History Characters / PokemonGenerationIBulbasaurToTentacruel

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[[center:[[WMG:''{{Franchise/Pokemon}}'' '''[[Characters/{{Pokemon}} characters Index]]''' ''([[Characters/PokemonTypes Pokémon Types]])''\\
[-'''Pokémon Family Species:''' [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIFamilies Gen I]] ('''Bulbasaur To Tentacruel''' / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIGeodudeToBlissey Geodude to Blissey]] / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationITangelaToMew Tangela to Mew]]) | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIFamilies Gen II]] | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIFamilies Gen III]] ([[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIITreeckoToSharpedo Treecko To Sharpedo]] / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIIWailmerToDeoxys Wailmer To Deoxys]]) | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIVFamilies Gen IV]] | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVFamilies Gen V]] ([[Characters/PokemonGenerationVVictiniToZoroark Victini To Zoroark]] / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVMinccinoToGenesect Minccino To Genesect]]) | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIFamilies Gen VI]] ([[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIChespinToHawlucha Chespin To Hawlucha]] / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIDedenneToVolcanion Dedenne To Volcanion]]) | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIIFamilies Gen VII]] ([[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIIRowletToComfey Rowlet To Comfey]] / [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIIOranguruToMelmetal Oranguru To Melmetal]] / [[Characters/PokemonUltraBeasts Ultra Beasts]]) | [[Characters/PokemonGenerationVIIIFamilies Gen VIII]]\\
'''Pokémon Human Characters:''' [[Characters/PokemonProtagonistsAndRivals Protagonists And Rivals]] | [[Characters/PokemonProfessors Professors]] | [[Characters/PokemonGymLeaders Gym Leaders]] ([[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersKanto Kanto]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersJohto Johto]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersHoenn Hoenn]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersSinnoh Sinnoh]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersUnova Unova]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersKalos Kalos]] / [[Characters/PokemonGymLeadersGalar Galar]]) | [[Characters/PokemonTrialCaptainsAndKahunas Trial Captains and Kahunas]] | [[Characters/PokemonEliteFour Elite Four]] | [[Characters/PokemonChampions Champions]]\\
'''[[Characters/PokemonVillainTeams Pokémon Villain Teams]]:''' [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamRocket Team Rocket]] / [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamAquaMagma Team Aqua/Magma]] / [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamGalactic Team Galactic]] / [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamPlasma Team Plasma]] / [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamFlare Team Flare]] / [[Characters/PokemonVillainTeamSkull Team Skull]] / [[Characters/PokemonTeamYell Team Yell]]\\
[[Characters/PokemonFrontierBrainsAndOtherFacilityHeads Frontier Brains And Other Facility Heads]] | [[Characters/PokemonTrainerClasses Trainer Classes]] | [[Characters/PokemonOtherNonPlayableCharacters Other NPCs]] ([[Characters/PokemonAetherFoundation Aether Foundation]] / [[Characters/PokemonUltraReconSquad Ultra Recon Squad]] / [[Characters/PokemonMacroCosmos Macro Cosmos]])-]]]]]

The [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIFamilies character sheet for the first generation's Pokémon]] got so big that it had to be split. This page has the tropes for Pokémon numbered 1 to 73 in the Kanto and National Pokédex, as well as their evolutionary relatives.
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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur ''[-(Fushigidane, Fushigisou, and Fushigibana)-]'']]
!001: Bulbasaur / Fushigidane (フシギダネ ''fushigidane'')\\
002: Ivysaur / Fushigisou (フシギソウ ''fushigisou'')\\
003: Venusaur / Fushigibana (フシギバナ ''fushigibana'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bulbasaur001.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Bulbasaur]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ivysaur002.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Ivysaur]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/venusaur003.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Venusaur]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megavenusaur003m.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Venusaur]]
->[-''Mega Venusaur debuts in ''X and Y''''-]

A teal creature which has a bulb planted on its back, its evolution pretty much consists of bodily growth and the bulb flowering and eventually turning into a large plant. This family is the first in many aspects: The first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order, the first [[GreenThumb Grass-type]], [[PoisonousPerson Poison-type]] and Dual-typed ones too, and, as a starter in the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto-based games]], the first Pokémon of roughly one third of the first Pokémon players. Bulbasaur is considered the easy mode as it makes the first two gyms a cake walk and has resistances against all of the remaining gyms sans Sabrina and Blaine. In addition, its access to Sleep Powder gives it the ability to take almost anything out of play for a few turns. In battle, it is more of a utility Pokémon, as its offensive options are somewhat limited. It is [[JackOfAllStats quite well-rounded]] and can be used offensively or defensively quite easily. Venusaur gained a Mega Evolution in ''X and Y''. Mega Venusaur's offenses and defenses receive a boost and even an ability which cuts damage from its fire and ice weaknesses in half.

Ivysaur appears alongside Squirtle and Charizard as a trio of fighters in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', the 3rd entry of Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s MassiveMultiplayerCrossover FightingGame series, and then after being absent for a game, returned in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', the latest entry, alongside Squirtle, reuniting with Charizard. For tropes concerning its ''Smash'' incarnation, see the ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBrosBrawl character page]].
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* BalanceBuff: In Generation V, it got the Chlorophyll ability, doubling its speed in sunlight. The same generation also buffed Growth to raise both Attack and Sp.Attack, and sharply raise them in sunlight.
* BarrierWarrior: Can learn Light Screen to boost its impressive Special Defense even further.
* CartoonCreature: Are they toads? Lizards? Dinosaurs? [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicynodont Dicynodonts?]] [[LampshadeHanging Bulbasaur's Japanese name even translates into "isn't it strange"]]. In-universe, there is a mystery on whether to classify it as a plant or an animal. ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' shows Venusaur hopping like a toad when following behind the player, muddying the waters further.
** [[WordOfGod Sugimori]] confirmed in an interview that they are meant to be “toad-like”.
* ColdBloodedWhatever: Their design incorporates aspects of dinosaurs, reptiles and frogs, with a dash of prehistoric dicynodonts in there as well.
* EnergyBall: They can learn the move [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin called]] Energy Ball from ''Diamond and Pearl'' and on.
* {{Gonk}}: Venusaur, especially when Mega Evolved. It's quite fat and sluggish-looking, and covered in warts.
* GreenThumb: Grass-types.
* HealingFactor: Can learn Synthesis. It can also learn Sunny Day to double its potency.
* {{Kevlard}}: Its Mega Evolution gets Thick Fat as an ability, letting it withstand fire and ice attacks.
* KryptoniteProofSuit: Upon Mega Evolving, Mega Venusaur gains the ability Thick Fat, which halves the power of Fire and Ice-type attacks, removing two of its weaknesses.
* LifeDrain: Naturally learns [[DamageOverTime Leech Seed]], and can get Giga Drain through breeding.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Since Venusaur is a Poison-type, Toxic will hit any target whether they are flying, digging, swimming, etc.
* InformedFlaw: Ivysaur's front sprite in ''Red and Blue'' depicts it standing on its hind legs, even though several Pokédex entries (including that of ''those very games'') state that it cannot do so. Later sprites and models correctly reflect those Dex entries, though.
* LandSeaSky: Venusaur is the Land to Blastoise's Sea and Charizard's Sky.
* LightningBruiser: Venusaur has the potential to be one if it has the Chlorophyll ability, which doubles its speed in the sun, as it has fairly strong offensive and defensive stats to begin with.
* LoopholeAbuse: In Generation VI, a Chlorophyll Venusaur in the Sun will still have double speed the turn it Mega Evolves due to turn order being determined before the round plays out. Removed in Gen VII, which now determines turn order after the Mega Evolution occurs.
* MagicKnight: Venusaur has a usable Attack stat and a decent Special Attack stat.
* MeaningfulName:
** "Saur" is an ancient Greek word meaning "lizard," but could also reference "dinosaur." The three names add "saur" to the words bulb (referencing plant bulbs), ivy, and Venus (most likely referencing a Venus flytrap).
** "Fushigi" (不思議) means "strange," "mysterious," or "wondrous." "Fushigi da ne" means "Isn't it strange?" However, "dane" here is likely an alternate reading of "tane" (種), meaning "seed." "Sou" (草) means "grass." Finally, "bana" is an alternate reading of "hana" (花), meaning "flower."
* MissingSecret: In ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', the line has the move Charm listed as a possible Egg Move, but it's impossible to learn legitimately since no eligible breeding partners have it. This was fixed in Generation III games, where it can learn it from the Shroomish family.
* MightyGlacier: With a bulky 100 on both Special stats with everyone else in the 80s, it can deal a decent Special hit and take a strong one in kind, but is easily outsped. Its Mega Evolution emphasizes this by giving it Thick Fat, leaving only Flying and Psychic as its weaknesses and beefing up its defenses to 123/120 while Speed remains stuck at 80.[[note]]As a side note, it is interesting to note that Venusaur is usually depicted outside of the games, be it in official projects or otherwise, as being very slow, often times darn near immobile, but they actually have a slightly above average speed, meaning that they are much faster than they’re usually thought to be.[[/note]]
* MundaneUtility: Since Bulbasaur and the rest of the family are quadrupeds, the vines that grow from the plant on its back are often used as an extra set of hands or as ropes in the anime.
* OffModel: Bulbasaur's body is supposed to be blueish-green according to its artwork. This has not stopped the Generation II games from giving Bulbasaur a body as green as its bulb, or the Generation VI games giving it a body that is much more green than blue.
* PetalPower: Learns Petal Dance and Petal Blizzard.
* {{Planimal}}: Moreso than anything else released in ''Red and Blue'', as other Grass Pokémon that existed at the time tend to be anthropomorphic plants with faces and sometimes limbs.
* PoisonousPerson: It has never had a large number of Poison moves to choose from, though. Bulbasaur was unique in that it was the only basic-stage starter from the main games with dual types until the introduction of Rowlet.
* PoorPredictableRock: Venusaur's movepool is about as diverse as most other early Grass-types (not very). Aside from its Grass and Poison STAB, it's limited to Normal-type moves, a couple Ground-type moves, Outrage, and Knock Off.
* ThePowerOfTheSun: The most famous user of Solar Beam thanks to adaptations, its cannon-like flower and being the first Grass-type of many players. It can also heal itself with Synthesis and becomes faster in sunlight thanks to Chlorophyll.
* RealMenWearPink: Despite its monstrous appearance, Venusaur is actually quite docile and has a giant flower on its back that blooms vividly in the sun. It also casts a soothing aroma that calms emotions and attracts other Pokémon.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Bulbasaur is pudgy and adorable, in contrast to its more monstrous evolutions.
* SecretArt: Frenzy Plant was exclusive to Venusaur before ''[[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum XD]]'', and nowadays it is the SecretArt of the fully-evolved Grass starters. Grass Pledge, too, as it is a Grass Starter.
* StandardStatusEffects: The line can learn Sleep Powder and Poison Powder.
* StarterMon: One of the starter Pokémon of Kanto. Bulbasaur is Gen I's "easy mode" since it fares well in the early game. It can also be obtained early in ''Pokémon X and Y''.
* StatusBuff:
** They can learn Growth naturally. Normally, it would raise its Attack and Special Attack stat. In harsh sunlight, Growth sharply raises its Attack and Special Attack instead.
** Bulbasaur can have Amnesia as an egg move, which sharply raises its Special Defense stat.
** The line can have Chlorophyll as their hidden ability. It doubles their speed during harsh sunlight.
* SuperMode: Gen VI gave Venusaur a Mega Evolution. Mega Venusaur becomes even more of a MightyGlacier, gaining boosted Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense, in addition to gaining the [[{{Kevlard}} Thick Fat Ability]], negating its Grass-type weaknesses to Fire and Ice.
* SuperStrength: Venusaur can stomp hard enough to ''shake the ground''. This extends to its vines, which have been shown to knock down trees, amongst other feats.
* TurnsRed: Overgrow boosts their Grass attacks when they're at 1/3 health or lower.
* WhipItGood: This line heavily relies on Vine Whip in the anime and ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Brothers Brawl]]''. With that in mind, it was a little surprising that it could only learn Power Whip through breeding.
* WhosOnFirst: Bulbasaur's Japanese name can be translated to "isn't it strange?"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard ''[-(Hitokage, Lizardo, and Lizardon)-]'']]
!004: Charmander / Hitokage (ヒトカゲ ''hitokage'')\\
005: Charmeleon / Lizardo (リザード ''rizaado'')\\
006: Charizard / Lizardon (リザードン ''rizaadon'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/charmander004.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Charmander]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/charmeleon005.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Charmeleon]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/charizard006.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Charizard]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megacharizardx006mx.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Charizard X]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megacharizardy006my.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Charizard Y]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gigantamaxcharizard006g.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Gigantamax Charizard]]
->[-''Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y debut in ''X and Y''''-]
->[-''Gigantamax Charizard debuts in ''Sword and Shield''''-]

A bipedal, orange, lizard-like creature with a flame on the tip of its tail, it first evolves into a more feral version of itself with red coloring and a horn on the top of its head, then regains its original color at the next stage as it becomes a two-horned winged dragon. The first [[PlayingWithFire Fire-type]] and single type in National Dex order, as well as the first change of type upon evolution. It's the second starter for the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] region. An offensive-oriented fighter, [[GlassCannon it has some crippling weaknesses due to its typing]], [[FragileSpeedster but it may be able to take down an opponent before they can exploit its weaknesses]]. Charmander is considered by many to be the hard mode of the game as it has no advantages against any of the gyms except Erika and four of the Gyms have big advantages against it. It gains two Mega Evolutions in ''X and Y'', Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. The former focuses on Charizard's draconic aspects and gives it the Dragon-type along with a brand-new color scheme, higher Attack stat, and an ability that powers up its contact moves. The latter focuses more on its Flying-type aspects and gives it a more aerodynamic design, a higher Special Attack, and the [[WeatherManipulation Drought ability]]. In Alola, the family isn't native to the region,[[note]]although Charmander, while absent from the regional Dex, can be caught in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'',[[/note]] but a Charizard Poké Ride is available for the player to fly to previously visited locations. In ''Sword and Shield'', special Charizards can undergo a Gigantamax transformation in certain battles to turn into 91+ foot-tall giants with even more firepower, flames hotter than 3600 degrees Fahrenheit, and an exclusive attack that deals tons of fire damage and traps the enemy in a vortex of flame for several turns.

Charizard appears as a playable fighter in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s MassiveMultiplayerCrossover FightingGame series. It then also became its own fighter in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', before reuniting with Squirtle and Ivysaur in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. For tropes concerning its ''Smash'' incarnation, please see the ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBrosBrawl character page]].
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* AchillesHeel: Both Charizard and Mega Charizard Y take quadruple damage from Rock-type attacks.
* {{Acrofatic}}: In spite of its rather stout build, Charizard is decently fast, having a base Speed stat of 100[[note]]Not counting Mega Evolutions, only 23 out of 150 Kanto Pokémon are at least as fast[[/note]], and is consistently depicted as one of the best fliers in ''Pokémon'' media. In fact, Charizard has the same base Speed stats as its Mega Evolutions, which have a more aerodynamic or a more muscular build, respectively.
* Attackofthe50FootWhatever: Over 90 feet in Gigantamax form.
* AwesomeButImpractical: Charizard cards in the TCG are infamous for this. Ever since Base Set Charizard made a splash in the collector market, they've almost always had high HP and ludicrously damaging attacks (in the 100-300 range depending on the standards of the era), but have very high Energy costs and attacks that almost always have a drawback of some kind.
* BloodKnight: Charmander is portrayed as a friendly Pokémon, but its evolved forms are often portrayed as proud creatures who relish battling others with their fiery powers.
* BlowYouAway: Charizard, as a part Flying-type, learns some wind-based attacks. Charmander and Charmeleon can also have Air Cutter, since it's an Egg Move for them.
* BreakoutCharacter: Charizard has had shades of this as early as Gen I, being Ash's (non-Pikachu) starter in the anime's Kanto region arc, coming out of retirement for key battles to this day. Its holographic trading card went for up to [[http://articles.philly.com/1999-12-09/news/25478684_1_pokemon-cards-pokemon-craze-popular-cards $260 in the 90s, compared to most other characters which sold for less than $1]], with the first prints being worth up to $2000 as of 2016. Fully broke out with the advent of Gen VI, getting two separate Mega Evolutions, as well as the lead's starter in the anime special promoting Mega Evolution, got into ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' as its own character rather than part of a three 'mon team, and got into the limited roster of ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament''. Charizard continues to be heavily promoted in media and merchandising, and consistently places high (if not number 1) in popularity polls.
* CastFromHitPoints:
** When they have Solar Power and the sun is out, they get a 50% increase to Special Attack, but lose 1/8 of their health each turn.
** They can also be bred to have Belly Drum, which maximizes their Attack at the cost of half their health.
* ConfusionFu:
** In comparison to the rest of the Kanto starters and some other Fire-type Pokémon, Charizard's movepool is pretty diverse. It is capable of learning Fire-type, Flying-type, Dragon-type, Dark-type, Steel-type, Ground-type, Rock-type, and Fighting-type moves, as well as Solar Beam, Shadow Claw, and Thunder Punch.
** Charizard is also one of only two Pokémon (the other being Mewtwo) to have two Mega Evolutions, both of which function completely differently from each other — unless you're carrying a Pokémon with Frisk as its ability, you won't know which Mega Evolution a Charizard will turn into until it already has.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Charizard's Mega X and Shiny palettes are pretty dark and sinister-looking, but it's the same old loyal, non-malevolent Charizard nonetheless.
* DeathOrGloryAttack: They can learn Flare Blitz, a powerful and accurate Fire-type attack that inflicts recoil damage.
* DinosaursAreDragons: Played with. Charmander, a lizard, has a dinosaur-like build, and Charmeleon resembles a dinosaur more closely. It then evolves into the dragonlike Charizard, which is nonetheless Fire/Flying type but has a build that resembles the spinosaurid family of therapod dinosaurs, such as ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Baryonyx''. If it Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard Y, it more closely resembles dinosaurs once again as well as [[PteroSoarer pterosaurs]] and it retains its arsenal of Dragon-type moves, but retains its Fire/Flying typing instead of becoming Fire/Dragon like X does.
* DiscardAndDraw: Mega Charizard X loses its Flying-type (and, by extension, Ground immunity), but becomes a Dragon-type, gets much higher offenses and physical Defense, an ability with zero drawbacks that boosts the power of contact moves, and no longer has a double weakness to Rock.
* DragonsAreDemonic: When Charizard gains the Dragon typing via Mega Charizard X, its design becomes more sinister and demonic with [[SpikesOfVillainy spikes]], [[EvilWearsBlack black skin]], and [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], although it's very much of the DarkIsNotEvil variety.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference:
** In Generation 1, Charmander had a row of spikes down their back. This is present in the sprites, official artwork, and every adaptation bar the anime. Starting with ''Gold and Silver'', the spikes were removed. Some early adaptations also gave Charizard a single horn as opposed to its usual two, which has been fazed out after the anime's release.
** Early in the franchise, it was suggested that if the flames on their tails were ever put out, they would die. It was later established that their tail flames are more of an aesthetic measure of their life, burning strongly or weakly depending on their health and being extinguished upon death. Their tails getting wet or even submerged in water has little negative effect.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In ''Red'', ''Green'', and ''Blue'', Charizard was unable to learn Fly despite being part flying. This was fixed from ''Yellow'' onwards.
* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The line somewhat resembles therapod dinosaurs, starting out ambiguous and cartoony and developing a head and proportions reminiscent of ''Baryonyx'' as Charizard, which is even clearer for its live-action design in ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu''. Even moreso in Gigantamax form, where its wings no longer look like part of its body and it evokes Burning Godzilla, himself a famous dinosaurian monster.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Charmander's Japanese name, Hitokage, literally means "fire lizard."
* ExtraOreDinary: Despite not being part-Steel, this line learned Metal Claw naturally in Generation III to help in dealing with Rock-types, an addition to the remakes made to help against Brock, whose Rock Pokémon resist Fire. Charizard, on top of that, is the only Pokémon that can learn Metal Claw, Iron Tail, and Steel Wing, almost all attacks involving an impact with a metallified body part.
* FierySalamander: They are reptiles that are primarily Fire-type.
* {{Flight}}: Flying-type that can learn Fly as Charizard.
* FlyingFirepower: Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type, so it's only natural.
* FragileSpeedster: Charizard has good Speed, but sub-par defenses. Most notable in Gen I, where its Special Stat used for its Fire attacks is its current Special Defense stat.
* JackOfAllStats: Base Charizard's best aspects are its Special Attack and Speed, which are decent but not notably high, with everything else in the 78-85 range. Its many type weaknesses encourage a more offensive role in battle.
* GiantFlyer: Charizard is 1.7 meters tall and weighs over 90 kg. {{Exaggerated|Trope}} with Mega Charizard Y and its gigantic wings.
* GlassCannon:
** Charizard with Solar Power hits ''extremely'' hard in sunlight and has decent enough speed to make use of it, but is easy to take down due to its type weaknesses and [[CastFromHitPoints loses HP every turn]].
** Mega Charizard Y's Defense doesn't increase at all and it keeps its base form's type weaknesses, but it has better Special Defense (which is actually quite beefy) and notches up the cannon.
** In the TCG, most Charizard cards have attacks that inflict huge damage, but have a high energy cost and/or some other drawback like damaging Charizard or demanding Energy card(s) be expended from it, making it great at KO'ing enemies but giving it terrible staying power despite its high HP.
* GrowingWings: Upon evolving into Charizard, it gains a pair of dragon wings and the power to fly.
* HealThyself: Charizard can be taught Roost through move tutor or TM.
* HonorBeforeReason: According to its description in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and the official Pokédex, Charizard will never spit flames at a weaker foe unless directly ordered to do so by its Trainer. Apparently, PlayingWithFire is only extended for equals.
* HotWings: Gigantamax Charizard's wings are made of fire.
* IncendiaryExponent: Fire-type, and the tail-tip being alight is a vital sign. In its Gigantamax form, not only has more of its tail been engulfed in flames, but so have its wings and horns. Even its belly glows with the power of fire - the temperature of which exceeds 3600 degrees Fahrenheit and grows even hotter when it roars.
* InformedAbility: Several of Charizard's Pokédex entries boast about how its [[BreathWeapon fire breath]] is hot enough to melt boulders. Despite this, a Fire-type attack from Charizard will be as ineffective on [[DishingOutDirt Rock-types]] as they would be from any other Fire-type.
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons:
** Charizard is based on dragons, and became one of the most iconic Pokémon in the series. It's even marketed as the poster child for "dragon" Pokémon despite not even having the elemental typing.
** A major selling point of Mega Charizard X is how it finally makes the most famous dragonlike Pokémon into an actual Dragon-type.
* {{Kaiju}}: While Charizard in general has been theorized to be this as opposed to an actual dragon, Gigantamax Charizard is definitely this, being a gigantic and intimidating creature [[NotZilla with aspects of]] Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, particularly Burning Godzilla.
* KingKoopaCopy: Some incarnations of Charizard have loose similarities to [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]], Nintendo's most iconic villain. The two big, fire-breathing reptiles have similar vocalizations and arrogant "tough guy" personalities in some media, as well as almost-identical neutral special moves in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series. Mega Charizard X even gets additional spikes and red eyes, which are two of Bowser's signature traits.
* LandSeaSky: Charizard is the Sky to Venusaur's Land and Blastoise's Sea.
* LightningBruiser: Mega Charizard X keeps its Speed stat, but has much higher offenses and Defense, with contact attacks being boosted even further by Tough Claws, and it no longer has a major weakness to Rock-type attacks. Fire and Dragon is great on both offense and defense; the number of Pokémon that resist the type combination can be counted on one hand[[note]]Heatran, Carbink, Azumarill, Diancie, Mega Altaria[[/note]], and its Fire- and Dragon-types cancel most of each others' weaknesses[[note]]Fire removes the Dragon weaknesses to Ice and Fairy, and Dragon eliminates Fire's weakness to Water[[/note]]. And this is before [[StatusBuff Dragon Dance]].
* LovableLizard: Charmander, the first fire starter, is an adorable and determined little guy that eventually becomes the badass dragon Charizard.
* MagicKnight:
** Mega Charizard X has identical Attack and Special Attack stats, though Tough Claws encourages Physical attacks since they're the only ones boosted.
** Mega Charizard Y's Attack isn't as high as Mega Charizard X's, but it's still passable and the boost from Drought makes its Flare Blitz deal comparable damage.
* MeaningfulName: Hitokage combines "hi" (火), meaning "fire," with "tokage" (蜥蜴), meaning "lizard." It's also a Japanese name for the mythical salamanders, spirits of fire. Lizardo is a corrupted transliteration of "lizard." Lizardon combines "lizard" with "don," meaning "lord" or "head" (like a mafia don), and is a common suffix in dinosaur names (where it means "tooth"), and Charizard is a big reptilian monster like many dinosaurs were.
* MixAndMatchCritters: Mega Charizard Y looks a bit less like a stereotypical dragon than its other forms and more like a {{kaiju}}-esque dragon/lizard/pterosaur hybrid, similar to [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Rodan]].
* NonIndicativeName: Charmander is a reptile and not an amphibian as real-life salamanders are, Charmeleon looks more like a dinosaur than any chameleon out there, and Charizard resembles a dragon rather than any real-life lizards. Charmander's name more likely refers to the mythical salamander, which was a reptile that lived within flames.
* NonMaliciousMonster: This evolutionary line was said to occasionally cause forest fires by accident.
* NotZilla: Gigantamax Charizard closely resembles Burning Godzilla in terms of shape, size and color. Its wings have also become ethereal (made of flame), which makes its silhouette more dinosaur-like similar to the Big G himself.
* OffModel:
** Charmeleon's horn is white in its Gen I backsprite. Its snout also resembles Dragonite's more in the same backsprite.
** [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIvZ116IukM/VweCPE9dCzI/AAAAAAAAHPo/D5fxLwHoUSMjk-yKoZhG5PC-sfXnc1CRA/s1600/stackableKantoPlushies2.png The 2016 Charizard stackable plush toy]], while SuperDeformed, closely resembles a PaletteSwap of Bulbasaur.
** In Gen II, neither Charmeleon or Charizard have their "correct" (as dictated from Gen III onward) shiny palette; Charmeleon is pink and Charizard is purple with green wing membranes.
** Charizard's neck in the Sinnoh and Unova games is ridiculously thin, and its pose makes it look like it has a broken neck.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Charizard is an archetypical, flying, fire-breathing European dragon in all but typing; its German, French, and Chinese names even include the respective word for "dragon". Mega Charizard X completes the stereotype with its Fire/Dragon typing, albeit with TechnicolorFire.
* PlayingWithFire: The line is Fire-type and their tail is always on fire.
* ThePowerOfTheSun:
** Gen IV allowed them to learn Solar Beam. If Sunny Day or Drought are active, it helps deal with Water-types.
** Solar Power, their Hidden Ability, makes them hit hard as long as the Sun is out.
** Mega Charizard Y gets Drought as its ability.
* PowerupFullColorChange:
** Mega Evolving to Mega Charizard X causes Charizard's orange skin to turn black and its red flames to become blue.
** The black-colored Shiny Charizard becomes dark green with some red embellishments and blue flames as Mega Charizard X, and dark purplish-gray as Mega Charizard Y.
* PowerUpLetdown: Gigantamax Charizard get their damaging Fire-type moves replaced by G-Max Wildfire, which is inferior to Max Flare setting harsh sunlight, that on top of increasing Fire-type moves damage by 50%, would also immediately trigger Charizard's Solar Power, effectively doubling its damage output.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Charizard constantly fly around the world in search of strong opponents to battle, but they will never bring harm to those weaker than them.
* PteroSoarer: Mega Charizard Y has some characteristics of pterosaurs.
* RatedMForManly:
** Charizard is one of the most iconic "big and tough" Pokémon in the series, and has the BloodKnight tendencies and FlyingFirepower to match.
** Both Mega Charizards [[UpToEleven crank this trope up several notches]], especially X with its more rugged, darker appearance and affinity for physical attacks.
* RazorWind: Charizard can be taken to the Move Relearner to remember Air Slash.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: Charizard is black with blood-red wings and eyes in its Shiny form, which was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by a [[CastingAShadow Darkness-type]] Shiny Charizard card in the TCG. Mega Charizard X is also black with red eyes, although its flames and wings are blue — which is, again, lampshaded by Mega Charizard X requiring Darkness Energy for its attack in the TCG.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Both shiny Charizard and Mega Charizard X have red eyes.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: While its evolutions are fierce reptiles, Charmander is an adorable, innocent-looking baby lizard.
* SecretArt: Blast Burn was exclusive to Charizard before ''XD'', and nowadays it is the SecretArt of the fully evolved Fire starters. Fire Pledge too, as it is a Fire Starter.
* SoulPower: Charizard can remember Shadow Claw if you take it to the Move Relearner. Though they can all learn Shadow Claw from a TM.
* SquishyWizard: Mega Charizard Y has a Special Attack stat higher than ''Mewtwo'' and a decently high Special Defense stat, but it's still somewhat frail on the physical end and has common type weaknesses, including the usual double Rock weakness.
* StarterMon: One of the starter Pokémon of Kanto. Charmander is Gen I's "hard mode" since it's at a disadvantage against the early gyms. It can also be obtained early in ''Pokémon X and Y''.
* StatusBuff: They can have Dragon Dance and Belly Drum bred onto them.
* StockDinosaurs: If not an actual dragon, Charizard resembles a ''Baryonyx'' with wings and horns.
* StoutStrength: Charizard is a stout, teardrop-shaped dragon that is consistently depicted as a hard-hitting Pokémon. Mega Charizard X takes this even further, in that it keeps its fatter and more muscular build and hits very hard physically, while Mega Charizard Y is slimmer and more aerodynamic and hits harder from the special side.
* SuperMode:
** Charizard gained two Mega Evolutions in ''X and Y''. Mega Charizard X is Fire/Dragon, has higher offenses, and Tough Claws, an ability that increases the power of contact attacks. Mega Charizard Y gains the Drought Ability, as well as heavily boosted Special Attack, which helps make up for the loss of Solar Power.
** Charizard attained from Max Raid Battles may have Gigantamax potential, and those specimens can use G-Max Wildfire to barbecue their enemies and gradually roast non-Fire Pokemon over the next five rounds.
* TechnicolorFire: Mega Charizard X has blue flames emitting from its mouth and tail. In RealLife, fire can appear blue if they are a high enough temperature, [[FridgeBrilliance appropriate to its much more powerful Mega form]].
* ThroatLight: Gigantamax Charizard displays this feature, indicating how much immense firepower it has in this form.
* TurnsRed: Blaze boosts Fire attacks when health becomes low.
* UndyingLoyalty: Charmander. For Charmeleon and Charizard, though... well, you have to ''earn'' their respect first, let alone their loyalty.
* UnstoppableRage: The line can be taught Outrage through breeding or tutoring. Mega Charizard X can make full use of the move, since it gets STAB and Tough Claws boosts on it.
* VertebrateWithExtraLimbs: Charizard grows wings.
* VocalEvolution: Charizard's cry is changed in Generation VI. All prior Generations had Charizard share its cry with Rhyhorn. This cry is replaced with a much deeper version that sounds more like a hissing/rattling sound. Charizard's original cry, however, is revamped and reused for Mega Charizard Y.
* WarpWhistle: In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Charizard is a Ride Pokémon that functions like Fly.
* WeakButSkilled: Compared to other Mega Evolutions, Mega Charizard X's attacking stats are very low, at 130. However, its ability Tough Claws and boosting techniques like Dragon Dance and Swords Dance allow it to make up for this when using contact moves.
* WeaksauceWeakness: It's said that the Charmander family will die if the flames on their tails are extinguished. Getting caught in strong enough rain can be fatal to them, as seen in the anime episode that introduces Ash's Charmander. However, in a later episode, Charizard was shown with its tail submerged in water for a short period of time and the tail flame did not go out, and in another episode another Charizard actually swam for a short time fully submerged, which indicates that Charizard's fire isn't easily extinguished and is not any kind of normal fire but rather a physical display of the Pokémon's life force. Rather than the tail flame being a vulnerability, it seems more to function as just a way to visually gauge the Pokémon's current strength and health. If the Pokémon dies, then the flame goes out, but it may not be able to be extinguished in any other way.
* WeatherManipulation: Mega Charizard Y gains the Drought Ability, which summons harsh sunlight that boost the power of Fire-type moves and reduce the power of Water-type moves. In turn, Drought allows Mega Charizard Y to use Solar Beam without charging beforehand.
* WholeCostumeReference: Mega Charizard X is one to Zekrom. Despite being completely unrelated, they are both black dragons with neon-blue accents (including on the tips of their crests), similarly colored fire/electricity, and red eyes. [[{{Irony}} Mega Charizard X shares its typing with]] Zekrom's opposite-colored {{foil}}, Reshiram.
* WreathedInFlames: Can learn Flare Blitz.
* WolverinePublicity:
** From late Generation V onwards (even more so for Generation VI), Charizard got a ton of gratuitous appearances across ''Pokémon'' media and merchandise, and, along with Mewtwo, got two Mega Evolutions. Chances are, if a given ''Pokémon'' adaptation from this era doesn't star Pikachu (read: isn't a regular anime episode or a movie), it'll star Charizard.
** For ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', Charizard received two Mega Evolutions while the other Kanto starters only received one and is one of only two to do so (the other is the equally popular Mewtwo). Between the two Mega Evolutions, Mega Charizard X is the one who was featured more, having appeared in the Mega Evolution Specials as Alain's ace Pokémon and in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros for the 3DS and Wii U'', The Pokémon Trainer was replaced with just Charizard and his Final Smash has him Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X. Mega Charizard Y appeared as Trevor's Pokémon when he entered the Pokémon League, but was taken out by Alain's Charizard.
** For ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Charizard appears as a Ride Pokémon despite none of the Kanto starters being obtainable. Kiawe even has one in the ''Sun and Moon'' anime series. In ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', the Kanto starters can be caught via Island Scan, which justifies Charizard's role a bit more, but none of them were added to the new Alola Pokédex.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Charizard could not learn Fly until ''Yellow''.
* YourSizeMayVary: Officially, a Charizard is about as tall as an average adult human, standing at around 5'07" (1.7m) in height — but aside from the main games, you'd be hard-pressed to find a human-sized Charizard in any other form of Pokémon media, be it [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] or various manga. Charizard are usually shown to be around 8 to 25 feet tall, depending mostly on how awesome/badass the writer or artist feels like portraying it. Even the main games have been portraying it as larger than its Pokédex entry has it — the ridable Charizard in ''Sun and Moon'' is in the neighborhood of three meters or so tall, easily large enough to fly around with a human perched on its back. Keep in mind that Venusaur is actually supposed to be the largest out of the Kanto starter trio. It doesn't help that even one of the ''X and Y'' trailers show Charizard being similar in size to ''Yveltal'' it battles. Remember, Yveltal is ''' 6 metres/19 feet in size'''!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise ''[-(Zenigame, Kameil, and Kamex)-]'']]
!007: Squirtle / Zenigame (ゼニガメ ''zenigame'')\\
008: Wartortle / Kameil (カメール ''kameeru'')\\
009: Blastoise / Kamex (カメックス ''kamekkusu'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/squirtle007.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Squirtle]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wartortle008.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Wartortle]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blastoise009.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Blastoise]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megablastoise009m.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Blastoise]]
->[-''Mega Blastoise debuts in ''X and Y''''-]

