Partner Pokémon (Mystery Dungeon)

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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Role in Story in games beyond Explorers

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The partner Pokémon (Japanese: パートナーのポケモン or パートナーポケモン partner Pokémon) or partner is a Pokémon with a major role in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, serving as the hero Pokémon's partner.

Terminology

Partner Pokémon

This is known as "partner Pokémon" in the manuals of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. For instance:

• "The Pokémon which becomes your partner Pokémon will be one of the following ten. No matter which one you choose, it will help you in your adventure!"

Partner

This has been shortened to "partner" in the manuals of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky. For instance:

• "Meowth and Munchlax are only candidates for the partner. They are not available as candidates for the hero."
• "If you or your partner are defeated in a dungeon, the exploration team will be sent back to the guild, or in some cases to the last save point."

In the games

The partner Pokémon has a major role to play in every Mystery Dungeon game. It is a Pokémon, chosen by the player after the hero Pokémon is determined, to accompany it in the adventure. The partner is chosen after the hero Pokémon is determined. The partner cannot be of the same species or type as the hero.

In the main storyline from the Rescue Team and Explorers titles, the partner is always following the hero, and the mission fails if the partner faints (with no means to revive it such as a Reviver Seed). The partner often has dialogue interacting with the hero during the storyline. In the post-game, the player is no longer required to play specifically as the hero, and can choose to play as any Pokémon in the team, including the partner.

Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Rescue Team DX

At the beginning of the game, the player is presented with a quiz that decides which Pokémon they will play as, and then the partner is chosen (see below). The player and partner are the only playable Pokémon until the first mission is completed and a Friend Area (Camp in Rescue Team DX) is purchased. After the player has completed the main story, what Pokémon may be used as the main character is now an option, and the partner is not required for subsequent missions. If the player or partner Pokémon was knocked out during missions prior to finishing the main storyline, it counts as a failure of the mission.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Initially, the partner helps the player settle into a Team Base. Then, when their Rescue Team status is confirmed, the player and partner undertake a series of missions. During this time, they find out about Friend Areas/Camps from Wigglytuff, and also meet other rescue teams. After rescuing Shiftry at Mt. Thunder, Alakazam, the leader of a famous rescue team who does not know how the player came to become a Pokémon, instructs the player and partner to see Xatu at the Hill of the Ancients. Xatu only knows of a link between the rise in the number of natural calamities in the world, and the player's transformation into a Pokémon. The player and partner see Whiscash the next day, and are told about the Ninetales legend. The day after, Gengar gathers the residents of the Pokémon Square, claiming that the player is the cursed human from Ninetales' legend and is the cause of the calamities in the world, therefore should be eliminated. The player is attacked, but the partner brings the player to safety. It then berates the player for not denying that they are the human from the legend. The partner affirms that they will believe in the player no matter what. After being warned by Alakazam that rescue teams will be out in force to apprehend the player and its accomplices, the player and partner become fugitives. They defeat Moltres and Articuno in order to pass through Mt. Blaze and Frosty Forest respectively. The partner then hears about what Gardevoir told the player. They travel up Mt. Freeze but are caught by Alakazam's team. At that moment, Ninetales appears and stops them from fighting. Ninetales reveals that the player isn't the cursed human from its legend, and the cursed human isn't responsible for the natural calamities. The partner hears this revelation with relief, but is then curious to know why the player turned into a Pokémon if they aren't the human from the legend.

The player and partner are welcomed on their return to Pokémon Square, and the residents chase Gengar out after finding out that he lied to them. While Alakazam's team attempt to quell Groudon, the player's Team Base undergoes a renovation with the help of three Mankey that the player and partner defeated at Uproar Forest. After it becomes clear that Alakazam's team are struggling to quell Groudon, a makeshift rescue team is sent to Magma Cavern to rescue them, but they are defeated, leaving the player and partner with no choice but to defeat Groudon and rescue Alakazam's team. After that, Xatu tells the residents of Pokémon Square about the ultimate calamity: a meteor about to strike the planet. Xatu knows that only Rayquaza, who lives atop the Sky Tower, will be able to avert the meteor strike. Xatu, Alakazam and another Pokémon create a Teleport Gem to allow the player and partner access to the Sky Tower. The player and partner defeat Rayquaza and convince it to launch a Hyper Beam at the meteor. The player and partner are caught up but are saved by Gengar and taken to the Hill of the Ancients. Just as the Pokémon that have gathered are about to celebrate, Gardevoir appears before the player. The player reveals that it must now return to its own world as a human being, and starts to disappear into a ball of light. The Pokémon, especially the partner, are left shocked and saddened by this. However, the player decides to return to the Pokémon world, reappearing in front of the partner and others at the Team Base.

