Appendix:Fan terminology

The Pokémon metagame has a wide range of fanmade terminology for various aspects of the games. These are colloquial terms originating from unofficial sources, and are not found within the games themselves. However, some terms originally coined by the fandom have been used officially, such as Eeveelution and Shiny; these terms are not listed here.

Pokémon terms

Early-route Pokémon

A Pokémon found in the first few routes of the game. These can be divided into ones that are based on mammals that are either Normal or Dark types (Rattata, Sentret, Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Bidoof, Patrat, Lillipup, Purrloin, Bunnelby and Yungoos), birds that are Flying (Pidgey, Spearow, Hoothoot, Taillow, Wingull, Starly, Pidove, Fletchling and Pikipek) and Bugs (Caterpie, Weedle, Ledyba, Spinarak, Wurmple, Kricketot, Sewaddle, Venipede, Scatterbug, Grubbin, and Cutiefly).

Electric rodents

Pikachu clone redirects here. For the Pikachu that is a clone, see Pikachutwo.

A group of Electric-type Pokémon based on rodents, consisting of Pikachu, Raichu*, Pichu*, Plusle, Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, Dedenne, and Togedemaru, and sometimes Mimikyu. With the exception of Pichu, they are the only Pokémon that can learn Nuzzle and all are also in the Fairy or Field Egg Groups. This group is also referred to as the Pikachu family, Pikachu clones or Pikaclones.

Marill and its evolutionary relatives are also sometimes referred to as Pikachu clones.

Elemental monkeys

Main article: Elemental monkeys

Pansage, Pansear, Panpour, Simisage, Simisear, and Simipour.

Eon duo

Main article: Eon duo

Latios and Latias. Often referred to collectively as Lati@s.

Hitmons

Main article: Hitmons

Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Hitmontop, and sometimes Tyrogue.

Legendary duo

Main article: Legendary duo

A group of two Legendary Pokémon that share some association.

Legendary trio

Main article: Legendary trio

A group of three Legendary Pokémon that share some association.

Mew variants

A subset of Mythical Pokémon. Each of their base stats are 100 with a base stat total of 600. They are available only as event Pokémon. Includes Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Manaphy, Shaymin, and Victini. Sometimes referred to as Mythical fairies, although that term is also used to describe the lake guardians.

Novelty Pokémon

A Pokémon that possesses a unique trait, usually in battle.

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon

Main article: Pseudo-legendary Pokémon

A Pokémon that has a three-stage evolutionary line, 1,250,000 experience at level 100, and a base stat total of exactly 600. Includes Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamence, Metagross, Garchomp, Hydreigon, Goodra, and Kommo-o.

Trio master

Main article: Trio master

A Legendary Pokémon that is associated with and regarded as superior to (in in-universe lore) the members (or other members) of a Legendary trio.

Game mascot

Main article: Game mascot

A Pokémon that appears on the boxart of one of the Pokémon games in the core series.

Fan terms

Genwunner

A pejorative term used to describe fans who dislike elements of the Pokémon franchise released after Generation I (and, to a lesser extent, Generation II). A corruption of "Generation One". Originated from the Transformers fandom's term of "Geewun", where some fans have a similar stance on their franchise.

Game terms

Boss

The general concept of a boss in video games may refer to special, strong opponents who must be defeated to obtain an important reward or advance past a particular point in the game. In the Pokémon games, there are various figures who may fit this description:

• Core games
  • Gym Leaders: these are characters the player explicitly has to defeat if they wish to reach the Elite Four. Oftentimes, defeating a particular Gym Leader is also required for the player to advance past certain obstacles, especially those that require the use of an HM.
  • Elite Four: the "point" of the core series games is generally to beat the Elite Four, who will be stronger than any other Trainers the player has faced previously.
  • Champion: after beating the Elite Four, the player must also defeat the region's Champion in order to be allowed to enter the Hall of Fame.
  • Rivals: the player will often cross paths with a rival character, and usually they must face off with this character one last time before being able to face the Elite Four.
  • Team leaders: the core games (and many spin-offs) include villainous teams who the player will frequently cross paths with. In the course of the game, the player will eventually have to defeat various high-ranking members of these teams and ultimately their leader.
  • Tower Tycoons, Frontier Brains, Subway Bosses, Boss Trainers, Battle Chatelaines and Battle Legends: these are the leaders of certain special battle areas presented as an optional challenge once the player has beaten the Champion. Defeating them usually grants the player a special achievement.
• Side games
  • Pregymleader Justy: Justy is the leader of the Pre Gym in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD.
  • Area Leaders and Mt BtlMaster: these are the heads of different Mt. Battle areas in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD.
  • Colosseum Leaders, Colosseum Masters, and the Pokétopia Master: these are the heads of Colosseums in Pokémon Battle Revolution.
• Spin-offs
  • The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series has various boss characters at different points in the story:
    • Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team → Bosses
    • Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness → Bosses
    • Gates to Infinity → Bosses
    • Super Mystery Dungeon → Bosses
  • Shadow Mewtwo: the opponent in the final battle of the storyline of Pokkén Tournament

Collection terms

Living Pokédex

Main article: Living Pokédex

Having a Pokémon of every species (available in that game) in the Pokémon Storage System at the same time.

