Check out http://www.smogon.com/dp/articles/pid_iv_creation for the version on the website. The applet for PID generation using the IVs is available here. Part 2 is in http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45230.
The Process of PID and IV Creation of Non-Bred Pokemon
0. Credits
Before I even start, I need to give credit to loadingNOW (a.k.a. pika) and yamipoli for providing me with invaluable information regarding this topic.
1. Preliminaries
We start by providing preliminary information, without which the reader will have a very hard time understanding this article.
1.1 The Binary System
In a computer, numbers are not stored normally, but in a format called binary. The numbers we normally use are said to be in the decimal system. Every number in the decimal system is written as a series of digits, each of which can be one of the following ten: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. In the binary system, the same thing is true, but there are only two possible digits: 0 and 1. Each of these binary digits is called a bit (short for binary digit). For example, the binary number 10001110 has 8 bits.
The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS systems, on which the Pokemon games Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Red, Leaf Green, Diamond and Pearl run, are, in effect, small computers, and thus also utilise binary numbers. The Pokemon games, however, have an extra simplification: they always use non-negative whole numbers only. This makes our discussion of binary numbers easier.
How do we interpret a binary number? To do this, let’s think for a moment about how we interpret decimal numbers. What does the number 635, say, mean? It means a number that has 5 units, 3 tens (= 1 × 10) and 6 hundreds (= 10 × 10) added together. Notice that the value of a digit in the decimal system is ten times as big as that of the digit immediately to the right of it. So the number 635 really means 600 + 30 + 5.
The same thing happens in binary, except that the value of a digit in the binary system is twice as big as that of the bit immediately to the right of it, not ten times as big.
Let’s provide an example. Say we need to interpret the binary number 10001110 as a number in the decimal (i.e. normal) system. We have 0 units, 1 twos (= 1 × 2), 1 fours (= 2 × 2), 1 eights (= 4 × 2), 0 sixteens (= 8 × 2), 0 thirty-twos (= 16 × 2), 0 sixty-fours (= 32 × 2) and 1 one-hundred-and-twenty-eights (= 64 × 2). Thus, the binary number 10001110 is equal to 2 + 4 + 8 + 128 = 142.
Another example: let’s interpret the 12-bit binary number 101110010101 as a number in decimal. It is equal to 1 units, 0 twos, 1 fours, 0 eights, 1 sixteens, 0 thirty-twos, 0 sixty-fours, 1 one-hundred-and-twenty-eights, 1 two-hundred-and-fifty-sixes (= 128 × 2), 1 five-hundred-and-twelves (= 256 × 2), 0 one-thousand-and-twenty-fours (= 512 × 2) and 1 two-thousand-and-forty-eights (= 1024 × 2). Hence it is equal to 1 + 4 + 16 + 128 + 256 + 512 + 2048 = 2965.
1.2 The Hexadecimal System
Binary numbers tend to have quite a large number of digits. A way to write binary numbers in a shorter way is the hexadecimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, a binary number is first grouped into groups of four bits each. If the number of bits in the binary number is not divisible by 4, extra 0 bits are added at the start of the binary number so that the number of digits is divisible by 4. Then each group of four bits is replaced by a symbol as follows:
For example, the binary number 10001110 is written in hexadecimal as 8E. The first 4 bits are 1000, written as 8 in hexadecimal, while the last 4 bits are 1110, written as E. The binary number 101110010101 is written as B95 in hexadecimal (1011 = B, 1001 = 9, 0101 = 5). The binary number 1110000001 has 10 bits. We first add two zeros at the beginning so that it has 12 bits: 001110000001. Then we convert it to hexadecimal as 381 (0011 = 3, 1000 = 8, 0001 = 1).
Of course, we can also convert hexadecimal numbers to binary numbers easily by doing the reverse process. For example, the hexadecimal number 5AF7 is equal to 0101101011110111 in binary (5 = 0101, A = 1010, F = 1111, 7 = 0111).
From now on, a hexadecimal number will be written surrounded by square brackets [] so as not to possibly confuse it with a decimal number. This is because the hexadecimal number [4680] is a different number from the decimal number 4680.
1.3 What is a PID?
Whenever a Pokemon is created in the games, the first thing that is generated is a 32-bit number called a PID (Pokemon IDentification number). This number is sometimes also called the Personality Value of a Pokemon, and is not visible anywhere in the game. It can only be found by looking into the Pokemon save file... or by an applet that will be revealed soon. A lot of information about the Pokemon can be found using just the PID alone. In particular, the nature of a Pokemon is found just from its PID. Where applicable, the gender, ability and Unown letter shape are also found just from the PID of the Pokemon in question.
