Summary
There are so many different kinds ofPokemonthese days that it can be hard to keep track of exactly how many there are in total. It felt like it wasn’t too hard to be familiar with them all a couple of decades ago, but knowing the name and abilities of each one these days feels like a Herculean task.
Each generation of Pokemon typically introduces roughly 70 to 160 new creatures to fall in love with as you embark on a new adventure. If your goal is to catch ‘em all and complete the National Pokedex, it certainly helps to know how many Pokemon were introduced in each generation.
For this article, we are strictly sticking to the Pokemon registered in the National Pokedex. For this reason, you won’t find variations of Pokemon like Mega Evolutions or regional variants included in the tally.
How Many Pokemon Were Introduced In Each Generation?
After the conclusion of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC,there are officially 1,025Pokemon registered in the National Pokedex. Each of these creatures has been introduced throughout the nine generations of Pokemon games, starting all the way back with Pokemon Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow.
Generation 1 (Kanto)
If you asked somebody how many Pokemon there are right now, it shouldn’t be too surprising if they still think there are only 151. The first generation of Pokemon easily includes some of the most recognizable and iconic creatures in the series, and anyone who played the original Pokemon Blue, Red, or Yellow should have some nostalgia for the Pidgeys and Krabbys of the world.
It might sound like a lot to begin with, but thefirst generation introduced the original 151 Pokemon.
Generation 2 (Johto)
To make things nice and easy, the second generationintroduced exactly 100 new Pokemonfor trainers to catch and befriend. While many of them are brand new, some of these creatures - like Crobat and Politoed - are new evolutions for the original generation of Pokemon.
There are also a handful of new pre-evolutions, such as Pichu, Cleffa, Elekid, and more, which eventually turn into Pokemon from the Kanto region.
Generation 3 (Hoenn)
The third generation of games - Ruby, Sapphire, andEmerald- introduced more Pokemon than the generation before, but not quite as many as the original batch. Across the land and oceans of Hoenn,there are 135 new Pokemonto discover.
While most games will include a balanced combination of Pokemon from each generation, the majority of the wild creatures in Ruby or Sapphire are brand new, minus a few exceptions like Magikarp, Geodude, and, of course, Pikachu.
Generation 4 (Sinnoh)
After creating so many pocket monsters for Ruby and Saphhire, the developers hit the brakes a bit but still managedto create 107 new Pokemonfor the fourth generation of games. While there are fewer than the generation before it, it’s fair to say that a majority of Generation 4 Pokemon are almost as iconic as the original 151.
New evolutions for older creatures such as Magnezone, Rhyperior, and Lickilicky feel like natural steps forward for old favorites, and new faces like Lucario, Shinx, and Buizel have become staples of the series.
Generation 5 (Unova)
The fifth generation introduces the most Pokemon ever, barely beating out Kanto bybringing in 156 new creaturesfor you to find. There is a purpose behind this large number - you can essentially only catch fifth-generation Pokemon inPokemon Black and White.
There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, you’ll rely on these new faces to carry you through the game and toward your dream of becoming a champion. It’s also a rare generation that does not begin with the traditional grass-starter Pokemon.
Generation 6 (Kalos)
After creating the most Pokemon in the series history, it’s understandable why the developers introduced fewer creatures in the sixth generation.With only 72 new faces, Pokemon X and Y have the lowest number of new Pokemon in any generation.
There could have been more Pokemon in the sixth generation if there were more games, but X and Y never received a sequel or DLC, unlike all the generations before and after it. Though there aren’t a lot of Pokemon, many fan favorites - like Sylveon and Pyroar - were introduced during this time.
Generation 7 (Alola)
There has been quite a bit of momentum since the sixth generation, as each one that has followed has introduced more Pokemon than its predecessor. Starting with the seventh generation of games, whichintroduced 88 new Pokemonto the National Pokedex.
The setting of the seventh generation is very tropical, so many of the Pokemon here are inspired by island-based cultures. Encountering creatures like Comfey and Sandygast is just another day at the beach inPokemon Sun and Moon. There are also a handful of Ultra Beasts, unique creatures from beyond space and time.
Generation 8 (Galar and Hisui)
The eighth generation of Pokemon might have been the longest, includingPokemon Sword and Shieldand their DLCs,Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and the excellentPokemon Legends: Arceus.96 new Pokemonwere introduced in these games, including story-based creatures like Kubfu and Calyrex.
To break it down a bit, 89 Pokemon were introduced through Sword and Shield, while the other seven are new Pokemon discovered in Legends: Arceus. The latter are technically variations of older creatures like Sneasel and Ursaring, but these new forms are considered as a new species in the National Pokedex.
Generation 9 (Paldea)
Unlike the previous cycle of games, the ninth generation has only focused on two games -Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. Both games and their DLCs haveintroduced 120 new Pokemonto the world, the most since the fifth generation.
While most of these Pokemon are brand-new, Scarlet and Violet also introduced Paradox Pokemon - prehistoric or futuristic versions of familiar creatures. The combination of new and old faces makes everything possible in Paldea, and it is interesting, to say the least, to see Pokemon from different timelines.
With the end of the most recent generation in sight, the developers have managed to get the total number of Pokemon to a solid 1,025. Whether they decide to introduce more or less Pokemon in the next generation is hard to predict, but we will have our Poke Ball ready to catch whatever they throw at us.
