History FandomEnragingMisconception / Pokemon

** For that matter, don't get any MonsSeries mixed up. It's not funny, it's not cute, and someone is liable to hurt you eventually.

* There's a comic you should never bring up around fans: a boy is given a rat for his tenth birthday, and demanded by his mother to not come back until he explores the entire continent. The last panel reads, "This is basically the plot of ''Pokémon''." This is a ShallowParody that gets almost everything wrong; Trainers are simply allowed to travel when they reach the age of ten, and are not forced to do it in any way; the numerous NPC trainers are mostly stationary and don't travel. The player always receives their starter from a professor, not as a birthday gift, although in the case of [=NPCs=] it is implied that they received their starters through other means than being given them by a professor. Your goal isn't to "explore the continent", you're just trying to be the best and challenge the league. And you're free to visit your mother anytime. The wording in the last panel implies that every single piece of ''Pokémon'' media has this exact plot or that there is only one ''Pokémon'' game, neither of which are true. ''[[OneForThePriceOfTwo Especially the latter.]]''

* First of all, do ''not'' confuse or equate it with any other MonsSeries, '''especially''' ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}''. Just...just don't.

* First of all, do ''not'' confuse/equate it with any other MonsSeries, '''especially''' ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}''. Just...just don't.

* While it's often a topic for DarkFic, never claim that Pokémon is just "glorified dog/cockfighting." The entire fandom will yell at you for missing the franchise's message of [[ThePowerOfFriendship teamwork and friendship]], that Pokémon are never seriously hurt during battles and actually enjoy fighting so that they can grow stronger, and that you're probably a member of [[AnimalWrongsGroup Team Plasma]]. [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/pokemon-black-and-blue-peta-pokemon-parody PETA learned this the hard way]] when they made ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndBlue'', and effectively neutered {{Troll}}s who try to use this to set off Pokémon fans. Now anyone who makes this comparison will just be compared to [=PETA=] and mocked thoroughly.
** Claiming Pokémon training is slavery will lead to similar results. [[DisproportionateRetribution Though the backlash against such a proposition can sometimes go too far]] as Mattie Brice, the creator of the Pokémon Unchained blog, can attest to.

* There's a comic you should never bring up around fans: a boy is given a rat for his tenth birthday, and demanded by his mother to not come back until he explores the entire continent. The last panel reads, "This is basically the plot of ''Pokémon''." This is a ShallowParody that gets almost everything wrong; Trainers are simply allowed to travel when they reach the age of ten, and are not forced to do it in any way; the numerous NPC trainers are mostly stationary and don't travel. The player always receives their starter from a professor, not as a birthday gift, although in the case of [=NPCs=] it is implied that they received their starters through other means than being given them by a professor. Your goal isn't to "explore the continent", you're just trying to be the best and challenge the league. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And you're free to visit your mother anytime.]] The wording in the last panel implies that every single piece of ''Pokémon'' media has this exact plot or that there is only one ''Pokémon'' game, neither of which are true.

* Perhaps one of the biggest fandom-enraging misconceptions is [[EveryoneIsSatanInHell believing the series is satanic and "corrupts the Christian youth"]]. Not only is this untrue, but in 2000, [[https://nypost.com/2000/04/21/pokemon-earns-papal-blessing/ Pope John Paul II gave his blessing to the series]], stating that it was "full of inventive imagination" and "had no harmful moral side effects". Fans will think you're (figuratively) TrappedInThePast if you believe this.

* Referring to SeriesMascot Pikachu or anime protagonist Ash Ketchum as "Pokémon" is just as much of a fandom crime as [[IAmNotShazam calling Link "Zelda"]].

** Related to the above, do not refer to [[VideoGame/POkemonSunAndMoon Ultra Beasts]] as Legendary Pokémon either. While their stats are akin to that of Legendaries, Ultra Beasts are stated to be common Pokémon in Ultra Space and you're able to catch more than one of each for most of them.

