Footprint

Pokémon footprints in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Footprints (Japanese: 足跡 footprint) are the tracks left by a Pokémon. Each Pokémon with visible legs has a unique footprint that is displayed in the Pokédex of every game from Generation II through Generation V as well as Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Out of the 649 Pokémon in Generation V, 241 do not have a footprint.

In the core series games

From Generation II through Generation V, when a Pokémon is caught, its footprint is included in the data added to its Pokédex entry and can be found on the first page. For those without a footprint, the area that footprints are displayed on remains blank.

When the player or other character moves on a snow or a sand tile, they leave footprints which quickly disapper after leaving them.

At the start of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a Scientist initially blocks the entrance to Route 102 as he thinks he has found the footprints of a rare Pokémon there. It later turns out that they were his own.

In the Altering Cave of FireRed and LeafGreen, footprints may be found as well.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! there's an item called Leaf Letter which is a gift item from Partner Pikachu or Eevee with thier footprints.

In the Pokémon Dream World, at the player's doorstep was the Footprint Mat, which showed the Pokémon that visited the player's home. When there was a pending Dream Pal request for the player, the Footprint Mat would glow. The footprint mat could be used to accept Dream Pal requests and visit the homes of players who visited the player's home.

Some Pokémon feature a footprint in their design. Smeargle has a footprint on its back which according to its Pokédex is made when they become adult by other Pokémon of their species. Crabominable's pincers look like footprints and leave Bigfoot like imprints on the snow. Galarian Stunfisk has footprint on its body which appear to help it mask itself with the ground to snap on pray with its jagged steel fins. Naclstack's footprints leave salt that it later used as a food ingredient.

Footprint Ribbon

Footprint Ribbon

Dr. Footstep on Route 213 in Sinnoh is a footprint expert who can evaluate a Pokémon's friendship simply by looking at its tracks. In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, he will hand out a Footprint Ribbon to Pokémon with a high friendship value. Even Pokémon who do not have a footprint can be tested to get the Ribbon. Dr. Footstep has five different ratings on Pokémon friendship, which reflect the amount and size of hearts shown on the Friendship Pokétch application. The quotes vary depending on which Pokémon is being examined. Different Pokémon have different sets of responses, such as Ghost-type Pokémon saying that they are scary and shunned, and inorganic Pokémon such as Magnemite only making the noise "Sssshhnnn". If a Pokémon receives a Level 5 rating, Dr. Footstep will award it a Footprint Ribbon.

The ribbon is given out by a Rising Star in Shalour City in Pokémon X and Y, by a Collector at the Battle Resort in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and by a Pokémon Breeder at the Hano Grand Resort in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. In these games, the Footprint Ribbon is given to Pokémon who have gained at least 30 levels since they were caught or received.

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the ribbon is again given out by Dr. Footstep. Unlike the original games, the ribbon is awarded to Pokémon who have gained at least 30 levels since they were caught or received. For "voiceless" Pokémon, however, the ribbon is given out for reaching max friendship instead. The following Pokémon are considered "voiceless":

• Metapod, Kakuna, Paras, Parasect, Venomoth, Magnemite, Magneton, Staryu, Starmie, Porygon, Kabuto, Xatu, Unown, Pineco, Forretress, Remoraid, Porygon2, Pupitar, Silcoon, Cascoon, Seedot, Nincada, Nosepass, Lunatone, Solrock, Baltoy, Claydol, Lileep, Cradily, Anorith, Shelgon, Beldum, Metang, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Bronzor, Bronzong, Magnezone, Porygon-Z, Probopass, Regigigas

Footprint Medal

Honored Footprints

Honored Footprints has been featured in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 and in Generation VI games. It is a mark that is given to players who took 100,000 steps in Hoenn, Kalos or Unova region.

Wi-Fi Plaza

In the Wi-Fi Plaza in Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, there are two long boards that several people can get access to. On these boards, the player has the ability to select one of six footprint types. Once the type has been selected, touching the canvas with the stylus can place footprints at will. The other people will also be doing this. The footprints will quickly go and walk off the canvas after the player has placed them.

Swords of Justice footprints

In The Crown Tundra expansion of Pokémon Sword and Shield, a side quest involves the player finding footprints belonging to the members of the Swords of Justice. The quest is introduced by Sonia when the player first finds a pair of unusual footprints near the Freeze Inn at Freezington. The player must collect data by tracking these footprints, with each pair of footprints constituting 2% of the data required to locate the Pokémon. The footprints are unique for each member of the Swords of Justice, and more footprints spawn than the required 50. Once the player has found 50 footprints (100% of the required data), Sonia can locate the Pokémon, causing it to spawn in a certain area of the Crown Tundra as a wanderer. Catching all these Pokémon and showing them to Sonia also allows the player to encounter and catch the Mythical Pokémon Keldeo at Ballimere Lake.

In the Pokédex entries

Pokémon		Pokédex entries
	Doduo	RB: A bird that makes up for its poor flying with its fast foot speed. Leaves giant footprints. S: It races through grassy plains with powerful strides, leaving footprints up to four inches deep.
	Muk	RB: Thickly covered with a filthy, vile sludge. It is so toxic, even its footprints contain poison.
	Smeargle	S: Once it becomes an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant footprints on its back.
	Zigzagoon	E: Rubbing its nose against the ground, it always wanders about back and forth in search of something. It is distinguished by the zigzag footprints it leaves.
	Snover	Pt: Seemingly curious about people, they gather around footsteps they find on snowy mountains.
	Nickit	Sh: Cunning and cautious, this Pokémon survives by stealing food from others. It erases its tracks with swipes of its tail as it makes off with its plunder.

