Regional Variants
Regional Variants, also known as Region Forms, are Pokémon having entirely distinct forms in different regions of Pokémon World. These Pokémon adapted uniquely to habitats that are different than those where its species naturally live in other regions, causing genetic drift to occur and eventually resulting in vastly different forms.
They are a further step ahead of other Form Differences, such that they differ greatly not just in their looks, but also types, attack learnsets, base stats and sometimes evolutionary methods.
About
Regional Variants are introduced to Pokémon originated from Kanto in Pokémon Sun and Moon. They gained vastly different forms in Alola because of adaptation to the changes in natural habitat. Thus, those Pokémon are given the form name of "Alola Form" and called as "Alolan", while the original forms of those Pokémon species are recognized by "Kanto Form" or "Kantonian".
18 Pokémon are given Regional Variants in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Wild Pokémon on the main island of Roria are always found in Kanto Form. On the other hand, outlying isles such as Lost Islands feature foreign Pokémon, including some of the Alola Form Pokémon. Certain Pokémon which can evolve into final forms of different Regional Variants will evolve into Kanto Form on the main island and Alola Form on Lost Islands or any of the associated areas.
List of Regional Variants
Below is a table of all Pokémon possessing Regional Variants, along with their types and Abilities. The Kanto Form will be displayed first, followed by the corresponding Alola Form. Italics indicate Hidden Abilities. Blackened rows mean that those Pokémon are not obtainable as of now.
| Pokémon | Image | Type | Ability | Obtaining Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rattata |  |  Normal
| Run Away
Guts Hustle | Catch in Fortulose Manor |
 DarkNormal
| Gluttony
Hustle Thick Fat | Catch on Lost Islands | ||
| Raticate | Normal
| Run Away
Guts Hustle | Evolve Kantonian Rattata at Lv. 20 or above | |
| DarkNormal
| Gluttony
Hustle Thick Fat | Evolve Alolan Rattata at Lv. 20 or above overnight | ||
| Raichu |  Electric
| Static
Lightning Rod | Evolve Pikachu by using a Thunder Stone | |
Electric Psychic
| Surge Surfer | Evolve Pikachu by using a Thunder Stone on Lost Islands | ||
| Sandshrew |  |  Ground
| Sand Veil
Sand Rush | Breed Kantonian Sandslash in Lagoona Day Care |
 |  Ice Steel
| Snow Cloak
Slush Rush | Catch in Frigidia Cavern | |
| Sandslash | Ground
| Sand Veil
Sand Rush | Catch on Route 11
Evolve Kantonian Sandshrew at Lv. 22 or above | |
| IceSteel
| Snow Cloak
Slush Rush | Evolve Alolan Sandshrew by using an Ice Stone | ||
| Vulpix |  |  Fire
| Flash Fire
Drought | Catch on Route 12 |
 | Ice
| Snow Cloak
Snow Warning | Catch in Frigidia Cavern | |
| Ninetales | Fire
| Flash Fire
Drought | Evolve Kantonian Vulpix by using a Fire Stone | |
Ice Fairy
| Snow Cloak
Snow Warning | Evolve Alolan Vulpix by using an Ice Stone | ||
| Diglett |  | Ground
| Sand Veil
Arena Trap Sand Force | Catch in Cragonos Mines |
 | GroundSteel
| Sand Veil
Tangling Hair Sand Force | N/A | |
| Dugtrio | Ground
| Sand Veil
Arena Trap Sand Force | Evolve Diglett at Lv. 26 or above | |
| GroundSteel
| Sand Veil
Tangling Hair Sand Force | |||
| Meowth | Normal
| Pickup
Technician Unnerve | Adopt in Aife's Shelter | |
| Dark
| Pickup
Technician Rattled | Catch in Lost Islands - Deep Jungle | ||
| Persian | Normal
| Limber
Technician Unnerve | Evolve Kantonian Meowth at Lv. 28 or above | |
| Dark
| Fur Coat
Technician Rattled | Evolve Alolan Meowth with maximum happiness | ||
| Geodude |  |  RockGround
| Rock Head
Sturdy Sand Veil | Catch in Cragonos Mines |
 | RockElectric
| Magnet Pull
Sturdy Galvanize | Breed Alolan Graveler or Alolan Golem | |
| Graveler | RockGround
| Rock Head
Sturdy Sand Veil | Evolve Kantonian Geodude at Lv. 25 or above | |
| RockElectric
| Magnet Pull
Sturdy Galvanize | Catch in Voltridia Cavern
Evolve Alolan Geodude at Lv. 25 or above | ||
| Golem | RockGround
| Rock Head
Sturdy Sand Veil | Evolve Graveler by trading | |
| RockElectric
| Magnet Pull
Sturdy Galvanize | |||
| Grimer |  Poison
| Stench
Sticky Hold Poison Touch | Catch in Anthian Sewer | |
| PoisonDark
| Poison Touch
Gluttony Power of Alchemy | Catch on Route 18 | ||
| Muk | Poison
| Stench
Sticky Hold Poison Touch | Evolve Grimer at Lv. 38 or above | |
| PoisonDark
| Poison Touch
Gluttony Power of Alchemy | |||
| Exeggutor |  GrassPsychic
| Chlorophyll
Harvest | Evolve Exeggcute by using a Leaf Stone | |
Grass Dragon
| Frisk
Harvest | Evolve Exeggcute by using a Leaf Stone on Lost Islands | ||
| Marowak |  | Ground
| Rock Head
Lightning Rod Battle Armour | Evolve Cubone at Lv. 28 or above |
Fire Ghost
| Cursed Body
Lightning Rod Rock Head | Evolve Cubone at Lv. 28 or above overnight on Lost Islands |
Trivia
- Certain form differences of Pokémon are dependent on area, such as Shellos family's West and East Sea Forms depending on whether they are found to the west or east of Mt. Coronet, Sinnoh. Another example would be Vivillon's 18 distinct patterns according to its Pokédex entry in core series games.
- However, these differences are aesthetic only. They have no effect on types, abilities, base stats or evolution methods.
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