You’re barely twenty minutes into the game. You’ve just reached Santalune City. Suddenly, someone hands you a living, breathing creature for absolutely nothing. No Poke Balls thrown. No stressful red-bar health management. Just a freebie. Kalos is famous—or maybe infamous—for this. Pokemon X and Y gift Pokemon are basically the backbone of any casual playthrough, and honestly, they’re the reason the game feels like you're playing on "Easy Mode" most of the time.
It’s weird. In older generations, getting a gift felt like a massive milestone, like Lapras in Silph Co. or that Eevee in Celadon. In X and Y, Game Freak just started throwing them at you like parade candy. If you know who to talk to, you can fill half your party with high-tier powerhouses before you even see the third Gym Leader.
The Kanto Starters: The First Real Power Trip
The real turning point happens in Lumiose City. You go to Professor Sycamore’s lab, you battle him, and then he does something no other professor had done before. He gives you a second starter. Not a Kalos one—a classic Kanto starter.
You get to choose between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. This isn't just a nostalgia trip. Because Mega Evolution was the "big new thing" in 2013, Sycamore also hands you the corresponding Mega Stone. Suddenly, you have a Charmander that will eventually become Mega Charizard X or Y. That is a massive jump in power for the early game. Most players ended up benching their actual Kalos starter (sorry, Chesnaught) because the Kanto ones were just objectively more versatile once they hit their final forms.
I remember my first run. I picked Froakie and then grabbed Bulbasaur. By the time I hit the mid-game, Venusaur was just tanking everything while Greninja cleaned up. It felt like cheating, but the game encourages it.
Lucario and the Gift of Mega Evolution
If the Kanto starters didn't break the game's difficulty for you, Korrina definitely did. When you reach the Tower of Mastery in Shalour City, one of her two Lucario decides it likes you better. It’s a scripted event. You don’t have to do anything special other than exist and have a Mega Ring.
This Lucario is a beast.
It comes at level 32. It’s holding Lucarionite. It has a Hasty nature (usually). It basically teaches you how to use Mega Evolution in a practical setting. The problem? Lucario with Adaptability is a monster. It hits so hard that the next three gyms might as well be made of wet paper. Most people just kept it in their party until the Elite Four because why wouldn't you? It's a free Steel/Fighting type with one of the best Mega forms in the meta at the time.
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The Quiet Power of the Lapras Gift
Route 12 is where things get a bit more specific. There’s a guy standing right near the entrance to the route, near a sign. If you talk to him, he just gives you a Lapras. He says he doesn't have the heart to raise it or something like that.
It’s a level 30 Lapras.
Think about that. Lapras used to be this rare, mystical encounter. In Kalos, it’s a guy standing in the grass who’s basically a glorified delivery driver. The reason this gift matters so much is the timing. You’ve just finished the fourth gym. You’re about to head toward the seaside. You need a Surf user. Instead of catching a mediocre Marill or something, the game hands you a high-HP tank that can learn Ice Beam and Thunderbolt.
Fossils and the Restoration Gimmick
Technically, Fossils are gift Pokemon because you don't catch them in the wild; you're given the item and then a scientist brings it to life. In Ambrette Town, after you clear out Team Flare in the Glittering Cave, you get a choice: the Jaw Fossil or the Sail Fossil.
- Tyrunt (Jaw Fossil): A Rock/Dragon type that evolves into Tyrantrum. It’s all about raw physical power and Strong Jaw.
- Amaura (Sail Fossil): A Rock/Ice type that evolves into Aurorus. It has the Refrigerate ability, which is cool in theory but leaves it with a x4 weakness to Fighting and Steel.
Most people went with Tyrunt. Having a Dragon-type that early in the game (around level 20) is a huge advantage. Tyrantrum's design is top-tier, and it fits the "ancient" vibe of the Kalos region's lore perfectly.
Why the Fossil Choice Matters Less Than You Think
While the fossils are cool, they are often overshadowed by the sheer volume of other gifts. If you’ve already got a Mega Charizard and a Lucario, a Tyrantrum feels like overkill. But if you're doing a "No-Catch" run (a popular challenge where you only use Pokemon given to you), these fossils are the backbone of your strategy.
The Glittering Cave is a bit of a slog, but the payoff is worth it. It's one of the few times in X and Y where you actually feel like you earned the gift rather than just stumbling into it.
