Starters and Rare Pokemon

[Akira]

Naturally, you're probably wondering what Pokemon you can start with. Well, this is the page to read for that info. However, rather than make a long-ass list of what Pokemon can be picked, I figured it'd be easier to list the Pokemon that cannot be picked. But before that, there are a few quick guidelines for when it comes to selecting your starters.

1. Most new students can start with two Pokemon. They can be any base form Pokemon not on the rare or uncommon list. Wardens, teachers and other academy staff will be an obvious exception to this; the exact details for each can be found on the "Important Positions" page, located here.

2. A student's two starters are referred to as their "Primary Starter" and their "Secondary Starter". There's no real difference between the two, with one exception; a student's Primary starter must be a Pokemon of one of the three Types represented by the dorm they're entering. For example, a student going into the Water Dorm must choose a common Water, Ice or Poison-type Pokemon as their Primary Starter. The Secondary Starter can be any type that the student wishes. See here for more info on the dorms and which Types each Dorm represents.

2. The following Pokemon are exceptions to the "base form" rule due to having previously been base form Pokemon and retaining stats comparable to most others of the same evolution level:

• Pikachu
• Clefairy
• Jigglypuff
• Marill
• Roselia

These Pokemon, if chosen at this stage rather than their baby form, will not have access to any moves exclusive to their baby forms (Nasty Plot for Pichu, for instance), and they will be treated as a two-stage Pokemon in regards to the amount of exp needed to evolve them. This also applies to encountering them in the wild, unless they're encountered in Solidago Feild; in that instance, it's counted as an Evolved Spawn.

3. Regardless of whether the character is a student or a staff member, all Pokemon start with four moves; one may be an Egg Move, while the others must be moves learned via Level-up. For students, there is one additional limit in that none of the moves that their Pokemon start with can have a BP higher than 65. If making a character with an important position, then not only is there no such limit, but they may also, in addition to the above, give their Pokemon an additional two moves, which can be anything; Egg, Level-up, or TM.

4. You're free to pick their Ability, but students cannot give any of their Pokemon their Hidden Ability. If making a character with an important position, you may give up to two of your Pokemon their Hidden Ability.

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And now, here's what you came for; the list of Pokemon that people are not allowed to start with; they come in two main flavors; Uncommon and Rare. There are also some special cases, but we'll get into those later. As for the Pokemon themselves, they are as followed;

Uncommon
Uncommon Pokemon can be found normally in the wild, but are a bit too strong to be freely given out as starters. You will notice that this list seems rather large. That is because the majority of (but not all) single stage Pokemon, as well as strong Pokemon that were originally single stage, are here. Simply put, we didn't want them to be handed out to beginners, but also felt they didn't warrant being classified as rare. Someone making a character with an important position is free to give themselves as many of these Pokemon as they wish, so long as they meet all other requirements dictated by the position itself.

• Tauros (all forms)
• Kangaskhan
• Onix
• Scyther
• Pinsir
• Lickitung
• Gligar
• Shuckle
• Corsola (both forms)
• Heracross
• Miltank
• Smeargle
• Skarmory
• Absol
• Wynaut
• Relicant
• Nosepass
• Tropius
• Feebas
• Sableye
• Mawile
• Zangoose
• Seviper
• Castform
• Kecleon
• Torkoal
• Carnivine
• Basculin (all forms)
• Bouffalant
• Cryogonal
• Druddigon
• Durant
• Galarian Darumaka
• Maractus
• Sawk
• Sigilyph
• Throh
• Zorua (both forms)
• Carbink
• Hawlucha
• Klefki
• Dewpider
• Mimikyu
• Stufful
• Passimian
• Turtonatur
• Drampa
• Minior
• Bruxish
• Dhelmise
• Cramorant
• Falinks
• Pincurchin
• Stonjourner
• Eiscue
• Indeedee
• Duraludon
• Dondozo
• Veluza
• Orthworm
• Cyclizar
• Bombirdier
• Flamigo
• Klawf
• Tatsugiri

Rare

Rare Pokemon are especially hard to find. They cannot be chosen as starters, and will be difficult to obtain even in the wild. Pokemon in spawn lists with an double-asterisk next to their name are rare, and will only have s small chance to appear during any given catching thread. They appear normally in Remote Areas, however.

• Lapras
• Ditto
• Rotom
• Spiritomb
• Larvesta
• Mareanie
• Wishiwashi
• Finizen
• Gimmeghoul

Special Cases
The following are those who don't quite fall into the above rules, and are thus treated a little differently.