1.4 The Pokemon Random Number Generator
Whenever a random event occurs in the Pokemon games, and indeed in the majority of games, the randomness of the event is not truly random, but is governed by a mathematical formula that generates so-called pseudo-random numbers. When we say pseudo-random, we mean that the numbers generated are not truly random numbers, but are sort-of fake random numbers.
There are various methods that can be used to generate pseudo-random numbers. One of the simplest types of random number generators is the class of linear congruential random number generators. Many computer applications adopt this method of random number generation, as, while it is very simple to implement, it produces good random numbers when given particular values. By "good random numbers" we mean that if the numbers were to be listed next to each other, we wouldn’t have a clue as to what the next pseudo-random number would be in the list unless we apply the formula.
The random number generator (RNG) used in all the Pokemon games from Ruby and Sapphire onwards works as follows. When the game loads, the program assigns a number to a 32-bit variable which we shall call seed. The way this is done varies from game to game (you can read loadingNOW’s article for more information). Then, whenever the random number generator is invoked, the following steps are executed:
Thus, as you can see, the Pokemon RNG produces pseudo-random 16-bit numbers, i.e. numbers between 0 and 65535 (or between [0000] and [FFFF]).
For instance, given the seed [1A56B091], what is the random number that the above RNG outputs?
First we need to multiply [1A56B091] by [41C64E6D]. Using a calculator, the answer of this multiplication is [6C469F301DB5BBD]. We now add [6073] to this, becoming [6C469F301DBBC30]. Remember that a computer adds and multiplies numbers only in binary, so multiplying and adding hexadecimal numbers is very easy for it. Windows’ own calculator application allows multiplication and addition of hexadecimal numbers to be done easily, if you want to do them yourself. We now make the new seed equal to the last 32 bits of this hexadecimal number, or [01DBBC30] (remember that a hexadecimal digit is 4 bits). The random number produced is thus the first 16 bits of this new seed, or [01DB].
Repeatedly invoking the RNG produces the following list of pseudo-random numbers:
[01DB], [7B06], [5233], [E470], [5CC4], [36BB], ...
It can be shown that the seed variable will become the same as it was at the start of the program only after the RNG is invoked 4,294,967,296 times. In all those RNG invocations, the variable seed would have become equal to every number between 0 and 4,294,967,295 (or between [00000000] and [FFFFFFFF]) exactly once. This essentially means that the random number sequence won’t repeat itself until after that amount of invocations.
2. Pokemon Creation
2.1 How the PID of a Pokemon is created
The game creates a PID from two RNG calls. Since each RNG call results in a 16-bit number, appending these two 16-bit numbers together results in a 32-bit number, which becomes the PID of the Pokemon. The second random number becomes the first 16 bits of the PID, and the first random number becomes the second 16 bits.
For example, suppose the two random numbers generated were [01DB] and [7B06] as above. Then the PID of the Pokemon would be [7B0601DB], or 2063991259 in decimal.
2.2 How to extract information about the Pokemon from its PID
As was said before, a lot of things about a Pokemon can be known from just its PID. Here, we shall mention only three of these: nature, gender and ability.
2.2.1 How to find the nature of a Pokemon from its PID
First, convert the PID to decimal as described at the start of the article, and consider only this decimal number’s last two digits. If the number having these two digits is greater than 24, subtract 25 from it, and repeat this procedure until it becomes a number between 0 and 24. This number then corresponds to a particular nature according to the following table:
2.2.2 How to find the gender of a Pokemon from its PID
This only applies to Pokemon that can be either male or female. If a Pokemon is always genderless (for example Staryu), always male (for example Tauros) or always female (for example Chansey), the Pokemon will, of course, always assume that gender.
For the other Pokemon, first take the last two digits of the PID in hexadecimal form and convert that number to decimal. This number should be between 0 and 255.
As is commonly known, some Pokemon are more probable to be of one gender than another (for example Bulbasaur). There are four gender categories in all, other than the genderless, always male and always female categories:
This only applies to Pokemon that can have one of two possible abilities. If a Pokemon can have only one ability, then it will have that ability, of course.
For the other Pokemon that can have one of two abilities, first convert the PID to binary, and look at the last bit. If it is 0, the Pokemon will have its first possible ability, while if it is 1, it will have the second possible ability.
The following table lists all Pokemon having two possible abilities, showing which ability corresponds to 0 and which corresponds to 1 in Diamond and Pearl (thanks yamipoli for providing this chart):
2.3 How the IVs of a Pokemon are created
The six IVs of the Pokemon are also created from just two RNG calls. Since each IV consists of 5 bits (because the binary number 11111 is equal to 31 in decimal), the first random number would contain 3 of these IVs (5 × 3 = 15), with one redundant bit, while the second random number would contain the other 3.
