Event Pokémon

Event Pokémon are Pokémon that are distributed through outside promotional sources; either via the internet, at live in-person events or attractions, promotional sales (including premieres), or from promotional bonus discs or other special cross-promotional transfers from another game. 
On a number of occasions, Pokémon otherwise obtainable exclusively through events in the core series games have been made available through other means, either in normal gameplay (sometimes requiring save data bonuses) or by transferring the Pokémon from a side series game.
==Event-exclusive Pokémon species==
:See also: :Category:Promotion-only Pokémon
Since , there have been Pokémon that were made unobtainable via normal gameplay in the core series games, making these species of Pokémon only legitimately obtainable from Nintendo's promotional event distributions. Some event-exclusive Pokémon have also been made available through cross-promotions with side series or spin-off Pokémon games. Most of the event-exclusive Pokémon are Mythical Pokémon.
===Generation I===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Games	Games	Method
 	 	 	 	 	 	Nintendo events, historically through a direct trade
 	 	 	 	 	 	Nintendo events, historically through a direct trade
===Generation II===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	 	Gotta catch 'em all! Station
 	 	 	 	 	The Japanese Mobile System GB to obtain a GS Ball, to be used in Ilex Forest
 	 	 	 	 	Nintendo Power special promo
 	 	 	 	 	Direct trade
===Generation III===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Old Sea Map from Japan-only Nintendo events to access Faraway Island
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	MysticTicket from Nintendo events to access Navel Rock
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	MysticTicket from Nintendo events to access Navel Rock
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Japanese Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Transfer from Pokémon Channel (PAL version only) after completing the game
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	AuroraTicket from Nintendo events to access Birth Island
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
===Generation IV===
Pokémon	Pokémon 	Games	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Transfer 999 Pokémon to My Pokémon Ranch
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	Spiky-eared	 	 	 	 	 	Ilex Forest shrine with Pikachu-colored Pichu
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Transfer Pokémon Egg from after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Transfer Pokémon Egg from Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Transfer Pokémon Egg from Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Member Card from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Newmoon Island
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Oak's Letter from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Flower Paradise and the Gracidea
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways, which can access the Gracidea
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
===Generation V===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaway
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Liberty Pass from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Liberty Garden
 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
===Generation VI===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Bank event
 	 	 	 	 	 	Other giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
===Generation VII===
====Nintendo 3DS====
Pokémon	Pokémon 	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	Original Cap	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Hoenn Cap 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Sinnoh Cap 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Unova Cap 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Kalos Cap 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Alola Cap 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Partner Cap 	 	 	 	 	QR Code
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Communication with the Sun and Moon Special Demo Version
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Evolve Rockruff
 	 	 	 	 	 	QR Code
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
====Nintendo Switch====
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	Included in the Poké Ball Plus
 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Mainland China only)
===Generation VIII===
Pokémon	Pokémon 	Games	Games	Games	Games	Games	Methods
 	Original Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Hoenn Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Sinnoh Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Unova Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Kalos Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Alola Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	Partner Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	World Cap 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Included in the Poké Ball Plus
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pokémon Egg Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Member Card Distribution
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Oak's Letter Distribution
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.3.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.3.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.3.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Gift Box Distribution, after completing the National Pokédex (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Gift Box Distribution
 	Gigantamax Factor	 	 	 	 	 	Gift Box Distribution, after sending over a Pokémon from
 	Gigantamax Factor	 	 	 	 	 	During Wild Area News events
 	Gigantamax Factor	 	 	 	 	 	During Wild Area News events
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Giveaways (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
===Generation IX===
Pokémon	Pokémon	Games	Games	Methods
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Evolve Hisuian Voltorb
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Evolve Hisuian Sliggoo
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Giveaways
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	During Poké Portal News events
 	 	 	 	Mythical Pecha Berry Distribution
==Event-exclusive moves==
Starting in Generation V, the games contained moves that cannot be accessed in-game by means other than events. These are moves that are already known by distributed event Pokémon, not moves that can be learned by level-up by event-exclusive Pokémon.
Snarl was a TM move even in , but its TM required the Lock Capsule to obtain. However, the Lock Capsule was never distributed, and no Pokémon could learn Snarl via level-up in these games. However, as TM moves were able to be passed down by in Generation V, non-event Pokémon were able to learn Snarl in Black and White.
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==Nintendo promotional event Pokémon==
Periodically, Nintendo hosts or sponsors parties and events for fans, often in connection to the premiere of a new or . They are especially notable in that certain rare and items in the games, as well as cards and other products, are only available for a limited time from them. The methods used to transfer Pokémon and items to a game have varied over time, and include direct link trading and physical reception from an e-Card via Mystery Events. Wireless reception from a Wonder Spot and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection via Mystery Gift and distribution devices have also been used. Other methods may occur in the future.
Event Pokémon typically have a special Original Trainer and ID number, indicating their authenticity, and usually a from Generation III onwards. (In later generations, these Ribbons may prevent the Pokémon from being traded through the GTS or Wonder Trade.) From Generation IV onwards, most event Pokémon are distributed in Cherish Balls, special Poké Balls that exist solely for event distribution. Event Pokémon are usually desired because they are hard or impossible to find in the games, holding a rare item, and/or know at least one special move that would otherwise be impossible to have.
Some Pokémon are distributed with a specific Nature, gender, Ability, or , while others may leave one or more of these random (though Shininess is usually strictly fixed one way or the other). For Pokémon obtained in Generation IV onwards, the dates do not need to be the dates the events were held. This is because the date is based on the one set on the handheld system.
Generation IV introduced the distribution of promotional events via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. At first, only Key Items were distributed. These items allowed players to enter areas normally inaccessible. In June 2009, Pokémon began being distributed via Wi-Fi as well with the distribution of a Jirachi. Owners of the Japanese versions of the Sinnoh-based games, no matter where they were, could use Wi-Fi to receive the Pokémon. Later on, Japan began having distributions occurring simultaneously via events and over Wi-Fi. In March 2010, the Pikachu-colored Pichu became available for North American and PAL versions of . This became the first event Pokémon to be available to non-Japanese games via Wi-Fi.
There are very few countries or areas of the world where events tend to be held: Japan, , , , Australia, and various countries of Western Europe, and even then, limited to certain cities or city centers. While it is not unheard of for event Pokémon to be distributed outside of these countries, it is incredibly rare. Some countries may see several years pass between promotional events, and a majority of countries have never had a local event. The establishment of wireless internet has made the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection a much better distribution model to reach Pokémon players around the world.
In Generation V, the Pokémon Global Link became a new method for distributing Pokémon, though Pokémon were still distributed through Wi-Fi. Though they may not have been as unique as other event Pokémon (in regards to moves, Shininess, event Poké Ball, Ribbons, etc.), Pokémon from Global Link promotions can be obtained by anyone worldwide, depending on the country they set on the website; some may require purchase of other products, however.
==In other languages==
==Related articles==
* List of event Pokémon with in-game effects
* Distribution device
* Event items
* Save data bonus
Category:Pokémon meta
Category:Event distributions
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it:Pokémon evento