The world of Pokemon is a fascinating one. Not only are their countless regions, a surprising amount of copycat ‘gangs’ of bad guys trying to take over the world, and nearly a thousand of the cute, tough, creepy and cuddly creatures to catch, it’s also teeming with secrets and mystery. That’s why the community has frequently come up with their own conspiracy theories to answer some of the Pokemon world’s biggest unanswered questions. Sometimes, it’s to do with the all-powerful legendary and mythical Pokemon, other times, it’s just a random thing that doesn’t make sense. Whatever it may be, we’ve compiled 15 of the most interesting Pokemon conspiracy theories in this post, so you can get your sleuth on.
Mews are ‘Un-differentiated’ Pokemon
Ok so this is a pretty nifty theory on everyone’s favourite cute pink cat/mouse hybrid… thing. The theory suggests that Arceus is the God Pokemon and, after he created time and space, with Dialga and Palkia to govern it, he wanted to populate said planet.
So what does he do? Sends a plague of Mews… sure as hell makes a plague of Locusts look a bit shit! The theory argues that over time, the Mews started to differentiate depending on the environment they found themselves in. Tada! You have Pokemon with different elements and different characteristics to help them adapt to their particular surroundings.
Ah! You say, but Mew has the DNA for all Pokemon. Correct! But the theory argues that once it differentiates to suit its environment, it loses everything it doesn’t need and so you end up with Pokemon remaining the same, not flicking and switching between different Pokémon.
Unless you’re talking about Ditto of course, but the whole ‘Mew = Ditto’ theory is discussed in the comments for the theory. Along with several of the other entries on this list, you can find the content here, though please note that the relevant subreddit is currently set at private for the foreseeable future.
The Construction Site in Vermilion City
Did you ever wonder what that guy was actually building at the construction site in Vermilion City? Well it turns out that someone over on Reddit has quite an interesting theory.
Maybe it was supposed to be a hotel! After all, Vermilion is one of the main ‘hub’ cities of the Kanto region; you can get to Lavender Town, Fuchsia City, Saffron City and Cerulean City from one of the many different routes linking it to the rest of the region.
The theory even points out that all of these towns have attractions for all those Poké tourists! Fancy having a wander around a haunted tower? Head to Lavender Town’s Pokémon Tower. What about seeing some less common, wild Pokémon? Then Fuchsia City is where you should head.
Not to mention Vermilion City is home to the one and only Pokémon Fan Club, for all those super fans! Diglett’s Cave provides a natural tourist attraction, and of course the Pokémon gym is a must for all those trainers out there.
The theory makes a pretty valid argument too, as the port would bring many different people in and out of Vermilion on a daily basis. Long day of travelling on a boat from a different region? To the hotel you go! After all there aren’t any other hotels in the Kanto region, are there?
Check out the Construction Site conspiracy theory here, for a few more of the arguments. Oh and the comments even hilariously suggest why the ‘struggling Machop’ still hasn’t started construction!
Mt. Pyre Is Made out of Dead Pokémon Bodies
So Mt. Pyre, a creepy-ass place where people go to bury their dead Pokémon and spend hours on end staring at the tombstone.
This theory takes the creepness level Mt. Pyre is currently at and throws it out the fucking window. The theory argues that in Pokémon X/Y, we’re told of a Pokémon war that occurred and caused many deaths. We’re told of the ultimate weapon using the powers of Xerneas/ Yveltal to bring the Flabébé back to life, and these powers required the life energy from all surrounding Pokémon. Boom – shit ton of dead Pokémon are lying around.
Now, vast fields of Pokémon corpses is likely going to be a negative, so people towered them up and cremated the bodies, creating a tower of ash. Now mix this with rain and dust, and (now I’m no geologist here so I’m going off the words of the theorist) you get sedimentary rocks. I suppose it’s kind of fitting to have a tower of dead Pokémon with a cemetery inside to memorialize as many Pokémon as possible.
The theory goes on to note that the place is so smashed up because grave robbers frequently attempt to steal from the temple. Whilst it’s definitely not a completely solid theory, it sure is one of the darker ones to stumble upon. If you want to read up on the potential flaws, check out the theory here.
Arceus Is Manmade
Ok so hear this one out… so Arceus is known as the god Pokémon, as we mentioned before. So why would what is essentially a god Pokémon allow you to catch it? Why would it let its own species be used as a tool of battle for the human species? The Pokédex doesn’t call it a god, only a creator, or a point of origin. So is Arceus really the god of the world?
Well, the theory provides us with alternative answer: that Arceus is actually artificial. The arc on its back looks mechanical, yet the rest of it looks, to an extent, organic. The theory believes that Arceus is a biosynthetic construct, from which the Pokémon world originated. This would, according to the theory, mean the entire Pokémon universe is mandmade.
