Introduction

What are Pokémon you ask? Pokémon are creatures of all shapes and sizes who live in the wild or alongside humans. For the most part, Pokémon do not speak except to utter their names. Pokémon are raised and commanded by their owners (called “Trainers”).

*Taxonomy: the branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms; systematics. AKA, classifying creatures and organisms such as plants and animals.

 *Species: a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants.

 *Genetic: relating to or determined by the origin.

 *Cellular: of, relating to, or made of the cells of living things.

*Terrestrial: relating to or occurring on Earth.

*Evolve: to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state. To develop by a process of evolution.

In order to obtain a Pokémon Handler's License (or for those of you younger than the age of 10, a Jr. Pokémon Handler's License) you must complete a week long Pokémon Trainer's course, and pass the Pokémon Proficiency Exam (your instructor will announce the date of the exam).

Pokémon come in all different shapes, sizes, and types. We will go over Pokémon Types at a later date. Take this Pokémon on the left for example. This Pokémon is Gengar. Gengar is a Ghost Type Pokémon. In Generation 1 Gengar is one of only three different kinds of Ghost Pokémon. Gengar is the final evolution of that chain.

As seen in the picture to the right Gengar will change over time. As you battle with Pokémon they gain experience. With each passing battle your Pokémon will gain points through experience, or Experience Points.

Experience Points: Pokémon gain points through battles. Pokémon will gain higher points the stronger the Pokémon they battle is, and will only gain Experience Points when and if they defeat the enemy Pokémon. The more Experience Points a Pokémon obtains the higher level it starts to grow.

Most Pokémon evolve (or change) by gaining experience and growing levels.


Pokémon Levels: A Pokémon will "level up" after gaining experience from battling. The higher the level the stronger your Pokémon becomes. Also, Pokémon begin to learn stronger and better moves as they level up. For example, Pikachu will know the moves ThunderShock & Growl when first obtained. These moves are known as it's Basic Moves. One of Pikachu's most powerful and signature moves, ThunderBolt cannot be learned by Pikachu until Level 26 (in the Pokémon Yellow Version only). For those of you using Pokémon Red or Blue Pikachu will only learn ThunderBolt by using TM24.

TM: A Technical Machine, or TM for short, is an item that, like an HM, is used to teach a Pokémon a move. A TM is a machine used by Pokémon Trainers to teach a Pokémon a new move that it might not learn otherwise.

*For example, Pikachu will not learn ThunderBolt on it's own in Pokémon Red or Pokémon Blue Version. Therefore the trainer will have to use TM24, which contains ThunderBolt to teach Pikachu that move.

HM: A Hidden Machine, HM for short, is an item that, like a TM, is used to teach a Pokémon a move.

BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

The difference between a TM and an HM is most pronounced in the earlier games in the series, where TMs were single-use items while HMs could be used an unlimited amount of times after they were obtained, and unlike TMs could not be tossed or sold for money. Additionally, the moves contained within an HM can not be forgotten by Pokémon under normal circumstances. An HM move can be used in the field by a Pokémon even if the Pokémon has fainted during battle or has run out of PP (using it in the field does not consume PP).

PP: Power Points, or PP for short, are the energy that a Pokémon requires in order to perform a move. AKA that's how many times you can use that move.

*For example, Charizard can learn FireBlast ONLY by using TM38 to teach it the move. FireBlast has a PP of 5, which means Charizard can only use FireBlast up to 5 times in a single battle. PP can be restored by certain items, or by healing your Pokémon at a Pokémon Center. PP can also be raised by using the item PP Up (which is very rare, use it wisely).

Further More On HMs:
HMs are moves such as Cut, Fly, or Surf, which are moves you will NEED in the field during your Pokémon Journey. You will see along your journey that you will need to get across seas in order to get to certain places. A Pokémon that knows Surf will come in handy at this point (see picture to the left of Trainer Red riding a Lapras using Surf in order to get across water).

PLEASE NOTE: Not all Pokémon will be able to learn TMs or HMs. Only certain kinds of Pokémon can learn certain types of moves. You wouldn't be able to Surf on a Charizard because it is weakness is water. However, in Pokémon Yellow Version Charizard is able to learn Fly, and will be able to fly you from town to town (only towns you have already visited, and sorry Red & Blue Versions, your Charizard is unable to learn fly in those games).

Pokémon that evolve will be able to learn new moves that it wasn't able to learn before. Charizard can learn Fly in Pokémon Yellow Version, however, the form before it, Charmeleon, and even Charmander cannot learn Fly, for the simple fact they neither Pokémon has wings. This does not mean that every Pokémon that has wings can learn Fly.

So, to end this first lesson, Pokémon can and will grow bigger and stronger if you treat them with love and care. Be aware of what your Pokémon's needs are, what moves they can learn, what they can and will evolve into (if they evolve), and be aware of a well balanced moveset (which we will get into at a later lesson).

Let's go over what we learned today, and remember, study hard, the Pokémon Proficiency Exam is coming up soon!

Summary:

-Pokémon are creatures used for battling or kept as pets.

-Pokémon are kept inside of Pokéballs.

-Only people with a Pokémon Handler's License may purchase Pokéballs.

-Pokémon evolve!

-Experience Points help a Pokémon level up.
-As Pokémon level up they evolve and learn new moves.
-TMs & HMs are used to teach Pokémon moves that they may not be able to learn on their own.
-HMs are moves that are used in the field, such as Fly or Surf.
-Not all TMs & HMs will work with every Pokémon.
-PP, or Power Points are how many times a Pokémon can use a certain move within a single battle or until they are healed at a Pokémon Center.
-Pokémon Centers are where you heal your Pokémon!

Pokémon Vocab Words
Taxonomy
Species
Genetic
Cellular
Terrestial
Evolve