In the post-game story, the player and partner discover that Snubbull underwent evolution, and became Granbull. When the player goes to see the Friend Areas after this, the partner proposes the idea of designating any one of their rescue team recruits as team leader. From then on, the partner is not required to be in the team for any missions, and they do not follow the player around in the square. Though they may still appear beside the player in certain cutscenes.

	Spoilers end here.

Pokémon
	Bulbasaur
	Charmander
	Squirtle
	Pikachu
	Chikorita
	Cyndaquil
	Totodile
	Treecko
	Torchic
	Mudkip

Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness

The game starts with a quiz to decide what Pokémon the player starts as, and then the player chooses a partner. The partner has to tag along and the player will automatically lose should the partner Pokémon be knocked out until the main story is completed. However, the player and partner will still walk around in Treasure Town.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

In the storyline, the partner initially comes across as timid and lacking in confidence. It fails to join Wigglytuff's Guild by itself due to this, even though it thought that carrying a piece of personal treasure, which the partner calls the Relic Fragment, would help. The partner goes to the beach to raise its spirits, then discovers the player on the beach. After helping the player up and finding out that it was a human, the partner is attacked and has its Relic Fragment stolen by a Zubat and Koffing, who flee into the Beach Cave. The player and partner corner the thieves and defeat them in battle to retrieve the Relic Fragment, after which the partner admits it couldn't have done without the player. The player agrees to form a team with the partner, and later they manage to gain access to Wigglytuff Guild. After convincing Chatot that they wish to join as apprentices, they meet Guildmaster Wigglytuff who signs them up. Chatot then shows them where they will sleep every night. The next day, they are woken up by fellow apprentice Loudred. Chatot then gives the player and partner their first assignment. After completing the assignment, the partner is shocked that only 10% of the monetary reward is given to the player's team.

The next day, Chatot tells fellow apprentice Bidoof to show the player and partner around Treasure Town. After the tour ends with the player buying some items at the Kecleon Shop, a Marill and Azurill then go shopping at the same place. After giving back an Apple that Azurill dropped, the player starts to see a vision. The player and partner then see a Drowzee talk to the same Marill and Azurill, seemingly offering to help them look for their lost Water Float. When Drowzee leaves, he accidentally nudges the player, causing it to start seeing another vision, of Drowzee threatening Azurill. The player tries to explain it to the partner, who thinks the player is just dreaming. But upon returning to the guild, the Outlaw Notice Board updates, with Drowzee added to the list of suspects. Knowing that Azurill might be in trouble, as the player foresaw, the player and partner go up to Mt. Bristle to defeat and arrest Drowzee. At night, the partner talks about the Time Gears and how nobody would dare to steal one, although the next cutscene shows a Pokémon clearly doing so.

The next day, Chatot asks the player and partner to investigate a secret waterfall. Using the player's visions, they discover that Wigglytuff might have already visited this waterfall, and Wigglytuff confirms thus when the player and partner return. The following day, Chatot tells the guild that a Time Gear has been stolen. It then tells the player and partner about an upcoming expedition. Their participation in the expedition would depend on their performance in their next mission, which was to bring some Perfect Apples from Apple Woods for Wigglytuff. When they get there, they are ambushed by Team Skull's Koffing and Skuntank. They steal the Perfect Apples, leaving the player and partner to report to the guild as having failed their mission, with punishment in the form of not having the day's dinner. The next morning, fellow guild apprentices Chimecho, Sunflora and Diglett show their kind gestures by giving the player and partner portions of the dinner that they set aside.

In the following days, the partner openly expresses its worries following the failed mission. However, Wigglytuff announces that everyone in the guild is taking part in the expedition, much to Chatot's shock. The player and partner are paired with Bidoof to get to where the guild would be setting up camp; with its newfound determination, the partner acts as a leader for the makeshift team. Using the player's visions, the partner inserts a stone that it found near the Foggy Forest, into a Groudon statue in order to lift the fog and gain access to the Steam Cave. At the top, they battle Groudon, but it turns out to be an illusion created by Uxie, the guardian of Fogbound Lake and its Time Gear. The partner asks Uxie about whether it knows about the player's past as a human, and whether it may have caused the player's amnesia. Uxie replies that it can only erase memories of Fogbound Lake. Uxie also trusts the guild enough to allow them to keep their experiences of Fogbound Lake, but after the guild returns to base, the same thief from before, who knows nothing about the guild, arrives to defeat Uxie and steal the Time Gear.

The day after the player and partner return to base, they encounter a self-proclaimed legendary explorer named Dusknoir. After Team Skull tries to ambush the player and partner once again by luring them to the Amp Plains, Dusknoir arrives to drive them away. The next day, after Dusknoir recognizes the player's visions as the Dimensional Scream, the guild receives an alert about the Time Gear from Fogbound Lake having been stolen, as well as the identity of the thief, now known to be Grovyle. The guild therefore begins an investigation to uncover the locations of the remaining Time Gears before Grovyle can steal them. The player and partner investigate the Northern Desert, eventually finding out that something lies inside the quicksand at the end of the desert. They reach the lake underneath Quicksand Cave; after defeating the lake's guardian, Mesprit, Grovyle arrives to steal the lake's Time Gear, causing the player and partner to flee.