So who made Arceus? Well the theory believes that Arceus was put together by a civilization nearing the end of their universe, created as the final hope of a surviving population. Arceus was designed specifically to survive past the end of said doomed universe in egg-form. Upon hatching, it was designed to recreate the laws of physics, matter, and energy. Boom! Palkia and Dialga formed to govern these, as previously mentioned.
The theory also gives reasons as to why Arceus allows himself to be captured. It was created so humans could ensure the new universe replicated the one they had known, and is therefore, ultimately, a servant to humans, who did all they could to ensure that Arceus would always answer to its original creators.
Pretty nifty eh? To read the full theory and the awesome comments that go with it and develop the theory, click here.
Pokémon Are Beings of Pure Energy
Ok, so I’m sure this may upset some Pokémon fans, but just hear out the theory. It argues that Pokémon are beings of pure Infinity Energy.
The theory first links in some way to the Pokémon war we discussed back in the Mt. Pyre theory, where the ultimate machine required the energy of Pokémon in order to power it. Now you could argue that this was a somewhat darker kind of energy, like a life force… or it could mean that the energy that IS a Pokémon was used by the Xerneas/ Yveltal and the ultimate machine.
It does give a lot of explanation to many of the things you always wondered about when playing the games. After all, how can you catch an animal in a Poké Ball without it being incredibly inhumane? The theory argues that in a far-future with advanced technology, the Infinity Energy can be rewritten into computer code, and so Poké Balls do this, storing your Pokémon as programming until you click and throw.
Makes sense of the ‘storing a living creature inside a computer’ thing too, doesn’t it? And TMs, pictured as discs in the games, are used to rewrite or modify a small bit of the Pokémon’s code.
The theory answers a lot of your unanswered questions, and the author has said he’ll keep updating in the comments when he thinks of more. This is definitely a must, so visit the theory here.
Carnivine Has a Lost Evolution Line
Carnivine has always been a rather interesting yet, unfortunately, forgettable Pokemon species. It is a Basic form species, lacking a pre-evolution or evolution line. However, one Redditor (whose account has since been deleted) made a very interesting post showcasing their conspiracy that Carnivore is actually a long-lost member of the Bellsprout evolution line, mimicking the Oddish line.
Oddish has a split evolution line, evolving into Gloom at level 21, and then Vileplume naturally at level 36, or Belossom with the use of a Sun Stone. Bellsprout, on the other hand, is also a Gen 1 Grass-type Pokemon inspired by various plants but lacks the split in the evolution line, instead evolving directly into Weepinbell at level 21 and then Victreebel at level 36. As you may be able to already tell from this information, these evolution lines are very similar and already somewhat mirror one another, so the idea of Carnivine being a long-lost Weepinbell evolution triggered by Sun Stone is actually quite believable.
Furthermore, Bellossom was introduced in Generation 2, and Carnivine was introduced in Generation 4, meaning that both of these possible Sun Stone evolutions would be Pokemon introduced in a later Generation to where the evolution line originates from. With Carnivine and Weepinbell both being species based on carnivorous plants that share very similar color palettes, I’m quite fond of this theory – especially as it would give the quirky and unique concept of Carnivine more presence and belonging as a Pokemon species.
Gengar is Clefable’s Shadow or Ghost
This one has been quite a common theory in the minds of many Pokemon fans ever since Generation 1 was first established. Yet, it remains one of the franchise’s most curious and intriguing conspiracies. Any Pokemon fan should be familiar with Clefable and Gengar, two final evolutions from the original 151 Pokemon designs. However, with the contrast between Fairy-Type and Ghost-Type, you may not have realized how similar these designs are at first glance. When lined up side by side, it becomes much more evident that Gengar and Clefable have the same body shape, arms, and very similar pointed ears.
Interestingly enough, both Clefable and Gengar are also unable to perform any STAB attacks on one another. This somewhat points at them being the same being, or at least different forms of the same being. It also leads to the possible conclusion that Gengar is Clefable’s shadow, or the ghost of a Clefable that had passed away, considering they originated back in Generation 1, where Pokemon death was a very real thing appearing in the storyline regarding Lavender Town’s Pokemon Tower.
Map Items in Pokemon Games are the Remains of Trainers Who Didn’t Make it Through
If you’re anything like me, you probably haven’t thought too much about those random items you pick up from Poké Ball-shaped objects along your journey in the Pokemon games. I always brushed them off as a necessary game mechanic, allowing players to pick up a few extra possessions during their adventure to use in battle or sell at a PokeMart. However, Kuiper on Reddit has an alternate view that will ruin that childhood nostalgia and cause chills to run down your spine.
