Pokémon multiverse

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

A multiverse refers to the concept of multiple alternate realities. The Pokémon franchise has explored the topic of multiple alternate realities, typically known as worlds or dimensions, forming what fans may consider to be the Pokémon multiverse. Alternate worlds may be used to explain version differences or changes in continuity, and may extend to alternate timelines and time travel.

Overview

Certain species of Pokémon may allow for inter-dimensional travel between many alternate universes. Among the many Pokédex descriptions that mention species such as Gengar traversing between these worlds, Hoopa, the Pokémon of myth, the Cosmog Evolution line, Necrozma, and Arceus have been directly seen transporting people and Pokémon between alternate realities. The Ultra Beasts are a group of extraterrestrial Pokémon who have passed through Ultra Space from other realities crossing it into another. Hoopa's Hyperspace Hole and Hyperspace Fury moves utilize its rings to manipulate the space around it in order to attack opponents.

Starting in Generation VI, the idea of a multiverse became a minor focus of the overall continuity of games, often utilizing phenomena such as Hoopa's rings or space-time distortions, with certain games having a larger focus on it that others. Many characters are known to have come from these alternate realities, allowing for cross-media connections between games that may not otherwise be considered. A Pokémon who has been traded or transferred between different games may be described as "traveling across time and space" on their summary, suggesting that not only different versions, but individual playthroughs, are also considered to be a different world from one another. Notably the Spiky-Eared Pichu, a member of the Pichu species, is also mentioned to have crossed through time and space so far that it is prevented from being traded.

Due to version exclusivity, some games leave details ambiguous as to whether certain previous games may be considered "canonical" or otherwise mix details in order for the player to come to a conclusion themselves, leaving potential "what-if" scenarios and implying events that may otherwise not have happened. For example, Pokémon Legends: Z-A alludes to Team Flare having caught both Xerneas and Yveltal, whereas in Pokémon X and Y, they only catch one of them.

In the spin-off mobile title, Pokémon Masters EX, it confirms that within its own canon, that individual versions of games from the core series are in fact alternate realities, with inclusion of creating worlds that have otherwise never happened, or having a mix of events that have happened in multiple games.

In the core series games

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's Delta Episode focuses largely on the context of a multiverse. In order to rid of a meteor flying straight towards the Hoenn region, members of the Devon Corporation and the Mossdeep Space Center create a dimensional shifter, also known as a Link Cable, allowing the meteor to be shot into another world. This dimensional shifter was created by use of Infinity Energy from the ultimate weapon in Kalos. After destroying this dimensional shifter, Zinnia mentions that this meteor might be sent to another similar, yet different, world where the war in Kalos 3000 years ago never occurred, so the ultimate weapon was never built and Mega Evolution consequently does not exist, lacking the tools to prevent their own destruction.^[1] This assumed world contains an alternate version of Hoenn, possibly referencing Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, games set in Hoenn that lack Mega Evolution before its introduction in Pokémon X and Y. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon would later reintroduce a version of Archie and Maxie from another world based on their appearance from Ruby and Sapphire, without using Mega Evolution (or Primal Reversion), while also using their Pokémon found in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, possibly alluding to Zinnia's statements and hypothesis.

At the Battle Resort, Archie^OR/Maxie^AS speculates about a slightly different world in which the player would battle Team Aqua^OR/Team Magma^AS to stop them from reviving Kyogre^OR/Groudon^AS, but dismisses the idea of such alternate worlds and realities as either fantasy or dreams. This is a reference to the events in the opposite version of the game.

Multiple hidden rings that summon Legendary Pokémon appear throughout Hoenn after the player had defeated either Kyogre^AS or Groudon^OR. Many of these rings are accessed by, but not limited to, soaring in the sky. The rings bring forth these Pokémon from unknown locations, having similarities to the rings used by the Mythical Pokémon, Hoopa, who received not only a new form in these titles, but received a new move titled Hyperspace Fury. Hoopa was in the data for Pokémon X and Y, but would not be released until after Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's own release. Many of these Pokémon are summoned in an area called a mirage spot. While soaring in the sky, Palkia, Dialga and Giratina are encountered through inter-dimensional rifts, with Giratina's Distortion World being referenced.

Sinnoh-based titles

Generation IV's Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, their sister title, Pokémon Platinum, and their Generation VIII remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl introduce Team Galactic, a group of villains whose main goal is to create an ideal world by using either Dialga^D^BD, Palkia^P^SP or both^Pt, in order to recreate the existing world, or create a new one, as the Pokémon are known to control time and space respectively.

The appearance of Spear Pillar changes depending on the game being played. Diamond and Brilliant Diamond is mirrored in contrast to Pearl and Shining Pearl, with Platinum having a new layout of the pillars. The design of broken the Temple of Sinnoh in Pokémon Legends: Arceus reflects that of Diamond and Brilliant Diamond.