A light blue bipedal turtle with a light brown shell, it first evolves into a navy-blue version of itself with feathery ears and tail, and then into a massive, dark blue tortoise with two high-pressure water cannons jutting out of its back. The first [[MakingASplash Water-types]] of many, and the first pure-typed line, these guys are [[MightyGlacier defense-based fighters]], but, as a starter, they are [[JackOfAllStats quite well-rounded and can play both styles]]. It also has a diverse move pool of powerful Water, Ice, Normal, Ground, and Fighting-type moves, especially after [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Generation I]], when they started to get support moves. Squirtle is the Normal difficulty of Gen 1. It is weak against two of the gyms, Erika and Surge, but it has advantages against three and is neutral against the rest. Blastoise gains a Mega Evolution in ''X and Y''. As well as increasing its offenses and defenses, Mega Blastoise also does more damage with "pulse" moves.

Squirtle appears alongside Ivysaur and Charizard as a trio of fighters in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', the 3rd entry of Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s MassiveMultiplayerCrossover FightingGame series, and after being absent for the fourth game, came back in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', alongside Ivysaur and rejoining Charizard. For tropes concerning its ''Smash'' incarnation, see the ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBrosBrawl character page]].
----
* ArmCannon: Mega Blastoise gets [[GunsAkimbo one on each arm]].
* BackpackCannon: Blastoise carries twin water cannons on its back. Its Mega Evolution exchanges those for a single, larger one.
* {{BFG}}: The cannon it gets in its Mega Evolution is almost as long as Blastoise's body.
* BlushSticker: Wartortle has indigo-colored blush marks on its face.
* BoringButPractical: Base Blastoise is this, especially when compared to Base Charizard. It's not as flashy or offense-oriented, but because it has well-rounded stats and the best typing for the Gyms and Elite Four, it's the Pokémon of choice for veterans.
* CuteLittleFangs: Wartortle gains them upon evolution, but Blastoise seems to lose them again.
* ExtraOreDinary: Blastoise can remember Flash Cannon if you take it to the Move Relearner. The entire line also leans Iron Defense.
* HealingFactor: Their Hidden Ability, Rain Dish, heals them by 1/16 of their total HP at the end of each turn if it is raining.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: According to the Pokédex, the water jets from Blastoise's cannons are accurate enough to hit empty cans from over 160 feet away. Mega Blastoise takes this further, with its larger cannon having a range of ''six miles''.
* InformedSpecies: Unlike the other two, Blastoise is listed as "Shellfish Pokémon". BlindIdiotTranslation is to blame, as in Japanese it's only "Shell".
* KamehameHadouken: As of Gen VI, they can learn Aura Sphere as an Egg Move and Mega Blastoise's ability boosts it further, making it a ''literal'' Kamehameha ("Turtle Destruction Wave").
* LandSeaSky: Blastoise is the Sea to Venusaur's Land and Charizard's Sky.
* MakingASplash: Water-types based off of turtles. Blastoise's water cannons are strong enough to break through concrete and steel walls.
* MeaningfulName: Zenigame (銭亀) means "baby pond turtle" or, more literally "coin turtle". Kameil is either a combination of "kame" (亀), meaning turtle, and the English word "tail," and/or is a pun on the word "kameru" (噛める), meaning "to be able to bite." Kamex seems to be a combination of "kame" and "max" (as in "maximum").
* MightyGlacier: Upon Mega Evolving, Mega Blastoise's Special Attack stat receives a large boost and its already good defenses are improved.
* MixAndMatchCritters:
** Squirtle's curly tail resembles a cartoonized squirrel's, and the portmanteau of squirrel and turtle lends itself to the PunnyName of "squirt". Considering this pun is absent in the Japanese name, it's unclear whether this was by design or serendipity.
** Squirtle and Wartortle's appearance are actually based on Japanese legends of the minogame: a turtle who has lived so long that aquatic plants have fused to it to form a coat of grass, a long tail, and occasionally ears. Curiously, Blastoise ditches everything about the minogame in favor of going cyborgish turtle. [[RealityIsUnrealistic Unlike most yokai, minogame — at least the part about algae growing a coat and secondary tail — actually can be found in real life, under certain conditions.]]
* RainDance: They can learn Rain Dance.
* RatedMForManly: Blastoise has cannons on its shell and was even occasionally voiced by ''the'' Creator/TesshoGenda in the anime's Japanese dub. When it Mega Evolves, it gets a huge, tank-like cannon on its back and two more {{Arm Cannon}}s if that wasn't enough.
* RecurringElement: Kicked off the tradition of a built-in third member of a mascot duo to later receive its own game, with Red & Green and later Blue Version in Japan. This trend wouldn't be invoked properly until Gen III, as Gen II had a true duo, with the third game's mascot unrelated to the theme.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Just like most starters, Squirtle is a round, adorable baby turtle that becomes more intimidating once it evolves.
* SecretArt: Hydro Cannon was exclusive to Blastoise before ''XD'', and nowadays it is the SecretArt of the fully evolved Water starters. Water Pledge, too, as it is a Water Starter. Notably, it's the only starter Pokémon to use Water Spout, one of the most powerful Water-type attacks in the game.
* ShockAndAwe: A special Squirtle distributed during ''Gold, Silver, and Crystal'' came with the move Zap Cannon, a powerful Electric-type attack that always paralyzes the target [[PowerfulButInaccurate if it hits with its 50% accuracy]].
* SpinAttack: Can learn Rapid Spin.
* SpinToDeflectStuff: Rapid Spin is a retroactive form, removing stage hazards and binding moves when used.
* StarterMon: One of the starter Pokémon of Kanto. Squirtle is Gen I's "medium mode" since it fares well at the first gym but neutral at the second, and runs into problems with the third and fourth. It can also be obtained early in ''Pokémon X and Y''.
* StoneWall: Blastoise has good defensive stats, but its offensive stats are quite average.
* SuperMode: Gained a Mega Evolution in Gen VI. Mega Blastoise gains the new Ability Mega Launcher, which boosts the power of the attacks Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, Dragon Pulse, and Aura Sphere, all of which it is now capable of learning.
* TailSlap: Can learn Aqua Tail.
* TankGoodness: Mega Blastoise resembles an army tank with its bulky body and single huge cannon. Blastoise in general is even called "Tor[[GratuitousEnglish tank]]" [[DubNameChange in France]].
* TimeAbyss: Wartortle is said to live 10,000 years.
* TurnsRed: Torrent boosts its Water attacks when its health becomes low.
* TurtlePower: One that keeps on growing. Its cannons can punch through thick steel.
* WeaponizedAnimal: Blastoise, for some reason, obtains cannons upon evolution.
* WiseOldTurtle: Wartortle is extremely long-lived: its Pokédex entries have noted it to be an InUniverse symbol of longevity since the first generation games, and later ones specify it as having a lifespan of 10,000 years.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Caterpie, Metapod ''[-(Transel)-]'', and Butterfree]]
!010: Caterpie (キャタピー ''kyatapii'')\\
011: Metapod / Transel (トランセル ''toranseru'')\\
012: Butterfree (バタフリー ''batafurii'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/caterpie010.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Caterpie]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/metapod011.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Metapod]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/butterfree012.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Butterfree]]

A green caterpillar with red antennae and an eye-like pattern, it looks like a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar (which uses mimicry to resemble a snake). Its evolution goes along as metamorphosis, first becoming a green chrysalis, then a purple-bodied, blue-winged butterfly. The first Bug-types in the Pokédex, and first common Mons, these are used fairly commonly early in-game before being ditched. It is mostly used as a status inducer, but, like most butterfly and moth Pokémon, also learns Psychic attacks, and thus is a good alternative to a proper Psychic Pokémon until one can be obtained.

A special Butterfree caught in a Raid Battle in Galar has the ability to Gigantamax, giving it access to the Bug-type G-Max Befuddle, which has a chance to induce the sleep, paralysis or poisoned condition on the opposing Pokémon.
----
* AchillesHeel: Butterfree takes quadruple damage from Rock-type attacks.
* BalanceBuff:
** Butterfree gains the ability Compound Eyes in Generation III, an ability that boosts the accuracy of any move by 30%, making it a more reliable StandardStatusEffects user.
** In Generation V, Butterfree is able to learn Quiver Dance, a move that raises the user's Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all at once. All three Pokémon can also learn Electroweb via tutoring, giving them some form of defense against Flying types. Butterfree also gets access to the Hidden Ability Tinted Lens, which powers up moves that are not very effective on the opponent.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: First Bug-types in the Dex. Plus, Butterfree is 3'07".
* BigEater: Caterpie, unsurprising if you know anything at all about caterpillars. The Hoenn Pokédex entries state that it eats leaves bigger than itself "without hesitation", and ''Ultra Sun'' states that it eats 100 leaves a day.
* BlowYouAway: Butterfree can learn Gust, Whirlwind, and Air Slash by leveling up.
* BugBuzz: Naturally learns [[TropeNamers Bug Buzz]].
* ComMons: The early areas of Kanto and Johto are filled with them.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Butterfree is surprisingly useful, with access to powder moves and (back in Generation I) access to powerful Psychic-type attacks.
* CrutchCharacter: Fully evolved at level 10, and is outclassed when your starter or anything else evolves. Also subverted; the StandardStatusEffects moves that Butterfree has are useful for quite some time, with some popular [[Webcomic/NuzlockeComics Nuzlocke]] players telling you how ''useful'' Butterfree is in Kanto, even against the Elite Four.
* DiscOneNuke: Because it can be evolved and learn Confusion so quickly, it is devastating in the early gyms.
* {{Flight}}: Butterfree, thanks to being part Flying-type, although it can't learn Fly.
* {{Foil}}: To the Weedle line — both are insect-based Pokémon lines that consist of a larval stage (Weedle and Caterpie), a pupa stage (Kakuna and Metapod), and an adult stage (Beedrill and Butterfree), but Beedrill is a dangerous and threatening creature while Butterfree is more docile and beautiful. Finally, Butterfree got a Gigantamax form while Beedrill got a Mega Evolution.
* GlassCannon: Butterfree's Special Attack and Special Defense are decent and its Speed is okay, but the rest of its stats are bad.
* ItemCaddy: If the first Pokémon in the party has the Compound Eyes ability (like Butterfree does), it increases the chances of encountering wild Pokémon holding items. Butterfree also gets Thief via TM to relieve them of said items.
* InformedAbility: The various Pokédex entries of Butterfree mention that it is adept at collecting honey, but it doesn't have Honey Gather as one of its Abilities.
* MagikarpPower: Caterpie and Metapod are fairly useless by themselves.
* MamaBear: Butterfree are protective of Caterpie, and will dump poison on any Bird-Pokémon that tries eating them.
* MakeMeWannaShout: Learns Supersonic and Bug Buzz, which are both sound-based moves.
* MeaningfulName: Caterpie is derivative of "caterpillar". Transel combines "transform" with "cell", while "Metapod" combines “metamorphosis” with “pod”. Butterfree is derivative of "butterfly".
* OffModel: Metapod was frequently subject to this in Generation I in regards to the positions of its eyes, sometimes leading to debates about where Metapod's face is. Even though it's supposed to be a cocooned caterpillar, it was sometimes drawn in a way that made it [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QNxpc1tGEwE/T0Uflvi9kzI/AAAAAAAAMC8/tH6a7Fk_Goc/s1600/metapod+classic+gameboy+pokemon+artwork.gif look like a crescent moon with angry eyes and a pointed nose]], when in reality, its back is facing the camera. This wasn't helped by Metapod usually being depicted from a side view in official game artwork and sprites.
* PaletteSwap: One of the very first Pokémon to be featured with a color scheme that was different from the norm. In the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime]], Ash's Butterfree met and fell in love with a Butterfree with a pink body, signifying that yes, [[TertiarySexualCharacteristics this is a girl Butterfree]]. A little later, Butterfree that lived in the Orange Islands were shown to have wings with different markings. Strangely, none of them are officially their shiny forms, which debuted [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver a generation later]].
* PsychicPowers: Butterfree, in a possible ShoutOut to ''Film/{{Mothra}}'', can learn Confusion and Psybeam by levelling up, and other Psychic moves through TM.
* RazorWind: Butterfree can learn Air Slash by leveling up.
* TheRival: Butterfree are known to fight over territory with Cutiefly.
* SuperMode: Butterfree attained from Max Raid Battles may have Gigantamax potential, and those specimens can use G-Max Befuddle to inflict either Poison, Paralysis or Sleep on their targets.
* StandardStatusEffects: Poison Powder, Stun Spore, and Sleep Powder. Other Pokémon get them as well, but Butterfree's one of the more common abusers due to Compound Eyes making them far more reliable than when used by other Pokémon.
* StatusBuff: Butterfree learns Tailwind by level-up, allowing it to double its allies' Speed for four turns.
* WeakButSkilled: For a fully evolved Pokémon, Butterfree's Base Stat Total, a not-so-whopping 395, is absolutely ''horrible''. Despite its low overall stats, Butterfree has very good Abilities at its disposal and it's one of the few Pokémon to learn Quiver Dance.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Weedle, Kakuna, and Beedrill ''[-(Beedle, Cocoon, and Spear)-]'']]
!013: Weedle / Beedle (ビードル ''biidoru'')\\
014: Kakuna / Cocoon (コクーン ''kokuun'')\\
015: Beedrill / Spear (スピアー ''supiaa'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/weedle013.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Weedle]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kakuna014.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Kakuna]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/beedrill015.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Beedrill]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megabeedrill015m.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Beedrill]]
->[-''Mega Beedrill debuts in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''''-]

A yellowish worm with a poisonous stinger on the top of its head, it also experiences a metamorphosis, first turning into an immobile yellow nymph, then into a giant hornet with 2 additional stingers as hands. It has many things in common with the Caterpie line and is always found at the same locations, but encounter rates tend to change with versions. Beedrill itself is a physically-based Pokémon, and it is also able to learn stat-boosting moves and pass them to other teammates. However, those moves are not obtainable at low levels, and thus its usefulness is reduced in comparison to Butterfree. In ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'', Beedrill gained a Mega Evolution that gives it the STAB-boosting Adaptability ability.
----
* BalanceBuff:
** The addition of Mega Beedrill ''greatly'' improved Beedrill's chances in a fight. It also came with a slight buff to base Beedrill's stats in Gen VI.
** Mega Beedrill is the Pokémon that benefits the most from the rule changes in Generation VII concerning Mega Evolution: On the turn a Pokémon Mega Evolves, if that Pokémon's Speed changes, turn order is determined based on the new Speed on that turn rather than the following turn. With an increase in Speed from base 75 to 145, this allows Mega Beedrill to dart ahead right away instead of waiting a turn and risking getting knocked out before it can attack.
* BeeAfraid: Beedrill. Would ''you'' want swarms of three-foot-tall hornets at your picnic?
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Beedrill is a 3-foot-tall hornet.
* BigEater: Weedle, like Caterpie, which makes sense being a larva. Weedle eats its weight in leaves every day.
* CherryTapping: Generation VI gave it the move Fell Stinger, an attack with a paltry 50 Power. However, if Beedrill successfully [=KOs=] an opponent with it, [[StatusBuff it drastically raises its Attack.]]
* CombatPragmatist: Can learn Pursuit and Assurance.
* ComMons: Weedle are found very early on in the games it appears in and tend to be common, but its stats are nothing special.
* CriticalHitClass: Beedrill has access to Focus Energy and Sniper, which can be used with a Scope Lens to give a 2.25x power boost to all of its attacks.
* CrutchCharacter: Like the Caterpie family, its overall stats are rather low for a fully evolved Pokémon. What's more, Beedrill doesn't have the special status effect moves Butterfree enjoys, relying on [[CriticalHitClass pure damage attacks]] during its usable time-span.
* DumpStat: Beedrill's stat gains from Mega Evolving are funneled entirely into Attack and Speed; its defenses don't get any boosts, and its Special Attack actually gets a thirty-point deduction.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Kakuna's original sprite shows its arms, as does early official art. Since then, its arms are always depicted tucked away.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Kakuna's Japanese name is Cocoon.
* {{Expy}}: Weedle is a [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Wiggler]], but with a stinger instead of a flower.
* {{Flight}}: Kakuna gains wings when it evolves into Beedrill and so it flies above the ground.
* {{Foil}}: To the Caterpie line — both are insect-based Pokémon lines that consist of a larval stage (Weedle and Caterpie), a pupa stage (Kakuna and Metapod), and an adult stage (Beedrill and Butterfree), but Beedrill is a dangerous and threatening creature while Butterfree is more docile and beautiful. Finally, Butterfree got a Gigantamax form while Beedrill got a Mega Evolution.
* GlassCannon: It has decent Attack and Special Defense with passable Speed, but the rest of its stats are low. Upon Mega Evolving, Mega Beedrill becomes a FragileSpeedster, giving it staggeringly huge boosts to its Attack and Speed but retaining the bad defenses. On top of that, Mega Beedrill gains Adaptability, which boosts STAB moves.
* KeepItForeign: The Japanese version uses the English word Cocoon while the English version uses the Japanese-sounding Kakuna.
* MagikarpPower: Again, Weedle and Kakuna are pretty much useless, apart from Poisoning opponents.
* MeaningfulName: Beedle combines "bee" and "needle." Cocoon is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Spear references the spear-like shape of its stingers.
* MinMaxing: Mega Beedrill's [[DumpStat already weak Special Attack]] drops even further so more points can be added to its Attack and Speed without violating the "no total stat increase greater than 100" rule of Mega Evolution.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Mega Beedrill has four stinger arms, with its legs having turned into the second pair.
* PoisonousPerson: A Poison-type larva that becomes a cocoon, then a bee.
* SdrawkcabName: Beedrill's Japanese name, スピア ''Supia'' (Spear), spelled backwards in katakana is アピス ''Apis,'' the scientific genus of the honey bee.
* SecretArt: Twineedle for Beedrill, although it is no longer exclusive to it as of ''Black'' and ''White''.
* SuperSpeed: Learns Agility naturally.
* SuperMode: Beedrill gets access to a Mega Evolution in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''. Its Attack and Speed get massive boosts at the cost of some Special Attack, and it receives the Adaptability ability to increase the damage of its [=STAB=] attacks.
* TheyCallHimSword: Beedrill's Japanese name is simply "[[GratuitousEnglish Spear]]".
* ThisIsADrill: Beedrill can learn Drill Run, which is the only drill-based move it can learn so far.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot ''[-(Poppo, Pigeon, and Pigeot)-]'']]
!016: Pidgey / Poppo (ポッポ ''poppo'')\\
017: Pidgeotto / Pigeon (ピジョン ''pijon'')\\
018: Pidgeot / Pigeot (ピジョット ''pijotto'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pidgey016.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Pidgey]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pidgeotto017.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Pidgeotto]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pidgeot018.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Pidgeot]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megapidgeot018m.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Pidgeot]]
->[-''Mega Pidgeot debuts in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''''-]