There’s always plenty of emphasis on the danger of entering the wilderness without a partner Pokemon to defend you from the threat of wild Pokemon during the games. However, instead of simply being a pointer to guide you to the Professor’s Lab, this threat of danger could be much greater than anticipated.
Perhaps the items you discover along your adventure are not randomly placed or a conveniently lost possession that slipped out of some unfortunate individual’s pocket. Rather, Kuiper believes that these items are actually the remains of Pokemon Trainers who didn’t make it through the wild and were killed by wild Pokemon or the effects of the environment they were exploring.
Liko is Ash’s Daughter
One of the most recent Pokemon conspiracies to take the world by storm comes from the end of Ash’s era as the protagonist of the Pokemon anime. The most recent generation of the Pokemon anime, Pokemon Horizons, introduces two new protagonists, Liko and Roy. With the reveal of these two new characters, discussions and images began circling the internet immediately as fans began to discover a hidden detail in Liko’s design that may link her to our beloved Ash Ketchum.
As it turns out, Liko’s hairpin is almost the exact same symbol found on Ash’s hat during his original design throughout the Kanto and Johto eras of the anime. Paired with the similar hair color and eye shape, many have suspected that Ash is Liko’s father. For now, this theory may be debunked, as in the very first episode of the Japanese Pokemon Horizons series, Liko mentions that both of her parents attended the Indigo Academy as students.
Anyone familiar with Ash’s journey knows that he, in fact, never attended this institution, and neither did any of Ash’s various love interests, as far as what was shown and told during the show. However, as Ash somehow lived in temporary immortality and remained ten-years-old throughout his twenty-six years on screen, there’s always the possibility that he returned home to the Kanto Region and attended the Academy at a later date to further hone his knowledge as a Pokemon Master.
Perhaps this is also where he met Liko’s mother – who knows! At this point, I’m not ready to fully give up on this theory, as it seems far too intricate a detail to include in Liko’s design for just a simple easter egg or honor to Ash. If there’s no blood relation between the two, I believe Liko may even be a complete reincarnation of Ash, as this concept is no stranger to the Pokemon universe. Until the story of Pokemon Horizons is explored further, we’ll all just have to wait and see.
Ash is Not Pikachu’s First Trainer
Remember back in the early days of the Pokemon anime, not long after Ash received Pikachu from Professor Oak? First of all, Pikachu was not one of the three Kantonian Starter Pokemon, and Ash only received him because he overslept, meaning other new Trainers claimed all of the Starters before him. Luckily, Professor Oak revealed he had one more Pokemon, and Ash gladly took Pikachu in to start his adventure.
From here, there’s plenty of chaos and shenanigans (and electrocution) as Ash attempts to bond with the little mouse and establish a role as his Trainer. There’s no other way to put it; Pikachu is a complete nuisance. If Pikachu was owned by another Trainer before ending up in Oak’s care, then gifted to Ash by Oak, it can be presumed that Pikachu is at least slightly above the average level of a Starter Pokemon. As a result, Ash may have been lacking the required Badges or experience to earn Pikachu’s respect. Perhaps Pikachu was also feeling sour from the abandonment by his previous Trainer, too. I know I wouldn’t blame the little guy.
Furthermore, as pointed out by Redditor Oufour within their own post regarding the theory, they also reference Pikachu’s Poké Ball. Because Pikachu refuses to stay in a Poké Ball, it’s easy to forget he ever had one. However, Pikachu’s Poké Ball has an interesting little lightning marking on the front. This appears to be some kind of personal decal rather than a unique type of ball, which also leads to the probability that the Poké Ball was customized by Pikachu’s original Trainer. Maybe this is the reason he hates the idea of staying in his Poké Ball so much, and if so, fair enough. I’d feel the same way, buddy.
In Pokemon Sun/Moon, You Play as the Rival, Not the Protagonist
An Anonymous Redditor has come up with a fascinating theory regarding Hau, the Rival of the Pokemon Sun & Moon games. This theory revolves around the idea that Hau is actually not the Rival of the games, but instead, you, the player, are. The most prominent evidence to support this theory is that Hau always appears to be one step behind you as the player, always arriving at locations and events after you. This is an outlier compared to other Pokemon Rivals, who are always one step ahead, waiting for the player to arrive.
As stated in the summarized Reddit post, the thought behind this is due to the fact that Hau is not an obstacle to you; you are the obstacle for Hau to overcome, making you the Rival. Additionally, Rivals will traditionally select the Starter Pokemon with a Type advantage to your own selection, giving them the upper hand in the battle to create a slight challenge. However, Hau always selects the Starter with the Type disadvantage against your own choice. This means that just like any other rival, your Starter Pokemon is in a better early-game position than Hau’s.