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That Random Magikarp Scammer (Wait, is it a gift?)
Okay, technically, the guy on Route 5 who sells you a Magikarp for 500 Pokedollars isn't giving it to you for "free," but in the world of Pokemon, 500 yen is basically the price of a soda. It’s a "gift" in the sense that it’s a guaranteed encounter.
Most veteran players know that a level 5 Magikarp is a gold mine. If you put it in the back of your party and let the Exp. Share do the work, you have a Gyarados before you even hit the second gym. Since Gyarados also gets a Mega Evolution in X and Y (if you find the stone later), this "scam" is actually one of the best investments in the game.
The Torchic Event: A Moment in History
We have to talk about the Blazikenite Torchic. This was a limited-time Mystery Gift at launch, but it defines the experience for millions of people who played X and Y in that first year.
It was a level 10 Torchic with its Hidden Ability, Speed Boost. It came with the Blazikenite, which wasn't available anywhere else in the game until the post-game. It made the game a joke. A Speed Boost Blaziken can outspeed almost anything after one turn. If you had this, your team was essentially Torchic, your Kalos starter, and your Kanto starter. You were a god among NPCs.
Even though you can't get this specific gift anymore without trading or cheating, it’s a huge part of why the "Pokemon X and Y gift Pokemon" legacy is one of being overpowered.
Trading with NPCs: The Forgotten Gifts
There are a few trades that feel like gifts because the Pokemon you receive are so much better than what you give away.
- Shauna’s Starter: After you beat the Champion, Shauna will trade you the unevolved form of her starter for literally anything. If you picked Froakie, she’ll give you a Fennekin or Chespin. It’s a nice way to fill the Pokedex.
- The Luvdisc for Steelix Trade: In Cyllage City, a hiker wants a Luvdisc. In return, he gives you a Steelix named Thumper. Since Luvdisc are everywhere if you have an Old Rod, this is basically a free Steelix. A Steelix before the second gym is a defensive wall that nothing in the early game can touch.
- The Magnezone/Ralts Trades: Later in the game, specifically in Lumiose City after the Elite Four, Diantha will trade you a Ralts holding Gardevoirite.
The Philosophy of Abundance
Why did Game Freak do this? Why give away so many good Pokemon?
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Critics say it ruined the difficulty. They aren't entirely wrong. If you use all the gifts provided, your team's average base stat total is significantly higher than any trainer you face, including the Gym Leaders. However, from a design perspective, it was about showing off the 3D models and the new Mega Evolution mechanic. They wanted players to experience the "best" Pokemon immediately.
How to Handle Your Gift Pokemon Team
If you want a balanced experience, you actually have to ignore some of these. But if you're looking for a "Power Run," here is the play-by-play.
Grab your Kalos starter (Froakie is the meta choice for Protean later, but for a casual run, it doesn't matter). Get to Lumiose and take Bulbasaur for the type coverage. Buy that Magikarp on Route 5. Grab the Jaw Fossil for Tyrunt. Accept the Lucario from Korrina. Take the Lapras on Route 12.
By the time you reach the seventh gym, you aren't just a trainer; you’re a walking catastrophe for the AI.
Practical Steps for Your Next Kalos Playthrough
- Check your PC boxes often: Gift Pokemon often get sent straight to the PC if your party is full. I've known people who forgot they even accepted the Lapras.
- Don't sleep on the trades: Thumper the Steelix is a genuine life-saver in a Nuzlocke run.
- Mega Stone management: Remember that you can only Mega Evolve one Pokemon per battle. Having a team of Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard, and Mega Venusaur sounds cool, but you'll have to pick your favorite child once the battle starts.
- Synchronize your Natures: If you're a bit more hardcore, save your game before talking to the gift NPCs. You can soft-reset to get a better Nature (like Adamant for Lucario or Modest for Squirtle).
Kalos is a beautiful region, but it's a generous one. Too generous? Maybe. But there is something undeniably fun about being handed a legendary-tier team just for being a nice person to NPCs.
If you're jumping back into X and Y today, try a "Gift Only" run. It’s a totally different way to experience the game where you ignore the tall grass entirely and let the world provide for you. It's surprisingly viable and cuts out the stress of hunting for 1% encounter rates.