Summary
Pokemonhas existed for 28 years following the 1996 launch of the Game Boy titles in Japan. In that span, Game Freak has introduced nine generations ofPokemonfrom all walks of life. Their inspirations include animals, plant life, and even inanimate objects like a literal bag of garbage. There are over a thousand critters out there to catch, which is a daunting task.
That’s why some players have decided not to become Pokemon Masters but specific types of trainers instead. For example, a player could dedicate themselves to all types of dog or turtle Pokemon. Dedicated players could even become mushroom trainers if they wanted to, but just how manymushroom Pokemonare there in the series?
Updated Jul 19, 2025, by Ben Painter:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brought gamers a host of new Pokemon in Generation 9. To the surprise of many fans, there were even more mushroom Pokemon added that the player could catch and battle with across the new land of Paldea. But not every one of these fungi-based ‘mons is available on the Nintendo Switch titles, and instead, players will need to venture into some of the older games to add a mushroom to their team. This article has been updated to include additional context for each mushroom Pokemon if players want to use them in their playthroughs.
A Bug Growing Parasitic Mushrooms
“Burrows under the ground to gnaw on tree roots. The mushrooms on its back absorb most of the nutrition.”
InGen 1, Paras (#046in the Dex) became the first mushroom creature introduced in thePokemonuniverse. It is categorized as a Bug/Grass type, which makes sense since it mostly resembles a bug. However, its past is pretty dark if one reads into it. For example, its Pokedex entry fromPokemon Rubystates thatthe mushrooms on its back are parasitic, drawing nutrients from the host.
Though the parasite aspect is grim, the entry also states that these mushrooms have medicinal properties. Fans can see this in episode 41 of the anime “The Problem with Paras.”
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Mt. Moon, Safari Zone
Gold/Silver/Crystal
National Park (Bug Catching Contest on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays), Ilex Forest, Mt. Moon
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Great Marsh (after obtaining the National Pokedex)
HeartGold/SoulSilver
National Park (Bug Catching Contest on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays), Ilex Forest, Mt. Moon, Safari Zone (Peak with 3 Forest points; tall grass in Swamp, default on Morning or Days)
Route 11 (swarm) (White only)
Brilliant Diamond/Shinning Pearl
Great Marsh (after obtaining the National Pokedex), Grand Underground (Grassland Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Swampy Cave, Bogsunk Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokedex)
Legends: Arceus
Nature’s Pantry, Golden Lowlands, Diamond Heath, Cloudpool Ridge, Cottonsedge Prairie, Windbreak Stand, Heavenward Lookout, Wayward Wood, Massive mass outbreaks (Obsidian Fieldlands, Crimson Mirelands)
Taken Over By Parasites
“The bug host is controlled by the mushrooms that scatter poisonous spores. The spores are sometimes used as medicine in China.”
Paras’ (#47) evolved form has become more mushroom than. The Pokedex entries discuss how the parasites fully take over the host (sounds likeThe Last of Us). Parasites aside, there are actually two Pokedex entries worth discussing for two other reasons.
Its entry inPokemon FireRedstates that its spores are used as herbal medicine in China—it’s interesting to see an entry mention a real-world location. Meanwhile,Pokemon Sunstates that Parasect fights over territory with Shiinotic. Not many Pokedex entries explore rival Pokemon battles, although it is also not unheard of.
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Parasect’s Game Locations:
Red/Blue/Yellow
Safari Zone, Cerulean Cave, Trade for Tangela on Route 18 (Yellow only)
Evolve Paras
Cerulean Cave, Safari Zone (tall grass in Swamp with 3 Plains points)
Evolve Paras (White only)
Route 11 (day)
The Aromatic Plant
“The horrible-smelling pistil of this flower stinks over a mile away. Unwittingly inhaled, it can cause fainting.”
While it’s more straight-up plant than mushroom, there are certainly ample spore-like qualities to this somber, drooling creature. Gloom (#44) stands as a significant evolution from the smaller, simpler Oddish while keeping withthe Grass/Poison type of its predecessor.