Pokémon Platinum

Pokémon Platinum is the first title to directly imply the existence of multiple worlds and travel through them. The Distortion World takes place in a dimension on the "reverse side" of the Pokémon world, similar to the description of a parallel universe. Home to this realm is the Legendary Pokémon, Giratina. Multiple theories exist to the world's origins. Giratina was said to have been banished by Arceus, for its violent nature, while others suggest it may have been created as a balance to the real world.

Unova-based titles

Pokémon Black and White

Pokémon Black and White take place in slightly different worlds to each other. In both games, it is said that Opelucid City is different in another world, with there being an alternate version of the city that is traditional^B/modern^W, referencing the fact that the city differs between the two versions of the game. The character Thyme^B/Bach^W (on the second floor in the building east of Drayden's house) requests to be shown a Pokémon that knows Charge from the alternate world and rewards the player with a Cell Battery once they show him such a Pokémon originating from the opposite version of the game.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

As Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are direct sequels, the game's differences from the their predecessors are also present, such as the visual distinction with Opelucid City.

In these games, the player can earn the "Opposite Trader" medal by trading Pokémon with the opposite version or its predecessor, which is described as "trading Pokémon between two worlds".

Alola-based titles

Pokémon Sun and Moon have a larger focus on the concept of the multiverse, with not only having the plot focused on Ultra Wormholes, but they are also suggested to take place in different universes from one another.^[2] These worlds notably contain a 12 hour time difference. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, being based on Sun and Moon, enter an alternate storyline from the original titles, taking place "in the same world" as that of Sun and Moon.^[3] These two share similar themes from their predecessors, including the 12 hour time difference.

The concept of Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Space was discovered by professor Mohn before the events of the games. Faba succeeds in creating an Ultra Wormhole within Aether Paradise, allowing a Nihilego to spawn from another dimension into the conservation area. Malie City's library describes an event in the past suggesting that Solgaleo and Lunala had come out of Ultra Wormholes from a location outside of Alola. Solgaleo, Lunala, their pre-evolutions; Cosmog and Cosmoem, Necrozma and all Ultra Beasts are stated to have come from either "another world" or "a different world" both in the games' plots and their Pokédex entries.

Professor Burnet, a professor originally introduced in Pokémon Dream Radar, is a researcher on dimensions. In generation VII, she is also studying Ultra Wormholes, trying to prove their existence by studying dimensional disturbances. She also mentions that the Pokédex references the existence of different dimensions, which can be used as evidence for such.^[4]

Either after the player becomes the Champion^SM or unlocks Ultra Warp Ride^USUM, a rift appears at the Altar of the Sunne^SUS/Altar of the Moone^MUM, which can be opened into an Ultra Wormhole and traveled through if the player has a Solgaleo or Dusk Mane Necrozma in their party at night or a Lunala or Dawn Wings Necrozma in their party during the day. The Ultra Wormhole leads to an alternate universe, known as the reverse world. It is near-identical to the main world, but the time of day is inverted and the Altar of the Sunne^SUS/Altar of the Moone^MUM and Lake of the Moone^SUS/Lake of the Sunne^MUM are both replaced by their counterparts from the opposite version. An Ultra Wormhole remains at the altar, allowing the player to return to the original world at any time. By going into the reverse world and bringing a Solgaleo^SUS/Lunala^MUM to the lake on Ula'ula Island, the Legendary Pokémon's counterpart will briefly appear before the player's and the two of them will create a Cosmog that the player can obtain.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

In Pokémon Sun and Moon's climax, Lusamine uses Nebby's power to create an Ultra Wormhole so that she and Guzma could travel through Ultra Space. Multiple Ultra Wormholes are created by this event, having Ultra Beasts travel from other worlds into Alola. Lillie and the player travel through Ultra Space, finding Lusamine and Guzma in a location simply named "Ultra Space". This location is renamed to the Ultra Deep Sea in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

After Sun and Moon's main plot, Anabel is mentioned to have come through an Ultra Wormhole, and was found by Looker and Nanu on Poni Island ten years before the events of the games. She remembers that she came from Hoenn and was a powerful Trainer who protected a tower, referencing her role in Pokémon Emerald. Anabel and the player are described as Fallers, a type of person identified by the International Police to have gone through an Ultra Wormhole.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's climax, Lusamine and Guzma simply open a single wormhole to prevent Necrozma from coming to Alola instead. At Poni Island's altar, the two seemed to have failed and multiple wormholes are instead unleashed by Necrozma, allowing for an Ultra Beast invasion. Necrozma heads to Ultra Megalopolis, with the player following. This allows the player to unlock Ultra Warp Ride, the ability to traverse through different dimensions in Ultra Space, including those that certain Ultra Beasts may call home. One of these is an alternate universe's version of Alola known as the Ultra Ruin, which has been destroyed by Guzzlord.

