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lurantis or fomantis? they are my babies :3

[A link to a previously published fomantis post will be at the bottom of this one :)]

I worry that I say this too much in these posts, but this one was tricky. In all honesty, the data surrounding this pokémon is often contradictory, a perhaps fitting condition considering its tricky appearance. Overall, from the best that I can tell, a lurantis would not make the best pet for many owners.

Thankfully, size isn’t an issue. It rarely is with bug pokémon like, but not exactly like, lurantises. Lurantises only appear to be a bug pokémon in order to hunt and protect themselves (Ultra Sun, Scarlet), but they sell the facade well. This protects them from predators seeking a grassy snack and tricks tasty bug pokémon to come closer to them until it’s too late. While this strange pokémon doesn’t have very extreme space needs, they are notoriously difficult to care for… somehow.

The pokédex makes it very clear that it takes a very attentive trainer to keep a lurantis healthy (Violet). The species’ beautiful floral coloration, which have given it the reputation of being one of the “most glamorous Grass Pokémon” (Ultra Moon), is a handy health indicator: a happy and healthy lurantis will have bright, vivid colors. This is said to be difficult and laborious for trainers to maintain (Sun, Violet), though some have taken up lurantis care as a hobby (which indicates that its both possible, and attention-consuming). I’m not sure, however, why it is so difficult to maintain this level of health for a lurantis. After all, due to their common ability Leaf Guard, this species is immune to conditions like poisoning as long as they are in the sun, and their many self-healing moves, it shouldn’t be that difficult to maintain their health! It’s a puzzle. Let’s just say that a lurantis is unlikely to be a good starter pet.

While they may not be particularly violent normally, aside from taking down prey, lurantises are quite dangerous. Their move pool might not be too much to worry about on the surface, their biology has provided them with some truly formidable weapons. The sickle-shaped petals on their arms are actually quite sharp, allowing them to use moves like Slash and Leaf Blade (Ultra Sun, Shield). The danger in these petals goes beyond their sharp edges: lurantises are capable of turning sunlight into powerful beams which they can shoot from their petals that are powerful enough to “cleave through metal plates” (Moon). So. That’s… not great. Any pokémon that could kill you instantly, just from spending time in the sun, is one we have to consider very carefully no matter their usual behavior.

All-in-all, lurantis scores a very middle-of-the-road score due to the mixed results of my analysis. They’re beautiful, small, and smell nice (Scarlet), but they are also said to take a lot of attention and care, and could cause massive damage on whim. Prospective lurantis owners, I’ll leave this one up to you. Personally, I think a fomantis is a much safer choice.

The Fomantis post:

#pokémon #pokemon #Lurantis #pkmn irl #PR-C

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Would aegislash make a good pet?

Unfortunately, much like their first evolution, honedge, aegislashes would not make for very good house pets. While this pokémon species is certainly fascinating and a wonder to behold, they are, when it course down to it, a living weapon. Toss in with the whole their-body-is-a-sword thing the fact that they may not be the nicest creatures, and you have a recipe for risk too great to take for most owners.

Not only are aegislashes noticeable sword-shaped, that sword is huge! At five and a half feet tall, this pokémon’s blade could do some really severe damage. Unsurprisingly, this pokémon relies heavily on this blade in combat, so any violent altercation with one could be lethal. This size also makes them somewhat unwieldy for some homes. Thankfully, this is a pokémon that gets around by levitating, which might mitigate the problem somewhat.

We don’t actually have a lot of data about contemporary aegislash behavior: most of the information on this species in the pokédex refers to old stories and legends. This species is purported to have lived alongside human royalty for generations (X), and their keen ability to detect leadership attributes has been aid to be the determining factor in whether or not individuals were destined to be king (Y). At first, this might seem like a good sign! Aegislashes have a great record of serving as loyal companions to kings! But… when you dig a little deeper, the stories take a darker turn. While this ability is not reflected in their moveset, aegislashes can allegedly use spectral powers to manipulate and control humans and other pokémon (X). It can be reasonably inferred that these partnerships between aegislashes and ancient kings were fairly parasitical: in different Galarian accounts aegislashes have used their powers to build their own kingdoms and drain their human partners of life (Shield - Shield Forme, Shield - Blade Forme). From these stories, it seems like these pokémon might not be the most trustworthy, to say the least.

