete Pokédex, and early Japanese official guidebooks for Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, gender-unknown Pokémon are instead listed in the No Eggs group, as these books do not cover the role Ditto plays in breeding. This was likely due to it not being available at release until it could be traded from a later game^RS, or not being available until after obtaining the National Pokédex in the Desert Underpass^E. Official guidebooks since Generation IV consistently list gender-unknown Pokémon in their actual Egg Groups.

Mechanics

Gender-unknown Pokémon (except Ditto) can only breed with Ditto. However, most gender-unknown Pokémon are in the No Eggs Discovered group, meaning that those Pokémon cannot breed at all. Ditto itself can be bred with any Pokémon that can breed (except Ditto), but the Eggs produced are always based on the other Pokémon's species. Prior to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, gender-unknown Pokémon could not inherit Egg Moves.

In battle, gender-unknown Pokémon are immune to gender-based effects. They cannot become infatuated nor infatuate other Pokémon. The moves Attract and Captivate fail if used by or on these Pokémon. The Abilities Cute Charm and Rivalry do not affect gender-unknown Pokémon and have no effect if possessed by them.

Characteristics

While most Pokémon are either male or female, gender-unknown Pokémon are characterized by the fact that they are not known to be of either gender. In-universe, this is because no one has been able to determine the gender of these Pokémon, including scientists.

Most of these Pokémon are in the No Eggs Discovered group. Of these, the Legendary, Mythical, Ultra Beasts, or Paradox Pokémon are often represented by only a single individual in the game's story. While multiple Ditto, Unown, and Gimmighoul can be encountered in the wild, they also cannot be hatched from an Egg. The Galar fossil Pokémon also have unknown gender; this may reference their chimerical nature. Although some of these Pokémon have been observed hatching from Eggs, Eggs containing these Pokémon cannot be obtained in-game.

Of the gender-unknown Pokémon that can breed, most of them are based on machines or other inanimate objects that do not have a biological sex, or are based on lifeforms that can reproduce asexually. Almost all of them are in the Mineral group, including many artificial Pokémon such as Voltorb and Porygon. Apart from these, Staryu and Starmie are based on starfish, which are known for being able to reproduce asexually; and Falinks, Tandemaus, and Maushold consist of multiple individuals with different roles, similar to a colony.

Pokémon

Of the 1025 Pokémon species, 155 are gender unknown (15.12%).

Breedable

#   Pokémon Type Egg Groups 0081 Magnemite Electric Steel Mineral 0082 Magneton Electric Steel Mineral 0100 Voltorb Electric Mineral 0101 Electrode Electric Mineral 0120 Staryu Water Water 3 0121 Starmie Water Psychic Water 3 0137 Porygon Normal Mineral 0233 Porygon2 Normal Mineral 0292 Shedinja Bug Ghost Mineral 0337 Lunatone Rock Psychic Mineral 0338 Solrock Rock Psychic Mineral 0343 Baltoy Ground Psychic Mineral 0344 Claydol Ground Psychic Mineral 0374 Beldum Steel Psychic Mineral 0375 Metang Steel Psychic Mineral 0376 Metagross Steel Psychic Mineral 0436 Bronzor Steel Psychic Mineral 0437 Bronzong Steel Psychic Mineral 0462 Magnezone Electric Steel Mineral 0474 Porygon-Z Normal Mineral 0479 Rotom Electric Ghost Amorphous 0479 Rotom Heat Rotom Electric Fire Amorphous 0479 Rotom Wash Rotom Electric Water Amorphous 0479 Rotom Frost Rotom Electric Ice Amorphous 0479 Rotom Fan Rotom Electric Flying Amorphous 0479 Rotom Mow Rotom Electric Grass Amorphous 0489 Phione Water Water 1/Fairy 0490 Manaphy Water Water 1/Fairy 0599 Klink Steel Mineral 0600 Klang Steel Mineral 0601 Klinklang Steel Mineral 0615 Cryogonal Ice Mineral 0622 Golett Ground Ghost Mineral 0623 Golurk Ground Ghost Mineral 0703 Carbink Rock Fairy Fairy/Mineral 0774 Minior Rock Flying Mineral 0781 Dhelmise Ghost Grass Mineral 0854 Sinistea Ghost Mineral/Amorphous 0855 Polteageist Ghost Mineral/Amorphous 0870 Falinks Fighting Fairy/Mineral 0924 Tandemaus Normal Field/Fairy 0925 Maushold Normal Field/Fairy 1012 Poltchageist Grass Ghost Mineral/Amorphous 1013 Sinistcha Grass Ghost Mineral/Amorphous

