The Pokémon anime and video games entered mainstream culture at the exact perfect time. They debuted outside of Japan in 1998, which was the point when personal computers and the Internet had become widespread in homes across the world. As such, the Pokémon franchise was bolstered by the support of the Internet, as fans from across the globe could now talk about the series with each other. If Pokémon had been released a few years earlier, then it may have fizzled out with the end of the Johto years.

One of the downsides of Pokémon having such a massive presence during the early days of the Internet was all of the false secrets and urban legends it inspired. Pokémon Red & Blue only have themselves to blame in this regard, as the fact that the games had Mew, which was a secret Pokémon that couldn't be acquired through normal means, meant that other outlandish secrets didn't seem so unbelievable.

The grainy websites of old that were full of false information have passed away. In their place, we now have ill-informed social media posts that spread false information to the masses. The Pokémon series is another victim of this misinformation, so the time has come to dispel the myths of old and clear up the fake facts that have become associated with the series.

We are here today to examine and debunk the most common myths associated with the Pokémon franchise. From the supposed deaths associated with Pokémon GO, to the plucky Porygon who took the fall for Pikachu.

Here are 20 False Facts About Pokémon That Everyone Believes!

20 A Teenager Died Playing Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go became a cultural phenomenon in a way that no one could have predicted. This awful game that barely worked took the world by storm, simply because it offered a chance to live out your childhood dream of becoming the best... like no one ever was.

The massive success of Pokémon Go led to a huge amount of false news stories concerning the game. It seems like news sites from across the globe would post any anecdotal story of charity or cruelty, so long as they could put Pokémon Go in the title.

One of the most popular fake Pokémon Go news stories involved mortality. It became popular for sites to make up stories about people being killed because they were too engrossed in the game. One example of this involves a teenager who was shot after sneaking onto someone's property in order to catch a rare Pokémon. These stories were created by satirical news sites, yet were shared across the world as if they were real.

19 That You Can Fly The Rocket In Mossdeep City

It was kind of a dick move on Game Freak's part to include a rocket ship in a Pokémon game and not let you actually use it. Would it have really been so difficult for them to have created an event scenario in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire where you could use the rocket in Mossdeep City to go into space and battle Deoxys?

There are numerous urban legends online that state that you can use the rocket at some point in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire. None of these are true. Game Freak wouldn't even let you use it in Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, as you use Rayquaza to fly into space in those games. Rayquaza takes you up so that you can battle Deoxys, before returning you straight to the planet.

18 That Pressing The Buttons Increases The Chances Of Catching A Pokémon

One of the most satisfying parts of catching a Pokémon is that moment when the ball hits the creature. Just as the ball snaps shut, you can time your button press just as it closes, as you know that it will grant you a bonus to your chance of catching the Pokémon.

This is untrue. Pressing the buttons during the catching sequence has no effect on the chances of it working. It doesn't matter if you press down and B or up and A, it won't work. The only thing it does is feel good, which is why we haven't stopped doing it since 1998. We're going to keep on doing it as well, even if Game Freak literally released a generation of games called Pokémon Pressing the Buttons During the Catching Sequence Doesn't Work & Pokémon Stop Pressing the Buttons You Lunatic. 

17 Bill's Garden Contains Awesome Stuff

The creators of Pokémon Red & Blue likely had no idea that the series would explode in popularity in the way that it did. They certainly didn't expect that every location would be scrutinized to death by the fans, as they sought out similar secrets to Mew.

One of the most notable places that caused urban legends in Pokémon Red & Blue was Bill's Garden. You needed to visit Bill in order to continue the story. For some reason, Game Freak decided to create a small space above his house that couldn't be accessed by regular means. The fans suspected that something awesome was hidden there, which is why you couldn't access it.

Bill's Garden is nothing more than an empty space. Fans have explored the area thoroughly using cheat codes and there is nothing there.

16 Pikachu Reacts Angrily To The Word "PlayStation"

The Nintendo 64 had a short-lived peripheral known as the Voice Recognition Unit. This was a microphone that plugged into the Nintendo 64 and could interpret your voice to the console. The VRU was calibrated for high-pitched voices, which meant that adults would have a hard time using one.

Hey You, Pikachu! was one of only two games that worked with the VRU. The game allows you to issue voice commands to your Pikachu. You will eventually convince the Pikachu to come live in your house, where the two of you get to play minigames together.

One of the most persistent rumors concerning this game is that saying the word "PlayStation" into the VRU will make Pikachu react angrily. This has been tested and debunked on numerous occasions in recent years.

15 Joey Really Does Have An Amazing Rattata

Pokémon Gold & Silver introduced a mobile phone to the series. This meant that you could be contacted by other characters after you gave them your number. They usually called just to talk, though you would occasionally be invited back for a rematch.

One of the first trainers who will give you their number is Youngster Joey. He battles using a single Rattata, which you will likely steamroll with your starter Pokémon. You will soon live to regret giving Joey your phone number, as he will constantly call and tell you about how his Rattata is in the top percentage of Rattatas in the world.