* There's a comic you should never bring up around fans: a boy is given a rat for his tenth birthday, and demanded by his mother to not come back until he explores the entire continent. The last panel reads, "This is basically the plot of ''Pokémon''." This is a ShallowParody that gets almost everything wrong; Trainers are simply allowed to travel when they reach the age of ten, and are not forced to do it in any way; the numerous NPC trainers are mostly stationary and don't travel. The player always receives their starter from a professor, not as a birthday gift, although in the case of 'NPCs' it is implied that they received their starters through other means than being given them by a professor. Your goal isn't to "explore the continent", you're just trying to be the best and challenge the league. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And you're free to visit your mother anytime.]] The wording in the last panel implies that every single piece of ''Pokémon'' media has this exact plot or that there is only one ''Pokémon'' game, neither of which are true.

* There's a comic you should never bring up around fans: a boy is given a rat for his tenth birthday, and demanded by his mother to not come back until he explores the entire continent. The last panel reads, "This is basically the plot of ''Pokémon''." This is a ShallowParody that gets almost everything wrong; Trainers are simply allowed to travel when they reach the age of ten, and are not forced to do it in any way; the numerous NPC trainers are mostly stationary and don't travel. The player always receives their starter from a professor, not as a birthday gift, although in the case of NPCs it is implied that they received their starters through other means than being given them by a professor. Your goal isn't to "explore the continent", you're just trying to be the best and challenge the league. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And you're free to visit your mother anytime.]] The wording in the last panel implies that every single piece of ''Pokémon'' media has this exact plot or that there is only one ''Pokémon'' game, neither of which are true.

* There's a comic you should never bring up around fans: a boy is given a rat for his tenth birthday, and demanded by his mother to not come back until he explores the entire continent. The last panel reads, "This is basically the plot of ''Pokémon''." This is a ShallowParody that gets almost everything wrong; Trainers are simply allowed to have Pokémon when they reach the age of ten[[note]]Though, preschoolers are able to use Pokémon in the video games[[/note]], and are not forced to do it in any way. Starters are given out by professors, not as birthday gifts. Your goal isn't to "explore the continent", you're just trying to be the best and challenge the league. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And you're free to visit your mother anytime.]] The wording in the last panel implies that every single piece of ''Pokémon'' media has this exact plot or that there is only one ''Pokémon'' game, neither of which are true.

* Speaking of Legendary Pokémon, Unown and Rotom are ''not'' Legendary Pokémon. Yes, Unown was the central Pokémon of ''Anime/Pokemon3'', and Rotom appeared in a postgame event in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', they are not and were never classified as Legendary Pokémon, with Rotom in particular being used as a Pokédex in ''VideoGame/SunAndMoon'' and then in almost every electronic device in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.
** For that matter, don't think Lucario and Zoroark are Legendaries either just because they were the stars of [[Anime/PokemonLucarioAndTheMysteryOfMew their]] [[Anime/PokemonZoroarkMasterOfIllusion movies]].

* Applin is not an AnimateInanimateObject Pokémon. It is actually a dragon worm inside an apple [[https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/650/083/98b which can be seen without its apple here]]. Giving it the same complaints that Vanilluxe and Garbodor are given on a regular basis will have fans enraged.

* Do not refer to Mythical Pokémon as Legendary Pokémon. While Mythical Pokémon are similar to Legendaries, the key differences between the two is that Legendary Pokémon are obtainable ingame while Mythical Pokémon are usually only obtained through special real life events, Legendary Pokémon tend to be bigger and majestic-looking while Mythical Pokémon normally tend to be smaller and cute-looking, and many Legendary Pokémon (mainly box Legendaries) are implied to be SingleSpecimenSpecies while many Mythical Pokémon are implied to exist in small numbers.

* ''Pokémon'' has a... complicated relationship with theology.
** Arceus is the Pokémon equivalent of ''a'' god, not {{God}}. It has its origins in the Shinto creation myth (which is a polytheistic religion, mind you; for reference, Dialga and Palkia are also gods, possibly inspired by Izanami and Izanagi, and there are many other legendaries and mythicals worshiped as god-like entities in-universe), and the concept of creator deities in general. That many fans (and even ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'') insist on substituting "[[HoldYourHippogriffs oh my Arceus]]" for "oh my God" doesn't help.
** Giratina is not {{Satan}}. It is the personification of antimatter, which also ties into the Shinto story of creation. Its backstory has parallels to fallen angels, but this doesn't make it one.