All that taken into account, considering that this blog has a policy of taking pokédex data with a grain of salt (especially when it comes to old legends), we can’t confidently say that all aegislashes would seek to manipulate you and drain you of your life force. Even if we discount these stories, however, this is a dangerous pokémon to keep in your home. As previously mentioned, aegislashes can make use of a barrage of blade-forward moves that could easily prove lethal to humans. Capable of switching between offensive and defensive formes, these pokémon are exceptional combatants so don’t count on easily surviving an attack.

Combining their size, historically manipulative nature, and lethal abilities, aegislashes simply aren’t a good candidate for a house pet. I reckon that this species should only be handled by expert trainers, as they are likely to be too much for an inexperienced owner to handle.

#pokémon #pokemon #aegislash #pkmn irl #PR-F

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Hi, sorry if it already has been done, but would Darkrai be a friend?

I have very low hope of it having a good grade, but there's hope!

This one may be a surprise, but it’s probably a pleasant one for fans of this pokémon, myself included. Darkrai would be… well… an okay pet. There’s a lot of factors that get in the way of a solid recommendation here, but we’re not looking at Giratina or anything. It’s complicated.

Considering the basics, Darkrai is on the larger size for pet compatibility. Despite their ghostly appearance, Darkrai is pretty heavy at over 100 pounds, and they stand almost 5 feet tall. Mobility in an enclosed space might not be too big of a problem for them, given their ability to levitate, but this size will disqualify them for many pet owners.

One factor that is very important to consider is that Darkrai, being a mythical pokémon, is exceptionally rare to encounter. While they have been spotted in regions around the world, the chances of tracking down Darkrai to adopt are pretty low for inexperienced pokémon trainers. The only solid lead I can offer you from the pokédex is that Darkrai is most active on new moon nights (Diamond).

Unfortunately (and this is the biggest factor holding Darkrai back), this pokémon might not be happy to be a house pet. Darkrai has been the subject of countless legends and horror stories due to their ability to inflict nightmares upon sleeping humans, but they are not a particularly malevolent creature (Pearl, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus). The pokédex stresses again and again that Darkrai “means no harm” (Platinum, Black/White, Black2/White2). Most of these negative encounters with this pokémon are a result of intrusions on their territory: in order to protect themself, Darkrai drives humans and other pokémon away with this power (Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver). This is a pokémon with a natural distrust of humans for whatever reason. I’m afraid this means that they would be unlikely to want to live with you until you’ve built up a strong bond, something that would be really hard to do considering their formidable deterrent abilities.

As has been previously alluded, Darkrai has the ability to inflict people with terrifying dreams. Additionally, they can put anybody into a deep sleep using their signature move, Dark Void, as well as Hypnosis. Darkrai may not be exceptionally violent, but they are a massive threat to anyone asleep. Their ability, Bad Dreams, and moves like Dream Eater allow them to cause significant harm to sleeping foes. A grouchy Darkrai could be a serious problem for any owner.

Overall, given their non-violent nature and solid ease-of-care, Darkrai would make a decent pet for anyone looking for a large pet, if not for some significant issues. The pokémon’s rarity and antisocial behavior would make them a difficult friend to adopt for a vast majority of prospective owners. But you know what, go for it. What’s the worst that could happen? Terrible nightmares, that’s what. But at least they won’t vaporize you or anything!

#pokémon #pokemon #darkrai #pkmn irl #PR-C

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I’m Still Alive

Hello everybody! I’m sorry that posts have been so infrequent, real life has been really busy the last few months with my new job. Thank you so much for sticking with me! I’m hoping to post much more regularly, staring today. I’m aiming for 2-3 posts a week. Anyways, I just wanted to check in and say thanks! Have a great day!

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Is purugly a good pet?

Puruglies would indeed make good pets… for the right kind of owner. You see, I had to give this one a lower score than the A-equivalent “Just a Cat” score that many feline-like pokémon recieve for a few reasons, one of which being their size.

Whereas this species’ pre-evolution glameow is a very manageable housecat-like size, puruglies weigh in at a much sturdier 96 pounds! That is significantly heavier than any breeds of real-world cats, which brings with it a whole different suite of issues. For one, a nearly 100 pound pokémon would need a lot more food than smaller animals or pokémon, which may make caring for a purugly much more expensive than many owners would expect. That extra size allows puruglies to throw their weight around more successfully. While this species is by no means an alpha predator, they’re fairly likely to get violent with you if you don’t give them what they want.