In the side games

Wigglytuff's Guild

Wigglytuff's Guild in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness judges a Pokémon's worth by its footprint. Before being allowed to enter, a Pokémon must stand on a grate in front of the guild entrance and have their footprint identified. Visitors or Guild members have to step on the grate to let the sentry (usually Diglett) verify whether they are wanted Pokémon. At a couple of points during the storyline and at any time after graduating, the player takes part in this sentry duty. It plays out as a mini-game where a series of Pokémon must be identified by their footprints, though more clues are provided over time. The game also notes the Pokémon who lack footprints in the scene where Dusknoir visits the guild.

Pokémon Dream World

In the Pokémon Dream World, when a player visits another's home, they leave the footprint of their Pokémon on the Footprint Mat. Clicking these footprints provides information about the visitor. They will flash when the visitor has made a Dream Pal request.

In the anime

The poster Ash received with footprints of his Pokémon

In The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis a giant invisible Gengar was leaving footprints after being awenken from a dark object.

In The Joy of Pokémon Tracey find a path of footprints and decude it belong to the Pokémon Chansey and a size seven woman, who turns out to be a Nurse Joy.

In A Shipful of Shivers the 300-year-old official Orange League Winner's Trophy gets stolen and the only clues that Officer Jenny had were a few footprints and a body imprint.

In Bound For Trouble Ash's Pikachu and Meowth get lost tied together and get found by the main characters when Misty's Togepi took a natice at their footprints.

Footprints have been seen in the anime. In Hello, Pummelo!, Ash and his friends visited the Palace of Victory on Pummelo Island, where footprints of the Pokémon used by the Champions of the Orange League are kept along with photos of them with their Trainers. As of Enter The Dragonite, the footprints of the Pokémon that Ash used in his Full Battle against the Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader Drake can be seen there as well.

In Don't Touch That 'dile Meowth's footprint was found by the police that was investigating the kidnapping of Professor Elm's Totodile.

In The Chikorita Rescue Ash's Chikorita wanted to leave Ash and considered joining Team Rocket. She was offered signing a paper and James added that her footprint would be legally binding if she can't write.

In Hour of the Houndour a group of wild Houndour stole a loaf of bread from Brock's backpack and left only footprints.

In Houndoom's Special Delivery when Misty's Togepi got lost, the main characters found it by its footprints which were accompanied by Houndoom's footprints.

In Right On, Rhydon! Pietra tracked a wild Rhydon by its footprints to get a Pokémon that could dig a tunnel and not be afraid of water.

In An EGG-sighting Adventure! when Ash's Egg became missing, Officer Jenny used Jumpluff's spores to reveal footprints of the thief. One of the prints was supected to belong to a Suicune or a Wooper, but it was actually Meowth's.

In A Claim to Flame! Team Rocket in disguise came to Ash pretending to be a pair of officials and requested him to get a Footprint Pokémon Panel in order to not get disqualified, however it was only a trick to kidnap him.

In The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!, when Ash was feeling down after his loss against Pyramid King Brandon, Professor Oak handed him a poster Tracey had made with the footprints of his Pokémon residing at Professor Oak's Laboratory.

In An Epic Defense Force!, the main characters come to Pokéstar Studios with Luke and see "Pokémon Walk of Fame" which features footprints of Pokémon that star in movies.

In Mega Revelations!, Korrina was shown having collected footprints of the Pokémon she and her Lucario had defeated together. After defeating Ash and his Pikachu, she also had Pikachu add his paw print to her collection.

In This Magik Moment!, during the Alola Pokémon Quiz, a footprint of Morelull was shown as one of the quiz questions.

In Settling the Scorbunny!, Goh's Pokédex scanns Nickit and tells that it uses its fluffy tail to erase any footprints it leaves behind.

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  Footprints of Gengar in The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis

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  Footprints of Chansey and Nurse Joy in The Joy of Pokémon

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  Footprints of Pikachu and Meowth in Bound For Trouble

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  Footprints of Seadra, Golem and Sandslash in Hello, Pummelo!

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  Footprints of Blastoise, Magneton, Seadra, Golem, Jolteon and Sandslash in Hello, Pummelo!

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  Footprints of a few Pokémon in Hello, Pummelo!

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  Footprints of Lapras, Charizard, Pikachu, Tauros, Squirtle and Bulbasaur in Hello, Pummelo!

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  Footprints of Meowth, Jessie and James in Don't Touch That 'dile

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  Footprint of Houndour in Hour of the Houndour

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  Footprints of Togepi and Houndoom in Houndoom's Special Delivery

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  Footprints of Rhydon in Right On, Rhydon!

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  Footprint of Meowth in An EGG-sighting Adventure!

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  Footprint in A Claim to Flame!

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  Vigoroth's footprint in Who's That Pokémon? from A Hole Lotta Trouble

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  Pokémon Walk of Fame in An Epic Defense Force!

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  Morelull's footprint in This Magik Moment!

See also

• List of Pokémon by footprint

Trivia

• All Generation II glitch Pokémon have placeholder footprints with their index numbers embedded into them. This includes Pokémon index #252 (), #253 (), #254 (), #255 (), and #256 ().
• Despite footprints no longer being present in the game data of Pokémon Sun and Moon, several stickers featuring Pikachu's footprint are on the wall in Mimikyu's room in the abandoned Thrifty Megamart.
• Jynx, Chinchou or Burmy leave no footprint, however their feet has been visible in the anime or games.

In other languages

Language Title Danish Fodaftryk Dutch Voetafdruk Finnish Tassunjälki French Empreinte German Fußabdruck Italian Impronte Korean 발자국 Baljaguk Norwegian Fotavtrykk Portuguese Brazil Pegada Portugal Pegada* Russian Отпечаток ног Otpechatok nog Spanish Huella Swedish Fotavtryck Vietnamese Dấu chân

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.