Swellow

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Swellow
Swellow
National Pokédex
Taillow - Swellow (#277) - Wingull
Hoenn Pokédex
Taillow - Swellow (#026) - Wingull
Japanese name Ohsubame
Evolves from Taillow
Evolves into None
Generation Third
Species Swallow Pokémon
Type Normal / Flying
Height 2 ft 4 in (0.70 m)
Weight 43.7 lb (19.8 kg)
Ability Guts

Swellow (オオスバメ Ōsubame?, Ohsubame in original Japanese language versions) is a fictional character from the Pokémon Franchise.

Its name is derived from the words swallow and swell, since this Pokémon is based in a swallow or a thrush. The Japanese name Ohsubame is a combination of the Japanese words for large or great (大 ō?) and swallow (燕 tsubame?).

Contents

[edit] Biological characteristics

Swellow is a moderately large bird with dark-blue plumage, a largely white underbelly with a red geometrically-patterned top section, and two prominent tail feathers (remnants from its pre-evolution, Taillow). These tail feathers are apparently an indication of Swellow’s overall health; if they are standing at attention, Swellow is in ideal shape.

Swellow is an avian Pokémon with acute natural talents among other birds. It consistently flies elegantly at high altitudes, often performing graceful arcs in the sky. It lives as a migratory bird of prey; it constantly flies towards warmer climates in a migratory fashion, and the moment it spots its prey Swellow dives down at a steep angle and snatches the hapless victim tightly with its talons. It never misses its targets in this respect.

Swellow is quite fastidious with its own body, especially its wings. When it is not cleaning its wings and tail feathers regularly, two Swellow are gathered together and unhesitantly take it upon themselves to clean each other’s wings.

[edit] In the Pokémon video games

Swellow has very good speed. Its speed is in the top 2% of all Pokémon meaning it nearly always gets the first hit. Unfortunately, once you get past its speed, Swellow becomes somewhat mediocre. Like most Normal/Flying birds, Swellow's defense and specials are paltry. These low defenses and special attack constrict its options into physical attacking. However, its base attack stat is rather mediocre for a physical attacker. Its saving grace is probably its incredible speed and Guts trait (attack is multiplied by 150% when affected by a special condition). In the games, it is similar to Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, and Fearow.

Fortree City Gym Leader Winona uses a Swellow.

As a Normal/Flying Pokémon, Swellow is immune to ghost-type and ground-type attacks, and is weak against rock-type, ice-type, and electric-type attacks. However, it can learn Steel Wing with TM47 to counter its weakness against rock-type and ice-type Pokémon.

Competitively speaking, Swellow is generally employed as a Choice Bander (a Pokémon holding a Choice Band item, that max the power of one move but only allows the Pokémon to use that move). It has been known to use Endeavor on odd occasions. It also works well with the move Facade, as the move's power increases as well as Swellow's attack from its Guts trait when receiving a status ailment. It is one of a few Pokemon that can learn Aerial Ace by leveling-up. It can also learn Sky Attack as an egg move.

[edit] In the Pokémon anime

In the anime episode "That's Just Swellow", Ash Ketchum's Taillow evolves into Swellow but the first time it was shown was when Vito of the Winstrate family used one to protect his family in the episode "Candid Camerupt". In "A Sky High Gym Battle", Winona, the Fortree City gym leader, had a Shiny Swellow and used it in a battle against Ash. While the Swellow knocked out Ash's Grovyle, it, ironically, lost to Ash's Swellow.

Swellow later (and is currently) fulfills the same duties as Pidgeotto and Noctowl (Ash's Stage 1 Flying-types before Swellow). However, unlike his former flying pokémon, Swellow has been given actual character development, rather than simply popping Team Rocket's balloons, for Ash has used Swellow in every Hoenn Gym Battle since its evolution, all his 6 vs 6 matches in the Hoenn League, and two of his Battle Frontier matches. Ash's Swellow is known for surviving attacks, especially electric attacks, that would have knocked it out. Additionally, although a trait of its species, Swellow has displayed exceptional persistence in battles.

After completing the Battle Frontier challenge, Ash leaves Swellow (as well as Corphish, Sceptile, and Donphan) at Professor Oak's lab before heading off to Sinnoh.

[edit] In the trading card game

Swellow has a comparatively healthy showing in card format. It has made the following stage-1 Colorless appearances. It also appeared in EX Dragon Frontiers as Swellow δ:

  • EX Ruby and Sapphire
  • EX Sandstorm
  • EX Deoxys
  • EX Emerald
  • EX Delta Species
  • EX Dragon Frontiers (as Swellow δ, Fire type)

[edit] References

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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In other languages