Digimon

Digimon (short for Digital Monsters) are creatures that appear in the franchise of the same name. These creatures originate from a realm known as the "Digital World", a universe existing parallel to the real world that is linked to Earth via human telecommunication networks. There are many different Digimon species, with new types being discovered each year as the Digital World expands. Some of these species are feral, but most Digimon possess human-like intelligence and behaviour, capable of speech and expressing emotions.

Life Cycle
Digimon are hatched from Digi-Eggs that coalesce within Digimon Nurseries across the Digital World. After hatching as a Newborn, or "Fresh", -level Digimon, they will grow and develop over time. Unlike real-world organisms, however, Digimon take on very different forms as they age, developing new physical features and growing in size and power. This process is known as "Digivolution".

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the Digimon life cycle is that Digimon do not die in the traditional sense. Being creatures of pure data, if a Digimon is mortally wounded, its form dissolves into infinitesimal bits of data and reconfigures into a Digi-Egg. Digimon can reincarnate in this manner indefinitely provided that a Digimon dies in the Digital World and its data is neither corrupted nor absorbed by another Digimon. If a deceased Digimon's data is consumed by another Digimon or if it dies in the real world, it will die permanently. Digimon that are joined with human partners will also die when their human partners die.

Digivolution
Digivolution is the process by which Digimon grow and develop. Rather than a traditional ageing process, Digimon undergo complete bodily transformations as they grow. With each transformation, they become physically stronger, larger, and gain new abilities. While all Digimon will digivolve into new forms naturally over time, there are many forms that a Digimon may never reach over the course of its natural life cycle and can only be achieved if a Digimon is partnered with a human ally such as a Tamer or a DigiDestined. Digimon who form bonds with a human are able to digivolve more easily, generally through the use of a Digivice owned by the human. In such cases, the Digimon is channeled large amounts of energy and is therefore able to instantaneously digivolve to a higher level. However, these Digimon will generally de-digivolve or degenerate back into a lower form after a fight. Digimon partnered to humans are also commonly able to use special forms of Digivolution not naturally available, giving these Digimon many different forms.

The different levels and forms of digivolution are listed below.
 * Newborn - Also called "Fresh", this is the primordial, infantile form of a Digimon newly hatched from its Digi-Egg. Their forms are rather simplistic, appearing as small, amorphous things that usually have no limbs. Newborns are weak and normally have only a single ability with which to defend themselves, relying primarily on the protection of higher-level Digimon and/or human carers.
 * Baby - Also known as the "In-Training" stage of a Digimon's life. At this point, the Digimon will have taken on a slightly larger form, but still lacks a lot of bodily features and often resembles a disembodied head. Baby-level Digimon have more distinct behaviour patterns and are more capable of defending themselves, but their abilities are still very weak and are better used to distract larger foes so that the Child can flee.
 * Child - Also known as "Rookie", this is the stage where a Digimon develops a more distinct and functional form. By this point, they have developed a number of skills and abilities that will help them to survive and thrive. For many Digimon, their Rookie-level forms are the forms they will remain in for the rest of their natural lives, but those of exceptional strength and vigor may yet digivolve further. Digimon that have human partners can be temporarily digivolved beyond this stage through the use of a Digivice.
 * Adult - Also referred to as the "Champion" level. Adult Digimon are generally much larger than lower-level creatures, often reaching sizes equivalent to a human house. At this level, they are perfectly suited for battle and possess a number of destructive abilities. Very few Digimon can reach this level naturally.
 * Perfect - Also known as "Ultimate". For Digimon that do not have a human partner, this is as far as natural digivolution can take them, with a few exceptions. At this stage, Digimon take on more complex forms with even greater powers and abilities, making them unbeatable to any Digimon less than Perfect-level.
 * Mega - The apex level of Digimon evolution. Less than 1% of the Digital World's population are capable of reaching this level. Most Mega digivolutions are achieved via a Digivice or are born at Mega-level under unique circumstances. Mega-level Digimon often possess powers of godlike proportions, capable of miraculous feats or cataclysmic levels of destruction. As such, Mega-level Digimon can only realistically be defeated by other Mega-level Digimon.

Special Digivolution Types
Aside from natural progressive digivolution in which a Digimon takes on stronger forms over time or through a Digivice, there are alternate types of digivolution that are achieved via non-standard methods. These unusual types of digivolution are listed below.
 * Dark Digivolution - This is a corrupt form of regular digivolution where a Digimon may be coersced into digivolving by forceful and even harmful means. Forcing this kind of digivolution usually results in the Digimon transforming into an evil creature, its mind clouded by dark power. Such transformations can be reversed either by the Digimon exhausting itself or by appealing to the Digimon's better nature and calming it.
 * Warp Digivolution - This is a method of accelerated digivolution achieved by Digimon partnered with a human. Using an enhanced Digivice in conjunction with a Crest, the Digimon can bypass different stages in its digivolution cycle, skipping past its Champion and Ultimate phases to achieve its Mega form.
 * Armour Digivolution - This type of digivolution is achieved using both a Digivice and a special type of Digi-Egg known as a "Digimental". The Digimon increases in size and its bodily configuration alters while the Digimental splits into pieces that form armour which cover different parts of the Digimon's body. Most Armour Digivolutions possess power equivalent to Champion or Ultimate-level forms.
 * Jogres Digivolution - Also known as "Fusion" or "DNA Digivolution", this process allows two Digimon to merge together in both body and mind, gaining powers and abilities unique to their combined form. Only Digimon of Champion-level or higher are capable of this, although two Rookie-level Digimon can be Warp-digivolved into their Mega-level Jogressed form via upgraded Digivices.

Mode Change
Select types of Digimon are capable of changing forms - or "modes" - through a process that is different from digivolution. The Digimon capable of changing modes do not become a different species since they retain their original name and most of their physical features, but gain some kind of boost in power. There are a number of Digimon that can only change mode when working in unison with other Digimon.

Attributes
Digimon are divided into five particular Attributes. These Attributes tend to categorize the type of personality that a Digimon has, although in some cases it also/instead determines the level of damage a Digimon receives from certain types of attacks.
 * Data - Digimon of this Attribute are generally neutral, keeping to themselves and not becoming involved in situations that affect the Digital World as a whole.
 * Vaccine - Digimon that are noble and virtuous fall under the Vaccine Attribute. They use their powers to protect the Digital World and fight against evil and injustice.
 * Virus - Digimon of the Virus Attribute are hostile and predatory by design. They are driven by desire for power and domination over the Digital World.