Regional form

Kantonian and Alolan Vulpix in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

A regional form (Japanese: リージョンフォーム region form), also known as a regional variant, is an alternate form of a Pokémon species that is found in a specific region. These forms differ from those found in other regions, usually even to the point of having a different type. Some regional forms also have different Evolutions to their counterparts from other regions.

Four regions are currently known to have their own regional forms:

54 Pokémon currently have regional forms, and 57 regional forms currently exist in total (55 and 58, respectively, if White-Striped Basculin is counted as a regional form). Apart from Meowth and Tauros, which have two and three respectively, each Pokémon with a regional form has only one.

Terminology

Main article: Terminology of regional forms

In Generation VII, they were introduced as regional variants, which is also mentioned in some Pokémon GO Community Day events from 2023. From Generation VIII onwards, they have been consistently known as regional forms in the core series games.

The place name adjective (such as "Alolan") is used before the Pokémon species. In running text, both the original form and the new regional forms are sometimes treated this way, such as "Kantonian Meowth" and "Alolan Meowth". Conversely, sometimes the Pokémon species are simply mentioned in running text without using the regional adjective. For instance, if the player encounters a wild Galarian Meowth, the battle dialogue would simply indicate "You encountered a wild Meowth!"

In Generation VII games, the Pokédex displays "Alola Form" as the title of this form. From Generation VIII onwards (including in Pokémon HOME), the adjectives for the place names are consistently used instead. For instance, "Alolan Form", "Galarian Form", "Hisuian Form", and "Paldean Form". The original form (such as Kantonian Meowth) is not named in the Pokédex.

In running text (as seen on Pokémon.com), the word "form" has been consistently written in lowercase. In the Generation VII era, this used to be "Alola form". From Generation VIII onwards, this includes "Kantonian form", "Alolan form", "Galarian form", etc.

List of regional forms

Ndex	Pokémon	Original form	Region (Gen.)	Regional form	Regional Evolution
#0019	Rattata	Normal	Alola VII	Dark Normal	—	—
#0020	Raticate	Normal	Alola VII	Dark Normal	—	—
#0026	Raichu	Electric	Alola VII	Electric Psychic	—	—
#0027	Sandshrew	Ground	Alola VII	Ice Steel	—	—
#0028	Sandslash	Ground	Alola VII	Ice Steel	—	—
#0037	Vulpix	Fire	Alola VII	Ice	—	—
#0038	Ninetales	Fire	Alola VII	Ice Fairy	—	—
#0050	Diglett	Ground	Alola VII	Ground Steel	—	—
#0051	Dugtrio	Ground	Alola VII	Ground Steel	—	—
#0052	Meowth	Normal	Alola VII	Dark	—	—
#0052	Meowth	Normal	Galar VIII	Steel	Perrserker	Steel
#0053	Persian	Normal	Alola VII	Dark	—	—
#0058	Growlithe	Fire	Hisui VIII	Fire Rock	—	—
#0059	Arcanine	Fire	Hisui VIII	Fire Rock	—	—
#0074	Geodude	Rock Ground	Alola VII	Rock Electric	—	—
#0075	Graveler	Rock Ground	Alola VII	Rock Electric	—	—
#0076	Golem	Rock Ground	Alola VII	Rock Electric	—	—
#0077	Ponyta	Fire	Galar VIII	Psychic	—	—
#0078	Rapidash	Fire	Galar VIII	Psychic Fairy	—	—
#0079	Slowpoke	Water Psychic	Galar VIII	Psychic	—	—
#0080	Slowbro	Water Psychic	Galar VIII	Poison Psychic	—	—
#0083	Farfetch'd	Normal Flying	Galar VIII	Fighting	Sirfetch'd	Fighting
#0088	Grimer	Poison	Alola VII	Poison Dark	—	—
#0089	Muk	Poison	Alola VII	Poison Dark	—	—
#0100	Voltorb	Electric	Hisui VIII	Electric Grass	—	—
#0101	Electrode	Electric	Hisui VIII	Electric Grass	—	—
#0103	Exeggutor	Grass Psychic	Alola VII	Grass Dragon	—	—
#0105	Marowak	Ground	Alola VII	Fire Ghost	—	—
#0110	Weezing	Poison	Galar VIII	Poison Fairy	—	—
#0122	Mr. Mime	Psychic Fairy	Galar VIII	Ice Psychic	Mr. Rime	Ice Psychic
#0128	Tauros	Normal	Paldea IX	Combat Breed Fighting	—	—
				Blaze Breed Fighting Fire	—	—
				Aqua Breed Fighting Water	—	—
#0144	Articuno	Ice Flying	Galar VIII	Psychic Flying	—	—
#0145	Zapdos	Electric Flying	Galar VIII	Fighting Flying	—	—
#0146	Moltres	Fire Flying	Galar VIII	Dark Flying	—	—
#0157	Typhlosion	Fire	Hisui VIII	Fire Ghost	—	—
#0194	Wooper	Water Ground	Paldea IX	Poison Ground	Clodsire	Poison Ground
#0199	Slowking	Water Psychic	Galar VIII	Poison Psychic	—	—
#0211	Qwilfish	Water Poison	Hisui VIII	Dark Poison	Overqwil	Dark Poison
#0215	Sneasel	Dark Ice	Hisui VIII	Fighting Poison	Sneasler	Fighting Poison
#0222	Corsola	Water Rock	Galar VIII	Ghost	Cursola	Ghost
#0263	Zigzagoon	Normal	Galar VIII	Dark Normal	—	—
#0264	Linoone	Normal	Galar VIII	Dark Normal	Obstagoon	Dark Normal
#0503	Samurott	Water	Hisui VIII	Water Dark	—	—
#0549	Lilligant	Grass	Hisui VIII	Grass Fighting	—	—
#0554	Darumaka	Fire	Galar VIII	Ice	—	—
#0555	Darmanitan	Standard Mode Fire	Galar VIII	Standard Mode Ice	—	—
#0555	Darmanitan	Zen Mode Fire Psychic	Galar VIII	Zen Mode Ice Fire	—	—
#0562	Yamask	Ghost	Galar VIII	Ground Ghost	Runerigus	Ground Ghost
#0570	Zorua	Dark	Hisui VIII	Normal Ghost	—	—
#0571	Zoroark	Dark	Hisui VIII	Normal Ghost	—	—
#0618	Stunfisk	Ground Electric	Galar VIII	Ground Steel	—	—
#0628	Braviary	Normal Flying	Hisui VIII	Psychic Flying	—	—
#0705	Sliggoo	Dragon	Hisui VIII	Steel Dragon	—	—
#0706	Goodra	Dragon	Hisui VIII	Steel Dragon	—	—
#0713	Avalugg	Ice	Hisui VIII	Ice Rock	—	—
#0724	Decidueye	Grass Ghost	Hisui VIII	Grass Fighting	—	—

