Gender unknown: Difference between revisions

<!--{{EggGroups}}-->

'''Gender unknown''' (Japanese: '''{{tt|性別不明|せいべつふめい}}''' ''sex unknown'') is a status certain species of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} have. Pokémon such as {{p|Voltorb}}, {{p|Staryu}}, and {{p|Mew}} that display neither a {{male}} nor {{female}} symbol in {{pkmn|battle}} or on their [[summary]] screen are gender-unknown Pokémon.

Gender-unknown Pokémon can only {{pkmn|breeding|breed}} with {{p|Ditto}}, with the exception of Ditto itself and those in the {{egg|No Eggs Discovered}} group. In battle, these Pokémon neither activate nor are affected by mechanics dependent on [[gender]], such as {{status|infatuation}} or the {{Abilities}} {{a|Cute Charm}} and {{a|Rivalry}}; {{m|Attract}} and {{m|Captivate}} fail if used by or on these Pokémon.

In English official media, these Pokémon are generally referred to as being '''gender unknown'''<ref name="stad2">[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]: "Gender unknown" is listed as an Egg Group at [[Earl's Pokémon Academy]]; a Pokémon's gender can be described as "unknown"</ref><ref>[[Pokémon Bank]]: "Gender Unknown" can be selected as a search option</ref><ref>[[Pokémon HOME]] (mobile): "Gender unknown" can be selected as a search option</ref><ref>[[Pokémon GO]]: <code>genderunknown</code> can be used as a search filter</ref><ref>[[New Pokémon Snap]]: "Gender Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field in the Photodex</ref><ref name="sm"/><ref name="usum"/><ref name="swsh">[[Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide]], p. 234-5</ref>, as having '''unknown gender'''<ref>[[Pokémon X and Y]]: A scientist on {{DL|Lumiose City|Sycamore Pokémon Lab}} 2F says "There are male Pokémon, female Pokémon, and even Pokémon with unknown genders." (Japanese: 「ポケモンには　オスと　メス　そして　{{tt|性別不明|せいべつふめい}}が　います」)</ref><ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/the-details-of-discovering-pokemon-eggs/ The Details of Discovering Pokémon Eggs | Pokemon.com]: "When Ditto is paired with a Pokémon in the Day Care, the Pokémon that hatches from the Egg you find will be the same as (or an Evolution of) the paired Pokémon, whether it is male, female, or of unknown gender."</ref><ref name="dppokedex">[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Pokédex]], p. 394; excerpt: "Some Pokémon don't have a gender"</ref><ref name="platinum">[[Pokémon Platinum: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]], p. 384</ref><ref name="bwpokedex">[[Pokémon Black and White Pokédex]], p. 123</ref>, or simply by stating that their gender is '''unknown'''<ref>{{game2|Gold|Silver|Crystal}}: In the party screen, the text "<sc>Male</sc>", "<sc>Female</sc>", or "<sc>Unknown</sc>" is displayed for each Pokémon when depositing a Pokémon at the {{pkmn|Day Care}}</ref><ref name="stad2"/><ref>[[Pokémon HOME]] (Nintendo Switch): "Unknown" can be selected as a filter under "Gender"</ref><ref>[[Pokédex 3D]], [[Pokédex 3D Pro]], [[Pokédex for iOS]]: "Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field</ref><ref>[[Pokémon.com]] Pokédex: "Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field</ref><ref name="b2w2"/><ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/about/video-game-glossary/ Pokémon Video Game Glossary - Pokémon.com]: "The gender of a Pokémon is designated as male, female, or unknown."</ref><ref>[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Pokédex]], p. 10</ref><ref name="hgss">[[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]], p. 184-5</ref><ref>[[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]], p. 198</ref><ref>[[Pokémon Black and White Pokédex]], p. 10, 212, 214, 288</ref><ref name="bwpokedex"/><ref>[[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]], p. 198</ref><ref name="swsh"/><ref>[https://pokemonmasters-game.com/en-US/announcements/Event_2120_3W_2 Electric- and Steel-Type Egg Event | News | Pokémon Masters EX official site]: "The gender of Pokémon listed with △ are unknown."</ref>. As a prenominal adjective, it is generally hyphenated, such as in "gender-unknown Pokémon"<ref name="hgss"/><ref name="usum"/><ref name="swsh"/>, though it has also appeared without being hyphenated, such as in "gender unknown Pokémon"<ref name="sm"/>.

* '''no gender''', which was used in an article on [[Pokémon.com]] and in various official guidebooks,<ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/train-raid-and-hatch-pokemon-to-breed-victories-in-pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield/ Train, Raid, and Hatch Pokémon to Breed Victories in ''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Pokémon Shield'' | Pokemon.com]</ref><ref name="gs"/><ref name="crystal">[[Pokémon Crystal: Official Nintendo Player's Guide]], p. 25</ref><ref>[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Official Nintendo Player's Guide]], p. 32</ref><ref>[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]], p. 273</ref><ref name="dppokedex"/>

* '''genderless''', which was used in the [[Nintendo Power]] [[Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex]] guidebook and in the [[Play! Pokémon]] Video Game Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines document as of October 23, 2019 and February 13, 2020,<ref name="gspokedex">[[Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex]], p. 37-8</ref><ref>Play! Pokémon Video Game Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines - [https://web.archive.org/web/20191108150712/https://assets.pokemon.com//assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-vg-rules-formats-and-penalty-guidelines-10232019-en.pdf October 23, 2019], [https://web.archive.org/web/20200303201918/https://assets.pokemon.com//assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-vg-rules-formats-and-penalty-guidelines-02132020-en.pdf February 13, 2020] (archived): "A genderless Pokémon is listed as male or female on the team list."</ref>

<!--[[Category:Game mechanics]]

[[Category:Pokémon world]]-->