The Pokemon franchise started in the 90s and has been massively popular in the world of gaming ever since then. This series finds players traveling around the world of the game to collect a variety of different creatures known as Pokemon. These creatures are then used to battle other Pokemon trainers and collect gym badges against expert trainers.
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The way the game tracks the Pokemon that a player has encountered or caught is with the Pokedex, a device that logs every single Pokemon species the player has caught. The Pokedex entries about each Pokemon have a description of them, but some give some pretty strange insight into the lore of the Pokemon world.
Updated April 12, 2023, by Blaise Santi: As of December 2023, the final DLC expansion for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, The Indigo Disk, has been released. However, there's still plenty of new Pokemon content on the way, as Game Freak has confirmed the existence of Pokemon Legends Z-A in their latest Pokemon Presents demonstration. Since this game will likely introduce new Pokemon as Pokemon Legends Arceus did, that means there will be a new selection of creatures with potentially strange Pokedex entries. Before that happens, it'd be worth looking back at even more unusual Pokedex entries from the series' past games, even dating back to Pokemon from the very first generation.
28 Gengar
The Presence Of Gengar Is A Death Sentence
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Pokemon Sun
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Should you feel yourself attacked by a sudden chill, it is evidence of an approaching Gengar. There is no escaping it. Give up.
Gengar is without a doubt one of the most recognizable and iconic Pokemon in the entire franchise, having debuted in Pokemon Red & Blue. As a part-Ghost-type Pokemon, Gengar has had some pretty strange Pokedex entries throughout its appearances in the mainline series, with even its earliest entries alluding to the Pokemon's tendencies to sneak up on trainers.
However, it's Gengar's entry from Pokemon Sun in the seventh generation that's the weirdest. It repeats the recurring motif of Gengar sneaking up on people, but it seems to imply something much sinister happening. It doesn't help that Gengar's other Pokedex entries from the seventh gen continue to spread info regarding Gengar being a creep even to children.
27 Drampa
This Pokemon Takes Bullying Maybe Too Seriously
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Pokemon Ultra Sun
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If a child it has made friends with is bullied, Drampa will find the bully's house and burn it to the ground.
By the looks of it, Drampa is similar in design to classic storybook dragons, though it's a lot less family friendly according to its Pokedex entries. Its first entries in Pokemon Sun & Moon established that the Pokemon can be quite brutal when angered, but its entry from Ultra Sun suggests a much more violent tendency in protection of its friends.
Despite being a Normal/Dragon-type Pokemon, it's very clearly stated that Drampa will burn down the houses of bullies, which is a pretty dramatic solution for a kids' game. Thankfully, Drampa can only learn Fire-type attacks through TM, so that can at least deter its pyromaniac ways. Hopefully, no fans of the series take cues from this Pokemon in their personal lives.
26 Iron Jugulis
Not Quite A Pokemon, Not Quite A Robot
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Pokemon Scarlet
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It resembles a certain Pokemon introduced in a paranormal magazine, described as the offspring of a Hydreigon that fell in love with a robot.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet introduced Paradox Pokemon into the franchise, re-imagining familiar creatures from former generations in the past and future. One such example of this is Iron Jugulis, a Pokemon that greatly resembles gen 5's Hydreigon, albeit with a more robotic design and Dark/Flying typing, though its origin seems less scientific than one might assume.
According to its Pokemon Scarlet entry, this Pokemon is not quite a robot but actually the offspring of a Hydreigon and a totally separate robot. While robotic Pokemon exist and can mate with others in the Mineral egg group, but Hydreigon is not a part of that group. It implies a lot of strange biology behind Pokemon breeding, though players might not want to think about that.
25 Mimikyu
Trainers Should Be Grateful For Its Disguise
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Pokemon Shield
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There was a scientist who peeked under Mimikyu's old rag in the name of research. The scientist died of a mysterious disease.
This Ghost/Fairy-type from the seventh generation has become one of the most popular Pokemon in recent years, thanks to it appearing like series mascot Pikachu. In reality, Mimikyu is the hard-to-see ghost hiding underneath the Pikachu disguise, though its true form has never been seen. According to Pokedex entries, it likely never will be.
Many of its Pokedex entries have alluded to Mimiku's tendency to kill those who see its true form out of pure shock. While its Scarlet & Violet entries are a little more appropriate for kids, its entry as recently as Pokemon Shield alluded to a mysterious disease it causes witnesses, while its Ultra Moon entry specifies how painful the death caused by seeing Mimikyu is.
24 Kadabra
The Secret Behind All Pokemon, Or Just One Species?
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Pokemon FireRed
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It happened one morning - a boy with extrasensory powers awoke in bed transformed into Kadabra.