A brown bird with a cream-colored belly and elements of both pigeons and birds of prey, still in the chick stage, that evolves into a quite large, more mature version of itself with a small red crest of feathers, and then into a human-sized version of itself with the crest now going all the way down its back. The first Normal-types in the Dex, and also often one of the first Pokémon caught by anybody in the Kanto and Johto games. Their stats are fairly balanced and not weak in any particular regard, but, sadly, they are not very strong in any particular regard either. Still, it tends to be a staple of in-game teams, since ''somebody'' has to be on Fly detail. In ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'', Pidgeot gained a Mega Evolution with No Guard.
----
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: Mega Pidgeot's ability is No Guard, which makes it so all attacks that it uses or target it into these. Which means its Hurricane will never miss. They can also learn Aerial Ace, Swift, and Feint Attack, which bypasses accuracy check.
* BlowYouAway: Flying-types with moves like Gust and Hurricane.
* BossBattle:
** Pidgeotto is the first gym boss of Gen II[-/-]IV as Falkner's signature, but being a ComMon that's not even fully evolved, having an offensive advantage against just one of the starters, and only at ''level 9'' in the original games, it's really a ZeroEffortBoss. Mitigated somewhat it the remakes, where it's bumped up to level 13.
** The Pidgey family is also a favorite of Blue, who usually leads with it, has it as his best Pokémon, or has it play NumberTwo to his chosen starter if he has one. In ''Red, Blue, and Green'' and their remakes, Blue uses a Pidgey from his second fight onward to provide Sand-Attack and boosted Normal- and Flying-type attacks, which can cause serious trouble for players who try fighting him with a solo starter.
* CastingAShadow: They can be tutored to know Ominous Wind.
* ComMons: Found in almost all of the routes of Kanto and Johto.
* DrunkenMaster: Their Tangled Feet Ability increases Evasion while they're [[StandardStatusEffects Confused]].
* FeatheredFiend: Pidgeotto are said to be fairly territorial.
* {{Flight}}: They're birds, so it's a given.
* {{Foil}}: To the Spearow line. Both are ComMon birds whose first form is classified as a "Tiny Bird" Pokémon and have larger, more predatory evolutions. However, Spearow contrasts with Pidgey by being more wild and unpredictable, while Fearow contrasts with the bulky-looking Pidgeotto and Pidgeot by being LeanAndMean. The biggest difference between them is that the Spearow line is a two-tier evolution rather than a three-tier one.
* FragileSpeedster: Pidgeot has impressive Speed, which becomes even faster after Mega Evolution, but can't take many hits.
* GiantFlyer: Pidgeot is a flying bird, complete with a compact build, as tall as an emu. Mega Pidgeot has a height (or wingspan) of ''2.2 meters/7 feet three inches'', the same average wingspan of a whooping crane. That's one big bird.
* GlassCannon: Mega Pidgeot has an impressive 135 base Special Attack, but it only receives a small boost to both of its defenses. No Guard, the ability Mega Pidgeot obtains upon Mega Evolving, doesn't help matters.
* HealThyself: Naturally learns Roost.
* InformedAbility: Most of its Dex entries say that Pidgeot can fly as fast as Mach 2. In-game, however, its base speed is only slightly above average (lower than Miltank's, ''a cow''). Even after Gen VI gave it a small permanent boost to Speed, it's still not that impressive.
* KubrickStare: Pidgeotto has a permanent one in ''VideoGame/PokemonGo''.
* MasterOfNone: Pidgeot has quite well-rounded stats, but none of them bar Speed are very good.
* MeaningfulName: Poppo comes from the Japanese sound of a pigeon cooing ("poppoppo"). Pigeon is just what it says ([[NonIndicativeName despite looking nothing like a pigeon]]). Pigeot combines "pigeon" and "jet."
* MultiformBalance: Pidgeot hits harder on the physical side than on the special side, fitting for a Gen I Normal/Flying-type since both of those types were physical prior to Generation IV, while Mega Pidgeot is far stronger with special moves.
* NobleBirdOfPrey: Pidgeotto and Pidgeot are based on ospreys and eagles, respectively, and are known for hunting Magikarp.
* NonElemental: First Normal-types in the Pokédex.
* NonIndicativeName: Pidgey has relatively little in common with pigeons, more strongly resembling finches. Pidgeotto and Pidgeot have even ''less'' in common with pigeons; Pidgeotto looks and acts more like some kind of hawk while Pidgeot more resembles an eagle or an osprey (the latter due to its diet consisting mostly of fish). It's much more glaring with the introduction of the Pidove line, which is also named after pigeons but actually looks the part.
* NoSell: Pidgeot is among the few Pokémon that can deal with the armored scales of Magikarp.
* OffModel: Pidgeot's sprites in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal]]'' had a far shorter crest than in the normal design, despite having the signature long crest in the original ''Red and Blue''.
* PlayingWithFire: They can all learn Heat Wave by Move Tutor.
* PowerCopying: It can learn Mirror Move.
* PowerMakesYourHairGrow: While some of Mega Pidgeot's crest becomes shortened and spiky, one part becomes a long trailing feather that trails the length of Mega Pidgeot's body.
* RazorWind: They have moves like Air Cutter and Air Slash at their disposal.
* SecretArt: The only Pokémon that naturally learn Feather Dance prior to ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY''.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Pidgeot's Japanese name has been officially Romanized as "Pigeot" and "Pijotto".
* SuperMode: Pidgeot receives a Mega Evolution in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''. Its Special Attack and Speed get substantial boosts, its defenses are slightly buffed, and it gets the No Guard ability to ensure [[AlwaysAccurateAttack its moves never miss]].
* SuperSenses: The Keen Eye ability negates all attempts to reduce a Pidgey-family Pokémon’s accuracy, and in more recent games, also ignores all attempts to raise an enemy Pokémon’s evasion.
* SuperSpeed: It can learn Agility.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Each one has something of its own niche in the food chain of the Pokémon world; Pidgey usually feeds on bugs, Pidgeotto is noted to hunt Exeggcute, and Pidgeot specializes in plucking Magikarp from rivers. This is actually shown in a ''VideoGame/PokemonMagikarpJump'' random event where your Magikarp gets carried away by a Pidgeotto and [[DeadlyEuphemism "Forcefully Retired"]].
* WindFromBeneathMyWings: Has had Gust and Whirlwind as trademark moves since the very beginning (even having the former as an exclusive move prior to Yellow), and has since added Air Cutter, Air Slash, Tailwind, Twister, Hurricane and even ''Heat Wave'' (which is called "Hot Wind" in Japanese) to its repertoire.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Rattata and Raticate ''[-(Koratta and Ratta)-]'']]
!019: Rattata / Koratta (コラッタ ''koratta'')\\
020: Raticate / Ratta (ラッタ ''ratta'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rattata019.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Rattata]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/raticate020.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Raticate]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanrattata019a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alonan Rattata]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanraticate020a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Raticate]]
->[-''Alolan forms debut in ''Sun and Moon''''-]

A purple rat with a cream-colored belly that evolves into a brown-backed, cream-bellied nutria/musk rat. The first line in National Dex order made up of two rather than three stages, they are one of the most common species in Kanto and especially Johto, being found in pretty much all Routes and a few caves. In battle, they are rather fast (though not absurdly so), but statistically unremarkable otherwise from the get-go. However, they learn strong moves early on, and tricky moves later, that, combined with their traits, makes them competent, if unconventional, fighters.

In the Alola region, Rattata started to swarm the region to the point that the locals brought in Yungoos from another region to deal with the problem. To counteract their new predator, they altered their habits to become nocturnal creatures so that they can avoid Yungoos, who are mostly active during the day. In the process they became part Dark type. Alolan Rattata are led by Alolan Raticate, who are much fatter than regular Raticate due to having a diet that is higher in calories and getting their Rattata subordinates to gather that food for them. Unlike their Kanto counterparts, Alolan Rattata and Raticate are extremely picky eaters, preferring to eat fresh and high-class foods.
----
* AchillesHeel: Alolan Rattata and Raticate take quadruple damage from Fighting-type attacks.
* {{Acrofatic}}: The Totem Alolan Raticate has no problem performing a flip as it jumps down from a ledge to battle the player character.
* AdiposeRex: Alolan Raticate send out Alolan Rattata to gather food while they stay behind to eat.
* AnimalFacialHair: Alolan Rattata have black wiskers that resembles a mustache, but it doesn't qualify as a BadassMustache.
* ArmorPiercingAttack: Super Fang halves the current HP of the target. No exceptions. [[NoSell Unless it's a Ghost.]]
* BigEater: Regular Rattata are generally not fussy eaters, but Alolan Rattata can have Gluttony as an ability.
* CherryTapping: One Battle CD in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'' pits a level 5 Rattata vs. a level ''100'' [[StoneWall Shuckle]]. This strategy is required to win.
* CombatPragmatist: They get several Dark-type moves. Alolan Rattata and Raticate are part Dark-type.
* ComMons: Found ''everywhere'' in Kanto, Johto, and Alola.
* CommonplaceRare: Despite being the archetypical early-game mammal that is everywhere, Rattata cannot be found in Kalos ''at all.'' Not even in the Friend Safari. It can only be obtained through transfer and trading from ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''.
* CrutchCharacter: Hyper Fang is twice as strong as most attacks you are using by the point you get it, and Raticate has the Speed and Attack to use it effectively, only being hampered by slightly low Accuracy. It gets overshadowed later when other things also get strong moves, but it may even step into being a DiscOneNuke if you play with its additional tricks.
%%* DeathOrGloryAttack: Can learn Double-Edge.
* TheDon: Alolan Raticate appears to be intended as a crime lord. This fittingly contrasts with Gumshoos, who looks like a HardboiledDetective.
* ExplosiveBreeder: Rattata, according to the Pokédex: "''It eats everything. Wherever food is available, it will settle down and produce offspring continuously.''"
* {{Foil}}: The Alolan variants is a foil for Gen VII Pokémon Yungoos and Gumshoos. They have a predator/prey relationship, a day and night motif, and a Gangster/Detective motif.
* FourLegsGoodTwoLegsBetter: Alolan Rattata usually stand on two legs, unlike regular Rattata, who usually stand on four.
* FragileSpeedster: Speed is their highest stat. Rattata in particular is very fast for an unevolved, early game {{Com Mon|s}}. They don't take hits well, though.
* GlassCannon: Raticate with an activated Guts or Hustle can have the power and speed of Haxorus, at the cost of [[CastFromHP losing a chunk of HP every turn]] or missing 20% of the time, respectively.
* {{Kevlard}}: The fatter Alolan Raticate has better HP and defenses than regular Raticate, and has Thick Fat as its Hidden Ability.
* KingMook: In ''Moon'', a Totem Alolan Raticate appears in Verdant Cavern as part of a trial. ''Sun'' swaps it out for a Totem Gumshoos.
* LethalJokeCharacter: Raticate can combine a Toxic Orb or Flame Orb with its Guts ability to throw out brutally powerful Facade attacks.[[note]]Guts boosts Attack by 50% when under a status ailment (this isn't decreased with Burns), and Facade doubles in power when the user has a status ailment. Together with STAB, it reaches 315 power.[[/note]] In tandem with some other moves for coverage, Raticate is surprisingly powerful... but it still takes hits like a damp piece of paper, not helped by being badly poisoned with the Toxic Orb. The Flame Orb will do less damage, but this is negligible.
* MasterOfNone: Alolan Raticate's stats range from 70 to 80, except for its low Special Attack. While it's not as fragile as regular Raticate, none of Alolan Raticate's stats are especially good.
* MeaningfulName:
** Rattata is a combination of "rat" and "attack," and seems to be taken from its beta name, Rattatak. Raticate combines "rat" with "eradicate."
** Koratta adds "ko" (子 "child" or 小 "small") to "Ratta," which is taken from "rat."
* MisplacedWildlife: Much like real-life rats in Hawaii, they were accidentally brought into Alola at some point, and began to run so rampant that the local government [[DidntThinkThisThrough imported Yungoos and Gumshoos in a misguided attempt to control them]]. Of course, this only resulted in a Yungoos/Gumshoos problem in the day and [[NocturnalMooks an Alolan Rattata/Raticate problem in the night]].
* NocturnalMooks: Alolan Rattata and Raticate only appear in the wild at night, being replaced by Yungoos and Gumshoos during the day.
* NonElemental: The first pure Normal-type in the Pokédex. Their Alolan counterparts have Normal as their secondary types.
* PickyEater: Unlike their cousins elsewhere in the world, Alolan Rattata won't eat anything that isn't fresh. Alolan Raticate are so picky that a high class restaurant is rumored to use it to choose ingredients and taste test new dishes.
* PlayingWithFire: [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning Flame Wheel]] can be bred on to them.
* PsychicPowers: [[UseYourHead Zen Headbutt]] can be bred onto them, allowing them to effectively deal with their Fighting-type weakness.
* RatKing: Going by the description of Alolan Rattata, it seems as though Alolan Raticate are this. Not to mention, an Alolan Raticate serves as a Totem Pokémon boss in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Pokemon Moon]]'' and summons Alolan Rattata to assist it in battle.
* RodentsOfUnusualSize: Raticate weighs over 40 lbs/18 kg. Alolan Raticate manage to be even heavier.
* SecretArt: Super Fang and Hyper Fang, although no longer exclusive as of Gen IV.
* StealthClothes: Alolan Rattata's whiskers evoke this, contrasting with Gumshoos's detective motif.
* TechnicolorEyes: Rattata.
* UndergroundMonkey: In response to the newly introduced Yungoos, the Rattata and Raticate of Alola were confined to the cities and became nocturnal, making them part Dark-type.
* UnskilledButStrong: Hustle increases the power of their physical attacks by 50%, but lowers the accuracy of physical attacks by 20%.
* YouDirtyRat: In comparison to the Pikachu family. Their Alolan forms emphasize this trait even more by being part Dark-type.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Spearow and Fearow ''[-(Onisuzume and Onidrill)-]'']]
!021: Spearow / Onisuzume (オニスズメ ''onisuzume'')\\
022: Fearow / Onidrill (オニドリル ''onidoriru'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spearow021.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Spearow]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fearow022.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Fearow]]

An alternative if you don't want to use Pidgey. Unlike the passive Pidgey, Spearow are pretty mean and scrappy birds. Spearow is supposed to resemble a sparrow, with a bit of crow mixed in; it has short wings and a short beak. Fearow, on the other hand, has longer wings and a longer beak, and it looks more like a vulture or a crane. Also unlike the Pidgey family, they're more physically-oriented, using their beaks to use moves like Drill Peck and [[DishingOutDirt Drill Run]].
----
* AdaptationalVillainy: The anime presents them as more or less AlwaysChaoticEvil, despite the games never claiming that they're any more or less dangerous than Pidgey and its evolutions. Heck, ''Pidgeotto'' is said to be more aggressive than Spearow and Fearow. Like how Raichu is treated in the anime, the Spearow line's antagonism is traced back to it being rivals with Ash's Pidgeotto.
* BlowYouAway: Flying-type with moves like Razor Wind and Whirlwind.
* CombatPragmatist: Can learn Pursuit and Assurance.
* ComMons: Spearow is common, though not as much as Pidgey.
* CriticalHitClass: In addition to having Sniper as a hidden ability, which increases critical hit damage, Gen VII's introduction of Z-Crystals gave it access to Z-Tailwind, which gives it a big crit rate boost along with Tailwind's speed buff. Do not underestimate the ComMons.
* CrutchCharacter: Useful early on, since Spearow learns a Flying-type move before Pidgey, making it useful against all the Bug-types you'll meet in the first few areas of the game.
* FeatheredFiend: They are very dangerous birds indeed. The anime recurrently portrays both as violent bully Pokémon who attack the cast in flocks.
* {{Flight}}: Another bird Pokémon, so yeah.
* {{Foil}}: To the Pidgey line. Both are ComMon birds whose first form is classified as a "Tiny Bird" Pokémon and have larger, more predatory evolutions. However, Spearow contrasts with Pidgey by being more wild and unpredictable, while Fearow contrasts with Pidgeotto and Pidgeot by being thinner and more intimidating. The biggest difference between them is that the Spearow line is a two-tier evolution rather than a three-tier one.
* FragileSpeedster: Fearow has good Speed, but its defenses are below average.
* GlassCannon: Has good Attack, but low defenses.
* HealThyself: Can learn Roost.
* {{Jerkass}}: As explained in the Kanto Pokedex:
-->'''Pokedex:''' Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. Unlike Pidgey, Spearow has a terrible attitude. It is very wild and will sometimes attack other Pokémon and humans.
* MeaningfulName: Onisuzume combines "oni" (鬼 "ogre, demon", referring to the evolutionary line's mean disposition) with "suzume" (雀 "sparrow"). Onidrill combines "oni" and "drill" (referring to its long beak).
* MixAndMatchCritters: Fearow has traits of many different birds, with an overall body shape like a bird of prey, a head and neck like a heron and a cockscomb like a rooster.
* MythologyGag: The anime's interpretation manages to rub off in ''Sun and Moon'', where a flock of Spearow mercilessly peck Nebby and the player on a bridge at the beginning of the game.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: '''Fear'''ow, '''Oni'''drill. But then again, they are not necessarily all that bad.
* NobleBirdOfPrey: Fearow's based mostly on fish-eating birds of prey, but the "noble" part depends on the writer.
* NonElemental: Normal-type.
* PowerCopying: Can learn Mirror Move.
* SuperSpeed: Can learn Agility.
* ThisIsADrill: It learns Drill Peck and Drill Run (and the latter coupled with its Hidden Ability... hoo boy). Fearow's Japanese name is even Onidrill.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ekans ''[-(Arbo)-]'' and Arbok]]
!023: Ekans / Arbo (アーボ ''aabo'')\\
024: Arbok (アーボック ''aabokku'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ekans023.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Ekans]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arbok024.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Arbok]]

Effectively purple snakes, Ekans resembles a rattlesnake while Arbok is a cobra. A pure Poison-type with a fierce reputation, the first version exclusive monsters in National Dex order, only widely available in the ''Red'' version, while ''Green'', ''Blue'', '''and''' ''Yellow'' players had to trade for it. This often carries over to later games, where it's still found in only one version or another. Arbok is said to have different-patterned hoods depending on where they are found geographically. While this means that [[DependingOnTheArtist hood patterns vary in different depictions]], there's only one pattern in-game.
----
* BalanceBuff: Generation VII buffed Arbok's Attack to 95, [[MasterOfNone though it's still rather unimpressive]] when compared to other physical attackers.
* DeathGlare: It can learn Glare and Leer.
* DishingOutDirt: It can learn Mud Bomb.
* TheDreaded: One of their standard abilities is Intimidate.
* FireIceLightning: Arbok knows the three elemental fang moves naturally, though you need the Move Relearner to make use of them.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Arbok is supposed to have different patterns on their hoods depending on which region they are caught in. However, only the Johto and Hoenn games have had Arbok with a different pattern than in other regions (this does not happen in the remakes). Furthermore, all Arbok have the same sprite or model in each game, even traded ones, so pattern differences are never present.
* GlassCannon: Its best stat is Attack, with Speed and Special Defense being close seconds. Everything else is below average.
* LightningGlare: Its SecretArt, Glare, inflicts paralysis that's commonly represented to the player through sparks.
* ManBitesMan: Learns several biting attacks. In addition to the usual Bite and Crunch, Arbok can use the three elemental fangs, and it can be bred to have Poison Fang.
* MasterOfNone: None of their stats are very good, with Arbok's highest stat being a below-average 95 Attack.
* OffModel:
** Most of Ekans' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first-generation]] sprites look '''''nothing''''' like the snake should. [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/5/58/Spr_1b_023.png Seriously]], [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/c/cc/Spr_1g_023.png look at them!]] ''Yellow'' got it right, thankfully. Arbok also has black stripes on its back in its first-generation sprites, which have not been seen since.
** Ekans in ''Gold'' and ''Silver'' is, for whatever reason, pink instead of purple. Made all the more jarring considering Arbok remained purple. This was fixed in ''Crystal'', which changed Ekans back to its proper color.
* PoisonousPerson: Poison-type.
* SdrawkcabName: Ekans is snake backwards. Arbok is kobra backwards ([[YouMakeMeSic and misspelled]]).
* SecretArt: [[DeathGlare Glare]], but only in Generation I. It’s still primarily restricted to snakelike Pokémon.
* SnakesAreSinister: The probable reason why roughly one third of Team Rocket's grunts have one.
* StatusBuff: Can learn Coil.
* StatusBuffDispel: Can learn Haze.
* SuperSpit: Using Stockpile and Spit Up. They also learn moves such as Acid, Gastro Acid, and Acid Spray.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu]]
!172: Pichu (ピチュー ''pichuu'')\\
025: Pikachu (ピカチュウ ''pikachuu'')\\
026: Raichu (ライチュウ ''raichuu'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pichu172.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Pichu]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pikachu025.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Pikachu]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/raichu026.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Raichu]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanraichu026a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Raichu]]
->[-''Pichu debuts in ''Gold and Silver'', while Alolan Raichu debuts in ''Sun and Moon''''-]

->Pikachu voiced by: Creator/IkueOtani

A yellow mouse-like creature with ruby-red cheeks, brown stripes on its back and a tail that resembles a thunderbolt. It's cute, but it can appeal to both boys and girls, making it the perfect {{mascot}} for the entire franchise. Practically half of all merchandise has this guy's mug on it. It also gained a baby form in Pichu (which is also heavily promoted), and a few signature items and moves (mainly Volt Tackle). Raichu is its stronger form, but it isn't given as much exposure as its younger forms. Which isn't to say that it's bad per se; it's still a very good Pokémon to take well beyond the beginning of the game. It's one of your best bets when facing Misty.

Pikachu is one of the mainstay playable characters of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s MassiveMultiplayerCrossover FightingGame series, while Pichu is a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' (the second entry). For tropes concerning their ''Smash'' incarnations, see the ''Super Smash Bros. 64'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBros64 character page]] for Pikachu and the ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBrosMelee character page]] for Pichu.

The Alolan Raichu are unique from Raichu elsewhere in that they are Electric/Psychic-types and ride their tails as surfboards. How and why they've changed baffles researchers, but locals guess [[ItRunsOnNonsensoleum it's from eating too many pancakes]].

