Event Pokémon

See also: Category:Promotion-only Pokémon

From the very beginning, there were Pokémon that were made not obtainable in the initially-released pair of core series games, making these species of Pokémon only legitimately obtainable from Nintendo's promotional event distributions. In later generations, some of these event-exclusive Pokémon became available through spin-off Pokémon games. However, besides these games, these Pokémon can only be obtained from events, or for some, they can only be caught in the games after an in-game event is unlocked through a real-world event. Many of the event-exclusive Pokémon are Mythical Pokémon.

Generation I

Pokémon		Games				Method
	Mew	R	G	B (Jp)	Y	Nintendo events, historically through a direct trade
		R	B (Int)		Y

Generation II

Pokémon		Games			Methods
	Mew	G	S	C	Gotta catch 'em all! Station
	Celebi	G	S	C	The Japanese Mobile System GB to obtain a GS Ball, to be used in Ilex Forest
		G	S	C	Nintendo Power special promo
		G	S	C	Direct trade

Generation III

Pokémon		Games					Methods
	Mew	R	S	E	FR	LG	Old Sea Map from Japan-only Nintendo events to access Faraway Island
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways
	Lugia	R	S	E	FR	LG	MysticTicket from Nintendo events to access Navel Rock
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways
	Ho-Oh	R	S	E	FR	LG	MysticTicket from Nintendo events to access Navel Rock
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways
	Celebi	R	S	E	FR	LG	Japanese Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways
	Jirachi	R	S	E	FR	LG	Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Transfer from Pokémon Channel (PAL version only) after completing the game
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways
	Deoxys	R	S	E	FR	LG	AuroraTicket from Nintendo events to access Birth Island
		R	S	E	FR	LG	Other giveaways

Generation IV

Pokémon		Games					Methods
	Mew	D	P	Pt*	HG	SS	Transfer 999 Pokémon to My Pokémon Ranch
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Other giveaways
	Spiky-eared Pichu	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Ilex Forest shrine with Pikachu-colored Pichu
	Celebi	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Giveaways
	Jirachi	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Giveaways
	Deoxys	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Other giveaways
	Manaphy	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Transfer Pokémon Egg from Pokémon Ranger after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Transfer Pokémon Egg from Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Transfer Pokémon Egg from Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Other giveaways
	Darkrai	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Member Card from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Newmoon Island
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Other giveaways
	Shaymin	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs after finishing a Special Mission
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Oak's Letter from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Flower Paradise and the Gracidea
		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Other giveaways, which can access the Gracidea
	Arceus	D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Giveaways

Generation V

Pokémon		Games				Methods
	Jirachi	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Deoxys	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Darkrai	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Shaymin	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaway
	Arceus	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Victini	B	W	B2	W2	Liberty Pass from Nintendo events via Wi-Fi or Wireless Communications to access Liberty Garden
		B	W	B2	W2	Other giveaways
	Keldeo	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Meloetta	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways
	Genesect	B	W	B2	W2	Giveaways

Generation VI

Pokémon		Games				Methods
	Mew	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Celebi	X	Y	OR	AS	Pokémon Bank event
		X	Y	OR	AS	Other giveaways
	Jirachi	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Manaphy	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Darkrai	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Shaymin	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Arceus	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Victini	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Keldeo	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Meloetta	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Genesect	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Fancy Pattern Vivillon	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Poké Ball Pattern Vivillon	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Diancie	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Hoopa	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways
	Volcanion	X	Y	OR	AS	Giveaways

Nintendo 3DS

Pokémon		Games				Methods
	Original Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Hoenn Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Sinnoh Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Unova Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Kalos Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Alola Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Partner Cap Pikachu	S	M	US	UM	QR Code
	Mew	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Celebi	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Jirachi	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Manaphy	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Darkrai	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Shaymin	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Arceus	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Meloetta	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Battle Bond Greninja	S	M	US	UM	Communication with the Sun and Moon Special Demo Version
	Hoopa	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Own Tempo Rockruff	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Dusk Form Lycanroc	S	M	US	UM	Evolve Own Tempo Rockruff
	Magearna	S	M	US	UM	QR Code
	Marshadow	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways
	Zeraora	S	M	US	UM	Giveaways