They return to the guild, where Dusknoir postulates that if the player touches the crystal that Bidoof found at Crystal Cave, it may reveal whether there's a lake underneath it. The player sees a vision of Grovyle having defeated another Pokémon there, so the player and partner go to Crystal Cave to investigate. They reach the lake underneath Crystal Crossing and sees the lake's guardian, Azelf, being threatened by Grovyle as the player foresaw. They unsuccessfully attempt to defeat Grovyle in battle. Dusknoir then arrives, causing Grovyle to flee before other guild members arrive at the scene to tend to the injured player and partner.

Knowing that Azelf secured its Time Gear, Dusknoir knows Grovyle cannot achieve his goal. He tells the guild and residents of Treasure Town that if Grovyle succeeds, he will cause the planet's paralysis, where the flow of time completely stops. He also reveals that he and Grovyle came from the future. Having agreed with Treasure Town's sheriff, Magnezone, Dusknoir would capture Grovyle himself, then call the guild and Treasure Town's residents for one final farewell before taking Grovyle back to the future. The capture succeeds, and during the farewell, Dusknoir calls the player and partner forward after Grovyle is sent into the dimensional hole towards the future. Without warning, he grabs the player and partner and takes them into the dimensional hole as well.

The player and partner find themselves in a prison. They are then taken away to a stockade, where they would be executed by six Sableye. To their shock, they find Grovyle tied to the stockade as well. Grovyle convinces the player and partner to follow his plan to escape from the stockade. The trio flee, and when the partner sees the outside world, it is shocked to see that it is just as Dusknoir described if all the Time Gears had been stolen. Grovyle, still unable to gain the trust of the player and partner, decides to continue by himself. Then, the player and partner decide to catch up to him. They rescue Grovyle from a Spiritomb at Sealed Ruin. Grovyle decides to tell the player and partner his reason for stealing the Time Gears in the past. Although the partner still isn't fully trusting Grovyle, it decides to go with Grovyle and his next mission: to seek Celebi, who would lead them to the Passage of Time in order to return to the past. Though they make it to the Passage of Time, Dusknoir and his six Sableye corner the trio and Celebi, and call forth their own master, Primal Dialga, to eliminate them once and for all. Here, Grovyle reveals that he did not return to the past alone. Dusknoir tells Grovyle to reveal the name of his companion. Grovyle is then shocked to find out that his companion, the player, is beside him having turned into a Pokémon. The partner is equally shocked to find out that Dusknoir misled everyone while he was in the past. Just as Grovyle seems to have lost all hope, the partner asks Celebi whether she can transport them nearer to the Passage of Time. Celebi complies, and the trio manage to enter the portal back to the past, with Celebi evading capture in the future.

The trio wake up at the beach back in the player's present time. Grovyle decides to collect the Time Gears again, starting with the one in Treeshroud Forest. After accomplishing this, the partner has Grovyle and the player hide in its old home, Sharpedo Bluff, while it collects information about what has happened since the player and partner were away. Grovyle tells the player and partner about the Hidden Land, which is where Temporal Tower is. The player and partner agree to find out how to get there, while Grovyle collects the other Time Gears.

The player and partner are welcomed back to the Wigglytuff Guild, where everyone believes the player and partner's account of the future except Chatot, who was highly skeptical. The player and partner are also told that the town elder, Torkoal, may also know about the Hidden Land. After an initial meeting failed to elicit a meaningful answer, Torkoal visits the guild himself the next day to elaborate on his answer. At that point, the player decides that the partner should show Torkoal the Relic Fragment. Torkoal confirms that the partner's treasure is what's needed. Wigglytuff and Chatot see the Relic Fragment's pattern and agree that they have seen it before. Thus, the guild prepares for an expedition into the Brine Cave.

The player and partner reach the bottom of Brine Cave, and rescue Chatot from a Kabutops and two Omastar. They then see Wigglytuff and Grovyle further ahead, and find out that Wigglytuff had visited Brine Cave the night before. Using the partner's Relic Fragment, Lapras is summoned. It takes the player, partner and Grovyle to the Hidden Land after an overnight Surf. When the trio arrive at the old ruins on top of the Hidden Land, they see the Rainbow Stoneship which would take them up to the Temporal Tower. At that point, Dusknoir and his six Sableye apprehend them. The trio defeat the Sableye, forcing them to flee, but Dusknoir refuses to back down. It is only defeated when the trio counter a Shadow Ball launched from his mouth. While Dusknoir is down, Grovyle tells the partner to activate the Rainbow Stoneship using its Relic Fragment. While the partner is away, Dusknoir informs the player that if history is changed, all the Pokémon from the future would disappear, hoping to convince them to give up their mission. When the partner returns and informs them that the Stoneship is ready, Grovyle announces that he is taking Dusknoir back to the future. After leaving the Time Gears behind, he pushes Dusknoir through the dimensional hole with himself, and the hole disappears.