In the core series games

In the Alola, Galar, Hisui, and Paldea regions, certain Pokémon species have regional forms.

Pokémon with regional forms have uniquely adapted to habitats that are different than those where its species naturally live in other parts of the world. As such, many things may be different about them, from their appearance and way of living to even their type, moves, Abilities, base stats, height, and weight. This is analogous to a form of real-world evolution known as peripatric speciation, where a population that is isolated from the rest of the species develops unique traits and may eventually evolve into a new species.

When breeding Pokémon whose offspring have a regional form, the offspring will normally take on the form corresponding to the region in which it was bred, regardless of its parents' forms. However, if one of the parents of the same evolutionary line held an Everstone when the Egg was produced, the offspring will be the same form as that parent. This does not apply to White-Striped Basculin and Basculegion, which always produce White-Striped Basculin—regardless of region or held Everstones—when they are the mother or non-Ditto parent. If the parents are the same species but different forms and in different balls, then the offspring has a 50 percent chance of inheriting either parent's ball regardless of what form the offspring takes.

If a Kantonian Tauros is bred in Paldea and is not holding an Everstone, then the resulting offspring will always be Combat Breed Paldean Tauros and never the Blaze Breed or Aqua Breed Paldean Tauros.

If a Pokémon without a regional form evolves into a Pokémon with a regional form, it will evolve into the form native to the region it is currently in, regardless of its origin. For example, if a Pikachu originating from Pokémon X and Y evolves in Pokémon Sun and Moon, it will still evolve into an Alolan Raichu.

Regional forms introduced from Generation VIII onward may have an Evolution that their regular form does not have, or evolve into a different species than the regular form, becoming something similar to a branched Evolution.

In the spin-off games

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Alolan Raichu, Vulpix, and Exeggutor appear as Pokémon that can appear from Poké Balls in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Pokémon Shuffle

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Shuffle

Alolan forms appear in Pokémon Shuffle.

