National Pokédex

The National Pokédex (Japanese: 全国図鑑 national illustrated encyclopedia) is a Pokédex that has been upgraded with the National Mode (Japanese: 全国版 National Edition) that records information on all Pokémon known to exist, instead of just ones native in a particular region. The National Pokédex is not available at the start of the games, but it can be unlocked by completing certain tasks. Beginning with Generation VII, the National Pokédex is no longer typically included in the main series games, but it can be accessed through storage apps like Pokémon Bank (Version 1.3 and onward) and Pokémon HOME.

Platinum's National Pokédex mode
Each new generation begins its numbering from the end of the last generation. Cyndaquil, at #155, is the fourth Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the equivalent of the National Pokédex order was known as Old Pokédex Mode (Japanese: ふるいずかんモード old-style encyclopedia mode), while Johto's regional Pokédex order at the time was known as New Pokédex Mode (Japanese: しんがたずかんモード new-style encyclopedia mode).

The first 151 entries of the National Pokédex also doubles as the Kanto Pokédex.

Comparison between generations

Main article: List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number

In every generation, new Pokémon are added to the National Pokédex. The Pokémon numbers are as follows:

In the core series games

Generation II

In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Pokédex lists Pokémon by their New Pokédex order (Johto's regional Pokédex) by default. The player has the option to change it to the Old Pokédex order, which is available from the beginning.

Additionally, Old Pokédex numbers are used throughout the Generation II games.

Generation III

Generation III introduced the term "National Pokédex".

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the Pokédex is upgraded with the National Mode after the game trades with FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald, whenever or not Ruby or Sapphire is receiving a Pokémon not in the Hoenn Dex.

Trading with Pokémon Colosseum or XD: Gale of Darkness does not unlock the National Pokédex.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, if the player has 60 or more Pokémon owned in the Kanto Pokédex, has visited One Island, and has entered the Hall of Fame, upon talking to Professor Oak in his lab in Pallet Town, he will upgrade both the player's and Blue's Pokédexes with the National Mode.

After obtaining the National Pokédex, the player can obtain Pokémon introduced in Generations II and III via trade and Evolution. This allows Generation I Pokémon to evolve into their Generation II forms (such as Golbat being able to evolve into Crobat); prior to obtaining the National Pokédex, these Pokémon will try to evolve but fail. However, the player cannot trade with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald until they have delivered the Ruby and Sapphire to Celio in the Pokémon Network Center on One Island to put into the Network Machine.

Pokémon Emerald

In Pokémon Emerald, after the player enters the Hall of Fame for the first time, when they exit their house in Littleroot Town after resuming their game, Professor Birch and Brendan or May will be waiting for the player. Birch will escort the two of them to his lab, where he will upgrade both of their Pokédexes with the National Mode.

After obtaining the National Pokédex, the player unlocks the ability to trade with FireRed, LeafGreen and XD: Gale of Darkness (and can also trade for Eggs) if that game has unlocked the ability to trade with Emerald. After obtaining the National Pokédex, if the player has collected all 200 non-Mythical Pokémon in the Hoenn Pokédex, Birch will offer the player their choice of one of the Johto first partner Pokémon.

Generation IV

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, if the player has seen the first 150 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex, they can obtain the National Pokédex. In Pokémon Platinum, if the player has seen all 210 Pokémon in the expanded Sinnoh Pokédex, they can obtain the National Pokédex. If the player has met the appropriate condition for that game and talks to Professor Rowan in his lab in Sandgem Town, Professor Oak will arrive and upgrade the player's Pokédex with the National Mode.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, after entering the Hall of Fame, when the player attempts to board the S.S. Aqua for the first time, Professor Oak will appear and upgrade the player's Pokédex with the National Mode.

Generation V

Pokémon Black and White

In Pokémon Black and White, after the player defeats Ghetsis at N's Castle and exits their house in Nuvema Town after resuming the game, Cedric Juniper will approach the player, Bianca, and Cheren, then upgrade their Pokédexes with the National Mode.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, after the player enters the Hall of Fame and resumes the game from their house in Aspertia City, Cedric Juniper will visit the player's house and upgrade their Pokédex with the National Mode.

Generation VI

Pokémon X and Y

In Pokémon X and Y, after the player has entered the Hall of Fame, upon entering Lumiose Station, Dexio will upgrade the player's Pokédex with the National Pokédex.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, after the player has defeated or caught the super-ancient Pokémon, if they talk to Professor Birch in his lab in Littleroot Town, he will upgrade the player's Pokédex with the National Pokédex.

