What is the first Pokémon?
Bulbasaur is number 001 in the National Pokédex, so it is usually called the first Pokémon. Rhydon was the first Pokémon ever designed, and Arceus is the first in the story.
Bulbasaur, a grass and poison Pokémon with a plant bulb on its back, is one of the three starter Pokémon in the original games, along with Charmander and Squirtle. Because it comes first in the official Pokédex numbering, it is often the answer to trivia questions about the first Pokémon.
Behind the scenes, the developers' first design was Rhydon, a rock-horned rhinoceros-like Pokémon. In the original game's internal code, Rhydon is listed as number 1. Game Freak staff have said in interviews that Rhydon was the first Pokémon they designed.
In the story
Within the Pokémon world, Arceus is described as the creator of the universe, said to have emerged from an egg in a void of chaos. The legendary Mew is believed to be the ancestor of all Pokémon, because it contains the genetic code of every species. Its clone, Mewtwo, is number 150.
Did You Know?
Pikachu, now the franchise's mascot, is number 025 in the Pokédex. It was chosen as the anime's lead partly because it appealed to both boys and girls.