Summary
Since the series continues to hint at life beyond the stars, even including the recentPokemon ScarletandVioletsuggesting that some Paradox Pokemon are potentially alien,Pokemon’s tenth generation should finally explore the series' final frontier of space. Even as far back as Gen 1,Pokemonhas toyed with the idea that certain species of Pokemon might have extraterrestrial origins, something which many players are likely already familiar with due to Clefairy’s well-known relationship with the Moon or Deoxys' origins as an alien virus. But despite interdimensional exploration withGen 7’s Ultra Beasts or Gen 9’s Paradox Pokemon,Pokemonhas yet to explore actual space.
But with the increasing presence of alien Pokemon and their involvement with each game’s stories, it might finally be time to give players an answer to whether there’s life beyond Earth after dodging the question for nine generations. Even the potential Gen 5 remakes could benefit fromPokemonrevealing more about extraterrestrial life, given that even Kyurem and its counterparts Reshiram and Zekrom are hinted to have outer space origins. Regardless of how muchGen 10 breaks withPokemontradition, it’s time to give players a better look at extraterrestrial Pokemon after generations of speculation.
Space, The Final Frontier of Pokemon
Pokemon’s Pokedex Entries Have Always Hinted At Alien Life
Though there are various moments throughout thePokemongames that give new insight into the world beyond what players see, the Pokedex remains the biggest treasure trove for extra lore beyond anything else. In particular, it’s thanks to Pokedex entries for the likes of Lunatone or Elgyem that the potential existence of alien life continues to be teased, even includingPokemonScarletandViolet’s entries for the future Paradox forms of Donphan and Volcarona. The table below offers just a selection of past and present Pokedex entries for multiple Pokemon, all of which reference extraterrestrial life either on Earth, on the Moon, in meteors, and more.
Pokedex Entries
Cleffa
Moon: Because of its silhouette, it’s believed to be a star reborn. For some reason, it loves Minior.Ultra Moon: Said to have ridden here on a shooting star, Cleffa seem to appear in places where meteorites have struck in the past.Violet: Since it is often seen when shooting stars fill the night skies, it’s said to come here by riding on a star.
Clefairy
Violet: On nights with a full moon, they gather together and dance. The surrounding area is enveloped in an abnormal magnetic field.
Clefable
Ultra Moon: Some scientists believe that it gazes intently at the sky on nights with a full moon because it’s homesick.Legends: Arceus: Legend says that on clear, quiet nights, it listens for the voices of its kin living on the moon. I, too, often think of my homeland, so far away.
Staryu
Alpha Sapphire: Staryu apparently communicates with the stars in the night sky by flashing the red core at the center of its body. If parts of its body are torn, this Pokemon simply regenerates the missing pieces and limbs.Ultra Sun: In many places, there are folktales ofstardust falling into the ocean and becoming Staryu.
Starmie
Moon: Its unusual body shape, reminiscent of abstract art, led local people to spread rumors that this Pokemon may be an invader from outer space.Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl: At the center of its body is a red core that sends mysterious radio signals into the night sky.
Lunatone
Omega Ruby: Lunatone was discovered at a location where a meteoroid fell. As a result, some people theorize that this Pokemon came from space. However, no one has been able to prove this theory so far.Shield: It was discovered at the site of a meteor strike 40 years ago. Its stare can lull its foes to sleep.
Solrock
Omega Ruby: Solrock is a new species of Pokemon that is said to have fallen from space. It floats in air and moves silently. In battle, this Pokemon releases intensely bright light.
Deoxys
ScarletandViolet: An alien virus that fell to earth ona meteorite underwent a DNA mutation to become this Pokemon.
Gothorita
Violet: Using its psychic power, it arranges pebbles to form the shapes of constellations. Some people believe this Pokemon came from outer space.
Elgyem
Ultra Sun: It controls tremendous psychic power. Most reports of alien sightings are actually just people mistaking Elgyem for an alien.Ultra Moon: This Pokemon is shrouded in mystery. It’s said to have appeared from a UFO that fell from the sky about 50 years ago.Sword: If this Pokemon stands near a TV, strange scenery will appear on the screen. That scenery is said to be from its home.
Sword: Whenever a Beheeyem visits a farm, aDubwoolmysteriously disappears.
Minior
Moon: Strong impacts can knock it out of its shell. This Pokemon was born from mutated nanoparticles.Scarlet: (Meteor Form) This Pokemon is born in the ozone layer. It falls to the ground once the outer shell enclosing its core grows heavy.Scarlet: (Core Form) Minior that fall to the ground attempt to return to space, but their wish will not come true - all they can do is fade away.
Eternatus
Shield: It was inside a meteorite that fell 20,000 years ago. There seems to be a connection between this Pokemon and the Dynamax phenomenon.
Iron Treads
Scarlet: This Pokemon closely resembles a scientific weapon that a paranormal magazine claimed was sent to this planet by aliens.
Iron Moth
Scarlet: This Pokemon resembles an unknown object described in a paranormal magazine as a UFO sent to observe humanity.
Gen 10 Could Expand on Gen 5’s Pokemon Black and White
While it might be rewarding for players keen to learn ’s connection with alien life, the continued relationship that Legendary and Mythical Pokemon have had with space suggests that a future game will need to do more than just touch upon the subject. Though Deoxys is arguably the most well-known “alien” Pokemon, Eternatus' Pokedex entry and its heavy involvement withSwordandShield’s Dynamaxing featureadds another layer to Pokemon from outer space given its origins from a meteor.
Moreover, withGen 5 next in line for remakes, it too shares this unusually close association with Legendary Pokemon with extraterrestrial origins.
Despite not being referenced in its Pokedex entries, Kyurem is one of the odder Legendary Pokemon not least because of its fusions with Reshiram and Zekrom inBlack 2andWhite 2. But according toPokemon’s rumors regarding Unovaand Lacunosa Town, Kyurem allegedly arrived via meteor with its in-game location, the Giant Chasm, being its original impact site.
While it’s never explicitly confirmed if all threeLegendary Pokemonare extraterrestrial in origin, this would align them with other Legendaries like the Cosmog line, Eternatus, or even Koraidon and Miraidon, whose unique relationships with space, time, and alternate dimensions are key factors in their respective games. But given thatPokemonremakes tend to remain largely faithful to the original games with only minor changes to update older features, it’s unlikely that the Gen 5 remakes would specifically address Kyurem’s meteor origins.
However, the history of Lacunosa Town and Kyurem’s arrival could be worth exploring further in afuturePokemon Legendsset in Unova, and this could help lay the groundwork for a following mainline game to delve deeper into extraterrestrial Pokemon. Having already traveled between dimensions inUltra SunandUltra Moon, and through time withLegends: ArceusorScarletandViolet,Pokemonshould once and for all let players explore space in Gen 10.
