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'''Levels''' are a measurement of how strong a [[Pokémon]] currently is. They are portrayed differently in the {{pkmn|anime}}, {{pkmn|games}}, and {{pkmn|manga}}. 

==In the games==
[[File:Level.PNG|thumb|right|The opponent's level bar in {{v2|Platinum}}]]
Levels are featured predominantly in the Pokémon games. They are determined by how much [[experience]] that Pokémon has. A Pokémon's level will range from 1 to 100. When a Pokémon gains a level, its stats increase by a small amount. It may also learn a new [[move]] or [[evolution|evolve]]. Opponent's levels may be viewed in-battle, and {{player}}s may see their own Pokémon's levels in-battle, in the [[PC]] or by using the [[menu]].

A Pokémon's level will also affect its [[happiness]], raising it slightly when the Pokémon levels up. This means that a {{p|Pichu}} trained in battle will eventually evolve into a {{p|Pikachu}}, with its happiness going up slightly each level. Using Rare Candies will also raise happiness, though for a long time people thought it did not, due to a Pokémon's happiness also being raised by the large amount of walking that a player must do in long grass to encounter wild Pokémon or recharge such items as the [[Vs. Seeker]].

Also, when a Pokémon has reached level 100 it cannot continue gaining [[Effort values|Effort Points]] in [[Generation]]s {{gen|III}} and {{gen|IV}}. In Generations {{gen|I}} and {{gen|II}}, however, the player can use the [[box trick]].

By exploiting the [[Missingno.]] glitch in Generation I or using other cheats, a [[Pokémon]] can temporarily acquire a level higher than 100. However, whenever this [[Pokémon]] gains any amount of [[experience]], its level will revert to 100.

In Generations I and II, Pokémon assigned to the [[Experience#Experience to level|"Medium Slow" experience formula]] (1,059,860 Exp. at level 100) were unavailable at a level below 2 due to the "Medium Slow" formula generating a negative Exp. value at level 1; this resulted in such a level 1 Pokémon jumping straight to level 100. Pokémon eggs, therefore, hatched at a standard level of 5. The Generation III overhaul addressed this error; however, eggs still hatched at level 5, likely to maintain continuity. Generation IV finally set all hatched eggs to level 1.

===Underleveled Pokémon===
Through some unique circumstances, it is possible to have Pokémon at a lower level than they are usually available. Underleveled Pokémon appeared as early as {{game|Yellow}}, with level 9 {{p|Pidgeotto}} available in [[Viridian Forest]]. Pidgeotto cannot be obtained by evolution until level 18; this event is meant to syndicate with the {{pkmn|anime}}.

In [[Generation IV]], the key item [[PokéRadar]] lets players find rare Pokémon from outside of the [[Sinnoh Pokédex]]. Some of these, such as {{p|Kirlia}} can be found underleveled alongside their pre-evolutionary forms. Underleveled Pokémon also be found in certain locations when utilizing the [[dual-slot mode]].

In-game Trainers also possess underleveled Pokémon; this is primarily done to fill the player's Pokédex at a faster rate.

In {{game|Emerald}}, the [[Pomeg glitch]] allowed players to obtain any stage of a Pokémon capable of being hatched from an egg at level 5, such as a {{p|Tyranitar}}.

===Disobedience===
When a Pokémon is obtained in a trade, it often times will not obey the player's commands if it is at too high a level. The Pokémon will either; ignore orders and use a different attack, just completely do nothing, or go to sleep. This can be corrected if you have the proper Gym Badges. Having  zero or one gym badge means that no traded Pokémon will obey the player. Although the level differences with the Region you are playing in there is one thing that they share in common. Once you have all eight gym badges any Pokémon obtained in a trade will obey the player no matter what.

==In the anime==
The concept of levels in the anime is not as detailed, nor as frequently mentioned, in the {{pkmn|anime}}. The first time levels were referred to was by students at the [[Pokémon Tech|Academy]] in ''[[EP009|The School of Hard Knocks]]''. {{ka|Joe|One of them}} was able to quote the levels at which {{p|Pidgey}} and the rest of its family [[evolution|evolve]] and learn certain [[move]]s. The main characters and their Pokémon, however, remain seemingly oblivious to the idea.

[[Brock]] mentions them once, in [[EP201|''Doing What Comes Natu-rally!'']]. He states that moves become more powerful as a Pokémon's level is raised; and {{Ash}} adds that the best way to raise levels is by battling. Despite this, Ash's most used Pokémon, {{AP|Pikachu}}, doesn't show signs of being at a higher level than any other Pokémon. After appearing in more than 600 episodes, and battling in most of them, its level would be expected to be high: but it is still defeated easily by some other Trainers' Pokémon.

[[Dawn's Piplup]] also shows that the anime doesn't strictly follow the games' system. In its debut episode, it used {{m|Bide}}, a move Piplup normally doesn't learn until level 18, by which point it would be showing signs of evolution. This did not happen until ''[[DP122|Stopped in the Name of Love]]''. Therefore, level up moves can generally be learned at any time in the anime.

In the [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate!|two Mystery]] [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:  Explorers of Time and Darkness|Dungeon specials]], levels are mentioned, but not explained. This may mean that Pokémon themselves understand the concept of levels in the anime but humans do not.
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==In the manga==
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==Trivia==
*Before [[Generation IV]], it was impossible to get a Pokémon at level 1 without the aid of a glitch or cheating device. The lowest level Pokémon would be at would be at Lv. 2 in the wild while eggs would hatch at Lv. 5. In Generation IV however, eggs would start at level one instead, and a wild [[Regigigas]] could battled in Snowpoint Temple if the 3 Regis were brought together.
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

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[[fr:Niveau]]
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