There is a misconception that Joey's Rattata does indeed have higher stats than normal, as some important trainers in the game will have Pokémon with higher stats, in order to make them more of a challenge. Joey is not one of these. His Rattata has average stats and is wholly unremarkable, except to Joey.

14 The Lavender Town Music Caused Suicides

One of the differences between the Japanese version of Pokémon Red & Green and the English versions of Pokémon Red & Blue is the music in Lavender Town. The international version of the theme was slightly changed in a way that most people wouldn't notice without hearing both tunes played side by side.

There has long been a rumor that the reason the music was changed was that it caused kids in Japan to start committing suicide. This is obviously false, yet the story still crops up from time to time on social media and message boards across the Internet. Pokémon was almost canceled after the Porygon incident. Does anyone believe that the series would have survived if it was responsible for mass-suicides?

13 Kyurem's Height Is A Reference To 9/11

Pokémon Black & White were set in the Unova region, which was meant to be based on New York City and the surrounding areas. This was a first for the series, as the previous games had been based on areas in Japan.

One of the most prevalent fan theories concerning Pokémon Black & White states that Kyurem is a reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This is because there is a ruined area near the main city which is said to be where Kyurem first appeared and the fact that it is nine feet and eleven inches tall.

These two facts are incorrect. The ruins are from an ancient civilization and were not from any recent incident. Kyurem is also nine feet and ten inches tall.

12 That Rock Is Strong Against Electric

The first gym in the Pokémon series was Brock's Rock-type Gym, which you will first visit in Pewter City. This Gym can either be really easy or extraordinarily difficult, depending on the starter you picked. Bulbasaur and Squirtle will absolutely annihilate everyone in this Gym without breaking a sweat. If you picked Charmander or Pikachu (in Yellow), then you are going to have a bad time.

It is Pokémon like Onix, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, and the Geodude line that have some older fans convinced that Rock-types are strong against Electric-type Pokémon. This is a common misconception that was brought about due to the fact that most of the Rock-type Pokémon in Red & Blue were also Ground-types, which are immune to Electric-type moves.

Rock-type Pokémon have no advantages or disadvantages when dealing with Electric-type Pokémon.

11 Blue's Raticate Is Dead & You Killed It

One of the most popular fan theories concerning Pokémon Red & Blue is the idea that you killed your rival's Raticate in battle on the S. S. Anne. This is why the Raticate isn't on his team when you next battle him, even though he has an empty slot in his party. This is also why he is the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town, as he is burying his ally.

There is a far more simple explanation as to why Blue doesn't have his Raticate with him: he is in the Pokémon Tower, which is filled with Ghost-type Pokémon. Normal-types (like Raticate) cannot harm Ghost-types. By the time you next encounter your rival, he has a far more powerful team which has a better mixture of types. This is why his Raticate has been banished to Bill's PC.

10 The Creator Of Pokémon Has Autism

This is a false piece of information that has gained a lot of traction in recent years due to social media. A lot of websites have shared articles that state that the creator of Pokémon is autistic and his experiences growing up with the condition helped him to create the series.

It is an inspiring story, but there is no actual proof that Satoshi Tajiri has autism. The false fact comes from a single unauthorized biography of Tajiri which offers no source for its information. Tajiri has never mentioned having autism in any recorded interview. It is possible that he is autistic, but there is no definitive proof either way. This story still pops up on social media from time to time, despite the fact that there is no source for which to base the information on.

9 That You Can Find Shiny Versions Of Certain Legendary Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon are some of the most coveted creatures in the series. The only difference between them and other Pokémon of the same type is that Shiny creatures have a different color palette and have a little sparkling animation when they enter the field. What makes Shiny Pokémon so desirable is the fact that they are so rare. This is because there is around a one in eight thousand chance of a Pokémon being Shiny.

The most coveted Shiny Pokémon are the Legendary ones. This is because they take a lot more effort to catch. There are some Pokémon that cannot naturally be Shiny and they only have the palette so as not to cause the game to crash if one is loaded. Pokémon like Mew, Celebi, and Arceus have a zero chance to appear in their Shiny form, no matter how much you reset the game.

8 Professor Oak Was The First To Not Know Your Gender

Professor Samuel Oak has earned a reputation for being forgetful and bad at his job. This is mainly due to the fact that he can't even remember his own grandson's name. He also seems unaware of the fact that his grandson shouldn't be named ASSHAT.

The original Pokémon games did not let you select the gender of your character. You were stuck playing as a boy until Pokémon Crystal. The Internet has spread the idea that Professor Oak cannot tell if you are a boy or a girl from appearance, due to the fact that he asks you this at the beginning of the game.

Professor Oak wasn't the first Professor to ask you about your gender. The game itself asks you about your gender before you meet Professor Oak in Crystal. The first Professor to ask about your gender is actually Birch in Ruby & Sapphire. Oak doesn't ask you until FireRed & LeafGreen.

