Gender unknown
Egg Groups | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monster | Human-Like | |||||
Water 1 | Water 3 | |||||
Bug | Mineral | |||||
Flying | Amorphous | |||||
Field | Water 2 | |||||
Fairy | Ditto | |||||
Grass | Dragon | |||||
No Eggs Discovered | ||||||
Gender unknown |
Gender unknown (Japanese: 性別不明 sex unknown) is a gender designation that species of Pokémon can have. Pokémon such as Voltorb, Staryu, and Mew that display neither a ♂ nor ♀ symbol in battle or on their summary screen are gender-unknown Pokémon.
In-universe, no one has been able to determine the gender of these Pokémon, including scientists.[1]
Terminology
In English-language official media, these Pokémon are generally referred to as being gender unknown,[2] as having or being of unknown gender,[3] or simply by stating that their gender is unknown.[4] As a prenominal adjective, it is generally hyphenated, such as in "gender-unknown Pokémon",[5] though it has also appeared without being hyphenated.[6]
Alternate terms that have been used officially include:
- no gender, which was used in a strategy article on Pokémon.com during Generation VIII and in various official guidebooks during Generations II and IV;[7]
- genderless, which was used in the Prima Games Pokémon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide guidebook, in the Nintendo Power Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex guidebook, in Pokémon.com mailbag responses from November 2002 and January 2003, and in a previous version of the Play! Pokémon Video Game Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines document;[8]
- neuter, which was used in Nintendo Power guidebooks during Generation II;[9] and
- indeterminate gender, which was used in Pokémon Platinum: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.[10]
In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, Picnicker Siena on Route 205 mentions that there are some Pokémon whose gender can't be toldDPBDSP or that are neither male nor femalePt; both of these merely correspond to usages of 「性別不明」 "sex unknown" in Japanese.[11]
The Japanese versions of the games also refer to gender-unknown Pokémon as having (Japanese: せいべつなし no gender, formatted in kanji as 性別なし no gender in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon HOME on the Nintendo Switch) in the search feature of the Pokémon Storage System and Pokémon HOME.[12]
As an Egg Group
In Pokémon Stadium 2 and in official Japanese and Chinese guidebooks for the Generation II and III games, Gender unknown also refers to an Egg Group consisting of gender-unknown Pokémon that are able to breed with Ditto, but this Egg Group has never actually existed in the coding of the games. In these sources, gender-unknown Pokémon are listed in this Egg Group rather than in their actual Egg Groups. While Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Official Nintendo Player's Guide also lists Gender Unknown as an Egg Group, it lists the Pokémon with their actual Egg Groups in the data section.
In Pokémon Emerald: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Pokémon 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition Complete Pokédex, and early Japanese official guidebooks for Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, gender-unknown Pokémon are instead listed in the No Eggs group, likely due to Ditto not being available without tradingRS/until after obtaining the National Pokédex in the Desert UnderpassE. Official guidebooks since Generation IV consistently list gender-unknown Pokémon in their actual Egg Groups.
Mechanics
Gender-unknown Pokémon (except Ditto) can only breed with Ditto. However, many gender-unknown Pokémon are in the No Eggs Discovered group, meaning that those Pokémon cannot breed at all. Ditto itself can be bred with any Pokémon that can breed (except Ditto), but the Eggs produced are always based on the other Pokémon's species.
In battle, gender-unknown Pokémon are immune to gender-based effects. They cannot become infatuated nor infatuate other Pokémon. The moves Attract and Captivate fail if used by or on these Pokémon. The Abilities Cute Charm and Rivalry do not affect gender-unknown Pokémon and have no effect if possessed by them.
Pokémon
Breedable
Unbreedable
|
In the anime
In To Catch a Rotom!, after Iris tries to have her Emolga use Attract on three Rotom, Professor Oak remarks that Rotom are neither male nor female.[13]
In other languages
Gender unknown
|
Unknown
|
Unknown/Gender unknown[12]
|
References
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: The Official Strategy Guide, p. 288; excerpt: "scientists have been unable to determine any gender for them"
- Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon: The Official Alola Region Strategy Guide, p. 359; excerpt: "no one's been able to determine their gender"
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2: An NPC in the Floccesy Pokémon Center, with a gender-unknown Pokémon in the first slot of the party: "Your <Pokémon>... Its gender is unknown." (Japanese: 「あなたの <Pokémon>って…… 性別が わからないのね!」 "Your <Pokémon>... I can't tell what gender it is!")
