The Pokémon series is many things, but heavy on story is not one of them. Each game essentially functions independent from one another, having little to do with previous adventures. There were a few sequels in the franchise’s history, but that’s about all that was done to try and create any sort of consistent stories or lore.
This lack of clarity regarding the context of the Pokémon world caused many fans to put things together and come up with some crazy theories. Whether it be explaining why Venonat looks more like Butterfree than Venomoth or trying to figure out the identity of Ash’s father, the fans have been hard at work trying to decipher the mysteries of Game Freak’s biggest universe.
As many of these theories were developed, many fans were shocked to find out that they carried weight, some being supported in later Pokémon releases or even by the creators themselves. Some of the franchise’s largest questions have been answered just through the deduction of the dedicated fanbase.
On the other hand, there were some fans that let their imaginations run a bit too wild, and the theories they created were quickly dismissed in the games or by Game Freak. That said, they were solid attempts that ultimately didn’t have much credence in the franchise’s legacy.
With the Pokémon franchise about to get even bigger with the release of Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, it’s time to look at 15 Pokémon fan theories that are actually real and 10 the creators totally rejected.
25 Real: Cubone And Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan has always been a topic of discussion among Pokémon theorists. Despite having a baby in its pouch, Kangaskhan doesn’t have a pre-evolved form. This has led some to believe that, based on its similar design, Cubone is actually the Kangaskhan offspring, but the adoption of a skull created a new evolution line. This theory would later gain more support in Sun and Moon when Cubone and Kangaskhan would come to each other’s aid in wild battles. It’s all but officially confirmed at this point.
24 Fake: Ash’s Coma
There’s a serious problem with the Pokémon anime. Ash Ketchum, despite traveling to several different regions and having all sorts of experiences, has not aged past 10 in the official canon. This led to some to theorize that Ash went into a coma while attacked by the Spearow in the first episode and has since been living a perpetual fantasy of becoming a Pokémon master. Not only is this a bit farfetched for the legacy of the show, but it’s a big stretch with no supporting evidence.
23 Real: Blue’s Raticate
When players travel to Lavender Town in Pokémon Red and Blue, they run into Blue, who is at the Pokémon Tower. It’s there that he calls the player out for not having any deceased Pokémon.
During the battle with him, he is no longer using the Raticate that he once had in previous encounters.
This led many to believe that Blue’s Raticate had passed away since the last encounter and that he was there mourning the loss of his beloved Pokémon.
22 Fake: Battling The Ghost Of Red
One of the most intense battles in Pokémon history was during Gold and Silver when players would face Red at the peak of Mt. Silver. He never says a word and mysteriously disappears after being defeated. Some believed it was because Red had passed away and trainers were facing his ghost, but Red’s silence was in reference to him being the player character in the previous games. He serves as the character people remember from their childhoods. Challenging him was coming to terms with a previous playthrough.
21 Real: Mew And Ditto’s Relationship
There are two Pokémon that can learn Transform: Mew and Ditto. While some haven’t put much thought into it, others thought a bit more. There is a theory that suggests Ditto was a failed attempt at cloning Mew. That explains why it knows Transform and why it’s the same color as Mew (both in regular and shiny forms). In Pokémon GO, the research tasks to find Mew include capturing a Ditto, which made some believe that it was close to confirming this theory.
20 Fake: Concrete Origin
The origin of the Pokémon world is kind of sketchy at best. With new generations introducing new legendary Pokémon that each had their own set of powers, some have tried to explain how the world came to be.
There are theories involving Arceus and the creation of other legendaries.
The entire thing becomes convoluted and has little place in the lore of the universe. Game Freak hasn’t sat down to explain how it all came to be, as they would have to keep amending it with every new generation.
19 Real: Mr. Fuji And Mewtwo
Is it a coincidence that Dr. Fuji was the person who created Mewtwo? Some fans don’t think so. With connections to the Pokémon Mansion and Cinnabar Island, it’s possible that Mr. Fuji was responsible for Mewtwo’s birth. In Pokémon Origins, when there was talk of Mewtwo appearing in Cerulean Cave, Mr. Fuji told Red that he already knew who the Pokémon was. Also dabbling in further Pokémon research, this was more than enough confirmation that he was the one responsible for Mewtwo.
18 Fake: Voltorb Is Haunter
Voltorb bears a strange resemblance to a Poké Ball, and some have taken this to believe that the Pokémon wasn’t born of natural causes. Considering that its eyes are similar to Haunter’s, some believe that Voltorb was the result of a Haunter possessing a Poké Ball and being unable to get out. However, this theory doesn’t hold much weight, as there is no support for it outside of both Pokémon having similarly shaped eyes. That alone isn’t enough to launch a whole theory.
17 Real: Genesect’s Origin
Genesect was revealed to be a legendary Pokémon created by using an ancient Pokémon and doing work on it. While some have attributed this to some unnamed Pokémon, others believe that it relates to Kabutops. Both Pokémon have similar builds, with the alterations in appearance explained by the addition of a metal exoskeleton. Furthermore, it was regarded in the Pokédex as “the strongest of hunters” 300 million years ago. Guess which ancient Pokémon was a good hunter? Kabutops.