This large growth of a Pokemon is paradoxically well known for its powers in poison, as it is in perfume-making, thanks to its Stench ability, which can take on various forms. Opponents are often fooled by its seemingly unthreatening, colorful nature before being blindsided by potent moves like Petal Dance.
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Gloom’s Game Locations:
Routes 12, 13, 14 and 15 (Red & Yellow Only) Cerulean Cave (Yellow only)
Route 5 (night)(Gold & Silver), Route 24 (Crystal)
Route 121 and 123, Safari Zone
FireRed/LeafGreen
Routes 12, 13, 14, and 15, Berry Forest, Bond Bridge, Cape Brink, Water Path (FireRed only)
Routes 224 and 230, Route 229 (Diamond & Pearl only)
Route 5 (night), Routes 47 and 48, Safari Zone (tall grass in Marshland, default(night) and with 2 Plains points)
Evolve Oddish (White only)
Routes 119, 120, 121, and 123, Safari Zone
Let’s Go Pikachu/Let’s Go Eevee
Routes 12, 13, 14, 15 and 21 (Let’s Go Pikachu only)
Sword/Shield
Axew’s Eye, North Lake Miloch, Giant’s Mirror, Giant’s Cap, Dappled Grove, East Lake Axewell, Giant’s Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank (Max Raid Battle), Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure)
Routes 224, 229, and 230, Grand Underground (Grassland Cave, Swampy Cave, Spacious Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Sunlit Cavern, Bogsunk Cavern) (After obtaining the National Pokedex)
Gloom In Full Bloom
“The larger its petals, the more toxic pollen it contains. Its big head is heavy and hard to hold up.”
One of the strongest Grass types from the first generation, Vileplume (#045) can overwhelm opponents with its large size and toxic pollen, which yield various negative effects. This Pokemon is said to have among the largest petals in the world, which are so heavy that the creature can barely support them atop its head.
Vileplume evolves when exposed to a Leaf Stone, while its more whimsical, well-dressed sibling, Bellossom, evolves from a Sun Stone. With its damage-over-time poison and its ability to learn potent Grass/Poison moves, Vileplume can be a true force of nature.
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Evolve Gloom (White only)
Route 21
Dappled Grove, Giant’s Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills (Wanderer), Dappled Grove, East Lake Axewell, Giant’s Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch (Max Raid Battle), Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure)
A Strange Little Spore
“Shroomish live in damp soil in the dark depths of forests. They are often found keeping still under fallen leaves. This Pokemon feeds on compost that is made up of fallen, rotted leaves.”
Mushrooms were skipped in the next generation of games but returned in the third viaPokemon Ruby/Sapphire. Sadly, Game Freak’s next fungal Pokemon was a bit disappointing to many fans.
A pure Grass-type, Shroomish (#285) tends to resemble a spore more than a mushroom. Its unique appearance doesn’t exactly give it the air of either a cute or crazy Pokemon. Additionally, its various Pokedex entries don’t have anything truly fun to discuss other thanit loving compost as food. However, its evolved form is worth investing time into in the games.
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Great Marsh (after obtaining National Pokedex)
Viridian Forest (Headbutt trees), Safari Zone (Savannah with 35 Forest points and 12 Plains points)
Route 11 (swarm) (Black only)
Scarlet/Violet
South Province: Area Three, Area Five, West Province: Area Three, Tera Raid Battles (1★)
A Mushroom That Packs A Punch
“Breloom closes in on its foe with light and sprightly footwork, then throws punches with its stretchy arms. This Pokemon’s fighting technique puts boxers to shame.”
Breloom (#286) is the evolved form of Shroomish and an intensely more interesting Pokemon to discuss. Firstly, it is now classified as a more potent Grass/Fighting type. Despite how tiny those arms look, as ifthey’re from a T. rex, they actually stretch out.
ItsPokemon RubyPokedex entry demonstrates just how strong this creature is, saying that the Pokemon’s fighting “puts boxers to shame.” That should go without saying; it is a magical monster, after all. How and why such powerful Pokemon obeys the commands of humans is one of the most bizarre things about the series.
