Game mascot

The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

It has been suggested that this article be moved to Game mascots. Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page.

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The version mascot of a Pokémon game is the Pokémon that appears on the boxart—and often label—of that game.

Early on, the version mascot of a game was not necessarily relevant plot-wise, and did not have to be even met to complete the game. Generation III (with the exception of the Generation I remakes) began the trend of the version mascot being mandatory to encounter in order to progress the plot, and more recent games even force the player to catch the mascot to continue. Version mascot Pokémon are often given increased catch rates and the ability to respawn if they are defeated in order to account for this. All version mascots after Generation I have been Legendary Pokémon, barring Generation I's remakes.

In general, only core series games have version mascots, as most side series and spin-off games display multiple Pokémon on their box covers and so none of them qualify as mascots. The current sole exception to this is the side series game Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.

Core series

Generation I

RGBY

	First and second game		Third game
JP	Red Charizard	Green Venusaur	Blue Blastoise	Yellow Pikachu
	Final form of a starter Pokémon			Only starter Pokémon
INT	Red Charizard	Blue Blastoise	Yellow Pikachu
	Final form of a starter Pokémon		Only starter Pokémon

Generation II

GSC

First and second game		Third game
Gold Ho-Oh	Silver Lugia	Crystal Suicune
Tower duo		Part of a legendary trio

Generation III

RSEFRLG

First and second game				Third game
Ruby Groudon		Sapphire Kyogre		Emerald Rayquaza
Weather trio
Remakes
FireRed Charizard			LeafGreen Venusaur
Final form of a starter Pokémon

Generation IV

DPPtHGSS

First and second game				Third game
Diamond Dialga		Pearl Palkia		Platinum Giratina
Creation trio
Remakes
HeartGold Ho-Oh			SoulSilver Lugia
Tower duo

Generation V

BWB2W2

First and second game
Black Reshiram	White Zekrom
Tao Dragon Pokémon
Sequels
Black 2 Black Kyurem	White 2 White Kyurem
Formes of Kyurem, the third Tao Dragon Pokémon

Generation VI

XYORAS

First and second game
X Xerneas	Y Yveltal
Mortality duo
Remakes
Omega Ruby Primal Groudon	Alpha Sapphire Primal Kyogre
Rival members of the weather trio

Side series

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Shadow Lugia

Main Shadow Pokémon opponent

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