All the details that make each Pokemon region unique

William Davis Published 29/10/2022

The first Pokemon game came out in 1995 and it took players on a journey through the Kanto region. Since then, the universe has expanded to nine Pokemon regions, over 900 Pokemon, and over 100 games.

The main games follow a similar storyline with a trainer working to become a Pokemon Master. They must travel across the region, battling Gym Leaders and completing the Pokedex in the process. The story is straightforward but each region has added its own touch to set itself apart from the others.

 All regions share some details in common. They are all based on real places in our world like Japan, Spain, New York City, and Great Britain. Each region has its own professor to guide the trainer through their journey and a group of foes that are looking to cause trouble. It is time to talk about what makes each Pokemon region unique.

Kanto

• Inspired by: Kanto, Japan
• Professor: Professor Oak
• Starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Eevee
• Legendary: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo
• Regional Villain: Team Rocket
• Games: Red and Green, Blue, Red and Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver, Crystal, FireRed and LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!

It is the first region in the Pokemon universe and the only one to share its name with the place it is inspired on. Kanto has the record for the region that appears in the most games with fourteen, covering five generations.

Johto

• Inspired by: Kinki and Tokai, Japan
• Professor: Professor Elm
• Starters: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile
• Legendary: Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, Ho-Oh
• Regional Villain: Team Rocket
• Games: Gold and Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver

Johto and Kanto are the only regions joined by land. Johto doesn’t have a Pokemon League, and it is also the first region without a Water or Fire type Gym Leader. As the second region, Johto introduced 100 new Pokemon to the 151 originals.

Hoenn

• Inspired by: Kyushu, Japan
• Professor: Professor Birch
• Starters: Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip
• Legendary: Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latios, Latias, Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza.
• Regional Villain: Team Aqua, Team Magma
• Games: Ruby and Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Hoenn is the region with the most routes with a total of 34. It also has eight legendary Pokemon that are originally from this region. Hoenn is the only region where Eevee and its evolutions are not available.

Sinnoh

• Inspired by: Hokkaido, Japan
• Professor: Professor Rowan
• Starters: Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup
• Legendary: Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Heatran, Regigigas, Giratina, and Cresselia.
• Regional Villain: Team Galactic
• Games: Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus

Sinnoh, formerly known as Hisui, is the home of Arceus. It is believed that Arceus, the first Pokemon, hatched from an egg in Sinnoh. Arceus then created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Mew came into being, containing the DNA of all present and future Pokemon to exist. Sinnoh is the region with the richest mythology.

Unova

• Inspired by: New York City, United States
• Professor: Professor Juniper
• Starters: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
• Legendary: Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus, Thundurus, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus, and Kyurem.
• Regional Villain: Team Plasma

Unova marks the end of Pokemon regions based in Japan. It is a combination of rural and urban, which reflects the diversity in the region. Unova has 14 gyms and 21 settlements, making it one of the largest regions. This region also features two victory roads and multiple Gym Leaders with the same type of Pokemon.

Kalos

• Inspired by: France
• Professor: Professor Sycamore
• Starters: Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie
• Legendary: Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde.
• Regional Villain: Team Flare
• Games: Pokemon X and Y

Kalos is shaped like a five-point star. This region has the largest population in the entire Pokemon universe with 1,288 inhabitants. Kalos is also home to the Pokeball factory. Kalos is only featured in Pokemon X and Y.

Alola

• Inspired by: Hawaii
• Professor: Professor Kukui
• Starters: Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio
• Legendary: Type: Null, Silvally, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, Cosmog, Cosmoem, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma and Nihilego.
• Regional Villain: Team Skull, Aether Foundation, Team Rainbow Rocket
• Games: Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Alola is home to tropical variants of some of the original Pokemon. This region consists of five islands and it is the only one to not have any Gyms. Instead of going through the Gyms, trainers must complete a series of trials against Totem Pokemon. It is also the only region where bicycles are not available.

Galar

• Inspired by: Great Britain
• Professor: Professor Magnolia Sonia
• Starters: Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble
• Legendary: Zacian and Zamazenta
• Regional Villain: Team Yell, Macro Cosmos
• Games: Pokemon Sword and Shield

Galar like Kalos, is featured in only two games. And like Unova, it is home to 14 Gym Leaders. In an update post-release, Galar had a landmass added, making this single landmass one of the biggest regions. Like Alola, Galar added Galarian variants to Kanto’s Legendary Pokemon. It is the first region without a male professor and the first to introduce a genderless, non-rock type fossil.

Paldea

• Inspired by: Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, Andorra)
• Professor: Professor Sada, Professor Turo
• Starters: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly
• Legendary: Koraidon and Miraidon.
• Regional Villain: Team Star
• Games: Scarlet and Violet

It is home to the Naranja and Uva Academy. Players will get to explore Paldea’s towns in any order since there is not a linear storyline and it is an open world. Pokemon go through the Terastal Phenomenon, an event that gives Pokemon additional power and a Tera type.

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