Unbreedable

#   Pokémon Type Egg Groups 0132 Ditto Normal Ditto 0144 Articuno Ice Flying No Eggs Discovered 0144 Articuno Galarian Form Psychic Flying No Eggs Discovered 0145 Zapdos Electric Flying No Eggs Discovered 0145 Zapdos Galarian Form Fighting Flying No Eggs Discovered 0146 Moltres Fire Flying No Eggs Discovered 0146 Moltres Galarian Form Dark Flying No Eggs Discovered 0150 Mewtwo Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0151 Mew Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0201 Unown Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0243 Raikou Electric No Eggs Discovered 0244 Entei Fire No Eggs Discovered 0245 Suicune Water No Eggs Discovered 0249 Lugia Psychic Flying No Eggs Discovered 0250 Ho-Oh Fire Flying No Eggs Discovered 0251 Celebi Psychic Grass No Eggs Discovered 0377 Regirock Rock No Eggs Discovered 0378 Regice Ice No Eggs Discovered 0379 Registeel Steel No Eggs Discovered 0382 Kyogre Water No Eggs Discovered 0383 Groudon Ground No Eggs Discovered 0384 Rayquaza Dragon Flying No Eggs Discovered 0385 Jirachi Steel Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0386 Deoxys Normal Forme Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0386 Deoxys Attack Forme Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0386 Deoxys Defense Forme Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0386 Deoxys Speed Forme Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0480 Uxie Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0481 Mesprit Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0482 Azelf Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0483 Dialga Steel Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0484 Palkia Water Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0486 Regigigas Normal No Eggs Discovered 0487 Giratina Altered Forme Ghost Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0487 Giratina Origin Forme Ghost Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0491 Darkrai Dark No Eggs Discovered 0492 Shaymin Land Forme Grass No Eggs Discovered 0492 Shaymin Sky Forme Grass Flying No Eggs Discovered 0493 Arceus Normal No Eggs Discovered 0494 Victini Psychic Fire No Eggs Discovered 0638 Cobalion Steel Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0639 Terrakion Rock Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0640 Virizion Grass Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0643 Reshiram Dragon Fire No Eggs Discovered 0644 Zekrom Dragon Electric No Eggs Discovered 0646 Kyurem Dragon Ice No Eggs Discovered 0646 Kyurem Black Kyurem Dragon Ice No Eggs Discovered 0646 Kyurem White Kyurem Dragon Ice No Eggs Discovered 0647 Keldeo Ordinary Form Water Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0647 Keldeo Resolute Form Water Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0648 Meloetta Normal Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0649 Genesect Bug Steel No Eggs Discovered 0716 Xerneas Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0717 Yveltal Dark Flying No Eggs Discovered 0718 Zygarde Dragon Ground No Eggs Discovered 0719 Diancie Rock Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0720 Hoopa Hoopa Confined Psychic Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0720 Hoopa Hoopa Unbound Psychic Dark No Eggs Discovered 0721 Volcanion Fire Water No Eggs Discovered 0772 Type: Null Normal No Eggs Discovered 0773 Silvally Normal No Eggs Discovered 0785 Tapu Koko Electric Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0786 Tapu Lele Psychic Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0787 Tapu Bulu Grass Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0788 Tapu Fini Water Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0789 Cosmog Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0790 Cosmoem Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0791 Solgaleo Psychic Steel No Eggs Discovered 0792 Lunala Psychic Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0793 Nihilego Rock Poison No Eggs Discovered 0794 Buzzwole Bug Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0795 Pheromosa Bug Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0796 Xurkitree Electric No Eggs Discovered 0797 Celesteela Steel Flying No Eggs Discovered 0798 Kartana Grass Steel No Eggs Discovered 0799 Guzzlord Dark Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0800 Necrozma Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0800 Necrozma Dusk Mane Psychic Steel No Eggs Discovered 0800 Necrozma Dawn Wings Psychic Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0801 Magearna Steel Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0802 Marshadow Fighting Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0803 Poipole Poison No Eggs Discovered 0804 Naganadel Poison Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0805 Stakataka Rock Steel No Eggs Discovered 0806 Blacephalon Fire Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0807 Zeraora Electric No Eggs Discovered 0808 Meltan Steel No Eggs Discovered 0809 Melmetal Steel No Eggs Discovered 0880 Dracozolt Electric Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0881 Arctozolt Electric Ice No Eggs Discovered 0882 Dracovish Water Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0883 Arctovish Water Ice No Eggs Discovered 0888 Zacian Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0889 Zamazenta Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0890 Eternatus Poison Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0893 Zarude Dark Grass No Eggs Discovered 0894 Regieleki Electric No Eggs Discovered 0895 Regidrago Dragon No Eggs Discovered 0896 Glastrier Ice No Eggs Discovered 0897 Spectrier Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0898 Calyrex Psychic Grass No Eggs Discovered 0898 Calyrex Ice Rider Psychic Ice No Eggs Discovered 0898 Calyrex Shadow Rider Psychic Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0984 Great Tusk Ground Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0985 Scream Tail Fairy Psychic No Eggs Discovered 0986 Brute Bonnet Grass Dark No Eggs Discovered 0987 Flutter Mane Ghost Fairy No Eggs Discovered 0988 Slither Wing Bug Fighting No Eggs Discovered 0989 Sandy Shocks Electric Ground No Eggs Discovered 0990 Iron Treads Ground Steel No Eggs Discovered 0991 Iron Bundle Ice Water No Eggs Discovered 0992 Iron Hands Fighting Electric No Eggs Discovered 0993 Iron Jugulis Dark Flying No Eggs Discovered 0994 Iron Moth Fire Poison No Eggs Discovered 0995 Iron Thorns Rock Electric No Eggs Discovered 0999 Gimmighoul Chest Form Ghost No Eggs Discovered 0999 Gimmighoul Roaming Form Ghost No Eggs Discovered 1000 Gholdengo Steel Ghost No Eggs Discovered 1001 Wo-Chien Dark Grass No Eggs Discovered 1002 Chien-Pao Dark Ice No Eggs Discovered 1003 Ting-Lu Dark Ground No Eggs Discovered 1004 Chi-Yu Dark Fire No Eggs Discovered 1005 Roaring Moon Dragon Dark No Eggs Discovered 1006 Iron Valiant Fairy Fighting No Eggs Discovered 1007 Koraidon Fighting Dragon No Eggs Discovered 1008 Miraidon Electric Dragon No Eggs Discovered 1009 Walking Wake Water Dragon No Eggs Discovered 1010 Iron Leaves Grass Psychic No Eggs Discovered 1020 Gouging Fire Fire Dragon No Eggs Discovered 1021 Raging Bolt Electric Dragon No Eggs Discovered 1022 Iron Boulder Rock Psychic No Eggs Discovered 1023 Iron Crown Steel Psychic No Eggs Discovered 1025 Pecharunt Poison Ghost No Eggs Discovered

