Transportation in the Pokémon world
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There are various methods of transportation used in the Pokémon world.
Land
Shoes
Normal shoes
These are the primary way of getting around in the Pokémon series of games. Excluding Generation VI, the player starts with these in the beginning of the game, and with them is able to walk around. They are used by pressing either Up, Down, Right, or Left on the D-Pad.
Running Shoes
Introduced in Generation III, the Running Shoes are a pair of shoes that allow the player to run by holding down the B button in conjunction with the directional pad. Running is not allowed in most buildings however, until Generation IV. Running speed is affected by terrain, such as marshes and snow. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Running Shoes can be triggered on and off by using the touch screen.
Cycles
Bikes
Generation I and II
In the Generation I and Generation II games, as well as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, only a basic bicycle is sold by the Bike Shop. Only one obstacle is passable solely by bicycle, and that is Cycling Road. Bicycling is not allowed in most buildings.
Generation III
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, there are two types of bicycles: the Mach Bike and Acro Bike. They can be swapped at Rydel's Cycles in Mauville City.
The Mach Bike can move so fast that it can climb muddy slopes or pass over weak ground without falling through. If the player collides with something, the speed at which they are traveling will reset. On the Seaside Cycling Road, the player's time and amount of collisions are recorded by a NPC, and will be sent over to another player if the records are swapped. In addition, there is a period of two blocks of acceleration and deceleration when traveling on the Mach Bike, which makes immediate stops impossible.
The Acro Bike has the same speed as the bikes in earlier games, but can climb rocks in areas like Route 112 and travel on white rails on Route 119 and other places. In addition, if the B button is held while on the Acro Bike, the player will perform a wheelie. If the B button is held for several seconds, the Acro Bike will perform "bunny hops". Bunny hops allow the player to jump onto and along rugged rock paths, such as those found on Jagged Pass. If the B button and directional pad are used together, the player is able to jump over small gaps.
Generation IV
In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, only one bicycle is available. This model however, has two gears which can be changed by pressing the B button, allowing obstacles to be jumped over with sufficient speed. Unlike the previous generations, bikes cannot be ridden in any buildings in Diamond and Pearl. This was changed in Platinum. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the bike only has one speed, as in Generation II.
Generation V
In Pokémon Black and White, the bicycle is similar to the ones in Generations I and II. The bike cannot be ridden in most buildings.
Generation VI
In Pokémon X and Y, the bicycle is exactly the same as in Generation V, but comes in two colors.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire bring back the the Mach Bike and Acro Bike from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. However, these games add the ability to have both bikes at once after certain conditions have been met. To meet these conditions, you must talk to certain people(and battle them), therefore advertising Rydel's Cycles in Mauville City. To show his gratitude, Rydel gives you the bike you currently don't have.
In the anime
Bikes are used at various times in the anime, most notably when Ash borrows Misty's bike, but crashes, thus ruining it. This bike is alluded to frequently throughout the first few seasons as a reason why Misty is angry at Ash. All of the main female characters, up until Best Wishes, owned bikes, which were eventually destroyed. In the original series, Ash, Misty, Brock used Nurse Joy's bicycles in The Bridge Bike Gang to give medicines to another Nurse Joy in an unknown town. In the Diamond & Pearl series, when Ash and his friends were traveling on Cycling Road, they used bikes. Barry is also seen with a bike in Gotta Get a Gible!.
Motorbikes
In the games
In Pokémon Colosseum, Wes rides a futuristic levitating motorcycle.
The Biker, Cue Ball*, and Motorcyclist Trainer classes use motorbikes.
In the anime
Motorbikes have been used by Officer Jenny multiple times.
A Pokémon hunter used a motorcycle in Celebi: Voice of the Forest when he was chasing Celebi.
Trucks
Moving truck
A truck is used by the player's family to move from Johto to Hoenn in Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire. The player starts the game inside of the truck.
S.S. Anne truck
A truck is located in a normally inaccessible part of the S.S. Anne, in Red and Blue. There were rumors that one can get a Mew or a rare item by using Strength on it. However, these proved to be false. In FireRed and LeafGreen, if the Itemfinder is used to look for an item near the truck, a Lava Cookie can be found instead, as possibly a reference to the rumors.
Skyarrow Bridge
Trucks can be seen on the Skyarrow Bridge. They are driving on the road beneath the walkway for pedestrians.
Unova Route 4
Trucks can be seen driving on the highway.