The IVs would be extracted from the two random numbers as follows:
For example, given the subsequent two random numbers [5233] and [E470] as above, we would have:
First Random Number = [5233] = 0|10100|10001|10011. Hence, the Defense IV would be 10100 = 20, the Attack IV would be 10001 = 17 and the HP IV would be 10011 = 19.
Second Random Number = [E470] = 1|11001|00011|10000. Hence, the Special Defense IV would be 11001 = 25, the Special Attack IV would be 00011 = 3 and the Speed IV would be 10000 = 16.
Thus, our Pokemon would have the IVs 19/17/20/3/25/16, written in the usual format of HP IV/Atk IV/Def IV/SpA IV/SpD IV/Spe IV.
2.4 How the RNG is called in the games to generate a Pokemon
There are basically three different ways of how the RNG is invoked to produce a Pokemon, depending on the game and the Pokemon:
The criterion for choosing whether to use Method 1, 2 or 3 in the creation of wild Pokemon in Ruby, Sapphire, Fire Red and Leaf Green seems to be arbitrary, although it might be related to the terrain where they are situated.
To summarise, here are the methods used for each game depending on the Pokemon being caught or given:
3. A Complete Example
Suppose you meet a wild Tentacool in Emerald. Let’s assume that Method 2 is chosen for Tentacool to be generated. Also we assume that the current RNG seed is [560B9CE3].
The game calls the RNG and gets the number [2751]. The game calls the RNG again and gets the number [7E48]. Thus, the PID of this Tentacool is [7E482751].
This hexadecimal number is the 32-bit binary number
01111110010010000010011101010001
which is equal to 2118657873 in decimal. The last two digits of this decimal number are 73. Since this number is greater than 24, we subtract 25 from it. 73 minus 25 is equal to 48. 48 is still greater than 24, so we again subtract 25 from it, becoming 23. Hence this Tentacool would have a Careful nature, since that is the nature that the number 23 corresponds to.
The last two digits of the PID in hexadecimal are 51, which is equal to 01010001 in binary, or 81 in decimal. Tentacool has a 50% chance of being female. Since the number 81 is between 0 and 126, this Tentacool would be female.
The last digit of the binary representation of the PID is 1. Thus, this Tentacool would have the second possible ability, i.e. Liquid Ooze.
The game now calls the RNG for a third time, getting the number [CAB4]. This number is discarded since we’re using Method 2 to generate the Pokemon. A fourth call to the RNG yields the number [629C]. This number is equal to
0|11000|10100|11100
in binary. The Defense IV would then be the binary number 11000, which is 24 in decimal, the Attack IV would be 10100, which is 20 in decimal, and the HP IV would be 11100, which is 28 in decimal.
A final invocation to the RNG gives us the number [5EE9]. This number is equal to
0|10111|10111|01001
in binary. The Special Defense IV would thus be the binary number 10111, which is 23 in decimal, the Special Attack IV would be 10111, which is 23 in decimal and the Speed IV would be 01001, which is 9 in decimal.
To recapitulate, you would have encountered a female Tentacool having a Careful nature, the Liquid Ooze ability and 28/20/24/23/23/9 IVs.
The Process of PID and IV Creation of Non-Bred Pokemon
0. Credits
Before I even start, I need to give credit to loadingNOW (a.k.a. pika) and yamipoli for providing me with invaluable information regarding this topic.
1. Preliminaries
We start by providing preliminary information, without which the reader will have a very hard time understanding this article.
1.1 The Binary System
In a computer, numbers are not stored normally, but in a format called binary. The numbers we normally use are said to be in the decimal system. Every number in the decimal system is written as a series of digits, each of which can be one of the following ten: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. In the binary system, the same thing is true, but there are only two possible digits: 0 and 1. Each of these binary digits is called a bit (short for binary digit). For example, the binary number 10001110 has 8 bits.
The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS systems, on which the Pokemon games Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Red, Leaf Green, Diamond and Pearl run, are, in effect, small computers, and thus also utilise binary numbers. The Pokemon games, however, have an extra simplification: they always use non-negative whole numbers only. This makes our discussion of binary numbers easier.
How do we interpret a binary number? To do this, let’s think for a moment about how we interpret decimal numbers. What does the number 635, say, mean? It means a number that has 5 units, 3 tens (= 1 × 10) and 6 hundreds (= 10 × 10) added together. Notice that the value of a digit in the decimal system is ten times as big as that of the digit immediately to the right of it. So the number 635 really means 600 + 30 + 5.
The same thing happens in binary, except that the value of a digit in the binary system is twice as big as that of the bit immediately to the right of it, not ten times as big.
Let’s provide an example. Say we need to interpret the binary number 10001110 as a number in the decimal (i.e. normal) system. We have 0 units, 1 twos (= 1 × 2), 1 fours (= 2 × 2), 1 eights (= 4 × 2), 0 sixteens (= 8 × 2), 0 thirty-twos (= 16 × 2), 0 sixty-fours (= 32 × 2) and 1 one-hundred-and-twenty-eights (= 64 × 2). Thus, the binary number 10001110 is equal to 2 + 4 + 8 + 128 = 142.