!!! Tropes that apply to the species in general

* AdaptationalJerkass: This happens to Raichu on numerous occasions in the anime, due to them being rivals to Ash's Pikachu.
* AwesomeButImpractical:
** Pikachu became this from Gen II onwards when carrying a Light Ball; [[GlassCannon it hits like a truck and can one-shot a lot of things with the right coverage move, but it absolutely must be faster than its foe or else it'll get one-shotted itself]].
** Their SecretArt Volt Tackle is this. You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get it, and when you do, it's a 120 power move with perfect accuracy and recoil just like Double-Edge. Problem is, their HP stat is so low that attempting to sweep with it will take Raichu down in a few turns.
** Pikachu with its Pikanium Z-Crystal is also this. Catastropika [[RuleOfCool looks cool]] and is the second most-damaging Z-Move in the game, tied with Snorlax's Pulverizing Pancake[[note]]losing to [=V-Create=]-based Inferno Overdrive by 10 points[[/note]] (and in fact is the third most-damaging move in the game, ''period''), but after one use, Pikachu is dead weight due to its overall low stats. The lack of a Light Ball means Catastropika only deals slightly more damage than a Light Ball Pikachu's Thunder, and less than a Volt Tackle, while only being able to be used once, making the Z-Move greatly unappealing.
* TheArtifact:
** Pikachu remains the SeriesMascot, but its role in marketing for the entire ''Pokémon'' franchise, outside of the anime, has been downplayed slightly in Gen VI. Unlike a few other Pokémon, it hasn't received very many new features or gratuitous appearances outside of the anime and its merchandising, apart from PokemonSpeak in the games and a slight increase in base stats. Pikachu being outdated was actually acknowledged by Game Freak themselves in a TV program on Japan's NHK network, which also showed that for this reason, [[http://www.siliconera.com/2013/10/28/top-secret-pokmon-game-revealed-detective-game-featuring-pikachu/ they created a new Pikachu character with a more mature personality for]] ''VideoGame/DetectivePikachu''.
** Raichu became an artifact pretty much as soon as ''Yellow Version'' came out towards the end of Gen I. After Pikachu solidified itself as not only the mascot, but having a reputation of never wanting to evolve, Raichu became little more than a bully to be upstaged by its unevolved form every 4 or 5 seasons in the anime. Notably, none of the Pikaclones in future generations even have the option of a 'Raichu' form, staying Pikachu-like forever. Competitively, Pikachu can have better offense than Raichu if it has a Light Ball, and better defense if it has Eviolite, meaning Raichu only consistently outdoes it in Speed and HP. And Gen VI continued the non-evolving trend by introducing Cosplay Pikachu instead of a potential "Mega Raichu." This ended after 19 years when ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' gave Raichu an Alola form with a brand-new Ability and one-of-a-kind Z-move.
** Despite the games gradually moving away from real-world locations and animals, Raichu's Pokedex entries still boast of its electricity being strong enough to knock out an Indian elephant.
* BadassAdorable: Pikachu may be cute and isn't fully evolved, but almost every form of canon has given it a way to stand up to the "big guys". Raichu is also this trope, but with more emphasis on the "badass" aspect.
* BalanceBuff: Due to taking the role of starter, Pikachu was given almost twice as large a move pool in ''Yellow'', which was kept throughout later games (where it naturally could then be inherited to Raichu if evolved afterwards). Gen VI also gave Pikachu a small boost in defense stats (Raichu didn't inherit this, though did get a small Speed increase instead).
* BreakoutCharacter: Pikachu was originally meant to play second fiddle to Clefairy. See SeriesMascot below.
* BodySled: Alolan Raichu uses its own tail as a surfboard, [[CallBack just like regular Raichu could do in the Stadium games if they had evolved from a Surfing Pikachu.]]
* CrutchCharacter: In ''RGBY'' (and their remakes), ''X & Y'', and ''Sun & Moon'', Pikachu (and Pichu in the latter case) can be found in the wild very early on. They'll likely be the first wild Electric-type a trainer will encounter, but will likely be outclassed by midgame. But if they have a Light Ball, then things are different.
* CuteLittleFangs: Despite being rodents, the line has canine teeth (at least in the anime). This is likely to make them look cuter.
* DeathOrGloryAttack: They can learn Wild Charge and Volt Tackle, and both of these attacks cause recoil damage to the user.
* DependingOnTheArtist: The promotional artwork and Anime/PokemonGenerations depicts Pikachu with a much bigger and rounder head.
* DiscOneNuke: Get lucky enough to catch a Pikachu that holds a Light Ball[[note]]There is only a 5% chance of encountering one in Viridian Forest in ''FR/LG'', and then only a 5% chance it will be holding a Light Ball[[/note]], and you've got a very powerful attacker early on.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Pikachu's original design was very chubby and it lacked a defined neck. As the series went on and it become more prominent as the SeriesMascot, it became slimmer. In [[EarlyDraftTieIn very early artwork]], Pikachu was also depicted as having a white stomach and being significantly larger than it normally is.
* FragileSpeedster: Raichu is decently fast (especially after Gen VI gave it a permanent boost to its Speed), but is still frail. Taken UpToEleven by Alolan Raichu — thanks to its Surge Surfer ability, its speed doubles in battle when Electric Terrain is active, and reaches levels so high it can outspeed ''Speed Forme Deoxys''!
* GeniusSweetTooth: It’s hypothesized in-universe that its diet plays a huge role in Pikachu developing into an Alolan Raichu, which might explain why the Alolan Raichu is part Psychic-type.
* GlassCannon: A Pikachu with a Light Ball strikes really hard, but falls very easily. Raichu has good offensive stats on both sides and has enough moves to use both effectively, but is still frail.
* IconicItem: The Light Ball item for Pikachu. It doubles Pikachu's Attack and Special Attack while being held, giving it about as much power as [[OlympusMons Rayquaza]].
* InformedFlaw: Pichu are said to be unable to handle their electricity, often shocking themselves. In the main games, this isn't the case unless they use [[DeathOrGloryAttack Volt Tackle]]. It's a different story in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', where over half of Pichu's attacks involve electricity and cause damage to itself.
* InformedSpecies: Pikachu (and to a lesser extent, Pichu). They are explicitly stated to be mice, but they honestly look more like rabbits. Averted with Raichu, which actually ''does'' look like a mouse.
* KidAppealCharacter: Pichu and Pikachu were basically designed to be this. Surprisingly, this is intentionally averted for the more adult-like Pikachu from ''VideoGame/DetectivePikachu'', who has spoken (human language) lines akin to a stereotypical hard-boiled detective, complete with a deep voice that's a far cry from the child-like voice provided by Creator/IkueOtani.
* MagicKnight:
** Raichu's Attack and Special Attack are equally decent, both at 90. Alolan Raichu is only slightly less so, trading 5 points in Attack for an equal boost in Sp. Attack.
** With the Light Ball, Pikachu becomes this, as Light Ball doubles its current Attack and Special Attack stat.
* MascotMook: ''Definitely'' counts as this if you consider its role in the main games alone.
* MascotWithAttitude: Pikachu tends to be an AdaptationalBadass and a {{Tsundere}} in adaptations.
* MutuallyExclusivePowerups: Pikachu has more event-exclusive moves than any other Mon, but they aren't compatible with each other or [[SecretArt Volt Tackle]].
* MythologyGag: Alolan Raichu surfing on its tail is a reference to the Surfing Pikachu from ''Pokémon Stadium'', which had blue eyes and, if evolved into a Raichu, would stand on its tail when using Surf.
** Gigantamax Pikachu heavily resembles Pikachu's original design.
* OffModel: The way Pikachu are shaped in the games matches the anime, but not the more oval-shaped head seen in all game artwork.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: While not officially Fairy-type Pokémon (not to mention that the only offensive Fairy-type move they can learn is Disarming Voice, and that is only learned via breeding), Pikachu and Raichu have been part of the "Fairy" egg group since the mechanic was first introduced.
* OutOfFocus:
** Raichu, in comparison to Pikachu and even Pichu. Game Freak seems to be adamant on making sure you forget that Pikachu can still evolve. It doesn't even get a Mega Evolution when the concept was introduced in Generation VI. [[ThrowTheDogABone However]], this trope was finally subverted as it ''did'' get an Alolan Form in Generation VII and an unique Z-Move on top of it. However the ''Let's Go'' series sets things back to normal by introducing a lot of buffs to 'Partner Pikachu' who like Ash's Pikachu and Red's Pikachu in ''Yellow'' won't evolve, and further unlocks a Gigantamax Pikachu in Gen VIII.
** This even gets acknowledged in the latter's ''Ultra Moon'' Kantonian Pokédex entry:
---> ''"Because so many Trainers like the way Pikachu looks, you don't see this Pokémon very often."''
* PermanentlyMissableContent:
** A zigzagged example regarding Surfing and Flying Pikachu. There have been frequent ways to obtain Pikachu with these moves throughout the history of the series. However, the cruel twist is that they cannot be transferred to the next generation of games due to Pokémon with HM moves not being transferable unless the move is forgotten. Thus you can transfer these special Pikachu, but you need to remove what makes them so special in the first place. The few ways to obtain these Pikachu have either long since passed or the games you can get them are out of print.
** Notch-ear Pichu also counts as an example as the only way to obtain one is through an event that has also long since passed, and it also can't be transferred to later games, as the code for it doesn't exist in the files.
* PokemonSpeak:
** Pikachu is featured in the trope image. Notable because it's the only Pokémon to have its actual spoken name as an audio cry in the main series games in ''Yellow''. Pikachu's cry is also changed to have such speech from ''X and Y'' onwards.
** NPC Pikachu in the games do this through their speech bubbles.
* PopularityPower: Zigzagged in the anime, where Ash's Pikachu frequently fluctuates in power level to reflect Ash's own fluctuating experience level at that point. Harshly {{averted|trope}} in the games where, for all of being the SeriesMascot, Pikachu is one of the weakest Pokémon in the series, even with all its exclusive moves and items.
* PowerFloats: Alolan Raichu surf on their tails in mid-air.
* PowerIncontinence: Pichu shocks itself because of youth and inexperience. This carries over into ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', where it cripples it so much [[JokeCharacter that it's the weakest character in the game]]. When Pichu returns in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', it still retains this feature, but hits much harder than Pikachu to compensate, making it a more akin to a traditional glass cannon.
* PretenderDiss: Alolan Raichu's ''Ultra Sun'' Pokédex entry says that another name for this Pokémon is "Hodad", Hawaiian slang for a poser, or someone who hangs around the beach and acts like a surfer, but never surfs.
* PsychicPowers: Alolan Raichu is part Psychic-type.
* RecurringElement: There is at least one Electric Rodent "Pikaclone" in every Generation except Generation II, [[DistinctionWithoutADifference when Pichu was introduced]].
* RiddleForTheAges: How Alolan Raichu gained the Psychic type is unknown, but it's speculated that it gained it from eating too many pancakes.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE... WHOLE... FREAKING... LINE!!]] Pikachu's adorable, simplistic design is one reason it's so widely beloved. Pichu is an already cute Pokémon, made even more marketable. Even Raichu has not lost everything here, and its Alolan form is even rounder and cuddlier.
* TheRival:
** Meowth to Pikachu in the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime]] specifically, largely due to the heroes keeping a Pikachu out of its ball and the villains keeping a Meowth in the anime. They are a literal Cat-and-Mouse duo, with the antagonistic cat doing the [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry chasing with a lot of zany schemes and contraptions, only to be outdone by the heroic mouse doing what comes naturally to survive]] (in this case shooting electricity). Incidentally, their national Dex numbers, 25 and 52, are inversions of each other, and both lines receive Alolan forms in Gen VII (though it’s only for the final form in the Pikachu line’s case). Later they would both have their Gigantamax forms revealed together (along with Eevee, see below)
** Raichu also often plays this role towards Pikachu.
** Eevee is also a counterpart to Pikachu since they were used by Gary and Ash respectively in their first battle in the anime. Eevee has since shared an 'honorary' starter status like Pikachu as the rival's starter in ''Yellow Version'', and a starter in certain spinoffs. In the lead up to ''Sun and Moon'', [[https://youtu.be/m8lfI66T5II?t=2m30s they also got their Z moves revealed together in a trailer]] focusing on version exclusives (typically also pitted as counterparts). Both Pokémon received equal billing for ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', where you can start out with either one depending on the version, which also gives you an OldSaveBonus to unlock their respective Gigantamax forms in ''Sword and Shield''.
* SecretArt: As the SeriesMascot, the Pikachu line has more moves of this type than any other family as of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'':
** [[RideTheLightning Volt Tackle]], from Generation III onwards. You can only get it by breeding a Pikachu[=/=]Raichu holding a [[IconicItem Light Ball]] or from a Move Tutor in ''Sun and Moon''.
** Along with the other Pikaclones, it's one of the few Pokémon that can learn Nuzzle.
** When holding its special Z-Crystal, Alolan Raichu can use Stoked Sparksurfer. Pikachu also has its own unique Z-Move, Catastropika, which has a unique Z-Crystal and [[SerialEscalation is derived from Volt Tackle]].
** There is also Cap-wearing Pikachu with its own Z-Move that turns Thunderbolt[[note]]in Japan, it's called 100,000 Volts[[/note]] into ''[[UpToEleven 100,000,000 Volt Thunder Bolt]]''.
** Alolan Raichu is the only Pokémon that has Surge Surfer as an ability.
* SeriesMascot: Pikachu usurped Clefairy's intended role [[PopularityPower due to better reception]].
* ShockAndAwe: Electric-type.
* ShoutOut: Volt Tackle was based on Pulseman's[[note]]one of [=GameFreak's=] previous games[[/note]] ''Voltteccer'' attack, which in turn was based on ''Anime/{{Tekkaman}}''.
* SignatureMove: Even though they have a boatload of exclusive moves, the line is still most heavily associated with Thunderbolt thanks to the anime.
* SquishyWizard: Downplayed with Alolan Raichu, who have slightly better special stats and slightly worse physical stats than regular Raichu.
* StarterMon: Pikachu is the only starter available in ''Pokémon Yellow'', a special version which is based on the anime.
* SuperSpeed: Can learn Agility. Alolan Raichu also has the ability Surge Surfer, which doubles its speed in electric terrain.
* SurferDude: Alolan Raichu not only ride their tails like surfboards, but their coloring makes them appear to be tanned as well. Despite this, the people of Alola don't see them as such, considering them posers.
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Pikachu have heart-shaped tails, and regular female Raichu's lightning-bolt tail ends are slightly blunted. Averted with Alolan Raichu and Gigantamax Pikachu, though[[note]]In Gigantamax Pikachu's case, its tail is actually a hologram tail[[/note]].
* ThirdOptionAdaptation: Former TropeNamer in regards to the anime.
* ThrowTheDogABone: After 20 years of neglect in favor of featuring its previous evolutionary states, Raichu finally gains a new form in the Alola Region. This form has a unique Z-move to boot.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood:
** At least for Ash's Pikachu in the anime, it is ketchup. This originated in a mid-Kanto episode (with a couple of sporadic reminders in later episodes), and immediately reached memetic levels. In the earliest years, the family was associated with apples.
** Alolan Raichu are apparently fond of fluffy pancakes and other sweets, and the people of Alola joke that they might be the cause for their Psychic typing and floating.
* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Raichu are unique from Raichu from elsewhere by being part Psychic.
* AWizardDidIt: Nobody knows why Raichu has a different form in Alola. The people there guess that they "ate too many sweet and fluffy round pancakes".
* WolverinePublicity: As a result of its main character status in the anime, Pikachu was used excessively even in promotional media and art exclusive to the games or trading cards, as well as usually representing the franchise in cross overs such as ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. This also began to happen in the games after Pikachu's absence in Generation V; ''X'' and ''Y'' gave Pikachu its anime cry in the games proper, ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'' introduced Cosplay Pikachu, and ''Sun'' and ''Moon'' gave the line ''three'' exclusive Z-Moves, introduced a doppelgänger in the form of Mimikyu, and gave Pikachu an event-exclusive form with Ash's various caps.

!!! Tropes that applies only to a particular kind found in the games

* BareYourMidriff: The Pikachu Pop Star costume of the Cosplay Pikachu in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''.
* BossBattle: A Raichu is the third gym boss of Gen I, being Lt. Surge's signature.
* BreakoutCharacter: Of all the costumes available, Pikachu Libre quickly became a fan-favorite and would go on to appear in several games after her debut, such as being a completely separate character from the standard Pikachu in ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament'' and becoming one of Pikachu's alternate costumes in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Cosplay Pikachu gets a new move for each of its costumes in ''Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire''. Rock Star gets Meteor Mash, [=PhD=] gets Electric Terrain, Pop Star gets Draining Kiss, Belle gets Icicle Crash, and Libre gets Flying Press.
* ContractualPurity: An in-universe example has been implied to be the case with Cosplay Pikachu, as she is unable to breed. The various Cap Pikachu introduced in ''Sun and Moon'' are similarly unable to breed.
* CoolHat: The Cap Wearing Pikachu that are available in ''Sun and Moon''. These event-exclusive Pikachu all wear caps that have been worn by Ash in the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon TV series]]. It is implied that they're all Ash's Pikachu and much like Cosplay Pikachu, it is unable to evolve and unable to breed.
* CosplayOtakuGirl: A female Pikachu given as a gift in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire'' has the ability to wear costumes based on the five contest conditions. Like Rotom, she also gains a new move for each costume she's currently wearing.
* CostumePorn: Cosplay Pikachu can wear several outfits in the Ruby/Sapphire remakes.
* CrutchCharacter: The Cosplay Pikachu from ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire''. When the player gets her, she'll be at Level 20, likely higher than the player's party if you get her as soon as possible, and she comes equipped with unique moves that have mid- to endgame levels of power. However, as the player progresses, the fact that Pikachu's stats are below mediocre in every single stat other than Speed, plus being barred from evolving, means that she will quickly be outclassed and be little more than a novelty. Can be subverted if the player finds the Light Ball lying around on Route 120 or snags one off a normal wild Pikachu from the Safari Zone, which will make her hit about as hard as [[OlympusMons Rayquaza]] while holding it.
* HardboiledDetective: The eponymous character of ''VideoGame/DetectivePikachu''.
* MakingASplash: Other than the non-offensive Rain Dance, Pikachu can use Surf in every generation, one way or another, but not through the HM. In most cases, it's an event Pikachu that already know the move by the time you got it. Unfortunately, because HM moves need to be forgotten in order to move a Pokémon to a later generation of games, this means that Surf would need to be removed from the Pikachu [[PermanentlyMissableContent and it can't be relearned]].
* MaskedLuchador: Cosplay Pikachu as Pikachu Libre.
* NotQuiteFlight: You can obtain a Pikachu that knows the move Fly from a Pokéwalker course. According to the card game, it flies via {{Balloonacy}}.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: The Pikachu starter in ''Pokémon Yellow'' (unless traded to other versions), Spikey-Ear Pichu, Cosplay Pikachu and Cap wearing Pikachu will not evolve and furthermore Cosplay Pikachu and Cap wearing Pikachu are unable to breed. Likewise, Partner Pikachu is locked out of evolution and breeding, but has higher base stats to compensate.
* PimpedOutDress: Cosplay Pikachu as Pikachu Belle or Pikachu Pop Star.
* ThePowerOfRock: ''Pokémon Ranger Guardian Signs'' had a special Pichu partner who plays a Ukulele. You have the option to let it play it and paralyze the opposing Pokémon. It's also invincible and can be used to stun Pokémon like [[OlympusMons Mewtwo and Arceus]]. Cosplay Pikachu in her Rock Star costume can use Meteor Mash in this form.
* PromotionalPowerlessPieceOfGarbage: In ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', you can obtain a special Pichu with three spikes on one of its ears (Spiky-Eared Pichu). Too bad it can't evolve or be traded to any other game, not even ''Black'' and ''White'', which came after these games.
* OpaqueNerdGlasses: Cosplay Pikachu in her [=PhD=] costume.
* SecretArt:
** Partner Pikachu in ''Let's Go, Pikachu!'' has four of these (which cannot be learned by any other Pikachu). First is Zippy Zap, an Electric-type move which [[ActionInitiative has a Priority of +2]], going before any move that has a lower priority than Extreme Speed, and will always land a CriticalHit. Second is Floaty Fall, a Flying-type move that has a chance to make the target flinch, third is Splishy Splash, a Water-type move which has a chance to paralyse the target, and fourth is a LimitBreak, Pika Papow, the power (and flashiness of the move's animation) increase as the player's friendship with Pikachu grows.
** The event Pikachu in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' has G-Max Volt Crash, which cannot be learned by any other specimen, owing to their inability to Gigantamax. The move replaces Gigantamax Pikachu's Electric-type moves, and, on top of damaging the target, inflicts paralysis on the opponent's active Pokémon.
* SurferDude: The ones who know Surf uses it by grabbing an actual surfboard.
* TalkingAnimal:
** The most distinguishing characteristic of ''VideoGame/DetectivePikachu''[='=]s title character is his ability to actually talk.
** [[spoiler:Ash's Pikachu is also able to in ''Anime/PokemonIChooseYou'', though it could be a result of Ash's bad concussion.]]
* TimeTravel: In [=HeartGold/SoulSilver=], there's a Pichu with a spiky ear that you can recruit if you have a Pikachu-colored Pichu (an event Pokémon). This Pichu travels through time with Celebi, but is unable to evolve because of it.
* UncattyResemblance: The first/default costume of the Cosplay Pikachu depends on the character the player chose, and thus the costume he/she uses for Contests: Rock Star for Brendan, and Pop Star for May.
* UniqueEnemy: While "enemy" is a bit of a stretch, Notch-Ear Pichu has a unique sprite compared to other Pichu and Cosplay Pikachu has a unique model design, implying that they're supposed to be one-of-a-kind. Although in Cosplay Pikachu's case, this is [[AvertedTrope Averted]] as 3 Pikachu, all with Cosplay Pikachu's distinctive tail, appear in the anime.
* VocalDissonance: Detective Pikachu has a deep masculine voice. Incredibly strange coming from a one and a half foot tall rodent.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Rock Star Pikachu and Pikachu Libre are both masculine-looking costumes, the former highly resembling Brendan's contest costume, but they can only be worn by Cosplay Pikachu, who's female. Averted in the anime, where two male Pikachu are the ones that wear those outfits.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sandshrew and Sandslash ''[-(Sand and Sandpan)-]'']]
!027: Sandshrew / Sand (サンド ''sando'')\\
028: Sandslash / Sandpan (サンドパン ''sandopan'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sandshrew027.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Sandshrew]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sandslash028.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Sandslash]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolansandshrew027a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Sandshrew]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolansandslash028a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Sandslash]]
->[-''Alolan forms debut in ''Sun and Moon''''-]

Sandshrew and Sandslash don't really resemble shrews as much as they do armadillos or pangolins. They're the creatures you'll find in place of Ekans and Arbok if you have the ''Blue'' or ''Green'' versions in the original set of games. As ground types, they really don't like the wet stuff and prefer to make their homes in dry places, the drier the better. They get all their moisture from their food, just like many real desert animals.

In the Alola region, frequent volcanic eruptions drove Sandshrew and Sandslash away from desert environments and into the snowy mountains. There they adapted to life in cold environments and became Ice/Steel types. They developed inflexible shells of steel-hard ice and their claws have become adapted to digging through snow and gripping to icy surfaces.
----
* AchillesHeel: Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash take quadruple damage from Fighting-type and Fire-type attacks.
* AstonishinglyAppropriateAppearance:
** The Ice/Steel Alolan Sandshrew has armor that resembles an igloo.
** Regular Sandshrew has a hide that resembles yellow bricks, which brings Egyptian pyramids to mind.
* BeTheBall: The line learns Defense Curl, which doubles the power of Rollout. They also learn Gyro Ball. The Alolan Sandshrew's icy shell prevents them from properly curling into a ball, but they're still capable of using Ice Ball (since that move involves the user encasing itself in a sphere of ice, without needing to curl into a ball itself).
** Taken to its logical conclusion with the curling rock-esque Alolan Sandshrew, which are used as exactly that during an Alolan festival.
* DishingOutDirt: Most of the world's Sandshrew are Ground-type. Despite this, however, it took until Generation III for it to learn a damaging Ground attack, and even then it was the very low-power Sand Tomb. ''[[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 Black 2 and White 2]]'' finally remedied this, giving it access to Magnitude, Dig, and the mighty Earthquake through leveling up.
* DumpStat: Alolan Sandshrew is tied with three other Pokémon for having the lowest Special Attack stat.
* EverythingIsBetterWithSpinning: Learns Rapid Spin. Instead of rolling into a ball, Alolan Sandshrew spin like curling rocks.
* {{Foil}}:
** They were originally counterparts to the Ekans line, appearing in ''Blue'' as the rodent prey with the supereffective typing against the serpent predator of ''Red''.
** The Ice-type Alolan species are counterparts with the also Ice-type Vulpix line in Generation VII.
** In ''Let's Go, Pikachu'' and ''Eevee'', Ekans' and Arbok's role as the alt-version's predator is supplanted by Meowth and Persian.
* ExtraOreDinary: Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash are part Steel-type. The latter's spikes are made of frozen-over steel.
* GlacierWaif: Sandslash's Attack & Defense stats are higher than its small size would suggest. The latter is slightly better for Alolan Sandslash. Bonus points for being part Ice.
* AnIcePerson: The Sandshrew and Sandslash of Alola are part Ice-types.
* InformedFlaw: Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash are described as slower in pre-release material than most others of their species, but have the same Speed stat as their regular counterparts in the game itself.
* KryptoniteIsEverywhere: Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash's Ice/Steel typing comes with double weaknesses to Fire and Fighting and a regular weakness to Ground, all of which are common attacking types. The Steel typing covers Ice's weaknesses to Rock and Steel, but offensive moves of those types are less common.
* LifeDrain: Their Alolan forms can learn Leech Life via TM.
* LightningBruiser: Their Hidden Ability doubles their speed under Sandstorm for the regular forms, and in Hail for the Alolan forms.
* MagicallyIneptFighter: The line has high Defense and decent Attack, but horrible Special Attack and below-average Special Defense. The Alolan forms have slightly better Special Defense in exchange for [[DumpStat among the lowest Special Attack of any Pokémon]].
* {{Mascot}}: Both varieties of Sandshrew are the mascots of real world Japan's Tottori Prefecture.
* MightyGlacier: Sandslash is slow, but it has high Defense and good Attack. Their Alolan counterparts are even slower ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation in-universe, anyway]]) and heavier, but have better defences. And are half Ice type, to boot.
* NonIndicativeName: The line are more like pangolins than shrews, though [[DubInducedPlothole this is only a problem in the English releases]]. The Alola region forms make even less sense, as they've adapted away from living in the desert or near any sand.
* PickyEater: Sandshrew seems to not like foods with a high water content.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Sandshrew. The Alola version is even rounder and cuter.
* RollingAttack: Rollout and Ice Ball.
* SeldomSeenSpecies: They're pangolins, which aren't featured often in fictional media.
* SpikesOfDoom: Sandslash has a lot of spikes on its back, just like actual pangolins. This is also presumably how they use Poison Sting. The frozen-over steel spikes of the Alolan form are even gnarlier, and can cause deep wounds and frostbite.
* TakesOneToKillOne: Regular Sandshrew and Sandslash's Ground typing is super-effective against their Ice/Steel Alola forms, while Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash's Ice typing is super-effective against their Kantonian counterpart's Ground typing. With all other things equal, Alolan Sandslash has a very tiny statistical advantage thanks to its slightly better Defense.
* UndergroundMonkey: The Alolan Sandshrew have evolved an icy shell and evolve into Sandslash with ice-covered steel spines.
* WolverineClaws: Sandslash owe their English names to the big claws that they have on their front limbs. This is also shown when they learn Crush Claw after evolving. The Alolan Sandslash have claws that are hooked, to provide better traction on slippery ice.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Despite being Ground-types said to burrow in dry deserty places, before Gen [=III=] Sandshrew and Sandslash could not learn offensive Ground-based attacks, and before ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' they could only learn Ground moves like Dig, Magnitude, and Earthquake from [=TM=]'s.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nidoran, Nidorina/o, and Nidoqueen/king]]
!029: Nidoran♀ (ニドラン♀ ''nidoran mesu'')\\
030: Nidorina (ニドリーナ ''nidoriina'')\\
031: Nidoqueen (ニドクイン ''nidokuin'')\\
032: Nidoran♂ (ニドラン♂ ''nidoran osu'')\\
033: Nidorino (ニドリーノ ''nidoriino'')\\
034: Nidoking (ニドキング ''nidokingu'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidoranf029.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidoran♀]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidorina030.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidorina]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidoqueen031.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidoqueen]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidoranm032.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidoran♂]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidorino033.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidorino]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nidoking034.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Nidoking]]

One of the most notable things about these guys is that the males and females are different species. This is because the first generation of games (''Red''/''Green''/''Blue''/''Yellow'') didn't assign sexes for Pokémon yet. They vaguely resemble rabbits at first, but they grow to be reptilian upon evolution. Both Nidoqueen and Nidoking are very dependable Pokémon. Nidoqueen is more defensive while Nidoking is more offensive, but both are extremely well-rounded.
----
* TheArtifact:
** Their uniqueness in being differentiated by gender has steadily become less and less significant, and they now seem out of place for it. Functionally, the two families could be combined into one at the base Nidoran level and made a single species with a moveset and evolutions that changes depending on its gender, because plenty of other Pokémon do just that now, like Espurr/Meowstic and Burmy/Wormadam/Mothim. But it would create a lot of headaches for the Pokédex organization and trading between generations, so that's not likely to happen.
** As mentioned below, Nidorina and Nidoqueen remain unable to breed almost fifteen years after ''Gold and Silver'', despite female Nidoran being able to. There has been no explanation why, other than simply being an AscendedGlitch Game Freak kept.
* AscendedGlitch: Nidorina and Nidoqueen are strangely incapable of breeding, a situation that many believe to have been a glitch in Generation II that Game Freak simply decided to keep once the next generation came. No official explanation has ever been given as to why.
* BalanceBuff: Gen V gave Nidoking and Nidoqueen the Sheer Force ability, which boosts the power of moves with secondary effects by 30% at the cost of canceling those secondary effects. The two happen to learn lots of moves with secondary effects, giving them a considerable offensive buff. Gen VI provided both with a ten-point increase to Attack, further increasing their physical power.
* BunniesForCuteness: Nidoran of both gender resemble cute, if deadly poisonous and slightly mean-tempered, little rabbits.
* CartoonCreature: They're poisonous porcupine-rat creatures that evolve into earth-elemental dinosaurs with aspects of rhinoceroses and gorillas. They also happen to resemble [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Baragon]]. If you choose to get technical, however, we can at least be confident that they are mammalian in origin, due to having external ears and (possibly) mammary glands.
* ConfusionFu: Poison, Ground, Fire, Fighting, Water, Bug, Ice, Electric, Rock, and Dragon moves are all included in their movepool. There is ''nothing'' they cannot hit for at least neutral damage, and they have the bulk to put some force behind it, be it a Physical or Special attack.
* CrutchCharacter: In game, the Nidoran family's purpose is to add balance to your team [[JackOfAllStats by fitting multiple roles]]. They have a very wide movepool, but no outstanding stats. The developers even intentionally revised their movesets in [[UpdatedRerelease Pokémon Yellow]] specifically because of this.
* DiscOneNuke:
** In the games that put you in Kanto or Johto, you can find a Nidoran and get it evolved into Nidoqueen or Nidoking before you challenge the third gym, and in both regions the Leader will be at a major disadvantage (it's immune to Surge's Electric-types and resists Miltank's Rollout. Nidoqueen in particular isn't affected by Miltank's Attract). It will continue to pull its weight for some time, but later on, its mediocre stats and noteworthy weaknesses to Water and Psychic will really start to hurt.
** It is also a major one in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''. If you have access to the Dream World, you could get a Nidoran of either gender with its Hidden Ability (Hustle). However, since the Pokémon of Generation V tend to evolve far later than earlier Pokémon, this means that earlier Pokémon level up way earlier, with both Nidorans evolving at level 16 and then having the option to evolve them further with a Moon Stone. This means you can get a third stage Pokémon with a wide movepool and an extremely effective ability (Sheer Force) ''before your starters have evolved''. Astonishing.
** With a bit of luck, it's possible to obtain a Nidoran (of either sex) with its Hidden Ability shortly after the second gym in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' and obtain a Moon Stone to evolve it in the cave immediately afterwards.
* DishingOutDirt: Nidoking and Nidoqueen gain the Ground-type upon evolution.
* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. Guys Smash, Girls Defend, and they ''both'' shoot (especially the [[UnskilledButStrong Sheer Force variants]]). They're also decent at the role taken by their counterpart.
* JackOfAllStats: The primary strength of Nidoking and Nidoqueen is that they have overall balanced stats (Nidoking leaning towards offense and Nidoqueen to defense) and an amazing movepool to prepare for any enemy. The failing of both is their average Speed, but at base 85, Nidoking is still quite speedier than your average MightyGlacier.
* LoopholeAbuse: Sheer Force removes the secondary effects of their moves, and the HP cost from a Life Orb is considered a secondary effect, so if they use a move that's affected by Sheer Force, they'll get the power boost from the Life Orb without losing any HP. They will lose HP if they use an attack that isn't affected by Sheer Force, though.
* {{Lunacy}}: First in the National Dex to require the Moon Stone for evolution.
* MagicKnight: The introduction of Sheer Force boosts their offensive prowess on both sides from "halfway decent" to "actually pretty good", especially with their [[ConfusionFu surprisingly diverse movepool]].
* MamaBear: Nidoqueen is said to be at her most powerful when she's protecting her young.
* MasterOfNone: Prior to Generation V, when they didn't have Sheer Force to give them that extra "oomph."
* MixAndMatchCritters: Both Nidorans resemble little rabbits. Nidorino and Nidorina gain more lizard features. Nidoking and Nidoqueen are full-blown Rabbit/Dinosaur lizard creatures.
* MoonRabbit: It can be hard to tell since they're more rabbit-porcupines than straight rabbits, but Nidoran are lagomorphs that achieve their final stage by exposure to the Moon Stone.
* OrganicBra: Nidoqueen has two noticeable chest plates.
* PaletteSwap: Literally, in fact. The two genders' shiny forms switch colors with each other.
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Inverted normally, played straight in their shiny versions, although Nidoqueen is mostly green.
* PoisonousPerson: Poison-type.
* PurpleIsPowerful: The male side is primarily purple, and is offense-based. In particular, they get Sheer Force, which greatly increases the power of moves with additional effects while removing said additional effects.
* RatedMForManly: Nidoking is a heavily-built dinosaur covered with spikes that can use a plethora of {{Breath Weapon}}s. Its concept is being the first definitively male Pokémon, before genders were introduced broadly.
* RhinoRampage: According to the Pokédex, once Nidoking starts his rampage, nothing can stop him.
* ShoutOut: Both Nidoking and Nidoqueen look like Baragon, a giant monster from the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' films that is quite popular in Japan.
* UnskilledButStrong: With the ability Sheer Force, which increases the power of moves with additional effects at the cost of removing the effects.
* YourSizeMayVary: One of the more [[JustForFun/{{Egregious}} egregious]] examples in the anime, where Nidoking and Nidoqueen are often portrayed as being huge, eight-foot-tall behemoths. While their strength is [[PintSizedPowerhouse not understated,]] Nidoking's Pokédex entry lists its height as only 4'07" and Nidoqueen's as 4'03".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable ''[-(Py, Pippi, and Pixy)-]'']]
!173: Cleffa / Py (ピィ ''pii'')\\
035: Clefairy / Pippi (ピッピ ''pippi'')\\
036: Clefable / Pixy (ピクシー ''pikushii'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cleffa173.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Cleffa]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clefairy035.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Clefairy]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clefable036.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Clefable]]
->[-''Cleffa debuts in ''Gold and Silver''''-]

