In-Depth Stories, News

Starter Pokémon, Legendaries, Region and Release Dates for Sun and Moon Revealed!

The news we’ve been waiting for has arrived: the Starter Pokémon, release date, and more!

By , May 10, 2016, 5:06 PM

Today the Pokémon website and YouTube channel has revealed the Starter Pokémon, as well as information on the region and the release date.

Breaking down the main highlights:

  • The three starter Pokémon are Rowlet (Grass/Flying), Litten (Fire) and Popplio (Water). Read more about them here!
  • The region is the Alola region – presumably based on Hawaii. Read more about it here!
  • The games will be released on November 18th, 2016 in the US, Australia and Japan, and on November 23rd in Europe.
  • Trainer customisation is back in. This appears to include clothes to at least some extent!
  • The legendaries have also been revealed.
Rowlet (Grass/Flying)
Rowlet (Grass/Flying)
Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 10.11.23 pm
Litten (Fire)
Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 10.11.35 pm
Popplio (Water)
The new mascots on the game boxes.
The new mascots on the game boxes.
This is awesome. The cover legendaries want you to pick them!
This is awesome. The cover legendaries want you to pick them!
Meowth's in the game, or at least the overworld.
Meowth’s in the game, or at least the overworld. That’s also a Wailmer Pail in the background.
Trainer customisation is confirmed!
Trainer customisation is confirmed! At least with skin and hair colour. Eagle-eyed fans have noted a difference in shirt stripe-colour at points in the trailer.
The map of Alola.
The map of Alola.

The US site has also been updated with information about the Starter Pokémon.

You can also view Japan’s version of the announcement video.

Lastly, check out the summary video made by Achromatic of the PokéCommunity YouTube team.


Edited by Charlie Brown.

bobandbill is a staff member on The PokéCommunity forums, and the Head Editor of PokéCommunity Daily. He likes discussing and writing about Pokémon on top of playing the games. He is not, contrary to popular belief, two people.