1) The 27 Starter Pokemon from the core game series, as well as all of the Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon, can be chosen as starters by new students. However, in doing so, they forsake their ability to choose a Secondary Starter. Otherwise, these Pokemon are considered rare, and will only spawn in the wild as such. In addition, if you are making someone with an important position, choosing one of these Pokemon (or their evolved forms) will count towards their limit of Rare Pokemon.

• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
• Dratini
• Chikorita
• Cyndaquil
• Totodile
• Larvitar
• Treecko
• Torchic
• Mudkip
• Beldum
• Bagon
• Turtwig
• Chimchar
• Piplup
• Gible
• Snivy
• Tepig
• Oshawott
• Deino
• Chespin
• Fennekin
• Froakie
• Goomy
• Rowlet
• Litten
• Popplio
• Jangmo-o
• Grookey
• Scorbunny
• Sobble
• Dreepy
• Sprigatito
• Fuecoco
• Quaxley
• Frigibax

2) Fossils: Fossil Pokemon are officially classified as uncommon in the sense that they are not rare, but also cannot be chosen as starters. However, they are not found and battled in the wild at all, except during specific events. Instead, you need go digging in the Fossil Cave (you must specify that you're searching for fossils), and then take whichever fossil you end up with to the Pokemon Lab. Because they're officially listed as uncommon, someone making a character with an important characters may include as many of them as they wish, so long as they meet all other requirements dictated by the position.

• Omanyte
• Kabuto
• Aerodactyl
• Lileep
• Anorith
• Cranidos
• Shieldon
• Archen
• Tirtouga
• Amaura
• Tyrunt
• Dracozolt
• Arctozolt
• Dracovish
• Arctovish

3) Unobtainable Pokemon: Some Pokemon cannot be obtained at all. This can be due to being extremely rare, or not existing within the world as we know it.

• All Legendary and Mythical Pokemon are unobtainable. At a later date, it may become possible to meet and even temporarily ally with one or more Legendaries as part of an event or mission, but actively catching them will be impossible, and will probably stay that way.

• All Ultra Beasts are currently unobtainable, though they may become available at a later date through an event. That said, their availability will still be limited, given how powerful they can be.

• Likewise, all Paradox Pokemon are currently unobtainable, but may become limitedly available later on during an event.

4) Special Event forms. Some Pokemon gained special forms as part of an event. A few of of them had altered stats and/or unique features, but otherwise, most of the differences are purely cosmetic. Either way, none of them of them will officially be available in any way; not because they're too powerful (though EF Floette is kinda pushing it) but simply because I just don't see a point to making them obtainable. This includes;

• The Pikachu-colored Pichu from HGSS.

• The Spiky-eared Pichu (also from HGSS) will be a borderline case, in that we won't stop you if you absolutely have to use its sprite for a Pichu you catch, but it won't be getting any special treatment otherwise.

• Cosplay Pikachu's various forms from ORAS are another borderline case. While there's technically nothing stopping you from simply putting your Pikachu (or any other Pokemon, for that matter) into a random costume, they will not give any special bonuses, and the Pikachu will still be treated as a normal Pikachu. That said, you may still teach a normal Pikachu (but not Pichu or Raichu) the moves exclusive to each of its forms via the Special Move item, with or without the costumes.

• Eternal Flower Floette (aka AZ's Floette) from X/Y. Unlike the Cosplay Pikachu example, you may not teach Light of Ruin to a normal Floette. This is largely because EF Floette (and, by extension, Light of Ruin) was never officially released, but also because of the lore behind EF Floette itself.

• Ash Greninja from Sun/Moon. Likewise, the Ability exclusive to Ash Greninja, Battle Bond, will not be available in any way.

• Ash's Hat Pikachu from Sun/Moon. Similarly to the Cosplay Pikachu, there's not really anything stopping you from randomly putting a hat on your Pikachu, but it won't be treated any differently. Additionally, a normal hatless Pikachu will still be able to use the Pikashunium Z.

• For an instance involving moves rather than a specific Pokemon, one may not teach a Pikachu or Eevee any of the moves exclusive to your Partner Pikachu/Eevee (i.e. Splishy Splash or Floaty Fall for Pikachu; Sizzly Slide, Bouncy Bubble, etc for Eevee) from the Let's Go side games, even through the use of a Special Move item.

Anyway, that's it for now. It should be noted that if we get too many people starting with one or more particular species' of Pokemon, we may temporarily make them uncommon. But with how many there are, that hopefully won't be too much of an issue. Either way, if you have any questions that aren't clarified in here or on anywhere else, don't hesitate to get a hold of a staff member.