The partner gathers the Time Gears and goes with the player up Temporal Tower. At the pinnacle, they encounter a Dialga that is not fully Primal, and defeat it. With the tower's collapse advancing, the partner then hurriedly puts the Time Gears in place. The player and partner are knocked unconscious subsequently, but wake up to a Dialga whose senses were restored. It shows the player and partner areas where time's flow has returned to normal, and tells them to return home.

On the way back to the Rainbow Stoneship, the player starts to disappear. It tells the shocked partner that it is destined to disappear, because it came from the future which has now changed. As the partner's shock turns into grief and sorrow, the player expresses one last wish for its partner before disappearing completely. Months later, the partner goes out for a stroll at the beach and sees the bubbles blow over the sea. The partner remembers the last time it saw this: when it met the player. As the memories come flooding back, Bidoof goes to check on the partner. The partner finishes recalling its memories by collapsing in tears on Bidoof. At the Temporal Tower, Dialga decides to grant the partner's wish, and revives the player behind the partner at the beach.

In the post-game story, the player and partner take the graduation mission: they would bring back some treasure from the Mystifying Forest, but are warned about the "grand master of all things bad" lurking there. A Teddiursa, who sees the player and partner before going to the forest too, does not recall encountering such a threat. They meet Teddiursa again at the clearing, where it still does not see such a threat. However, the player and partner fall into a pit covered by leaves, and eventually find out that "the grand master of all things bad" is just Wigglytuff and his apprentices thanks to Bidoof accidentally taking the cover off. After defeating their guild colleagues, the player and partner catch up with Teddiursa again. It shows them the Luminous Spring, which has had its power restored and now allows Pokémon to evolve. Teddiursa successfully undergoes its evolution into Ursaring. However, when the partner tries to go for its evolution at the spring, it finds that it cannot, because it is causing a distortion in the fabric of space. The partner also finds out that the player cannot evolve for the same reason.

After graduating, the player and partner sleep and save their progress at the Sharpedo Bluff. They are now able to choose the team leader before going off to explore a dungeon. After going on a few explorations, the player will have dreams where a Cresselia tells it that it should not exist. The player and partner are then alerted to an incident where Azurill won't wake up. Chatot suggests that Drowzee should be asked to look into this. The partner recalls who Drowzee is, and officer Magnemite reveals that Drowzee is now on Mt. Travail. The player and partner go there to see Drowzee and lead him to Azurill. Drowzee tells the player and partner to get ready for an exploration of Azurill's dream. After wandering around in the dream, Cresselia then appears to both the player and partner, confirming that Azurill is in a nightmare, and the existence of them both will cause everyone in the world to be trapped in nightmares. But when Drowzee's voice is heard, Cresselia flees. Drowzee takes the player and partner out of Azurill's nightmare. After being told about Cresselia, Chatot recalls what it knows about the Pokémon, which seems contrary to how Cresselia appeared to the player and partner. The partner stops short of revealing any cure for the nightmares, telling the player later on that it was silly to take Cresselia's word for granted. After the player suggests that the circumstances are different: that the player disappeared first time around because it knew it would secure the world's future, and this time around it would not be certain that them disappearing would make things better, the partner feels a little bit better. The partner suggests to see Lapras to ask what it knows about the fabric of space. They go to sleep after hearing about Palkia and the Spacial Rift, but are woken up by Palkia itself, who takes them to the Spacial Rift, determined to eliminate them. After being chased to a dead end, the player and partner defeat Palkia in battle, causing it to be immobilized. A voice tells the player and partner that Palkia is trapped in a nightmare, and offers them a look into it. Inside the nightmare, Cresselia appears once more, confirming once again that the world will be saved if the player and partner are eliminated. Palkia questions this; it reveals that Cresselia appeared in its dreams with its claims about the player and partner, but they don't seem to have any intention of causing trouble. Just as Cresselia is about to finish them off, a second Cresselia appears, exposing the first Cresselia to be Darkrai and pulling Palkia out of its nightmare, along with the player and partner.

At Treasure Town, the real Cresselia appears to Chatot and the guild members, having rescued Azurill from its nightmare. Cresselia reminds the player and partner of where they met her impostor: in dreams. Cresselia knows that Darkrai isn't acting like normal when he told the player and partner to meet at the Dark Crater. She knows that the player and partner have beaten him before: when they foiled the destruction of time at Temporal Tower. Finally, she tells the player and partner that even though they cause a distortion of space, it is too small and cannot expand on its own. But it was blamed on the player and partner in order to eliminate them. Thus, knowing what Darkrai is about, the guild members volunteer to go to the Dark Crater, but Cresselia tells them to be content with just the player, partner and herself going there.

