Baby Pokémon

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A baby Pokémon (Japanese: ベイビィポケモン baby Pokémon) is a Pokémon at the lowest stage of Pokémon Evolution that cannot itself breed, but whose evolved forms can. The concept was introduced in Generation II, along with breeding.

Overview

Baby Pokémon can be classified by the following criteria:

  • Must be obtainable by breeding
  • Must be the lowest form in a family chain and must be able to evolve at least once
  • Must belong to the No Eggs Discovered Egg Group

The only baby Pokémon introduced alongside their evolved form are Togepi, Riolu, and Toxel; the rest were introduced in generations after their evolved form was. Several baby Pokémon require a high amount of friendship to evolve.

In the games, most baby Pokémon are only obtainable through breeding. On occasion, non-player characters will give the player an Egg containing a baby Pokémon, and this Pokémon typically cannot be obtained by any other method except by breeding. Generation III introduced the first baby Pokémon able to be caught in the wild: Wynaut on Mirage Island. In Generation IV, many other baby Pokémon were also available in the wild.

From Generation III to VIII, in order to breed most newly introduced baby Pokémon, the parent in their evolutionary line must hold a specific Incense before breeding, which provides a rationale for why those parent Pokémon could not produce these Eggs in previous generations. For example, Marill, which was introduced in Generation II, could not produce Azurill Eggs until the introduction of the Sea Incense in Generation III. In Generation IX, this requirement was removed, and a baby Pokémon will always be produced, regardless of held items.

List of baby Pokémon

Introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver

Baby Pokémon After Evolution
Pokémon Image Type Pokémon Type Parent's Egg Group
Pichu Pichu  Electric  Pikachu Pikachu  Electric  Field
Fairy
Raichu Raichu  Electric 
Raichu Alolan Raichu  Electric  Psychic 
Cleffa Cleffa  Normal  (II-V)
 Fairy  (VI+)
Clefairy Clefairy  Normal  (I-V)
 Fairy  (VI+)
Fairy
Clefable Clefable  Normal  (I-V)
 Fairy  (VI+)
Igglybuff Igglybuff  Normal  (II-V)
 Normal  Fairy  (VI+)
Jigglypuff Jigglypuff  Normal  (I-V)
 Normal  Fairy  (VI+)
Fairy
Wigglytuff Wigglytuff  Normal  (I-V)
 Normal  Fairy  (VI+)
Togepi Togepi  Normal  (II-V)
 Fairy  (VI+)
Togetic Togetic  Normal  Flying  (II-V)
 Fairy  Flying  (VI+)
Flying
Fairy
Togekiss Togekiss  Normal  Flying  (IV-V)
 Fairy  Flying  (VI+)
Tyrogue Tyrogue  Fighting  Hitmonlee Hitmonlee  Fighting  Human-Like
Hitmonchan Hitmonchan  Fighting 
Hitmontop Hitmontop  Fighting 
Smoochum Smoochum  Ice  Psychic  Jynx Jynx  Ice  Psychic  Human-Like
Elekid Elekid  Electric  Electabuzz Electabuzz  Electric  Human-Like
Electivire Electivire  Electric 
Magby Magby  Fire  Magmar Magmar  Fire  Human-Like
Magmortar Magmortar  Fire 

Introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

Baby Pokémon After Evolution Incense
Pokémon Image Type Pokémon Type Parent's Egg Group
Azurill Azurill  Normal  (III-V)
 Normal  Fairy  (VI+)
Marill Marill  Water  (II-V)
 Water  Fairy  (VI+)
Water 1
Fairy
Bag Sea Incense SV Sprite.png
Sea Incense
Azumarill Azumarill  Water  (II-V)
 Water  Fairy  (VI+)
Wynaut Wynaut  Psychic  Wobbuffet Wobbuffet  Psychic  Amorphous Bag Lax Incense SV Sprite.png
Lax Incense

Introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Baby Pokémon After Evolution Incense
Pokémon Image Type Pokémon Type Parent's Egg Group
Budew Budew  Grass  Poison  Roselia Roselia  Grass  Poison  Fairy
Grass
Bag Rose Incense SV Sprite.png
Rose Incense
Roserade Roserade  Grass  Poison 
Chingling Chingling  Psychic  Chimecho Chimecho  Psychic  Amorphous Bag Pure Incense SV Sprite.png
Pure Incense
Bonsly Bonsly  Rock  Sudowoodo Sudowoodo  Rock  Mineral Bag Rock Incense SV Sprite.png
Rock Incense
Mime Jr. Mime Jr.  Psychic  (IV-V)
 Psychic  Fairy  (VI+)
Mr. Mime Mr. Mime  Psychic  (I-V)
 Psychic  Fairy  (VI+)
Human-Like Bag Odd Incense SV Sprite.png
Odd Incense
Mr. Mime Galarian Mr. Mime  Ice  Psychic 
Mr. Rime Mr. Rime  Ice  Psychic 
Happiny Happiny  Normal  Chansey Chansey  Normal  Fairy Bag Luck Incense SV Sprite.png
Luck Incense
Blissey Blissey  Normal 
Munchlax Munchlax  Normal  Snorlax Snorlax  Normal  Monster Bag Full Incense SV Sprite.png
Full Incense
Riolu Riolu  Fighting  Lucario Lucario  Fighting  Steel  Field
Human-Like
None
Mantyke Mantyke  Water  Flying  Mantine Mantine  Water  Flying  Water 1 Bag Wave Incense SV Sprite.png
Wave Incense

Introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Baby Pokémon After Evolution
Pokémon Image Type Pokémon Type Parent's Egg Group
Toxel Toxel  Electric  Poison  Toxtricity Toxtricity  Electric  Poison  Human-Like

Exclusive moves

Besides Egg Moves, there are some moves that Pokémon can learn at the baby stage which will become permanently unavailable after evolution. For the Pokémon which can use an Incense to breed there are also moves that are mutually exclusive because they depend on which species was hatched from the egg.

In Generation VIII, there are no such cases as all these Pokémon can learn any move that their previous evolutionary form could. The exception is Splash, which can be learned by Azurill but not by Marill in Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, though Marill can learn it in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. This change didn't carry over to Generation IX, meaning that Last Resort and Entrainment can still only be learned by Chingling, and not by Chimecho due to them not being in Sword and Shield and not having their movesets updated along with the other Baby Pokémon that require incense to breed.

Since in Generation IX, Pokémon always produce a baby Pokémon, regardless of held items, Pokémon that appear in the generation's games no longer have exclusive Egg Moves.

Non-incense babies

Pokémon Move Generation Method acquiring
172Pichu.png
Pichu
Charm II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Sweet Kiss II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Nasty Plot II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
173Cleffa.png
Cleffa
Icy Wind II III IV V VI VII TM in II/Move TutorE in III
Charm II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Sweet Kiss II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Magical Leaf II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Copycat II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
174Igglybuff.png
Igglybuff
Icy Wind II III IV V VI VII TM in II/Move TutorE in III
Charm II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Sweet Kiss II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Copycat II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
175Togepi.png
Togepi
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
236Tyrogue.png
Tyrogue
Tackle II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Helping Hand II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Fake Out II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Foresight* II III IV V VI VII Level Up (except DP)
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
238Smoochum.png
Smoochum
Sweet Kiss II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Confusion II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Sing II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Lucky Chant II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Copycat II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
239Elekid.png
Elekid
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
240Magby.png
Magby
Uproar II III IV V VI VII Move Tutor
447Riolu.png
Riolu
Reversal II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Screech II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Copycat II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Endure II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Nasty Plot II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Final Gambit II III IV V VI VII Level Up
Force Palm II III IV V VI VII Level Up

Incense babies

Mantyke and Mantine do not learn any Egg Moves unique to themselves.

