Primary Subject: Pokemon Mandela Effects That Will Shock You
Key Update: Pokemon, Despite How Famous It Is, Still Has Mandela Effects
Status: Confirmed
Last Verified: February 16, 2026
Quick Answer: Pokemon Has Had Multiple Mandela Effects That People, Even Fans, Swear ByWith over a thousand Pokemon in total existing in the franchise, it is very easy, even for fans, to fall for the mind-illusive powers of a Mandela Effect. In case you didn't know, a Mandela Effect occurs when a large number of people misremember certain events or information, often due to the internet.
In this case, we'll be talking about the most notorious and shocking Mandela Effects in Pokemon and if some of these somehow fooled you, I wouldn't feel bad because you are definitely not alone.
What Are The Most Shocking Examples of Mandela Effects In Pokemon?
To name a few, some people swear that Onyx is the correct spelling of the name of Brock's ace and that Skarmory has always been a Generation III Pokemon. But the painful truth is that none of those "seemed realities" is correct, but many people swear by it.
If you find these interesting (or maybe eerie), keep reading and join us uncover some truths.
Onyx Was Never The Correct Spelling
If you were ever asked what the correct spelling of Brock's Ace Rock Snake Pokemon is and you answered O-N-Y-X, you are definitely incorrect, but people swear that is the case. The correct spelling of Kanto's stony giant is Onix with an "i," and one factor that might have sparked this Mandela Effect is a magazine released years ago.
In 1999, BradyGames released an Official Strategy Guide for Super Smash Bros., and on page 12, under the Poke Ball item overview, Onix was incorrectly spelled. Makes sense, but how about those who never read the magazine? We'll never know.
Psyduck and Golduck Were NEVER Psychic Types
Psyduck has always had the power to steal the spotlight whenever it appears in the anime and games, thanks to its oblivious charm and seemingly endless mental powers when its headaches reach their peak. Golduck, although not as famous as Misty's unfortunate bird, has been similarly mistaken as a Psychic type thanks to the red bead on its forehead and ability to learn Psychic-type moves.
But the truth is, both Psyduck and Golduck are purely Water-typed Pokemon and don't share a second type. It either doesn't make any sense given their access to Psychic abilities, or they are just powerful enough to make us all think otherwise.
Machop Always Had A Tail!
Another Gen I historical anomaly has entered the internet-sphere and has been shaking the web lately. Does Machamp have a tail? No. Machoke too. But Machop? Yes, it's always had a tail, and it's a long one! The confusion here is understandable, though, given that its evolutionary line is tail-less, but still bewildering.
Did the tail disappear when it matured, or is it good at hiding its tail inside its macho trunks? I don't even want to go there. For one of Pokemon's earliest humanoid Pokemon, that is truly an unusual body part to add.
Skarmory Was Introduced in Generation II, Not Generation III
Another false memory among GameBoy Pokemon players is that Skarmory was first introduced in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, but the truth is, Silver and Gold beat them to it.
In the Generation II games, Skarmory can only be found on Route 45 with a 5% spawn rate. Do take note that Route 45 is an entirely optional and easily missable location in Gold and Silver, so that's probably why a lot of people never encountered Skarmory in its natural location or on the original console.
Pikachu Doesn't Have a Black-Tipped Tail
Lastly,, but definitely not the least, we have Pikachu's very own Mandela Effect. I mean, Pikachu is Pokemon's mascot and might be the most famous Pokemon of all time. I'm sure many mothers around the world call every Pokemon as Pikachu. So what's the misremembered detail? People swear that Pikachu has a black-colored tail tip.
That is false. The only part that isn't yellow in Pikachu's tail is the brown part at the base that connects to its body, and it's a very subtle brown at that. This is a Mandela Effect that even I, a Pokemon fan since I was seven, only found out years in my adolescence. It is shocking, and yes, that's a well-deserved pun.
Pokemon, about to be 30 years old this month, is and will never be safe from Mandela Effects because of its variety, integration in almost every piece of media out there, and multiple generations riding on nostalgia and hype.
These are some of the most surprising (and eye-opening) Mandela Effects we have found, but we don't doubt that there will be more because Pokemon is a very special part of our growing up, albeit sometimes in a confusing way.