Unlike most games, non-native Pokémon are obtainable without the National Pokédex; they begin appearing as soon as the player has met the prerequisites to obtain the National Pokédex, regardless of whether they actually have it. Using the PokéNav Plus to attempt to view their Pokédex entries will result in an entry of red text saying that no information is available on the Pokémon, and the areas found display will show "No reported sightings" over the map.

Generation VII

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon do not include the National Pokédex. Pokémon not in the Alola Pokédex do not display any Pokédex number in-game. All Pokémon introduced before Generation VII, along with Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon can be used in all four games, and Pokémon introduced in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can be used in those games, but not in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

As Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of Generation I and only feature the first 151 Pokémon, plus Meltan and Melmetal, the National Pokédex is absent. In addition, only the aforementioned Pokémon can be used in game, despite prior games allowing for the use of all Pokémon introduced prior to or introduced in the specified game.

Meltan and Melmetal are registered as #152 and #153 in the Kanto Pokédex, respectively. However, their National Pokédex numbers, #808 and #809, can be seen when using the judge function.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Pokémon Sword and Shield do not include the National Pokédex. Only Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex, Isle of Armor Pokédex, Crown Tundra Pokédex, and a select few other Pokémon can be used in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Pokémon not in the Galar Pokédex do not display any Pokédex number in-game.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the National Pokédex includes all 493 Pokémon (excluding regional forms), introduced between Generation I and Generation IV. if the player has seen the all of Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex (excluding Manaphy), and talks to Professor Rowan in his lab in Sandgem Town, Professor Oak will arrive and upgrade the player's Pokédex with the National Mode.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus does not include the National Pokédex. Only Pokémon in the Hisui Pokédex (excluding some regional forms) can be used in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Generation IX

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet do not include the National Pokédex. Only Pokémon in the Paldea Pokédex, the Kitakami Pokédex, the Blueberry Pokédex, and a select few other Pokémon can be used in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Pokémon not in the Paldea Pokédex, the Kitakami Pokédex, or the Blueberry Pokédex do not display any Pokédex number in-game.

Acquisition

Games Method
GSC Route 30 (available when obtaining the Pokédex)
RS Automatically unlocked upon trading with FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald
FRLG Professor Oak's Laboratory (from Professor Oak after entering the Hall of Fame and catching 60 Pokémon)
E Littleroot Town (from Professor Birch after becoming Champion)
DPPt Sandgem Town (from Professor Rowan after seeing every Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex)
HGSS Olivine City (from Professor Oak after becoming Champion)
BW Nuvema Town (from Cedric Juniper after defeating Ghetsis)
B2W2 Aspertia City (from Cedric Juniper after becoming Champion)
XY Lumiose Station (from Sina and Dexio after becoming Champion)
ORAS Littleroot Town (from Professor Birch after catching or defeating GroudonOR/KyogreAS)
BDSP Sandgem Town (from Professor Rowan after seeing every Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex)

In the side series games

Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire

In Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire, if a game with the National Pokédex is used with Box, Box's Pokédex Mode will be upgraded to the National Mode. As FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald cannot link with Box until after obtaining the National Dex, using one of them will therefore unlock National Mode.

Pokémon Bank

As part of its version 1.3 update to be compatible with Generation VII, a National Pokédex feature was also added to Pokémon Bank. Bank's National Pokédex is able to display Pokédex entries from any game between Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Sun and Moon. The Pokédex is updated based on the data of any game that is used to connect to Pokémon Bank.

The five Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have a blank Pokédex entry, but other statistics such as height and weight still appear.

Pokémon Bank's National Pokédex has an extensive search feature, including the ability to filter Pokémon by the games they are naturally available in (not counting the possibility of obtaining a Pokémon by breeding or evolving), as well as the ability to show the Kanto, Johto, "Good Old Hoenn", Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos (divided into Central, Coastal, and Mountain), Hoenn, and Alola (both Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon) Pokédex orders.

Pokémon HOME

Pokémon HOME includes the full National Pokédex. It includes every Pokédex description since Pokémon X and Y, for each Pokémon. Completing the National Pokédex by registering every Pokémon (including all Mythical Pokémon) up to Eternatus in HOME rewards the player with an Original Color Magearna, a form which cannot be obtained otherwise.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, the Pokémon are listed by their National Pokédex number. This applies to the list of Pokémon recruited by the player, and also to the list of Pokémon available when the player is buying Friend Areas from Wigglytuff.