Pokémon Move Generation Method acquiring
298Azurill.png
Azurill
Refresh III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Bubble III IV V VI VII Level Up (except B2W2)
Splash III IV V VI VII Level Up
Charm III IV V VI VII Level Up
Slam III IV V VI VII Level Up and Egg Move
Encore III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Sing III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Tickle III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Fake Tears III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Uproar III IV V VI VII Level Up
Soak III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Copycat III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Bounce* III IV V VI VII Level Up
183Marill.png
Marill
Amnesia III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Belly Drum III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Future Sight III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Perish Song III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Present III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Supersonic III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Aqua Jet III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Body Slam III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Superpower III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Muddy Water III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Water Sport III IV V VI VII Egg Move
Camouflage III IV V VI VII Egg Move
360Wynaut.png
Wynaut
Charm III IV V VI VII Level Up
Encore III IV V VI VII Level Up
Splash III IV V VI VII Level Up
Tickle III IV V VI VII Event move
406Budew.png
Budew
Water Sport IV V VI VII Level Up
Worry Seed* IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar IV V VI VII Move Tutor
Extrasensory IV V VI VII Egg Move
315Roselia.png
Roselia
Bullet Seed IV V VI VII Egg Move
Power Whip IV V VI VII Egg Move (in USUM)
433Chingling.png
Chingling
Recover IV V VI VII Egg Move
Last Resort* IV V VI VII Level Up
Entrainment IV V VI VII Level Up
358Chimecho.png
Chimecho
Crafty Shield IV V VI VII Egg Move (in USUM)
Perish Song IV V VI VII Egg Move (in USUM)
438Bonsly.png
Bonsly
Fake Tears IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar IV V VI VII Move Tutor
439Mime Jr.png
Mime Jr.
Tickle IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar IV V VI VII Move Tutor
Charm IV V VI VII Egg Move
Healing Wish IV V VI VII Egg Move
Psychic Terrain IV V VI VII Egg Move (in USUM)
122Mr. Mime.png
Mr. Mime
Follow Me IV V VI VII Event move
440Happiny.png
Happiny
Charm IV V VI VII Level Up
Copycat IV V VI VII Level Up
Sweet Kiss IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar IV V VI VII Move Tutor
Last Resort IV V VI VII Egg Move
113Chansey.png
Chansey
Sweet Scent IV V VI VII Event move
Wish IV V VI VII Event move
Seismic Toss IV V VI VII Egg Move
446Munchlax.png
Munchlax
Metronome IV V VI VII Level Up
Odor Sleuth IV V VI VII Level Up
Screech IV V VI VII Level Up
Stockpile IV V VI VII Level Up
Swallow IV V VI VII Level Up
Last Resort* IV V VI VII Level Up
Uproar IV V VI VII Move Tutor
Self-Destruct IV V VI VII Egg Move
Recycle* IV V VI VII Level Up
Snatch IV V VI VII Level Up
143Snorlax.png
Snorlax
Refresh IV V VI VII Event Move
Fissure IV V VI VII Egg Move

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Sleep

Baby Pokémon in Pokémon Sleep always have the Slumbering sleep type, regardless of the sleep types of its evolutions. Baby Pokémon require 20 candies to evolve, except for Mime Jr. and Riolu, which instead require 40 and 80 candies, respectively. Prior to the version 1.0.6 update, all baby Pokémon (except for Riolu) require 40 candies to evolve.

With the exception of Mr. Mime, researching sleep styles of Pokémon that are evolutions of baby Pokémon yields 1 less candy than the equivalent for other evolved Pokémon. For example, researching the 1-star sleep style of Wartortle yields 5 candies, but researching the 1-star sleep style of Pikachu (the evolution of Pichu, a baby Pokémon) yields 4 candies instead.

In the anime

Several baby Pokémon and a Teddiursa in The Brockster Is In!

