The History of the Pokémon World · Chapter XII
Most of this history is legend even inside the games: told by elders, carved on ruins, sung by minstrels or written in old books. Every line below is quoted from a game or retold closely, and each one says where it comes from. Legends are captioned as legends, a character's guess as speculation, and where the games disagree with each other, the page says so.
The games rarely give dates, so the chapters run roughly from the oldest stories to the most recent, each placed by its main story. A chapter without a stated date says so. Quotes from older games are shown in modern capitalisation.
XIIPaldeaRecord
Area Zero
From about 2,000 years ago · From the Paldean Empire to the time machine at the bottom of Area Zero.
An empire that sought the treasure of Area Zero, a nation unified 800 years ago, Heath's expedition 200 years ago, and a time machine that draws Pokémon from the past or the future.
Paldea's history class begins with an empire.
“About two thousand years ago, this region came under the rule of the Paldean Empire.”
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
Its emperor “zealously believed the legend of the treasure that rests deep within Area Zero”. The Great Era of Exploration “lasted for approximately one thousand years, but not a single soul was able to venture all the way to the deepest reaches of Area Zero”.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
“Two hundred years later—or eight hundred years ago—the empire and its surrounding nations united into one entity. This was the formation of Paldea as we know it today.”
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
Two hundred years ago, Heath's expedition claimed to have reached the depths of Area Zero.
“The masses began to call Heath a liar.”
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
“Around 140 years ago, Pokémon cloaked in a mysterious light were discovered there.”
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
“Our time machine research has yielded a triumph—a Pokémon from the ancient past! I've named it Koraidon.”
Pokémon Scarlet · The professor's journal
“Even as we speak, the time machine continues to automatically draw ancient Pokémon to this time.”
Pokémon Scarlet · The AI professor, Zero Lab
Sources
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Ms. Raifort's history class
- Pokémon Scarlet · The professor's journal
- Pokémon Scarlet · The AI professor, Zero Lab
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet · Pokédex: Terapagos
- Pokémon Violet · Pokédex: Great Tusk
Terapagos
Koraidon
Miraidon
Great Tusk
Roaring Moon
Iron Treads
Iron ValiantThe rest of the history
- I · Sinnoh · In the beginningThe Original OneSinnoh's creation myth: a churning chaos, an Egg, and the Original One that made time, space and spirit, then slept.
- II · Sinnoh and Hoenn · Long agoThe Giant Who Moved ContinentsPokédex legends say Regigigas towed the continents with ropes and shaped Regirock, Regice and Registeel. In Hoenn, an ancient people sealed them away because they feared them.
- III · Hoenn · Thousands of years agoThe Primal ClashPrimal Groudon and Primal Kyogre clash until Rayquaza descends. A thousand years later a meteor makes Sootopolis, and Rayquaza Mega Evolves for the first time.
- IV · Kalos · 3,000 years agoThe Ultimate WeaponA war three thousand years ago. A king builds a machine to bring his Floette back, turns it into the ultimate weapon to end the war, and Floette leaves him.
- V · Galar · Long agoThe Darkest DayA meteorite falls on Galar 20,000 years ago. Long ago, the Darkest Day: a black storm ended by two young heroes whose sword and shield were really Pokémon. And Calyrex, a king of plentiful harvests.
- VI · Unova · UndatedTruth and IdealsOne dragon and the twin heroes found Unova. The brothers quarrel over truth and ideals, the dragon splits in two, and their sons' battle destroys Unova.
- VII · Kitakami · A long, long time agoThe Ogre's True StoryKitakami honours three heroes who fought an ogre. The mask maker's family kept the true story: the three stole the ogre's masks, and the ogre was Ogerpon.
- VIII · Johto · 1,500 to 150 years agoThe Burned TowerThe Ruins of Alph, about 1,500 years old. Two towers built 700 years ago. About 150 years ago lightning sets one ablaze for three days, and Ho-Oh revives three Pokémon that died in it.
- IX · Hisui · A long-gone eraAlmighty SinnohSinnoh when it was called Hisui. Two clans worship “almighty Sinnoh”, each meaning a different deity, until a space-time rift opens; afterwards the land is renamed Sinnoh.
- X · Alola · Long agoThe Blinding OneUltra Megalopolis's ancestors tried to control Necrozma's light, and it stole all the light it could find. Long ago it also battled the tapu in Alola.
- XI · Kanto · No year givenThe Mansion JournalsJournals in Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Mansion: a new Pokémon found deep in a jungle in Guyana, named Mew, and the newborn named Mewtwo.
A separate continuity
Anime & Movies
The anime and the films are a separate continuity. These stories are not part of the games' history above, and some contradict it. They are summaries of the films, not game text.
- Pokémon: The First MovieMewtwo is a clone, made by scientists from a fossilized eyelash of Mew.
- Lucario and the Mystery of MewSir Aaron seals Lucario inside his staff and gives his life to stop a war.
- Arceus and the Jewel of LifeArceus lends the Jewel of Life to Damos, and is betrayed.
- Hoopa and the Clash of AgesHoopa Unbound once ran rampant, and was sealed away in the Prison Bottle.