Another example: let’s interpret the 12-bit binary number 101110010101 as a number in decimal. It is equal to 1 units, 0 twos, 1 fours, 0 eights, 1 sixteens, 0 thirty-twos, 0 sixty-fours, 1 one-hundred-and-twenty-eights, 1 two-hundred-and-fifty-sixes (= 128 × 2), 1 five-hundred-and-twelves (= 256 × 2), 0 one-thousand-and-twenty-fours (= 512 × 2) and 1 two-thousand-and-forty-eights (= 1024 × 2). Hence it is equal to 1 + 4 + 16 + 128 + 256 + 512 + 2048 = 2965.
1.2 The Hexadecimal System
Binary numbers tend to have quite a large number of digits. A way to write binary numbers in a shorter way is the hexadecimal system.
In the hexadecimal system, a binary number is first grouped into groups of four bits each. If the number of bits in the binary number is not divisible by 4, extra 0 bits are added at the start of the binary number so that the number of digits is divisible by 4. Then each group of four bits is replaced by a symbol as follows:
Code:
0000 is replaced by 0
0001 is replaced by 1
0010 is replaced by 2
0011 is replaced by 3
0100 is replaced by 4
0101 is replaced by 5
0110 is replaced by 6
0111 is replaced by 7
1000 is replaced by 8
1001 is replaced by 9
1010 is replaced by A
1011 is replaced by B
1100 is replaced by C
1101 is replaced by D
1110 is replaced by E
1111 is replaced by F
For example, the binary number 10001110 is written in hexadecimal as 8E. The first 4 bits are 1000, written as 8 in hexadecimal, while the last 4 bits are 1110, written as E. The binary number 101110010101 is written as B95 in hexadecimal (1011 = B, 1001 = 9, 0101 = 5). The binary number 1110000001 has 10 bits. We first add two zeros at the beginning so that it has 12 bits: 001110000001. Then we convert it to hexadecimal as 381 (0011 = 3, 1000 = 8, 0001 = 1).
Of course, we can also convert hexadecimal numbers to binary numbers easily by doing the reverse process. For example, the hexadecimal number 5AF7 is equal to 0101101011110111 in binary (5 = 0101, A = 1010, F = 1111, 7 = 0111).
From now on, a hexadecimal number will be written surrounded by square brackets [] so as not to possibly confuse it with a decimal number. This is because the hexadecimal number [4680] is a different number from the decimal number 4680.
1.3 What is a PID?
Whenever a Pokemon is created in the games, the first thing that is generated is a 32-bit number called a PID (Pokemon IDentification number). This number is sometimes also called the Personality Value of a Pokemon, and is not visible anywhere in the game. It can only be found by looking into the Pokemon save file... or by an applet that will be revealed soon. A lot of information about the Pokemon can be found using just the PID alone. In particular, the nature of a Pokemon is found just from its PID. Where applicable, the gender, ability and Unown letter shape are also found just from the PID of the Pokemon in question.
1.4 The Pokemon Random Number Generator
Whenever a random event occurs in the Pokemon games, and indeed in the majority of games, the randomness of the event is not truly random, but is governed by a mathematical formula that generates so-called pseudo-random numbers. When we say pseudo-random, we mean that the numbers generated are not truly random numbers, but are sort-of fake random numbers.
There are various methods that can be used to generate pseudo-random numbers. One of the simplest types of random number generators is the class of linear congruential random number generators. Many computer applications adopt this method of random number generation, as, while it is very simple to implement, it produces good random numbers when given particular values. By "good random numbers" we mean that if the numbers were to be listed next to each other, we wouldn’t have a clue as to what the next pseudo-random number would be in the list unless we apply the formula.
The random number generator (RNG) used in all the Pokemon games from Ruby and Sapphire onwards works as follows. When the game loads, the program assigns a number to a 32-bit variable which we shall call seed. The way this is done varies from game to game (you can read loadingNOW’s article for more information). Then, whenever the random number generator is invoked, the following steps are executed:
Code:
Make seed equal to the last 32 bits of (seed × [41C64E6D] + [6073])
Output first 16 bits of seed as the next pseudo-random number
Thus, as you can see, the Pokemon RNG produces pseudo-random 16-bit numbers, i.e. numbers between 0 and 65535 (or between [0000] and [FFFF]).
For instance, given the seed [1A56B091], what is the random number that the above RNG outputs?