All baby Pokémon have appeared in the anime, with some belonging to main characters. While most of them appear in the Pikachu shorts regularly, all have had major appearances in the anime. In some cases, other newborn Pokémon are called baby Pokémon as well.

Baby Pokémon usually have childish personalities, but some begin to show signs of maturity after gaining experience or evolving, such as when Brock's Bonsly gave up bottle-feeding. However, Paul's Elekid was shown to have inherited his harsh personality. This is not limited to owned Pokémon, as Where No Togepi Has Gone Before! portrays a wild Togepi with mischievous intentions.

Pichu first appeared in The Apple Corp, where it was stealing apples from Charmaine's apple orchard.

In The Screen Actor's Guilt, Brad Van Darn owned a Smoochum. His agent is afraid that Brad's image as an action star would be ruined if this was made public.

An abandoned Tyrogue appeared in A Tyrogue Full of Trouble.

Igglybuff twins belonging to Brittany appeared in Same Old Song and Dance, where they were practicing for a concert.

In Wish Upon a Star Shape, a Cleffa fell from a spaceship that belonged to the kleptomaniac Clefairy from Clefairy Tales.

An Elekid made its debut in Here's Lookin' at You, Elekid where Casey caught it.

A Trainer named Satchel was trying to get his Magby to evolve for the Silver Conference in You're A Star, Larvitar and succeeded. It reappeared in Address Unown! where it was part of an Unown's dimension.

A Mime Jr. appeared under the ownership of Queen Ilene in Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. Also, in the same movie, a wild Bonsly appeared as it followed Ash and his friends on their quest to find Pikachu. After that, Bonsly stayed in the Tree of the Beginning with Mew.

A Smoochum appeared in Three Jynx and a Baby!, where she was protected by three Jynx, and later taken by Team Rocket who tried to turn her into a star. Smoochum evolved into another Jynx at the end.

Three Chingling appeared in The Bells Are Singing!, under the ownership of Francesca.

An Azurill, Cleffa, two Igglybuff, and three Pichu appeared in Hungry for the Good Life! under the ownership of Mr. Backlot.

Ash used a Mantyke for the second leg of the Pokémon Triathlon in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.

A wild Elekid appeared in Three Sides to Every Story!, where it and Dawn's Piplup were trying to win Lulu's Marill heart. However, Elekid was the one who won Marill's heart in the end.

Several baby Pokémon, including Pichu, Cleffa, Wynaut, Smoochum, Igglybuff, and Azurill, appeared in The Brockster Is In!.

A Pichu appeared in A Jolting Switcheroo!, under the ownership of Lena. Bonnie mistakenly takes Lyn's bag containing Pichu, but she got Pichu back by the end of the episode.

A recurring Smoochum made her debut alongside her Trainer Nini in Pathways to Performance Partnering!.

Several baby Pokémon, including Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Togepi, Smoochum, and Magby, appeared in I Choose You!, where they were chasing a Chikorita near the ending credits.

A recurring Munchlax made its debut in A Dream Encounter! under the ownership of Professor Burnet.

A Togepi, Tyrogue, and Smoochum appeared in The Power of Us! where they were following Harriet, although she let the three of them alongside five others stay with her permanently.

Toxel first appeared in Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!.

An Elekid under the ownership of Orla appeared in For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!.

Misty's Togepi

Main article: Misty's Togepi

In Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, Ash finds an Egg that hatches into a Togepi in Who Gets to Keep Togepi?. Since Misty is the first thing the baby Pokémon sees, it believes she is its mother. Togepi was usually held in Misty's arms. It later evolved in A Togepi Mirage. Afterwards, it was released to protect the other Togepi in Mirage Kingdom and the Togepi Paradise.

Recurring Wynaut

Main article: Wynaut (anime)

Wynaut first appeared during the Blackthorn City arc (Fangs for Nothin' - Why? Wynaut!), but Jessie's Wobbuffet, Ash's Bayleef, and Ash's Noctowl were the only ones to see it.