At the deepest part of the Dark Crater, Darkrai tells the truth to the player and partner. He did seek to destroy time by destroying the Temporal Tower. But when he heard of the player and Grovyle's arrival from the future, he attacked them just as they were time traveling. His attack was intended for Grovyle, but the player shielded Grovyle, hence causing the memory loss and transformation into a Pokémon. He then decides, instead of trying to eliminate the player and partner, he would convince them to join him. The partner appears to be convinced by this, and goes to Darkrai's side. But the player sees through this, knowing it's an illusion, and attacks Darkrai. After Darkrai is defeated in battle, he hatches an escape plan. He summons a dimensional hole that would allow him to plunge the world into darkness in another time. However, Palkia arrives to stop Darkrai once and for all, by firing an attack on Darkrai just as he begins to time-travel. After being assured by Cresselia that it means Darkrai had probably gained amnesia and would not return to his wicked ways, the player and partner return to Treasure Town triumphantly. The consequent cutscene is narrated in the partner's voice, where it mentions that it still cannot evolve. This remains the case until Marine Resort is unlocked and Palkia joins the exploration team.

	Spoilers end here.

The player cannot customize their partner's gender. The partner can only be a fixed gender for the species.

Pokémon		Pokémon.com description
	Bulbasaur♂	Bulbasaur's Overgrow Ability powers up Grass-type moves when it's weakened.
	Charmander♂	This starter Pokémon wears its emotions on its tail—the flame on its tail, that is!
	Squirtle♂	With its Water Terrain Ability, Squirtle can lead you across rivers and lakes!
	Pikachu♂	Pikachu is one of the starters you can choose from! We wonder if its Ability, Static, will come in to play?
	Chikorita♀	Grass-type Pokémon like Chikorita can be found in forests.
	Cyndaquil♂	Cyndaquil delivers a warm reception when it's angered or startled—its back erupts with fire!
	Totodile♂	Even its friends need to be careful of Totodile—it has a habit of biting anything with its developed jaws.
	Treecko♂	After you battle in the Explorer Maze, Treecko shows up to request a job.
	Torchic♂	Those who hug Torchic get an extra warm feeling because a fire burns inside its body!
	Mudkip♂	Skilled in Water-type moves, Mudkip checks its surroundings using the fin on its head.
	Turtwig♂	Turtwig is a Grass-type Pokémon. Will it be powerful in grassy areas?
	Chimchar♂	Using Fire-type moves with Chimchar will definitely help you out in a pinch.
	Piplup♂	Piplup is friendly and enthusiastic. It will make a great Pokémon adventurer!

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

As in Explorers of Time and Darkness, the game starts with a quiz to decide what Pokémon the player starts as, and then the player chooses a partner. The partner has to tag along and the player will automatically lose should the partner Pokémon be knocked out until the main story is completed. However, the player and partner will still walk around in Treasure Town.

The player cannot customize their partner's gender. The partner can only be a fixed gender for the species.

Pokémon		Egg Move
	Bulbasaur♂	—
	Charmander♂	—
	Squirtle♂	—
	Pikachu♂	—
	Vulpix♀	Faint Attack
	Meowth♂	Hypnosis
	Eevee♀	Flail
	Chikorita♀	—
	Cyndaquil♂	—
	Totodile♂	—
	Phanpy♂	AncientPower
	Treecko♂	—
	Torchic♂	—
	Mudkip♂	—
	Skitty♀	Zen Headbutt
	Turtwig♂	—
	Chimchar♂	—
	Piplup♂	—
	Shinx♂	Quick Attack
	Munchlax♂	Zen Headbutt
	Riolu♂	Bite

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (WiiWare)

The partner is chosen by a selection screen.

Version	Pokémon
Blazing
	Charmander	Vulpix	Growlithe
	Eevee	Cyndaquil	Teddiursa
	Torchic	Chimchar	Buneary
Stormy
	Squirtle	Totodile	Wooper
	Phanpy	Mudkip	Azurill
	Wynaut	Piplup	Riolu
Light
	Pikachu	Meowth	Psyduck
	Pichu	Togepi	Mareep
	Elekid	Shinx	Pachirisu

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity

The player can choose between the Unova first partner Pokémon, Pikachu, and Axew.

In the Japanese version, the player can choose whether the partner is male or female. If the player chooses to have a female Pikachu as their partner, it will erroneously not have the gender difference applied. The partner can only be male in the international versions.

Pikachu	Snivy	Tepig	Oshawott	Axew
Electric	Grass	Fire	Water	Dragon

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon

Every core series first partner Pokémon as of Generation VI, as well as Pikachu and Riolu, can be chosen as the player or partner. They can either be selected by quiz or selected by the player.

