Wobbuffet

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Wobbuffet
Image:Wobbuffet.png
National
Unown - Wobbuffet (#202) - Girafarig
Johto
Sudowoodo - Wobbuffet (#107) - Venonat
Hoenn
Wynaut - Wobbuffet (#161) - Natu
Japanese name ソーナンス Sōnansu
Stage Basic
Evolves from Wynaut (from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire onwards)
Evolves to None
Generation Second
Species Patient Pokémon
Type Psychic
Height 4 ft 3 in (1.3 m)
Weight 63 lb (29 kg)
Ability Shadow Tag

Wobbuffet (ソーナンス Sōnansu ?) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise – a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri.

The purpose of Wobbuffet in the games, anime, and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon–untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments–and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[1]

The name Wobbuffet probably comes from the words "wobble" and "buffet". It bears a resemblance to an upside down punching bag. The origins of this creature's mannerisms and its Japanese name, Sōnansu, are rather obscure compared to most Pokémon. The character is based on the late Japanese comedian Sanpei Hayashiya (林家三平) (1925–1980). Hayashiya's trademark routine involved him putting one hand to his forehead and saying "Sō nansu, okusan" (そうなんす、奥さん) ("So it seems, madam"). This is why, in the Japanese Pokémon anime and movies, this Pokémon is often seen putting a hand to its forehead and shouting "Soooooonansu!"

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

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Wobbuffet is a stiff Pokémon shaped like a blue balloon of sorts. Its face is in a constant grimace. Its eyes seems to look like two V's on its side. It bears a resemblance to a punching bag. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and later games, female Wobbuffet have red lips, much like lipstick. The unusual, sensitive tail has two eyes with an unknown function. Some think it is its true eyes, some don't.

Wobbuffet hates light and shock, so it lives in the quiet darkness of caves and only comes out at night. If attacked, it inflates its body to bolster its amazing ability to counter-attack using the moves Counter and Mirror Coat, rather than offensive battling like most other Pokémon, for it won’t attack on its own. It does nothing but endure attacks in this fashion, suggesting that Wobbuffet either has an inability to tolerate aggressive behavior on its part, or that it is simply built to withstand attacks. However, it will not endure an attack on its valued, sensitive tail. When that happens, the Pokémon will react ferociously, trying to take the foe with it using Destiny Bond. To keep its pitch-black tail hidden from the sight of potential attackers, it lives in black caves and atmospheres as described above.

If two or more Wobbuffet meet, they will turn competitive and try to outdo each other's endurance in what may appear to be a standing, staring contest. However, they may try to see which one can endure the longest without food. Trainers need to be aware of this habit.

[edit] In video games

Screenshot of Pokémon Crystal, portraying a player's Feraligatr battling an enemy, Wobbuffet.
Enlarge
Screenshot of Pokémon Crystal, portraying a player's Feraligatr battling an enemy, Wobbuffet.

Wobbuffet is available in every Pokémon video game from Gold and Silver onwards, with the exception of Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.

In Gold, Silver and Crystal, it is available in Dark Cave, and as a prize at the Goldenrod Game Corner. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, it can be caught in the Safari Zone. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, high-level Wobbuffet can be found in the Unknown Dungeon, and they can be also found in Six Island of the Sevii Islands.

Wobbuffet is a peculiar, considerable Pokémon in battle. It has a tremendous amount of hit points, and its Shadow Tag ability prevents its opponents from retreating from battle. Unlike most Pokémon, Wobbuffet can not learn any new attacks except the four they know when they are captured. They are Mirror Coat, Counter, Safeguard, and Destiny Bond. However, starting with the Ruby and Sapphire versions, Wobbuffet’s new pre-evolved form Wynaut had access to three additional moves: Splash, Encore, and Charm. None of these attacks do damage in themselves. Their true values are outlined below.

