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Generation VI - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Grace Evans
Generation VI
Title screen of Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Debut EN October 12, 2013
JA October 12, 2013
Pokémon 721 (72 new)
Main games X and Y
Region(s) introduced Kalos
Other RPGs Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Contains remakes of Generation III
Storage games Bank
Side games Battle Trozei, Art Academy, Shuffle, Rumble World, Super Mystery Dungeon, Picross, Pokkén Tournament, Detective Pikachu – Birth of a New Duo, GO, Duel
End EN November 18, 2016 (1133 days)
JA November 18, 2016 (1133 days)

The sixth generation[1] (Japanese: 第６世代 sixth generation,[2] rendered as 第六世代 among fans) of Pokémon, commonly referred to by fans as Generation VI (Japanese: 世代ＶＩ Generation VI), is the sixth installment of the Pokémon video game series, starting with Pokémon X and Y in 2013 and concluding with Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in 2014. This generation saw the debut of 72 new Pokémon species (for a total of 721), as well as the introduction of the Kalos region and the return of the Hoenn region. The games of the sixth generation are in full 3D and are presented on the Nintendo 3DS, a first for the core series.

Table of Contents

History

The sixth generation of Pokémon was announced with the reveal of Pokémon X and Y on January 8, 2013. These games were released internationally in October of the same year; the tie-in anime series began airing one week later. Pokémon X and Y continued the established tradition of two paired games with slight variations between the two versions. Between them, these games introduced 72 new Pokémon species, 57 new moves, and 26 new Abilities. New gameplay advances were added, including a new battle mechanic called Mega Evolution. Among other changes, the games' type chart was modified for the first time since Generation II, some twelve years earlier: Ghost- and Dark-type moves now have normal effectiveness against Steel-types and a new Fairy type has been introduced.

The second pairing of games in Generation VI was announced on May 7, 2014. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which are remakes of the third-generation Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, were released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS in November 2014.

The Generation VI games are not isolated from previous iterations and can communicate with the fifth-generation games Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 through an online application known as Pokémon Bank. This feature, which is available for download from the Nintendo eShop, acts primarily as online storage for Pokémon species. It was first launched in Japan on December 25, 2013, although unexpectedly high demand forced it to close and relaunch the following January. International markets received the Pokémon Bank in February 2014. An extension of the Pokémon Bank called the Poké Transporter allows players to send Pokémon from their fifth-generation games to their X and Y cartridges via the cloud. Combining the Poké Transporter with the earlier Pal Park (from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver) and Poké Transfer (from Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2) allows players to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen to their sixth-generation games.

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In-game continuity

X and Y occur two years after Black and White, thus being contemporaneous with Black 2 and White 2. Looker, who has made appearances in the Generation IV and Generation V games, is found in Kalos.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire take place at least some years before Black and White and X and Y, as the Royal Unova is stated to be currently under construction and scheduled to be complete in an unspecified number of years and Mr. Bonding is born. Further, if they are contemporaneous with the events of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire it follows that they are also contemporaneous with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

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However, the overall continuity between the sixth generation games and those that precede them is not especially clear. In-game dialogue in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire suggests that the sixth generation games might take place in an alternate universe parallel to the universe in which the earlier games are contained. During the Delta Episode at Mossdeep Space Center, Zinnia hints that there might be another version of Hoenn that has not discovered Mega Evolution:

"My people know it. From generation to generation, we pass along the lore about the distortions in the world borne by the Mega Evolution mechanism. And about the existence of another world, which we have long observed to be just like this one and yet not the same... That's right. A Hoenn region that's almost exactly like this one we live in. Filled with Pokémon and people like us. A world where maybe the evolution of Pokémon took a slightly different path, where Mega Evolution is unknown... A world where that war 3,000 years ago...never happened. A world where the ultimate weapon was never even built. And in that Hoenn of that world... What would happen if one day, out of the blue, a meteoroid appeared? What would happen to the people of that world, without the technology to destroy the meteoroid or the power to warp it away? ... Looks like it's beyond the power of your imagination."