May's Munchlax

Main article: May's Munchlax

May caught a Munchlax in Berry, Berry Interesting and has used it in several Pokémon Contests. It is her only Pokémon that likes her Pokéblocks.

Misty's Azurill

Main article: Misty's Azurill

Misty was seen with an Azurill in The Scheme Team; it was hatched from the egg that Tracey gave to her when his Marill laid it.

James's Mime Jr.

Main article: James's Mime Jr.

James obtained a Mime Jr. from his Nanny and Pop-Pop in Sweet Baby James. Mime Jr. usually finished the trio's motto alongside Jessie's Wobbuffet. It resided at Team Rocket HQ until Rocket Revengers!, where it returned to James's party.

Brock's Bonsly

Main article: Brock's Bonsly

In From Cradle to Save, Brock captured a Bonsly and took care of him. He evolved into Sudowoodo in Leave it To Brocko!.

Paul's Elekid

Main article: Paul's Elekid

Paul owned an Elekid that he used to battle Ash's Pikachu in When Pokémon Worlds Collide! and Roark in Shapes of Things to Come. It evolved into Electabuzz in Smells Like Team Spirit, and evolved into Electivire off-screen, prior to Casting a Paul on Barry!.

Nando's Budew

Main article: Nando's Budew

Budew made its first major appearance in Dawn of a New Era!. It was owned by a minstrel called Nando and used in battle against Dawn's Piplup and Ash's Pikachu. It evolved into Roselia in the second battle. It later evolved into Roserade prior to Coming Full-Festival Circle!.

Brock's Happiny

Main article: Brock's Happiny

Brock's Egg hatched into a Happiny in One Big Happiny Family!. Unusually, in contrast to Happiny's extremely low Attack stat in the games, she has amazing strength and can run with, pummel, and carry many heavy items and Pokémon for her size, such as having the ability to fling her Trainer into the air with ease and carrying Ash's Grotle around in Jumping Rocket Ship!. She evolved into a Chansey in The Brockster Is In!, and evolved into Blissey off-screen, prior to The Arceus Chronicles (Part 2).

Aura Sphere Riolu

Main article: Aura Sphere Riolu

Riolu was featured in both parts of Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu!. This Riolu had been trained to use Aura Sphere and was unnaturally strong. It was taken away from the lab by J's henchmen to exploit it, but Ash and his friends returned it to its kingdom with Kellyn's help. This Riolu developed a strong bond with Ash.

Cameron's Riolu

Main article: Cameron's Riolu

Cameron's Riolu first appeared with its Trainer in Goodbye, Junior Cup - Hello Adventure!. In Cameron's Secret Weapon!, it evolved into Lucario.

An illustration of Ash's Pikachu as a Pichu by Atsuko Nishida

Korrina's Riolu

Main article: Korrina's Riolu

Korrina had her Riolu since she was young and they grew up together. Prior to Mega Revelation!, it evolved into Lucario.

Lusamine's Cleffa

Main article: Lusamine's Cleffa

Lusamine had a Cleffa, which was seen in a picture in Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!. She eventually evolved all the way into Clefable sometime prior to A Dream Encounter!.

Ash's Pichu

Main article: Ash's Pichu

Ash's Pikachu appeared as a wild Pichu in a flashback in Enter Pikachu!, which explored his backstory and how he evolved into Pikachu. In Showdown at the Gates of Warp!, he was briefly turned back into a Pichu through time reversal.

Goh's Mantyke

Main article: Goh's Mantyke

In The Sinnoh Iceberg Race!, Goh captured a Mantyke and would occasionally bring it with him for his research assignments.

Ash's Riolu

Main article: Ash's Riolu

Ash's Riolu hatched from an Egg he received from Nurse Joy in Caring for a Mystery!. It ran away after hatching wanting to fight many wild Pokémon, but eventually properly bonded with Ash and joined his team. It evolved into a Lucario in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!.

