History Characters / PokemonGenerationVMinccinoToVolcarona

* GirlishPigtails: Gothorita has them.

* IJustWantToHaveFriends: According to the ''Black and White 2'' Pokédex entry, this is why Gothorita kidnap people and Pokémon.

* ExtraEyes: Both of them have multiple eyes, [[ShownTheirWork similar to real life spiders]]. It also justifies their Compoundeyes ability.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Joltik is what happens when you design a spider that looks like a hamster. Galvantula, despite being somewhat more accurate, still looks like a candy-colored plush toy. May be justified actually for Galvantula, as it's at least partly based on jumping spiders, many of which are notably cute and "plush" as spiders go.

* ShownTheirWork: The line learning Bug Buzz may seem odd at first, as the move is mostly associated with Bug types that have wings. However, the flavor text for Bug Buzz itself only describes it as a vibration, and a number of real jumping spiders can produce vibrations for communication by drumming on surfaces (there are also some spiders that can produce audible buzzing sounds). Likewise, the Compound Eyes ability is likely a reference to how jumping spiders have the best vision of all spiders (though they don't have compound eyes).

* MeaningfulName: Their Japanese names involve just adding more G's to "gear", reflective of its evolutions involving just adding more gears.

* SecretArt: Gear Grind, a Steel-type move that deals damage twice. Shift Gear used to be one of their signature moves as well, but it lost such status after Magearna (and then Toxtricity) gained access to the move by level up.

* PowerFloats: Its ability Levitate makes it have no weaknesses, unless an attack is coming from a Mold Breaker, or if its airborne status is removed (such as by Gravity or Smack Down). Despite this, in Generation V it clearly lands on the ground when it is sent out, like Gengar, but as of Generation VI its in-battle model clearly shows it floating.

* PaperThinDisguise: [[AlienAmongUs Beheeyem looks like it's trying to pass off as a person.]]

* MagikarpPower: Litwick evolves into Lampent at level ''41'', which means you have to bear dealing with its flimsy defenses and even worse speed for 8-15 levels before it can evolve and be given a Dusk Stone (unless you leave it at a daycare where it can level up). Afterwards, the effort will pay off in the form of a ''monstrous'' special attack stat. Less problematic in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', where it's found at level 37 or 38.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Litwick ''was'' drawn to be cute, despite that being a manipulative, soul-stealing candle ghost. Lampent and Chandelure are also quite cute in their own way.

* YourSoulIsMine: Litwick's [[HitodamaLight ghostly flames are fueled by the souls of people and Pokémon]] who were tricked into following it, Lampent consumes the souls of people who are on their deathbeds in the hospital, and Chandelure steals souls and burns them so they have no chance of returning inside the victim's body or crossing over to the afterlife.

* ThePowerOfTheSun: Despite being an Ice-type and its Pokédex entries stating that sunlight sublimates it, it's able to learn [[GreenThumb Solar Beam]].

* SocializationBonus: Needs to be traded for Karrablast in order to evolve.

* OxymoronicBeing: It's an Electric-type paired with Ground, the Electric-type's arch-nemesis.

* BossBattle: Mienshao as Marshal's ace, though only in his very first battle of ''Black and White'', as it's later replaced by Conkeldurr in all subsequent battles.

* DeathOrGloryAttack: One of the few Pokémon with access to Jump Kick and High Jump Kick, which will either dish out a harsh attack, or [[EpicFail crash and have half of that damage done to the user instead.]] Taking this even further, their Hidden Ability is Reckless, which allows them to hit even harder with these moves (a strategy only Hitmonlee can imitate).
* FragileSpeedster: It has a high speed of 105, but its defenses leave a lot to be desired.

* KiManipulation: Notably learns the move Aura Sphere. It's the only Fighting-type to learn it via level-up besides Lucario, though their noticeably weaker Special Attack makes them less proficient with it than their Fourth Gen brethren, but it's still high enough to be usable.

* StatusBuff: Interestingly, it can't learn Dragon Dance or Swords Dance like nearly all other Dragons, but it naturally learns Hone Claws, which raises Attack and accuracy by one level, which is especially helpful to patch up the accuracy problems of many of its moves such as Iron Tail and Rock Slide.

* {{Flight}}: For some bizarre reason, Golurk is one of the very few Pokémon that can learn Fly despite not being of the Flying-type or having the Levitate ability.

* AudibleSharpness: Their cries sound like an blade being unsheathed. More prominent from ''X and Y'' onward.

* MagicallyIneptFighter: Kingambit may have a massive Attack stat, but its base 60 Special Attack is nothing to write home about. Not that it really needs it, anyway, as the entire line learns no Special moves by level-up.