Puruglies, to put it simply, just aren’t very nice. Described in the pokédex as “brazen brutes” (Diamond), puruglies like to take what they want and to be seen as intimidating and powerful (or “large and in charge”, you might say) by those around them. In the wild, puruglies are known to take over other pokémons’ nests through brute force, making themselves seem more intimidating with its large size and ceaseless, angry glare (Pearl, Platinum). Interestingly, puruglies have been observed making themselves seem larger to smaller pokémon by cinching their waist using their tails (Pearl)! Due to their selfish, dominating personalities, puruglies have been called “difficult to tame” since over a century ago (Legends: Arceus). That being said, we have a far better understanding of pokémon behavior and training today. It’s completely possible that, so long as you provide them with the comfort they want and sufficient space, a purugly would be a perfectly manageable pet. Just don’t be surprised when they tend to hog the couch!

As normal-type pokémon, puruglies thankfully don’t pose too large a treat to humans. In combat, they mostly use physical moves that make use of their claws and weight to bash enemies into submission. Despite their large size for a cat-like pokémon, puruglies’ claws aren’t too much to be concerned about. That, combined with their having such a small bite, I’d guess that these pokémon are less dangerous than a large real-world dog. The only move I’d really bring up as a concern is Hypnosis, which allows them to use their intimidating stare to put you to sleep. This could be pretty dangerous in certain circumstance, and incredibly inconvenient in many.

All this being said, puruglies are certainly manageable if you know what you’re getting into. If you’re looking for a more sweet and snuggly cat-like pokémon, however, I might look elsewhere. As a final note (which I didn’t know quite where to put in the post), puruglies’ fur is very pretty. Researchers in the past claimed that their fur was even more appealing than velveteen (Legends: Arceus).

#pokémon #pokemon #purugly #pkmn irl #pr-c

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Evolution Line Spotlight: Vulpix and Ninetales (037-038)

There is, obviously, quite a contrast between these two pokémon. Let me just say this right off the bat: if you are a vulpix owner or are looking to adopt one, I would highly recommend not evolving them into a ninetales. The contrast in both safety risk and difficulty of care between the two stages is going to be more than most inexperienced owners could be expected to handle, as I’ll get into in a moment. Thankfully, an accidental evolution is pretty easy to avoid in this case, since vulpixes only evolve when brought into contact with a fire stone; so long as you don’t have fire stones laying around your home, you should be ok.

Anybody who has been reading this blog for a while knows that fire-type pokémon don’t tend to score very high in the pet-viability algorithm. Vulpixes score pretty highly for a few reasons, so I could recommend them to people looking to adopt this tricky type. As mentioned in the vulpix post (linked at the bottom of this one), they don’t have any open flames on their body, making them less of a fire hazard than most. I will caution you, though, that they do exhale flames when they feel like they need to cool off, so a vulpix would be a safer pet for someone who likes to keep their home nice and cool. The species’ friendly, non-violent nature indicates that they would be pretty easy to train, which is good when it comes to any pokémon with fire-type moves that could, you know, burn down a home. Overall, vulpixes would make pretty good pets!

When we turn to ninetales, however, it’s a different story. I really must warn you not to adopt a ninetales as a house pet unless you are an experienced trainer! This species is known in equal parts for their bitter, vindictive attitude and supernatural powers. From their ability to generate and control raging infernos, to their mind control power, to their alleged propensity for dishing out 1000 year curses, risking getting on one’s bad side in any way is a bad idea. No pet owner is perfect! I would not want my cat, who occasionally gets mad if she doesn’t get fed dinner twice, to put a 1000 year curse on me! Added on to all of this is the fact that ninetales are said to have a lifespan of 1000 years. I, like many pet owners, would love for my pet to live forever. When you really think about it, though, a pet that’s almost guaranteed to outlive you is a pet that you need to have a plan for after your death. A ninetales is a high-maintenance pet that you will need to pass down to another person, who then would have to pass it on to someone else, and so on. It would be a massive headache, and opens up plenty of opportunities for your pokémon to get abandoned or left at a shelter that may be ill-equipped for caring for fire-types.

