Sneasel

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Sneasel
Image:Sneasel.png
National
Heracross - Sneasel (#215) - Teddiursa
Johto
Magcargo - Sneasel (#213) - Misdreavus
Sinnoh
Yukinoō - Sneasel (#144) - Weavile
Japanese name ニューラ (Nyūra)
Stage Basic
Evolves from None
Evolves to Weavile (from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl onwards)
Generation Second
Species Sharp Claw Pokémon
Type Dark / Ice
Height 2 ft 11 in (0.9 m)
Weight 62 lb (28 kg)
Ability Inner Focus/Keen Eye

Sneasel (ニューラ Nyūra?, Nyula) are 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. Sneasel is a common favorite among hardcore fans.

Sneasel's name is derived from sneaky and weasel, references to its temperament and appearance. It's possible that the "Sn-" of its name refers to snow as it is an ice type, or to sneeze, something one might do when one is cold. This could also be considered as the first syllable of "Sneasel" is "sneeze".

Contents

[edit] Appearance

Sneasel is based on the weasel: more specifically, the Kamaitachi (Japanese kama- "sickle" and itachi- "weasel") from Japanese lore. Kamaitachi were said to be weasel-like creatures with scythes for hands that lived in cold mountains waiting for unwary travelers. Sneasel is feline in appearance, with black fur. It has two small yellow oval markings, one on its chest and another on its forehead. In lieu of a tail it has three pink leaf-shaped protrusions. Its forepaws have long, sharp claws.

[edit] Biology

Sneasel is a nocturnal Pokémon that lives in mountains. It hunts under the cover of chilly darkness, which allows it to sneak up on foes or lost prey. It has dangerously sharp claws, which it can conceal in its paws. It will suddenly unsheathe these claws in order to startle enemies and buy it time to attack. Many Sneasel have been seen standing at the peak of icy mountains when there is a Solar Eclipse, but why this is or how they know has not been explained.

Like its real counterpart, the weasel, Sneasel includes eggs in its diet. It tends to seek out unguarded nests or to scare away bird Pokémon that inhabit them in order to steal and eat the nest's eggs. Even if the nest is located high up in a tree's branches, Sneasel can reach it by scaling the tree's trunk by punching it with its claws.

[edit] In the video games

Sneasel can be found in Route 28 and the Silver Cave in Pokémon Gold and Silver. In Pokémon Crystal, it can be found in the Ice Path. In Pokémon Colosseum it is a Shadow Pokémon and can be Snagged in The Under Subway. In Pokémon LeafGreen Sneasel is encountered in the Icefall Cave.

In Diamond and Pearl, female Sneasel has a smaller left ear.

Sneasel can be described as the most ridiculously backward Pokémon in the Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold and Silver version games- while it has sky-high attack, its defense and, most notably, its special attack make it completly ignored in competition. This seems like a mistake, because both of Sneasel's elements (dark and ice) and most of its attacks are "special." This problem is more than fixed in the fourth generation of Pokémon games.

Sneasel has very good attack and speed stats. As attacks will be based if they are physical or special attacks by the attack itself in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Ice Punch, Bite, and a new Dark-type move called Blade Test (which Sneasel can't use but it's evo can) will now be powered by attack, making them significantly more effective. Sneasel is weak against physical attacks (a weakness punctuated by Sneasel's low defense). Even a moderately powerful physical hit, not to mention a super-effective one, may be enough to defeat Sneasel.

Defensive or disruptive moves such as Reflect, Attract or Double Team are useful to Sneasel's survival in battle. In terms of offensive moves, physical attacks such as Slash work best. Moves like Brick Break(which allow for an at least neutral attack on any type if Sneasel has it) can help broaden Sneasel's effectiveness against more elemental types. The worst Dark move it does learn is Beat Up, which allows each pokémon in your party to perform one weak attack on the opponent (but even a team of strong pokemon can't make this attack useful).

They are rarely seen in the Battle Frontier, and if found they can be easily defeated by a powerful move such as Flamethrower, Meteor Mash, etc.

[edit] In the animé

Sneasel first appeared in the fourth Pokémon movie, Celebi: Voice of the Forest, as one of the three Shadow Pokémon used by the main villain (the other two being Scizor and Tyranitar).

Another one caused trouble for the Silver Conference of Johto when it blocked people access to the Sacred Fire of Ho-oh, which was needed for the festivities (compare with Olympic Flame). It was captured by a trainer from Hoenn named Harrison and subsequently used in the Conference.

Sneasel was also in the episode Hail To the Chef!

Sneasel also appeared in the Battle Frontier episode "Attack! The Stray Weavile" with its evolved form Weavile.

[edit] In the trading card game

Sneasel has made 5 appearances in the card game, all as Basic Dark types:

  • Neo Genesis
  • Neo Revelation
  • Aquapolis
  • EX Ruby & Sapphire (as Sneasel EX)
  • EX Team Rocket Returns (as Rocket’s Sneasel EX)

In addition, a card named Rocket’s Sneasel was released in the theme of the fourth Pokémon movie.

The Neo Genesis version of Sneasel was banned from tournament play soon after it was released due to its incredible potential for power. Its Beat Up attack requires two Dark energy, and due to the cheap cost of the attack/the damage added by the Dark Energy card's effect, ends up doing twenty for each heads of a coin flip, and the number of coins flipped match the number of Pokémon on the user’s side of the field. That way, on six successful flips of a coin, Sneasel can do 120 damage in one turn, excluding the Darkness Energy Card's special effect.

[edit] References

The following games and their instruction manuals: 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 and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.

  1. ^ “Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold" PR Newswire. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.

[edit] Publications

  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 1998. ASIN B000CQP8FE
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Player’s Guide Special Edition for Yellow, Red and Blue. Nintendo of America Inc., 1999. ASIN B000CQT878
  • 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 Snap Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 1999. ASIN B000CDZP9G
  • Nintendo Power. Super Smash Bros. Melee Official Nintendo Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 2001. ISBN 1-930206-19-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Ruby Version & Sapphire Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., 2003. ISBN 1-930206-31-3
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Colosseum Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., March 2004. ISBN 1-930206-47-X
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen 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 Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
  • Chiba, Akira et al. The Official Pokémon Emerald Version Strategy Guide. Pokémon USA, Inc., 2005. ISBN 3-937336-06-0
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., September 22 2005. ISBN 1-59812-002-6

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/n/e/Sneasel.html"