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Stadium 2: "Gender unknown" is listed as an Egg Group at Earl's Pokémon Academy
- Pokémon Bank: "Gender Unknown" can be selected as a search option
- Pokémon HOME (Nintendo Switch): "Gender unknown" can be selected as a filter under "Form" in the Pokédex
- Pokémon HOME (mobile): "Gender unknown" can be selected as a search option
- Pokémon GO:
genderunknown
can be used as a search filter - New Pokémon Snap: "Gender Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field in the Photodex
- Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: The Official Strategy Guide, p. 288; excerpt: 'Some Pokémon are also recorded as "gender unknown"'
- Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon: The Official Alola Region Strategy Guide, p. 359; excerpt: "Some Pokémon appear as gender unknown"
- Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide, p. 235; excerpt: "is male or gender unknown"
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon X and Y: A scientist on Sycamore Pokémon Lab 2F says "There are male Pokémon, female Pokémon, and even Pokémon with unknown genders." (Japanese: 「ポケモンには オスと メス そして 性別不明が います」)
- The Details of Discovering Pokémon Eggs | Pokemon.com: "When Ditto is paired with a Pokémon in the Day Care, the Pokémon that hatches from the Egg you find will be the same as (or an Evolution of) the paired Pokémon, whether it is male, female, or of unknown gender."
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl Trainers Guide | Raising and Evolving Pokémon | Official Website | Pokémon: "Not only can Ditto be paired with male or female Pokémon, it's also the only Pokémon that's known to be compatible with Pokémon of unknown gender."
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Pokédex, p. 394; excerpt: "Pokémon of unknown gender that can reproduce with Ditto", "Bronzong is of unknown gender"
- Pokémon Platinum: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, p. 384; excerpt: "Some Pokémon are of unknown gender", "Pokémon of unknown gender that can lead to Eggs being found"
- Pokémon Black and White Pokédex, p. 123: excerpt: "Pokémon of unknown gender that can produce Eggs"
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal: In the party screen, the text "Male", "Female", or "Unknown" is displayed for each Pokémon when depositing a Pokémon at the Day Care
- Pokémon Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet and Violet: "Unknown" can be selected as a filter under "Gender" in the Pokémon Storage System
- Pokémon Stadium 2: A Pokémon's gender can be described as "unknown"
- Pokémon HOME (Nintendo Switch): "Unknown" can be selected as a filter under "Gender" in the Pokémon List
- Pokédex 3D, Pokédex 3D Pro, Pokédex for iOS: "Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field
- Pokémon.com Pokédex: "Unknown" is a possible value for the "Gender" field
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2: An NPC in the Floccesy Pokémon Center, with a gender-unknown Pokémon in the first slot of the party: "Your <Pokémon>... Its gender is unknown."
- Pokémon Video Game Glossary | Pokemon.com: "The gender of a Pokémon is designated as male, female, or unknown."
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Pokédex, p. 10; excerpt: "There are some Pokémon whose gender is unknown."
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokédex, p. 185, 198; excerpts: "or who whose gender is unknown", "Porygon2's gender is unknown", "Some Pokémon's gender is unknown."
- Pokémon Black and White Pokédex, p. 10, 123, 212, 214, 288: excerpts: "Some Pokémon's genders are unknown.", "whose gender is unknown", "the target's gender is unknown", "No effect when the gender is unknown."
- Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide, p. 234-5; excerpt: "in some cases, all the Pokémon of a species will be of just one gender or their gender will be unknown altogether"
- Electric- and Steel-Type Egg Event | News | Pokémon Masters EX official site: "The gender of Pokémon listed with △ are unknown."
