A lot of this should be relatively obvious, but here's a guide to making balanced custom Pokemon (or Fakemon if this term is more familar/appropriate for this kind of stuff). There will also be a sort of template you can use to fill out your Poke's pages and all that (just so it looks neat/orderly; if you decide to do it like Bulbapedia and add stat spread, movesets, etc.) If you just want to show off a Poke and not care about the stats and all that stuff, you may skip over.
Note that this isn't an official guide, but should be useful for those of you that want to show off your custom Pokes but don't play TCG.
1. Info should correlate to the pic (if any)
Basically, make sure your Poke's pic matches the type(s) you set it to be, their height/weight and so on. If you make a Pokemon that weighs 150 pounds and is around 5'8 or something, it should look like that.
You don't need a picture in order to post, but it's mentioned here b/c we're theoretically inside an "Art" forum.
2. Stats
Should be distributed based on what the Pokemon looks like, what their movesets are and so forth. This means, if a Poke gives the impression of being fast, learns moderately strong moves or otherwise can be classified as a sweeper, then its stats should reflect that. (This is designed on Smogon stuff, so if you want to make things for casual, in-game stuff, disregard certain parts)
In essence, code your stat spread however you see fit, but again keep it within realism. (i.e. don't have a baby Pokemon have a BST that rivals that of a pseudo-legendary or something along those lines).
Get creative (or reference existing stuff if you need to).
Keep in mind that a base stat [an individual one] CANNOT exceed 255. As for the total itself, Mewtwo in its Mega form already surpassed Arceus's 720 BST however you shouldn't exceed this amount.
3. Movesets
Given that Pokemon are based off of things in reality or fantasy/myth, moves they learn should, in some shape or form, reference to their real world counterparts. However, you are free to do whatever you want. You are NOT limited to strictly what the real animal is capable of.
4. Abilities
Should be based off of what the Pokemon in question is derived from and what kind of role it's expected to perform if you placed it in a battle. In the case of legendaries, not a good idea to give them Pressure, since most legendaries, such as the legendary birds, creation trio, beasts, Mewtwo, tower duo and Deoxys, have it as their primary and gets stale after a while).
Mini Template (follows similarly to the Bulbapedia pages, but in condensed form)
NOTE: It would be wise to keep an evolutionary line within one topic; it'll be easier to relate all of them instead of searching different topics.
Species: (You can omit "Pokemon", it's obvious)
Typing: (If dual-typed, separate with a slash "/")
Stat Spread: (Do it like the games, HP/ATK/DEF/SP_ATK/SP_DEF/SPD)7
Abilities: (You can use existing ones or be creative and do your own, but explain what they are if you use customs)
Height: (Use the USA customary system and the SI units [meter], for those who use metric system)
Weight: (Use pounds and kilograms)
Dex Description: (If this were in a game, what would it say in the Pokedex. You don't need to give two of them.)
EV Yield: (If this Pokemon is defeated, how many EVs will be given to your Poke and which stats?)
Evolutionary Line: (List from baby form to final form, and by what means does it evolve [level up, happiness, held item, evolution stone, etc.] You can omit this if Poke doesn't evolve, like legendaries or certain others)
Moveset: (What moves can it learn & at what levels. Split this into level up moves & TM/HM/move tutor/egg moves. Don't have to mention their typing, base power/PP, accuracy, etc if they are actual moves. If moves are custom, note them on another post [type, PP/base power, accuracy, effects])
Species: Typing: Stat Spread: Abilities: Height: Weight: Dex Description: EV Yield: Evolutionary Line: Moveset: Level up TM/HM Egg Tutor
This is just a template to make things organized. As long as you have the basic info, you can arrange it however you like.
Hope this helps a bit.
If you guys want to suggest fixes, go ahead.
Edited by Sakura Haruno, 25 June 2014 - 01:46 AM.