It won’t have escaped your attention that 2026 marks 30 years of Pokémon. Nintendo, Game Freak, and The Pokémon Company have been celebrating Pokémon’s 30th Birthday since February this year, but while the focus has been around the original gen one games set in Kanto, they haven’t entirely forgotten about the other generations and regions that fans have come to love.
Heck, just look at the big Pokémon Day stream from February. The star of the show was Pokémon Winds & Waves, confirming that Pokémon is far more interested in its future than its past. Of course, we’re not getting gen 10 until late 2027 at the earliest, so the rest of 2026 is really all about checking back in on the games that made us fall in love with the series.
Kanto Region · Trainer Exam The Ultimate Pokémon Trivia Challenge “I want to be the very best, like no one ever was.”
FireCharizard!
WaterBlastoise!
GrassVenusaur!
ElectricPikachu!
LegendaryMewtwo!
01
Every Pokémon Trainer knows the Pokédex by heart. Which Pokémon holds the honor of being #001 in the National Pokédex?
✓ Correct! Bulbasaur is #001 — the very first Pokémon in the National Pokédex. Despite Pikachu’s fame as the franchise mascot, the Grass/Poison-type Seed Pokémon has always held the top spot since the original Red & Blue.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Bulbasaur. While Pikachu is the franchise mascot (#025), it’s Bulbasaur — the Grass/Poison-type Seed Pokémon and one of the original Kanto starters — that has been #001 since the very beginning.
02
The original Pokémon Red & Blue games launched in 1996 in Japan and introduced the first generation of Pokémon. How many Pokémon existed in Generation I?
✓ Correct! Generation I featured exactly 151 Pokémon, from Bulbasaur (#001) to Mew (#151). Mew was famously a secret Pokémon that wasn’t officially acknowledged at launch, making the well-known count of 150 just one short.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is 151. The original 151 Pokémon run from Bulbasaur to Mew. The number 152 is a common trap — Chikorita (#152) is actually the first Pokémon of Generation II, introduced in Gold & Silver.
03
Some Pokémon require special items to evolve. If you want to evolve Pikachu into Raichu, which evolution item do you need to use?
✓ Correct! The Thunder Stone evolves Pikachu into Raichu. In the anime, Ash’s Pikachu famously refuses to evolve, choosing to beat Lt. Surge’s Raichu on his own terms — one of the most iconic moments in the series.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is the Thunder Stone. The Moon Stone evolves Pokémon like Clefairy and Jigglypuff, while the Sun Stone and Shiny Stone are for other species. For Electric-type Pikachu, only the Thunder Stone will do.
04
Deep within the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island, journal entries describe a terrifying experiment. Scientists used Mew’s DNA to create an immensely powerful Pokémon. Which Pokémon was the result?
✓ Correct! Mewtwo was cloned from Mew’s DNA by scientists on Cinnabar Island. Known as the “Genetic Pokémon,” Mewtwo’s creation is one of the darkest storylines in the franchise, explored further in Pokémon: The First Movie.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Mewtwo. While Deoxys is a space virus Pokémon and Genesect was modified by Team Plasma, it’s Mewtwo (#150) — the Genetic Pokémon — that was artificially created from Mew’s DNA in the original games.
05
Understanding type matchups is essential for any Pokémon battle. Water, Fire, and Grass form the core type triangle. Which of these types is super effective against Water?
✓ Correct! Electric-type moves are super effective against Water. Grass is also super effective, but among these options, Electric is the one. This is why Pikachu’s Thunderbolt is devastating against Water-types like Starmie and Gyarados.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Electric. Fire is actually weak to Water (not the other way around), Ice deals neutral damage, and Rock doesn’t have an advantage either. Electric and Grass are the two types super effective against Water.
06
In Pokémon Red & Blue, a renowned Pokémon researcher in Pallet Town gives you your first Pokémon and Pokédex, launching your journey. Who is this professor?
✓ Correct! Professor Samuel Oak is the Kanto region’s leading Pokémon researcher and the grandfather of your rival, Blue. His famous question — “Are you a boy or a girl?” — has become an iconic part of gaming history.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Professor Oak. Each Pokémon region has its own professor (all named after trees): Elm is in Johto, Birch in Hoenn, and Rowan in Sinnoh. But the original — Professor Oak of Pallet Town — started it all.
07
Magikarp is widely considered one of the weakest Pokémon in existence. It’s famous for knowing a move that does absolutely nothing in battle. What is this notoriously useless move?
✓ Correct! Splash does absolutely nothing — “But nothing happened!” Despite being a Normal-type move (not Water!), it has zero effect in battle. The payoff? Train that useless Magikarp to level 20 and it evolves into the fearsome Gyarados.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Splash. Tackle actually deals damage, Flail is a desperation move that gets stronger at low HP, and Struggle is used when a Pokémon runs out of PP. Only Splash does literally nothing — Magikarp’s signature futile flop.
08
After battling through the Elite Four in Pokémon Red & Blue, you discover someone has beaten them just before you. Who awaits you as the reigning Champion?
✓ Correct! Your rival Blue (known as Gary in the anime) is the surprise Champion at the end of the Pokémon League. He beat the Elite Four just moments before you arrived — making the final battle personal. Lance is the last of the Elite Four, not the Champion.
✗ Not very effective! The answer is Blue, your rival. While Lance is a powerful Dragon-type trainer, he’s the final member of the Elite Four — not the Champion. It’s your arrogant rival Blue who sits on the throne, having beaten everyone just before you.
Exam Complete Your Trainer Record
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Are you a Pokémon Master — or still stuck on Route 1?
For many, Pokémon Crystal and Emerald remain the high-points of the series. Crystal was, of course, the definitive and expanded version of the generation two games set in Johto, while Emerald did the same for generation three. Both games hold a very special place in the hearts of players everywhere, and now we can revisit them thanks to a special 30th anniversary release.
Starting today (June 18) Pokémon Center Japan has revealed a brand-new lineup of merch dedicated to the last 30 years of Pokémon games. Gamers can pick up shorts, collectible pins, or magnets, all with the original box art of every game from Pokémon Red & Blue all the way up to Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Each shirt is priced at ¥3,960 JPY (roughly $24.65 USD). At the time of writing, it looks as if this line is only available in Japan, however.
The Pokemon Center and Essential Japan
Pokémon Crystal and Pokémon Emerald are, of course, prominent in this line as a result of their immense popularity. Pokémon’s second generation was a massive step up from what came before, offering two regions to explore and some of the most memorable battles in the series. Crystal only improved on a solid foundation with brand-new content and some extra bells and whistles, including Pokémon sprites that moved for the first time ever.
Pokémon Emerald, meanwhile, improved greatly on Ruby & Sapphire by tweaking gym leaders, improving the story, and adding a good deal more post-game content. While we wait for these definitive Pokémon games to land on Nintendo Switch 2 (surely a matter of time) this new line of merch is as good a way as any to celebrate greatness.