In animation

In To Catch a Rotom!, after Iris tries to have her Emolga use Attract on three Rotom, Professor Oak remarks that Rotom are neither male nor female.

In other languages

Gender unknown

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 性別不明 Singbiht Bātmìhng Mandarin 性別不明 / 性别不明 Xìngbié Bùmíng French Sexe inconnu German Unbekanntes GeschlechtHOME Geschlecht unbekanntGO, New Pokémon Snap Geschlecht ?Stad2 Hindi लिंग का पता नहीं Ling kā patā nahīn Indonesian Gender tak diketahui Italian Sesso sconosciutoGO, HOME Genere sconosc.Stad2 Korean 성별 불명 Seongbyeol Bulmyeong Brazilian Portuguese Gênero desconhecido Russian Пол неизвестен Pol neizvesten Spanish Sexo desconocidoHOME, New Pokémon Snap Género desconocidoGO Género no conocidoStad2 Thai เพศไม่แน่ชัด Phet Mainaechat Turkish Cinsiyet bilinmiyor

Unknown

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 不明 Bātmìhng Mandarin 不明 Bùmíng Danish Ukendt Dutch Onbekend Finnish Tuntematon French Inconnu German Unbekannt NeutrumGSC Hebrew לא ידוע Lo Yadu'a Italian Sconosciuto Sconosc.GSC Korean 불명 Bulmyeong Norwegian Ukjent Portuguese Desconhecido Russian Неизвестно Neizvestno Spanish Desconocido Descon.GSC Swedish Okänt Thai ไม่แน่ชัด Mainaechat Turkish Belirsiz Vietnamese Chưa xác định

Unknown/Gender unknown

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 無性別 Mòuh Singbiht Mandarin 無性別 / 无性别 Wú Xìngbié * 性别无 Xìngbié Wú * French ? InconnuHOME (mobile) NeutreB2W2 German Unbekannt ?XYORASSMUSUM Italian Sconosciuto Non specificatoB2W2 Korean 성별 없음 Seongbyeol Eopseum 성별없음 Seongbyeol EopseumB2W2 Spanish Desconocido

References

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