In the manga

Pichu hatching from an Egg in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

All baby Pokémon—except Toxel—have appeared in Pokémon Adventures so far, with some belonging to main characters. Gold is known for being able to draw out the largest potential of a baby Pokémon, having the title of "Hatcher".

Cleffa and Igglybuff first appeared in Gligar Glide, escaping from the Daycare Center near Goldenrod City. Their first major appearance was in Irked Igglybuff and Curmudgeonly Cleffa, under the ownership of Whitney.

Tyrogue were seen in Querulous Qwilfish assisting with the construction of the Battle Tower. Bruno of the Elite Four was later seen with one in The Last Battle X.

Smoochum first appeared in Gligar Glide, escaping from the Daycare Center near Goldenrod City. Its first major appearance was in Slugging It Out With Slugma, with one belonging to Crystal with the nickname Chumee.

Ken of the Team Rocket Elite Trio is seen with an Elekid in Elekid Incorporated.

Magby first appeared in Gligar Glide, escaping from the Daycare Center near Goldenrod City. Crystal is later seen capturing one in Off Course with Corsola.

Azurill debuted in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to help the fight in Ilex Forest.

Wynaut first made a cameo as one of the many Trainer-owned Pokémon who were transported to stop Ho-Oh and Lugia's rampage in The Last Battle XIII. In With a Spoink in Your Step II, many wild Wynaut made an appearance on Mirage Island, where Ruby and Sapphire trained for the upcoming battle against Maxie and Archie.

Budew first appeared in Passing by Probopass and Maneuvering around Magnezone under the ownership of a Trainer.

Chingling first appeared in Passing by Probopass and Maneuvering around Magnezone. A Chingling belonging to the Advanced level Grunt of Team Galactic appeared in Stunning Staravia & Stinky Skuntank I. It has an unusually threatening face, and powerful sound abilities to match.

Bonsly first appeared in Deprogramming Porygon-Z.

Mime Jr. first appeared in All About Arceus VI under the ownership of Ken.

Happiny first appeared in Passing by Probopass and Maneuvering around Magnezone.

Professor Kukui owns a Munchlax that first appeared in PASM05.

Riolu first appeared in Magnificent Meditite & Really Riolu I, under the ownership of Maylene. He is capable of using Aura Sphere.

In Vexing Vespiquen & Unmanageable Mothim II, Diamond helps protect an Egg containing Riolu from two Galactic-hired thugs, and after they are defeated, it hatches and is shown to interact with its evolved form. It decided to stay with Riley.

A Mantyke first appeared in Leaping Past Lopunny under the ownership of a Trainer.

Gold's Togepi

Main article: Togebo

Gold was given an Egg created by Jasmine's Togetic from Professor Elm that later hatched into a Togepi named Togebo in Gligar Glide. Due to his abilities as a hatcher, Togebo was born with Gold's trouble-making habits. He evolved into Togetic and again into Togekiss in All About Arceus VIII.

Gold's Pichu

Main article: Pibu

Pichu first appeared in The Last Battle XII, hatching from an Egg held by Gold. Due to not knowing his species name, Yellow gave him a named inspired by the names of his parents, Pika and Chuchu. Due to his abilities as a hatcher, Pibu inherited most of Gold's personality, as well as a similar tuft of hair.

Diamond's Munchlax

Main article: Lax (Adventures)

Diamond owns a Munchlax named Lax which, like him, has a very gluttonous nature, prone to eating dozens of people's worth of snacks out the get-go. Despite being a baby Pokémon with little training, he showed considerable stamina and durability. He first appeared in Stagestruck Starly.

In the TCG

Baby Pokémon in the Trading Card Game used to be its own evolutionary stage during the Neo Series and the e-Card Series. Pokémon with the Baby Stage count as Basic Pokémon, which also means that they can be set as the Active Pokémon or put on the Bench when setting up to play. Baby Pokémon cards also state they can evolve into Pokémon cards which have the name of the species that they evolve into in the core series games, even though those cards are Basic Pokémon and do not normally evolve from other cards. While Baby Pokémon have low Hit Points, they make up for it by having the "Baby Pokémon rule"[1] that requires the opponent to flip a coin and receive a heads result to succeed in attacking while the Baby Pokémon is in the Active Spot.