If the player chooses for their partner to be "Cool", Pikachu will be male. If the player chooses for their partner to be "Cute", Pikachu will be female.

Bulbasaur		Charmander		Squirtle		Pikachu		Chikorita
Grass	Poison	Fire		Water		Electric		Grass
Cyndaquil		Totodile		Treecko		Torchic		Mudkip
Fire		Water		Grass		Fire		Water
Turtwig		Chimchar		Piplup		Riolu		Snivy
Grass		Fire		Water		Fighting		Grass
Tepig		Oshawott		Chespin		Fennekin		Froakie
Fire		Water		Grass		Fire		Water

Personality and role

The partner is infamous in Serene Village for being mischievous, and causing trouble for everyone. For instance, the first day the player goes to school, they accidentally crash into them, knocking them out. Despite this, they are good hearted, and they dream of joining the Expedition Society to explore the world and help Pokémon in need. Later on, they meet Ampharos, who drops his Connection Orb by accident. The player and partner chase after him, heading to Poliwrath River. The partner tells Ampharos about their dream to join the Expedition Society, and he then appoints them "Junior Expedition Society" members. Ampharos gets asked by the partner why he had the Expedition Badges and Gadgets on him, but gets interrupted before he can answer. Eventually, the player and their partner leave Serene Village and arrive in Lively Town. They first meet the Expedition Society members, who are chasing down Swirlix for eating all the food. They collapse from starvation and ask the player to get them some food. Afterwards, the partner tells them about how they've come to join the Expedition Society. Everyone is surprised by this, because it is a known rule that kids can't join the Expedition Society. Then, Ampharos suddenly comes in. The partner is surprised to see Ampharos there. He reveals that he is the leader of the Expedition Society, and proceeds to overrule the rule that kids can't join. Soon after joining the Expedition Society, the player and partner take a trip with Archen to the Air Continent. They see two mysterious objects crash land in Mystical Forest, and they go there to investigate. They discover Latios and Latias, turned to stone. Entei then appears, asking if this was their handiwork. Entei does not fight them but leaves, giving them a stern warning. They return to the Expedition Society and report their findings to Ampharos.

A while later, the Expedition Society takes a trip to Fire Island. They are confronted by Entei, who they fight but get defeated by. Their Harmony Scarves then activate, making them evolve and have the power to defeat Entei. The evolution is only temporary, and they revert back to normal afterwards. Later on, Ampharos says they've found out Legendary Pokemon are being issued warnings, and that whoever is behind the turning-to-stone incidents is targeting them. Ampharos reveals they've been monitoring these turning-to-stone incidents for a while, and pledges that the Expedition Society will work hard to solve them. A few days later, a warning is dropped all over the plaza in Lively Town, stating that Entei is their next target to be turned to stone. They head to Showdown Mountain to try and stop the culprit. When they reach the summit, they notice Krookodile has been following them, hiding. Krookodile proceeds to run away, and drops an ancient tablet behind. They continue on, and they find Entei already turned to stone with no one else around. The Expedition Society now suspects Krookodile of being involved in the incidents, and Ampharos gives Archen and Buizel the task of locating him. They return, having found a half-written warning letter at Krookodile's house. This makes them believe he really is the one turning Pokemon to stone. Mawile finishes deciphering the ancient tablet and says that they may find information at the Prehistoric Ruins. The next day, they hear that Krookodile is heading for Serene Village, and they decide to split up. The hero, partner, and Archen head after Krookodile, while the others head to the Prehistoric Ruins. When they arrive in the village, Nuzleaf comes running, exclaiming that a "real ornery-lookin' Pokemon" broke through the gate to Revelation Mountain and is heading for the summit.

They follow Nuzleaf up the mountain. They reach the summit, and find no sign of Krookodile, but instead they see a spring surrounded by a mystic barrier. There's an ancient stone tablet which the partner is somehow able to read. It says the following:

"Should you hope to overcome this crisis, summon a person. A person will have the power to break the barrier over the spring. You must summon a person from the world of humans."

They then get a call from Dedenne, saying that a special water called Luminous Water can bring Pokemon back from being turned to stone, and that it's there at Revelation Mountain. Krookodile then shows up, along with Raikou and Suicune, who intend to avenge Entei. Krookodile ignores them and continues to advance towards the group. Nuzleaf tells the hero they need to get the barrier broken now, before it's too late. After breaking the barrier, Nuzleaf is revealed to be the true villain behind turning Pokemon to stone. He proceeds to turn Krookodile into stone with his dark power. Archen tells the hero to hurry up and get the Luminous Water, but Yveltal appears, stopping them from doing so. Nuzleaf and Yveltal combine forces to turn them all into stone. Then Yveltal issues a warning to all Pokemon in the world that they will be turned to stone. The hero and partner find themselves in the Voidlands, the world Pokemon are sent to after being turned to stone. As they make their way through the Voidlands, they learn that Dark Matter is behind Pokemon turning to stone, and absorbing their energy and the energy of the Tree of Life to become more powerful, so that it can eventually destroy the world. They eventually escape from the Voidlands, but Raikou, Entei, Suicune, and Mawile sacrifice themselves in the process.

