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**.

## Defining a species Edit

A Pokémon species begins with its definition. This means that it is listed in the PBS file "pokemon.txt", 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" Edit

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 number 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:

```
X=Y

```

where `X` is a property and `Y` is the value or values associated with it. For example:

```
[1]
Name=Bulbasaur
Type1=GRASS
Type2=POISON
BaseStats=45,49,49,45,65,65
GenderRate=FemaleOneEighth
BaseEXP=64
Moves=1,TACKLE,3,GROWL,7,LEECHSEED,9,VINEWHIP,13,POISONPOWDER,13,SLEEPPOWDER,15,TAKEDOWN,19,RAZORLEAF,21,SWEETSCENT,25,GROWTH,27,DOUBLEEDGE,31,WORRYSEED,33,SYNTHESIS,37,SEEDBOMB
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

```

Some pieces of information must be defined for every species, while other pieces of information are optional and can be excluded if they don't apply. The order of the lines does not matter, except for the ID line in square brackets which must be first.

## Graphics and audio Edit

A Pokémon species has one of each of the following:

* A 128x64 pixel two-frame icon, used mainly in the party screen and Pokémon storage screen
* Four battle sprites, used in a variety of places in-game:
	1. Front normal
	2. Rear normal
	3. Front shiny
	4. Rear shiny
* A 32x32 graphic depicting its footprint, for use in the Pokédex
* An audio file depicting its cry, played in various places

The icon is composed of two 64x64 pictures side by side, and is animated automatically in the party screen (it is not animated in the Pokémon storage screen). It is placed in the folder "Graphics/Icons", with the name "`iconXXX.png`", where "`XXX`" is either the internal name of that species or its ID number padded to 3 digits (e.g. Bulbasaur is "`001`", Pikachu is "`025`", Mewtwo is "`150`").

The battle sprites can be any size, and are placed in the folder "Graphics/Battlers" with the following names (the "`XXX`" is as above):

* `XXX.png` - Front normal
* `XXXb.png` - Rear normal
* `XXXs.png` - Front shiny
* `XXXsb.png` - Rear shiny

The footprint graphic is placed in the folder "Graphics/Icons/Footprints" with the name "`footprintXXX.png`".

The cry file is placed in the folder "Audio/SE/Cries" with the name "`XXXCry`", and can be of any supported audio type.