Pokémon Pinball

In Pokémon Pinball, the Pokédex lists Pokémon ordered by their Kanto Pokédex number (which is the same as their National Pokédex number).

Pokémon Trading Card Game series

In Pokémon Trading Card Game, all Pokémon cards have their Kanto Pokédex number (which is the same as their National Pokédex number).

In Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, almost all Pokémon cards are still native from Kanto, and display their Kanto Pokédex number. The only exceptions are three new Generation II Pokémon cards: Togepi, Marill, and Lugia. They display their Old Pokédex number (175, 183, and 249, respectively).

Pokémon Tetris

In Pokémon Tetris, the Pokédex lists Pokémon ordered by their Old Pokédex number (later known as the National Pokédex).

Pokémon Trozei series

In Pokémon Trozei! and Battle Trozei, the Pokémon List displays the Pokémon listed in the National Pokédex order by default.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

FireRed & LeafGreen arc

In Going Green, it was revealed that Professor Oak had requested the Pokédexes back from Red, Blue, and Green in order to upgrade them to National Pokédexes so that they could collect data from other regions. This was accomplished in Secrets from Sneasel, as Oak transferred the data from the old Pokédexes into new ones and inserted a special computer chip into each of them.

Sword & Shield arc

In Oh My!! The Disappearance of Henry, Casey was given access to Macro Cosmos's National Pokédex database so she could help track down the Rusted Sword and Shield following their disappearance at the end of the first showdown against Eternatus. Knowing the artifacts had come into contact with Eternatus's poison, Casey was able to find signs of the same poison at the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In Hareta's Future, Mitsumi gave Hareta an upgraded National Pokédex.

Trivia

  • In Generations I, III, and VI, it is possible to complete the National Pokédex (Kanto Pokédex in Generation I) entirely with Pokémon obtained in the core series games of the current generation.
    • In Generations II, IV and V, completing the National Pokédex (Old Pokédex in Generation II) requires Pokémon obtained in games from previous generations or events.
  • In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, completing the National Pokédex was not possible until the release of Pokémon Colosseum, FireRed, and LeafGreen since there was no feature to transfer Pokémon from earlier generations. Once Pokémon Emerald was released, Colosseum was not necessary anymore to complete the National Pokédex.
  • The numbers assigned to each Pokémon in the National Pokédex might bear symbolic meanings:
    • Numbers 0025 and 0052, assigned to Pikachu and Meowth, may reflect the natural antagonism between mice and cats, which inspired the designs of these Pokémon.
    • Voltorb’s number 0100 could reference the tsukumogami, a Japanese folklore concept where tools are believed to gain consciousness after 100 years.
    • According to Nob Ogasawara, Lickitung’s number, 0108, can be pronounced as "hyakuhachi," rhyming with "shakuhachi," a term in Japanese slang that can imply "blow job."
    • The trios of 0124 Jynx, 0125 Electabuzz, and 0126 Magmar; 0134 Vaporeon, 0135 Jolteon, and 0136 Flareon; and 0144 Articuno, 0145 Zapdos, and 0146 Moltres all appear in the Pokédex at intervals of ten, repeating the pattern of Ice, Electric, and Fire types (with Water Vaporeon as the exception).
    • Mew’s number is 0151, placed immediately after Mewtwo’s, despite being its protoplast, likely because Mew was meant to be a mythical Pokémon existing only in lore before it was added at the last stage of game production.
    • Archeops's number, 0567, which also equals its base stat total, likely references the Dewey Decimal system, where 567.9 represents feathered dinosaurs.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 全國圖鑑 Chyùhngwok Tòuhgaam
Mandarin 全國圖鑑 / 全国图鉴 Quánguó Tújiàn
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Nationaal Pokédex
France Flag.png French Pokédex National
Germany Flag.png German Nationaler Pokédex
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokédex Nazionale
South Korea Flag.png Korean 전국도감 Jeongukdogam
Poland Flag.png Polish Narodowy Pokédex
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Pokédex Nacional
Portugal Flag.png Portugal National Pokédex
Russia Flag.png Russian Национальный Покедекс Natsional'nyy Pokédeks
Spain Flag.png Spanish Pokédex Nacional
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Từ điển Pokémon toàn quốc

See also

External links