The Secret History Of Pokémon: Why Rhydon, Not Pikachu, Was The First Design Ever Created

As of December 2025, the question of the "first Pokémon designed ever" remains one of the most persistent and fascinating pieces of trivia in gaming history, a question that instantly separates a casual fan from a true Pokémon Master. While most people would instinctively name the franchise mascot, Pikachu, or the Pokédex starter, Bulbasaur, the actual answer is a powerful, rhinoceros-like creature that sits deep within the Generation I Pokédex: Rhydon. This fact is more than just a fun tidbit; it is a fundamental key to understanding the entire design philosophy and technical foundation of the original *Pokémon Red and Green* games. The true story of the first Pokémon is a testament to the chaotic, brilliant, and often surprising development process that led to the global phenomenon we know today. Rhydon's designation as the first creature conceived is confirmed by the franchise's primary designer, Ken Sugimori, and is eternally etched into the game's code, giving this Ground/Rock-type Pokémon a unique, foundational significance that goes far beyond its Pokédex number.

Rhydon: The True Origin of the Pokémon Universe

The revelation that Rhydon is the first Pokémon designed is a piece of canon confirmed directly by the creators, specifically Ken Sugimori, the lead artist and character designer for the original 151 Pokémon. This fact is particularly surprising because Rhydon is Pokédex entry #112, placing it far from the starting point of the official list. This discrepancy between design order and Pokédex order is the core of the mystery and what makes Rhydon's history so compelling.

The Definitive Proof: Rhydon’s Internal Index Number is 001

The strongest piece of evidence supporting Rhydon's status as the original design is its Internal Index Number within the original *Pokémon Red and Green* (or *Red and Blue* in the West) game code. * Pokédex Number: 112 * Internal Index Number: 001 The internal index number is essentially a sequential list of the creatures as they were programmed into the game's memory. Rhydon was the very first monster to be coded, labeled, and given its digital identity, which is why it holds the index number 001. This technical detail reveals a clear chronology that the final Pokédex order—which was arranged for better game flow and to place the starter Pokémon Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle at the beginning—later obscured. The significance of Rhydon's index number extends beyond trivia. Due to the way the early games were programmed, many of the famous glitch Pokémon (like MissingNo.) and other game errors would often default or "revert" to Rhydon's sprite or data because of its position at the very beginning of the internal list. This makes Rhydon not just the first design, but the true digital ancestor of every creature in the Kanto region.

The Early Design Philosophy: Kaiju and "Keep the Balance"

Rhydon's design is a perfect encapsulation of the original vision for Pokémon, a vision heavily influenced by the interests of its creators, Ken Sugimori and Satoshi Tajiri (the franchise creator).

Inspired by Kaiju and Dinosaurs

Ken Sugimori has noted in interviews that many of his earliest designs were inspired by his personal love for kaiju (giant monsters) from classic Japanese films, such as Godzilla. Rhydon, a hulking, bipedal creature with a thick hide, a drill horn, and armor-like plates, clearly fits this monstrous, powerful aesthetic. It is a Ground/Rock-type, emphasizing its solid, primal nature. This early preference for brutish, powerful monsters helps explain why Rhydon, and its pre-evolution Rhyhorn, were among the first concepts to be finalized. This initial batch of designs, which runs from Rhydon (ID 001) to Slowpoke (ID 037) in the internal list, is known for being less cohesive than later groups, as the designers were still experimenting with what a "Pokémon" should be.

The "Keep the Balance" Technique

As the design team grew, Sugimori developed a core philosophy known as "Keep the Balance" to ensure the roster was diverse and appealing. This technique involved consciously balancing "cool" designs with "uncool" or "cheerful" elements. For example, a Pokémon that was too serious might have a cheerful element added, or a creature that was too cool might be given an uncool feature. This is why the early designs include a mix of powerful monsters like Nidoking and Nidoqueen alongside more gentle or quirky creatures like Clefairy and Lapras, which were also among the very first concepts created alongside Rhydon. This deliberate contrast helped shape the diverse ecosystem of the Kanto region and is a key reason for the franchise's enduring appeal across different demographics.

The Other Early Contenders and The Kanto Roster's Design Timeline

While Rhydon holds the title of the *first* design, it's important to recognize the other early entities that were foundational to the franchise. The initial creative period saw the development of several key Pokémon that helped define the Generation I aesthetic.

The Original Design Team's Core Entities

The very first batch of designs, which were created before the final Pokédex order was established, included a mix of creatures that were meant to serve different roles in the game. * Clefairy: Clefairy was an extremely early design, so much so that it was originally intended to be the franchise's mascot, a role later taken by Pikachu. Its cute, fairy-like appearance was a necessary counterpoint to the kaiju-inspired Rhydon. * Lapras: Another early design, Lapras was conceived with a specific function in mind: providing a ride across the sea, which led to the creation of the "Surf" HM (Hidden Machine). * Rhyhorn: As Rhydon's pre-evolution, Rhyhorn was naturally designed at the same time or shortly after its evolution, cementing the Rhydon evolutionary line's status as the oldest in the Pokémon world. * Jigglypuff, Poliwhirl, and Staryu: These are other creatures often cited as being among the first 30-40 designs, created during the same period as Rhydon and Slowpoke.

The Final Pokédex Arrangement

The final decision to arrange the Pokédex by evolutionary line and place the starter Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) at the beginning was a marketing and structural choice, not a chronological one. This decision created the famous Kanto Pokédex order (001 to 151) that every fan knows. This arrangement, while iconic, is what ultimately buried the fact that Rhydon—the Drill Pokémon—was the first sketch and the first to be coded. Understanding this history elevates Rhydon from a mid-game evolution to a foundational pillar of the entire Pokémon universe. It is the original blueprint, a powerful rhinoceros monster that set the standard for the hundreds of creatures that would follow. The next time you see Rhydon, remember that you are looking at the true Alpha Pokémon of the Kanto region, the one that started it all.