The Ultra Recon Squad are a group of individuals who debuted in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. They come from Ultra Megalopolis, a location different from the Pokémon world that the main game takes place in. They were summoned by Lusamine to help study Cosmog and Necrozma and assisted the Aether Foundation in creating the Beast Ball.^{[citation needed]}

In Episode RR, Giovanni comes to Alola from an alternate universe in which Team Rocket was successful in achieving its goals. He then forms Team Rainbow Rocket by summoning other leaders of other villainous organizations from alternate worlds where they each also succeeded in their goals: Maxie, Archie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis. Each of these leaders uses a Legendary Pokémon they have successfully obtained, with the Legendary Pokémon changing between versions. Colress uses his technology to send them back to their original worlds after they are each defeated by the player. Team Rainbow Rocket's goals include creating an army of Ultra Beasts to conquer the multiverse by using the Aether Foundation's technology of being able to open Ultra Wormholes. Episode RR ends with Giovanni wondering what other worlds he could attack next before vanishing on his own.

Archie and Maxie take on their appearance from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, while retaining their parties from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire without use of Mega Evolution or Primal Reversion, a potential reference to Zinnia's claims of a parallel world that never had Mega Evolution spoken of in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the player travels across space and time to the land of Hisui, the Sinnoh region in the distant past, through the space-time rift that is looming over Mount Coronet. They struggle to remember where they come from, although they do have insight on what the world they come from is. Ingo, a Subway Boss from Unova, also appears in this game and is in a similar situation to that of the player, having lost most of his memories from traveling across space and time. Both Ingo and Cogita suggest that the space-time rift may link different worlds.^[5]^[6]

Giratina is described as coming form a world on the reverse side of Hisui's, referencing the Distortion World.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

The Paradox Pokémon are described as counterparts to existing species from not only the past^S or future^V from which they came, but also possibly from an alternate timeline altogether, providing them their name. Comparable to Ultra Beasts, these species of Pokémon are brought to Paldea through the use of Professor Sada's^S/Professor Turo's^V time machine. This machine was built after the studies of the Terastal phenomenon, utilizing Tera crystals and Terastal energy to power the device within the depths of Area Zero. Many of these Pokémon escape into modern-day Paldea, including the player's own ride Pokémon, setting off the events of the game.

During The Indigo Disk expansion, it is revealed that the Terastal phenomenon originates from the Terastal Energy radiating from a Pokémon known as Terapagos. A specific Terapagos resides in the Area Zero Underdepths, from which most of Paldea gets it Terastal Energy from. After the Indigo Disk, if the player goes to the Crystal Pool with Briar's Book, the Terapagos uses the crystals at the bottom of the lake to summon Professor Sada^S/Professor Turo^V. The professor notes their displacement across space and time and speculates that the encounter might be occurring in the future or even in a different timeline to their own. The encounter is mentioned in the professor's journals in the Area Zero Underdepths, however, these same journals also mention that the professor finished their time machine prior to their child's birth, which isn't the case with this professor. After trading their copy of the Scarlet Book^S/Violet Book^V for Briar's Book, the professor vanishes in the mist, returning from where they came.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon Legends: Z-A expands on the concepts that were provided in Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. In this game, taking place five years after the events of X and Y, it affirms that Team Flare had used both Xerneas and Yveltal, where as in X or Y, they would have only used one or the other, having Legends: Z-A take place in different (yet similar) continuity than its prequels. In addition to, the design of the ultimate weapon's core appears differently between both X and Y, and in Legends: Z-A (seen in the blueprints that are found in Lysandre Labs).

Legends: Z-A's DLC expansion, Mega Dimension, involves an unknown space by the name of Hyperspace Lumiose. This has created parallel realms based on Newmoon Island, the Cave of Origin, and Sky Pillar from the Sinnoh and Hoenn regions.

After the deactivation of Ange during the main story, several distortions began to appear throughout Lumiose City, connecting the city to Hyperspace Lumiose. Hoopa, who plays a major role in the expansion's plot, is able to use its rings to manipulate these strange spaces through the use of Hyperspace Hole, so that people may follow through. These distortions are found to be a manifestation of (usually) sleeping people and Pokémon's subconscious by Darkrai, who's ability has indirectly mingled with the Mega Power dispersing through the remains of Ange.

Because of these subconscious thoughts, Pokémon and people can manifest other entities by wishing and thinking strongly. Hyperspace contains many Pokémon not typically found in either Lumiose City or the Kalos region, having regional forms and even Legendary and Mythical Pokémon appearing outside their usual homes. These Pokémon are not only stronger than those in the real world, but are also exposed to the raw Mega Power and may undergo a transformation of Rogue Mega Evolution. In addition to these Pokémon, many manifestations of people appear, allowing the player and other characters to interact with these "unreal" variants of people, including even of those who have passed away.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

The Pokémon world in the Mystery Dungeon series is an alternate universe only populated by Pokémon.

