Regional Forms in Pokémon GO: Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian and Paldean

Some Pokémon exist in more than one version: the original, plus a regional form tied to a different part of the Pokémon world, or to a different era, in the main series games. In Pokémon GO these regional forms sit alongside the originals as separate forms of the same species, usually with a new type, a new look and a different set of moves. At the time of writing there are four families: Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian and Paldean. Not every main-series regional form has necessarily reached GO; the in-game news and Pokédex are the final word.

Regional forms are not regional exclusives

Two different ideas share the word "regional", and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion:

• A regional form is a variant of a species tied to a region in the main series games, such as Alolan Vulpix. It is about the Pokémon itself, not about where you live.
• A regional exclusive is a species that only spawns in certain real-world areas. That is about geography, and our collecting guide covers it.

Regional forms aren't normally tied to your location. How you get one depends on events and game features instead.

The four families

Alolan forms

Introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. They are all reworked versions of original Kanto species, such as Ice-type Alolan Vulpix and the towering Grass/Dragon Alolan Exeggutor.

Galarian forms

Introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Besides new types, several Galarian forms unlock evolutions that don't exist for the original, such as Galarian Farfetch'd evolving into Sirfetch'd.

Hisuian forms

Introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, set in Hisui, the Sinnoh region's distant past. These are how certain species looked long ago, like Fire/Rock Hisuian Growlithe.

Paldean forms

Introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Paldean Wooper, a Poison/Ground form that evolves into Clodsire, is the best-known example in GO. In the main series, Paldea also has several breeds of Paldean Tauros; check the in-game Pokédex to see which Paldean forms are in GO.

Type changes at a glance

These are the types each form has in the main series games, and GO uses the same typings. The table is a selection of well-known examples, not a complete list, and it doesn't say whether a form is obtainable right now.

Pokémon	Original type(s)	Regional form's type(s)	Form family
Vulpix	Fire	Ice	Alolan
Geodude	Rock/Ground	Rock/Electric	Alolan
Exeggutor	Grass/Psychic	Grass/Dragon	Alolan
Marowak	Ground	Fire/Ghost	Alolan
Ponyta	Fire	Psychic	Galarian
Weezing	Poison	Poison/Fairy	Galarian
Stunfisk	Ground/Electric	Ground/Steel	Galarian
Growlithe	Fire	Fire/Rock	Hisuian
Voltorb	Electric	Electric/Grass	Hisuian
Qwilfish	Water/Poison	Dark/Poison	Hisuian
Wooper	Water/Ground	Poison/Ground	Paldean

How regional forms work in GO

Do they share candy with the original?

Yes. Galarian Ponyta and regular Ponyta both use Ponyta Candy, so catching either helps you evolve both.

What do they evolve into?

A regional form evolves into the matching regional evolution: Alolan Vulpix becomes Alolan Ninetales, while a regular Vulpix still becomes the original Ninetales. In the main series games, some regional forms evolve into brand-new species instead, including Sirfetch'd, Perrserker, Mr. Rime, Obstagoon, Cursola, Runerigus, Overqwil, Sneasler and Clodsire. Not all of them have necessarily reached GO, and some that have come with extra requirements beyond candy; the evolve option on your Pokémon shows what you can get and what it needs.

Can I evolve a regular Pikachu into Alolan Raichu?

Not normally. Alolan Raichu, Alolan Exeggutor and Alolan Marowak have no Alolan pre-evolution, and evolving a regular Pikachu, Exeggcute or Cubone in GO normally gives the original form. These Alolan forms have usually come from raids, eggs, research or events instead. The same trap applies to several Hisuian forms whose pre-evolutions have no Hisuian form, such as Hisuian Typhlosion and Hisuian Braviary: evolving a regular Quilava or Rufflet in GO normally gives the original. Event rules can occasionally differ, so read an event's details in the in-game news before evolving.

Do they count as new Pokédex entries?

A regional form is registered as a form of its original species, under the same Pokédex number. The brand-new evolutions listed above are separate species with their own entries.

Where do regional forms come from?

Mostly from events, raids, research and eggs. Gift eggs from friends have often featured regional forms in the past. For what is featured right now, check the in-game news and the egg pool screen.

Does weather boost them differently?

Yes, because boosts follow type. Alolan Vulpix is Ice, so snow boosts it rather than sunshine; see our weather boosts table for every condition. The same logic applies to every form in the table above.

Are regional forms good in battle?

Some are. A new type can turn a forgettable Pokémon into a useful one. Galarian Stunfisk's Ground/Steel typing, for example, has long made it a familiar pick in the Great League, though the battle meta shifts from season to season. Our dual-type guide explains why a new second type can reshape a Pokémon's weaknesses so dramatically.

What about the Galarian legendary birds?

Galarian Articuno (Psychic/Flying), Galarian Zapdos (Fighting/Flying) and Galarian Moltres (Dark/Flying) have been very rare encounters, often associated with the Daily Adventure Incense. How they are offered has varied over time, so check the in-game news for current availability.

Collector's checklist

• Search your storage by species name (or +name for the whole family) to see original and regional copies side by side; our search strings guide has more filters.
• Catching a form registers it in your Pokédex straight away, but before transferring a regional form check whether you still need it: evolving into a regional evolution (Alolan Ninetales, Sirfetch'd and so on) requires that form, and a spare makes good trade material.
• Check the evolve option on a regional form before assuming it follows the original's evolution.
• Ask friends for gifts when an event features regional forms in eggs.

For more collecting and species guides, visit the Trainer Hub homepage.