After returning to the real world, they find out that many Pokemon have been turned to stone at that point. They go to the Expedition Society headquarters, where they find Espurr.

She says that she witnessed Nuzleaf turn them to stone, and has been helping Ampharos ever since. They find a Beheeyem sneaking around. After defeating it in a boss battle, the partner shows up, and they proceed to beat him up in revenge for turning everyone to stone. The Beheeyem begs for mercy and says that he was being controlled by Dark Matter, and that he had no control over his actions. Espurr says that Dark Matter can control Pokemon with even a little amount of darkness in their hearts, and the Pokemon that it controls gain the power to turn other Pokemon to stone. This explains Nuzleaf's actions. The Beheeyem was told that the Tree of Life is in the Prehistoric Ruins, and they head there looking for it. However, when they reach the bottom of the ruins, they find out it was a trap. Nuzleaf had given the Beheeyem false information, knowing it had broken free from Dark Matter's control. Nuzleaf tells them the whole story: when the hero had first arrived in the Pokemon world, they had still had their memory. After taking a psychic attack from Beheeyem, the hero developed amnesia, and Nuzleaf plotted to use that to his advantage. He had the Beheeyem attack the hero, knowing they would run for help, and he showed up on the scene. He pretended to be kind and caring towards the player, while really plotting to use them to break the barrier over the spring and drain the Luminous Water so it would be impossible to bring Pokemon back from stone. Right when Nuzleaf is about to turn them to stone, Jirachi and Ampharos show up, along with Celebi. Celebi teleports them to Primeval Forest, close to the Tree of Life. They explain about how Dark Matter is made up of the negative feelings of all Pokemon, and how the Harmony Scarves were made from the Tree of Life to battle it. They reach the Tree of Life, nearly dead already, when they are attacked by Nuzleaf, Yveltal, and the Beheeyem, who have lost all sense of self due to Dark Matter's power growing very strong. The hero and partner evolve from the power of the Harmony Scarves again. After defeating them, Nuzleaf and the others seem to regain their senses, when they suddenly get teleported to the top of the Tree of Life by Dark Matter. Dark Matter then starts lifting the Tree of Life out of the planet's atmosphere, and towards the sun. They desperately jump up to reach the Tree of Life, and get onto it. The Harmony Scarves help them to breathe so high up.

They begin to climb up the Tree of Life, and towards Dark Matter. They eventually find Nuzleaf and the others being imprisoned and tortured by Dark Matter's power, and they free them. They escape, while the hero and partner continue to the top to fight Dark Matter. They attempt to fight Dark Matter, but it regenerates itself. At this point, the Tree of Life runs out of power, and they lose their evolutions. Dark Matter then turns most of the remaining Pokemon left to stone. Nuzleaf, the Beheeyem, and Yveltal then show up and help out by attacking Dark Matter. They are inevitably turned to stone too. The hero and partner are about to give up, when the spirits of every Pokemon in the world begin to encourage them and give them strength. The final fight against Dark Matter then begins. When they are about to destroy Dark Matter, it asks them if they really want to do it, saying that its pieces will scatter across the world and it will come back one day, stronger than ever. The partner then reasons with Dark Matter that it's a part of everyone, and says they accept it. Dark Matter is then smashed, and the destruction of the world is stopped, and everyone turned back to normal. They return to Serene Village, and everyone is there except Nuzleaf, who couldn't bear to face them after everything he had done. The hero believes they are going to disappear and return to the human world now that the world has been saved. The next day, they meet up with the partner on the hill. The partner says that Xerneas made them remember everything, and that they were actually Mew in their previous life. The partner says they're the one that has to disappear, not the hero. They say goodbye, and the hero is left there crying after they disappear.

Later, presumably several months later, the hero is standing outside, pondering everything that happened. They still haven't gotten over the partner disappearing. Ampharos comes up to them, and asks them whether they are thinking about their partner. Ampharos says that Xatu may know a way to bring them back, and that he resides at the Sand Dune of Spirits. When the hero reaches Xatu, he tells them that he saw a vision of Mew, the partner's previous self, in the Mystery Jungle.

The hero goes to the Mystery Jungle, and finds Mew there. However, after meeting this Mew, the hero concludes that it is a different Mew, and not their partner. Despite this, however, there are a few moments where Mew looks and acts just like their partner did.

A few days later, the hero wakes up in Serene Village on the hill with the tree. At first, they don't know what's going on. After a while, they start remembering what had happened: Mew had fallen ill suddenly, and Xatu had come to the Expedition Society, claiming that he sensed a piece of Dark Matter still within Mew. The hero had taken Mew to Serene Village to show them the view from the hill, in hopes of making Mew feel better. However, the hero was suddenly attacked, and Mew kidnapped.