I am a fan of both of these pokémon, but I would never consider adopting a ninetales as a house pet. A vulpix? Sure! I think they’re super cute, and they look like they’d be nice and warm and cuddly. I personally am pretty unlikely to go for a fire-type pokémon though, just because I’m in no financial position to risk a house fire! Call me over-cautious, I guess. Oh, and as an extra note: if you come across a vulpix in the wild, be very careful about approaching them! This is an evolution line where one must be cautious of protective later-stages like ninetales who might attack to protect the younger, less experienced members of their group.

The Vulpix Post:

The Ninetales Post:

#pokémon #pokemon #vulpix #ninetales #pkmn irl

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Have you done porygon yet? If not, then please? ^^

[I have not! Here you go!]

Porygons are certainly an unusual case. While this species of pokémon seems to be alive, they are by no means biological organisms, at least in ways that we understand. Let’s jump right into it.

At least as far as size goes, porygons are a solid size for a pet, though they are surprisingly heavy. Usually, however, any pokémon species that gets around by levitation is able to negate most mobility issues in the home so long as they have enough airspace to move around in. In fact, porygons can get around exceptionally (and perhaps too) well. They’re power of flight seems to be boundless, as they are speculated as being able to fly into space (Yellow). Take this with a grain of salt, however, as this pokédex rumor may be referring more to porygons’ abilities to survive in a vacuum (we’ll talk about that more later). Being made entirely of programmable code in a physical form, porygons can travel in a realm we can’t: cyberspace (Red/Blue). Porygons are capable of reverting their physical form back into “program data” in order to do so (Ruby/Sapphire). This is great on one hand, because it will make it much easier to bring your pet with you on trips! Additionally, your faithful friend could help protect your little corner of cyberspace from malicious code (Shield). This ability also means, unfortunately, that it would be rather easy for your porygon to wander off across the internet, never to return. Luckily for you, few porygons have a rebellious streak…

Porygons are… well… predictable. Porygons are reportedly unable to act outside of what they were programmed with when they were created, and said programming seems to be pretty restrictive (Silver, Crystal). So, if you’re looking for a spontaneous pet, you’re looking in the wrong place. It’s unclear in the pokédex data if a porygon’s programming can be easily rewritten to give them a little more personality and autonomy. If you are adopting a porygon, it’s most likely that you are either getting them from a computer scientist who specializes in creating them (unless you are such a scientist yourself) or finding them at a rescue that found them wandering, lost in cyberspace, so there’s a good chance the programming you get is what you get. But hey, I’m not an expert! Porygon science has come a long way in the last thirty-ish years since their invention (Silver, Crystal, Sun). At least, it seems that they were invented thirty-ish years ago? A quite similar creature was observed in what is now the Sinnoh region during its ruler surveying, though it couldn’t possibly have actually been a porygon, could it (Legends: Arceus)?

On the bright side, if we look past the risk of them getting loose in cyberspace, porygons are rather easy to take care of. They don’t even breathe, and it has been speculated that they can function in pretty much any environment (Yellow, Gold). Due to their restrictive programming, most porygons are very even-tempered, which is good given their combat abilities. Porygons’ move pools largely depend on their programming, but they are physically capable of using some pretty dangerous electric-type moves like Thunder Shock, Discharge, and Zap Cannon, which could easily prove deadly depending on the context. An attacking porygon could present a threat to any human, but this factor doesn’t tank their score too bad given their predictable, programmable behavior.

If you are looking to adopt a porygon, it is important to acknowledge that the pokémon you’re adopting, while alive, is not as spontaneous or expressive as many biological species. That being said, so long as you can somehow prevent your little friend from wandering off into cyberspace with some careful firewalls and restrictions, they are quite easy to care for. I think they look pretty charming too, personally.

#pokémon #pokemon #porygon #pkmn irl #pr-b

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Lotad and Dustox please xD

[Still can’t believe yesterday’s news… but the blog must go on! Flipped a coin and landed on lotad!]

Lotad’s, delightfully enough, would make great pets for a lot of owners! So long as you are able to provide your lotad with a sufficeint pool of water to chill in, you shouldn’t have any problem meeting their needs!

Lotads are just little guys! At just five pounds and a foot tall (or perhaps long, this is one of those weird cases where it’s hard to tell what the stat is looking to represent), lotads are just the right size to be a pet. When it comes to aquatic pokémon, size usually becomes a big issue, especially if they are entirely aquatic. While researchers hypothesize that lotads once lived on land, the weight of the leaves on their heads necessitate a fully aquatic lifestyle (Sapphire). Wild lotads make their homes in ponds and lakes, deftly floating along the surface in search of fresh, clean water (Ruby, FireRed/LeafGreen). If you provide your lotad with clean water, the size of the pool doesn’t need to be too extreme. You’re not looking at a pokémon that requires an Olympic-sized swimming pool, if you see what I mean. Not everyone can provide an aquatic habitat for a pet, however, so it’s imperative to keep this need in mind before adopting a lotad.

