Pokémon myths were basically a core part of growing up with the series. Before guides, YouTube, or datamines, everything came from rumours, playground talk, and that one friend who swore they’d done it. If you played Pokémon Red and Blue, you didn’t just catch Pokémon, you chased secrets that may or may not have even existed.
This article breaks down the most famous Pokémon myths we all thought were real, why they spread so easily, and how some of them were just believable enough to keep players trying for hours.
The Mew Under the Truck Myth
One of the most famous Pokémon myths ever came from a simple truck near the S.S. Anne in Pokémon Red and Blue.
The rumour claimed that if you used Strength to move the truck after preventing the ship from leaving, you would find Mew hidden underneath.
Why people believed it:
- The truck was a strange, unused object
- Mew was already a mysterious Pokémon
- There was no clear way to obtain Mew in-game
In reality, the truck does nothing. However, glitches later discovered did allow players to legitimately encounter Mew, which only added to the confusion.
What makes this myth so interesting is that Mew was real but insanely hard to get, which made the rumour feel believable. And when actual Mew glitches were later discovered, it only fuelled the idea that maybe… just maybe… the truck story wasn’t totally wrong.
Beyond the main series, there are plenty of forgotten titles, and our unknown Pokémon games you’ve probably never played article explores the ones most fans missed.
Pressing Buttons to Increase Catch Rate
This is one of those Pokémon myths that almost everyone believed at some point.
The idea was simple: pressing buttons like A, B, or Down at the right time would increase your chances of catching a Pokémon.
Why it stuck:
- It felt like it worked
- Players shared “successful” patterns
- There was no visible catch formula in early games
In truth, catching Pokémon is entirely based on hidden mechanics like HP, status effects, and Poké Ball type. Button presses have no effect at all.
And the worst part? It felt like it worked.
You’d fail a few times, change your timing, then suddenly catch something and think you’d cracked the system.
In reality, Pokémon catching has always been based on hidden mechanics like HP, status effects, and ball type. Your button presses do absolutely nothing.
Still, even now, people still do it out of habit.
If you’ve ever been confused by how a Pokémon evolves, our weird Pokémon evolutions and methods that make no sense article explains the most bizarre cases.
Pikablu Was a Secret Pokémon
Before Pokémon Gold and Silver released, rumours spread about a mysterious Pokémon called “Pikablu”.
This was actually early confusion around Marill, which had been revealed but not fully explained.
Why it spread:
- Limited official information at the time
- Early images with no names attached
- Playground speculation filling the gaps
Interestingly, early starter choices and hidden Pokémon rumours like this shaped how players approached their journeys. If you’re curious how starter picks actually impact difficulty, it’s worth checking out Worst Starter Pokémon: 5 That Ruin Your Early Game to see which ones genuinely make things harder.
MissingNo Was a Secret Pokémon
MissingNo is one of the most iconic glitches in gaming history, but many players thought it was intentional.
The glitch could be encountered through a specific set of actions and would duplicate items, including Rare Candies.
Why players thought it was real:
- It had a name and Pokédex entry
- It could be battled and caught
- It behaved like a Pokémon
In reality, MissingNo is just corrupted data. Catching it could even damage your save file or cause graphical glitches.
The catch? It could also mess up your save file or permanently glitch your game.
Looking back, it’s wild how many players risked everything just to test a rumour.
The Lavender Town Syndrome
One of the darker Pokémon myths involves Lavender Town and claims that its music caused illness in players.
The story suggested that high-pitched tones in the original Japanese version led to headaches or worse.
Why it spread:
- The music is genuinely eerie
- Early internet creepypasta culture amplified it
- Lack of verification at the time
There is no evidence this ever happened. It remains one of the most famous Pokémon urban legends.
Think this battle was tough? Wait until you see the full list of the best Pokémon gym leaders in every region ranked.
You Could Get All Starters in One Game
This one hurt. Another widely believed Pokémon myth was that you could obtain all three starter Pokémon without trading.
Players tried everything from:
- Completing the Pokédex
- Talking to specific NPCs
- Beating the Elite Four multiple times
In the original games, this simply wasn’t possible without trading or glitches. That said, starter Pokémon have always been a huge talking point, and if you want a proper breakdown of the strongest picks across the entire series, check out The 7 Best Starter Pokémon Among All Generations Ranked (2026 Guide).
Why Pokémon Myths Spread So Easily
Pokémon myths thrived in a time when information wasn’t instantly available.
A few key reasons they spread so widely:
- Limited official guides and updates
- No easy internet verification
- Kids sharing discoveries as fact
- Hidden mechanics that weren’t explained
Difficulty spikes in older games also added to the mystery. If you remember struggling through certain regions, it’s worth revisiting Sinnoh Gym Leaders Ranked by Difficulty (Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum) 2026 to see which battles actually lived up to the hype.
Pokémon Myths Still Exist Today
Even today, Pokémon myths still pop up.
They don’t last as long, and they get debunked faster, but that same curiosity is still there. Players still want to believe there’s something hidden, something undiscovered.
And honestly, that’s part of what made Pokémon special in the first place.
Those rumours, even the fake ones, made the games feel bigger than they actually were. They gave players something to chase beyond just finishing the story.
If you grew up with these, you didn’t just play Pokémon. You explored it, questioned it, and probably wasted hours trying something that never worked.
And somehow… that’s still one of the best parts.
If you enjoy digging into how Pokémon mechanics actually work, you can explore more detailed breakdowns and guides in our Pokémon hub, where myths, mechanics, and gameplay systems are all explained clearly.
