Chansey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chansey | |
---|---|
National Rhydon - Chansey (#113) - Tangela Johto Porygon2 - Chansey (#217) - Blissey Sinnoh Pinpuku - Chansey (#097) - Blissey |
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Japanese name | Lucky |
Stage | Basic |
Evolves from | Pinpuku (from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl onwards) |
Evolves to | Blissey (from Pokémon Gold and Silver onwards) |
Generation | First |
Species | Egg Pokémon |
Type | Normal |
Height | 3 ft 7 in (1.1 m) |
Weight | 76.0 lb (34.6 kg) |
Ability | Natural Cure / Serene Grace |
Chansey (ラッキー Rakkī?, Lucky) Chansey is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. Its main purpose in the games, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both "wild" Pokémon, which are untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and "tamed" Pokémon that are owned by Pokémon trainers.
Chansey's name is mostly likely a deliberate misspelling of "chancy," referring to the popular belief that this Pokémon brings luck to its owner. The original Japanese name comes from the English word "Lucky." In the beta, it was known as Lucky.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Chansey is a rare, egg-shaped, pink Pokémon with much fatty tissue along its sides, alongside hairlock-like outgrowths on its head. It is said to bring happiness and luck to whoever catches it (which is ironic considering the fact that Chansey is number 113, though, in Japan, 13 does not have the same significance it has in the United States). It has a pouch on its belly as a marsupial animal would, and in this pouch it always keeps a special egg. These eggs, several of which are laid daily by Chansey, are both nutritious and delicious to the point where they are eagerly consumed even by people who do not have an appetite.[2]
Chansey is a symbol of kindness and welfare,[2] and for good reason, in the wild, Chansey are often found taking care of the young of other Pokémon species for various reasons. It also is said that Chansey brings happiness to its owners,[2] partly because it is uncommon and difficult to catch with a Pokéball. For that reason, it is frequently sought out and poached.[2]
All Chansey are female,[3] it breeds with other male Pokémon of its Egg Group (Fairy), such as Pikachu or Castform.
[edit] In the video games
Chansey play a key role in the Pokémon video games, RPG strategy games created by Satoshi Tajiri. These were originally in Japanese, but later translated into other languages. Worldwide, these games and their sequels have sold over 143 million units, making them one of Nintendo's most popular game franchises, second only to Mario.[4] The games are divided into sets of generations by release and each set is often only subtly different. Following the same basic plot in different areas of the Pokémon world, each generation builds on the game play mechanics with new features. As the main character, the player’s task is to direct his or her Pokémon to battle the opponent’s Pokémon, creating a scenario which has been likened to cockfighting. However, Pokémon emphasizes that these fights are friendly competition, not brutality.[5]
Chansey has a storied past in the above Pokémon games thanks to its extremely lopsided statistics and movepool. In the first generation of games, Chansey had the highest number of hit points of all 151 then-existing Pokémon, alongside a high Special rating, offset by a below average speed rating and one of the lowest Attack and Defense statistics in Pokémon. Used as a damage sponge, Chansey was believed to be useless as a battler in Pokémon competitions because of its limited selection of offensive moves until the September 2, 2000 Pokémon United States Championships in Seattle, where champion Ian Garvey used his Chansey (nicknamed "Molly") to defeat the competition with the moves Seismic Toss, Thunder Wave, Minimize, and Softboiled. Chansey was on nearly every competitive team after this.[citation needed] Chansey, having had a higher special attack than Mew, and taking the least damage from special attacks of any Pokémon along with just one weakness (physical stats) and a large movepool, was used so often it was seriously considered for banning at one point.[citation needed]
With the release of the 3rd-generation GBA versions, both Chansey and its evolution, Blissey, gained access to the Natural Cure and Serene Grace abilities. When caught in Pokémon Firered and Leafgreen, there is a 5% chance that Chansey will be holding the rare Lucky Egg item, which doubles the experience points gained by a Pokémon holding it in battle.
Chansey can be snagged from Cipher Peon Leden in the game Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
A Chansey is also found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap in the Beach Course. It initially appears as a pink ball being rolled around by a wild Eevee, the ball uncurls itself to reveal a Chansey.
[edit] In the Super Smash Bros. series
Chansey has minor cameos in the Super Smash Bros. series. In both games, Chansey can appear from a thrown Pokeball, where it will use Softboiled to scatter eggs around the stage that may contain items, explosives, or be consumed as health replenishing food. Chansey is also available as a collectible trophy. In addition, in the original game Chansey can appear in the Saffron City stage to heal a combatant standing in front of a certain door.
[edit] In the Pokémon anime
The Pokémon anime series and films are a set of adventures separate from most other versions of Pokémon, featuring Ash Ketchum as the main character, and following his quest to become a Pokémon Master. He and his companions travel around the Pokémon world battling other Pokémon trainers.
Chansey are often seen aiding the recurring character, Nurse Joy, a family of women who devote themselves to healing Pokémon. They are often seen taking care of a pokémon. Individual Chansey characters have also starred in the anime. In "Episode 131. Ignorance is Blissey", it is revealed that Jessie of Team Rocket went to Pokémon nursing school with Chansey, including one who later joins a Pokémon Center in Johto, as a Blissey. Despite Team Rocket being "bad guys", Blissey helps Jessie and her friends, later defeating them in battle to save her position at the Pokémon Center.[6]
[edit] In the Pokémon trading card game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectable card game first published by Wizards of the Coast in North America, in 1999. The concept is similar to that of a Pokémon battle in the video games in that each player takes turns to hit the opponent’s Pokémon.
Chansey can be found in eight individual sets in the Trading Card Game; Base Set, Base Set 2, Neo Destiny, Expedition, Aquapolis, EX Ruby & Sapphire, EX FireRed & LeafGreen, and EX Unseen Forces.[7] The Base Set Chansey (right) was one of the strongest Pokémon in the game during the beginnings of the series, with the then highest possible Hit Points and ability to protect itself from attack.[7] Between this useful ability (known as Scrunch) and a strong offensive attack, Chansey was an effective wall against other strong cards. It was also popular with Alakazam from the same set in a strategy known as "Damage Swap".
[edit] References
- Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Books
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
- Notes
- ^ “Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold" PR Newswire. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
- ^ a b c d The in-game Pokédexes of the Game Boy series (A copy of them from pokémondungeon.com) URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
- ^ Chansey character analysis Serebii.net. URL Accessed April 29, 2006.
- ^ "The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri", TimeAsia.com URL Accessed July 12, 2006. (Waybacked).
- ^
- ^ "Episode 131. Ignorance is Blissey" Serebii.net URL Accessed May 1, 2006.
- ^ a b Chansey Pokémon Trading Card Game appearances Pojo.com. URL Accessed May 4, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Chansey as a species.
- Serebii.net’s 4th Gen Pokédex entry for Chansey
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Chansey Previously hosted by Wikibooks