First we need to multiply [1A56B091] by [41C64E6D]. Using a calculator, the answer of this multiplication is [6C469F301DB5BBD]. We now add [6073] to this, becoming [6C469F301DBBC30]. Remember that a computer adds and multiplies numbers only in binary, so multiplying and adding hexadecimal numbers is very easy for it. Windows’ own calculator application allows multiplication and addition of hexadecimal numbers to be done easily, if you want to do them yourself. We now make the new seed equal to the last 32 bits of this hexadecimal number, or [01DBBC30] (remember that a hexadecimal digit is 4 bits). The random number produced is thus the first 16 bits of this new seed, or [01DB].
Repeatedly invoking the RNG produces the following list of pseudo-random numbers:
[01DB], [7B06], [5233], [E470], [5CC4], [36BB], ...
It can be shown that the seed variable will become the same as it was at the start of the program only after the RNG is invoked 4,294,967,296 times. In all those RNG invocations, the variable seed would have become equal to every number between 0 and 4,294,967,295 (or between [00000000] and [FFFFFFFF]) exactly once. This essentially means that the random number sequence won’t repeat itself until after that amount of invocations.
2. Pokemon Creation
2.1 How the PID of a Pokemon is created
The game creates a PID from two RNG calls. Since each RNG call results in a 16-bit number, appending these two 16-bit numbers together results in a 32-bit number, which becomes the PID of the Pokemon. The second random number becomes the first 16 bits of the PID, and the first random number becomes the second 16 bits.
For example, suppose the two random numbers generated were [01DB] and [7B06] as above. Then the PID of the Pokemon would be [7B0601DB], or 2063991259 in decimal.
2.2 How to extract information about the Pokemon from its PID
As was said before, a lot of things about a Pokemon can be known from just its PID. Here, we shall mention only three of these: nature, gender and ability.
2.2.1 How to find the nature of a Pokemon from its PID
First, convert the PID to decimal as described at the start of the article, and consider only this decimal number’s last two digits. If the number having these two digits is greater than 24, subtract 25 from it, and repeat this procedure until it becomes a number between 0 and 24. This number then corresponds to a particular nature according to the following table:
Code:
Number Nature
-----------------
0 Hardy
1 Lonely
2 Brave
3 Adamant
4 Naughty
5 Bold
6 Docile
7 Relaxed
8 Impish
9 Lax
10 Timid
11 Hasty
12 Serious
13 Jolly
14 Naive
15 Modest
16 Mild
17 Quiet
18 Bashful
19 Rash
20 Calm
21 Gentle
22 Sassy
23 Careful
24 Quirky
2.2.2 How to find the gender of a Pokemon from its PID
This only applies to Pokemon that can be either male or female. If a Pokemon is always genderless (for example Staryu), always male (for example Tauros) or always female (for example Chansey), the Pokemon will, of course, always assume that gender.
For the other Pokemon, first take the last two digits of the PID in hexadecimal form and convert that number to decimal. This number should be between 0 and 255.
As is commonly known, some Pokemon are more probable to be of one gender than another (for example Bulbasaur). There are four gender categories in all, other than the genderless, always male and always female categories:
- Pokemon that have a 12.5% chance of being female In this case, the Pokemon will be female if the number found above is between 0 and 30 inclusive, otherwise it will be male.
- Pokemon that have a 25% chance of being female In this case, the Pokemon will be female if the number found above is between 0 and 63 inclusive, otherwise it will be male.
- Pokemon that have a 50% chance of being female In this case, the Pokemon will be female if the number found above is between 0 and 126 inclusive, otherwise it will be male.
- Pokemon that have a 75% chance of being female In this case, the Pokemon will be female if the number found above is between 0 and 190 inclusive, otherwise it will be male.
This only applies to Pokemon that can have one of two possible abilities. If a Pokemon can have only one ability, then it will have that ability, of course.
For the other Pokemon that can have one of two abilities, first convert the PID to binary, and look at the last bit. If it is 0, the Pokemon will have its first possible ability, while if it is 1, it will have the second possible ability.