As an interesting aside, while you will need to make sure your lotad’s pool is clean, keeping the critter themself clean is a breeze: the leaf on a lotad’s head is naturally dirt-repellant (Scarlet)!

Lotads are known to be quite friendly, which is another point in the good pet column! This species has been long observed getting along well with both other lotads (Violet) and other species of pokémon (Emerald). Lotads are known to ferry small pokémon that can’t swim across the water, indicating a kind, helpful nature (Emerald, Diamond/Pearl/Platinum). Now, I wouldn’t expect a lotad to be able to carry you across any water, given their size, but they would surely be happy to give a ride to any other pets you may have!

While there isn’t much data about how well lotads get along with humans (let alone their diet!), we do know that they aren’t exceptionally dangerous. Lotads don’t know as many offensive moves as most pokémon, indicating a lack of adaptation for conflict. Grass-type moves like Mega Drain and Giga Drain could certainly be cause for some concern, but besides those moves a lotad can’t do much more that squirt you with water. Thankfully, it seems that lotads are pretty chill, so the need to worry about an attack is pretty low.

Overall, a lotad would make a pretty easy-going, friendly pet, so long as you are able to provide the pool they need and plenty of clean water to go along with it! Just… don’t try to ride on their leaf! Chances are, it won’t go well.

#pokémon #pokemon #lotad #pkmn irl #pr-a

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WOAH

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Beautifly, Mudkip, Grovyle and Lucario please 👌

Beautiflies may be adorable, but they would not make the best pets. This may catch you off guard (I know it did for me), but I suppose it just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge a pokémon by their looks alone.

As far as size goes, beautiflies are on the larger size when we’re talking about airborne pets. A pet that needs space to fly about, especially one that’s over three feet tall, is going to have needs that not every owner will be able to handle. Look at those tiny legs: beautiflies aren’t exactly the most nimble on their feet, so providing them with some open air to stretch their wings would be a must.

That being said, like with many pollinators we’ve covered thus far, you must be careful not to let your pet wander too far and get lost. Beautiflies don’t tend to stay in one place, traveling from place to place on the spring breeze in search of fresh flowers (Ruby, Sapphire). While, as I mentioned earlier, you would need to provide your beautifly space to fly around, you would need to keep an eye on them in the spring months, lest they fly off in search of sweet nectar. This would make keeping a beautifly rather difficult for a lot of owners. If you have a garden (or something like a hummingbird feeder) yourself, you may be able to incentivize your beautifly to stay nearby, but I’m not sure how long that would last. I mean, this is a pretty large pokémon: how many flowers-worth of nectar would you need to satisfy them?

Interestingly, the pokédex indicates that beautiflies are actually omnivorous, which may explain what they eat in the fall and winter months, where less blooming flowers are available. The needle-like appendage on their mouth is used to such nectar out of plants (HeartGold/SoulSilver), but that’s not all: beautiflies have been observed attacking prey by stabbing them with this appendage, before using it to drain their body fluid (Diamond). It’s hard to say if a beautifly would try to attack humans for this purpose, but it’s certainly possible. Perhaps this sort of attack would be non-lethal on humans, sort of like a real-world vampire bat. It would be… unfortunate… no matter what.

Even if a beautifly doesn’t choose to try and drink your fluids, they may attack you out of pure aggression. Unfortunately, beautiflies do not have a good temperament to be a pet. The pokédex describes this species as “ferocious”, “aggressive”, and “savage” (Emerald, FireRed/LeafGreen, Pearl). They are known to attack if disturbed in any way while seeking food (Black/White) or unexpectedly, whenever they are angered (Emerald). As far as the threat this species poses goes, you certainly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a beautifly attack. They can use their needle-like mouth to attack with moves like Giga Drain, Leech Life, Bug Bite, and even Poison Sting. Considering the size of their jabbing mouth, an attack would be painful at the very least.

