Ninetales
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Vulpix (#037) - Ninetales - Jigglypuff (#039) | |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Name (Japanese), Number | Ninetales (Kyukon), 038 |
| Name pronunciation | <math>NINE-taylz<math> |
| Stage | Stage 1 |
| Evolves from | Vulpix |
| Evolves to | (none) |
| Video game base stats¹ | |
| Hit points | 73 |
| Attack | 76 |
| Defence | 75 |
| Speed | 100 |
| Special attack | 81 |
| Special defense | 100 |
| Biological | |
| Species | Fox Pokémon |
| Types | Fire |
| Height | 3'07" (1.1 m) |
| Weight | 44.0 lb (19.9 kg) |
| Pokédex Color | Yellow |
| Shiny color | Ninetales normally white fur appears silver |
| Ability | Flash Fire |
| Signature Attack | Fire Spin |
| Gender distribution | 25% male, 75% female |
| ¹ Stats for trading card versions may vary. | |
Ninetales (Kyukon (キュウコン Kyuukon) in the original Japanese) is the evolved form of Vulpix. Like Vulpix, it is a fire Pokémon.
Ninetales is inspired by a Japanese fox spirit, the kitsune. Kyuubi-no-kitsune is a nine-tailed fox demon. It is very clever and sinister. It is skilled in mind trickery; one of its favorite tricks is to change shape and assume the identity of somebody else. The story of kitsune originated from India, spread to mainland China and eventually to Japan. Also like the kitsune, when Vulpix evolves into a Ninetales, Vulpix's red fur turns white.
According to legend, 9 noble saints were united and reincarnated into this Pokemon. Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special power.
| Contents |
Name origin
Ninetales' name comes from the fact that it has nine tails, and that the word tail is a homophone of tales. The name is also a reference to a Chinese myth of a nine-tailed fox spirit who serves under Nuwa.
Biology
Ninetales is very intelligent, but vengeful; Ninetales have been recorded going to extreme lengths to enact complicated revenge on those that offend or harm them.
The Ninetales is the longest-lived of all pokemon (excluding rock-types, which may not technically be alive); it can live well beyond a thousand years. Gender may play a role in this; three times as many female Vulpix evolve into Ninetales as males, and in most species (real or Pokémon), females outlive the males.
Its signature attacks derive from two flame sacs located in the neck, which project from two ports on the back of the mouth. Although its flame is not as hot as other species (such as the Charizard, it can project flame for a longer period of time than most species (with the notable exception of the Charizard). If these flame sacs are punctured, the pokémon suffers a fate similar to liver failure if not quickly treated.
Ninetales, as a species, have a weak point when it comes to young; in the Pokémon universe, tales of Ninetales helping children (and their parents, if present) out of blazing buildings or through harsh winter climates are common. They also perform the same curtosy for baby Pokémon. However, they do not raise Pokémon of other species, nor humans, any more often than a normal animal.
They are attributed with many mystical powers: laying curses, mind control, the ability to control fire, invisibility, and more. However, these reports are only sporadically reported, if at all.
The average length and weight for a Ninetales is 3'07" and 44 lbs.
In the video games
Ninetales normally cannot be found in the wild; they must either be evolved with the use of a Fire Stone, or a Vulpix must live for a hundred years.
Since the Hoenn games, all Ninetales possess the Flash Fire ability, making it impervious to all fire-type attacks and able to heal itself when hit by fire-type attacks.
Its speed is in the top 10% of all Pokémon.
Anime Appearances
In the TV series, Blaine, the Cinnabar Island gym leader, uses a Ninetales against Ash Ketchum's Squirtle, a water-type Pokemon. To everyone's surprise, Ninetales beats Squirtle.
Later in the TV series, the gang meets a 200 year-old Ninetales who tries to subdue Brock into staying with her by using an illusionary woman.