The following table lists all Pokemon having two possible abilities, showing which ability corresponds to 0 and which corresponds to 1 in Diamond and Pearl (thanks yamipoli for providing this chart):
Code:
Pokemon Ability 0 Ability 1
--------------------------------------
Pidgey Keen Eye Tangled Feet
Pidgeotto Keen Eye Tangled Feet
Pidgeot Keen Eye Tangled Feet
Rattata Run Away Guts
Raticate Run Away Guts
Ekans Intimidate Shed Skin
Arbok Intimidate Shed Skin
Nidoran-F Poison Point Rivalry
Nidorina Poison Point Rivalry
Nidoqueen Poison Point Rivalry
Nidoran-M Poison Point Rivalry
Nidorino Poison Point Rivalry
Nidoking Poison Point Rivalry
Cleffa Cute Charm Magic Guard
Clefairy Cute Charm Magic Guard
Clefable Cute Charm Magic Guard
Paras Effect Spore Dry Skin
Parasect Effect Spore Dry Skin
Venonat Compoundeyes Tinted Lens
Venomoth Shield Dust Tinted Lens
Diglett Sand Veil Arena Trap
Dugtrio Sand Veil Arena Trap
Meowth Pick Up Technician
Persian Pick Up Technician
Psyduck Damp Cloud Nine
Golduck Damp Cloud Nine
Mankey Vital Spirit Anger Point
Primeape Vital Spirit Anger Point
Growlithe Intimidate Flash Fire
Arcanine Intimidate Flash Fire
Poliwag Water Absorb Damp
Poliwhirl Water Absorb Damp
Poliwrath Water Absorb Damp
Politoed Water Absorb Damp
Abra Synchronize Inner Focus
Kadabra Synchronize Inner Focus
Alakazam Synchronize Inner Focus
Machop Guts No Guard
Machoke Guts No Guard
Machamp Guts No Guard
Tentacool Clear Body Liquid Ooze
Tentacruel Clear Body Liquid Ooze
Geodude Rock Head Sturdy
Graveler Rock Head Sturdy
Golem Rock Head Sturdy
Ponyta Run Away Flash Fire
Rapidash Run Away Flash Fire
Slowpoke Oblivious Own Tempo
Slowbro Oblivious Own Tempo
Slowking Oblivious Own Tempo
Magnemite Magnet Pull Sturdy
Magneton Magnet Pull Sturdy
Magnezone Magnet Pull Sturdy
Farfetch’d Keen Eye Inner Focus
Doduo Run Away Early Bird
Dodrio Run Away Early Bird
Seel Thick Fat Hydration
Dewgong Thick Fat Hydration
Grimer Stench Sticky Hold
Muk Stench Sticky Hold
Shellder Shell Armor Skill Link
Cloyster Shell Armor Skill Link
Onix Rock Head Sturdy
Steelix Rock Head Sturdy
Drowzee Insomnia Forewarn
Hypno Insomnia Forewarn
Krabby Hyper Cutter Shell Armor
Kingler Hyper Cutter Shell Armor
Voltorb Soundproof Static
Electrode Soundproof Static
Cubone Rock Head Lightningrod
Marowak Rock Head Lightningrod
Tyrogue Guts Steadfast
Hitmonlee Limber Reckless
Hitmonchan Keen Eye Iron Fist
Hitmontop Intimidate Technician
Lickitung Own Tempo Oblivious
Lickilicky Own Tempo Oblivious
Rhyhorn Lightningrod Rock Head
Rhydon Lightningrod Rock Head
Rhyperior Lightningrod Solid Rock
Happiny Natural Cure Serene Grace
Chansey Natural Cure Serene Grace
Blissey Natural Cure Serene Grace
Tangela Chlorophyll Leaf Guard
Tangrowth Chlorophyll Leaf Guard
Kangaskhan Early Bird Scrappy
Horsea Swift Swim Sniper
Seadra Swift Swim Sniper
Kingdra Swift Swim Sniper
Goldeen Swift Swim Water Veil
Seaking Swift Swim Water Veil
Staryu Illuminate Natural Cure
Starmie Illuminate Natural Cure
Mime Jr. Soundproof Filter
Mr. Mime Soundproof Filter
Scyther Swarm Technician
Scizor Swarm Technician
Smoochum Oblivious Forewarn
Jynx Oblivious Forewarn
Pinsir Hyper Cutter Mold Breaker
Tauros Intimidate Anger Point
Lapras Water Absorb Shell Armor
Eevee Run Away Adaptability
Porygon Trace Download
Porygon2 Trace Download
Porygon-Z Adaptability Download
Omanyte Swift Swim Shell Armor
Omastar Swift Swim Shell Armor
Kabuto Swift Swim Battle Armor
Kabutops Swift Swim Battle Armor
Aerodactyl Rock Head Pressure
Munchlax Pick Up Thick Fat
Snorlax Immunity Thick Fat
Sentret Run Away Keen Eye
Furret Run Away Keen Eye
Hoothoot Insomnia Keen Eye
Noctowl Insomnia Keen Eye
Ledyba Swarm Early Bird
Ledian Swarm Early Bird
Spinarak Swarm Insomnia
Ariados Swarm Insomnia
Chinchou Volt Absorb Illuminate
Lanturn Volt Absorb Illuminate
Togepi Hustle Serene Grace
Togetic Hustle Serene Grace
Togekiss Hustle Serene Grace
Natu Synchronize Early Bird
Xatu Synchronize Early Bird
Azurill Thick Fat Huge Power