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Pokédex, p. 185; excerpt: "Gender-unknown Pokémon who can leave Eggs"
- Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon: The Official Alola Region Strategy Guide, p. 359; excerpts: "find an Egg from a gender-unknown Pokémon", "find Eggs from male Pokémon or gender-unknown Pokémon"
- Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide, p. 234-5: excerpts: "find the Eggs of some gender-unknown Pokémon", "leave a male or gender-unknown Pokémon"
- ↑ Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: The Official Strategy Guide, p. 288-9; excerpts: "find Pokémon Eggs for a gender unknown Pokémon", "including gender unknown ones", "leave a male or gender unknown Pokémon"
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Train, Raid, and Hatch Pokémon to Breed Victories in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield | Pokemon.com
- Pokémon Gold and Silver: Official Nintendo Player's Guide, p. 95; excerpt: "Ditto has no gender", "Some Pokémon do not have a gender"
- Pokémon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, p. 19; excerpt: "or no gender (such as a Magnemite)."
- Pokémon Crystal: Official Nintendo Player's Guide, p. 25; excerpt: "Ditto has no gender", "Some Pokémon do not have a gender"
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Official Nintendo Player's Guide, p. 32; excerpt: "Ditto has no gender"
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, p. 273; excerpt: "Has no effect on Pokémon that have no gender."
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Pokédex, p. 394; excerpt: "Some Pokémon don't have a gender"
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Gold & Silver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, p. 19-20; excerpt: "Exceptions to the male/female rule involve the genderless Pokémon, Ditto.", several Pokémon are listed as "Genderless Pokémon"
- Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex, p. 37-8; excerpt: "The genderless Pokémon can produce Eggs if paired with a Ditto.", "whether the Pokémon is male, female or genderless", "because they are pre-evolutions, one-of-a-kind or genderless"
- Letters to the Editor! | 11/27/2003 | The Official Pokemon.com Site (archived)
- Letters to the Editor! | 1/17/2003 | The Official Pokemon.com Site (archived)
- Play! Pokémon Video Game Rules, Formats & Penalty Guidelines - October 23, 2019, February 13, 2020 (archived): "A genderless Pokémon is listed as male or female on the team list."
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Gold and Silver: Official Nintendo Player's Guide, p. 95; several Pokémon are listed as "Neuter"
- Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex, p. 37; several Pokémon are listed as "Neuter"
- Pokémon Crystal: Official Nintendo Player's Guide, p. 25; several Pokémon are listed as "Neuter"
- ↑ Pokémon Platinum: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, p. 384; excerpt: "Metagross is of indeterminate gender"
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Picnicker Siena on Route 205 says "What can I tell you about Pokémon? Well, there are males and females. And some that you can't tell!" (Japanese: 「ポケモンで しってること? そうねー ポケモンには メスと オス それと せいべつふめいが いるよ!」)
- Pokémon Platinum: Picnicker Siena on Route 205 says "I know all sorts of things about Pokémon! Let's see... There are males and females, and some aren't either!" (Japanese: 「あたし ポケモンに くわしいよ! えっとー ポケモンには メスと オス それと せいべつふめいが いるの!」)
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: Picnicker Siena on Route 205 says "What can I tell you about Pokémon? Well, there are males and females. And some that you can't tell." (Japanese: 「ポケモンで 知ってること? そうねー ポケモンには メスと オス それと 性別不明が いるよ!」)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Multiple sources:
- Pokémon Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet and Violet: "Unknown" (Japanese: せいべつなし / 性別なし) can be selected as a filter under "Gender" in the Pokémon Storage System
- Pokémon HOME (Nintendo Switch): "Unknown" (Japanese: 性別なし) can be selected as a filter under "Gender" in the Pokémon List
- Pokémon HOME (mobile): "Gender unknown" (Japanese: せいべつなし) can be selected as a search option
- ↑ To Catch a Rotom!: Professor Oak says "I'm afraid Rotom are neither male nor female. And that's the reason Attract had no effect on them." (Japanese: 「いや、ロトムにオスとメスの区別はないぞ。だから、メロメロの効果を受けないんじゃ。」 )
This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |