Footprint
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 footprints are displayed on remains blank.
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.
Changes
Between the Generation II games and the Generation III games, the footprints of 21 species of Pokémon were changed.
- Clefairy:
→ 
- Golem:
→ 
- Feraligatr:
→ 
- Sentret:
→ 
- Furret:
→ 
- Noctowl:
→ 
- Togepi:
→ 
- Hoppip:
→ 
- Aipom:
→ 
- Wooper:
→ 
- Girafarig:
→ 
- Teddiursa:
→ 
- Swinub:
→ 
- Piloswine:
→ 
- Houndour:
→ 
- Donphan:
→ 
- Stantler:
→ 
- Smoochum:
→ 
- Magby:
→ 
- Larvitar:
→ 
- Tyranitar:
→ 
Between the Generation III games and the Generation IV games, the footprint of one species of Pokémon was changed.
- Mawile:
→ 
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 make the noise "Sssshhnnn". If a Pokémon receives a Level 5 rating, Dr. Footstep will award it a Footprint Ribbon.
In Pokémon X and Y, the ribbon is given out by a Rising Star in Shalour City, 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 follow 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
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 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
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 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 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.
Gallery
Venusaur's footprint
Charizard's footprint
Blastoise's footprint
Pikachu's footprint
Eevee's footprint
Suicune's footprint
Lugia's footprint
Ho-Oh's footprint
Kyogre's footprint
Groudon's footprint
Rayquaza's footprint
Dialga's footprint
Palkia's footprint
Giratina's footprint
Reshiram's footprint
Zekrom's footprint
Kyurem's 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.
In other languages
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
