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Regional Forms

Regional forms are alternate versions of existing Pokémon that adapted to a specific region. They were introduced in Generation 7 with the Alolan forms, and later games added Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean forms, each usually with a new look and often a new type.

Last updated

Introduced in
Gen 7 (Alola)
Groups
Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, Paldean
What changes
Type, appearance, evolutions
Pokédex number
Same as the original

What are regional forms?

A regional form is a version of an existing Pokémon that developed differently in a particular part of the world. The idea arrived in Generation 7's Alola region, where familiar Pokémon showed up looking and behaving unlike their originals. Later games continued the idea with their own regions.

A regional form keeps the same Pokédex number as the original Pokémon but changes how it looks, and very often its type. Some regional forms even evolve into entirely different Pokémon than their standard counterparts, which makes them more than a simple recolor.

The four groups of regional forms

Regional forms are grouped by the region they come from. There are four groups, each with a well-known example that shows how much a form can differ from its original.

  • Alolan forms come from the Alola region. Alolan Vulpix is a clear example: the original is a Fire-type, while its Alolan form is an Ice-type suited to snowy mountains.
  • Galarian forms come from the Galar region. Galarian Ponyta swaps the original's Fire typing for a Psychic-type look inspired by folklore.
  • Hisuian forms come from the Hisui region, an early version of a later land. Hisuian Zoroark is a Normal and Ghost-type, unlike the standard Dark-type.
  • Paldean forms come from the Paldea region. Paldean Wooper is a Poison and Ground-type, a change from the original's Water and Ground typing.

How regional forms differ

The most visible change is appearance: a regional form redesigns the Pokémon to fit its home region, from color and shape to the materials it seems made of. Alongside the new look, many forms take on a different type or type combination, as the examples above show.

Some regional forms also change how a Pokémon evolves, branching into a different final form than the original line. Taken together, the new appearance, typing, and evolution paths are what set a regional form apart while it still shares its base Pokémon's identity.

Regional form vs new species

A regional form is a variant of a Pokémon that already exists, so it keeps the same Pokédex number as its original. A brand-new species, by contrast, gets its own number in the National Pokédex. That shared number is the simplest way to tell the two apart: if a Pokémon looks new but sits on an existing number, it is a regional form rather than a separate species.

Frequently asked questions

What are regional forms in Pokémon?

Regional forms are alternate versions of existing Pokémon that adapted to a specific region, usually with a different appearance and often a different type. They were introduced in Generation 7 with the Alolan forms, and later games added Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean forms.

What are the four groups of regional forms?

As of August 2026, there are four groups: Alolan forms from the Alola region, Galarian forms from the Galar region, Hisuian forms from the Hisui region, and Paldean forms from the Paldea region. Each group is named after the region its variants come from.

Is a regional form a different Pokémon?

Not exactly. A regional form is the same species as its original, sharing the same Pokédex number, but with a distinct look and often a different type or evolution. It is treated as a variant of that Pokémon rather than a brand-new species with its own number.

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