The hero heads back to the Expedition Society, whereupon they find out the attacker had left a note behind. The note states that they intend to sacrifice Mew in Purifying Cave to eliminate Dark Matter once and for all.

The hero heads to Purifying Cave to save Mew. When they reach the bottom, they discover it was Nuzleaf and the Beheeyem behind the kidnapping of Mew. Nuzleaf says that he's truly sorry, but that Dark Matter has to be destroyed. Mew begins to fade away. The hero wonders whether this is really the right thing to do. Remembering the pain they felt when they had to say goodbye to their partner, the hero realizes that they never want to have to say goodbye again. Their strong feelings start resonating with their Harmony Scarf, and it begins to glow. The light from the two Harmony Scarves combines, restoring the partner, but making the scarves disappear. Ampharos shows up, and he reveals that this was all arranged to lead the hero here. Xatu had not seen a piece of Dark Matter inside Mew, but in fact the partner's spirit. Nuzleaf and the Beheeyem, sincerely wishing to atone for their actions, agreed to help by kidnapping Mew and leading the hero to Purifying Cave. If the hero's feelings were strong enough, the partner could come back.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Every playable character from Red and Blue Rescue Team returns. Unlike in the original, Meowth, Psyduck, Machop, Cubone, Eevee and Skitty can now be chosen as the partner. Additionally, both the player and partner Pokémon, as well as the third team member (if there is one) must be knocked out during missions in order for it to count as a failure of the mission.

The player can choose to have a male or a female partner, and the corresponding gender differences are applied for Pikachu and Eevee. In addition, whether the partner is male or female changes their dialogue.

Bulbasaur		Charmander		Squirtle		Pikachu
Grass	Poison	Fire		Water		Electric
Meowth		Psyduck		Machop		Cubone
Normal		Water		Fighting		Ground
Eevee		Chikorita		Cyndaquil		Totodile
Normal		Grass		Fire		Water
Treecko		Torchic		Mudkip		Skitty
Grass		Fire		Water		Normal

In the anime

Oshawott and his partner, Pikachu

In the main series

See also: Team Go-Getters and Team Poképals

In the anime special Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!, Charmander and Chikorita both act as anime counterparts to the partner from Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, meeting an odd Squirtle who claims to have once been a human boy. The two of them welcome him into their Rescue Team, Team Go-Getters.

In the two anime specials Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness, the role of partner is fulfilled by a Chimchar, who finds the courage to join the Wigglytuff Guild after befriending a Piplup.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Animated Shorts

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Animated Shorts, the partner Pokémon is a female Pikachu. Together with her friend, an Oshawott, the two work together to build her paradise.

In the manga

Honō and his partner, Totodile

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team, Ginji's partner is a Mudkip. He is a cowardly Pokémon that slowly grows more assertive while adventuring with Ginji.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team, Honō's partner is a Totodile. Similar to Mudkip, Totodile gains confidence in itself as he journeys with his friend.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness, Chimchar's partner is a Turtwig.

See also

• Hero Pokémon
• First partner Pokémon
• List of the player's first Pokémon

Characters in the Mystery Dungeon series

Red Hero • Partner • Caterpie • Metapod • Whiscash • Lombre Granbull • Xatu • Gardevoir • Shiftry • Pelipper • Celebi Team A.C.T. • Team Meanies • Full list Blue DX Time Hero • Partner • Wigglytuff • Chatot • Loudred • Sunflora • Bidoof • Torkoal • Lapras Grovyle • Celebi • Dusknoir • Darkrai • Primal Dialga • Palkia • Drowzee • Uxie • Armaldo Wigglytuff Guild • Team Skull • Team Charm • Team AWD • Amp Plains tribes • Full list Darkness Sky WiiWare See here Gates Hero • Partner • Azumarill • Dunsparce • Emolga • Hydreigon • Keldeo • Kyurem • Munna • Gurdurr • Timburr Meloetta • Umbreon and Espeon • Victini • Virizion • Quagsire • Scraggy Pawniard • Swanna • Bittercold • Full list Super Hero • Partner • Ampharos • Archen • Carracosta • Krokorok • Krookodile • Legendary beasts Beheeyem • Nuzleaf • Xerneas • Yveltal • Void Shadows • Dark Matter Armaldo • Bidoof • Celebi • Chatot • Dunsparce • Dusknoir • Emolga • Grovyle • Hydreigon Loudred • Munna • Quagsire • Shiftry • Sunflora • Victini • Virizion • Whiscash • Wigglytuff Expedition Society • Students • Team A.C.T. • Team Skull • Team Charm • Team AWD • Full list

This article is part of both Project CharacterDex and Project Sidegames, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on characters in the spin-off games.