Kadabra is the middle stage between generation one Pokemon Abra and Alakazam, as one of the earliest Psychic-types in the franchise. For the first few generations, Kadabra's Pokedex entries talk about its psychic powers, including causing machines to malfunction and creating headaches in those around them. However, its Pokemon FireRed entry is absurd.
According to the official lore, Kadabra is not a Pokemon but a boy who woke up one morning resembling the Pokemon. This begs a lot of questions in the franchise's universe, like if this is true of all Kadabra or just one. If it's the case with all Kadabra, the question remains: how many Pokemon in the Pokedex are really humans who transformed overnight?
23 Bellibolt
Take A Closer Look At Bellibolt's Belly
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Pokemon Violet
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What appear to be eyeballs are actually organs for discharging the electricity generated by Bellibolt's belly-button dynamo.
Bellibolt is an Electric-type Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, though its appearances can be deceptive. It evolves from Tadbulb after exposure to a Thunder Stone, though its pre-evolved form may help players understand their Bellibolt's design a little better, as its Pokemon Violet Pokedex entry rightfully confused a lot of fans.
According to the entry, what appear to be Bellibolt's eyes on each side of its head, reminiscent of a real-life frog, are actually electric sacs that help Bellibolt generate energy. Its actual eyeballs are right above its mouth and belly button, which is where the electric energy is dispersed.
22 Rabsca
Less Of A Bug, More Of A Mother
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Pokemon Scarlet
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The body that supports the ball barely moves. Therefore, it is thought that the true body of this Pokemon is actually inside the ball.
Upon first glance, the ninth-generation Pokemon Rabca seems like any typical Bug-type Pokemon. It evolves from the much simpler Rellor, based on a dung beetle, but Rabsca is curiously Bug/Psychic-type, resembling a scarab beetle and carrying a massive purple ball holding an orb inside, though its Pokedex entries explain this phenomenon.
As its Pokemon Scarlet Pokedex entry implies, Rabsca's body is more likely the orb inside the ball rather than the bug-like creature underneath. Violet's Pokedex entry expounds on this, referring to the inside orb as an infant whom Rabsca takes care of by rolling it around so it can peacefully sleep, which is quite disturbing when you think about it.
21 Tinkaton
Its Choice Of Adversary Is Misguided
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Pokemon Scarlet
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This intelligent Pokemon has a very daring disposition. It knocks rocks into the sky with its hammer, aiming for flying Corviknight.
For a Pokemon as cute and cuddly as Tinkaton looks, the Fairy/Steel-type introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is actually quite violent. It carries around a massive hammer, which its Pokemon Violet entry says is 220 pounds, making this Pokemon quite strong. However, the only Pokemon that should be worried is Tinkaton's apparent rival.
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According to Tinkaton's Pokedex entry in Scarlet, it aims its massive hammer at Corviknight, a Flying/Steel-type Pokemon introduced in Sword & Shield. What's quite confusing is that, as a Steel-type Pokemon, Tinkaton is at a disadvantage using its Fairy-type attacks against the Pokemon, making them a strange duo for the Pokemon writers to pair against each other.
20 Maschiff
Can It Intimidate This Opponents?
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Pokemon Scarlet
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It always scowls in an attempt to make opponents take it seriously, but even crying children will burst into laughter when they see Maschiff’s face.
Players who spend time with Pokemon Scarlet & Violet may become more acquainted with Maschiff's evolution, Mabosstiff, through the game's story mode. While Mabosstiff's relationship with Arven is quite heart-wrenching, the Pokedex entry for Maschiff gives it a run for its money.
As described in its Pokedex entry from Pokemon Scarlet, Maschiff is pretty terrible at intimidating its enemies, with even upset children being cheered up by Maschiff's pathetic attempts at scowling. It's quite an ironic description for a Pokemon like Maschiff, who has the ability Intimidate as one of its standard abilities.
19 Bewear
Bewear's Love Is Quite Powerful
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Pokemon Moon
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This Pokemon has the habit of hugging its companions. Many Trainers have left this world after their spines were squashed by its hug.
Although the name is a bit of a giveaway, players would be forgiven for not thinking that Bewear is an overtly dangerous Pokemon that should be feared rather than befriended. The rather adorable Stufful evolves into this hulking beast, standing on two legs and gaining some immense strength. But just how strong is Bewear?
According to the Pokedex entry for Pokemon Moon, it's actually capable of easily breaking a spine. Poor Bewear has no idea that it's actively harming the people and creatures it shows affection to, but it's pretty frightening to imagine how much force the Pokemon is capable of outputting if it can easily break a human in half.