Zinnia's comments describe the world of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The possibility of alternate universes gives some ambiguity to any perceived inter-generational continuity between the first five generations and the sixth; it is worth noting that the existence of alternate dimensions in the Pokémon universe has been explored in previous games, notably the Distortion World of Pokémon Platinum, as well as in the anime and spin-off games. Generation VII later confirms the existence of alternate universes with the introduction of Ultra Wormholes, wormholes which allow for interdimensional travel, and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's Episode RR.

Advances in gameplay

The advancements introduced in Generation VI include:

  • The addition of 72 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 721. Only one evolution from a Pokémon featured in a previous generation is found: Sylveon, a new Eevee evolution.
  • The introduction of the Fairy type (the first such introduction since Generation II) to balance out the Dragon, Poison, and Steel types. A new Fairy-type form for Arceus is added.
  • The addition of 58 new moves, bringing the total to 617.
  • The addition of 24 new Abilities, bringing the total to 188.
  • The games now feature a completely three dimensional environment, as well as a new 3D battle system with 3D models for Pokémon as opposed to 2D sprites.
  • A new battle mechanic, Mega Evolution, which can only happen during a battle and will wear off once the battle ends. This is only available for certain Pokémon.
  • Another region to explore, the Kalos region, far away from the previous five and based on France.
  • A new villainous team, Team Flare, whose goal is to make money and create a beautiful world for themselves and eliminate all who don't meet their standards.
  • The ability for the player to walk in an eight directional grid as opposed to the four directional grid that has been common in all the preceding games.
  • Three new battle modes:
  • The introduction of ambush encounters, occurrences where wild Pokémon chase the player or jumping at them from a hiding place to initiate a Pokémon battle, somewhat similar to the phenomena mechanic.
  • The addition of Super Training, a way to increase a Pokémon's EVs.
  • The addition of customization for the player, with the ability to choose a variety of outfits to wear at any time.
  • The new Pokémon Bank, an online Nintendo 3DS application that will allow the storage of up to 3,000 Pokémon through the payment of an annual fee.
  • TMs have been expanded from 95 to 100.
  • Players can now select which language they want to start the game in. This language cannot be changed.

Alterations from Generation V

Attacking type Defending type Old effectiveness New effectiveness
 Ghost   Steel  Not very effective Normal effectiveness
 Dark   Steel  Not very effective Normal effectiveness

  • The small menu sprites used for all Pokémon have been redesigned.

Further additions in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

  • New Mega Evolutions and the addition of Primal Reversion, a related mechanic.
  • Trainer horde battles are introduced.
  • The addition of Mirage spots.
  • The implementation of Soaring, a new mode of transportation.
  • Four new moves are introduced: Precipice Blades, Origin Pulse, Dragon Ascent, and Hyperspace Fury, belonging to Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Hoopa Unbound, respectively, bringing the total to 621.
  • Three new Abilities are introduced: Desolate Land, Primordial Sea, and Delta Stream for Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Rayquaza respectively, bringing the total to 191.
  • The reintroduction of Pokémon Contests, under the name of Pokémon Contest Spectacular.
  • The reintroduction of Secret Bases, now referred as Super-Secret Bases.

Region

Kalos

Main article: Kalos

The Kalos region was introduced in Pokémon X and Y. This region is geographically isolated and has no close ties with any other region introduced prior to Generation VI.

First partner Pokémon

The first partner Pokémon of the sixth Generation follow the traditional Grass/Fire/Water trio setup. At the beginning of the game, the player must choose between the Grass-type Chespin, the Fire-type Fennekin and the Water-type Froakie.

Gym Leaders

Like the previous five regions, Kalos has its own set of eight Gym Leaders who give out unique Badges and TMs after being defeated. Defeating all eight Gym Leaders grants access to the Pokémon League.

Hoenn

Main article: Hoenn

Hoenn was featured in Generation VI in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a pair of remakes of the Generation III games Ruby and Sapphire.

First partner Pokémon

As in other remakes, the first partner Pokémon of Hoenn remain the same as they did in Generation III. Professor Birch gives Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip to the player as thanks for using it to save him from a wild Poochyena.