In the anime
In Princess vs. Princess, Misty ships her Pokémon Princess Dolls that she won from the Queen of the Princess Festival contest home to the Cerulean Gym in a Pidgeot Transport truck.
Butch and Cassidy own a teal coloured truck with a Pidgeot on its side. The truck was only seen in Oaknapped.
Jessie and James have used trucks many times.
J's henchmen use a getaway truck to transport the Aura Sphere Riolu that they stole from a research lab in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1).
Trains
Magnet Train
The Magnet Train runs between Saffron City and Goldenrod City, connecting Kanto and Johto in the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes. It was constructed some time after Generation I. To ride it, a person needs a Pass, which was given to those displaced by the train stations' construction. A Pass can be received by the Copycat if the player returns her doll which was given to her by the player in Generation I and the Generation III remakes and found by a person in Vermilion City.
Freight train
A freight train appeared in Camp Pikachu. It consisted of a red steam locomotive, numerous freight wagons and a passenger carriage at the rear. It runs on a line in the mountainous areas of Johto. The Pichu Brothers enjoy going for rides on it. The Pichu Brothers' Rascal Railway at PokéPark is likely based on this train.
Ampharos Train
A train powered solely by an Ampharos runs between Snowpoint City and Lake Acuity in Sinnoh. It was featured in Frozen on Their Tracks.
Battle Subway
The Battle Subway, accessible in Unova from Nimbasa City, functions as Unova's version of the Battle Tower. One train can also be ridden by the player to Anville Town.
Other trains
- Some passenger trains appeared in Time-Warp Heals All Wounds.
- Outskirt Stand in Orre appears to be made from an old steam locomotive.
- There is also an underground railway in Orre.
- LaRousse City has a monorail that circles the city, providing access to the central island.
- The various areas of the Pastoria Great Marsh are accessed by rail.
- Another train appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, within which Shaymin transforms into its Sky Forme.
- According to a book in the Nacrene City Library, trains were used for transportation in the Unova region before airplanes and thus there are old, disused train tracks in Nacrene City.
- Cilan drove a train in M15.
In the anime
In Best Wishes Until We Meet Again! Ash and friends decide to part ways. Iris and Cilan board the Johto bound Magnet Train, waving to ash as the train pulls away.
In Crisis from the Underground Up! and Battle for the Underground, Ash, Iris, Cilan, and Meowth used the Battle Subway trains as a means of transport to reach the Pokémon Center.
The Battle Subway appears as typical public transportation for the citizens of Nimbasa City, as well as featuring Battle Trains that Trainers may battle on.
Skateboards
In Extreme Pokémon!, Ash and Gary race on skateboards. Skateboards were also supposed to appear in Pokémon Gold and Silver as a different mode of transportation, but that idea was scrapped.
Segways
In The Scheme Team, Butch and Cassidy rode segways, although they were referred to as scooters.
Cars
Cars are used multiple times in the anime. Among the people with cars are Gary Oak, Scott (whose car is based on a 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird), Norman, Reggie, Professor Birch, Bertha, Eusine, Cynthia, Professor Oak (whose car is based on a 1963 Toyota Publica convertible), Professor Birch, Professor Juniper, Officer Jenny (who appears to have a Jeep) and Penelope (who appears to have a Citroen 2CV).
An amphibious car is used by Grings Kodai and Goone in Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Cars are commonly seen throughout Kalos. The cars appeared are Volkswagen New Beetle, 2007-2012 Honda CR-V, 2009-present Honda Insight, and 2007-present Toyota Noah.
Limousines
Paris is seen coming out of a limo(a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Limo) with her Lopunny in Arriving in Style!.
Tanks
Nastina was seen using a tank in Tentacool & Tentacruel. Team Rocket also used a tank in It's Mr. Mime Time!, to try to kidnap all the Circus Pokémon.
Roller skates
Roller Skates are a new form of transportation, introduced in Pokémon X and Y. They are faster than running shoes, but slower than the bicycle. They can also be used to grind along railings, and several other tricks can be performed using certain movements of the circle pad.
Scooters
Olesia was seen driving a scooter in EP148.
Air
Airships
They are used frequently by villains. Futuristic airships of a large size, powered apparently by anti-gravity technology of some kind. J, Lawrence III, and Zero all owned airships.
Team Plasma uses one in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, named the Plasma Frigate.
Blimps
Ash, Misty, Brock, and Team Rocket used a blimp in A Scare in the Air! and Poké Ball Peril. Another blimp is seen in The Kecleon Caper!. Misty later used a blimp to go back to Cerulean City from the Mirage Kingdom in A Togepi Mirage.