Legitimate

A Pokémon or item obtained without cheating.

Untouched

A Pokémon that is in the same state as it was obtained in. Specifically, it has gained no experience, levels, EVs, or Ribbons, had none of its moves changed or reordered, and has not evolved, gained Pokérus, or had its pre-existing Pokérus become inactive. Commonly used to refer to event Pokémon and in-game gift Pokémon.

Gameplay terms

Chaining

A method used to repeatedly encounter the same Pokémon via the feature such as Poké Radar and DexNav, which lines up the chance of getting a desired Pokémon.

Cheating

Main article: Cheating

The use of any device unauthorized by The Pokémon Company to modify a Pokémon game. Being found to have cheated in any way, or having a Pokémon that was obtained by cheating on another game will result in immediate disqualification from any official tournament, and disqualification from all future official tournaments.

EV training

Intentionally battling Pokémon for the EVs they give out in order to ensure EVs are distributed in a specific way or capped.

Gear Station or Centrico Plaza trick

Securing the D-pad or analog stick in one direction so that the player continuously walks around the circular Gear Station or Centrico Plaza, resulting in an effortless refilling of Hidden Grottoes, increase in friendship, hatching of Eggs, and accumulation of Poké Miles.

Grinding

Training a Pokémon to a certain level through repetitive battling.

Hatcher

A Pokémon with the Ability Flame Body or Magma Armor such as Talonflame and Magcargo in the party, mainly used for hatching Eggs faster.

HM slave

Main article: HM slave

A Pokémon kept in the party primarily for its ability to use one or more HM moves outside of battle.

HSOWA

A Skitty and a Wailord at the Day Care

The fan term HSOWA is an initialism that stands for Hot Skitty On Wailord Action. It is derived from the fact that Skitty and Wailord can breed in the games despite the massive size difference. It has reached cult status on some message boards. The term originates from GameFAQs.

IV breeding

Intentionally breeding Pokémon to have a specific IV or set of IVs.

Masuda method

Main article: Masuda method

The game mechanic that increases the likelihood of Shiny Pokémon to hatch from Eggs if the parents are from differing real-world geographical locations. Named after Junichi Masuda, who first documented this mechanic in his blog.

Nuzlocke Challenge

Main article: Nuzlocke Challenge

A special challenge playthrough of a Pokémon game in which the player must follow a set of self-enforced rules to make the game more difficult. Most notably, the player can only catch the first Pokémon they encounter on each route, and must release any Pokémon that faints. Named after the comic series of the same name that first proposed the type of playthrough.

Repel trick

Main article: Appendix:Repel trick

Using Repels and a lead Pokémon of a specific level to restrict wild Pokémon encounters to a specific Pokémon or group of Pokémon due to the maximum level at which wild Pokémon can appear.

Spinner trick

Securing the D-pad or analogue stick in a single direction so that the player continuously walks into a spin tile, resulting in an effortless increase in friendship and hatching of Eggs. Often called the "Fuego trick" in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum due to Fuego Ironworks being the optimal location for doing so.

Synchronizer

Pokémon with the Ability Synchronize such as Abra and Ralts in the first place in the party, mainly used for obtaining Pokémon with the desired Nature.

Metagame terms

Main article: Appendix:Metagame terminology

Technical terms

EVs

Main article: Effort values

Effort values, often shortened to EVs, are capped permanent stat bonuses gained by defeating Pokémon, using items such as vitamins or wings, or using services such as those in Join Avenue. They ensure trained Pokémon are stronger than newly caught Pokémon.

IVs

Main article: Individual values

Individual values, often shortened to IVs, are fixed values that can be inherited from the Pokémon's parents. They ensure Pokémon are genetically different.

RNG

Main article: Pseudorandom number generation in Pokémon

Refers to the Random Number Generator, or rather the practice of manipulating it through the use of fan-made software, in order to obtain Shiny Pokémon or Pokémon with specific IVs—both endeavors which would otherwise leave a lot up to chance.

This article is a part of Project Fandom, a Bulbapedia Project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every aspect of the Pokémon Fandom.