7 Koffing & Weezing Are Called NY & LA In Japan

Koffing was one of the original Pokémon of Team Rocket. This makes it one of the earliest Pokémon to appear in the series, as it debuted in the second episode of anime. The Koffing would later evolve into a Weezing before it was left in the Hoenn region by James so that it could protect others of its kind.

It was an early misconception that Koffing and Weezing were named NY and LA in Japan. These names were chosen because New York and Los Angeles are the two most polluted states in the USA.

This fact is not true, though there is more to the story than meets the eye. Koffing and Weezing are named Dogars and Matadogas in Japan. The names NY and LA come from a beta version of Pokémon Red & Blue, which depicted early names for a lot of Pokémon which went unused.

6 The Grass Outside Of Pallet Town Contains The Starter Pokémon

Game Freak could have saved us all from a lot of urban legends if they had put less inaccessible areas in Pokémon Red & Blue.

Pallet Town is the starting location in Pokémon Red & Blue. The East and West sides of Pallet Town are blocked off by unpassable walls, with fields of tall grass beyond them. You cannot access these areas without glitching the game.

There were a few unofficial Pokémon guides that were printed in magazines in the late '90s that claimed that you could catch all of the starter Pokémon in the grass outside of Pallet Town. This is not true, as those areas cannot be accessed without cheats. Even if you do manage to reach those areas, then your game will probably crash, as they aren't coded properly.

5 That Tipping In Pokémon X & Y Increases The Chance Of Finding A Shiny

Pokémon X & Y were set in the Kalos region, which was based on France. The people at Game Freak spent time in Paris, in order to learn the local customs, so that they could make their next Pokémon game as distinct as possible from the previous ones.

One of the new features in Pokémon X & Y was the ability to offer tips to merchants and people working in the service industry. You were usually given a choice of how much you wanted to pay. This immediately ignited fan speculation as to the benefits of tipping, which many claimed would increase your chances of finding a Shiny Pokémon.

This is not true. The only thing tipping does in Pokémon X & Y is help you win a medal in the Global Link.

4 Nidoking Can Breed With Nidoqueen

It wasn't until Pokémon Gold & Silver that the concept of gender was introduced to the series. This was because it was tied into the new breeding mechanics that were introduced in the second generation of games.

Pokémon Red & Blue had its own gendered Pokémon, in the form of the male and female versions of Nidoran. These would evolve into their own lines of Pokémon, which culminated in either Nidoking or Nidoqueen.

Going on the names and the genders, you would probably assume that you could breed a Nidoking and Nidoqueen in order to create a new Nidoran. This isn't true, as Nidoqueens cannot actually breed. This is a trait that they share with most of the Legendary Pokémon in the series.

3 The Simpsons Invented Pokémon Go

The Simpsons has earned a reputation for having predicted numerous historical events. This likely has more to do with the fact that there are over six hundred episodes of The Simpsons that have been produced since 1989. When you have that much screen time to fill, it is only natural that you would guess that certain historical events would happen.

After Pokémon Go became a success, there was an image being circulated on social media sites that showed a clip from The Simpsons which seems to predict the creation of Pokémon Go. This picture is a forgery. It was created using images from several different episodes from the show's run. The only mobile game that The Simpsons is responsible for is the horrible The Simpsons: Tapped Out.

2 Mew Is Under The Truck

Pokémon Red & Blue pushed the Game Boy to its limits in terms of technical achievement. The games were riddled with bugs and the programming seemed like it was held together with sticky tape and spit, but it was still impressive.

One of the most unusual design decisions in Pokémon Red & Blue was for the dock by the S. S. Anne to contain a parked truck. This truck graphic appears nowhere else in the game and is incredibly difficult to see. Gamers thought that there must be something special under the truck, which led to the creation of numerous myths concerning a Mew that is hiding under the vehicle.

There is nothing special about the truck in Pokémon Red & Blue. You can find a Lava Cookie under the truck in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, which is likely a reference to this myth.

1 Porygon Caused Children To Have Seizures

Porygon is number 1 on the Pokémon pay-no-mind list. The people at Game Freak would rather feature Jynx's original racist design in an episode than a member of the Porygon line. This is because of an infamous incident involving an early episode of the Pokémon anime, where children across Japan suffered epileptic seizures during a brief moment in an episode where the screen rapidly flashes between red and blue.

This episode was never broadcast again in Japan and it has never received any international dubs. This has caused the incorrect assumption that the attack that caused the seizures was performed by Porygon, as it has never been seen again in the anime. This isn't true: it was actually Pikachu who performed the attack. He used his lightning to destroy some missiles that were fired at Ash & his friends, which caused the flashing sequence.

Pikachu was the upcoming mascot of the Pokémon series, which means that Game Freak deflected the blame and placed it on Porygon instead. This means that Porygon took the fall for Pikachu.