Pokémon GO

For a list of the regional forms, see Alolan form → Pokémon GO, Galarian form → Pokémon GO, Hisuian form → Pokémon GO, and Paldean form → Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, they are referred to in the game dialogue as regional variants. They often have special requirements to be obtained as opposed to simply encountering them in the wild.

Alolan Pokémon first appeared in Pokémon GO on May 30, 2018, with the appearance of Alolan Exeggutor. Initially, Alolan Pokémon were exclusive to 7 km Eggs and Raid Battles, but have occasionally reappeared in the wild since their debuts.

Galarian Pokémon first appeared on November 16, 2019, with the appearance of Galarian Weezing.

Hisuian Pokémon first appeared on January 30, 2022, with the appearance of Hisuian Voltorb.

Paldean Pokémon first appeared on November 5, 2023, with the appearance of Paldean Wooper.

Pokémon Duel

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Duel

Certain Alolan forms were included in Pokémon Duel.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main articles: Alolan form → Pokémon Masters EX, Galarian form → Pokémon Masters EX and Hisuian form → Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, the regional forms currently available are from Alola, Galar, and Hisui. However, they inconsistently use different naming systems: "Alola Form" and "Galarian Form".

New Pokémon Snap

Alolan Raichu, Sandslash, and Vulpix can be found and photographed in the Lental region.

Pokémon UNITE

Alolan Ninetales is a playable Pokémon in Pokémon UNITE. Alolan Meowth and Persian also appear as wild Pokémon in the Shivre City stage. In Panic Parade, Alolan Meowth, Alolan Persian, and Paldean Tauros appear as wild Pokémon opposing the players.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, all Alolan forms appeared. They were present since the first episode.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Main article: Hisuian form → Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, some Alolan form, Galarian form, and Hisuian form Pokémon appeared.

Pokédex entries

Episode	Subject	Source	Entry
JN027	Regional form	Goh's Rotom Phone	Even among the same species of Pokémon, there can still be minor differences, depending on the region where they live or are raised. These differences are called regional forms.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Main article: Paldean form → Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Main article: Hisuian form → Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Some Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean form Pokémon have appeared in Pokémon Horizons: The Series.

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Some Galarian form Pokémon appear in Pokémon: Twilight Wings.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc

Main article: Alolan form → Pokémon Adventures

Sword & Shield arc

Main article: Galarian form → Pokémon Adventures

Scarlet & Violet arc

Main article: Paldean form → Pokémon Adventures

In the TCG

A "Galarian Sirfetch'd" from the Darkness Ablaze expansion

Main articles: Alolan form → In the TCG, Galarian form → In the TCG, Hisuian form → In the TCG, and Paldean form → In the TCG

Regional variants are featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean Pokémon. Notably, Evolutions exclusive to regional variants have the same descriptors used for their pre-evolved forms appended to the name of the Evolution. For example, "Galarian" is used as a descriptor for both Galarian form Pokémon and their Evolutions, as seen with Galarian Mr. Mime and Galarian Mr. Rime from Battle Styles. This is because some cards refer to Pokémon that are of a specific regional variant. For example, Aether Foundation Employee refers to "Pokémon that have 'Alolan' in their names".

While Galarian and Paldean Pokémon have no other exclusive mechanics, Alolan and Hisuian Pokémon have the distinction of often featuring attacks that cost zero Energy to use. Before the Sun & Moon Series, this mechanic had been absent from the TCG since the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series. Free attacks were exclusive to Alolan and Hisuian Pokémon until the Scarlet & Violet Series, when they were also once again seen on baby Pokémon cards.

Similar concepts

Variant Pokémon

Main article: Variant Pokémon

A Valencia Island Butterfree

Prior to Generation VII, there were already certain Pokémon that had variations depending on their native geographical area, but, unlike regional forms, these Pokémon do not appear to have any functional difference from their original forms; rather, their differences are purely aesthetic, with their type, moves, Abilities, height, and weight remaining the same.