* {{Mooks}}: A group of Pawniard hunt for a leader Bisharp. Incorporated nicely by ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', where wild Pawniard only appear when summoned by Bisharp as backup, which is exaggerated in ''Scarlet and Violet'' where leader Bisharp are always seen with groups of Pawniard.
* {{Nerf}}: The line is unable to learn Knock Off via TM in Gen IX's ''The Teal Mask'' DLC despite Pawniard and Bisharp being able to learn Knock Off via move tutors in previous generations, making them one of the few Pokemon that lost access to Knock Off.

A Bison Pokémon with an unusually large afro and huge horns. It can't exactly move as fast as its cousin Tauros, but it can sure take hits and deal out severe damage. Its afro cushions the damage from slamming its head into anything (like, say, a ''speeding train it's trying to run off the tracks''). It also loves its veggies, so sending a Grass Pokémon after it isn't a good idea.

* RecurringElement: The EagleLand Gen V answer to Tauros.

An eagle Pokémon that's caught fairly late in the game (for those playing Pokémon White) and takes a very long time to evolve, but once he does, he's a powerful Pokémon. This majestic Pokémon is strong enough to carry a car while soaring through the air. He can also do the same for Pokémon in the form of the attack Sky Drop.\\

** Its regular form was once considered for the role in Galar for the taxi service but its belligerent nature meant that the role was given to Corviknight instead.

An anteater and an ant in a predator-prey relationship. Heatmor is a fire type that appears to be a cross between an anteater and a machine of some sort, if the claws that resemble a radiator and a tail that resembles a muffler is of any indication. Said muffler tail is also how it gets oxygen for its Fire-type attacks. Durant is a colonial Pokémon that has steel armor and steel jaws which it can use to carry off and process food. They are so efficient that their numbers would expand greatly if they weren't kept in check somehow.

* AnimalJingoism: Anteater vs. ants.

* MagicallyIneptFighter: Durant sports very good Attack, Defense, and Speed stats, but its Special Attack and Special Defenses stats are terrible. Its special frailty is further emphasized by its low HP stat.

* BadassAdorable: One of the cutest Pokémon of the fifth Generation, and so pretty in its own fur! And with the right set-up and a bit of luck, it can take down some nasty Pokémon... by slapping them with its tail.

* KillerRabbit: Don't mistake them for ComMons, these adorable chinchillas' moves will ''hurt''. Both evolutions come with a STAB SpamAttack that takes heavy advantage of regular ability Technician and hidden ability Skill Link, and Cinccino also gets access to a Grass- and Rock-type Spam Attack as well as a very impressive base Speed. An enemy weak to any of its moves is going to say goodbye to either most or all of its HP.

* SeriesMascot: For the 5th Generation games. Game Freak certainly tried to push Minccino (alongside Emolga) as the Pikachu equivalent for the 5th generation (similar to Marill in the 2nd). Both forms were fairly prominent in most Black & White related material as well as the opening cutscene for both the base games and their sequels.

* UselessUsefulSpell: One of their abilities, Cute Charm, has a 30% chance of inflicting Attract on a Pokémon that hits it with direct attack. Even discounting that it only works on Pokémon of the opposite gender, Attract also requires the user to be alive and stay on the field, which is problematic because taking hits is [[GlassCannon not their strong suit]].

* InvasionOfTheBabySnatchers: Just like Drowzee and Hypno, wild Gothorita steal people and Pokémon during the night with hypnotic powers. Its Hidden Ability is Shadow Tag, which prevents foes from fleeing. Unlike Drowzee, it doesn't have the excuse of ''[[DreamStealer needing]]'' [[DreamStealer some nice tasty dreams to eat.]] But it can anyway... and while there are numerous tales of Gothorita leading travelers astray, it specializes in sleeping children.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: According to the the ''Black and White 2'' Pokédex entry, this is why Gothorita kidnap people and Pokémon.

* MayflyDecemberFriendship: Implied in Gothitelle's ''Black 2'' Pokédex entry; Gothitelles are said to cry when they learn from the stars how long their trainers are going to live, suggesting that they naturally outlive their human trainers.

* StatusBuff: From ''X and Y'' onward one of their possible abilities is Competitive, which grants them a two-stage boost to Special Attack whenever any of their stats are reduced.

* TheHermit: While Gothita is unsubtly curious about other species and Gothorita is an active mischief maker, wild Gothitelle dislike crowds and conflict, so they rarely make their presence known.

Psychic Pokémon that resemble giant amoebae, homunculi, and/or developing embryos. Their inner bodies are suspended in a green fluid and encapsulated in a thin membrane, which protects them from the elements and allows them to thrive in nearly any sort of environment. It possess a high special attack and HP stat, and their sluggishness makes them excellent Trick Room users. It is exclusive to the White version.

