Do you know any good collective nouns for different pokemon? (Also, if a group were to contain different evolutionary levels of the same line, how would you refer to that? As in, would it be ‘a flock of pidgeot’ even if the flock contained pidgey and pidgeotto, or would you have to say ‘a flock of pidgeot, pidgeotto, and pidgey’?)

To answer the easiest question here first, group names typically apply to the whole line, rather than the individual, because most pokémon either live closely together, or they separate after evolution to live solitary lifestyles (and thus have no group name).

As for group names, there are quite a lot of pokémon, which means that naming every single group name would result in a post so long I doubt few of you would appreciate it. Thus, I’m going to cover as many as possible without going overboard, and all of it is behind the readmore below.

For the record, please note that when a pokémon is named, I’m actually referring to the entire evolutionary line unless otherwise noted.

• First and foremost, there are no group names for legendary pokémon, as there are no records that such pokémon live in groups large enough to warrant being named. (There are, of course, instances of multiple legendaries arriving to certain important events in history en masse, but these seem to be exceptions to the rule, as opposed to examples of day-to-day life for them.) Collectively, all legendaries of a region are referred to as a pantheon (e.g., the Johto pantheon), but this is less an indicator of their lifestyles and more a note about regional society.

• As rare as it is to see groups of starters (many of these often occur far from human civilization, if not artificially in breeding centers), there are in fact group names for each of the starters. Several of them (bulbasaur, squirtle, cyndaquil, mudkip, and turtwig) form nests, although groups of bulbasaur or turtwig can also be called knots. Charmander and treecko form lounges, although if you’re referring to charizard specifically, those can also be referred to as a congress. (The entire treecko line keeps the same group name throughout.) Speaking of political words, rowlet form parliaments all the way through their line, although decidueye tends to be solitary. A group of chikorita or tepig is a herd, while totodile forms a bask. A group of torchic is a flock, and while that name is popularly applied to the equally bird-like piplup, the proper word for a group of piplup is a rookery. (They can also be referred to as a colony.) Multiple chimchar form a troop, while multiple froakie become an army. Oshawott form floats, chespin form scurries (singular scurry), fennekin form leashes, and litten form ambushes. And popplio? Harem.

• Referring to most bird pokémon as a flock isn’t technically incorrect; people will generally understand what you mean if you do. However, there are certain words for particular evolution lines. For example, a group of murkrow is called a murder, a group of hoothoot is called a parliament (just like rowlet), and most groups of bird pokémon that nest by the sea tend tend to be called a rookery. (This is slightly different from the label given to actual birds, but yes, “rookery” can also specifically mean bird pokémon that are nesting.) Additionally, a group of chatot can form a company, hawlucha form a kettle or ring, rufflet are a convocation or an aerie, and vullaby are a wake.

• Most bug-types form either hives, swarms, or colonies. Generally speaking, if they don’t form a visible nest and/or are on the move, they’re a swarm. (This includes non-mobile pokémon such as ferroseed and pineco, incidentally.) If their nest is underground, they’re a colony, and if their nest is in a tree or is otherwise visible, they’re a hive. If their nest is in your house, then they’re an infestation, and you should perhaps consult a trainer.

• A group of pikachu is a mischief, as is a group of rattata. The term is equally appropriate for both.

• Serpent pokémon generally form nests. The exception is dratini, which actually forms a colony. (To be fair, “nest” has often been used to describe dratini as well. Dragonair and dragonite are always called colonies, although older texts also call a group of dragonite a flight.)

• If domesticated, a group of nidoran of either line form houses or herds. In the wild, they form nests.

• Nest is actually a pretty common term for animal-like pokémon, actually. So if you don’t see it specified here, it’s safe to assume a group can be referred to as a nest, especially if it’s in the wild.

• Multiple clefairy form a colony, and multiple jigglypuff form a choir. A lot of people get the two confused, but it’s easier if you remember the urban legend about clefairy coming from space.

• Bat-like pokémon are likewise called colonies, regardless of species. This includes the noibat line.

• Most canine pokémon form packs. Yes, this includes eevee (although it’s true that a couple of its evolutions are more cat-like in nature). The exception are fox-like pokémon (vulpix, abra, and fennekin, one of which is mentioned above), which form leashes. Vulpix can also form a skulk; however, this word isn’t used for a group of fennekin. Likewise, a group of abra may also form a clan.

• In domesticated or wild settings, most cat-like pokémon (namely skitty, meowth, glameow, and purrloin) form clowders. Feral cat-like pokémon in urban settings are called destructions, however. Especially meowth.

• Meanwhile, lion-like pokémon such as shinx and litleo form prides.

• Most flower-like pokémon form gardens. Tree-like pokémon form forests. Note that the latter is not dependent on actual type; a group of sudowoodo is absolutely a forest.

• Fruit- and vegetable-like pokémon are a bit trickier, but generally, those are harvests. For example, it’s a harvest of pumpkaboo or a harvest of bounsweet. However, if they evolve into something that isn’t entirely edible, then the whole line is labeled with the appropriate term in their case. (For example, a group of cherubi is a garden, not a harvest.)

• Seedot is a unique case, as it evolves into a more ninja-like pokémon. Consequently, it’s not referred to as a harvest either but rather a clan.

• Tropius, meanwhile, are always in herds. Additionally, mushroom-like pokémon are masses or colonies. (The exception is paras and parasect, which compose swarms.)

• A group of exeggcute is a cluster or dozen, but a group of exeggutor is a forest or herd. This is one of the few pokémon that are referred to with completely separate terms before and after evolution. Contrary to popular belief, remoraid isn’t the other example.

• Humanoid pokémon often form tribes (if they’re at least part psychic) or clans (if they’re not). Humanoid pokémon that coexist with humans (but are still wild or feral) are called communities. For example, a community of machop.

• Pokémon that resemble inanimate objects vary with their group name, depending on what they’re modeled after. For example, a group of geodude is a quarry, a group of onix is a mine, and a group of voltorb, in all seriousness, is called a hazard. A number of species also form collections (such as a collection of bronzor), and porygon form folders.

• Fish-like pokémon form schools if they’re in motion as one unit and shoals if they’re merely gathered together in one general place. The wailmer line and lapras form pods, seal-like pokémon can form a herd, and most crab-like pokémon form casts. Octillery are solitary and thus don’t have a group name, despite the fact that remoraid do indeed form either schools or shoals. If in the company of their preevolved form, you can refer to the whole group as either a school or shoal and basically be correct. Groups of inkay are still called shoals, though, and this term can apply to them, even if they’re in motion as a single unit.

• Horse-like pokémon form teams, whereas groups of sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, and so forth are all called herds.

• Also, if you have multiple pokémon that fit the same general description or would use the same group word, you can simply refer to them by that group word, rather than separate them out. For example, rather than calling it a school of magikarp and a school of finneon, you would call them a school of magikarp and finneon.

• A group of absol is not called a panic but rather a pack. Officially, anyway. The joke has gained enough popularity as of recent that panic is also becoming an increasingly accepted term.

• For anything else, please feel free to ask!