Pokémon X & Pokémon Y (2023)

Details

Quick links

Here are just a few of the new Pokémon introduced. See the full list in the Pokedex.

• Chespin (Grass starter)
• Fennekin (Fire starter)
• Froakie (Water starter)

• Sylveon (Fairy-type Eeveelution)
• Xerneas (legendary)
• Yveltal (legendary)
• Zygarde (legendary)

Kalos map

Major features

3D

Pokémon X & Pokémon Y are exclusive to the 3DS platform and take advantage of the console's better graphics and processing power.

All Pokémon have been modelled in 3D (see right) and the game appears to use a form of cel-shading to keep the crisp cartoony look.

Diagonal movement has been added to make use of the circle pad, but it's still 8 straight directions instead of omnidirection free roaming. However, Rollerskates - which allow much faster movement around the towns and routes - have sweeping/arcing animations that give the impression of going off the grid.

A new Fairy type!

14 years after the types Dark and Steel were introduced comes a new type - Fairy! It was revealed at E3 in June 2013. The intention is to try and balance out the types a little more and as such, Fairy is super-effective against (and immune to) the notably powerful Dragon type.

There will be several new Fairy type Pokémon and moves, with new Eeveelution Sylveon (see below) being a notable example. Furthermore, some Pokémon from previous generations will be reclassified as Fairy: currently only Jigglypuff, Gardevoir and Marill have been confirmed.

• New type chart

Kalos

Pokémon X & Pokémon Y are set in a new region called Kalos (see map to the left). It is based on the northern half of France. The large city is Lumiose City and is based on Paris (in fact, it matches up exactly to Paris' location in France!).

It includes a large tower not unlike the famous Eiffel Tower. The tower has a gym logo outside, implying it is Lumiose City's gym.

Player Search System

A new communication method called Player Search System (PSS) allows you to find other players locally or globally to battle and trade. Also integrates with the 3DS' friends system. The Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara said:

People around the world will be able to simultaneously experience Real Play. The game uses an innovative communication system that makes it feel as if you are playing with other players around the world.

Super Training

A new set of mini-games known as Super Training allows you to more easily train your Pokémon's Effort Values (EVs). Confusingly, these are referred to in-game as base stats. On the Super Training screen your Pokémon's real base stats and EVs they have earned are shown as a spider chart, in green and yellow colors respectively.

Pokémon-Amie

A feature called Pokémon-Amie lets you bond with your Pokémon by petting and feeding them. It has been stated previously that Pokémon friendship would have a bigger role in X&Y - game director Junichi Masuda listed this as one of the features of X&Y:

A new battle mechanism that allows your Pokémon to become even more powerful when the bonds you share grow stronger.

Pokémon Bank

An online service and 3DS application released alongside Pokémon X & Y, that lets you store up to 3,000 Pokémon in private boxes online. More details on Pokémon Bank »

New Pokémon

As with every new generation of games, new Pokémon are introduced, although this generation has the lowest number of any previous generation at 69, or 97 counting Mega Evolutions.

• The starters are Grass, Fire and Water type as usual. They are named Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie respectively.
• Two new legendaries (above) are the game's mascots. Xerneas appears in Pokémon X and Yveltal appears in Pokémon Y.
• Sylveon is a new evolution of Eevee, and is Fairy type.
• Many more Pokémon are being revealed regularly. Full details on our Pokédex page.

Mega Pokémon

One of the biggest shocks of Pokémon X & Y is Mega Evolution. Using special Mega Stones, certain Pokémon can Mega-evolve during battle. This makes them much more powerful, however Mega Evolution only lasts for that battle so is more like a form change during battle.

So far, 28 Mega Evolutions have been confirmed.

• List of Mega Pokémon

Other minor details

• The games are not fully in 3D. Battles and cut scenes use 3D but general traversal around the overworld does not. Game director Junichi Masuda stated this was to allow them to add much more detail to the overworld and enhance the beauty aspect of the games.
• All languages will be present on one game card, and you will be able to choose the language when you start the game.
• Your home town is called Vaniville Town.
• Early locations you visit are Santalune Forest which leads to Santalune City. Shortly afterward you will reach Lumiose City.
• You have four special friends in the game: Shauna, who keeps track of your progress; Tierno, who wants to create a Pokémon dance team; Trevor, who wants to complete his Pokédex first; and Serena or Calem (depending on whether you choose the boy or girl player), who is your next door neighbour and main battle rival.
• Route numbers are reset again - i.e. starting from Route 1 - and also have nice subtitles such as Palais Lane and Rivière Walk.
• The gym types are Bug, Rock, Fighting, Grass, Electric, Fairy, Psychic and Ice type.
• Some Pokémon can be ridden. Gogoat can be ridden around Lumiose City, while Rhyhorn can be ridden in rocky terrain and Mamoswine through snowdrifts. You cannot ride your own Pokémon, however.
• The Pokédex is split into three area categories - Central Kalos, Coastal Kalos and Mountain Kalos.
• A new battle type called Sky Battles. They are restricted to Flying type Pokémon or those with the ability Levitate. It's not know if there are any different mechanics (such as banned moves).
• A new battle type called Hordes. Occasionally a horde of up to 5 wild Pokémon will appear at once!
• New encounter messages when riding Pokémon, e.g. the wild Helioptile you stepped on attacked!
• The environment and battle scene will change their look based on the time of day - i.e. battles will be a bit darker at night.
• Terrain mechanics have a little more prominence, with some moves that change the terrain, and the moves Nature Power and Camouflage reacting to more environments.
• The names X and Y refer to coordinate geometry, because Pokémon is is in 3D for the first time. X, Y and Z are the three dimensions used in 3D modelling.
• The Japanese X&Y logo (see below) includes a helix icon, which is a symbol relating to DNA. Coincidentally, X and Y are chromosomes found in humans and many animals.
• Pokémon earn EXP even when you capture a Pokémon.
• Each of the starter Pokémon has a STAB move from the outset - Vine Whip for Chespin, Ember for Fennekin, Water Gun for Froakie.
• Your character can run using the B button from the very beginning of the game.
• You are gifted the Rollerskates before the first gym.
• You can learn new tricks for skating if you defeat Rollerskating trainers.
• PokéCenters now contain changing rooms to allow customising your character's outfits.

Vivillon using Struggle Bug against Froakie

The Pokémon information menu, showing Chespin's moves

A Water-type move being used

A battle scene inside a cave, showing a horde of Axew appearing