User:Handium/Game mascot
The mascot of a Pokémon game is the Pokémon that appears on the boxart, and often the logo of the aforementioned game.
Prior to Generation II with Pokémon Crystal, the mascot of the game was not particularly plot relevant. Generation II’s mascots were the first to include Legendary Pokémon on the boxart, however, Ho-oh, Lugia were optional, Suicune was the first mascot to be directly involved in the plot. Generation III started the trend of mascots being mandatory and vital to the plot with Ruby and Sapphire, as Groudon and Kyogre need to be encountered due Team Magma/Aqua. FireRed and LeafGreen are exceptions to this due to using the same mascots as Red and Green.
Mascot Pokémon are often required catches in recent entries, usually given increased catch rates and able to respawn if defeated to account for this. Most Core series games have Legendary Pokémon as the mascot, games that start in Kanto are exceptions, opting to use First partner Pokémon instead. Pokémon Legends: Arceus has no mascot Pokémon.
Side series and spin-off games usually don’t have game mascots, instead having multiple Pokémon, as such, most do not qualify as mascots. Currently, there are three exceptions, being, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Detective Pikachu (video game), Pokémon Sleep having Shadow Lugia, Detective Pikachu (character) and Snorlax respectively.
In most games, when pressing A or Start on the title screen, the game mascot's cry will be heard.
Core series
Generation I
| Original games | Upper game(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP | Red Charizard |
Green Venusaur |
Blue Blastoise |
Pikachu Pikachu |
| Final form of a first partner Pokémon | Sole first partner Pokémon | |||
| INT | Red Charizard |
Blue Blastoise |
Yellow Pikachu | |
| Final form of a first partner Pokémon | Sole first partner Pokémon | |||
Generation II
| Original games | Upper game | |
|---|---|---|
Gold Ho-Oh |
Silver Lugia |
Crystal Suicune |
| Tower duo | Part of the legendary beasts | |
Generation III
| Original games | Upper game | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ruby Groudon |
Sapphire Kyogre |
Emerald Rayquaza | |||
| Super-ancient Pokémon | |||||
| Remakes | |||||
FireRed Charizard |
LeafGreen Venusaur | ||||
| Final form of a first partner Pokémon | |||||
Generation IV
| Original games | Upper game | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diamond Dialga |
Pearl Palkia |
Platinum Giratina (Origin Forme) | |||
| Pokémon of Myth | |||||
| Remakes | |||||
HeartGold Ho-Oh |
SoulSilver Lugia | ||||
| Tower duo | |||||
Generation V
| Original games | |
|---|---|
Black Reshiram |
White Zekrom |
| Two members of the Tao trio | |
| Sequels | |
Black 2 Black Kyurem |
White 2 White Kyurem |
| Formes of Kyurem, the third member of the Tao trio | |
Generation VI
| Original games | |
|---|---|
X Xerneas |
Y Yveltal |
| Two members of the aura trio | |
| Remakes | |
Omega Ruby Primal Groudon |
Alpha Sapphire Primal Kyogre |
| Primal forms of the rival members of the Super-ancient Pokémon | |
Generation VII
| Original games | Upper games | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Sun Solgaleo |
Moon Lunala |
Ultra Sun Dusk Mane Necrozma |
Ultra Moon Dawn Wings Necrozma |
| Light trio | |||
| Remakes | |||
Let's Go, Pikachu! Pikachu |
Let's Go, Eevee! Eevee | ||
| Partner Pokémon | |||
Generation VIII
| Original games | Expansion Pass | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Sword Zacian (Crowned Sword) |
Shield Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) |
The Isle of Armor Urshifu |
The Crown Tundra Calyrex |
| Legendary heroes | The "secret armor" of the Master Dojo | King of Bountiful Harvests | |
| Remakes | |||
Brilliant Diamond Dialga |
Shining Pearl Palkia | ||
| Two members of the Pokémon of Myth | |||
Generation IX
| Original games | The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Scarlet Koraidon (Apex Build) |
Violet Miraidon (Ultimate Mode) |
The Teal Mask Ogerpon (Teal Mask) |
The Indigo Disk Terapagos (Terastal Form) |
| Paradox duo | The ogre of the land of Kitakami | The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero | |
Side series
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
 Shadow Lugia |
| XD001 the ultimate Shadow Pokémon |
Spin-off games
Detective Pikachu
 Detective Pikachu |
| Title character |
Pokémon Sleep
 Snorlax |
| Central character |
See also