* BadassAdorable: Duosion and Reuniclus are incredibly soft and adorable yet their special attack are very high.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The ''White'' Pokédex entry mentions that Reuniclus's arms can grip with "rock-crushing power." Its apparent newfound physical strength granted by its new arms is exemplified by it learning Dizzy Punch upon evolution. However, its physical attack is actually poor, especially in comparison to its very high special attack stat.

* HealingFactor: They get Regenerator as their Hidden Ability, restoring them for 1/3 of their total HP whenever they switch out.

* OurHomunculiAreDifferent: They look like a developing embryo.

* PintSizedPowerhouse: Barely more than three feet tall, Reuniclus hits harder than Arceus in regards to its Special Attack, and can either use Calm Mind to make itself hit even harder (as well as take hits even better), or use Trick Room to make its low speed work for it. (Or it can do both, but that veers into AwesomeButImpractical.)
* ProtectionFromTheElements: Their Overcoat and Magic Guard abilities protects them from the residual damage of Sandstorm and Hail.

* UselessUsefulSpell: Overcoat was this during Generation V, in which its sole purpose was to prevent damage from Hail and Sandstorm. However, weather protection was already a part of Magic Guard's many boons as an indirect source of damage. Generation VI updated Overcoat to include an immunity to powder- and spore-based moves, something that Magic Guard does not protect against and making it slightly less redundant.

** It can also blow away wind (and entry hazards) with Defog, a highly coveted move due to its Gen 6 buff. You can only find one Defog user in ''X and Y'' without transferring from [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl an earlier game]] or Friend Safaris: Ducklett.

* GlassCannon: Higher-than-average offenses and speed, but horrible defenses.
* HairTriggerTemper: Swannas are noted to be rather aggressive, just like real swans are.

* MakingASplash: They're Water-type Pokemon based on the water fowl.

A family of pure Ice-types that hang around Cold Storage and bear a striking resemblance to ice cream desserts[[note]]Vanillite looks like a soft-serve cone from the kids' menu of a Dairy Queen, Vanillish looks like a typical ice cream cone, and Vanilluxe brings to mind an ice cream sundae with a rolled-up wafer stuck in it or, if you think the protrusion on its head is a straw, then a milkshake or a root beer float[[/note]]. Don't let their appearance deceive you. For one thing, their [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0IJclDUwAAmHAn.jpg heads are solid ice]] underneath a layer of snow and they aren't milk-based. For another, they do have high stats, although their typing and movepool holds them back.

* AnthropomorphicFood: Subverted; they may look like ice cream, but they're just very stylized icicles. In-universe, it's [[InvertedTrope inverted]] -- Castelia City's Casteliacones are ice cream based off Vanillite.

* BarrierWarrior: Vanilluxe can learn Aurora Veil in [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Gen VIII]], which can work in conjunction with its newly acquired second ability, Snow Warning, which it was able to have since [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Gen VII]].

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Don't let the fact that they're ice cream cones fool you. Vanilluxe is tied with ''Lapras'' for the highest base stat total of non-Legendary Ice-types. It also has a higher physical Attack stat than some tough-looking Pokémon such as Steelix, Scrafty, and ''Ferrothorn'', even though its highest stat is Special Attack.
* ExtraOreDinary: Though not a Steel-type, it learns a lot of Steel attacks such as Flash Cannon, Mirror Shot, and Autotomize. They are also in the Mineral Egg Group.

* AnIcePerson: Ice-type Pokémon that look like ice cream desserts.

* StatusBuff: Can be bred to have Autotomize, which doubles their speed. It also learns Acid Armor naturally to boost its Defense further, and [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment it can be bred or tutored to know Iron Defense]]. Vanilluxe can also learn Aurora Veil starting from [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Gen VIII]], which it can use immediately once its newly acquired in [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Generation VII]] Snow Warning ability activates.

* TheArtifact: Seasons did not become a mainstay of the Pokémon franchise after Gen V, leaving them a remnant of the feature. Averted in ''VideoGame/PokemonGO'', as they automatically change with the real life seasons. ''Scarlet and Violet'' include Deerling and Sawsbuck in the Paldea dex, but change how their forms function by being based on what province you're in when you load the game with them in your party.

* TheMarvelousDeer: Sawsbuck is a deer Pokeémon whose antlers change throughout the seasons.
* NonElemental: One of the few with a second type that isn't Flying.

** Spring Form has a Pink color in reference to the CherryBlossoms that symbolize Spring in Japan.
** Summer Form is Green due to the plants having the most sunlight to thrive.

