From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

This article contains fan speculation.

There is no solid evidence for or against some parts of this article.

Below is a timeline of events in the history of the Pokémon world, primarily those established in the canon of the Pokémon games since these apply most to other forms of canon. There is also a separate timeline of events for the anime series as well as one for Pokémon Adventures.

There are many stories and legends surrounding the history of the Pokémon world. It is not entirely clear if legends are true or not, but there are many hints in the games, anime and manga that suggest that they are.

Please note that the below timeline is based on speculation and possible information from different aspects of the Pokémon franchise.

Timeline

The clash between Groudon and Kyogre as depicted in ancient paintings

Beginning of the universe

This information is based primarily on the mythology of both the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions.

In a vortex of complete chaos and nothingness, a single Egg comes into being, which then hatches into Arceus, the first Pokémon in existence. Arceus then creates Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, giving them power over time, space, and antimatter respectively. Giratina, as punishment for its destructive nature, is sent by Arceus to live in the Distortion World. Dialga and Palkia then succeed in creating the universe and Pokémon world and retreat into their own dimensions afterwards, with a point of access being at the ancient Spear Pillar in Sinnoh.

Arceus then creates Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, giving knowledge, emotion, and willpower to all living things that come into existence in the Pokémon world. The three dive into caves at the bottom of Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity in Sinnoh, giving them the name "lake guardians".

Kyogre is formed by the pressure in the deep sea trenches, Groudon is formed deep inside the Earth, likely from hardened magma and earth, and Rayquaza is formed by the minerals of the ozone layer. Rayquaza proceeds to fly around in the ozone layer, occasionally coming to rest at Sky Pillar.

Kyogre and Groudon then proceed to fill the sea and create land, respectively. A chance meeting turns the two into rivals, and a conflict for dominance over the Pokémon world begins. This battle continues until Rayquaza quells it, causing Kyogre and Groudon to retreat to special caverns, where they rest until the events of Generation III many years later. The Red and Blue Orbs are created to prevent the reawakening of Kyogre and Groudon, and are left at Mt. Pyre for safekeeping. At this time, Mew may have been plentiful and lived in large numbers.

Landmasses such as Mt. Coronet are created, and Regigigas moves the continents, forming the regions, and creates the three titans, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, out of clay, ice, and magma, respectively.

The Sinnoh region is created around Mt. Coronet. During this violent procedure, Stark Mountain is created due to shifts in the crust of the world and Heatran is formed in a pool of lava. Arceus creates the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs before falling into a deep slumber.

Prehistory

This information is based primarily on the study of Fossils and other archaeological remains. Some of this information is also based on scientific research.

Millions of years before Generation I:

The earliest known prehistoric Pokémon existed at this time. It is possible that the Mew population may have decreased at this stage, as they slowly gave way to other Pokémon species. The first humans also appeared around this time.

Anorith is stated to have existed in primordial seas, with its eight legs at some point developing into its known eight wings.

300 million years ago: An ancient version of Genesect was born. Kabuto and Kabutops lived in the sea. Team Plasma later used Genesect's DNA to create an infinitely stronger version of it with cybernetic technology.



An unspecified hundreds of millions of years ago: Carbink begins its undisturbed underground sleep after its birth. It was born from deep underground temperatures and pressures.

100 million years ago: Species such as Aerodactyl, Lileep, Cranidos, Shieldon, Tirtouga, Archen, Tyrantrum and Amaura were supposedly widespread. They all ultimately went extinct, but not before Archen gave rise to bird Pokémon and Tirtouga gave rise to turtle Pokémon. A fossil is found millions of years later in Hoenn and revived scientifically by the Devon Corporation. Shellder is known to be the prey of Omastar. Carracosta and Archeops preyed on Omanyte. Only Carracosta is known to have eaten Omastar.



Relicanth is said to have remained unchanged in over 100 million years.

20,000 years ago: A meteorite containing Eternatus fell in the Galar region. The first Claydol was brought to life from a clay doll.



10,000 years ago: During the last Ice Age, the Mamoswine population flourished, then decreased when the Ice Age ended.

At some point in the distant past, the Magikarp population mutates due to unknown reasons and becomes weaker.

At some point after the Iron Age, Regigigas is sealed away in the Snowpoint Temple, and Regirock, Regice and Registeel are sealed away at various points across the Hoenn region after years of human worship.

3,000 years before Generation V:

The Relic items are created.

3,000 years before Generation VI:

AZ and the ultimate weapon

The Kalos war occurred, the ultimate weapon was created underneath Geosenge Town, and AZ was given eternal life. This sets a chain of events into motion that leads to the discovery of Mega Evolution.

3,000 years before Generation VIII:

A black storm called the Darkest Day occurred and was stopped by Zacian and Zamazenta.

2,500 years before Generation V:

The Relic Castle is built. The Dragonspiral Tower is known as Unova's oldest structure, though its age is unstated.



2,000 years before Generation V:

Conkeldurr is said to have taught humans how to make concrete using centrifugal force.

2,000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

Hoenn is plagued by meteor showers. A meteor turns the homeplace of the Draconid people into Meteor Falls.

The world overflowed with natural energy which Groudon and Kyogre, in their primal forms, fought over. They ravaged the earth and were only calmed by Rayquaza after the Draconid people summoned it using a wish on a meteor at Meteor Falls. The people of Hoenn begin to revere Rayquaza as a savior.

1,500 years before Generation I:

The earliest known system for writing is developed and used at the Ruins of Alph, Tanoby Ruins, and Solaceon Ruins. Archaeologists are currently unsure whether the nearly identical Unown preceded or succeeded the writing system, but it is assumed they share some sort of connection.

The Farfetch'd population decreases due to overhunting.