All things considered, a beautifly would not be the best pet for many owners. They’re large, high-maintenance, and aggressive. Luckily, if you’re a big fan of this species, coaxing wild beautiflies to visit you from time to time isn’t that hard, so long as you live in a region where wild ones live. In the spring, leave a flower near an open window: you’re sure to have a beautifly visit you in no time (Ruby). Just…uh…don’t bother them.

#pokémon #pokemon #beautifly #pkmn irl #pr-c

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Hey everyone, I hope you’re doing well! Just wanted to pop by and apologize that there hasn’t been a new post for a while, things irl have been really busy! I’m hoping to hop back into it soon. In the meantime, while I don’t have a new post to offer, I can give you this drawing of a Giratina squishmallow I drew. Thanks so much for all your support! I’ll be back soon!

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Earlier you said a Vulpix made a decent pet, but what about Ninetails?

[Since you mentioned it, I’ll go ahead and include a link to the vulpix post at the bottom as well!]

Unfortunately, I really can’t recommend a ninetales as a pet for a variety of reasons. They sure are majestic, but they are certainly best left in the wild to be observed, rather than kept.

To start, keeping a ninetales in your home wouldn’t be very easy. Sure, a three and a half feet tall is not necessarily too big for many homes (we’ve had equally tall pokémon earn A ranks, after all!), but there’s an added wrinkle brought about by ninetales’ luxurious tails. The pokédex claims that ninetales are an exceptionally vengeful species: grabbing one of their tails could result in a 1000-year curse (Red/Blue)! 1000 years! If you were to incur such a curse, you’ll not only be taking it on yourself, but on your descendants and family as well, for generations (Ultra Sun)! Just look at those tails: could anyone honestly tell me that they could keep a pet with such volumous tails in an enclosed space without them or any of their guests ever pulling or stepping on their ninetales’ tails? It’s a strong indication that this species might not be the best to keep in a human home. That being said, these are remarkably intelligent pokémon, so much so that it has been reported that they can understand human speech (Red/Blue, Sapphire). In the case of an accident, you can always apologize to them and hope they understand. Given their known vindictive and even sinister nature, I wouldn’t take the risk of a misinterpretation (Ruby, Ultra Sun). 1000-year curse!!

Speaking of 1000 years: this species is said to live for that long (Silver, Crystal)! This is a pet that you would have no choice but to pass down to someone else when you die, sort of like a real-world tortoise. It goes without saying that that would be rather inconvenient for a lot of owners. This is a pokémon with a rather curious nature as a result of their equally curious origin: it is claimed in legend that ninetales are the result of groups of 9 noble saints joining together and being reincarnated (Yellow). Whether or not this mythic origin is true or not, it certainly would explain the species’ downright supernatural power. Each of a ninetales’ tails are charged up with different types of mystical energy over time (Gold. Silver, Crystal), which give them the ability to make use of truly devastating attacks.

When you look at ninetales’ move pool, it should be pretty clear why this is a risky creature to take in as a pet. Ninetales can use a barrage of potentially lethal fire-type moves such as Fire Blast, Incinerate, and Inferno. Ninetales may not even need to generate their own fire: it’s said that their mystical abilities give them command over fire in general (Moon)! This species is a veritable fire hazard on legs. Other, non-fire type moves like Confuse Ray and Extrasensory make use of other energies to disorient and harm targets. You definitely don’t want a ninetales mad at you. These pokémon don’t even need to harm you physically to cause problems: using a “sinister light” emitted from their fiery eyes and mouth, ninetales can stun or even control the minds of enemies and prey (Ruby, Ultra Moon). This is an exceptionally dangerous predator we’re talking about.

Overall, I can’t in any semblance of good conscience recommend a ninetales as a pet. These mystical, elegant creatures are a delight to observe in the wild, but bringing them into the home welcomes in so great a risk that you’re more likely to end up worse than better for having them around.

THE VULPIX POST:

#pokémon #pokemon #ninetales #pkmn irl #PR-:(

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Would Slowpoke or Slowbro be good pets? I think they're so cute!

[I’ve already covered slowpoke, so I’ll link that one at the bottom of this post!]

Slowbros would indeed make a pretty good pet to some very specific owners, but it’s difficult to give them a blanket recommendation for a few reasons. Let’s have a little test: can you tell already what one of the more significant issues is?

