If there’s any franchise that deserves credit for not talking down to its audience, it’s Digimon . Few anime have been so bold as to not only introduce seven main characters in the debut episode, but seven partner monsters for them with two forms apiece. Add the evil Digimon and an entire new world to decipher and explore and you have a series that breeds commitment — you don’t learn that Taichi’s new pal Koromon evolves into Augumon and NOT become obsessed for life. And since that initial entry in the original Digimon Adventure , we’ve been treated to hundreds more monsters, each one bearing a type and an attribute. But THAT’S where it really gets confusing. Because as intricate as the various anime series can get, they rarely dive deeply into the attributes that divide Digimon into specific categories. The types are usually mentioned whenever a new monster appears (often by the one kid in the group who knows how to use a computer), but the attributes, which are a major aspect of the other parts of the franchise like the video games and collectible cards, get a scattershot treatment. So let’s explore their importance in the anime, whether they get mentioned or not. Digimon Attributes Are Like Pokémon Types… Sort Of The first comparison you’ll likely make to Digimon attributes is Pokémon types, as they function in a similar rock-paper-scissors fashion. In Pokémon, for example, Fire beats Grass (by burning it), Grass beats Water (because plants absorb water), and Water beats Fire (by extinguishing it). Digimon doesn’t have as many sections, but its main three attributes (Vaccine, Data and Virus, derived from the “digital” nature of Digimon) are powerful and weak in the same looped manner. Vaccine are built to eliminate Virus, Virus devour and corrupt Data, and Data does not need Vaccine to exist. Though there are other attributes like Free, Unknown, No Data, and Variable (the latter sometimes changes its attribute to match its opponent), Vaccine, Data and Virus are the attributes for a majority of Digimon. RELATED: Digimon Series Watch Order (Including Movies) There are also traditional elements like Fire, Water, Wind and Earth available, and these are accounted into attack strength and defensive resistance. This, too, works comparatively to Pokémon, and in the same way that you’d expect, for example, a sea-faring Pokémon to have Water attacks, a look at a Digimon will likely indicate its elemental affinities. A Digimon’s Attribute Is Often Tied To Its Character Image via Hulu That said, Digimon attributes are often devised in a way that, when you begin to understand them, make sense as you watch the anime and see certain characterizations develop. The most obvious one has to do with the Vaccine attribute. It is extremely common for Digimon that are heroic to be in the Vaccine category. Agumon, the Digimon mascot and a frequent partner and protagonist, is a Vaccine. Angemon, the holy Digimon that initially appeared in Digimon Adventure in savior-fashion to finally defeat Devimon, is a Vaccine. Guys like Leomon, who are always aiding in the rescue of the Digital World, are also Vaccine. In short, Vaccine Digimon tend to be good guys in the anime. There are exceptions to this rule, though: Gekkomon, Tomoro’s Digimon partner in Digimon Beatbreak , is a Data Digimon. This likely has to do with his unpredictable personality, while also reflecting the temperament of his human partner. Tomoro isn’t exactly a joyful person (His brother was put into a Digimon-induced coma, so can you blame him?), so he’s much more of a Data character. He flips between proactive heroics and droll pessimism depending on his mood. RELATED: As the Internet Changed So Did Digimon Data Digimon can also be found on both sides of the coin. Many of the Digimon that were infected in the original Adventure by Devimon’s Black Gears were Data. Digimon like Meramon, Seadramon, and Andromon are Data and likely would’ve remained neutral to the Chosen Children had they not been under the influence of Devimon’s evil. Data Digimon aren’t the only Digimon capable of being corrupted or having “face turns,” though. Orgemon, a Virus, is eventually persuaded to join the heroes. In the 2020 Digimon Adventure: reboot, he pretty much gets a whole episode devoted to him finally seeing the light. Virus Digimon aren’t too difficult to spot. If you can think of an enemy Digimon (especially the ones that really lean into the whole “I’m a bad guy that does bad things, and I LOVE it”, from Adventure ’s Etemon, to Adventure 02 ’s Archnemon to Digimon Ghost Game ’s Vamdemon, they’re mostly all Virus. They’re around to cause destruction and to warp any Digimon they come in contact with. The nature of these Digimon is generally chaotic, which means that Virus also includes Guilmon, Takato’s partner Digimon from Digimon Tamers . Guilmon might look like another hug-worthy Digi pal, but it’s very capable of ruining someone’s day, and its Virus attribute is a perfect fit for Tamers , a Digimon series that’s all about the murky lines of morality. Attributes Have Become a Major Part of Digimon Though they feature prominently in recent games like Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth and Digimon Story Time Stranger , attributes weren’t always a factor in Digimon. In fact, in the early days, Digimon types played a much bigger role in overall strength/weakness comparisons, and there were often specific Digimon that had advantages over other specific Digimon. And as versions of the digital pet changed, so did the array of strengths and weaknesses. It was truly the Wild West for little internet critters that you had on a keychain. Luckily, the evolutions having different levels (a “Perfect” level is inherently stronger than an “Adult” level) would end up giving it some more structure. RELATED: I'm So Happy Digimon Story Time Stranger Exists Now, though, they feature everywhere, and sharp-eyed anime viewers can see the attribute description whenever the Cleaners of Digimon Beatbreak find a new bounty to pursue. That said, whether you want to follow them as the balancing act of the powers of the Digital World, or look at them as a fun way to classify the many, many monsters that call the Digimon franchise home, is up to you. The first episode of Digimon makes you a devotee. But how you wish to continue with your obsession is totally up to you.