Marill Thick Fat Huge Power
Azumarill Thick Fat Huge Power
Bonsly Sturdy Rock Head
Sudowoodo Sturdy Rock Head
Aipon Run Away Pick Up
Ambipom Technician Pick Up
Sunkern Chlorophyll Solar Power
Sunflora Chlorophyll Solar Power
Yanma Speed Boost Compoundeyes
Yanmega Speed Boost Tinted Lens
Wooper Damp Water Absorb
Quagsire Damp Water Absorb
Murkrow Insomnia Super Luck
Honchkrow Insomnia Super Luck
Girafarig Inner Focus Early Bird
Dunsparce Serene Grace Run Away
Gligar Hyper Cutter Sand Veil
Gliscor Hyper Cutter Sand Veil
Snubbull Intimidate Run Away
Granbull Intimidate Quick Feet
Qwilfish Poison Point Swift Swim
Heracross Swarm Guts
Sneasel Inner Focus Keen Eye
Teddiursa Pick Up Quick Feet
Ursaring Guts Quick Feet
Slugma Magma Armor Flame Body
Magcargo Magma Armor Flame Body
Swinub Oblivious Snow Cloak
Piloswine Oblivious Snow Cloak
Mamoswine Oblivious Snow Cloak
Corsola Hustle Natural Cure
Remoraid Hustle Sniper
Octillery Suction Cups Sniper
Delibird Vital Spirit Hustle
Mantyke Swift Swim Water Absorb
Mantine Swift Swim Water Absorb
Skarmory Keen Eye Sturdy
Houndour Early Bird Flash Fire
Houndoom Early Bird Flash Fire
Stantler Intimidate Frisk
Smeargle Own Tempo Technician
Miltank Thick Fat Scrappy
Poochyena Run Away Quick Feet
Mightyena Intimidate Quick Feet
Zigzagoon Pick Up Gluttony
Linoone Pick Up Gluttony
Lotad Swift Swim Rain Dish
Lombre Swift Swim Rain Dish
Ludicolo Swift Swim Rain Dish
Seedot Chlorophyll Early Bird
Nuzleaf Chlorophyll Early Bird
Shiftry Chlorophyll Early Bird
Ralts Synchronize Trace
Kirlia Synchronize Trace
Gardevoir Synchronize Trace
Shroomish Effect Spore Poison Heal
Breloom Effect Spore Poison Heal
Makuhita Thick Fat Guts
Hariyama Thick Fat Guts
Nosepass Sturdy Magnet Pull
Probopass Sturdy Magnet Pull
Skitty Cute Charm Normalize
Delcatty Cute Charm Normalize
Sableye Keen Eye Stall
Mawile Hyper Cutter Intimidate
Aron Sturdy Rock Head
Lairon Sturdy Rock Head
Aggron Sturdy Rock Head
Electrike Static Lightningrod
Manectric Static Lightningrod
Volbeat Illuminate Swarm
Illumise Oblivious Tinted Lens
Budew Natural Cure Poison Point
Roselia Natural Cure Poison Point
Roserade Natural Cure Poison Point
Gulpin Liquid Ooze Sticky Hold
Swalot Liquid Ooze Sticky Hold
Wailmer Water Veil Oblivious
Wailord Water Veil Oblivious
Numel Oblivious Simple
Camerupt Magma Armor Solid Rock
Spoink Thick Fat Own Tempo
Grumpig Thick Fat Own Tempo
Spinda Own Tempo Tangled Feet
Trapinch Hyper Cutter Arena Trap
Barboach Oblivious Anticipation
Whiscash Oblivious Anticipation
Corphish Hyper Cutter Shell Armor
Crawdaunt Hyper Cutter Shell Armor
Shuppet Insomnia Frisk
Banette Insomnia Frisk
Tropius Chlorophyll Solar Power
Absol Pressure Super Luck
Snorunt Inner Focus Ice Body
Glalie Inner Focus Ice Body
Spheal Thick Fat Ice Body
Sealeo Thick Fat Ice Body
Walrein Thick Fat Ice Body
Relicanth Swift Swim Rock Head
Bidoof Simple Unaware
Bibarel Simple Unaware
Shinx Rivalry Intimidate
Luxio Rivalry Intimidate
Luxray Rivalry Intimidate
Pachirisu Run Away Pick Up
Shellos Sticky Hold Storm Drain
Gastrodon Sticky Hold Storm Drain
Drifloon Aftermath Unburden
Drifblim Aftermath Unburden
Buneary Run Away Klutz
Lopunny Cute Charm Klutz
Glameow Limber Own Tempo
Purugly Thick Fat Own Tempo
Stunky Stench Aftermath
Skuntank Stench Aftermath
Bronzor Levitate Heatproof
Bronzong Levitate Heatproof
Chatot Keen Eye Tangled Feet
Riolu Steadfast Inner Focus
Lucario Steadfast Inner Focus
Skorupi Battle Armor Sniper
Drapion Battle Armor Sniper
Croagunk Anticipation Dry Skin
Toxicroak Anticipation Dry Skin
Finneon Swift Swim Storm Drain
Lumineon Swift Swim Storm Drain
2.3 How the IVs of a Pokemon are created
The six IVs of the Pokemon are also created from just two RNG calls. Since each IV consists of 5 bits (because the binary number 11111 is equal to 31 in decimal), the first random number would contain 3 of these IVs (5 × 3 = 15), with one redundant bit, while the second random number would contain the other 3.