Nintendo Switch

Pokémon		Games		Methods
	Mew	P	E	Included in the Poké Ball Plus

Generation VIII

Pokémon		Games					Methods
	Original Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Hoenn Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Sinnoh Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Unova Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Kalos Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Alola Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Partner Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	World Cap Pikachu	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
	Mew	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Included in the Poké Ball Plus
	Celebi	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways
	Manaphy	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Pokémon Egg Giveaways
	Original Color Magearna	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Complete the National Pokédex in Pokémon HOME. (Version 1.2.0 onwards)
	Zeraora	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Pokémon HOME
	Gigantamax Factor Melmetal	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Reward for sending Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME
	Gigantamax Factor Hattrem	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	During Wild Area News events
	Gigantamax Factor Milcery	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	During Wild Area News events
	Zarude	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways (Patch 1.2.0 onwards)
	Dada Zarude	Sw	Sh	BD	SP	LA	Giveaways (Patch 1.2.0 onwards)

Starting in Generation V, the games contained moves that cannot be accessed in-game by means other than events. These are moves that are already known by distributed event Pokémon, not moves that can be learned by level-up by event-exclusive Pokémon.

Snarl was a TM move even in Pokémon Black and White, but its TM required the Lock Capsule to obtain. However, the Lock Capsule was never distributed, and no Pokémon could learn Snarl via level-up in these games. However, as TM moves were able to be passed down by breeding in Generation V, non-event Pokémon were able to learn Snarl in Black and White.

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Details on serial codes (Gen VI) and QR codes (Gen VII)

Periodically, Nintendo hosts or sponsors parties and events for fans, often in connection to the premiere of a new game or movie. They are especially notable in that certain rare Pokémon and items in the games, as well as cards and other things, are only available for a limited time from them. The methods used to transfer Pokémon and items to a game have varied over time, and include direct link trading and physical reception from an e-Card via Mystery Events. Wireless reception from a Wonder Spot and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection via Mystery Gift and the use of a Distribution devices were also used. Other methods may occur in the future.

Event Pokémon typically have a special Original Trainer and ID number, indicating their authenticity, and usually a special promotional Ribbon from Generation III onwards. (In later generations, these Ribbons may prevent the Pokémon from being traded through the GTS or Wonder Trade.) From Generation IV onwards, most event Pokémon are distributed in Cherish Balls, special Poké Balls that exist solely for event distribution. Event Pokémon are usually desired because they are hard or impossible to find in the games, holding a rare item, and/or know at least one special move that would otherwise be impossible to have.

Some Pokémon are distributed with a specific Nature, gender, Ability, or Shininess, while others may leave one or more of these random (though Shininess is usually strictly fixed one way or the other). For Pokémon obtained in Generation IV onwards, the dates do not need to be the dates the events were held. This is because the date is based on the one set on the handheld system.

Generation IV introduced the distribution of promotional events via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. At first, only Key Items were distributed. These items allowed players to enter areas normally inaccessible. In June 2009, Pokémon began being distributed via Wi-Fi as well with the distribution of a Jirachi. Owners of the Japanese versions of the Sinnoh-based games, no matter where they were, could use Wi-Fi to receive the Pokémon. Later on, Japan began having distributions occurring simultaneously via events and over Wi-Fi. In March 2010, the Pikachu-colored Pichu became available for North American and PAL versions of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. This became the first event Pokémon to be available to non-Japanese games via Wi-Fi.

There are very few countries or areas of the world where events tend to be held: Japan, the United States, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and various countries of Western Europe. While it is not unheard of for event Pokémon to be distributed outside of these countries, it is incredibly rare. Some countries may see several years pass between promotional events, and a majority of countries have never had a local event. The establishment of wireless internet has made the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection a much better distribution model to reach Pokémon players around the world.

In Generation V, the Pokémon Global Link became a new method for distributing Pokémon, though Pokémon were still distributed through Wi-Fi. Though they may not have been as unique as other event Pokémon (in regards to moves, Shininess, event Poké Ball, Ribbons, etc.), Pokémon from Global Link promotions can be obtained by anyone worldwide, depending on the country they set on the website; some may require purchase of other products, however.

• Distribution devices
• Event items

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.