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In the World of Pokémon, there lives a vast number and variety of amazing creatures to befriend and collect. Every week, we will be focusing on a single one of these Pokémon or evolutionary line and talking about what makes it special. This week's Pokémon of choice is the Ninetales line!
Incredibly popular ever since the very beginning Vulpix and Ninetales are fox-based Fire-type Pokémon which have recently gained an Ice-type Alolan variant. This line is greatly inspired by the nine-tailed fox spirits known as kyubi no kitsune that are heavy presence in Japanese folklore and media. These fox spirits are said to have many magical powers and live for a many number of years in some stories going up to 1000 years. Depending on the iteration of the myths being presented after a kitsune reaches 1000 years of age and/or gains its final ninth tail it reaches its most powerful form changing into a golden color which is reflected by the evolution of the original Vulpix. Ninetales are also said to have many mystical powers with at least one for each of its nine tails. The extent of these mystical powers has run the gamut from shifting the weather into either extremes of the temperature range and to cursing a human into becoming a Pokémon. Ninetales also possess a high intellect giving it capacity to understand human speech. Like many of the traits previously described the spiritual powers of kitsune are also well established with this line which is strongly reflected with its learnset being full of status and Ghost-type moves. The parallels between Ninetales and kyubi no kitsune legends are pretty much one-to-one in many of the details. All that’s really missing is the shapeshifting.
Even though for six generations Vulpix and Ninetales have been pure Fire-type Pokémon they have had some appearances in cold areas usually within side games like Mystery Dungeon, Ranger, and Shuffle. This has likely been due to the red fox being well adapted to colder climates and the Arctic fox being one of the more thought of snow-dwelling animals. But with the seventh generation came the introduction of regional variants on older species meaning that there finally came a proper snow fox Pokémon! Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales are a reimagining of the original concepts but with a focus in ice rather than fire. They have fully adapted to life on snowy mountain tops now sporting pure white and pale blue coats that allow them to blend into their surroundings. When evolving the line gains the Fairy-type probably as an allusion to their kitsune basis as well as other mythical cold climate beings. Along with retaining the kitsune reputation as trickster and illusionists Alolan Ninetales have also become revered as deities incarnate due to their beauty and calm demeanor. Alolan Vulpix is quite interesting in that there is another name which it is called in the game. The elderly Alolan people have also given it the name Keokeo which is derived from the Hawaiian word for “white”. It is a show of respect by the native people and how beloved this line has become within Alolan culture.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
-With Ninetales taking so heavily from its inspiration do you think that its type combo should have also reflected this by it having another type like Ghost, Psychic, or Fairy?
-As a Fire-type becoming an Ice-type do you think this line is a good example of the regional variant concept?
-What do you think about Alolan Vulpix’s other name? Do you think other regional variants could have also have other names and is that an idea you would like to see shown in the future?
If you have any suggestions for Pokémon you'd like to discuss in the future just leave your ideas at the bottom of your post. Make sure you give your thoughts about the current Pokémon first!
If you have any suggestions for Pokémon you'd like to discuss in the future just leave your ideas at the bottom of your post. Make sure you give your thoughts about the current Pokémon first!
Previous Pokémon of the Week:
Incredibly popular ever since the very beginning Vulpix and Ninetales are fox-based Fire-type Pokémon which have recently gained an Ice-type Alolan variant. This line is greatly inspired by the nine-tailed fox spirits known as kyubi no kitsune that are heavy presence in Japanese folklore and media. These fox spirits are said to have many magical powers and live for a many number of years in some stories going up to 1000 years. Depending on the iteration of the myths being presented after a kitsune reaches 1000 years of age and/or gains its final ninth tail it reaches its most powerful form changing into a golden color which is reflected by the evolution of the original Vulpix. Ninetales are also said to have many mystical powers with at least one for each of its nine tails. The extent of these mystical powers has run the gamut from shifting the weather into either extremes of the temperature range and to cursing a human into becoming a Pokémon. Ninetales also possess a high intellect giving it capacity to understand human speech. Like many of the traits previously described the spiritual powers of kitsune are also well established with this line which is strongly reflected with its learnset being full of status and Ghost-type moves. The parallels between Ninetales and kyubi no kitsune legends are pretty much one-to-one in many of the details. All that’s really missing is the shapeshifting.
Even though for six generations Vulpix and Ninetales have been pure Fire-type Pokémon they have had some appearances in cold areas usually within side games like Mystery Dungeon, Ranger, and Shuffle. This has likely been due to the red fox being well adapted to colder climates and the Arctic fox being one of the more thought of snow-dwelling animals. But with the seventh generation came the introduction of regional variants on older species meaning that there finally came a proper snow fox Pokémon! Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales are a reimagining of the original concepts but with a focus in ice rather than fire. They have fully adapted to life on snowy mountain tops now sporting pure white and pale blue coats that allow them to blend into their surroundings. When evolving the line gains the Fairy-type probably as an allusion to their kitsune basis as well as other mythical cold climate beings. Along with retaining the kitsune reputation as trickster and illusionists Alolan Ninetales have also become revered as deities incarnate due to their beauty and calm demeanor. Alolan Vulpix is quite interesting in that there is another name which it is called in the game. The elderly Alolan people have also given it the name Keokeo which is derived from the Hawaiian word for “white”. It is a show of respect by the native people and how beloved this line has become within Alolan culture.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
-With Ninetales taking so heavily from its inspiration do you think that its type combo should have also reflected this by it having another type like Ghost, Psychic, or Fairy?