Pink cute Pokémon. Their stats don't seem remarkable, but they learn a fantastic number of moves, plus later games introduced an ability that prevents damage from anything other than direct attacks. Their Metronome technique makes them very unpredictable in battle. This family is thought to come from space, as they're found on mountains and other places with a history of meteor strikes behind them (like Mt. Moon, Mt. Coronet, Giant Chasm, Meteor Falls...).
----
* AchievementsInIgnorance: Their Hidden Ability, Unaware, lets them ignore any stat boosts the opponent has (except Speed) by '''not knowing they're boosted'''.
* BalanceBuff: In three successive generations, no less! The line gained Magic Guard, an incredible ability, in Gen IV, which amped their defensive capabilities greatly over the situational Cute Charm. In Gen V, Cleffa and Clefairy gained Friend Guard as an alternative ability alongside the introduction of Eviolite, allowing them to function as excellent [[SupportPartyMember Double and Triple]] battle partners, while Clefable gained Unaware as another defensive option. Lastly, in Gen VI, the {{Retcon}} of their typing to pure Fairy gave them valuable resistances and an outright immunity to Dragon, making them even better defensively.
* BlushSticker: Cleffa and Clefairy. Clefable loses them, though.
* ConfusionFu: Like the Nidos, they have a ''massive'' movepool, and all-around decent stats that allow them to run both defense or offense with ease. Their main move, Metronome, also counts.
* CutenessProximity: One of their abilities, Cute Charm, will "infatuate" enemies of the opposite gender on contact, acting as a sort of paralysis. This includes ''any'' Pokémon of the opposite gender, though asexual Pokémon (including most Legendaries) are completely unaffected.
* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Its typing retcon can lead to this when trying to fight it. Going from Normal to Fairy-type removed its immunity to Ghost, changed its Fighting weakness to a resistance, and gave it new resistances and weaknesses that it previously was neutral to.
* EpilepticTrees: In-universe; it's widely believed that they came from the moon.
* HealThyself: It can learn Moonlight as a level-up move, Wish as an egg move, and even Softboiled as a ''Fire Red and Leaf Green'' move tutor move.
* InnocentAliens: They are shown to be rather peaceful, although according to the anime, they're kleptomaniacs.
* KillerRabbit: Not a lot of people will take Clefable seriously at first glance, but it has one of the single largest and most varied movepools in the entire history of Pokémon, and their Magic Guard ability lets them use AwesomeButImpractical moves like Double Edge with absolute impunity, as well as making themselves immune to the damaging effects of everything barring direct attacks.
* {{Lunacy}}: Learns Moonlight and Moonblast, evolves with a Moon Stone, and is even said to come from the Moon!
* MascotMook: Subverted. Clefairy was originally intended to be the mascot of the series, but due to Pikachu becoming a BreakoutCharacter, it took the limelight instead. Clefairy does still show up quite a bit, especially as a mascot of Kanto and Sinnoh, but is less prominent than others. This gets a [[DevelopmentGag nod]] in ''Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee'' by having Green use a Clefable in the same slot that Red uses his iconic Pikachu.
* MegatonPunch: For some reason, the line gets Meteor Mash, which is otherwise exclusive to Metang and Metagross ([[LostInTranslation it makes more sense in Japanese, where Meteor Mash directly translates as "Comet Punch"]]).
* MightyGlacier: The line has powerful defensive abilities in Magic Guard and Unaware that makes them more difficult to take down than their average stats suggest. On top of the useful supporting moves they can learn, they can also learn several powerful offensive moves that let them deal decent damage (especially after the BalanceBuff in Gen VI that increased Clefable's Special Attack, making it its highest base stat alongside HP), especially as Magic Guard prevents them from taking indirect damage. They learn no moves that let them work around their low Speed outside of Thunder Wave, however.
* NonElemental: Normal-type prior to Gen VI.
* NoSell: Magic Guard is an Ability that makes the Pokémon immune to anything that isn't a direct attack. This includes poisons, burns, sandstorms, hail, and even self-damaging attacks that they themselves use! Unaware is also a NoSell in a different way; it completely ignores all stat boosts that the opponent has.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: These have magic that let them use any move (albeit with no control over exactly which move gets used), and they're possibly from space. On top of that, the entire line [[RetCon has been revised in Generation VI]] to be a pure Fairy-type, not Normal/Fairy or even Fairy/Normal.
* PinkIsFeminine: They have a 75% chance of being female.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: All of them are very cuddly-looking, ''especially'' Cleffa.
* SecretArt:
** In Generation I, it was the only Pokémon to learn Metronome by level-up, aside from Mew.
** It had a unique ability in Gen IV, being the only line with Magic Guard.
* ShrinkingViolet: All of them are rarely seen, but Clefable is particularly reclusive.
* ThirdPersonPerson: Clefairy talks like this in ''PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam''.
* WingsDoNothing: Zigzagged. They have wings, but can't use them to fly and can't even learn Wing-associated attacks. However, according to the Pokédex, their wings can be used for storing moonlight.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vulpix and Ninetales ''[-(Rokon and Kyukon)-]'']]
!037: Vulpix / Rokon (ロコン ''rokon'')\\
038: Ninetales / Kyukon (キュウコン ''kyuukon'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vulpix037.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Vulpix]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ninetales038.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Ninetales]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanvulpix037a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Vulpix]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanninetales038a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Ninetales]]
->[-''Alolan forms debut in ''Sun and Moon''''-]

If you didn't pick Charmander, you're in luck, because there's Vulpix... if you're playing the ''Blue'' or ''Green'' version, that is, as they're only found on those versions (''Red'' players get Growlithe instead). Vulpix resembles an adorable six-tailed red fox, while Ninetales is a large golden fox with... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin nine tails]]. Although they are pure Fire-types, they learn several Ghost and Psychic-type moves as well, owing to their mystical nature as {{Kitsune}}.

Vulpix and Ninetales were originally brought to the [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Alola region]] by people, but since then they've moved to the snowy mountains where there was less competition. These Vulpix discarded their original Fire-type and became Ice-types in the process. Upon evolving to Alolan Ninetales, it will be an Ice/Fairy-type.
----
* AchillesHeel: Alolan Ninetales takes quadruple damage from Steel-type attacks.
* BalanceBuff:
** Gen IV gave it Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, both allowing it to become a LightningBruiser combined with its good base defenses and speed. Gen V gave them the Drought ability, allowing them to hit harder with Fire-type attacks while improving their chances against Water-types on their own.
** After Gen VI and VII introduced new Drought users in Mega-Charizard-Y as an attacker and Torkoal with more utility, Ninetales lost its coveted position as a Drought user in Gen V. Cue Alolan-Ninetales, the only Ice/Fairy Pokémon, which also had a slight stat tweak, gaining a hair more Speed at the cost of less Attack in comparison to other Ninetales. Alolan-Ninetales kept the ability to bring weather as its hidden ability, trading sun for hail with Snow Warning, and becoming the fastest Pokémon with access to the ability as well as the only one who also learns Aurora Veil. Because a Snow Warning Alolan-Ninetales will always set up hail, it can fire [[AlwaysAccurateAttack perfect accuracy]] Blizzards and set up Aurora Veil immediately.
* BarrierWarrior: The Alolan Vulpix line are among the very few Pokémon to learn the move Aurora Veil, which creates a barrier that halves damage from both physical and special moves while active (effectively Reflect and Light Screen combined), but can only be used during hail. The catch here is that they are the only ones to also get Snow Warning, which automatically summons hail when they enter battle and thus lets them use the move immediately.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Alolan Ninetales are considerably kind and much nicer than their fire-type cousins, but don't be too careless. They still possess dangerous powers and will unleash their vengeful streak if you decide to be a jerk.
* BreakoutCharacter: Vulpix was very popular early on, and was featured in merchandise in Gen I; however, it slowly faded over time as other Pokémon came to the forefront. The Ice-typed Alolan Vulpix, on the other hand, has received a lot of promotion in ''Sun and Moon''-related media as the premiere representation of [[UndergroundMonkey Alolan forms]]. One even appears in the anime as Lillie's first Pokémon
* CunningLikeAFox: Vulpix are clever and skilled in deception, and Ninetales have psychic powers.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Touch one of Ninetales', well, tails, and prepare to be cursed for ''one thousand years''. Alolan Ninetales are a bit more benevolent, but it still doesn't like it when you damage its territory.
* DistaffCounterpart: To the Growlithe line. Though they can be either gender, the Vulpix line has a 75% chance of being female, while the Growlithe line has a 75% chance of being male.
* TheDragonslayer: Alolan Ninetales specifically. It is the first — and currently only — Ice/Fairy type in the history of the Pokémon franchise, which gives it a ''huge'' type advantage over Dragons. Both Ice and Fairy are super effective to the Dragon-type, and Fairy is outright immune to the Dragon-type, allowing Alolan Ninetales to decimate most Dragon-Types it faces[[note]]either blasting Dragonite, Salamence, and Garchomp with Ice-Type moves or pummeling Hydreigon and Kommo-o with Fairy-Type moves[[/note]]. [[ColdIron Steel-Types]] like [[OlympusMons Dialga]], on the other hand....
* TheFairFolk: Ninetales are based on the mystical kitsune and has the less-than savory tendency to curse humans who touch them (which comes up as a plot-point in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonRescueTeam''), and even mind-control them. Their Fairy typing in Alola definitely fits them.
* FantasticFoxes: The line is based in part on mythological kitsune, Japanese trickster fox spirits. This is reflected in the Ghost-type moves Vulpix and Ninetales can learn, as well as their Fairy typing in their Alola formes.
* FireIceDuo: With the addition of the Ice-Typed Alolan forms, this duality was created for this family.
* FragileSpeedster: Even when their summoned weather is up, these foxes don't hit very hard, and their defenses are just average. Alolan Ninetales, however, can use its Aurora Veil to provide a temporary fix to its defenses, and it's quite fast enough to set it up before its opponent can make its move. It can also learn Nasty Plot to make its special attacks hit harder.
* FusionDance:
** According to an in-universe legend mentioned in a Pokédex entry, nine saints were united and reincarnated as Ninetales.
** Another Pokédex entry says that nine wizards possessing sacred powers merged into one. Whether this is a {{retcon}}, a mistranslation, or a separate legend is not clear.
* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: Befitting their general mysticism and mysteriousness, wild Vulpix are usually found close to ruins, shrines, or graveyards.
* GlassCannon: In Gen 1, Ninetales was fast and hit pretty hard due to its high special. It was nerfed in Gen 2 with its high special being relegated into Special Defense, turning it into a FragileSpeedster.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: When Ninetales controls people's minds, its eyes glow.
* HypnoticEyes: Ninetales can control minds with its red eyes.
* AnIcePerson: Unlike most of the world's Vulpix and Ninetales, the ones that inhabit Alola are Ice-types.
* IcyBlueEyes: While regular Ninetales have red eyes, Alolan Ninetales have piercing blue ones instead.
* InformedAbility: According to the Pokédex, Ninetales will curse anyone who touches its tails. It doesn't like those tails being touched in Pokémon-Amie, true, though the worst it'll do to you is make an annoyed face.
* InformedAttribute: According to the Pokédex, Vulpix is born with only one white tail that gains color and splits into six as it ages. Yet when you hatch a Vulpix from an egg in the games, it already has all six tails. The anime also portrayed Vulpix hatching with all six tails as well. One manga, however, has portrayed the lead's Vulpix with one tail at the start and has it grow the other five partway through.
* IntellectualAnimal: The Pokédex states that Ninetales is highly intelligent and capable of understanding human speech.
* {{Kitsune}}: Both are based off this. Vulpix has six tails while Ninetales, as the name suggests, nine tails, the highest number that Kitsune can possess.
* LightIsGood: Unlike regular Ninetales, which fall under LightIsNotGood, Alolan-Ninetales have been considered deities and are far more benevolent.
* LightIsNotGood: Both are cute Fire-types and Ninetales has light-colored fur, but Vulpix is deceptive if nothing else and Ninetales is an extremely vindictive {{Mon}} with the ability to control minds and inflict long-lasting curses.
* LongLived: Ninetales supposedly lives for 1,000 years.
* {{Lunacy}}: The Alolan forms can learn Moonblast through breeding. Alolan Ninetales also receives STAB on the move due to being part-Fairy.
* MamaBear: Alolan Ninetales will appear and freeze strangers who carelessly approach its Vulpix.
* MindManipulation: Learn Confuse Ray to confuse opponents.
* MultipleTailedBeast: Both Vulpix and the more appropriately named Ninetales.
* {{Nerf}}: Was a LightningBruiser on the Special Side in Generation I, but Gen II's Special split gave them lower Special Attack. Ninetales also suffered when weather setting abilities as a whole were changed in Gen VI to not last forever.
* NobodyTouchesTheHair: Alolan Ninetales doesn't enjoy having the hair on its head touched in Pokémon Refresh. On the other hand, it's perfectly fine with you touching its tails.
* OneHitKill: Alolan Vulpix can learn Sheer Cold, which has a chance of knocking out everything but Ice-type Pokémon in one hit.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: While the English website says that Alolan Ninetales are referred to as "sacred emissaries", the Japanese website outright says they were referred to as the "messengers of God" (神の使い, ''kami no tsukai''). This is likely an allusion to Japanese mythology, where foxes are the messengers of the god Inari.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Alola region Ninetales are part Fairy.
* PlayingWithFire: Usually, Vulpix and Ninetales are Fire-types.
* PsychicPowers: Learns Extrasensory by leveling up, and Ninetales can learn Psyshock, Calm Mind, and Dream Eater via TM.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: You better take warning, lest you suffer a curse for a thousand years.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Vulpix is praised for its beauty, and was the star Pokémon of a popular groomer in the anime. An Alolan Vulpix also joined the anime's cast where it became Lille's first Pokémon.
* ScissorsCutsRock: Alolan Vulpix can be bred to know Freeze-Dry, allowing it to deal super-effective damage to Water-Types.
* SignatureMove: Aurora Veil is only learned by exactly a dozen species [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Mew]] to begin with, and out of those dozen, Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales are the most likely to be using it.
* SoulPower: They learn quite a lot of Ghost-type moves, attributed to their supernatural nature.
* StatusBuff: Ninetales can jack up its normally average Sp. Attack with Nasty Plot via Move Relearner, and can learn Calm Mind to boost both Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense through TM. Alolan-Ninetales is also a notable user of Aurora Veil, which is a combination of Reflect and Light Screen, and reduces the damage dealt by half (a third in Double battles).
* StoneWall: Ninetales can fend off Special attacks, but its offences are rather lacking. However, if you're confident enough with its defenses, it can turn itself into a LightningBruiser via one of the two aforementioned {{Status Buff}}s.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's "Ninetales", '''''not''''' "Ninetails".
* SupportPartyMember: Alolan-Ninetales, with a nice array of support moves like Encore, Icy Wind, Hypnosis, and Aurora Veil, can serve as an effective Doubles partner to a more offensive Pokémon. It can opt to fire off some perfect accuracy Blizzards too, which gives Alolan-Ninetales a bit more punch than the typical support Pokémon.
* TookALevelInKindness: Alolan Ninetales to their cousins in other regions. They're described as being very gentle and are even known to help humans in distress at times, but maintain their vengeful streak for people who desecrate their homes. The Pokedex in ''Ultra Sun'' reveals this kindness might be more pragmatic than anything else, however.
--> The reason it guides people all the way down to the mountain's base is that it wants them to hurry up and leave.
* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Vulpix look like a {{Palette Swap}}ped version of regular Vulpix with an Ice typing and less defined curls. Alolan Ninetales have long tresses of pale blue fur.
* WasOnceAMan: Or rather, nine men, according to the Pokédex.
* WeatherManipulation: Their Hidden Ability, Drought, causes intense sunlight for 5 turns (permanent in the Generation 5 games). Their Alolan forms get Snow Warning to fit their new typing, summoning 5 turns of hail.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Igglybuff, Jigglypuff, and Wigglytuff ''[-(Pupurin, Purin, and Pukurin)-]'']]
!174: Igglybuff / Pupurin (ププリン ''pupurin'')\\
039: Jigglypuff / Purin (プリン ''purin'')\\
040: Wigglytuff / Pukurin (プクリン ''pukurin'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/igglybuff174.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Igglybuff]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jigglypuff039.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Jigglypuff]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wigglytuff040.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Wigglytuff]]
->[-''Igglybuff debuts in ''Gold and Silver''''-]

Another family of pink Pokémon. These Pokémon have balloon-like bodies, huge eyes, and a tuft of hair on their heads. Originally all pure Normal-Type, they [[RetCon have gained the Fairy-type in Generation VI]]. They have a high HP stat, and can learn a large number of moves, but their other stats are very average. Their talents include sleep-inducing singing.

Jigglypuff is one of the recurring playable characters in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s MassiveMultiplayerCrossover FightingGame series. For tropes about its ''Smash'' incarnation, see the ''Super Smash Bros. 64'' [[Characters/SuperSmashBros64 character page]].
----
* BadassAdorable: Even before gaining the Fairy-type, the line hits rather hard. Afterwards, it became downright lethal.
* BalanceBuff: Jigglypuff and Igglybuff are one of the few Pokémon to get access to Friend Guard, which is an incredible defensive ability in Double battles because it reduces all damage an ally takes by 25%. They're still outshone by Clefairy and Cleffa, but hey, it's something!
** The whole line gained the Competitive ability in Gen VI, which boosts Special Attack whenever a stat is lowered; the generation also saw their Special Attack buffed to 85. Combined with the natural ConfusionFu of Normal-types and Hyper Voice, and they can be surprisingly powerful.
* BerserkButton: Be careful when trying to lower their stats. If they have the Competitive Ability, that will raise their Special Attack by two stages.
* BizarreAlienBiology: The general inflatability of Jigglypuff. Igglybuff gets special mention because it generates a sweat with a calming scent.
* BreakoutCharacter: Jigglypuff is popular enough in Japan to make multiple appearances in the anime, merchandise, and all games in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' franchise.
* CuddleBug: Wigglytuff fur is so soft and pleasant that if two of them cuddle, they won't want to separate.
* DamageSpongeBoss: They have incredibly high HP, but poor defenses and only average attacking stats.
* TheDeterminator: Once a Jigglypuff starts singing, it won't stop to breathe until its target is safely asleep. When it runs into an opponent that is difficult to knock out, this can lead to problems.
* FingerlessHands: All three of them have stubby arms without visible fingers.
* HealThyself: The line has access to Wish, which combined with their huge HP stats, can be a nearly complete heal for a teammate.
* HyperDestructiveBouncingBall: Igglybuff is claimed to be this in its Pokédex entry. [[InformedAbility Supposedly]], if something causes it to start bouncing ''nothing'' can stop it.
* KillerRabbit: According to its Pokédex entry, Jigglypuff's cuteness is really a form of self-defense, luring enemies in only to put them to sleep and give them a beating. This is also a more literal example in the case of Wigglytuff.
* LivingGasbag: While these are filled with air and are even called the Balloon Pokémon, they don't really fly. In ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'', their balloon-like nature is alluded to by giving Jigglypuff a rather "floaty" jump and slow descent.
* {{Lunacy}}: Jigglypuff evolves into Wigglytuff with a Moon Stone.
* MagicMusic: Jigglypuff's signature lullaby, which sends enemies to sleep. Just about every one of its traits or abilities is about singing — it inflates for the breath to perform longer and its eyes capture the enemy's attention to provide an opening.
* MakeMeWannaShout: Learns Hyper Voice and Disarming Voice naturally.
* MightyGlacier: It has a massive HP stat and average offenses, with the rest of its stats being low.
* MoonRabbit: Wigglytuff gains rabbit ears upon evolving with the Moon Stone from Jigglypuff.
* NonElemental: Pure Normal-type until Gen VI, where they were reclassified as part Fairy-type.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: [[RetCon As of Generation VI]], the line is now also part Fairy-type. Before then, it was even in the Fairy egg group.
* PinkIsFeminine: Like the Clefairy line, they have a 75% chance of being female.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: All of them. They seem to be designed for cute.
* SignatureMove: Sing is strongly associated with Jigglypuff.
* StatusBuff: Gen VI gave them the Competitive Ability, which boosts their Special Attack twice when any of their stats take a hit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat]]
!041: Zubat (ズバット ''zubatto'')\\
042: Golbat (ゴルバット ''gorubatto'')\\
169: Crobat (クロバット ''kurobatto'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zubat041.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Zubat]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/golbat042.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Golbat]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crobat169.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Crobat]]
->[-''Crobat debuts in ''Gold and Silver''''-]

[[ComMons These bats are found in almost every cave for almost four generations of games.]] What makes them so annoying is their speed (where your chances of running away is determined by speed stats) and their ability to confuse or poison you if you choose to fight back instead of trying to run. Because they are so common and annoying, trainers often don't want to do anything with them. But if they're patient enough to catch and befriend one, they'll have a strong ally on their side. It has one of the highest Speed stats in the game.
----
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: Learns Swift, a Normal-type attack that never misses, by leveling up.
* ArmorPiercingAttack: With their hidden ability Infiltrator, they can ignore moves like Reflect, and bypass Substitutes.
* BatOutOfHell: Golbat and Crobat are person-sized vampire bats, Zubat is quite larger than most real bats, they are able to poison you, and generally annoying. The line is also a staple in villainous teams.
* BigEater: ''Every one'' of Golbat's Pokedex entries mentions a voracious thirst for blood. By the end of a meal, Golbat can barely get itself off the ground.
* BlowYouAway: Flying-types with moves like Whirlwind, Air Cutter, and Air Slash.
* BossBattle: Crobat is Koga's signature Pokémon during his time on the Elite Four.
* ComMons: ''Every'' cave in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Alola is filled with Zubat and/or Golbat. Despite that, Crobat is actually a pretty good Pokémon, with stats on par with the evolved starters.
* {{Combos}}: It gets Defog and Hypnosis by breeding (Defog is also an HM in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Diamond, Pearl and Platinum]]''). Defog's evasion-lowering effect makes Hypnosis more accurate. In Generation 6, Defog has the bonus effect of clearing all entry hazards on both sides of the field.
* CripplingOverspecialization: In-universe, Crobat's four wings (two of which used to be its legs) make it very good at flying, but also very bad at walking and stopping to rest. Lampshaded in the ''Sun'' Pokédex, which states that it can only crawl around clumsily on the ground.
* DeathOrGloryAttack[=/=]CastFromHitPoints: Zubat can be bred to learn Brave Bird, despite the fact that it's not a bird.
* DiscOneNuke: Crobat is roughly as strong as the evolved starters, and due to how happiness works, can be obtained one level after evolving into the already respectable Golbat with just a little tender loving care. In ''Platinum'', wild Golbat are capturable (but rare) just after the first Gym, and theoretically one could get a Crobat at level 11. ''Platinum'' also has the TM for Return given to the player at the beginning of the game for even more power.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: One of the more notable examples of Kanto Pokémon not being allowed to evolve in remakes; Crobat cannot be obtained in ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' until after the National Pokédex is earned (which comes after the Elite Four and a lengthy post-game sidequest) and is not available at all in ''Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!'' and ''Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee!''. While other Pokémon do have this restriction (Chansey, Scyther, Seadra, Electabuzz, Magmar, etc.), the Zubat line being ComMons makes them the most prominent examples of this restriction.
* EyelessFace: Zubat, but this makes some sense, as it is a blind bat that depends on echolocation.
* FaceOfAThug: Crobat always has a scowl on its face, but it only evolves into one when it's close to its Trainer. It may be ecstatic, erupting hearts and sparkles in Amie/Refresh, but its expression won't change.
* {{Flight}}: Naturally as Flying-types. Oddly, Zubat and Golbat could not learn the HM for Fly until ''Diamond and Pearl''.
* FragileSpeedster: Crobat is one of the fastest Pokémon in the series.
* GiantFlyer: Crobat is six feet tall (or has a wingspan of six feet, it's not clear which). Even with the dubious height calculations of the Pokédex, that's ''big''.
* GradualGrinder: This is expected for a Poison-type, and Crobat is capable of learning a lot of disrupting moves like Taunt, Supersonic, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Super Fang, Defog, Haze, Mean Look, and Torment. Its offensive stats are alright, but its lacking offensive movepool makes this a good option.
* {{Irony}}: Crobat evolves via happiness, yet it's a PerpetualFrowner.
* JackOfAllStats: Pretty well-balanced stats, though their Speed stat is pretty high. Before ''Sun and Moon'' introduced [[spoiler:Nihilego]], Crobat was one of two Pokémon with the highest base stat totals of its type (Poison in Crobat's case) that isn't a Legendary or Mega Evolved (Tyranitar is the other, for Rock).
* LifeDrain: Learns Absorb and Leech Life through levelling up.
* MagicKnight: Crobat has equally usable Physical and Special stats. They're both average.
* MagikarpPower: Annoying as it is, Zubat is much, ''much'' weaker than its evolved forms.
* MakeMeWannaShout: All of them learn Supersonic, and Golbat and Crobat can be taken to the Move Relearner to learn Screech, which are both sound-based moves.
* ObviousRulePatch: Zubat's default attack was changed from Leech Life to Absorb in Generation VII after Leech Life got a major power increase.
* OverlyLongTongue: Golbat in its ''[[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4iM90TcgCM/TbFT85pv-DI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3gInV29tsYI/s1600/Spr_1b_042.png Red and Blue]]'' sprite.
* PetTheDog: Several villains have Crobat on their teams to show that they have a softer side.
* PerpetualFrowner: Crobat. Even in Pokémon-Amie, when it's ecstatic or playing the Making Faces game.
* PoisonousPerson: Poison-types that are possibly based off the vampire bat (the only venomous bat).
* ThePowerOfFriendship: It's the only way to evolve Golbat into Crobat. [[PetTheDog Many villain teams are given them to show they have a softer side.]]
* RazorWind: Learns Air Cutter and Air Slash by leveling up.
* SmallAnnoyingCreature: Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but Zubat is small (2'07"), and boy is it ever annoying!
* StatusBuff: They can be bred to have Nasty Plot and Curse.
* StatusBuffDispel: They naturally learn Haze.
* TheStoic: Crobat, at least in Pokémon-Amie. Its facial expressions ''don't change at all''. Its mouth doesn't even move when it eats.
* UselessUsefulSpell:
** Can be bred to know ''Curse'', which is a Speed-lowering move on one of the fastest Pokémon in the game.
** Their original ability, Inner Focus, prevents flinching. Crobat is usually fast enough to not have to worry about flinching in the first place, outside of [[ActionInitiative Fake Out]].
* VertebrateWithExtraLimbs: Subverted with Crobat; it appears to be this, due to the extra wings and what at first glance appear to be stubby feet on its backside. However, Pokédex entries confirm that Crobat's "extra" wings are actually modified legs.
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Prior to Gen IV, Zubat and Golbat couldn't learn Fly.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, and Bellossom ''[-(Nazonokusa, Kusaihana, Ruffresia, and Kireihana)-]'']]
!043: Oddish / Nazonokusa (ナゾノクサ ''nazonokusa'')\\
044: Gloom / Kusaihana (クサイハナ ''kusaihana'')\\
045: Vileplume / Ruffresia (ラフレシア ''rafureshia'')\\
182: Bellossom / Kireihana (キレイハナ ''kireihana'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/oddish043.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Oddish]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gloom044.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Gloom]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vileplume045.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Vileplume]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bellossom182.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Bellossom]]
->[-''Bellossom debuts in ''Gold and Silver''''-]

One of the archetypal Grass-type families, Oddish and its evolved forms are a good choice if you didn't start with Bulbasaur. Oddish resembles a radish that's blue in color and it walks on two feet. As it matures into a Gloom, it gains arms and becomes very smelly, much like a rafflesia. Finally can evolve into either a Vileplume, or a Bellossom... if you have one of the appropriate stones, that is. Bellossom is somewhat unique in that it shrinks in size and loses its Poison typing upon evolution, as well as losing its legs, which are replaced by a leaf-dress of sorts. In their debut generation, they were exclusive to the ''Red'' version.
----
* ArmlessBiped: Oddish, but it grows a pair of arms after evolving into Gloom.
* AttackAttackAttack: Petal Dance forces them to attack for 2-3 turns before becoming confused.
* BalanceBuff: Bellossom receives one in Generation VII by introducing [[StatusBuff Quiver Dance]] into its movepool and letting it learn Petal Dance without relying on its pre-evolution stage. Vileplume had its special attack increased to an impressive 110, ten points higher than before. Both gained Strength Sap as an egg tutor move.
* BeautifulAllAlong: Gloom, the middle evolution, is pretty much the least aesthetically pleasing. Evolving it into Bellossom is nothing short of an ugly duckling story. Even Vileplume seems like more of a reversion to Oddish's cuteness.
* BlushSticker: Bellossom.
* BossBattle: Vileplume is Erika's strongest Mon, i.e. is the fourth gym boss of Kanto.
* ComMons: In Hoenn, where they are much more common than in Kanto or Johto.
* DanceBattler: Bellossom, especially if it has Petal Dance.
* DiscardAndDraw: Except without the "draw" part. The evolution of Gloom to Bellossom is the only time a Pokémon loses one of their types without it getting replaced.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: One of Bellossom's idle animations in Gen VI is a happy twirl.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Gloom's Japanese name is ''Kusaihana'', which literally translates to "smelly flower". Bellossom's Japanese name is ''Kireihana'', which literally translates to "beautiful flower".
* GardenGarment: Bellossom's lower half resembles a skirt made of leaves.
* GlacierWaif: Bellossom looks too frail and tiny to come off as tough compared to Vileplume, but it has an impressive Sp. Def stat of 100.
* GreenThumb: They're all part Grass-type, with Bellossom being pure Grass.
* HulaAndLuaus: Bellossom looks like a hula dancer with its grass skirt and flowers on its head. Strangely enough, the Oddish family, including Bellossom, are apparently not native to [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Alola]], a region that is directly based on Hawaii.
* {{Lunacy}}: Being NocturnalMooks (see below), Oddish and Gloom are able to learn Moonlight and, in the case of the former, Moonblast. According to some Dex entries, Oddish even needs moonlight to grow.
* MeaningfulName: A Rafflesia (Vileplume's name in the Japanese version) is the largest flower in the world and produces a highly foul odor, and the flower on its head highly resembles one. This may also go to explain why Gloom smells so bad.[[labelnote:In-Depth Explanation]]To be more specific, the rare rain forest flower Vileplume is based on uses that smell to attract insects, and said smell resembles what would come from rotting meat. That's why one of its nicknames is "Stinking Corpse Lily". Taking that into consideration really makes you understand how bad Gloom probably smells.[[/labelnote]]
* MightyGlacier: Both Vileplume and Bellossom have decent physical stats and good special stats, but their speed stat is rather lacking.
* MissingSecret: In ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', the line has the move Charm listed as a possible Egg Move, but it's impossible to learn legitimately since no eligible breeding partners have it. This was fixed in the Generation III games, where it can learn it from the Shroomish family.
* NocturnalMooks: Oddish and Gloom can only be encountered at night in Johto. In-universe, Oddish hide in the ground during the day and only come out when the sun falls.
* PerpetualFrowner: Gloom, unsurprisingly.
* PerpetualSmiler: Oddish, Vileplume, and Bellossom.
* PetalPower: Learns Petal Dance.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: As noted above, Bellossom is the smallest form of the family, yet its stats are on par with the alternative evolution Vileplume.
* PlantPerson: Oddish is a mandrake crossed with a radish, Gloom is a weedy plant. Vileplume is a rafflesia and Bellossom is a flower Pokémon.
* PoisonousPerson: All of them but Bellossom are part Poison-type.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Oddish and Vileplume have eerie red eyes belying their creepy nature.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Oddish, who many of the early creators have said they have a soft spot for.
** Bellossom is also incredibly adorable.
* SecretArt: [[CherryBlossoms Petal Dance]], but only in Generation I.
* StoneWall: Bellossom leans on this due to the increase to its Defense stat, thus sandwiching it between both its special stats.
* WaddlingHead: Oddish, whose face is on its body and lacks arms too.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Paras and Parasect]]
!046: Paras (パラス ''parasu'')\\
047: Parasect (パラセクト ''parasekuto'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/paras046.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Paras]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/parasect047.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Parasect]]

Paras and Parasect are an ''[[http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species:_Paras_and_Parasect interesting]]'' family. It's a cicada-like insect that's in a symbiotic [read:parasitic] relationship with a mushroom that only grows on the bug. Thus, it is capable of using both Bug and Grass type moves. This comes with a cost, though: Upon evolution, the mushroom takes over the insect's brain and it seems that it's the mushroom that is in control of the creature. It's considered a great Pokémon to catch other Pokémon with, though, since it has access to Spore, one of the best sleep-inducing moves in the game, and False Swipe, which will never reduce a target's health below one. Just keep it away from heat.
----
* AchillesHeel: Paras and Parasect take quadruple damage from Flying- and Fire-type attacks. If they have the ability Dry Skin, they instead take ''quintuple'' damage from Fire-type attacks — something that cannot be said of any other Pokémon and type.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: A foot and three feet tall, respectively.
* BlankWhiteEyes: Parasect, as a result of [[MindControlEyes losing its mind to the mushroom]].
* BodyHorror: Upon evolving, the mushrooms on Paras's back completely take over Parasect and turn it into a warped zombie of its former self. Yeesh.
* CherryTapping: In Gen VI, it can be bred to know the move Fell Stinger. This move has a paltry 30 Power, but if you knock an opponent out with it, you get an [[StatusBuff attack boost]]. [[OccamsRazor Alternatively, you could just use Swords Dance.]]
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: In Gen I, despite its mediocre stats, it was ''the'' best option against Sabrina's team and Blue's Alakazam due to a lethal combination of Spore and the otherwise-weak Leech Life, the latter which gets not just double power against the Psychic-types, but also STAB coming from a Parasect. Plus, unlike Beedrill, Parasect isn’t weak to Psychic moves.
* ElementalAbsorption: With Dry Skin, Water-type moves will heal them.
* GreenThumb: Grass-type.
* HealingFactor: In the rain, if it has Dry Skin.
* KryptoniteIsEverywhere:
** Notable in that it has the second-worst defensive typing in the game, tied only with Bug/Ice; not only does it receive a double weakness to Fire (it can take '''5x''' damage from Fire with Dry Skin as its ability) and Flying, two common offensive types, but also single weaknesses to Ice, Poison, Rock, and ironically Bug, which are also common in some form.
** Thanks to Poison dealing super-effective damage on Bug-types in the first generation, Paras and Parasect are the only Pokémon to have ever had ''three'' double weaknesses.
* MightyGlacier: Somewhat. It has decent Attack, and okay defenses on both the physical and special ends, though it's undermined somewhat by its low HP, but very low Speed.
* MushroomMan: The first of several Grass-types based on fungi. Paras and Parasect are a subversion where they're actually insects with mushrooms growing on them.
* OurZombiesAreDifferent: Parasect is a mindless husk of a bug that has been completely taken over by its mushroom.
* PuppeteerParasite: The mushrooms on Paras's back are influencing its thoughts. Oddly, though, in the anime it's shown Paras can take its mushrooms off whenever it wants.
* SecretArt:
** Spore, exclusive to them and the other three mushroom-based families -- in fact, the move's Japanese name is ''Mushroom'' Spore.
** There's [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Effect_Spore_%28ability%29 Effect Spore]], which is a unique ability. Only the Paras line and the other three mushroom-based families get it naturally, though Vileplume has it as its Hidden Ability.
* StandardStatusEffects: Can learn Spore, a sleep-inducing move that has perfect accuracy. Its Effect Spore ability has a random chance of inflicting Sleep, Paralysis, or Poison if the opponent uses a contact move on it.
* StatusBuff: Through breeding in Gen VI, Parasect is one of two Grass-Types (the other is Cacturne) that can learn Rototiller, which can boost its Attack and Special Attack by one stage like Work Up, which it can't learn, without having to be in a Double or Triple Battle. In such battles, any Grass-Type allies or enemies can reap the bonus as well.
* WeakToFire: UpToEleven, it can have a 5x weakness against Fire moves if it has Dry Skin, giving the line the dubious honor of being the only Pokémon that can take more than 4x damage from an attack under normal conditions.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Venonat and Venomoth ''[-(Kongpang and Morphon)-]'']]
!048: Venonat / Kongpang (コンパン ''konpan'')\\
049: Venomoth / Morphon (モルフォン ''morufon'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/venonat048.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Venonat]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/venomoth049.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Venomoth]]

A furry, purple bug-like creature with highly-developed eyes that evolves into a moth with poisonous scales. They are nocturnal but are instinctively attracted to light. The Pokémon are kinda unremarkable, apart from being a better choice as a Bug Pokémon than Beedrill or Butterfree, except that it comes ''far'' later than both of them.
----
* BalanceBuff: In Generation V, Venomoth is able to learn Quiver Dance, a move that raises the user's Special Attack, Sp.Defense and Speed all at once.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: Venonat, at 3'03'', is a pretty big gnat. Venomoth is nearly five feet tall.
* BlowYouAway: Venomoth can learn some wind-based moves, despite not being a Flying type.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: According to various Pokédex entries, Venomoth's scales are color coded to indicate what it does - dark for poison, light for paralysis. Of course, there's [[GameplayAndStorySegregation no way to tell in-game]].
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: "Venomoth is nocturnal—it is a Pokémon that only becomes active at night. Its favorite prey are small insects that gather around streetlights, attracted by the light in the darkness."
* {{Flight}}: Ostensibly Venomoth, in just the same way as Beedrill. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation However]], since it's already filled up its typings with Bug and Poison it doesn't gain the Flying-type, like Beedrill. It also doesn't have the Levitate ability, nor can it learn Fly.
* FragileSpeedster: Venomoth has a decent Speed of 90, but its defenses are below average.
* GlassCannon: It has good Special Attack, while its defenses are average.
* MothMenace: Venomoth is said to scatter poisonous powder when it flaps its wings while hunting at night.
* PoisonousPerson: Poison-type.
* PsychicPowers: They learn the 3 main offensive Psychic moves via level up.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Venonat, being a little purple puffball with antenna.
* StandardStatusEffects: Like Butterfree, they learn the 3 powder moves.
* StatusBuff: Generation V gave Venomoth the ability to use Quiver Dance, which boosts its Special stats as well as its speed.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Diglett ''[-(Digda)-]'' and Dugtrio]]
!050: Diglett / Digda (ディグダ ''diguda'')\\
051: Dugtrio (ダグトリオ ''dagutorio'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/diglett050.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Diglett]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dugtrio051.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Dugtrio]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolandiglett050a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Diglett]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolandugtrio051a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Dugtrio]]
->[-''Alolan forms debut in ''Sun and Moon''''-]

Based on Whack-a-Moles, these are probably tied with Voltorb and Magnemite for the Pokémon with the simplest design. Diglett appears to be only a half-buried brown nub with a bright red nose. Dugtrio appears to be no different, except that it's three of them. While most Ground-types tend to be tanks, these guys are lighting-fast, but can't take a hit well. It also has the ability to trap land-based opponents.

In Alola region, the volcanic environment they live in makes it hard for Diglett to find places to hide, so they developed metallic whiskers on top of their head to act as sensors so that Diglett doesn't have to expose itself above ground. As it evolves into a Dugtrio, their whiskers grow into marvelous gold hair. Because of how beneficial Diglett and Dugtrio are in regards to agriculture, the latter is held in great regard as being the incarnation of the god of land.
----
* AngryEyebrows: Dugtrios are depicted with these in some of their appearances to differentiate themselves from Diglett.
* BalanceBuff: Dugtrio (in both forms) got a substantial boost to its Attack stat in Gen VII, allowing it to hit even harder.
* ComMons: Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio are very common in caves, deserts, and the like.
* CrutchCharacter: Can't defeat Lt. Surge because his Raichu is mopping the floor with your Squirtle? Don't worry; just go to the nearby Diglett's Cave and catch a Diglett (or a Dugtrio should one happen to crop up), then proceed to destroy Surge with a well-placed Dig.
* DevelopersForesight: Game Freak ''really'' goes out of their way to ensure that the bottom half of Diglett and Dugtrio are never seen leaving the ground, to the point of giving them special animations for when any other Pokémon uses a non-animated hop (Pokéathlon, Poké Transfer) or just appear in mid-air like being sent into battle. The move Telekinesis (a move which involves lifting the opponent into the air) fails when used on them. The ground that conceals the bottom half of their body even follows them into the sky [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HmMPQX7uJ8 when they use a Flying-type Z-move!]]
* DiscOneNuke: If you're ''very'' patient in the Kanto games, you can find a Level 29-31 Dugtrio in Diglett's Cave, at a time when your other Pokémon may be only Level 20-ish.
* DishingOutDirt: Ground-type.
* TheDividual: Dugtrio might be this trope due to the fact that it's impossible to tell if its three heads are connected to a central body or not. Either way, they're all counted as one Pokémon.
* ExpressiveHair: Alolan Diglett's sensory whiskers position themselves based on its mood.
* ExtraOreDinary: Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio are part Steel-type.
* FragileSpeedster: Dugtrio is the fastest Ground-type type Pokémon, but has painfully low HP with below-average defenses. Alolan Dugtrio are slightly slower, have slightly better Defense, and gain a fair number of resistances due to being half Steel-type, but their Defense is still low.
* GlassCannon: Has become this as of Gen VII, since it was given a +20 boost to its physical Attack, bringing it from subpar to usable while its defenses and hit points remain sub-par.
* HiveMind: All three of Dugtrio's heads think the exact same thoughts, according to the Hoenn games' Pokédex entries.
* InformedAttribute: According to the Pokédex entries in ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' and their remakes, Dugtrio are three Diglett triplets, separated at birth, who think the same. However, the breeding mechanic only produces one egg, and it's always a single Diglett that hatches from it.
* InformedSpecies: They're classified as the Mole Pokémon but much more closely resemble Whack-a-Moles in both appearance and behavior (going straight up and down their holes). Despite this they can still learn scratching moves you would associate with actual burrowing animals, but no one's ever seen their claws.
* InvisibleAnatomy: Diglett and Dugtrio don't appear to have any arms or legs but they're perfectly capable of using many attacks that involve claws, such as Scratch, Slash or even Aerial Ace.
* MultipleHeadCase: Dugtrio has three heads. Because of the below RiddleForTheAges, it's unknown whether it's a case of this trope or TheDividual.
* NoMouth: Well, none that we can see, anyway.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Diglett is only 8 inches tall, but it's fast and able to learn powerful moves such as Earthquake to deal sizable damage to anything weak to Ground-type.
* PrehensileHair: Alolan Dugtrio's Iron Head attack and Tangling Hair ability are used in this manner in the anime.
* RiddleForTheAges: We will likely never see what the rest of Diglett or Dugtrio's body looks like. They have claws, that is obvious from their movepool (Scratch, Slash, Shadow Claw, etc), in the anime, a Diglett is small enough to fit inside of a man's hat, and in ''Mystery Dungeon'' a Diglett mentions it has feet, but that's all the clues we've been given.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Diglett's simple design makes it incredibly endearing. Even more so with Alolan Diglett, who has 3 tiny little hairs (whiskers) on its head! Dugtrio tries to be more intimidating with its AngryEyebrows, but it's just as cute.
* SecretArt: Despite being a widespread move, prior to Generation III, they are the only ones to learn Dig naturally.
* StarfishAlien: Diglett and Dugtrio may be this. We just aren't sure. Given that Dugtrio has three heads from a one-headed Diglett, it's not out of the field of possibility.
* StealthPun: Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio "hair" is made of metal (which is why they're Steel-type), and is reminiscent of that commonly seen on heavy metal musicians and fans. Their battle animations are also reminiscent of headbanging. So basically, Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio are literally and figuratively metal heads.
* SurferDude: Dugtrio's Alolan form evokes the image, what with all three of them having wavy platinum-blonde hair.
* UndergroundMonkey: Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio gain an additional Steel typing and whiskers on top of their head to survive the harsh volcanic environment in their region.
* UselessUsefulSpell:
** Can learn Final Gambit through breeding. This is a move that sacrifices the user to deal damage equal to ''the user's HP'', on Pokémon with some of the lowest HP in the game.
** Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio have an ability unique to it known as Tangling Hair, which lowers the speed of opponents who attack it with a contact move (similar to Goomy's Gooey ability). However, due to having low HP and defenses, they can't really stand up to repeated attacks to make full use of this ability.
* WolverineClaws: Not seen, but definitely present on them as they can learn moves that would require claws (Shadow Claw, Aerial Ace, Scratch, Slash, etc.). Also played more realistically than most, as Diglett is a burrowing animal and thus almost certainly uses its claws for digging.
* YouWillNotEvadeMe: Arena Trap prevents ground-based Pokémon from escaping.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Meowth ''[-(Nyarth)-]'' Persian, and Perrserker ''[-(Nyaikingu)-]'']]
!052: Meowth / Nyarth (ニャース ''nyaasu'')\\
053: Persian (ペルシアン ''perushian'')\\
863: Perrserker (ニャイキング; ''nyaikingu'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/meowth052.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Meowth]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/persian053.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Persian]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanmeowth052a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Meowth]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alolanpersian053a.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alolan Persian]]
->[-''Alolan forms debut in ''Sun and Moon''''-]
->[-Galarian Meowth and Perrserker debut in ''Sword and Shield''.-]

These Pokémon are probably some of the most recognized Pokémon in the franchise after Pikachu, due to one individual being a main antagonist in the anime and because that particular one is unique in that it can speak human languages, something very few other Pokémon can do (and most of those use telepathy). It's only natural to have a cat Pokémon as an antagonist when your protagonist is a mouse. These cats are based on ManekiNeko, a lucky cat that's supposed to grant its owner wealth. Persian has a regal air to it and is quite fast, but nothing note-worthy about it otherwise. In their debut, they could only be found in ''Blue''. A special Kantonian Meowth is capable of attaining a Gigantamax form, whose symbol on its coin is believed to be key to understanding the Gigantamax phenomenon.

Meowth were brought to Alola as gifts to the royal family from another region and they were treated as royalty themselves. Generations of living the pampered lifestyle made them conceited and prideful to the point that wounding that pride or dirtying their coins drive them to hysterics. They also become Dark-types in the process. However, at some point the monarchy collapsed and these Meowth turned feral and became regular Pokémon. Alolan Meowth naturally evolve into Alolan Persian with high friendship. Its face is a bit more rounded than regular Persian, but the people of the Alola region actually see this, and its fur coat as a source of pride. Not coincidentally, Alolan Persian gains Fur Coat as an ability.