* PowerupLetdown: Gets Serene Grace as its Hidden Ability, which doubles the likelihood of any attack's secondary effect. Unfortunately, Sawsbuck only has five moves that apply the bonus: The first being a widely distributed but lackluster move (Rock Smash), the 2nd being a relatively inaccurate move that executes in two turns (Bounce), the remaining three (Shadow Ball, Energy Ball, Snore) being moves utilizing its awful Special Attack, not to mention the last one cannot be learned in ''Pokémon X and Y'' and is weaker than ''Tackle''.

* BossBattle: Bisharp is Elite Four Grimsley's signature Mon. In Paldea, Pawniard is the signature Pokémon of Giacomo, the leader of Team Star's Dark-type Segin Squad, and it evolves into Kingambit for rematches.

* SkillGateCharacter: Durant with the Truant ability[[note]]Causes the bearer to [[BlessedWithSuck skip every other turn]][[/note]] and Entrainment[[note]]Makes the target's ability the same as the user's[[/note]] can be a powerful weapon against the AI or a novice player, letting you stick their active Pokémon with a crippling ability, then switch in another Pokémon to get the advantage. Against an opponent who knows how to switch Pokémon themselves, however, it's easily countered, leaving Durant as dead weight.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Gothita, Gothorita and Gothitelle have a gothic lolita design, along with having pale faces, and all three have creepy and disturbing habits, such as looking at something not being there, kidnapping kids at night and knowing when everything will die.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Subverted. While the Pokédex entries for Hydreigon make it sound like one of the nastiest Pokémon around, it's more of an InformedAttribute, as it's not shown to be any worse than a lot of other species on the instances where it is given personality and characterization. Ironically, it also behaves in a manner that's much ''friendlier'' than that of numerous other Pokémon in Pokémon-Amie/Refresh, though it's not afraid to show off its ugly side if you decide to tick it off on purpose. it's ''Violet'' Dex entry justifies this as being because past people used to attack it on sight under the assumption it was evil, to which the species [[ThenLetMeBeEvil developed a violent and aggressive personality in response]], so in the hands of a caring trainer their repressed gentleness resurfaces.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Subverted. While the Pokédex entries for Hydreigon make it sound like one of the nastiest Pokémon around, it's more of an InformedAttribute, as it's not shown to be any worse than a lot of other species on the instances where it is given personality and characterization. Ironically, it also behaves in a manner that's much ''friendlier'' than that of numerous other Pokémon in Pokémon-Amie/Refresh, though it's not afraid to show off its ugly side if you decide to tick it off on purpose.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Carlita's Hydreigon, in contrast to [[SmugSnake Ghetsis']] more [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard (in)famous]] specimen. In ''Black 2 and White 2,'' the champion, Iris, also has one, as does Lance from the Kanto/Johto games, the latter of which would reappear years later in ''Pokémon Journeys: The Series''. ''VideoGame/PokemonConquest'' has it as a signature Pokémon of UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga, who is the game's antagonist [[spoiler:but turns out to be an AntiHero]]. [[spoiler:In ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity'', Hydreigon is GoodAllAlong, [[BigDamnHeroes saves the player's party]], and is arguably [[BigGood one of the most heroic characters in the game]]!]] Come Gen 6 and Pokémon-Amie, and Hydreigon proves to be one of if not the most affectionate Pokémon in the game.

* ManOfKryptonite: Kingambit can absolutely destroy Pecharunt with its immunity to Poison, resistant to ghost, and it's signature move, Kowtow Cleave, is super-effective and never misses, meaning that Pecharunt will be destroyed before it can really do anything.

* PoseOfSupplication: Kingambit's Kowtow Cleave has it perform one to [[ISurrenderSuckers make the opponent lower their guard]], before stabbing them with the huge blade on their head. Its Japanese name even contains "dogeza", the Japanese term for this pose.

* SecretArt: Kingambit has the exclusive move Kowtow Cleave, an 85 base power Dark-type attack that never misses. It is also the only Pokémon with the Supreme Overlord ability, despite the description mentioning raising its Attack and Special Attack, it gives a 10% power boost to its moves for every ally that has been fainted beforehand.

* ManOfKryptonite: Kingambit can absolutly destroy Pecharunt with its immunity to Poison, resistanct to ghost, and it's signature move, Kowtow Cleave, is super-effective and never misses, meaning that Pecharunt will be destroyed before it can really do anything.

* CutenessProximity: The only possible explanation for why Unnerve works for Joltik is that enemies are too distracted by the [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter fuzzy yellow plushie spider]] to think about eating.

* FragileSpeedster: Galvantula's base Speed is a whopping 108, which is compensated by the fact that its HP, Defense, ''and'' Special Defense are cripplingly below average.

* SpidersAreScary: These Pokémon are based on spiders and have the Unnerve ability, which makes their opponent too nervous to eat.