In the EX Series, the Diamond & Pearl Series, and the Platinum Series, the Baby stage was removed. Instead, Baby Pokémon are printed as Basic Pokémon with the Baby Evolution Poké-Power. Baby Evolution allows Baby Pokémon to evolve into their respective evolution and heal all damage from itself in the process.

Starting with the HeartGold & SoulSilver era, baby Pokémon cards can no longer evolve. Baby Pokémon cards in the HeartGold & SoulSilver era have the Sweet Sleeping Face Poké-Body. Sweet Sleeping Face protects its user from damage dealt by attacks while it is Asleep, while every Baby Pokémon has an attack that costs no Energy and puts them to sleep. As Asleep is cured between turns only if a coin lands on heads between turns, the combination of effects closely mimics the rule used on Baby Pokémon in the Neo and e-Card Series. Furthermore, all cards depicting Baby Pokémon lack weaknesses and retreat costs.

Baby Pokémon returned in Unbroken Bonds, and appeared in all later Sun & Moon Series sets. Baby Pokémon from this series have Abilities that only have an effect if a coin flip has a "heads" result and end the player's turn regardless of the outcome. These Baby Pokémon cards also do not have attacks, weaknesses, and retreat costs. The TAG TEAM card Togepi & Cleffa & Igglybuff-GX features three Baby Pokémon, but does not follow the mechanical pattern of other Baby Pokémon from this series.

Baby Pokémon cards return in the Scarlet & Violet Series starting with the Obsidian Flames expansion. Cards featuring baby Pokémon in this series always feature one attack with zero energy requirement, and have no retreat cost. Unlike prior interpretations of Baby Pokémon, these cards have a weakness listed.

Unlike other Pokémon that are considered baby Pokémon in the games, Togepi, Riolu, and Toxel are usually treated as regular Basic Pokémon and do not follow the conventions listed above, likely due to them having been introduced in the same generations as their evolved forms. Their evolutions (Togetic, Lucario, and Toxtricity, respectively) are normally Stage 1 Pokémon that evolve from these Pokémon.

Trivia

  • Out of nineteen baby Pokémon, seven of them evolve into Pokémon belonging to the Fairy Egg Group and seven others evolve into Pokémon that belong to the Human-Like Egg Group.
  • Most baby Pokémon can learn Uproar via Move Tutor, while their evolved forms cannot.
  • May, James, and Brock got their baby Pokémon (Munchlax, Mime Jr., and Bonsly respectively) following the pattern of premiering in a movie and then being captured by one of the main characters. In all cases, the premiered Pokémon is not the same character as the one caught, just the same species. In some cases, this may be a result of the writers deciding a Pokémon works well with the group after they are shown together. Munchlax came after Destiny Deoxys and Mime Jr. and Bonsly came after Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. All of these Pokémon were introduced in Generation IV.
  • In Pokémon X and Y, baby Pokémon caught in the wild are guaranteed to have three random IVs of 31 due to their inclusion in the No Eggs Discovered Egg Group.
  • There has yet to be a baby Pokémon with a regional variant, although Pichu and Mime Jr. evolve into Pokémon who do have them.

In other languages

Language Title
France Flag.png French Bébé Pokémon
Germany Flag.png German Baby-Pokémon
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokémon Baby
South Korea Flag.png Korean 베이비 포켓몬 Baby Pokémon
Poland Flag.png Polish Pokémon Niemowlak*
Portuguese Brazil Flag.png Brazil Pokémon Bebê
Portugal Flag.png Portugal Pokémon Bebé
Spain Flag.png Spanish Pokémon Bebé

References

See also