-As a Fire-type becoming an Ice-type do you think this line is a good example of the regional variant concept?
-What do you think about Alolan Vulpix’s other name? Do you think other regional variants could have also have other names and is that an idea you would like to see shown in the future?
If you have any suggestions for Pokémon you'd like to discuss in the future just leave your ideas at the bottom of your post. Make sure you give your thoughts about the current Pokémon first!
If you have any suggestions for Pokémon you'd like to discuss in the future just leave your ideas at the bottom of your post. Make sure you give your thoughts about the current Pokémon first!
Previous Pokémon of the Week:
Pokémon of the Week #1: Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, & Venusaur
Pokémon of the Week #2: Scraggy & Scrafty
Pokémon of the Week #3: Gulpin & Swalot
Pokémon of the Week #4: Porygon, Porygon2, & Porygon-Z
Pokémon of the Week #5: Emolga
Pokémon of the Week #6: Rufflet & Braviary
Pokémon of the Week #7: Ditto
Pokémon of the Week #8: Wynaut & Wobbuffet
Pokémon of the Week #9: Sneasel & Weavile
Pokémon of the Week #10: Murkrow & Honchkrow
Pokémon of the Week #11: Houndour & Houndoom
Pokémon of the Week #12: Exeggcute & Exeggutor
Pokémon of the Week #13: Gastly, Haunter, & Gengar
Pokemon of the Week #14: Smoochum & Jynx
Pokémon of the Week #15: Beldum, Metang, & Metagross
Pokémon of the Week #16: Bidoof
Pokémon of the Week # 17: Deerling & Sawsbuck
Pokémon of the Week #18: Munchlax & Snorlax
Pokémon of the Week #19: Hoppip, Skiploom, & Jumpluff
Pokémon of the Week #20: Nincada, Ninjask, & Shedinja
Pokémon of the Week #21: Pumpkaboo & Gourgeist
Pokémon of the Week #22: Mudkip, Marshtomp, & Swampert
Pokémon of the Week #23: Froakie, Frogadier, & Greninja
Pokémon of the Week #24: Rattata & Raticate
Pokémon of the Week #25: Mimikyu
Pokémon of the Week #26: Mareep, Flaaffy, & Ampharos
Pokémon of the Week #27: Delibird
Pokémon of the Week #28: Espeon
Pokémon of the Week #29: Rowlet, Dartrix, & Decidueye
Pokémon of the Week #30: Popplio, Brionne, & Primarina
Pokémon of the Week #31: Litten, Torracat, & Incineroar
Pokémon of the Week #32: Woobat and Swoobat
Pokémon of the Week #2: Scraggy & Scrafty
Pokémon of the Week #3: Gulpin & Swalot
Pokémon of the Week #4: Porygon, Porygon2, & Porygon-Z
Pokémon of the Week #5: Emolga
Pokémon of the Week #6: Rufflet & Braviary
Pokémon of the Week #7: Ditto
Pokémon of the Week #8: Wynaut & Wobbuffet
Pokémon of the Week #9: Sneasel & Weavile
Pokémon of the Week #10: Murkrow & Honchkrow
Pokémon of the Week #11: Houndour & Houndoom
Pokémon of the Week #12: Exeggcute & Exeggutor
Pokémon of the Week #13: Gastly, Haunter, & Gengar
Pokemon of the Week #14: Smoochum & Jynx
Pokémon of the Week #15: Beldum, Metang, & Metagross
Pokémon of the Week #16: Bidoof
Pokémon of the Week # 17: Deerling & Sawsbuck
Pokémon of the Week #18: Munchlax & Snorlax
Pokémon of the Week #19: Hoppip, Skiploom, & Jumpluff
Pokémon of the Week #20: Nincada, Ninjask, & Shedinja
Pokémon of the Week #21: Pumpkaboo & Gourgeist
Pokémon of the Week #22: Mudkip, Marshtomp, & Swampert
Pokémon of the Week #23: Froakie, Frogadier, & Greninja
Pokémon of the Week #24: Rattata & Raticate
Pokémon of the Week #25: Mimikyu
Pokémon of the Week #26: Mareep, Flaaffy, & Ampharos
Pokémon of the Week #27: Delibird
Pokémon of the Week #28: Espeon
Pokémon of the Week #29: Rowlet, Dartrix, & Decidueye
Pokémon of the Week #30: Popplio, Brionne, & Primarina
Pokémon of the Week #31: Litten, Torracat, & Incineroar
Pokémon of the Week #32: Woobat and Swoobat