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Safari Zone (Wasteland with 42 Forest points)
Evolve Shroomish (Black only)
West Province: Area Three, West Province: Area Three (Rock Tera Type), Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)
Adorable But Strangely Designed
“For some reason, this Pokemon resembles a Poke Ball. They release poison spores to repel those who try to catch them.”
Another generation was skipped before a new crop of mushroom creatures sprung up viaPokemon Black/White. Foongus (#590) more resembles a traditional mushroom, not unlike one Mario might eat for firepower. The only exceptions are its pig-like face and the Poke Ball insignia on its top, adding some much-needed distinction to its appearance.
Even thePokemon BlackPokedex has no idea what this Grass/Poison type is thinking, stating that it is unknown why this species resembles a Poke Ball. Surely, the lore behind this oddball must be interesting if only it was known.
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Foongus’ Game Locations:
Black/White
Routes 6, 7, and 10 (both in tall grass and as fake items)
Black2/White2
Routes 6 and 7 (both in tall grass and as fake items), Routes 5, 6, and 13 (Hidden Grotto)
Routes 15, 16, and 20, Pokémon Village (Horde Encounter)
East Province: Tagtree Thicket, West Province: Area Three, North Province: Area Two, Tera Raid Battles (2★)
Ineffectively Camouflaged
“This Pokemon puffs poisonous spores at its foes. If the spores aren’t washed off quickly, they’ll grow into mushrooms wherever they land.”
This is the evolved form of Foongus, though that’s obvious from its similar design. The only real addition is the bigger size and arms, which also look like Poke Balls now.
Pokemon White’s Pokedex claims that Amoonguss (#591)shows off its Poke Ball designsto attract prey, but this doesn’t often work. This seems like an odd statement – what Pokemon wants to be captured? If this Pokemon wants to attract others, one would think it’d opt to use the antithesis of a Poke Ball design—whatever that might be.
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Amoonguss' Game Locations:
Route 10 and 11 (both in tall grass and as fake items)
Routes 11, 22, and 23 (both in tall grass and as fake items), Route 22, Abundant Shrine and Pinwheel Forest (Hidden Grotto)
North Province: Area Two, Socarrat Trail, Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)
Equal Parts Cute & Creepy
“It scatters its shining spores around itself. Even though they’re dangerous, nighttime tours of forests where Morelull live are popular.”
A set of mushroom critters were introduced inPokemon Sun/Moon on 3DS. Morelull (#755) is a Grass/Fairytype. It’s a bit unsettling to look at, appearing to be some sort of luminous skull with mushrooms growing off of it.
ThePokemon Swordentry claims that forest-dwelling Pokemon eat the caps on Morelull’s head, which regrow overnight. The big question is, does that hurt Morelull? Either way, it is a bit creepy. At leastthis creature isn’t as unsettlingas the Farfetch’d Pokedex entries, which discuss it going extinct because people are catching it to eat.
Giant’s Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills, Rolling Fields, Dappled Grove, Bridge Field, Stony Wilderness, Giant’s Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills (Max Raid Battle) Fields of Honor (Max Raid Battle)
Sweet But Slightly Menacing
“Forests where Shiinotic live are treacherous to enter at night. People confused by its strange lights can never find their way home again.”
The evolved form of Morelull looks a bit like the skeleton or withered body of Toad from theMariofranchise. This mushroom Pokemon also appears to have a mushroom hat and diaper. Shiinotic (#756) also resembles the archetypical gray alien, which is a likely inspiration for this Pokemon.
It looks haunting, likesomething out of a ghost story. Just imagine these Pokemon and Parasect fighting each other before trying to go to sleep and prepare for the nightmares.
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Route 11 (night)
Glimwood Tangle, Rolling Fields, Dappled Grove, Bridge Field, Stony Wilderness, Giant’s Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills (Max Raid Battle) Fields of Honor (Max Raid Battle) Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure)