The Generation I Pokédex entries for Arbok state that there are six variations of its face-like hood markings that differ between areas. Eight designs are known, but only three have appeared in the core series games (with a fourth in Pokémon Ranger). In Pokémon Adventures, Arbok gains a special ability depending on its pattern.
In Sinnoh, Shellos and Gastrodon have different appearances on each side of Mt. Coronet. East Sea Shellos and Gastrodon only appear east of Mt. Coronet, whereas West Sea Shellos and Gastrodon only appear on the west side.
Mantyke's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Pearl says that the pattern on its back varies from region to region. While it has the same appearance in all Generation IV games (due to using the same sprites), the "face" from Generation V onward appears wider.
Vivillon, which was introduced in Generation VI, has a different appearance depending on where the game it was created in is from in the real world.
In the Pokémon the Series: The Beginning episode Poké Ball Peril, a number of alternately colored Pokémon were seen on Valencia Island, including Butterfree, Raticate, Nidoran♂, Nidoran♀, Vileplume, Paras, and Weepinbell. Professor Ivy, the Pokémon Professor of the Orange Islands, studies these variations.
The episode Fly Me to the Moon featured Pidgey native to Pudgy Pidgey Isle that were too heavy to fly due to an abundance of food and a lack of predators.
In the Pikachu short Snorlax Snowman, several ice-blue Snorlax adapted to more frigid climates appeared.
In the Pokémon Adventures chapter Off Course with Corsola, Bill mentioned that Kanto and Johto share many of the same Pokémon, but their colors and patterns are different between regions.

δ Delta Species

Main article: δ Delta Species (TCG)

A Metal type Pikachu

The Pokémon Trading Card Game introduced Delta Species Pokémon in Generation III. Like regional forms, these Pokémon would undergo a type change, but their appearance would stay generally the same. The backstory of EX Delta Species states that these changes were not due to natural adaptation but rather a mutation brought on by exposure to electromagnetic waves.

This seems to be an exclusive phenomenon on the island of Holon, the aforementioned waves a product of experiments by scientists in the area searching for the Mythical Pokémon Mew. Delta Species Pokémon appeared in the TCG from EX Delta Species to EX Dragon Frontiers.

Ecologically similar Pokémon

Main article: Ecologically similar Pokémon

Certain Pokémon that are considered ecologically similar to previously discovered species are often mistaken for regional forms of the same species.

According to the Pokédex, researchers initially believed Wiglett and Wugtrio to be regional forms of Diglett and Dugtrio, respectively, before concluding they were separate species entirely.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna

Main article: Ursaluna (Pokémon)

Bloodmoon Ursaluna, a specific Ursaluna with a unique form is found in the Timeless Woods at the land of Kitakami, has a similar concept to the regional forms, being a Pokémon that moved away from their original region and adapted to the new different environment, but instead of changing types, it kept its original ones and gained special powers such as Blood Moon and Mind's Eye.

Trivia

The only type not possessed by any regional form is Bug.
- Additionally, there are no Flying-type regional forms that were not already that type in their original form.
Dark is the most common type among regional forms, with 11, while Water, Dragon, and Fairy are tied for the least common type, with only 3 regional forms each.
Out of the generations that introduced Pokémon that would later have regional forms, Generation I introduced the most, at 33, while Generation VII introduced the fewest, at one.
- Generations IV, VIII, and IX are the only generations to not introduce any Pokémon that have regional forms.
Out of the generations that introduced regional forms, Generation VIII introduced the most, with 36, while Generation IX introduced the fewest, with four (or only two if all three Paldean Tauros breeds are counted as a single regional form).
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the only core series games following the introduction of regional forms to not feature them.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the only core series game in which a regional form exists but its respective original form does not.
- The only regional forms in the game whose original forms are also present are Sneasel and Vulpix.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	地區形態 Deihkēui Yìhngtaai * 地區型態 Deihkēui Yìhngtaai *
Chinese	Mandarin	地區形態 / 地区形态 Dìqū Xíngtài * 地區型態 Dìqū Xíngtài *
Czech		Regionální varianta
Danish		Regional variation* Alola-variant*
Dutch		Regionale variant^SMUSUM Regionale vorm^SwSh
Finnish		Alueellinen muunnos* Alueellinen muoto*
French		Forme régionale Variante régionale*
German		Regionalform
Hungarian		Regionális változat
Italian		Forma regionale
Korean		리전폼 Region Forme
Norwegian		Regional variasjon
Polish		Forma regionalna* Regionalny wariant*
Portuguese	Brazil	Forma regional* Variante regional* Variação regional*
Portuguese	Portugal	Variante regional^SMUSUM Forma regional^SwSh
Russian		Региональный вариант Regional'nyy variant^SMUSUM^SwSh Региональная формa Regional'naya forma^SwSh
Spanish		Forma regional
Swedish		Regional variant
Turkish		Bölgesel çeşitlilik
Vietnamese		Hình thái địa phương