16 Fake: Mimikyu Is Porygon
Some Pokémon theories can be big stretches, and that’s exactly the case with this Mimikyu theory. Porygon has not appeared in the anime since its single episode caused problems among fans. Mimikyu, similarly, cannot have its real form gazed upon.
The one person who did went into a severe “shock” and had more problems in the future.
Some have taken the word “shock” to directly reference the Porygon episode and believe the two Pokémon are the same. Considering they have different designs, powers, and histories, we’d have to fervently disagree.
15 Real: Pichu Was Never Cut
Fans were surprised when Pichu appeared as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros Melee. Due to it being a worse version of Pikachu, no one was shocked when it didn’t appear in Super Smash Bros Brawl. However, some think it was never cut from the game. Pikachu in Brawl has the same alt costumes as Pichu in Melee. Some have theorized that Pichu from Melee evolved into the current Pikachu. The appearance of Pichu and Pikachu in Ultimate can be explained by the new Pichu being the spiky-eared one from a different dimension.
14 Fake: The Player’s Father
Of all the Pokémon games, generation III was the only time when there was a confirmed father for the player character. Otherwise, the players only had mothers. Some have suggested that the fathers were hidden in plain sight, being the characters at the start of every gym that refer to you as “champ in the making.” Without any hints other than that small detail, it’s hard to dive into this theory without giving up for lack of evidence. The father of the games will just remain a mystery.
13 Real: Arcanine’s Legendary Status
In the Pokedex, Arcanine is referred to as the “Legendary Pokémon.” While it’s not an official legendary, an episode in the anime begs to differ. Ash is looking at a picture of four different legendary Pokémon. Three of them are Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. The fourth bears a striking resemblance to Arcanine, which led many to believe that the original intent was to make it a legendary. It seemed that the change was made late in the game, which is why we have these weird details.
12 Fake: Ultra Beasts Were Related To Characters
When Pokémon Sun and Moon were announced, Game Freak slowly released more details. They soon announced the Ultra Beasts, and some people believed they were connected to some characters in the game (Nihilego looked like Lily). However, that and possibly an Ultra Beast that resembled Lusamine, were the only reasons people had to believe this theory. When the games finally came out, it was soon that fans realized those theories didn’t hold up. Imagine someone that looked like Xurkitree.
11 Real: Entei, Raikou, And Suicune
Entei, Raikou, and Suicune were created by Ho-Oh after three Pokémon perished in the Burned Tower. Ho-Oh revived them and gave them a whole new set of powers. Their color schemes resemble the first three Eeveelutions, Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. Both sets of Pokémon are also related and move around on four legs.
Adding fuel to the fire is that each set of Pokémon has stats that match their counterparts.
Even their abilities match, as the legendaries share a hidden ability with the Eeveelutions.
10 Fake: Sun And Moon Rival
With Game Freak straying away from the meaner rivals in the franchise, it sort of reached its peak with Hau in Sun and Moon. He was a happy-go-lucky guy who was more of a best friend. However, because players were always one step ahead of Hau, some believe that was because the player was the rival character and Hau was the protagonist. It’s hard to jump on this theory, though, as Game Freak has gradually been making their rival characters less important to the overall story.
9 Real: N’s True Identity
N is the most mysterious character from the Black and White series. He could speak with Pokémon and was said to have been raised by Pokémon as well. Some believe that’s because he was a Zoroark. It would explain his ability to talk to them (and Zoroark can change its appearance on a whim). Furthermore, N’s design resembles Zoroark’s in some ways, particularly the hair department. Lastly, when players are chasing a Zoroark after beating the Elite Four, they end up finding N instead with no Zoroark in sight.
8 Fake: Lorelei’s Change
Lorelei and Will are two members of the Elite Four in the Indigo Plateau. Lorelei was seemingly gone after Red and Blue and replaced with Will. Because of their similar features and teams, some believed that Lorelei got a gender transition and kept her place in the Elite Four. This theory seems so out of left field, though, as there isn’t much to go on other than speculation. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Game Freak would’ve intentionally inserted something so controversial back in the ‘90s.
7 Real: A Pokémon War
Throughout the series history, there are a few references to a war. While some believed that it referred to a Pokémon War as per Lt. Surge’s dialogue, there was indeed a different war that happened. It was revealed in Pokémon X and Y that there was, indeed, a Pokémon war, but it happened thousands of years ago. It was this war where AZ’s precious Pokémon passed away and he did some serious damage to try and bring it back to life.
6 Fake: Arceus Using Unown
Arceus is known as the Pokémon God. It was responsible for supposedly creating the universe with its 1000 arms. Considering that it doesn’t have any extra appendages, some believed that it used the Unown to create the world because of their ability to warp reality.
However, it’s not at all unreasonable to believe that Arceus could’ve used its powers to have all sorts of extra appendages.
On the other hand, it’s possible that the 1000 arms could be hyperbolic and serve just as a testament to its power.
