Regional form

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:
* Alolan forms in Alola.
* Galarian forms in Galar.
* Hisuian forms in Hisui.
* Paldean forms in Paldea.
54 Pokémon currently have regional forms, and 57 regional forms currently exist in total (55 and 58, respectively, if White-Striped is counted as a regional form). Apart from and , which have two and three respectively, each Pokémon with a regional form has only one.
==Terminology==
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 " and "Alolan ". 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 , the battle dialogue would simply indicate "You encountered a wild !"
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==
 	Pokémon	Original form	Region()	Regional form	Regional Evolution	Regional Evolution			
#0019	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0020	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0026	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0027	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0028	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0037	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0038	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0050	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0051	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0052	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0052	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0053	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0058	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0059	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0074	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0075	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0076	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0077	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0078	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0079	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0080	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0083	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0088	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0089	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0100	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0101	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0103	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0105	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0110	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0122	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0128	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0128	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0128	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0144	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0145	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0146	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0157	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0194	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0199	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0211	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0215	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0222	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0263	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0264	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0503	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0549	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0554	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0555	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0555	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0562	 	 	 	 	 	 			
#0570	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0571	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0618	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0628	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0705	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0706	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0713	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
#0724	 	 	 	 	— 	— 			
 	 	 	 	 	 	 			
==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 . As such, many things may be different about them, from their appearance and way of living to even their type, moves, , base stats, height, and weight. This is analogous to a form of real-world known as , where a population that is isolated from the rest of the species develops unique traits and may eventually evolve into a new species.
When 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. For this purpose, evolved forms exclusive to a regional form count as a regional form (e.g. a egg outside Galar will hatch into Kantonian Meowth if it was not holding an Everstone, and a Galarian Meowth if it was). This does not apply to White-Striped and , which always produce White-Striped Basculin—regardless of region or held Everstones—when they are the mother or non- 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===
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 .
Alolan Pokémon first appeared in Pokémon GO on May 30, 2018, with the appearance of Alolan . Initially, Alolan Pokémon were exclusive to 7 km Eggs and s, but have occasionally reappeared in the wild since their debuts.
Galarian Pokémon first appeared on November 16, 2019, with the appearance of Galarian .
Hisuian Pokémon first appeared on January 30, 2022, with the appearance of Hisuian .
Paldean Pokémon first appeared on November 5, 2023, with the appearance of Paldean .
===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 , , and can be found and photographed in the Lental region.
===Pokémon UNITE===
 and are playable Pokémon in . Alolan and also appear as wild Pokémon in the Shivre City stage. In Panic Parade, Alolan Meowth, Alolan Persian, and Paldean appear as wild Pokémon opposing the players.
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
========
In , all Alolan forms appeared. They were present since the first episode.
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In , some Alolan form, Galarian form, and Hisuian form Pokémon appeared.
====Pokédex entries====
===Pokémon Horizons: The Series===
Some Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean form Pokémon have appeared in .
===Pokémon: Twilight Wings===
Some Galarian form Pokémon appear in Pokémon: Twilight Wings.
==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
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==In the TCG==
: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 and from . This is because some cards refer to Pokémon that are of a specific regional variant. For example, 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 s that cost zero 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===
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, , height, and weight remaining the same.
* The Generation I for 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 ). In Pokémon Adventures, Arbok gains a special ability depending on its pattern.
* In Sinnoh, and 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.
* 's Pokédex entry in 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.
* , 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 episode Poké Ball Peril, a number of alternately colored Pokémon were seen on Valencia Island, including , , , , , , and . Professor Ivy, the Pokémon Professor of the Orange Islands, studies these variations.
* The episode Fly Me to the Moon featured 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 adapted to more frigid climates appeared.
* In the Pokémon Adventures chapter Off Course with Corsola, mentioned that Kanto and Johto share many of the same Pokémon, but their colors and patterns are different between regions.
===δ Delta Species===
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 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 . Delta Species Pokémon appeared in the TCG from to .
===Ecologically similar Pokémon===
Certain Pokémon that are considered ecologically similar to previously species are often mistaken for regional forms of the same species.
According to the Pokédex, researchers initially believed and to be regional forms of and , respectively, before concluding they were separate species entirely.
===Bloodmoon Ursaluna===
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 and .
==Trivia==
* The only type not possessed by any regional form is .
** Additionally, there are no regional forms that were not already that type in their original form.
* is the most common type among regional forms, with 11, while , , and 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 , , and 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 are counted as a single regional form).
* are the only core series games following the introduction of regional forms to not feature them.
* 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 and .
==In other languages==
==Related articles==
* Region-based Evolution
Category:Lists of Pokémon
Category:Pokémon world
*
Category:Variant Pokémon
*
Category:Pokémon groupings
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