Regional Variant
A Regional Variant (Japanese リージョンフォーム Region Form) is a species of Pokémon found in a specific region that takes on a different form than it does in most other regions. These Pokémon have uniquely adapted to habitats that are different than those where its species naturally live in other parts of the world, such as a Fire-Type adapting to harsh cold or a prey Pokémon adapting to counter predation. This typically results in physical changes which may be either subtle or drastic in comparison to its cousins in other regions. This is similar to real-world evolution and genetic drift.
A Pokémon will always breed offspring of and evolve into its Regional Variant if it is in the corresponding region. A Pokémon will be able to breed offspring of its own form if it is holding an Everstone, regardless of region.
Currently, the regions known to produce Regional Variants are Alola and Altaris. Though not quite as drastic as these two regions, the Orange Archipelago has been observed to produce slight variations of native Pokémon.
Alola
The majority of Alolan Regional Variants have adapted simply to new surroundings, predators, and climates. These changes are purely ecological in nature, with some human interference contributing to the genetic drift.
Alolan Regional Variants | ||||||||
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Pokémon | Sprite | Type | Ability | Sprite | Type | Ability | Evolutionary Reason | |
Rattata | Normal | Run Away Guts Hustle |
Dark Normal |
Gluttony Hustle Thick Fat |
Became nocturnal to avoid predatory Yungoos. | |||
Raticate | Normal | Run Away Guts Hustle |
Dark Normal |
Gluttony Hustle Thick Fat |
Became nocturnal to avoid predatory Yungoos. | |||
Raichu | Electric | Static Lightning Rod |
Electric Psychic |
Surge Surfer | Unknown. Thought to have eaten too many pancakes. | |||
Sandshrew | Ground | Sand Veil Sand Rush |
Ice Steel |
Snow Cloak Slush Rush |
Adaptation to cold climates. | |||
Sandslash | Ground | Sand Veil Sand Rush |
Ice Steel |
Snow Cloak Slush Rush |
Adaptation to cold climates. | |||
Vulpix | Fire | Flash Fire Drought |
Ice | Snow Cloak Snow Warning |
Adaptation to cold climates. | |||
Ninetales | Fire | Flash Fire Drought |
Ice Fairy |
Snow Cloak Snow Warning |
Adaptation to cold climates. | |||
Diglett | Ground | Sand Veil Arena Trap Sand Force |
Ground Steel |
Sand Veil Tangling Hair Sand Force |
Adaptation to volcanic activity. | |||
Dugtrio | Ground | Sand Veil Arena Trap Sand Force |
Ground Steel |
Sand Veil Tangling Hair Sand Force |
Adaptation to volcanic activity. | |||
Meowth | Normal | Pickup Technician Unnerve |
Dark | Pickup Technician Rattled |
Selective breeding by humans. | |||
Persian | Normal | Limber Technician Unnerve |
Dark | Fur Coat Technician Rattled |
Selective breeding by humans. | |||
Geodude | Rock Ground |
Rock Head Sturdy Sand Veil |
Rock Electric |
Magnet Pull Sturdy Galvanize |
Composed of magnetic rock. | |||
Graveler | Rock Ground |
Rock Head Sturdy Sand Veil |
Rock Electric |
Magnet Pull Sturdy Galvanize |
Composed of magnetic rock. | |||
Golem | Rock Ground |
Rock Head Sturdy Sand Veil |
Rock Electric |
Magnet Pull Sturdy Galvanize |
Composed of magnetic rock. | |||
Grimer | Poison | Stench Sticky Hold Poison Touch |
Poison Dark |
Poison Touch Gluttony Power of Alchemy |
Higher concentration of toxins from trash. | |||
Muk | Poison | Stench Sticky Hold Poison Touch |
Poison Dark |
Poison Touch Gluttony Power of Alchemy |
Higher concentration of toxins from trash. | |||
Exeggutor | Grass Psychic |
Chlorophyll Harvest |
Grass Dragon |
Frisk Harvest |
More sunlight. Original form of Exeggutor. | |||
Marowak | Ground | Rock Head Lightning Rod Battle Armor |
Fire Ghost |
Cursed Body Lightning Rod Rock Head |
Adaptation to abundance of natural predators. |
Altaris
The genetic drift in Altaris is most notably caused by a much harsher environment. Most Regional Variants have evolved to combat aggressive predators and elusive prey, with a few species actively being driven near extinction by humans wishing to limit civilian casualties. Aside from these trophic adaptations, many Pokémon adapted to the much different climate of Altaris, or never had to adapt to other environments than what is found in this region.
Altaran Regional Variants | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pokémon | Sprite | Type | Ability | Sprite | Type | Ability | Evolutionary Reason | |
Charmander | Fire | Blaze Super Luck Solar Power |
Fire Dragon |
Smolder Burnout |
Adaptation to rival predators | |||
Charmeleon | Fire | Blaze Super Luck Solar Power |
Fire Dragon |
Smolder Burnout |
Adaptation to rival predators | |||
Charizard | Fire Flying |
Blaze Super Luck Solar Power |
Fire Dragon |
Smolder Burnout |
Adaptation to rival predators | |||
Butterfree | Bug Flying |
Compound Eyes Tinted Lens |
Bug Fairy |
Filter Compound Eyes Pixilate |
Adaptation to predators | |||
Beedrill | Bug Poison |
Swarm Sniper |
Bug Ground |
Hyper Cutter Swarm Long Reach |
Specialization for certain prey | |||
Pidgey | Normal Flying |
Keen Eye Tangled Feet Big Pecks |
Ice Flying |
Keen Eye Piscivore Refrigerate |
More coastal environment | |||
Pidgeotto | Normal Flying |
Keen Eye Tangled Feet Big Pecks |
Ice Flying |
Keen Eye Piscivore Refrigerate |
More coastal environment | |||
Pidgeot | Normal Flying |
Keen Eye Tangled Feet Big Pecks |
Ice Flying |
Keen Eye Piscivore Refrigerate |
More coastal environment | |||
Venonat | ||||||||
Venomoth | ||||||||
Mankey | ||||||||
Primeape | ||||||||
Growlithe | ||||||||
Arcanine | ||||||||
Doduo | ||||||||
Dodrio | ||||||||
Kingler | ||||||||
Magikarp | ||||||||
Gyarados | ||||||||
Snorlax | ||||||||
Spinarak | ||||||||
Ariados | ||||||||
Dunsparce | ||||||||
Shuckle | ||||||||
Slugma | ||||||||
Magcargo | ||||||||
Aron | ||||||||
Lairon | ||||||||
Aggron | ||||||||
Electrike | ||||||||
Manectric | ||||||||
Tropius | ||||||||
Piplup | ||||||||
Prinplup | ||||||||
Empoleon | ||||||||
Luxio | ||||||||
Luxray | ||||||||
Shellos | ||||||||
Gastrodon | ||||||||
Gible | ||||||||
Gabite | ||||||||
Garchomp | ||||||||
Snivy | ||||||||
Servine | ||||||||
Serperior | ||||||||
Purrloin | ||||||||
Liepard | ||||||||
Sandile | ||||||||
Krokorok | ||||||||
Krookodile | ||||||||
Druddigon |