Meowth in the Galar region descend from a population raised by a fierce seafaring people, toughening them up so much that parts of their bodies have turned into iron, by extension turning them into pure-Steel types. Instead of Persian, they evolve into Perrserker, a vicious Pokémon with retractable dagger claws.
----
* ActionInitiative: They can learn Fake Out and Feint, the former always cause the foe to flinch but only works on the first turn they're in while the latter lift the effect of protection move, with both moves having a higher priority than other priority attacks. They are also boosted by Technician.
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: They learn Feint Attack, which never misses unless the opponent uses a move with a turn of semi-invulnerability like Fly or Dig, by leveling up. Persian also has Swift (which has the same effect) within its moveset.
* ArmoredButFrail: The ability Fur Coat makes Alolan Persian this. It halves damage from physical attacks, but its base HP and special defense are still only 65.
* TheArtifact: Meowth is still one of the stars of the anime, but is now hardly marketed at all outside of it. ''Sun and Moon'' features it more prominently than most previous games, as it's a common house pet and even the protagonist's mother owns one.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Alolan Meowth were bred and kept as pets by the Alolan royal family, and are Dark (Evil) types.
* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: Meowth just loves round, shiny objects, especially coins.
* BalanceBuff:
** The line gains Technician as their secondary ability in Generation IV, which powers up any attacks with 60 or less power by 50%. This ability can be beneficial for Fake Out [[note]][[CrutchCharacter which it now learns much earlier]][[/note]] and Feint along with other moves with relatively low power such as Bite and Hidden Power.
** Persian's Alolan form in Gen VII also gets Fur Coat as their primary ability, which doubles their physical Defense in battle.
* BeardOfBarbarism: Galarian Meowth and Perrserker have thick beards, and happen to be more vicious than other Meowth.
* BerserkButton: Alolan Meowth hate having their pride wounded or getting their coins dirty.
* BlankWhiteEyes: Alolan Meowth sports this expression when angered in Pokémon Refresh. Whether it's GlowingEyesOfDoom or Meowth rolling its eyes isn't clear.
* BloodKnight: Perrserker is noted to have a thrill for battle.
* BreakoutCharacter: Like Pikachu, Meowth became quite popular as a result of being a main character in the anime, and during its popularity was utilized a lot in spin off material, despite its species line being dropped out from every regional Pokédex between Gen II and VII.
* BossBattle: Regular Persian is Giovanni's signature in ''Yellow''. Alolan Persian is Kahuna Nanu's signature.
* TheBusCameBack: Meowth and its evolution Persian were completely dropped out from ''every regional Pokédex'' from Gen III to Gen VI in mainline games[[note]]except ''Fire Red/Leaf Green'' and ''Heart Gold/Soul Silver'', which were remakes of first two generations[[/note]], despite its prominent appearances in anime. It was brought back to Gen VII's Alola Pokédex, albeit in Alolan forms.
* CatsAreMean: According to the Pokédex, Persian are difficult to raise as pets because of their inherent meanness. Meowth has no implications of such, though will likely never live down its villainous role in the anime. Played straighter with the Alolan variants who are Dark-types and implied to have inherited a spoiled personality. Alolan Persian has an even worse attitude than its regular counterpart.
* CatsAreSuperior: Alolan Meowth were treated like royalty in the past, and still act like it in the present. Its half-closed eyes also give it a rather smug look.
* CombatPragmatist: Their natural movepool is not one made up of orthodox moves. Alolan Meowth are pure Dark-type, rather than the Normal-type of Meowth native to Kanto and Johto.
* CommonplaceRare: In the rest of the world, Meowth are relatively common Pokémon. In Alola, they were so exotic and rare that they were reserved for royalty. They were turned loose when the monarchy was destroyed and became common in Alola as well.
* ConfusionFu: They've got a massive movepool. That's par for the course for Normal-types, but Meowth and Persian still get more options than most.
* CriticalHitClass: Back in Generation I, Slash got a critical hit depending on speed, and Persian was already pretty fast, so pretty much all of the time Slash was a critical hit.
* CrutchCharacter: Its great Speed stat and manipulation of Technician boosts and Fake Out combos can make it handy for early points of the game, with its Pay Day attack and Pickup ability also allowing you to nab costly power up items. Unfortunately it doesn't really get handed much powerful later on, and its low other stats mean it struggles to hold on in later battles.
* CuddleBug: In the anime, Persian is depicted as fairly affectionate and pettable. Its Alolan counterpart also ''loves'' to have its chin scratched.
* DiskOneNuke: Pay Day allows you to pile up on currency early on, and like trainer earnings, can be doubled or quadrupled through certain stipulations such as the Amulet Coin item. Especially apparent in early generations where Meowth could be caught and taught Pay Day rather early. It can also learn Pickup which can collect rare or expensive items for the trainer. Simply put, Meowth is good for your wallet.
* FatCat: Alolan Persian is an odd example- just its HEAD is fat and round, and it has very chubby cheeks. It's also slightly stockier than its Kanto counterpart. Its design bares a striking resemblance to the real "British shorthair" breed, who have the same color scheme and chubby faces.
* FourLegsGoodTwoLegsBetter: Zigzagged with Meowth. It has always been depicted as bipedal in the games, but the anime usually depicts most Meowth as quadrupedal. The main exception is Team Rocket's Meowth, who learned to walk on two legs around the same time he learned to talk.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: In Generation I, Meowth were depicted as bipedal; however, their stance implies they don't walk well on two feet. Adaptations often portrayed them as quadrupeds as a result. In the anime, Team Rocket's Meowth is seen as an outright oddity for being bipedal, but later generations consistently portray Meowth as walking on their hind legs. The anime has even shown at least one other Meowth being bipedal without explaining why.
* ExtraOreDinary: Galarian Meowth and Perrserker are pure-Steel type as a result of parts of their bodies being turned to iron from their tough lifestyle, and the latter's Hidden Ability Steely Spirit powers up the Steel-type attacks of their allies.
* FragileSpeedster: Persian has high Speed, but it's not going to take many hits.
* HornyVikings: Perrserker evokes this by having hair on its head resembling horns and having "berserker" as part of its name, and Galarian Meowth's ''Sword'' Dex entry mentions that their pure-Steel typing is a result of being raised by "a savage, seafaring people".
* ItemCaddy: Meowth can have the Pickup ability.
* LastDiscMagic: The Alolan line boosts its Special Attack stat at the expense of physical Attack power, and yet Meowth only gets one Special attack in its natural moveset (Dark Pulse), and it's the final move they learn. Alolan Persian also gets non-STAB Swift and Power Gem upon evolving however.
* LootMakingAttack: You collect the earnings of a Meowth or Persian that used Pay Day if you win the battle, even if it was the opponent.
* MagicKnight: Its Alolan form prioritizes Special Attack, and even its normal form's physical Attack is only slightly higher than Special Attack. Persian learns Swift immediately upon evolving, and through [=TM=]s and Move Tutors has a decent Special movepool with Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Water Pulse, and Hyper Voice.
* ManekiNeko: Based on these, hence the coin on their foreheads.
* MasterOfNone: Aside from high Speed, all of its stats are roughly even. And all are crappy -- for a point of reference, Persian's non-Speed stats are on-par with [[JokeCharacter Castform]]. To compensate, some of the line's abilities like Technician and Fur Coat act as unconventional stat boosts.
* MightyGlacier: In contrast with Kantonian and Alolan Meowth and Persian, Galarian Meowth and Perrserker lack speed, but have higher Attack and Defense.
* MisplacedWildlife: InUniverse example: Meowth and Persian were not originally found in Alola, but humans brought them over and pampered them, leading to their Dark-type affiliation. When the monarchy in Alola ended, the Meowth were released into the wild and became feral.
* MoneyMauling: Meowth's signature attack Pay Day has it throwing gold coins at its enemy. The move itself does damage, but also increased how much money you get at the end of the battle with each use of the move.
* MythologyGag: Not all Meowth are supposed to be bipedal and talk wisecracks like the main anime version. Many side games would make you think otherwise.
* {{Nerf}}: In Generation I, critical hit probability was based on Speed, and if you KO'd the opponent with [[WaveMotionGun Hyper Beam]], you didn't need a recharge turn. This made Persian ''very'' dangerous; Slash was a critical hit 100% of the time due to its high Speed, and it could throw out STAB Hyper Beams to finish off opponents, Hyper Beam also having a high critical hit chance for the mentioned Speed reason. Generation II changed the critical hit mechanics and removed the Hyper Beam loophole so you always need to recharge even if you KO'd something.
* NonElemental: Most Meowth are Normal-type.
* NonIndicativeName: Regular Persian looks much more like a Siamese than a Persian. Alolan Persian resembles a British Blue Shorthair.
* OffModel: The anime's depiction of Alolan Persian is... strange. In its debut, Alolan Persian's head appears to be ''even bigger'' than normal while later on in the same episode it appears to be more proportionate.
* PantheraAwesome: Persian, a ''housecat''.
* PaletteSwap: Alolan Meowth are dark grey in color.
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Despite, or perhaps because of, their spoiled, sometimes cruel nature, Alolan Meowth only evolve if they are happy enough with their trainers.
* PowerUpLetdown: None of Meowth's attacks (and very few of Persian's) exceed a 70 power level[[note]]Assurance and Fury Swipes can max up to 120 or 135 respectively, but under unlikely stipulations[[/note]]. This means if you have one with Technician ability, some later abilities will actually do ''less'' damage than earlier 60 or lower ones which get a 50% boost.
* RightHandCat: In the anime.
* TheRival:
** Meowth to Murkrow, the two are said to constantly steal each others' items they hoard in their nests.
** Also Meowth to Pikachu in the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} anime]] specifically, largely due to the heroes keeping a Pikachu out of its ball and the villains keeping a Meowth in the anime. They are a literal Cat-and-Mouse duo, with the antagonistic cat doing the [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry chasing with a lot of zany schemes and contraptions, only to be outdone by the heroic mouse doing what comes naturally to survive]] (in this case shooting electricity). Their national Dex numbers, 25 and 52 are inversions of each other incidentally, and both lines had at least one Alolan form announced at the same time.
* RoyallyScrewedUp: Kind of. For Alola, these Pokémon were reserved only for the Alolan royal family. Years of this kind of isolation had dramatic changes to their typing.
* SecretArt:
** [[MoneyMauling Pay Day]] for Meowth, to go with its ManekiNeko roots; the attack has actually been steadily limited to Meowth and ''only'' Meowth over the gens (even vanishing from Persian's learnset in Gen IV). However, in Gen V, Purrloin has this as an egg move, and in Gen III, you can get a Skitty with this through Pokémon Box, and in Gen I, it was a TM.
** G-Max Gold Rush is inherently linked to an event Meowth in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'', and serves as the Gigantamax counterpart to Pay Day; it confuses its victims and proves a post-match payout.
* ShadowArchetype: Fittingly enough, the Alolan forms are this to the regular ones. Their entries even note that despite regular Persian's attitude problems, it's not nearly as badly behaved as its dark counterpart.
* SmugSmiler: The line's Alolan variants have half-lidded eyes and smiles as their default expressions. Fitting for Pokémon once treated like royalty.
* SnobsVsSlobs: Kantonian Meowth and Persian have this dynamic with their Galarian counterparts according to their ''Shield'' Pokedex entries.
** Meowth: ''It washes its face regularly to keep the coin on its forehead spotless. It doesn’t get along with Galarian Meowth.''
** Persian: ''Its elegant and refined behavior clashes with that of the barbaric Perrserker. The relationship between the two is one of mutual disdain.''
* StatusBuff:
** Its secondary ability Technician boosts the species' weaker moves by 50%. Since a large amount of the species' move set consists of [[WeakButSkilled weak attacks with profitable secondary effects]], this can be very beneficial.
** Alolan Persian's primary ability Fur Coat doubles its Defense boost in battle, making it an impressive StoneWall against physical attacks.
* StoneWall: Fur Coat turns Alolan Persian into this on the physical side by doubling its physical Defense, though its Special Defense and Attack stats remain poor.
* SuperToughness: The aforementioned Fur Coat ability doubles its current defense.
* TalkingAnimal: Team Rocket's Meowth in the anime is one of the most famous talking Pokémon of all (along with Mewtwo), to the point that it's most likely more well-known than its non-talking compatriots in the games.
* UndergroundMonkey:
** Years of isolation from other Meowth populations and living in the lap of luxury have made Alolan Meowth Dark-types.
** Years of living with harsh seafaring people have toughened them up (both figuratively and literally) and made Galarian Meowth Steel-types.
* UselessUsefulSpell:
** The species' high speed means they usually attack first, making Assurance's double attack boost unlikely to achieve.
** Alolan Meowth and Persian can have Rattled as a Hidden Ability (increase Speed when hit by a Bug-, Ghost-, or Dark-type attack), but the only type that opponents would use against the line is Bug, and Meowth and Persian couldn't take more than one hit due to their poor defenses.
* WeakButSkilled: The stats of the line are pretty weak, but it has good speed and a decent range of strategic Normal and Dark type moves (almost all with perfect accuracy) and a great [=TM=] move pool, which makes it rather versatile and reliable. Finding one with the Technician ability also ensures none of its moves are outright pathetic in battle.
* WolverinePublicity: Not nearly as much as Pikachu, but the anime made Meowth one of the most recognizable Pokémon and thus the games are fond of making occasional {{Mythology Gag}}s to its Team Rocket connection.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Psyduck ''[-(Koduck)-]'' and Golduck]]
!054: Psyduck / Koduck (コダック ''kodakku'')\\
055: Golduck (ゴルダック ''gorudakku'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/psyduck054.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Psyduck]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/golduck055.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Golduck]]

One of the most recognizable Pokémon, Psyduck is an eternally confused yellow duck-thing (some call it a platypus, though). It's got a headache that can somehow enable it to tap into mysterious psychic powers. Golduck is less silly, though, having lost those headaches. Along with its psychic abilities, it's a fast swimmer that's occasionally mistaken for the Japanese monster, Kappa.
----
* ActionInitiative: Golduck has access to Aqua Jet, though it needs the move relearner to get at it.
* ConfusionFu: Has a decent array of both physical and special attacks to work with, and its attacking stats are close enough together that it can use either effectively. It even gets both [[StatusBuff Calm Mind and Hone Claws]] to boost whichever attacking stat you end up going with.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Golduck's Cloud Nine ability allows it to negate weather including the weather created by Primal Groudon negating water attacks. So little Golduck can easily take down the behemoth.
* JackOfAllStats: All of Golduck's stats are around 80, except for its Special Attack, which is 95.
* {{Kappa}}: Golduck is heavily based on the Japanese mythical river spirit ''Kappa''. The Pokédex even mentions that Golduck is sometimes mistaken for a ''Kappa''.
* MakingASplash: Water-type.
* MundaneUtility: They're the only Pokémon that can legally know both Soak and Pay Day (the former by level up, the latter via Gen I TM). Combine the two and you have Mon that can defeat anything, even Ghosts, with nothing but Pay Day, making it a handy way to make some extra money.
* NonIndicativeName: Switching around the first part of their names may seem a little more fitting.
* NotCompletelyUseless: Soak got a little more use when it gained [[UselessUsefulSpell Synchronoise]], a powerful Psychic-type move that only works on Pokémon that match the user's type. Thanks to Soak, it is the only Pokémon that can reliably take advantage of Synchronoise [[{{Combos}} by turning opponents into Water-types first.]]
* PsychicPowers: Despite not being Psychic-type at all.
* RecurringElement: In ''Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum'', Psyduck serve as a Pokémon roadblock that requires a certain item to move them away. Oddly enough, they don't attack the player, instead choosing to flee the spot in peace.
* SecretArt: Worry Seed, among Water-types. Not even the Water/Grass Lotad line gets it.
* TakingYouWithMe: Defied with its Damp Ability, which prevents moves like Explosion and the Aftermath Ability from working.
* UselessUsefulSpell: Gets the Soak move, which changes the target into a Water-type. Unfortunately, despite its otherwise impressive movepool, it doesn't get any Electric- or Grass-type attacks to abuse this with, except the aforementioned Worry Seed, which doesn't do damage. See NotCompletelyUseless above for its best use of the move.
* WeatherManipulation: It's under a different name[[note]]Cloud Nine, which can be possessed by other mons[[/note]], but one of their abilities is essentially '''[[OlympusMons Rayquaza's]]''' Air Lock.
* {{Youkai}}: Golduck is based on the {{Kappa}}.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mankey and Primeape ''[-(Okorizaru)-]'']]
!056: Mankey (マンキー ''mankii'')\\
057: Primeape / Okorizaru (オコリザル ''okorizaru'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mankey056.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mankey]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/primeape057.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Primeape]]

Mankey and Primeape resemble puff-balls as much as they resemble monkeys and apes. They're fighting-types that always seem to be angry at something. In ''Yellow'', this is the guy you want to use to fight against Brock, since Pikachu really cannot do squat against him. They were exclusive to ''Red'' in their debut generation.
----
* AxCrazy: Their tempers are definitely nasty enough to cross into this territory.
* BareFistedMonk: Primeape's main fighting style.
* TheBerserker: If there's one Pokémon line that fits the archetype, it's Mankey and Primeape. They're always angry, they're always violent, they ''never'' let up when provoked, and if you meet them on a good day, they'll settle for ''merely'' beating you senseless.
* ConfusionFu: They can learn moves of every single type, and damage-dealing moves from ''14'' of them.
* CrossPoppingVeins: Primeape.
* DiscOneNuke: As of Sun/Moon, Mankey learns Cross Chop, one of the strongest fighting attacks without a major drawback, at level ''22''.
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: They're pig monkeys, although everything being "better" with these furious monkeys around is debatable.
* FragileSpeedster: Primeape is the seventh-fastest non-Mega Fighting type[[note]]after Mienshao, the Musketeers and Infernape, Hawlucha, Marshadow, Pirouette Forme Meloetta and first being Pheromosa[[/note]], but it can only take a few hits before going down.
* GlassCannon: Like most Fighting-types, it has high-powered moves coming from a high attack, but its defenses aren't great.
* HairTriggerTemper: Mankey and Primeape spend most of their lives in perpetual fury, going aggro on anything that even looks at them sideways.
* OffModel: Mankey's ''Red'' and ''Blue'' sprites [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f5/Spr_1b_056.png don't really look like Mankey]]. Primeape's sprites [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/2/28/Spr_1b_057.png don't]], [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/3/34/Spr_1g_057.png either]].
* PowerupLetdown: Anger Point. It's bad enough that crits are generally treated as hyper-lethal to begin with, but Primeape's extra fragility really exaggerates that.
* StatusBuff: Two of its abilities. Anger Point maxes out its Attack if it gets hit by a critical attack, and Defiant increases its Attack by two stages if one of its stats gets reduced by the opponent, including Attack -- a great way to turn Intimidate users' strategy [[HoistByHisOwnPetard on its head]].
* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: If their rage ever gets ''too'' out of control, they may just suddenly die.
* ThisIsUnforgivable: Primeape's default mentality towards anyone that angers it. Which is to say, anyone that comes within twenty feet of it.
* UnstoppableRage: Hoo boy. Mankey is ''very'' prone to this, and this is pretty much Primeape's ''default'' mood. Once it's gotten riled up at something, Primeape will ''[[ImplacableMan never]]'' stop chasing the offending party until it has caught up and beaten the everloving crap out of it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Growlithe and Arcanine ''[-(Gardie and Windie)-]'']]
!058: Growlithe / Gardie (ガーディ ''gaadi'')\\
059: Arcanine / Windie (ウインディ ''uindi'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/growlithe058.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Growlithe]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arcanine059.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Arcanine]]

These Fire-type dog-like Pokémon are based on ''Shisa''. They vaguely resemble lions and tigers along with their more canine features. Arcanine has one of the highest stats for a non-legendary (Though its species name is "Legendary") and access to a wide variety of moves, making it one of the best choices as far as Fire-types are concerned. They were exclusive to ''Red'' in their debut generation.
----
* ActionInitiative: Arcanine is one of the few Pokémon that learns Extreme Speed. A +2 priority Normal-type attack with 80 Power.
* BossBattle: Arcanine is Blaine's, the seventh gym leader of Kanto, strongest Mon.
* CanisMajor: Arcanine is 6'03" and weighs 341 lbs/155 kgs.
* ConfusionFu: In a complete reversal of its [[PoorPredictableRock earlier appearances]], Arcanine now has a rather expansive movepool, consisting of Fire, Normal, Dark, Fighting, Electric, Dragon, Ground, Grass, Dark, Flying and Steel-Type moves.
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Has access to a ''lot'' of them. Take Down, Double-Edge, and Flare Blitz all have recoil damage, while Overheat and Close Combat both lower its stats after use and Thrash and Outrage cause it to become confused after attacking for 2-3 turns.
* HealThyself: Has access to Morning Sun to help mitigate the damage from its recoil moves.
* HeroicDog: Growlithe is faithful and loyal to its trainer, barking at anyone who approaches the trainer unexpectedly. Arcanine is one too, albeit with a more regal, mystical air.
* InformedAbility: Despite all the Pokédex entries rambling on about how Arcanine's probably the fastest Pokémon in existence (even being the ace of [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Marley's]] Speed-focused team), it's really not that hard to find something with a higher base Speed stat, even among the other original 151 Pokémon. It's worth noting, however, that [[ActionInitiative Extreme Speed]] was its SecretArt in Gen II, so it held SOME merit.
* JackOfAllStats: No stats are particularly weak or strong aside from Arcanine's Attack, which is pretty decent. That being said, Arcanine has the second highest base stat total among all non-Legendary and non-Mega Pokémon of the first generation, which puts it above many other Pokémon.
* MagicKnight: Arcanine's Attack and Special Attack are almost equal, though its Special movepool isn't as good as its Physical movepool.
* MagikarpPower: Growlithe has average stats for an un-evolved Pokémon, but when you evolve it, Arcanine's base stats are far above average, beaten only by legendaries, pseudo-legendaries, and Mega Evolutions (and three Pokémon with detrimental abilities hampering their usefulness)[[note]]Slaking has stats on par with Kyogre and Groudon, but its Truant ability prevents it from attacking every other turn. Archeops is only ''slightly'' stronger than Arcanine overall, but plays the role of ultimate GlassCannon by having poor defenses and HP and an ability that halves its potent offensive stats when its HP drops below 50%, and Wishiwashi, with Schooling allow it to become a Mighty Glacier with attack stats comparable to legendaries and megas, but revert back to the weakest Pokémon stat-wise after dropping to 25% HP[[/note]].
* MetalSlime: [[DownplayedTrope Though not as bad as other Pokémon of this nature]], Growlithe can be difficult to obtain for one of four reasons: it's almost always version exclusive [[note]]Specifically, it's exclusive to ''Red'', the original Japanese version of ''Blue'', ''Yellow'', ''Gold'', ''Crystal'', ''[=FireRed=]'', ''[=HeartGold=]'', and ''Let's Go Pikachu''[[/note]], knows roar which can cause opposing Pokémon to flee and thus ending the battle, has some sort of requirement in order to even find one, [[note]]for example, in ''Diamond'', ''Pearl'', and ''Platinum'', you must have the ''[=FireRed=]'' [=GameBoy=] Advance cartridge inserted into the original Nintendo DS console[[/note]] or a combination of two or all three.
* NonElemental: If you breed them with Cyndaquil line in Gen VII, they can possibly get the move Burn Up, a powerful Fire-type move which strips them of their Fire-typing after use. Since they don't have a secondary type, they will become outright typeless.
* PlayingWithFire: Fire-type.
* PoorPredictableRock: In the first several generations of the franchise, Arcanine was well-known for having incredibly high stats for a non-legendary... and also for having a debilitatingly small movepool. Later generations have helped it out ''immensely'' in this regard.
* PreciousPuppies: Growlithe. Just look at it!
* SignatureMove: Fire Blast was heavily associated with Arcanine, especially in Gen I, even though it doesn't learn the move naturally.
* SimilarSquad: It's the non-starter counterpart to the Charmander line for TheRival in the Gen I games and their remakes, and the strongest non-legendary Fire Type of its generation.
* SecretArt: [[SuperSpeed Extreme Speed]] for Arcanine, in Gen II only.
* SpearCounterpart: To the Vulpix line. While they can be either gender, they have a 75% chance of being male, while the Vulpix line has a 75% chance of being female.
* SuperSpeed: Although its Speed stat actually isn't all that high.
* UndyingLoyalty: Growlithe, to its Trainer. It won't even move until it's been given a command by its Trainer.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, and Politoed ''[-(Nyoromo, Nyorozo, Nyorobon, and Nyorotono)-]'']]
!060: Poliwag / Nyoromo (ニョロモ ''nyoromo'')\\
061: Poliwhirl / Nyorozo (ニョロゾ ''nyorozo'')\\
062: Poliwrath / Nyorobon (ニョロボン ''nyorobon'')\\
186: Politoed / Nyorotono (ニョロトノ ''nyorotono'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/poliwag060.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Poliwag]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/poliwhirl061.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Poliwhirl]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/poliwrath062.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Poliwrath]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/politoed186.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Politoed]]
-->[-''Politoed debuts in ''Gold and Silver''''-]

These water Pokémon are based on tadpoles and frogs. They also happen to be Satoshi Tajiri's favorite Pokémon, and as such, they get plenty of showcasing. They're blue in color and have swirling bellies (actually the Pokémon's intestines) that can make their opponents sleepy by simply undulating it. Upon evolving into Poliwrath with the help of a water stone, it becomes part Fighting-type and gains more bulk. Politoed is very different in that it's a fully mature green frog.
----
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: The player needs a King's Rock (shaped like a ''crown'') for evolving Poliwhirl into Politoed.
* BalanceBuff: In Generation V, Politoed got the Drizzle ability, allowing it to hit harder with Water-type attacks.
* BareFistedMonk: Poliwrath, which is part Fighting-type.
* BossBattle: Poliwrath is the fifth gym boss of Gen II and the Gen IV remakes as Chuck's signature.
* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: Poliwhirl was originally given four-fingered hands in its sprites (With the exception of Yellow, as its appearance in the anime lacked fingers). Starting with ''[=FireRed=]'' and ''[=LeafGreen=]'', it was decided it wouldn't have fingers.
* HypnoticEyes: The swirl pattern they show is perfect for making opponents fall asleep.
* TheHypnotoad: Combination of the previous two.
* InformedSpecies: Played straight with Poliwhirl and Poliwrath, who don't look at all like frogs or toads. Averted with Poliwag and Politoed, who ''do'' look like tadpoles and frogs/toads respectively.
* JackOfAllStats: Poliwrath and Politoed have relatively rounded stats. Poliwrath has higher Attack and Defense while Politoed has higher Special Defense and Special Attack.
* MakeMeWannaShout: Politoed can learn Hyper Voice.
* MakingASplash: Water-type tadpoles and frogs.
* MagicKnight: Poliwrath has access to plenty of moves that are enhanced by its typing, as well as other moves such as [[PsychicPowers Psychic]] and [[KillItWithIce Ice Beam]].
* MasterOfNone: Poliwrath has very generalized stats, but doesn't excel in anything. Politoed is more the same way, but its Drizzle ability is very useful.
* OlympicSwimmer: They excel at front strokes and breast strokes. Aside from Politoed, [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration they all have access to the Swift Swim ability]].
* SeriesMascot: Poliwhirl was very heavily utilized in marketing way back in the Red & Blue days. It was featured in many tie-ins and promotional items. The ''Special'' Manga even had the main character, Red, have one as his very first Pokemon before getting Bulbasaur and Pikachu later on. This might be attributed to Poliwhirl being the series creator's favorite Mon.
* SocializationBonus: Poliwhirl needs to be traded while holding a King's Rock to evolve into Politoed. Politoed can be fished up sometimes, but this means you'll miss out on good moves and Drizzle.
* TakingYouWithMe: Politoed can learn Perish Song.
* TruthInTelevision: For some real-life tadpoles, their swirling intestines are visible through their underside's translucent skin.
* WeatherManipulation: Politoed's Hidden Ability is Drizzle, which summons Rain for the entire battle (pre-Gen VI) or for 5 turns (Gen VI onwards).
* WhiteGloves: Poliwhirl and Poliwrath have these, making them resemble old cartoon characters.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam ''[-(Casey, Yungerer, and Foodin)-]'']]
!063: Abra / Casey (ケーシィ ''keeshii'')\\
064: Kadabra / Yungerer (ユンゲラー ''yungeraa'')\\
065: Alakazam / Foodin (フーディン ''fuudin'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/abra063.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Abra]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kadabra064.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Kadabra]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alakazam065.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Alakazam]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/megaalakazam065mp.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Mega Alakazam]]
->[-''Mega Alakazam debuts in ''X and Y''''-]

