Pokémon Theories

Pokémon has been out for 20 years and despite genwunners and naysayers, the cultural phenomenon continues with no sign of stopping. There are new games scheduled to be released and despite playership lower than the initial fad, Pokémon Go is still going strong. As a result of all the games, manga, and anime, there are many fan theories that have been thrown around over the 20 years of the franchise. Here are a few of my favorites. Where possible I’ve included links to YouTube videos, podcasts, and articles where I found these theories.

One popular theory that I kept coming across was about Blue/Gary (the rival of the Generation I games) and his Raticate. The theory states that after fighting and losing to Red/Ash/You on the S.S. Anne, he couldn’t heal his Raticate (or Rattata in Yellow version) in time and it ended up dying. That’s why when you see him in Lavender Town he doesn’t have Raticate anymore. It’s especially pertinent seeing that the Pokémon Tower where you fight him is the memorial for dead Pokémon. The problem with this theory is in the post-battle text. If you take it at face value, after the battle, Blue starts asking about your Pokédex and telling you about Cubone and Marowak. He doesn’t exactly seem choked up or too keen on paying his respects. However, Blue could easily just be putting on a tough guy façade because he’s upset with you.  (Source: Creeps Plays)

Next I found a theory about Ditto being a failed clone of Mew. The evidence states that both Ditto and Mew are the only Pokémon able to learn Transform. Also, they are the same color (even in shiny form) and similar weight. We also only find Ditto in the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island in Generation I (and Unknown Dungeon in Yellow), where we learn from the scattered journal entries that Mewtwo was created. In more recent games, Ditto is also found at Pokémon Village, which is also where you find Mewtwo. This theory seems legit and has every possibility of being true. (Source: Silph Radio)

Another theory about Pokémon origins is that Cubone is Kangaskhan’s baby. If you look at Cubone right next to a baby Kangaskhan they look similar. So the theory goes that if a baby Kangaskhan’s mother dies, it wears its mother’s skull and becomes a Cubone. They’re found in similar locations and just their sprites next to each other is enough evidence for me. Also there’s the whole Missingno thing evolving into Kangaskhan, so there was obviously some code in Red/Blue for something to evolve into it. Perhaps it was going to be an alternate evolution for Cubone? Maybe Cubone was going to evolve from happiness into Kangaskhan (because it wouldn’t be grieving as much?). (Source: Screen Rant)

One theory I came across that’s kind of interesting is that Team Rocket is good (at least in the games). The rationale is that their missions in Red/Blue/Yellow all lead to capturing Mewtwo, who they accidentally created and unleashed on the world. This could get long, so I’ll give you the cliffnotes. (1) Dr. Fuji and Team Rocket create Mewtwo on Cinnabar Island and accidentally unleash it. (2) Team Rocket confront Mr. Fuji (same man) in Lavender Town but first (3) they need the Silph Scope to reach Mr. Fuji in Pokémon Tower. After all of that, (4) they need the Master Ball to catch Mewtwo, so they store Silph Co. The problem I have with this is that Team Rocket still has some sketchy operations in Mt. Moon, Game Corner, etc. I could see it that they’re doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them good guys in that came. (Source: Pokémon World Tour #53)

Back to Pokémon origin theories, remember in Ecruteak City we have the Burned Tower where Entei, Raikou, and Suicune are? It’s said that they were three Pokémon who were killed when the tower burned and they were resurrected by Ho-Oh. What Pokémon were they though? Well, Ecruteak City also has the Kimono Girls, who special in Eeveelutions. If you look closely, the abilities and typings of Raikou/Suicune/Entei match up to Jolteon/Vaporeon/Flareon. It would make sense that these Eeveelutions would be original forms of the Legendary Beasts. That begs the question though… are there also Legendary Beasts in Dark, Psychic, Grass, Ice, and Fairy types? (Source: Creeps Plays)

My finally theory for this post is about Pokémon Go. Ever since the game first game out last year, there have been jokes, web comics, etc. about the Pokémon you send to Professor Willow. The joke is that the Pokémon are ground up and given to you as Pokémon candy. That’s grim and dark so here’s what I buy into: Catch and release. I’ve seen this theory go around as simple catch-and-release, like when I would go fishing as a kid. I’ve also seen this been Professor Willow tagging the Pokémon you send him, before releasing them, so that he can track and research them.

So this is all I have for now. I found several other good (or at least decent) Pokémon theories but this post was getting long, so I’ll save those other theories for another time. In the meantime, as a reward for reading to the end of this post, I decided to include some Mega Stone codes for Pokémon Sun/Moon that were released over the past few months. If I missed any, let me know. Enjoy!

AZUL (for Pidgeot, Steelix, Heracross, and Houndoom)

INTIMIDATE (for Beedrill, Medicham, Audino, and Mawile)

M2DESCENT (for both Mewtwo)

MATSUBUSA (for Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, Camerupt, and Banette)

POYONG (for Diancie, Gardevoir, Gallade, and Lopunny)