Champion Lance’s Pokemon are Radioactive
A very intriguing discussion on Reddit follows a pretty plausible theory created by a user who has since deleted their account. This theory revolves around Champion Lance and the mystery of his Dragon Pokemon. It’s common knowledge that Lance has a trio of Dragonites on his team, and while this is nothing special on its own, there is something suspicious going on with the level of these Pokemon. Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55, but Lance’s Dragonites are all either level 47, 49, or 50, depending on which Johto Region game you play.
This creates the question of how Lance’s Pokemon managed to evolve before reaching the required level. When you first meet Lance at Lake of Rage and team up to take down Team Rocket, he references the radio broadcast disturbing the Magikarp at Lake of Rage, causing them to evolve early. Lance also mentions that the forced evolution causes these Pokemon to be angry and display signs of rage.
Because of this information, the OP of the post concluded that Lance had three Dragonairs before his initial visit to Lake of Rage, and the Radio Broadcast also affected them, forcing them into early evolution and causing him to realize what was happening to the Magikarp. To further support this theory, one of Lance’s Dragonites utilizes Outrage, a move that can’t be learned until level 61 (Gold/Silver/Crystal) or 64 (HeartGold/SoulSilver). This not only indicates that Lance’s Dragonites are full of rage but also that something has happened to alter their DNA.
The Random Man That Cheers You On at Pokemon Gyms is the Player’s Father
We all remember that one NPC who appears at every Pokemon Gym, cheering you on with an encouraging “Yo! champ in the making!” greeting each time. I must admit, while this character is nothing major to the series or overall story, I have always wondered what his whole deal was and why some stranger was hanging out in Gyms waiting for young Trainers to show up; I mean, talk about creepy. An anonymous Reddit user stated their thoughts in a relatively short and simple post that brings up the possibility of this mystery man being the player’s father.
There’s almost always a mystery regarding the protagonist’s father in Pokemon games. Beloved mom is always there to cheer you on and get you set up for your journey, but time and time again, any father figure is absent from the story. While this theory has a few variations regarding why he might not be in the picture, I don’t think there’s even a need for some big explanation or story here. It just makes sense that this man is the player’s father. He’s the only NPC apart from your mother and Professor to follow you and cheer you on, and he genuinely wants to see you grow and succeed on your journey.
Perhaps it’s as simple as the parents of the player character splitting up or going missing before the events of the game. There’s no need to include topics such as divorce or a potential criminal case in a game with a primarily child-friendly audience, so perhaps this is just a subtle way to hint at the father taking the first steps toward being involved in his child’s life again. After all, there’s never any confusion from the protagonist directed back towards the man, indicating that he may be recognizable, despite being a stranger to us as the player.
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are Resurrected Forms of the Original Eeveelutions
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are the Legendary Beasts of Johto. However, these rare Pokemon may have more ancient mysteries to them than we can assume at first glance. By examining the Pokedex entries of these Pokemon, it is stated that they are the forms of resurrected Pokemon, leaving the question of which Pokemon they may be resurrected from. Reddit user rjjrob30, along with many other Pokefans choose to believe that Raikou, Suicune, and Entei happen to be the resurrected forms of the original three eeveelutions, Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon.
The clearest indicator of this concept is the very similar color palettes for each of these beings, as well as the fact that the Legendary Beasts are known for being both quite dog-like and cat-like in appearance simultaneously, similar to how the Eeveelutions are foxes. Perhaps with the power of Ho-Oh, Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon were resurrected into higher beings of power, thus changing forms and becoming the Legendary Beasts of Entei, Raikou, and Suicune.
Missingno is the Original Ultra Beast
Ultra Beasts are some of the more wacky additions to the Pokemon universe, mostly because very few look like Pokemon. While these mysterious and intimidating Ultra Beasts were introduced in Generation 7’s Alola Region, Reddit user my_murdered_remains has a well-thought-out theory that Ultra Beasts may actually have been around for a lot longer than Generation 7.
The strange phenomenon known as Missingno is a result of a glitch in the Game Boy-era Pokemon games, causing a distorted mass of pixels to appear as a wild Pokemon with no registered dex number. This theory assumes that Missingno is the original Ultra Beast, appearing a whole six Generations prior to the arrival of the other peculiar beings.
This theory examines the idea that Giovanni wanted the Master Ball not to capture Mewtwo but to capture Missingno and then use the Ultra Beast’s ability to open Ultra Wormholes, establishing Team Rainbow Rocket, as seen in the Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon timelines. Unfortunately for Giovanni, the player beats him to obtain the Master Ball, causing him to fail and make a second attempt in USUM. This is definitely an interesting theory to consider, and I believe Missingo could very much pass as an Ultra Beast, at least visually.
So there we have it, 15 incredible Pokémon conspiracy theories which are sure to get you thinking more and more about the Pokémon universe. What did you think? Have you had any Pokémon Conspiracies of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