The first Psychic-type you might encounter, Abra and its kin were one of the best Pokémon in the game in the days of ''Red'', ''Green'', ''Blue'', and ''Yellow'', mainly due to how broken Psychic Pokémon were at the time. Abra was notable for teleporting away as soon as it appeared, so you only had one chance to catch it before it ran. Once caught, though, it's lightning fast and hits very hard with its special attacks. They are common across multiple generations, appearing in the wild and all regional Dexes except in Gen V. Alakazam received a Mega Evolution in ''X and Y'', in which it's even faster and hits ''[[UpToEleven even harder]]'' with special attacks.
----
* AdaptationalBadass: Abra only naturally learns one move, Teleport, which only switches it out with another Pokemon, and that was only granted to it in the ''Let's Go'' games. Previously it was completely useless in Trainer Battles and only good for fleeing wild Pokemon. In anime and comics, however, Abra is able to get a fair bit of combat utility out of the technique by using it as a FlashStep.
* BadassBeard: Alakazam grows one when it Mega Evolves.
* BadassMustache: Abra grows one as it evolves into Kadabra, which grows bigger when it evolves again into Alakazam.
* BossBattle:
** The fifth ([[SequenceBreaking or sixth]]) gym boss, being Sabrina's strongest Mon.
** Then there's Blue's Alakazam, reaching ThatOneBoss or even SNKBoss levels in the Gen I games.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Psychic-type Brains to the Machamp line's Brawn.
* CartoonCreature: It's hard to figure out exactly ''what'' these Pokémon are based on. They have a mix of traits from goats and foxes along with humanoid features. At the same time, their bodies appear to be segmented like an insect's ''exoskeleton''.
* CowardlyMooks: The [[PsychicPowers Psychic]] type Abra naturally only knows the move "Teleport", meaning it will always flee from battle the moment its turn comes. Lower-leveled Kadabra retain the move and may also use it to flee from battle, but are at least capable of fighting back.
* CriticalHitClass: Kadabra and Alakazam are among the few Pokemon that can learn Psycho cut, a physical move with a high critical-hit ratio. [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] in that they both have horrible physical attack stats.
* DiscOneNuke: Abra is found early in several of the games and is quite powerful for an unevolved Pokémon, though abusing it requires teaching it a TM as it doesn't come with any damaging attacks.
* EvilCounterpart:
** They have one in the Gastly-Haunter-Gengar family, to the point that Alakazam and Gengar are depicted as borderline [[ArchEnemy Arch Enemies]]. Alakazam's Psychic typing gives it a simultaneous weakness and advantage against the Ghost/Poison type Gengar. The Abra family's Pokédex entries emphasize it is intelligent but benign, while the Gastly family uses their powers to prey on the weak.
** The anime has Ash recruiting a Haunter to battle Sabrina's Kadabra, and another episode has an ancient Alakazam and an ancient Gengar awakened to do battle.
** Compared to Alakazam, Gengar trades a few points of Special Attack and Speed for (slightly) less horrible HP and physical stats.
** Their original cards in the Pokémon [=TCG=] -- Alakazam's Pokémon Power lets it move damage counters around on the player's Pokémon, Gengar's Pokémon Power moves around damage counters on the opponent's Pokémon. Both had one attack requiring three Psychic energy, which did 30 damage with an additional effect, and they both had 80 HP.
** In Generation VI, they both got a Mega Evolution and retain their similar stat distribution through them, and Alakazam got a slight buff to its Special Defense to match Gengar's 500 Base Stat total.
* EyesAlwaysShut: Abra. The only glimpse of an Abra eye is the ''Gold'' sprite, where its left eye is half-open.
* FantasticFoxes: The line looks like a weird hybrid between foxes, goats, and psychics.
* {{Foil}}: Alakazam to Machamp. Both have similar stats and methods of evolving (trade), but opposing types and ways of fighting.
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal:
** The entire family seems to resemble this, as their torsos resemble brown chest-plates, but their pelvises are still yellow like the rest of their bodies, giving them a pantsless look. This is also in opposition to the Machoke and Machamp, who resemble the shirtless variant with their speedo-like patterns on their pelvises.
** Mega Alakazam resembles a BarefootCartoonAnimal, though, since it gains pelvic armor.
* HandicappedBadass: If the Pokédex is to be believed, Alakazam's muscles are so badly atrophied that it needs to use its psychic abilities to move its limbs. That doesn't stop it from simultaneously kicking ass with said psychic abilities.
* HealThyself: Can learn Recover and are notorious for using it.
* HeavySleeper: Abra spends most of the day asleep, and can teleport away from danger even if sleeping.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Synchronize, one of their abilities, passes on poison, burn, or paralysis to the Pokémon which inflicted it. Its Mega Evolution gets the ability Trace, letting it copy beneficial abilities for itself and turn an opponent's ability against them. Naturally, Mega Alakazam can have it turned on itself if it copies an ability that's useless for it.
* ImmuneToFlinching: Inner focus, one of their abilities, makes them completely immune to flinching.
* ImprobablyHighIQ: Not the first (or last) time that the Pokédex is hilariously inaccurate, but given the way the IQ scale works[[note]]''300'' is considered to be "super-genius", and the scale is constantly adjusted so that 100 is the average intelligence of the ''world'' population; furthermore, this constant adjustment means that [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18983_5-complaints-about-modern-life-that-are-statistically-b.s..html an IQ of 150 from 10 years ago might be something more like 135 now]][[/note]], Alakazam's stated intelligence just breaks it into tiny whimpering pieces.
* ImpossibleHourglassFigure: Mega Alakazam's stomach is ''thinner than its shins''. This may be one of the most extreme examples of this trope ever.
* InexplicablyTailless: Kadabra's fennec like tail disappears after it evolves into Alakazam.
* IntelligentGerbil: Alakazam has an IQ that exceeds 5,000, making it the smartest Pokémon in existence. Why they haven't taken over as the world's dominant species hasn't been explained.
* LevitatingLotusPosition: Mega Alakazam's default stance.
* MagikarpPower:
** Zig-Zagged. Good luck evolving Abra, as it lacks damaging moves. It has a decent move pool through [=TMs=], breeding or tutoring however, especially since Abra's Special Attack and Speed are pretty high at the point you are able to first get one.
** Poor Kadabra ended up suffering this early in ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'''s release; whereas before it would learn Confusion at level 16 (when Abra evolves into it), Kinesis is now an Evolution Move that originally overrode any other move learned at the level it happens to evolve at, Confusion included. This means that outside of teaching/breeding it moves, the poor thing was ''still'' just as useless as Abra was until it learned Psybeam at level 21. Thankfully, the version 1.1 patch fixed this, rendering this a non-issue to those who got the patch.
* MissingSecret: Their SecretArt, Kinesis, was impossible to obtain in ''Red and Blue'' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness because Kadabra and Alakazam didn't even have it in their level-up moveset]] (the move appeared only via Metronome). Fixed in ''Yellow'' when it was added in their movepool and you could find wild Kadabra at a low enough level.
* MetalSlime: Good luck catching an Abra! Aside from the fact they tend to be uncommon in the wild, their only attack is Teleport, which removes them from the battle. Unless you have something to put them to sleep, or a Pokémon that knows Taunt, you really only have one turn to throw a Pokéball at them and hope they stay inside.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Kadabra is based on Uri Geller (its Japanese name is even a corruption of his name), particularly on his famous spoon-bending ability. Geller was not impressed, and sued Nintendo over it. As a result, Kadabra stopped appearing in the TCG and the anime (outside of a movie cameo).
* OutOfFocus: Kadabra has not made an appearance in any form of media outside of the games since 2006, likely to dispel any [[YouWannaGetSued lawsuits]] from Uri Geller (see NoCelebritiesWereHarmed above). The card game hasn't printed any Kadabra cards since, and it now lets Abra evolve directly into Alakazam.
* PowerFloats: Abra's 3D model makes it clear that its floating above the ground. It loses it when it evolves into Kadabara and Alakazam, but regains it as Mega Alakazam.
* PsychicPowers: One of the most well-known Psychic-Type Pokémon families in the franchise, being based on the commonly known concept of psychokinesis.
* PunnyName: Abracadabra and Alakazam are stock magic phrases, which fits this line of {{Squishy Wizard}}s.
** Their Japanese names are [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny bad Japanese transliterations]] of Edgar Cayce, Uri Geller, and Jean Robert-Houdin and/or Harry Houdini, all famous magicians.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: When encountering an Abra, it'll quickly teleport out of the battle before you can do anything. This is primarily a result of its speed, which is higher than most Pokémon. Your best bets are to either toss a Great Ball at it and hope it stays inside or win one in the Celadon Game Corner at the prize counter. When you do get it, though, it'll still have Teleport unless you train it or provide with a compatible TM.
* SecretArt: Kinesis for Kadabra and Alakazam. [[note]]Hilariously, the line ''couldn't use the move'' in ''Red'' and ''Blue'', as Kadabra could only be found in the wild at ludicrously high levels and the Move Reminder didn't exist. The only way to use Kinesis was to get lucky with Metronome. This was patched in ''Yellow''.[[/note]]
* SocializationBonus: Needs to be traded to evolve fully. However, ''Black 2'' and ''White 2'' has a postgame in-game trade that gives you an Alakazam for a Hippowdon (a rare swarm encounter in the Desert Resort in that game).
* SpoonBending: Kadabra holds a bent spoon and Alakazam holds two bent spoons, both in reference to Uri Geller's spoon-bending performance. Also, their signature move Kinesis is represented as a spoon being bent.
* SquishyWizard: One of the best examples in ''Pokémon'', with very high Special Attack and decent Special Defense, but low HP, physical attack, and defense. Alakazam's Pokédex entries reflect this, stating that it must use PSI ''[[UpToEleven just to move its muscles and lift its own head]]''. This trope is more evident in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', as the lack of a Special split meant Alakazam's excellent Special also gave it good resilience against special attacks, leaving it weak only on the physical side.
* SuperMode: Alakazam gets a Mega Evolution from ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' onward. Its already high Special Attack and Speed go even higher, plus it gets the Trace ability to copy the ability of its opponent.
* {{Synchronization}}: The Synchronize ability inflicts the opponent with the same status that this Pokémon gets. Mega Alakazam has Trace.
* TeleportSpam: Abra, especially in Spinoffs, although this is more of a case of WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer.
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Kadabra and (when not Mega Evolved) Alakazam have shorter mustaches than males.
* ThemeNaming: Even the pre-production names of Abra and Kadabra (Hocus and Pocus, respectively) have a theme.
* UselessUsefulSpell: The line learns Psycho Cut naturally, but it runs off its abysmal physical attack stat. That being said, it could be bred on to other Pokémon in its egg group with a better attack stat, like Medicham.
* UseYourHead: All of them can get Zen Headbutt from the move tutor, though it isn't useful, as it runs off their pathetic physical attack stat.
* WasOnceAMan: According to the Pokédex, a boy with psychic powers transformed into the first Kadabra.
* WizardBeard: Mega Alakazam spontaneously grows a bushy white beard, presumably to indicate its heightened power.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Machop, Machoke, and Machamp ''[-(Wanriky, Goriky, and Kairiky)-]'']]
!066: Machop / Wanriky (ワンリキー ''wanrikii'')\\
067: Machoke / Goriky (ゴーリキー ''goorikii'')\\
068: Machamp / Kairiky (カイリキー ''kairikii'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/machop066.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Machop]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/machoke067.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Machoke]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/machamp068.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Machamp]]

In the same way that the Abra kin represents brains, the Machop line represents brawn. These Pokémon are fantastically strong and use their muscles very effectively when it comes to manual labor. In order to get the four-armed Machamp, you need to trade it into another game. Like the Abra line is to the Psychic type, they are the standard Fighting-types recurring across multiple generations, appearing in the wild and all regional Dexes except in the fifth generation. In ''Pokemon Sun and Moon'', its immense strength can be put to use as a Poké Ride, enabling the player to shove enormous blocks around.

A special Machamp caught in a Raid Battle in Galar has the ability to Gigantamax, giving it access to the Fighting-type move G-Max Chi Strike, which raises the chance of critical hits.
----
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: Any move becomes this if they have No Guard, even if the target is in a semi-invulnerable stage. Unfortunately, that also applies to any move against them as well.
* BareFistedMonk: With four fists as Machamp.
* BlankWhiteEyes: Gains them in its Gigantamax form, denoting its [[MythologyGag immeasurable strength.]]
* BossBattle: Machamp is Bruno's signature, with him being the second (in Gen I) or third (in Gen II) Elite Four of Indigo Plateau.
** Gigantamax Machamp is Bea's signature and final Pokémon in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.
* BrainsAndBrawn: Fighting-type Brawn to the Alakazam line's Brains.
* BridalCarry: In ''Sun & Moon'', Machamp is the final Ride Pokémon and it uses its lower arms to carry the player in this manner while it uses its upper arms to push giant rocks.
* {{Foil}}: They're the [[MightyGlacier bulky]], physically-based muscle to the Abra line's [[SquishyWizard frail]], Specially-based brain.
* GagLips: Machamp has what appear to be thick lips in place of Machoke's reptilian snout, although they could just as well be a beak.
%%* LadyLooksLikeADude: Administrivia/NotThisTrope unless there's an in-universe character who mistakes this line as all-male.
* LizardFolk: While Machop and Machoke are mostly humanoid in appearance, they do have some reptilian features in them, such as Machop's tail and Machoke's reptilian-shaped head. Machamp has GagLips that appear to be a birdlike beak in some representations.
* MeaningfulName: Machamp's Japanese name "Kairiky" is a PunnyName based on the word "Kairiki", which is the Japanese name of the move Strength. Machamp is the replacement of the HM move Strength in Generation VII.
* MightyGlacier: They're not ''that'' fast, but their defenses are solid and they hit hard.
* MonsterModesty: Subverted; the black "briefs" on Machoke and Machamp are actually just markings on their skin that resemble briefs; the only clothing they wear are the belts.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Machamp has four arms to hit you with.
* MundaneUtility: They're regularly used in house-moving and construction work thanks to their strength.
* OffModel:
** The entire evolutionary line in ''Yellow'' and ''Gold and Silver'' are colored brown instead of blue. Fixed in the later games.
** Machamp lost its belt in ''Gold, Crystal'' and the entirety of Gen III.
* OneHitKill: The line could learn Fissure by TM in Generation I. However, it isn't possible to have a Machamp with No Guard and Fissure because Pokémon transferred from the Generation I Virtual Console games always have their Hidden Abilities, which can't be changed.
* PecFlex: Machoke in its ''Crystal'' sprites.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: All three of them, believe it or not. Even Machamp is only 5'03", six inches shorter than the average adult human male.
* PowerLimiter: According to the Dex, Machoke's belt keeps its strength in check.
* PowerUpLetdown: Gigantamax Machamp get access to G-Max Chi Strike, which increases its critical rate on top of dealing damage. However, this is a poor boost when compared to the normal effect of Max Knuckle, which deals damage ''but'' also increases its physical attack by one stage.
** The line has Steadfast as a hidden ability, which gives Machamp a speed boost when flinched. Not only is this pathetic when compared to Guts' raw damage output and immunity to crippling status conditions, or No Guard's giving it a 100% chance damaging confusion on Dynamic Punch, flinching is also a rather situational condition[[note]]Unless you are fighting a Togekiss or Jirachi user, both of which can hit Machamp super-effectively before it accumulates enough speed boosts anyway[[/note]].
* PowerUpMount: In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', Machamp is Poké Ride's replacement for Strength, carrying the player with its lower pair of hands and pushing boulders with the upper pair.
* RapidFireFisticuffs: Machamp can throw 1,000 punches in two seconds. That's 125 per second, per hand. It can also learn Bullet Punch.
* RatedMForManly: The whole family resemble very masculine bodybuilders. Even the females. The family also has "macho" in all its members' names.
* SecretArt:
** The only ones to learn Submission naturally in Generation I.
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', due to [=HMs=] being replaced with Poké Ride, Machamp is the only Pokémon that can learn Strength. Machamp itself is also the replacement for Strength.
* SmarterThanYouLook: It's said that Machop is actually quite intelligent. Whether or not this applies to its evolutions is unknown.
* SocializationBonus: Machoke needs to be traded to another game in order to evolve into Machamp.
* SuperMode: Gains the ability to Gigantamax in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'', giving it BlankWhiteEyes and changing its Fighting-type damaging moves to G-Max Chi Strike.
* SuperStrength: Machop's muscles never tire and can hold a sumo wrestler aloft on ''one finger'', Machoke can lift dump trucks without effort, and Machamp can punch a man with enough force to send him flying away and move mountains using only one hand.
* StatusBuff: One of the Battle [=CDs=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'' gives the player a Machamp with the attack-boosting Swords Dance, [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard which Machamp is unable to learn without hacking]].
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Machoke and Machamp, which gets a bit awkward as they can be both female and male. Taken further when one considers that their "speedos" are actually markings, so they're also naked except for the belts.
* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Machoke and Machamp even have a sumo belt.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel ''[-(Madatsubomi, Utsudon, and Utsubot)-]'']]
!069: Bellsprout / Madatsubomi (マダツボミ ''madatsubomi'')\\
070: Weepinbell / Utsudon (ウツドン ''utsudon'')\\
071: Victreebel / Utsubot (ウツボット ''utsubotto'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bellsprout069.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Bellsprout]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/weepinbell070.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Weepinbell]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/victreebel071.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Victreebel]]

This family of carnivorous plants were exclusive to the ''Green'' and ''Blue'' versions of the original games, in place of the Oddish family. Much like them, they're Grass/Poison-types. You need a Leaf Stone to get a Victreebel; just be careful because it is capable of swallowing a fully grown human (which explains why explorers who stumble upon the secret jungle society of Victreebel never come back).
----
* TheArtifact: Much like [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIIFamilies Feraligatr]], Victreebel's name is obviously shortened, missing the second "l" that Weepinbell had due to the CharacterNameLimits of the early generations. Despite Gen VI onwards allowing for longer names, Victreebel remains unchanged.
* BalanceBuff: It received a 10 point buff to its Special Defense in Generation VI, helping alleviate its frailty.
* BigEater:
** It can digest pretty much everything it can swallow, except for itself.
** Comes into play with their Hidden Ability of Gluttony, causing them to eat certain health- or stat-boosting berries at half health instead of the normal quarter remaining health.
* CharacterNameLimits: Victreebel is missing the second "l" that Weepinbell had room for.
* CombatTentacles: They can use their vines to attack and trap opponents with Wrap.
* CriticalHitClass: Back in Generation I, it was capable of getting 100% critical hit rate on Razor Leaf due to its good Speed stat.
* GlassCannon: They can't take too many hits.
* GreenThumb: Grass-types based off of carnivorous plants, specifically pitcher plants.
* HiddenElfVillage: Apparently, they live in huge colonies in jungles.
* LifeDrain: They can learn Leech Life via breeding, but ''not'' via TM for some reason.
* MagicKnight: Victreebel has decent Attack and Special Attack, leaning towards Attack.
* ManEatingPlant: It's implied that Victreebel have eaten any and all explorers who stumble upon their secret society in the jungles.
* PoisonousPerson: Poison-types.
* PowerNullifier: Bellsprout and Weepinbell naturally learn Gastro Acid, allowing them to remove a target's Ability.
* PowerOfTheSun: Gets the Chlorophyll Ability, giving it a doubled Speed when the sun is out. In addition, it can learn Growth, Synthesis, Solarbeam, and Weather Ball; the first gets a doubled effect in the sun, the second [[HealThyself does additional healing in the sun]], the third loses the usual charge-up turn when used in the sun, and the last becomes a [[PlayingWithFire Fire attack]] with a 100 Power when used in the sun.
* StatusBuff: Chlorophyll doubles their Speed during harsh sunlight caused by Sunny Day, Drought, or Desolate Land.
* SuperSpit: Victreebel learns the Stockpile/Swallow/Spit Up trio naturally.
* WhipItGood: Can use Vine Whip and Power Whip.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tentacool and Tentacruel ''[-(Menokurage and Dokukurage)-]'']]
!072: Tentacool / Menokurage (メノクラゲ ''menokurage'')\\
073: Tentacruel / Dokukurage (ドククラゲ ''dokukurage'')
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tentacool072.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Tentacool]]
[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tentacruel073.png]]
[[caption-width-right:240:Tentacruel]]

Whenever you go surfing on the seas of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, you're bound to encounter these Jellyfish Pokémon. [[ComMons Lots of them.]] Luckily for you, you could handle these guys in the same way one handles Zubat: Electric and Psychic moves will normally do the job.
----
* AntiRegeneration: Can have the Liquid Ooze ability, which causes Pokemon that use LifeDrain moves against them to take damage instead of getting healed.
* CombatTentacles: They can trap the opponent with Wrap.
* ComMons: Exceptionally common in bodies of water outside of Unova, but like Crobat, Tentacruel is a respectable fighter.
* TheDreaded: If there's an outbreak of Tentacruel, any fish Pokémon around flee the scene immediately.
* ElectricJellyfish: Averted. Not only are they not part Electric-type, but they can't learn any Electric moves outside of (possibly) Hidden Power.
* GrowingUpSucks: A minor example in the ''Sun'' Pokédex entry; as it grows older, it loses its tentacles.
* HealingFactor:
** They will restore some HP at the end of each turn during Rain if they have their Hidden Ability of Rain Dish.
** In addition, they can be bred to know Aqua Ring.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The Liquid Ooze variant can inflict this on users of LifeDrain moves, as it causes them to drain the user's health instead of restore it.
* HoldingOutForAHero: Tentacool is forced to do this if it ends up beached. Pokédex entries advise that you throw a beached Tentacool into the ocean if you want to revive it.
* MakingASplash: Water-types.
* PoisonousPerson: As they're based off of jellyfish, they're Poison-types.
* SquishyWizard: Tentacruel has a high Special Defense stat but its Defense is below average.
* TentacleRope: Presumably uses their tentacles for attacks like Bind and Wrap.
* TrapMaster: Naturally learns Toxic Spikes, and can be bred to know Rapid Spin.
[[/folder]]
----

* {{Foil}}: To the Weedle line — both are insect-based Pokémon lines that consist of a larval stage (Weedle and Caterpie), a pupa stage (Kakuna and Metapod), and an adult stage (Beedrill and Butterfree), but Beedrill is a dangerous and threatening creature while Butterfree is more docile and beautiful.

* {{Foil}}: To the Caterpie line — both are insect-based Pokémon lines that consist of a larval stage (Weedle and Caterpie), a pupa stage (Kakuna and Metapod), and an adult stage (Beedrill and Butterfree), but Beedrill is a dangerous and threatening creature while Butterfree is more docile and beautiful.

* SecretArt: The event Pikachu in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' has G-Max Volt Crash, which cannot be learned by any other specimen. The move replaces Gigantamax Pikachu's Electric-type moves, and, on top of damaging the target, inflicts paralysis on the opponent's active Pokémon.

* SecretArt: The event Pikachu in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' has G-Max Volt Crash, which cannot be learned by any other specimen. The art is a G-Max version of Volt Tackle, which causes heavy Electric damage and inflicts piercing Paralysis upon its victims.

* For 74-113, go [[Characters/PokemonGenerationIGeodudeToBlissey here]].
* For 114-151, go [[Characters/PokemonGenerationITangelaToMew here]].

** The line has Steadfast as a hidden ability, which gives Machamp an attack boost when flinched. Not only is this pathetic when compared to Guts' raw damage output and immunity to crippling status conditions, or No Guard's giving it a 100% chance damaging confusion on Dynamic Punch, flinching is also a rather situational condition[[note]]Unless you are fighting a Togekiss or Jirachi user, both of which can hit Machamp super-effectively before it accumulates enough speed boosts anyway[[/note]].

A bipedal, orange, lizard-like creature with a flame on the tip of its tail, it first evolves into a more feral version of itself with red coloring and a horn on the top of its head, then regains its original color at the next stage as it becomes a two-horned winged dragon. The first [[PlayingWithFire Fire-type]] and single type in National Dex order, as well as the first change of type upon evolution. It's the second starter for the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] region. An offensive-oriented fighter, [[GlassCannon it has some crippling weaknesses due to its typing]], [[FragileSpeedster but it may be able to take down an opponent before they can exploit its weaknesses]]. Charmander is considered by many to be the hard mode of the game as it has no advantages against any of the gyms except Erika and four of the Gyms have big advantages against it. It gains two Mega Evolutions in ''X and Y'', Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. The former focuses on Charizard's draconic aspects and gives it the Dragon-type along with a brand-new color scheme, higher Attack stat, and an ability that powers up its contact moves. The latter focuses more on its Flying-type aspects and gives it a more aerodynamic design, a higher Special Attack, and the [[WeatherManipulation Drought ability]]. In Alola, the family isn't native to the region,[[note]]although Charmander, while absent from the regional Dex, can be caught in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'',[[/note]] but a Charizard Poké Ride is available for the player to fly to previously visited locations. In ''Sword and Shield'', special Charizards can undergo a Gigantamax transformation in certain battles to turn into giants with even more firepower and an exclusive attack that deals tons of fire damage and traps the enemy in a vortex of flame for several turns.

* HotWings: Gigantamax Charizard's wings is made from fire.
* IncendiaryExponent: Fire-type, and the tail-tip being alight is a vital sign. In its Gigantamax form, not only has more of its tail been engulfed in flames, but so has its wings and horns. Even its belly glows with the power of fire.

* TheBusCameBack: Meowth and its evolution Persian were completely dropped out from ''every regional Pokédex'' from Gen III to Gen VI in mainline games[[note]]except ''Fire Red/Leaf Green'' and Heart Gold/Soul Silver'', which were remakes of first two generations[[/note]], despite its prominent appearances in anime. It was brought back to Gen VII's Alola Pokédex, albeit in Alolan forms.

* SnobsVsSlobs: Persian and Perrserker have this dynamic according to Kantonian Persian's ''Shield'' dex entry; ''Its elegant and refined behavior clashes with that of the barbaric Perrserker. The relationship between the two is one of mutual disdain.''

A bipedal, orange, lizard-like creature with a flame on the tip of its tail, it first evolves into a more feral version of itself with red coloring and a horn on the top of its head, then regains its original color at the next stage as it becomes a two-horned winged dragon. The first [[PlayingWithFire Fire-type]] and single type in National Dex order, as well as the first change of type upon evolution. It's the second starter for the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] region. An offensive-oriented fighter, [[GlassCannon it has some crippling weaknesses due to its typing]], [[FragileSpeedster but it may be able to take down an opponent before they can exploit its weaknesses]]. Charmander is considered by many to be the hard mode of the game as it has no advantages against any of the gyms except Erika and four of the Gyms have big advantages against it. It gains two Mega Evolutions in ''X and Y'', Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. The former focuses on Charizard's draconic aspects and gives it the Dragon-type along with a brand-new color scheme, higher Attack stat, and an ability that powers up its contact moves. The latter focuses more on its Flying-type aspects and gives it a more aerodynamic design, a higher Special Attack, and the [[WeatherManipulation Drought ability]]. In Alola, the family isn't native to the region,[[note]]although Charmander, while absent from the regional Dex, can be caught in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'',[[/note]] but a Charizard Poké Ride is available for the player to fly to previously visited locations.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: The line somewhat resembles therapod dinosaurs, starting out ambiguous and cartoony and developing a head and proportions reminiscent of ''Baryonyx'' as Charizard, which is even clearer for its live-action design in ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu''.

* {{Kaiju}}: While Charizard in general has been theorized to be this as opposed to an actual dragon, Gigantamax Charizard is definitely this, being a gigantic and intimidating creature [[NotZilla with aspects of]] Franchise/{{Godzilla}} and overall slightly resembling [[VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld Zorah Magdaros]].

* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Pikachu have heart-shaped tails, and regular female Raichu's lightning-bolt tail ends are slightly blunted. Averted with Alolan Raichu and Gigantamax PIkachu, though[[note]]In Gigantamax Pikachu's case, its tail is actually a hologram tail[[/note]].

* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Female Pikachu have heart-shaped tails, and regular female Raichu's lightning-bolt tail ends are slightly blunted. Averted with Alolan Raichu, though.

* PowerIncontinence: Pichu shocks itself because of youth and inexperience. This carries over into ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', where it cripples it so much [[JokeCharacter that it's the weakest character in the game]].

]* CatsAreSuperior: Alolan Meowth were treated like royalty in the past, and still act like it in the present. Its half-closed eyes also give it a rather smug look.

* UndergroundMonkey: Years of isolation from other Meowth populations and living in the lap of luxury have made Alolan Meowth Dark-types.

[[folder:Meowth ''[-(Nyarth)-]'' Persian, and Perrserker]]

053: Persian (ペルシアン ''perushian'')
863: Perrserker

[[folder:Meowth ''[-(Nyarth)-]'' and Persian]]

* CatsAreSuperior: Alolan Meowth were treated like royalty in the past, and still act like it in the present. Its half-closed eyes also give it a rather smug look.

* ExtraOreDinary: Galarian Meowth and Perrserker are pure-Steel type as a result of parts of their bodies being turned to iron from their tough lifestyle.

These Pokémon are probably some of the most recognized Pokémon in the franchise after Pikachu, due to one individual being a main antagonist in the anime and because that particular one is unique in that it can speak human languages, something very few other Pokémon can do (and most of those use telepathy). It's only natural to have a cat Pokémon as an antagonist when your protagonist is a mouse. These cats are based on ManekiNeko, a lucky cat that's supposed to grant its owner wealth. Persian has a regal air to it and is quite fast, but nothing note-worthy about it otherwise. In their debut, they could only be found in ''Blue''.

Meowth were brought to Alola as gifts to the royal family from another region and they were treated as royalty themselves. Generations of living the pampered lifestyle made them conceited and prideful to the point that wounding that pride or dirtying their coins drive them to hysterics. They also become Dark-types in the process. However, at some point the monarchy collapsed and these Meowth turned feral and became regular Pokémon. Alolan Meowth naturally evolve into Alolan Persian. Its face is a bit more rounded than regular Persian, but the people of the Alola region actually see this, and its fur coat as a source of pride. Not coincidentally, Alolan Persian gains Fur Coat as an ability.

* ManekiNeko: Based on these.