1,000 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

A thousand years after the events at Meteor Falls, a meteor struck Hoenn, creating Sootopolis City. Groudon and Kyogre reawakened to fight over the wellspring of primal energy which came from it. The people of Hoenn wished on Rayquaza to save them, and using the meteor, Rayquaza performed the world's first Mega Evolution and calmed the two. Sky Pillar was built in Rayquaza's honour, and the Draconid people promised to pass down the prophecy that in 1,000 years the meteor would return - causing the events of the Delta Episode.

800 years before X and Y:

Xerneas released life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to a forest, where it went to sleep in the form of a tree.

Yveltal absorbed life energy throughout the Kalos region and fled to the mountains, where it went to sleep in the form of a cocoon.

Recent history

This information is based on historic records.

Ecruteak City

Hundreds of years before Generation I:

The legends of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs's past.

Hundreds of years before Generation II:

The Sinjoh Ruins were built by two groups of people, from Sinnoh and Johto's Ruins of Alph. The site's architecture expresses a fusion of the two group's ideas and mythology.

c. 700 years before Generation I:

c. 500 years before Generation I:

The first Spiritomb is sealed in the Hallowed Tower for its unforgivable misdeeds.

The Cianwood City Pharmacy is built.

The guardian deities fought against Solgaleo and Lunala.

Magearna is created by a scientist who used the life energy of other Pokémon to create its Soul-Heart, and is presented to a king's daughter.

c. 400 years before Generation I:

Azalea Town in Johto is struck by a long-term drought. After bringing the rain back once again by yawning, Slowpoke gains an honorable position in that town.

The Pokémon move Toxic is invented by a ninja.

c. 300 years before X and Y:

Parfum Palace was built.

c. 200 years before Generation V:

Village Bridge is constructed by a man and his Gurdurr after the river flooded the area.

The island that would become Liberty Garden was bought by an ultra-rich family and Victini was hidden in a backroom.

c. 150 years before Generation I:

Brass Tower burns to the ground, killing three Pokémon inside. Lugia flees to the Whirl Islands while Ho-Oh resurrects the three as the Legendary beasts and flies off in search of a pure-hearted Trainer.

The first Pokémon League competitions take place.

c. 100 years before Generation V:

The warehouses of Nacrene City are constructed.

Klink begin to appear in Chargestone Cave.

Roggenrola is discovered in an earthquake fissure.

1925

Modern Poké Balls are developed from the research of Professor Westwood of Celadon University.

c. 50 years before Generation V:

Elgyem is seen for the first time when it appeared from far in the desert.

c. 50 years before Generation VIII:

Mustard defeats Opal and becomes Champion of Galar.

c. 40 years before Generation III:

Lunatone is seen for the first time in a crater.

c. 32 years before Generation VIII:

Mustard is dethroned as Champion of the Galar League after an 18-year long victory streak, and retires soon after.

Several decades before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

Sea Mauville is decommissioned after the closure of New Mauville.

1969:

12 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

Brendan is born.

May is born.

11 years before Generation I:

10 years before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire:

Wally is born.

Pokémon Centers in Hoenn are remodeled, removing the second floor and the Pokémon Cable Club.

20 years before Sun and Moon:

The first Pokémon created by scientific engineering, Porygon, is created.

Less than 10 years before Generation I:

The ferry S.S. Tidal is constructed.

A Rotom inhabits an abandoned mansion in Sinnoh.

Contemporary history

From the Pokémon games:

Some years prior to Generation I:

One year prior to Generation I:

Professor Rowan goes to Kanto to research the myths of the region.

Generation I/III/ORAS:

PE:

Between I/III/ORAS and II/IV:

Three years after Generation I/Generation III/ORAS (Generation II/Generation IV):

Approximately two years after Generation II/Generation IV:

Between Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Generation V:

Construction of the Royal Unova is completed.

Between Generation II/IV and Generation V:

At least three years after Generation II/Generation IV (Generation V):

N and Zekrom

The events of Black and White: Hilbert/Hilda along with their friends Cheren and Bianca receive their very first Pokémon in the bedroom of Hilbert/Hilda's house in Nuvema Town from Professor Juniper. The three decide to leave Nuvema Town and go on a journey across their region of Unova, with Cheren wanting to learn as much about every kind of Pokémon possible and Bianca going against the wishes of her dad. Upon arriving in Accumula Town they encounter the nefarious Team Plasma who announce their plans for Pokémon liberation to separate Pokémon from humans. Hilbert/Hilda then battle Team Plasma's leader, a mysterious man known only as N who claims Pokémon are his friends. Hilbert/Hilda make a journey across the land of Unova challenging all eight Gyms and earning all eight Badges. After earning the eighth Badge, they travel to the Pokémon League where they defeat the Elite Four. Upon defeating the Elite Four, they discover that N has already defeated the Champion Alder and promptly summons his castle, destroying the Pokémon League Castle. Ghetsis, one of the members of the Seven Sages reveals that he had the plan to separate people and Pokémon so that he could be the only person in the whole world with Pokémon. After defeating N and Ghetsis with Reshiram/Zekrom N becomes sorry for all his wrongdoing and flies off to distant lands on his dragon of legend. Hilbert/Hilda, Cheren, and Bianca continue their journey in Unova and get recruited by an undercover officer codenamed Looker to discover and arrest the remaining six of the Seven Sages. After the arrest of all six, Hilbert/Hilda returns to the Pokémon League, re-defeats the Elite Four, then challenges and defeats Alder, becoming Champion of Unova.



Between Black and White and Black 2 and White 2/X and Y:

Two years after Black and White (Generation VI):

Encountering Xerneas

Between Black 2 and White 2/X and Y and Generation VII:

Two years after Black 2 and White 2/X and Y (Generation VII):

Lillie and Nebby as a Solgaleo

Generation VIII:

Trivia

References