Pokémon GO

The teaser trailer for the debut of Team GO Rocket contains the line "Earth is where I shall unleash my evil schemes next!", referencing Giovanni's line before he vanishes at the end of Episode RR in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, implying the world of Pokémon GO (i.e. Earth) is in another dimension from that of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Ultra Wormholes appear in the game, along with Ultra Beasts and the GO Ultra Recon Squad, whose only known member is Rhi. Like the Ultra Recon Squad members from the core series, Rhi's home is Ultra Megalopolis. The occurrence of Ultra Wormholes caused Professor Willow to disappear temporarily before returning with a new appearance.

Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, Giovanni is the same one that appeared in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as he is the leader of Team Rainbow Rocket.

Cyrus is also the same one that appeared in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as he says that he was about to use Dialga and Palkia to remake the world when he was interrupted by Hoopa's ring.

A different version of Ghetsis from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 is playable in this game. Before arriving in Pasio, Ghetsis was about to confront the player from the original game when he was also interrupted by Hoopa's ring.

The Team Rocket trio from the alternate movie continuity is somehow transported to Pasio while chasing the Shiny Celebi from Secrets of the Jungle.

During The Classic Thunderbolt special event, Ash from the Pokémon the Series universe accidentally winds up on Pasio while training for the Masters Eight Tournament.

During the Twin Stars Far Apart story event, Liza and Anabel wind up in an alternate world version of Pasio through an Ultra Wormhole. This world appears to house no humans, but does contain several Ultra Beasts, which appear to have wound up there by chance. The two Trainers eventually return to their own world through another wormhole.

Different versions of Rose and Oleana from Pokémon Sword and Shield are playable in this game. These versions of Rose and Oleana are from a world where they have not yet caused the Darkest Day.

Any character who originates from Pokémon Legends: Arceus is summoned through a space-time distortion. Rei in particular mentions that he has been sent to multiple worlds, originally coming from his own world, being sent to Hisui, and then to Pasio.

Most characters from the Paldea region are based on their appearances in Pokémon Scarlet, and many are stated to attend Naranja Academy. Florian comes from a parallel world based on Pokémon Violet, and is a student of Uva Academy.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior

Giratina and the Sky Warrior debuts the animated series' counterpart of the Distortion World, the Reverse World. This strange world too has distorted physics, such as gravity, and is considered to have a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon world.

Pokémon the Series: XY

Main article: Mirror World

The Mirror World appears in The Cave of Mirrors!. It is similar to the regular Pokémon world, except that the humans and Pokémon found in the Mirror World have mirrored appearances and opposite personalities compared to their regular world counterparts.

The mirror versions of some characters are seen in this world:

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

The Ultra Beasts appear through Ultra Wormholes, having the Ultra Guardians catch these Pokémon and sending them to the Aether Foundation.

The Ultra Ruin directly appears and is shown to be an alternate reality to the world Ash lives in, much the Ultra Ruin in the video games. This alternate reality is complete with unnamed counterparts to students at the Pokémon School.

Poipole's world's also directly appeared, connecting it to Ultra Space.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In The Gates of Warp! and Showdown at the Gates of Warp!, there is another universe, which is similar to the main one.

The alternate versions of some characters are seen in this world:

In the TCG

The Parallel Worlds expansion features two alternate worlds, one themed around nature and the other around technology. Portals are shown opening between these two worlds.

References

↑ "Hope for our world... Tragedy for another... You get it, don’t you?" - Zinnia (Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire)
↑ Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon official website "A thorough analysis of the secrets of the two different worlds of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon!"
↑ Pokémon Direct 6.6.2017
↑ "It’s very weak as proof, but I can’t ignore it. There is also plenty of evidence already in the Pokédex for the existence of different dimensions, right?" - Professor Burnet (Pokémon Sun and Moon)
↑ Cogita: "The space-time rift is said to be a portal to innumerable other dimensions[...]"
↑ Ingo: "If you fell from the sky... you come from another world altogether, most likely."

This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.

[1] "Hope for our world... Tragedy for another... You get it, don’t you?" - Zinnia (Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire)

[2] Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon official website "A thorough analysis of the secrets of the two different worlds of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon!"

[3] Pokémon Direct 6.6.2017

[4] "It’s very weak as proof, but I can’t ignore it. There is also plenty of evidence already in the Pokédex for the existence of different dimensions, right?" - Professor Burnet (Pokémon Sun and Moon)

[5] Cogita: "The space-time rift is said to be a portal to innumerable other dimensions[...]"

[6] Ingo: "If you fell from the sky... you come from another world altogether, most likely."

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