Which Pokémon are Boys? A Comprehensive Guide to Pokémon Gender

Alright, Trainer! You want to know which Pokémon are exclusively male, which ones have a higher probability of being male, and how to spot the difference? Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of Pokémon gender. The short answer? Many Pokémon can be male! However, some are always male.

Here’s a breakdown of Pokémon and their male status:

• Always Male: This is the most straightforward category. These Pokémon species exclusively appear as male. Some well-known examples include:

  • Tauros: The raging bull Pokémon with three tails? Always male.
  • Throh: The Judo Pokémon, a Fighting-type powerhouse, is also exclusively male.
  • Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop: These fighting type Pokémon, as well as their pre-evolution Tyrogue are always male.
  • Nidorino: While Nidoran has two gendered forms, Nidorino is exclusively Male.
  • Nidoking: Same as Nidorino, is exclusively male.
  • The Legendary Genies (Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus): These legendary Pokémon are based on the wind, thunder, and land, respectively and are always male.

• Higher Probability of Being Male: Many Pokémon species have a skewed gender ratio, meaning a higher percentage of them are male. Some common examples include:

  • Starters: Across many generations, starter Pokémon (like Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur) often have an 87.5% chance of being male. This is a breeding mechanic, making it slightly harder to breed them, especially for the rarer female version.
  • Fossil Pokémon: Similar to starters, Fossil Pokémon (like Aerodactyl, Omanyte, and Kabuto) often have a higher male ratio for breeding purposes.
  • Eevee: The gender ratio of eevee is skewed towards males.
  • Blastoise: With a 87.5% male ratio, this turtle is most likely going to be male.

• Visual Cues and Gender Differences: For many Pokémon, the only way to determine gender is by the gender symbol that appears next to their name in-game (♂ for male, ♀ for female). However, some species have visual differences between male and female individuals. Some examples include:

  • Pikachu: Female Pikachu have a V-shaped notch at the end of their tail.
  • Venusaur: Female Venusaur have a yellow bulb in the top of their flower, while males don’t.
  • Butterfree: Female Butterfree have black markings on the bottom inner section of their wings, whereas males have wings of the same color all around.

• Genderless Pokémon: Finally, it’s crucial to remember that some Pokémon are genderless. This category typically includes Legendary and Mythical Pokémon like Mewtwo, but also includes Pokémon like Magnemite, Voltorb, and Ditto. These Pokémon cannot breed through traditional methods (though Ditto can breed with almost anything, it itself has no gender).

Ultimately, whether a Pokémon is male, female, or genderless plays a huge role in breeding strategies, team composition, and even how we perceive the Pokémon. Understanding these nuances can enhance your experience and help you become a true Pokémon Master!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Male Pokémon

1. How can I tell if my Pokémon is male?

In the core series Pokémon games, the easiest way to determine a Pokémon’s gender is to look at the Pokémon’s status screen. Next to its name, you will see either a ♂ symbol for male, a ♀ symbol for female, or no symbol at all for genderless Pokémon.

2. Are all Legendary Pokémon genderless?

The vast majority of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are genderless. This often ties into their lore and unique status in the Pokémon world. However, some Legendary Pokémon, like Cresselia or the members of the Sinnoh creation trio, are implied to have genders within their lore.

3. Why are some Pokémon always male or female?

The reasons vary. Sometimes, it’s tied to the Pokémon’s biology and origin. In other cases, like with the Hitmon trio and Tyrogue, it may be to reflect real-world martial arts, and the importance of respecting those who are stronger than yourself. The legendary genies, being based on mythological figures, are also male-only, reflecting their sources.

4. Does gender affect a Pokémon’s stats or abilities?

Generally, no. Gender does not directly affect a Pokémon’s base stats, Abilities, or move pool. However, it can influence breeding and the use of certain moves like Attract.

5. How does gender influence breeding in Pokémon?

Gender is a crucial factor in Pokémon breeding. Typically, you need one male and one female Pokémon of compatible Egg Groups to breed. Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon of either gender (or genderless Pokémon that can breed), making it invaluable for breeding. The female Pokémon determines the species of the offspring (except when breeding with Ditto).

6. Are there any moves that only affect Pokémon of a specific gender?

Yes. The move Attract only works on Pokémon of the opposite gender. It infatuates the target, reducing their chance of attacking. There are also abilities that work similarly.

7. Do Pokémon in the anime have genders?

Yes, Pokémon in the anime have genders, although they are not always explicitly stated. For instance, Ash’s Charizard is confirmed to be male, and many of his Pokémon can be inferred to be male or female based on interactions and behaviors.

8. Is it harder to get a female starter Pokémon?

Yes, it is statistically harder to obtain a female starter Pokémon. This is because most starter Pokémon have an 87.5% chance of being male and only a 12.5% chance of being female. This makes finding a female starter a rare and potentially time-consuming endeavor.

9. Can genderless Pokémon breed?

Most genderless Pokémon cannot breed. However, Ditto is a notable exception. Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon that isn’t genderless (and can breed). This makes Ditto a valuable asset for breeding purposes.

10. Are there any Pokémon that are always female?

Yes! Examples of Pokemon who are always female are Jynx, Lilligant, and the members of the Flabébé line!

11. Does the gender ratio of a Pokémon species ever change?

The gender ratios of Pokémon species are generally fixed within each game. However, Game Freak could theoretically change these ratios in future games or updates.

12. Where can I learn more about Pokémon game mechanics?

There are many excellent resources for learning more about Pokémon game mechanics. Websites like Bulbapedia and Serebii.net are comprehensive databases with detailed information about Pokémon, their stats, abilities, and breeding mechanics. And for cutting edge information on how games are used in education, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

13. Is Sylveon usually male?

While not always male, if an Eevee is male, its evolution into Sylveon would therefore be male. However, the general population of Sylveon is just as likely to be female as it is to be male.

14. Can Pokémon change genders?

No, Pokémon cannot change their gender. Once a Pokémon’s gender is determined at the time of generation (when you encounter it in the wild or hatch it from an Egg), it remains fixed for the duration of the game.

15. Do shiny Pokémon have different gender ratios?

No, shiny Pokémon do not have different gender ratios. The chance of a Pokémon being shiny is independent of its gender. The gender is determined separately from whether or not the Pokémon is shiny. Your odds are roughly one out of 4,096 for seeing a shiny Pokémon.