What's a "POKéMON"?

"POKéMON", or "Pocket Monsters" is a collection of 251+ monster-type characters that originated out of the phenomenal selling GameBoy series of the same title. The games, as well as the cartoon series, center around a 10 year old boy named Ash, who with the help of his friends, travel the world looking for different type of "POKéMON" to capture and train. So far there are 251 KNOWN "POKéMON" that have been introduced through the GameBoy RED, BLUE, YELLOW, SILVER and GOLD versions of the game! (Can't wait to catch them all!)

GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL!

"POKéMON" come in all different shapes, color, sizes, and forms....there is just no defining what exactly a "POKéMON" is in our existing language! They sometimes resemble an animal or a plant, and sometimes they look human or machine-like. And they exist in Ash's world where every child who reaches 10 years of age can get their license to be a "POKéMON" Trainer. They also receive their first "POKéMON" from their city's resident POKe-Expert to help them catch wild "POKéMON" during their journey to becoming a "POKéMON" Master. In order to catch wild "POKéMON", you first have to battle it with a trained "POKéMON" to weaken it; then you throw a POKeBALL (a mechanism that can contain a "POKéMON") at it to capture it. After it is captured, the Trainer must spend time training his new "POKéMON". After all, a "POKéMON" is only as good as its Trainer!

Some "POKéMON" can evolve into totally different species. There are 3 ways that a "POKéMON" can evolve. Some evolve when they reach a certain level of experience. Others evolve only when they are traded between trainers, such as a Graveler can only evolve into a Golem if it is traded to another trainer. And some evolve with the help of an Evolutionary Stone that a Trainer can buy. For example, a Growlithe evolves into an Arcanine with the aid of a Fire Stone. There are 5 types of Evolutionary Stones: Water, Fire, Thunder, Moon and Leaf.

"POKéMON" have varying levels of experience. Depending on how much experience it has gained in battles determines what level a "POKéMON" is at. This is why Trainers try to battle their "POKéMON" whenever they can to raise their "POKéMON"'s level. "POKéMON" learn new battle techniques as they rise in levels. Also, by battling "POKéMON", Trainers are able to capture wild "POKéMON" to train.

Every "POKéMON" belongs to an element. There are 15+ known elements so far: Bug, Flying, Normal, Dragon, Ghost, Poison, Electric, Grass, Psychic, Fighting, Ground, Rock, Fire, Ice, and Water. If you know the element of the "POKéMON" that you're battling, then you can best determine what element of "POKéMON" you should choose to win the battle (ie Water dampens Fire, Fire scorches Grass, and so on -- just as simple as rock, paper, scissors). There is a "POKéMON" Gym in every city where Trainers go to challenge the Gym Leader to earn a badge, and each gym has its own specialty element of "POKéMON". You should also keep your "POKéMON" in good health by visiting the "POKéMON" Center often, especially after an intense battle. There is a center located in every city.