* Arceus is the Pokémon equivalent of {{God}} and Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina are also [[PhysicalGod gods]]. Saying otherwise would go against the established lore of all four of them.
** Also, Giratina is supposed to be the Pokémon equivalent of {{Satan}}, so saying otherwise also goes against its established lore.

* Referring to ''Anime/PokemonJourneysTheSeries'' as "the ''Sword & Shield'' anime" (Wiki/ThisVeryWiki has been guilty of this). While episodes do take place in Galar, and there was a four-part arc based on ''Sword & Shield'' 's climax, it is more of a "world tour" anime that takes place primarily in Kanto and features Ash travelling through every region. In fact, more than half of the new Pokémon and Galarian forms ''haven't even debuted yet'' as of this writing.

* Referring to ''Anime/PokemonJourneysTheSeries'' as "the ''Sword & Shield'' anime" (Wiki/ThisVeryWiki has been guilty of this). While episodes do take place in Galar, and there was a four-part arc based on ''Sword & Shield'' 's climax, it is more of a "world tour" anime that takes place primarily in Kanto and features Ash travelling through every region.

* Regarding ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'', claiming that the Pokémon added in the Expansion Pass are locked behind a paywall will get you some eye rolls from fans of the game. While the expansion pass Pokémon are primarily obtainable in-game via the DLC areas, it is still possible to catch them in Max Raid Battles or transfer them over from previous installments like ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' [[note]]Though most Legendary and Mythical Pokémon do still need to have been caught in-game in order to be transferable from ''GO''.[[/note]] or via ''Pokémon [=HOME=]'' even if the player has not purchased the pass. The only Pokémon that completely requires the pass is Calyrex's Ice Rider and Shadow Rider forms due to requiring a key item in the Crown Tundra.

* Do not refer to Mythical Pokémon as Legendary Pokemon. While Mythical Pokémon are similar to Legendaries, the key differences between the two is that Legendary Pokémon are obtainable ingame while Mythical Pokémon are usually only obtained through special real life events, Legendary Pokémon tend to be bigger and majestic-looking while Mythical Pokémon normally tend to be smaller and cute-looking, and many Legendary Pokémon (mainly box Legendaries) are implied to be SingleSpecimenSpecies while many Mythical Pokémon are implied to exist in small numbers.

* Calling the game protagonists "ten-year-olds", bugs many fans. Several protagonists are teenagers and the youngest confirmed age is eleven. VideoGame/PokemonXAndY protagonists even are implied to be sixteen years old ''at minimum''. The protagonists being ten is an anime thing.

* Calling the game protagonists "ten-year-olds", bugs many fans. Several protagonists are teenagers and the youngest confirmed age is eleven. PokemonXAndY protagonists even are strongly implied to be sixteen years old ''at minimum''. The protagonists being ten is an anime thing.

* Calling the protagonists "ten-year-olds" bugs many fans. Several protagonists are teenagers and the youngest confirmed age is eleven. The protagonists being ten is an anime thing.

* Regarding ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', don't treat the rumor [[spoiler: that the Ultra Beasts destroyed the pre-Gen VI universe]] as canonical fact, as that was a theory that got out of hand to the point that it was even initially treated as fact on this very Wiki.

* Referring to ''Anime/PokemonJourneysTheSeries'' as "the ''Sword & Shield'' anime" (this very website has been guilty of this). While episodes do take place in Galar, and there was a four-part arc based on ''Sword & Shield'' 's climax, it is more of a "world tour" anime that takes place primarily in Kanto and features Ash travelling through every region.

** For that matter, don't get any MonsSeries mixed up. It's not funny, it's not cute, and someone is liable to hurt you eventually. Even if Eiscue looks like the perfect Rookie for Daipenmon.

** For that matter, don't get any MonsSeries mixed up. It's not funny, it's not cute, and someone is liable to hurt you eventually.

* Assuming that Pokémon as a whole is MerchandiseDriven, rather than just having a lot of merchandise -- in particular, that all of the different Pokémon are "sold separately" or that kids are stealing money to feed a "Pokémon habit" -- is a sure sign you're dealing with ShallowParody. While the series does wallow in OneGameForThePriceOfTwo, all but a handful of that generation's Pokémon are included in the initial game purchase; you just have to go get them. And as the years went by and technology got better, trading with others from afar to get the ones you're missing has only gotten easier, further undercutting the complaint.