Ash, Dawn, Brock and Barry, along with Team Rocket, used an airship to go to Canalave City in Jumping Rocket Ship!. Khoury, Lyra, and Khoury's father bid farewell to Ash, Dawn, and Brock at a Blimp Airport in Sinnoh near the end of Bagged Then Tagged!.
Hot air balloons
Used by Team Rocket in many episodes. Some balloons were shaped as a Wobbuffet, a Sneasel, a Gliscor, a Carnivine, and a Meowth. A hot air-balloon was also used by Ash and his friends in the episode The Kecleon Caper, a Pikachu one in Mewtwo Returns, and by various contestants, including Ash, in The Big Balloon Blow-Up. There were also others in various other episodes like That's Just Swellow and in the movie The Rise of Darkrai. Hot air balloon-like aircraft or dirigibles were also used in Great Bowls of Fire!, however it possessed the notable difference of seeming to be driven forward in the air by Pokémon (in the episode's specific usage, Charizard).
Airplanes
Used by Noland in Numero Uno Articuno.
Used by Officer Jenny and other police officers in Losing Its Lustrous.
Grings Kodai has a seaplane in Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
The Unova region, due to being far away from the other regions, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh, is said to be reachable by plane. A plane was used by Ash to get there.
In Pokémon Black and White, Mistralton City has an airport that houses two airplanes.
In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Upon completing the Unova Pokedex, the player can go to the Cargo Service in Mistralton City where Skyla will take the player to the Nature Preserve in an airplane.
Hangliders
Used by Falkner in Fighting Flyer with Fire.
Used by Domino and many Team Rocket Grunts in Mewtwo Returns.
Used by Team Rocket in The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice!.
Helicopters
Used by Team Rocket, Team Magma, Team Aqua and Team Galactic multiple times and by Rhonda in All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go!. A pilot working with Ben used one in Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue!.
Jet pack
In The Scheme Team, Butch and Cassidy rode on jet packs to go to the location of their mission. Domino also used one in Mewtwo Returns. Jet packs are also used by the Team Rocket Trio in the Best Wishes series to escape from the "Twerps", replacing their traditional hot air-balloon getaway; it has thus proved to be more effective.
Air car
Seen commonly in the various manga. Most notably, Officer Jenny patrols in a flying car in the The Electric Tale of Pikachu. Wallace also has a flying car in Pokémon Adventures.
Cable car
A cable car is the only transport to the summit of Mt. Chimney in the Hoenn region. The cable cars here have appeared in the games, anime, and the Pokémon Adventures manga.
Water
Ghost ship
- Main article: Ghost ship
The ghost ship is a 300-year-old ship whose captain won the Orange League, and his trophy is protected by his Gastly and Haunter. Until shortly before Ash and his friends arrived on Moro Island, it rested on the bottom of the ocean of the coast of the island.
Royal Unova
- Main article: Royal Unova
The Royal Unova is a luxury liner in the Unova region that sails up the river from Castelia City. It sails every evening and returns to Castelia City when it is officially night. Many Trainers ride the ship. The Royal Unova can sometimes be seen passing underneath the Skyarrow Bridge while the player crosses the bridge, even if it is not evening when the player does so.
S.S. Anne
- Main article: S.S. Anne
Depending on the canon, the S.S. Anne stops only once every four years, annually, or monthly in Vermilion City. The S.S. Ticket that is needed to board the ship is only given away to exclusive people, such as Bill and Professor Oak. However, they can give the ticket away to others.
S.S. Aqua
- Main article: S.S. Aqua
The S.S. Aqua is a boat that runs between Olivine City in Johto and Vermilion City in Kanto.
S.S. Tidal
- Main article: S.S. Tidal
The S.S. Tidal is a boat that mostly runs in the Hoenn region.
After the player has become the Champion, it will always run between Lilycove City and Slateport City, and to the Battle Tower in Ruby and Sapphire. However, it will also run to other places if the player has a ticket. With the Battle Pass, it will run to the Battle Frontier (in Emerald); with the Eon Ticket, it will run to Southern Island; with the MysticTicket, it will run to Navel Rock; with the AuroraTicket, it will run to Birth Island; and with the Old Sea Map, it will run to Faraway Island.