Their size! Five feet tall?! Woah! This was surprising to me as I was reviewing the data on slowbros. As you may already know, slowbros evolve from slowpokes when the latter is bit on the tail by a shellder, another aquatic pokémon species (Red/Blue, Yellow). The individual’s slowbro classification is entirely reliant on this symbiotic relationship, as if the shellder is shed the pokémon reverts back to a slowpoke (Yellow). Clearly, the presence of this shellder allows the slowbro to grow significantly larger. Unfortunately, this is likely to be an issue in the way that it interacts with the other affects of this symbiosis.

Let’s clear something up real quick: I’ve said a few times now that the relationship between the slowbro and the shellder is symbiotic. It’s complicated. While at first glance it appears that the shellder is a parasite, as it feeds off of the fluids contained in their host’s tail as well as their leftover food (Red/Blue, Crystal). However, when you observe the slowbro, you find that they have become stronger and more powerful as a result of this relationship. Since the shellder prevents the slowbro from using their tail to fish on the shore like a slowpoke, it pushes the slowbro to become a more proactive hunter (Ruby Sapphire). While slowpokes are known to be pretty dull-witted, in slowbros’ case their shellders’ bites stimulate their brain, giving this species an occasional boost in intellect (Diamond/Pearl/Platinum). These effects have led to slowbros being better able to protect themselves from threats, which is a benefit to their survival. They don’t feel pain from the bites of the shellder, as the shell-like pokémon’s venom has an intense numbing effect (Silver). This is great for battle, but not the best when it comes to the slowbro’s overall health and well-being. In the end, both the slowbro and the shellder seem to benefit from their relationship.

So what does this all mean for slowbros’ pet compatibility? Well, their ease of care is significantly lower than a slowpoke’s. While you won’t need to feed the shellder, since it receives all the sustenance it needs from its host, you will need to provide the slowbro with some aquatic space to exercise. While you may not want to provide your pet with live prey to hunt, you will want to provide them space to move around to that they don’t become restless or out of shape. Given their size, providing this space may be beyond some owner’s means.

Given slowbros’ lack of pain sensation due to the venom of their shellders, you will really need to keep an eye on your pet’s health. A slowbro might not be able to let you know if they are injured or not feeling well, since they don’t experience any pain sensation. A slowbro’s healthcare needs may be higher than a lot of pokémon pets.

Slowbros, while more fit and dangerous that slowpokes, aren’t significantly more dangerous. They make use of many psychic-type special moves, which, while they may be inconvenient or even painful, are unlikely to be lethal. The chances of a slowbro attack are pretty low, however, so long as both they and their shellder feel happy, healthy, and unthreatened.

Keeping a slowbro as a pet is far from impossible, but in most cases a different pet might be a better choice. I’d recommend a slowpoke over a slowbro to most owners.

The Slowpoke Post:

#pokemon #pokémon #slowbro #pkmn irl #PR-B #shellder

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

Heya, how good of pets do you believe a Nuzleaf could be? I really like them. They're just lil masked guys.

Nuzleaf is a tricky one. While I certainly recognize the appeal of these silly little guys, and they don’t seem to be particularly violent or anything, but it seems like they just plain don’t like people. That, as a starting point, is unfortunately not a great one.

At three feet tall, I must admit that nuzleafs are a bit bigger than I thought. This certainly doesn’t make them too big to live in a home, but it would bring with it some complications. For one, wild nuzleafs are prolific climbers (Emerald). Giving a three-foot-tall pet enough spaced to climb around might not be the easiest if you don’t have access to trees (their natural jungle gym of choice) for them to explore and play in. These pokémon are also known to live in holes bored in the sides of trees (FireRed/LeafGreen). The pokédex isn’t clear about if nuzleafs carve out these burrows themselves or if they find holes already created by other species. Either way, you will need to provide your nuzleaf with an enclosed burrow-like space to rest in, which may be beyond the means of some owners.

But really, here’s the thing: this species does not like humans. Nuzleafs live deep in “densely overgrown forests” (Ruby, HeartGold/SoulSilver), and they seem to be solitary, territorial critters (Scarlet). Whenever anyone, especially humans, enter a nuzleaf’s territory, they will try to scare them off by making unnerving sounds with a flute made from the leaf on their head (Sapphire). This sound is known to make listeners feel full of dread, afraid, uncertain, and uneasy (Sapphire, FireRed/LeafGreen, Diamond/Pearl/Platinum). The only time that nuzleafs leave their forest of their own accord is specifically to frighten humans (Ruby). According to all the available data, I can’t really assume that a nuzleaf would enjoy being a pet. It seems like they much prefer living alone in the forest.