Mirror Coat (works only on special attacks) and Counter (works only on physical attacks) reflect back double the damage inflicted by an opponent's attack, which is where Wobbuffet owns its "Patient" characterization; it is never the first to attack in a battle. Safeguard protects Wobbuffet from ailments. Destiny Bond will cause the enemy to faint if Wobbuffet itself faints, provided Wobbuffet is able to use it before the enemy deals the finishing blow. A common counter to Destiny Bond is to simply switch until the opponent's PP for Destiny Bond runs out. With Wobbuffet's Shadow Tag, this is impossible, without repeated use of Baton Pass. Splash, is a completely useless attack that does absolutely nothing (however, in the Pokémon Contests in Hoenn and Sinnoh, Splash is a "cute" type move, and may help in winning the "cute" contest ribbon). Encore causes the opponent to use the same move several turns in a row whether or not the opponent wants to, and Charm decreases the opponent’s attack down by two levels. Of the three moves Wynaut can learn additionally, Encore is arguably the most potentially disruptive, so most Wobbuffet are trained with Counter, Mirror Coat, Encore, and Safeguard. Encore is amazing in battling, as it allows Wobbuffet to acheive its maximum potential. Encore a useless move from the opponent, or a move that Wobbuffet survives. If the move does damage, Counter or Mirror Coat apporpriately, since you know what type the move will be. An interesting strategy involves Encore a status-inflicting move, such as Thunder Wave, and then switching to a Pokemon with Facade as an attack and Guts as an ability, such as Swellow. Guts is activated and Facade receives the boost, making it 2.25X more powerful. Unless the opponent is a Ghost, Rock, or Steel type, the increased power Facade should deal massive amounts of damage.

Due to Wobbuffet’s extreme nature, it is disallowed from competitive play, because Wobbuffet will almost always give the player an easy advantage in battle, even against higher-level foes. That is not to mention a particularly unsavory battle scenario: If a trainer battle pits two Wobbuffet against each other, it would be nearly impossible for either side to ever win a battle without one player resigning (due to the Wobbuffet not having any frontal offensive moves as well as their Shadow Tag abilities preventing each other from escape). A battle between two Wobbuffet, each holding Leftovers, would never end, since Wobbuffet's extremely weak Struggle would deal less damage than the Leftovers heals.

Wobbuffet is the best defensive tank in the game, besides the defensive form of Deoxys, and is an immediate threat to more powerful Pokémon such as Mewtwo or to Pokémon who rely on the Zerging tactic.

Wobbuffet's biggest weaknesses are, however, Ghost and Dark pokémon, as not only are their attack super effective, but since Dark attacks are Special, Mirror Coat will not work on Dark types (as it is a Psyscic type attack) and Ghost attacks are physical, so Counter will not work on Ghost types (as it is a Fighting type attack). However, Wobbuffet is still safe against a non-Ghost foe using a Ghost attack, or a non-Dark foe using a Dark type attack.

[edit] In Super Smash Bros. Melee

In the popular GameCube game Super Smash Bros. Melee, Wobbuffet can be summoned out randomly by use of the Pokéball item. Wobbuffet cannot directly attack players, but will hurt them when struck directly. Throwing an item into Wobbuffet will also cause it to wobble with its Counter attack, striking anyone close enough to it. The summoning player can also be hurt. Notably, in the event match "Legendary Pokémon", some Poké Balls contain Wobbuffet rather than a legendary Pokémon.

[edit] In Pokémon Channel

In the Nintendo GameCube game Pokémon Channel, Wobbuffet is one of the few Pokémon to host its own show, which is in the form of a simple trivia game show. Wobbuffet quizzes three random Pokémon contestants, who descend from the ceiling in large Pokéballs as they answer questions correctly. All the questions involve identifying a Pokémon, based on its silhouette, voice, or a brief glimpse. Wobbuffet also appears as one of the virtual plush dolls which players can "purchase" in-game using the shopping channel.

[edit] In the Pokémon anime

The Pokémon anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the Pokémon video games follow (with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, a game based on the anime storyline). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum[2]—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he and several other companions travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners.

In the anime, Jessie of Team Rocket acquires a Wobbuffet after it is accidentally exchanged with her Lickitung[3], and it has appeared in almost every episode since then. Wobbuffet is her equivalent of Misty's Psyduck — it has a habit of popping out of its Pokéball at inopportune times without being called. It also joins in Team Rocket's motto, right after Meowth, shouting a loud "Wobbuffet!" Jessie used it in a Pokémon Contest against Harley in Kanto, but lost. In one episode, it fell in love with a Kirlia (probably because Wobbuffet was a male and Kirlia was a female).

[edit] In the trading card game

Wobbuffet has made five appearances, Basic and Psychic-type cards unless otherwise designated:

  • Neo Discovery
  • Skyridge
  • EX Sandstorm
  • EX Team Rocket Returns (as Rocket's Wobbuffet, as a Dark-type)
  • EX Legend Maker

[edit] Notes and references

Notes
  1. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
  2. ^ Pokémon anime overview Psypokes.com. URL Accessed May 25, 2006.
  3. ^ Jessie's Bio Serebii.net URL accessed October 19, 2006
Publications
  • 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 & 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

[edit] External links

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