Gym Leaders

Hoenn's Gym Leaders are the same as they were in Ruby and Sapphire, but with some giving out different TMs than they gave out in Generation III.

Kalos thematic motif

The sixth generation focuses on the concept of beauty and different aspects related to it, such as balance and harmony. Fashion and different forms of art are featured considerably in the newly introduced region, whose name comes from the Greek word for beauty.[3] Xerneas and Yveltal, the game mascots for Pokémon X and Y, reflect the concepts of harmony and balance, being the "Life" and "Destruction" Pokémon, respectively. Team Flare's actions and motives also reflect the beauty theme, as they strive to create "a beautiful world" by any means necessary. X and Y are named for the respective axes and are used to represent different mentalities as well as the ways in which people can find common ground.[3]

Reception

Generation VI advanced competitive play by introducing Mega Evolution, making already powerful Pokémon such as Rayquaza and Mewtwo stronger, and giving unviable Pokémon such as Charizard and Mawile a use in the metagame. The addition of the Fairy-type nerfed several previously prominent Pokémon like Hydreigon and Scrafty, and allowed others such as Clefable and Azumarill to rise in prominence.

Generation VI was largely well-received for hearkening back to Generation I, and making older Pokémon popular again. However, as time went on, Generation VI became more controversial in certain parts of the fandom, with the lower difficulty and the lack of a third version to the X and Y games being prominent criticisms.

Title screens

English title screens

Japanese title screens

Trivia

  • This generation introduced the fewest new:
  • This is the only generation:
    • To not introduce a dual-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, instead introducing a pseudo-legendary Pokémon of a single type.
    • In which transferring Pokémon from previous generations is possible, but not required in order to complete the National Pokédex (excluding Mythical Pokémon).
    • To not introduce a pure Electric-type Pokémon.
    • To introduce a dual-type Fire/Water Pokémon, marking the last type to be paired with Water.
    • To not introduce a Ghost-type specialist.
    • To not introduce a new Dragon-type move.
      • This is also the first instance of any generation not introducing a move for a type after that type's introduction.
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  • This is the first generation:
    • To introduce new moves between games. Of the 62 moves introduced, four of them were introduced in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and are not present in Pokémon X and Y. As a result, Pokémon in the former that know these moves cannot be traded to the latter.
    • Not to introduce a Mythical Pokémon whose base stats are all 100.
    • To introduce Pokémon with Normal as its secondary type.
    • To introduce dual-type Pokémon with Flying as its primary type.
    • Where each pair of games released on the same date worldwide.
    • That Red, Blue, the Kanto Gym Leaders, and Lance do not appear in.
      • Cynthia also does not appear, making this the first generation since her debut that she does not appear in.
    • Where the player could not rename the rival in all core series games.
    • Since Generation IV to introduce more than one cat-like evolutionary line; however, unlike Glameow and Purugly, Litleo and Pyroar, and Espurr and Meowstic, Shinx, Luxio, and Luxray were only part of a three-stage line. All other generations with the exception of Generation II introduced only one:
    • To introduce Fighting/Flying Pokémon, marking the last type to be paired with Flying.
  • This generation relieved restrictions on formatting that were present in previous generations:
    • The nickname character limit increased from 5 to 6 in Japanese and Korean, and from 10 to 12 in Western languages.
    • The player name character limit increased from 5 to 6 in Japanese and Korean, and from 7 to 12 in Western languages.
    • The names of all moves, items and Abilities introduced before Generation VI are no longer limited to 12 characters, including any spaces. Some of these names were re-formatted; for example, Selfdestruct was renamed Self-Destruct. The character limit has been increased to 16.
  • This generation leaves the most extra room in the Pokémon Storage System if one fills it with exactly one of each species of Pokémon, with there being 930 spaces and 721 Pokémon.
  • This generation contains the core series games with the shortest English titles: X and Y have one letter each.
  • This is the last generation so far:
    • To introduce a new type.
    • To change types of existing moves. In this case, Charm, Moonlight, and Sweet Kiss became Fairy-type moves.
    • To have all core series games directly compatible with each other in multiplayer.

References