But are they dangerous? Well, kind of? Nuzleafs boast a pretty versatile move set, utilizing Normal, Grass, Dark, Ghost, Rock, Fire, and even Flying-Type moves. Nuzleafs are mostly physical fighters, making use of their mobility and weapons like razor-sharp leaves to take down enemies. They can use a few moves that should really raise eyebrows, like Explosion, which could easily prove lethal in the wrong situation. You probably don’t want to get on a nuzleaf’s bad side. But hey, there’s some good news on that front. For one, as previously alluded to, it seems like thos species prefers to scare off intruders rather than fight them. If you do find yourself on the receiving end of a nuzleaf’s attack, try to grab their nose. Nuzleafs’ noses are the center of all their sensory functions (Violet): grabbing a nuzleaf’s nose renders them powerless (Emerald).

Overall, I don’t think this pokémon is the best choice for a pet. They’re a naturally solitary and territorial bunch that prefer to stay away from humans and even delight in terrifying them. If you think you could melt their cold heart, go for it, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!

#pokémon #pokemon #nuzleaf #pkmn irl #PR-D

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

I was wondering if phantump would make a good pet, they're my favorite pokemon!

Unfortunately, a phantump wouldn’t be the best pet for a lot of owners (but if you’ve been following this blog for a while, this probably isn’t much of a surprise). Unlike a lot of ghost-type pokémon, however, this low score doesn’t come from outright malice. Rather, it’d just be impractical and a bit… creepy-to-unethical.

Size is not problem when it comes to phantumps. These critters(?) weigh only fifteen pounds and levitate to get around, so there’s not a lot of homes that they would have trouble getting around. That being said, I’m unsure if a phantump would be happy living in a residential area. Wild phantump make their homes deep in abandoned forests, where few to no people live (X). These little creatures long for the company of humans and are always looking to befriend them, but they do so by bringing lost humans to them rather than venturing out into the world themselves (Ultra Sun, Violet). They do this with… less than honest means, causing adults to get “hopelessly lost” in their woods by mimicking the voice of a lost human child (Ultra Sun). Phantump want the attention of humans, but they want it on their own terms, on their own turf. That might not be the best recipe for a pet.

As ghost-type pokémon, phantumps are capable of using some pretty startling, but thankfully (hopefully) nonlethal moves like Astonish, Confuse Ray, and Phantom Force. This isn’t the li it of their abilities, however. They can use the move Curse, which is a major red flag in the hands (or, uh, tiny handless arms) of a ghost-type species like phantump due to it’s ability to induce fainting over time. This move aside, phantumps aren’t exceptionally dangerous. It seems that they prefer trickery to fighting in general, but like we always say, accidents happen. A tantrum-ing phantump could be an issue.

Now to get to the elephant in the room: a pet phantump would be creepy at best, unethical at worst. See, as previously mentioned, these pokémon have an uncanny ability to mimic the cries and screams of human children, which is creepy enough on its own (Sun, Ultra Sun). This ability comes from their origin: phantumps are actually the spirits of children who got lost in the woods and died, which now posses rotten tree stumps (X, Y). While it seems like these pokémon are not aware of their true origin, that whole situation brings up a whole lot of ethical questions. I for one prefer not to make pets out of people’s ghosts, but it’s really up to the individual.

Before I close out, you may have heard rumors in the past that the leaves that grow on phantumps’ heads can be brewed and boiled into medicine that can cure any illness (Moon, Ultra Moon). Unfortunately, while the pokédex seems to confirm that this legend is true, you can expect your pet to be providing you with the cure for whatever ails you: whenever these leaves are plucked, they wither away instantly (Scarlet).

All-in-all, keeping a pet phantump is most likely more trouble than it’s worth, I’m sorry to say.

#pokémon #pokemon #pkmn irl #phantump #PR-C

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

Links to the Top Ten(ish) Pokémon Pets of 2023’s Posts Part 3

Alcremie:

Chansey:

Enjoy!

#pokémon #pokemon #pkmn irl

[would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend]

Links to the Top Ten(ish) Pokémon Pets of 2023’s Posts Part 2

Skitty:

Fidough:

Squirtle:

Zigzagoon:

Chatot:

Metapod:

Cherrim:

Ralts:

Chimecho:

Enjoy!

#pokémon #pokemon #pkmn irl