The IVs would be extracted from the two random numbers as follows:
Code:
First Random Number: x|xxxxx|xxxxx|xxxxx
-|DefIV|AtkIV|HP IV
Second Random Number: x|xxxxx|xxxxx|xxxxx
-|SpDIV|SpAIV|SpeIV
For example, given the subsequent two random numbers [5233] and [E470] as above, we would have:
First Random Number = [5233] = 0|10100|10001|10011. Hence, the Defense IV would be 10100 = 20, the Attack IV would be 10001 = 17 and the HP IV would be 10011 = 19.
Second Random Number = [E470] = 1|11001|00011|10000. Hence, the Special Defense IV would be 11001 = 25, the Special Attack IV would be 00011 = 3 and the Speed IV would be 10000 = 16.
Thus, our Pokemon would have the IVs 19/17/20/3/25/16, written in the usual format of HP IV/Atk IV/Def IV/SpA IV/SpD IV/Spe IV.
2.4 How the RNG is called in the games to generate a Pokemon
There are basically three different ways of how the RNG is invoked to produce a Pokemon, depending on the game and the Pokemon:
- Method 1: Four RNG calls are made, two to generate the PID and two to generate the IVs. It can be illustrated as [PID] [PID] [IVs] [IVs].
- Method 2: Five RNG calls are made. The first two are used to generate the PID and the last two are used to generate the IVs. The third RNG call is not used for anything. It can be illustrated as [PID] [PID] [xxxx] [IVs] [IVs].
- Method 3: Five RNG calls are made. The first and third are used to generate the PID and the last two are used to generate the IVs. The second RNG call is not used for anything. It can be illustrated as [PID] [xxxx] [PID] [IVs] [IVs].
- Legendary Pokemon
- Starter Pokemon
- Eevee in Fire Red and Leaf Green
- Castform and Beldum in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald
The criterion for choosing whether to use Method 1, 2 or 3 in the creation of wild Pokemon in Ruby, Sapphire, Fire Red and Leaf Green seems to be arbitrary, although it might be related to the terrain where they are situated.
To summarise, here are the methods used for each game depending on the Pokemon being caught or given:
Code:
Game Wild Pokemon Methods Non-wild Pokemon Methods
---------------------------------------------------------
RSFRLGE 1, 2 or 3 1
DP 1 1
3. A Complete Example
Suppose you meet a wild Tentacool in Emerald. Let’s assume that Method 2 is chosen for Tentacool to be generated. Also we assume that the current RNG seed is [560B9CE3].
The game calls the RNG and gets the number [2751]. The game calls the RNG again and gets the number [7E48]. Thus, the PID of this Tentacool is [7E482751].
This hexadecimal number is the 32-bit binary number
01111110010010000010011101010001
which is equal to 2118657873 in decimal. The last two digits of this decimal number are 73. Since this number is greater than 24, we subtract 25 from it. 73 minus 25 is equal to 48. 48 is still greater than 24, so we again subtract 25 from it, becoming 23. Hence this Tentacool would have a Careful nature, since that is the nature that the number 23 corresponds to.
The last two digits of the PID in hexadecimal are 51, which is equal to 01010001 in binary, or 81 in decimal. Tentacool has a 50% chance of being female. Since the number 81 is between 0 and 126, this Tentacool would be female.
The last digit of the binary representation of the PID is 1. Thus, this Tentacool would have the second possible ability, i.e. Liquid Ooze.
The game now calls the RNG for a third time, getting the number [CAB4]. This number is discarded since we’re using Method 2 to generate the Pokemon. A fourth call to the RNG yields the number [629C]. This number is equal to
0|11000|10100|11100
in binary. The Defense IV would then be the binary number 11000, which is 24 in decimal, the Attack IV would be 10100, which is 20 in decimal, and the HP IV would be 11100, which is 28 in decimal.
A final invocation to the RNG gives us the number [5EE9]. This number is equal to
0|10111|10111|01001
in binary. The Special Defense IV would thus be the binary number 10111, which is 23 in decimal, the Special Attack IV would be 10111, which is 23 in decimal and the Speed IV would be 01001, which is 9 in decimal.
To recapitulate, you would have encountered a female Tentacool having a Careful nature, the Liquid Ooze ability and 28/20/24/23/23/9 IVs.