S.S. Cactus
- Main article: Abandoned Ship
The S.S. Cactus was a large ship from the Hoenn Region, that supposedly carried large amounts of passengers and cargo. However, for some reason, the ship was partially submerged along Route 108, where it currently remains ruined on a sandbar. It is not specifically known where the boat ran between, though based on its location, one could assume it might have stopped at either Slateport City or Dewford Town. In present day, many Pokémon live in it, and lots of Trainers enjoy exploring and training on the boat, known as the Abandoned Ship.
Seagallop Ferries
- Main article: Seagallop
The Seagallop Ferries run between Vermilion City in Kanto and each of the nine Sevii Islands.
There are currently four known tickets that can be used to board a Seagallop Ferry: The Tri-Pass allows the holder to travel to Knot, Boon and Kin Islands, the Rainbow Pass to the same three islands, as well as Floe, Chrono, Fortune, and Quest Islands, the MysticTicket allows travel to Navel Rock, and the AuroraTicket allows travel to Birth Island.
S.S. Spiral
- Main article: S.S. Spiral
The S.S. Spiral is a boat in Sinnoh that runs from Snowpoint City to the Fight Area in the Battle Zone.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the S.S. Spiral was a regular looking ship. However, in Pokémon Platinum, it had a redesign. The S.S. Spiral became a red boat with a crane on the back, and, its possible namesake, two spinning drills to part the ice floes in the area from Snowpoint City to the Battle Zone.
S.S. Libra
- Main article: S.S. Libra
The S.S. Libra runs from Orre to other regions and is used as a Pokémon cargo ship. During the events of Pokémon XD, it was destroyed by Shadow Lugia and all the Pokémon currently in it were transformed into Shadow Pokémon. Michael later found its remains near Phenac City.
The Union
- Main article: The Union
The Union was hand crafted by Booker and remains at the Ranger Union in Almia. Before retirement, Murph took it to the Oblivia region to assist Ben and Summer with their missions there.
Submarines
Used by Team Rocket many times and by Ash and his friends in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea and in Relicanth Really Can!. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, a submarine made by Captain Stern is stolen by Team Magma or Team Aqua (depending on version) to reach Seafloor Cavern, where either Groudon or Kyogre is.
Pokémon Pincher's Submarine
- Main article: Submarine (Ranger)
This is a submarine that is owned by the Pokémon Pinchers. It is later crashed.
Other routes
A variety of other unnamed boats are known to exist, for example:
- A ferry from the Seafoam Islands in Kanto to Littleroot Town in Hoenn (anime, EP273).
- A ferry from Petalburg City in Hoenn to somewhere north of Viridian City in Kanto (anime, AG132).
- A ferry from somewhere in Kanto to Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh (anime, AG192).
- A ferry from Lily of the Valley Island to Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh (anime, DP190).
- A ferry from Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh to Kanto (anime, DP191).
- A boat from just outside Rustboro City to Dewford Town in Hoenn (games).
- A boat from Dewford Town to Slateport City in Hoenn (games).
- A ferry from Canalave City to Iron Island in Sinnoh (games) (known as S.S. Sinnoh in Pokémon Adventures).
- A ferry from Canalave City to Fullmoon Island in Sinnoh (games).
- A ferry from Canalave City to Newmoon Island in Sinnoh (games).
- Unova is said to be accessible by boat, due to being far away from the regions Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh.
- A water taxi from the outskirts of Pinwheel Forest to Castelia City existed before the Skyarrow Bridge was built (anime, BW021).
Kayaks and canoes
Used by a Nurse Joy in The Joy of Pokémon, and by Ash and his friends in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
Team Rocket's boats
Team Rocket has used many different boats in the anime.
Steam boats
Ash and his friends went on a Wailord-shaped Steam Boat in Steamboat Willies!.
All
Pokémon
Pokémon are also used occasionally for transportation. People, as well as Pokémon themselves, may ride on Pokémon for various reasons. This is mostly seen in races, wherein only Pokémon may be used to move around. This was first notable in The Flame Pokémon-athon!, where Ash and his friends joined a race. Many Trainers also attempted to use their Pokémon to reach Mewtwo's Island in Mewtwo Strikes Back. Ash and his friends also used Lapras in going around the Orange Archipelago.
Ash's Flying-type Pokémon were rode on many times, mostly by Pikachu for looking for something or attacking Team Rocket's balloon. Pikachu rode on Butterfree in episodes such as Bye Bye Butterfree. It also rode on Pidgeotto, Swellow and Staraptor, Ash's bird-based Pokémon, multiple times. In Pokemon games there are many methods of Pokemon transportation including surfing, fly,waterfall, dig, the teleport, and sorring.