Defining a species

*For the main page about Pokémon, see Pokémon.*
*For defining the differences between a species' multiple forms, see Forms.*
This page describes **how to define a Pokémon species**.

A Pokémon species begins with its definition. This means that it is listed in the PBS file "pokemon.txt", or a PBS file named "pokemon\_XYZ.txt" (where "XYZ" is any text except "forms..." or "metrics..."), so that it can be recognised by the game as a species.

Note that this only defines the basic properties common to all individual Pokémon of that species (e.g. base stats, move sets, evolution paths, etc.).

In addition to this, a species will require a number of graphics files depicting that species in different ways, as well as an audio file which plays its cry. See below for more information.

## PBS file "pokemon.txt"

The PBS file "pokemon.txt" lists all the defined Pokémon species in the game. Each section in this file is one separate species, where a section begins with a line containing an ID in square brackets and ends when the next section begins. Each line in a section is one separate piece of information about that species.

Aside from the ID line, every line in a section follows the format:

```
XXX = YYY

```

where `XXX` is a property and `YYY` is the value or values associated with it (the spaces are optional). For example:

```
[BULBASAUR]
Name = Bulbasaur
Types = GRASS,POISON
BaseStats = 45,49,49,45,65,65
GenderRatio = FemaleOneEighth
BaseExp = 64
Moves = 1,TACKLE,1,GROWL,3,VINEWHIP,6,GROWTH,9,LEECHSEED,12,RAZORLEAF,15,POISONPOWDER,15,SLEEPPOWDER,18,SEEDBOMB,21,TAKEDOWN,24,SWEETSCENT,27,SYNTHESIS,30,WORRYSEED,33,DOUBLEEDGE,36,SOLARBEAM
Height = 0.7
Pokedex = Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
Evolutions = IVYSAUR,Level,16

```

All pieces of information are optional, but will have default values if they are not defined. The order of the lines does not matter, except for the ID line in square brackets which must be first.

## Graphics and audio

A Pokémon species has one of each of the following:

### Graphics

The graphics for a Pokémon species all go into corresponding folders in the folder "Graphics/Pokemon". The names of each of these graphics are all the same, and are the ID of the species, e.g. "BULBASAUR.png". The graphics are:

* Four battle sprites, used in a variety of places in-game (they can be any size):
	1. Front normal
	2. Rear normal
	3. Front shiny
	4. Rear shiny
* A two-frame icon (each frame is square, with the second frame placed to the right of the first). Used mainly in the party screen (animated) and Pokémon storage screen (not animated).
* A two-frame icon, like above, for the shiny version of the species.
* A graphic depicting its footprint, for use in the Pokédex.
* A graphic of the shadow shown beneath the Pokémon in battle.

The shiny versions of the battle sprites and icon are not necessary. If they do not exist, the regular versions will be used instead. The shadow graphic is also not necessary, and if it does not exist, a numbered shadow graphic will be used depending on the species' metrics (see below).

A species may have a unique egg sprite. If so, both the sprite and the icon depicting the egg go in the same folder, which is "Graphics/Pokemon/Eggs". It is not possible to have different egg graphics for shiny Pokémon. The egg graphics are:

* The egg's sprite will be named as above, e.g. "BULBASAUR.png".
* The egg's icon will have the suffix "\_icon", e.g. "BULBASAUR\_icon.png".
* If the egg has unique crack graphics (shown when the egg is hatching), it goes in the same folder and has the suffix "\_cracks", e.g. "BULBASAUR\_cracks.png". If the egg does not have unique crack graphics, it will use the "000\_cracks.png" graphic instead.

### Audio

The audio files for a Pokémon species go into the folder "Audio/SE/Cries". The audio files are:

* Its cry, played in various places. Named the same as above, e.g. "BULBASAUR.ogg".
* Its cry when it faints in battle. Has the suffix "\_faint", e.g. "BULBASAUR\_faint.ogg".

### Gender differences

Female Pokémon can have different sprites/icons to male Pokémon of the same species. If so, they are placed in the same folders as the male versions of those sprites/icons, but they have the filename suffix "\_female", e.g. "BULBASAUR\_female.png".

Female Pokémon of a species cannot have different egg sprites/icons, footprint graphics, shadow graphics or cries to the males.

### Sprite metrics

Each species and form can define a set of numbers (metrics) that determine where their sprites will be positioned in battle, as well as other visual information. They allow the sprite to look as though they are properly standing on the ground (or floating/flying a suitable distance above it). There are separate values for front and back sprites.

The metrics for species are defined in the PBS file "pokemon\_metrics.txt", or a PBS file named "pokemon\_metrics\_XYZ.txt" (where "XYZ" is any text). Each section in this file is one separate species or form, where a section begins with a line containing an ID (and optional form number) in square brackets and ends when the next section begins. Each line in a section is one separate metric.

Aside from the ID line, every line in a section follows the format:

```
XXX = YYY

```

where `XXX` is a property and `YYY` is the value or values associated with it (the spaces are optional). For example:

```
[BULBASAUR]
BackSprite = -4,0
FrontSprite = -1,26
ShadowX = 0
ShadowSize = 2

```

The properties are:

This line must come first in a section, because, as mentioned above, this line defines when a new section begins.
 BackSprite
 FrontSprite
 FrontSpriteAltitude
This property is typically unused because `FrontSprite` can do the same thing.
 ShadowX
 ShadowSize

## Multiple forms

*Main article: Forms*
*Main article: Mega Evolution*
If a Pokémon species has more than one form (including mechanically different male/female versions and Mega Evolutions), then it will need additional graphics and possibly additional cries to depict them.

Alternate forms are defined in the PBS file "pokemon\_forms.txt", or a PBS file named "pokemon\_forms\_XYZ.txt" (where "XYZ" is any text), which is laid out in much the same way as "pokemon.txt".