Hi, everyone! I’ve talked a few times about how Pokemon’s ties to my interest in tabletop role-playing games, and with Pokemon Day marking the franchise’s 30th anniversary last Friday, I thought it would be a fun creative exercise to make 5e-compatible statblocks for a few Pokemon. With over 1025 Pokemon species, it would be quixotic to try and stat ’em all, but I’ve taken some that I thought would make interesting challenges to encounter and possibly befriend in your 5e adventures, alongside suggestions from friends of TBM Games. Since I’m making no effort to disguise these Pokemon and accompanying them with official art I clearly don’t own, these statblocks will not see a PDF release.

Pikachu

We couldn’t have a batch of Pokemon without its iconic mascot! Pikachu are curious and intelligent creatures that use sensitive tails to detect changes in their environment. They build electrical charges in sacs on their cheeks, to be released in intense jolts against would-be predators. When several Pikachu gather, their combined electricity can cause unexpected electrical storms.

Pikachu

Small Beast(Pokemon), Unaligned

AC 12        Initiative +2 (12)

HP 40 (9d6+9)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 8 -1 -1 DEX 15 +2 +4 CON 13 +1 +1

INT 10 +0 +0 WIS 12 +1 +1 CHA 14 +2 +4

Immunities Lightning

Senses Passive Perception 15

Skills Perception +5

CR 2 (450 XP; PB +2)

TRAITS

Lightning Rod. When the Pikachu would take Lightning damage, the damage of its next Thunderbolt attack increases by the amount of damage it would have taken.

Static. If the Pikachu is hit by a melee attack roll, the attacker cannot make any more attack rolls until the start of their next turn.

Agility. When the Pikachu takes the Dodge Action, it does not provoke any Opportunity Attacks while moving until the start of its next turn.

ACTIONS

Quick Attack. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (2d6+2) Bludgeoning damage. The Pikachu can move up to 10 feet when it makes this attack.

Thunderbolt. Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 30/60 ft. Hit: 12 (3d6+2) Lightning damage.

Ivysaur

I think Ivysaur embodies early Pokemon designs’ mystique – plant and animal components of this Pokemon grow in symbiosis to form a unique creature innately tied to nature. As the bulb on Ivysaur’s back forms a massive bud, it loses its ability to balance on its hind legs, but in turn its motions grow more sturdy and deliberate. It draws more strength from sunlight than food as the bud begins to bloom, and can rapidly plant parasitic seeds which sap vitality from its would-be foes.

Ivysaur

Medium Beast(Pokemon), Unaligned

AC 16        Initiative +2 (12)

HP 97 (13d8+39)

Speed 20 ft.

STR 10 +0 +0 DEX 8 -1 -1 CON 16 +3 +6

INT 13 +1 +1 WIS 15 +2 +5 CHA 12 +1 +1

Senses Passive Perception 15

Skills Nature +8

CR 5 (1,800 XP; PB +3)

TRAITS

Chlorophyll. While in bright light, an Ivysaur may use its Vine Whip attack as a Bonus Action, and its Solarbeam recharges on a roll of 4 or above.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The Ivysaur makes two Vine Whip attacks.

Leech Seed. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, one creature the Ivysaur can see within 30 feet. Failure: The target is seeded.  While seeded, the target takes 5 (1d10) Poison damage at the start of each of its turns, and it repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. When the target takes this damage, the Ivysaur heals the same amount of HP.

Vine Whip. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 15 ft. Hit: 10 (3d6) Slashing damage.

Solarbeam(Recharge 5-6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature in a 60-foot long, 5-foot wide Line originating from the Ivysaur. Failure: 28 (4d12+2) Radiant damage. Success: Half damage.

Toxic. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, one creature the Ivysaur can see within 30 feet. Failure: The target has the Poisoned condition.  While Poisoned, the target takes 14 (4d6) Poison damage at the start of each of its turns, and it repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Each time the target fails this saving throw, the damage increases by 1d6.

Castform

Pokemon are strongly tied to the natural world, leading to the important role weather plays in the world of Pokemon. Castform exhibits the unique ability to adapt to literally any weather by reshaping its body. Harsher weather conditions can affect a Castform’s disposition, becoming more extreme in intense weather.

Castform

Small Beast(Pokemon), Unaligned

AC 12(17 when Snowy)        Initiative +0 (10)

HP 42 (12d6)

Speed 5 ft., Fly 20 ft.(hover)

STR 8 -1 -1 DEX 10 +0 +0 CON 10 +0 +0

INT 14 +2 +2 WIS 14 +2 +4 CHA 15 +2 +4

Senses Passive Perception 14

Skills Perception +4

CR 2 (450 XP; PB +2)

TRAITS

Forecast. The Castform’s body changes based on the weather:

Rainy. The Castform has Advantage to saving throws against magical effects.
Snowy. The Castform’s AC increases by 5.
Sunny. When the Castform is hit by an attack from a creature within 5 feet of it, the attacker takes 3 (1d6) Fire damage.

ACTIONS

Tackle. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 3 (1d6) Bludgeoning damage.

Weather Ball(Normal Weather). Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 30/60 ft. Hit: 12 (3d6+2) Bludgeoning damage.

Weather Ball(Rainy). Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 30/60 ft. Hit: 17 (3d10+2) Bludgeoning damage, and the target is pushed back 10 feet and has the Prone condition.

Weather Ball(Snowy). Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 30/60 ft. Hit: 17 (3d10+2) Cold damage, and the target’s speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn.

Weather Ball(Sunny). Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 30/60 ft. Hit: 17 (3d10+2) Fire damage, and the target becomes Vulnerable to Fire damage until the end of its next turn.

BONUS ACTIONS

Weather Shift. The Castform can change the weather to Sunny, Rainy, or Snowy within 300 feet of it. This change lasts until the Castform dismisses it or fails a Concentration save. When this change ends, the weather instantly returns to its normal state.

If incorporating literal Pokemon into your D&D adventures isn’t your cup of tea, the World of Pokemon can still serve as inspiration – monsters seldom exist in a vacuum, and Pokemon takes great pains to explore their relationship with the world as a whole. What changes in your campaign world do your monsters need to respond to? Or does the world need to respond to them? These elements can help you write richer TTRPG adventures, as the journey continues!

Pokémon, Pikachu and all other Pokémon characters © 1995-2026 Nintendo, GAME FREAK and Creatures, Inc. This article is fan-made content. No infringement is intended.

Calling all Trainers!