Footprints are patterns left in the ground by Pokémon and humans alike.
Description
Footprints are a distinguishing feature of certain species of Pokémon. Each Pokémon's footprint shape is visible in the Pokédex in games from Generation II to V, though certain species do not have a corresponding footprint. From Generation III onward, the player is required to have caught a Pokémon species before its footprint can be seen in the Pokédex.
Since footprints have no longer been part of the Pokédex from Generation VI onward, the footprint shape of any Pokémon species introduced since then is unknown.
Appearances
Core series
Generation III
In Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version, Pokémon Emerald Version, and the remakes Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, a non-playable character in Oldale Town blocks the path to Route 102 at first because he is inspecting Pokémon footprints. The path becomes available once the player has obtained the Pokédex. The non-playable character, if spoken to, reveals that he had been examining his own footprints, not of any Pokémon.
Generation IV
In Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version, Pokémon Platinum Version, and the remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, there is a character who is an expert with Pokémon footprints, Dr. Footstep. Dr. Footstep can analyze the footprints left by a Pokémon and use that to determine the friendship level between the player and their Pokémon If the friendship is at maximum, that Pokémon receives the Footprint Ribbon, an item introduced in the Generation IV games. Ironically, Dr. Footstep can still give the Footprint Ribbon to a Pokémon that cannot leave any footprints, something that he acknowledges.
The Wi-Fi Plaza in Pokémon Platinum Version and Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version had two long tables where multiple players could paint using the shapes of the paw prints of the Pokémon in their party.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: The Crown Tundra, Sonia gives the player a quest to track the footprints of the main Swords of Justice trio—Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion—to determine their exact locations. The quest can be activated upon discovering mysterious footprints in Freezington. Each Pokémon has differently colored footprints, with Cobalion have blue footprint, Virizion having green, and Terrakion having brown. The player is required to collect 50 pairs of footprints for each of the three Pokémon.
Spinoffs
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Wigglytuff's Guild judges the value behind each Pokémon entering based on their footprint shape. There is a grate at the entrance where Pokémon have to step on to have their footprints analyzed by a sentry, who is usually Diglett, before they can enter; this is to see if any of the Pokémon are wanted. Loudred states that Diglett is very good at analyzing footprints and rarely fails to recognize one.
There is a minigame titled Sentry Duty where the player takes over Diglett's role, having to identify the footprint shapes of the Pokémon entering Wigglytuff's Guild.
Anime
In "An Epic Defense Force!", the footprints of some famous Pokémon who starred in Pokéstar Studios films are located at the "Pokémon Walk of Fame," a parody of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Luke manages to recognize the footprint of Brycen's Beartic.