#37 + #38: Vulpix and Ninetales

Sandwiched between two families of two in generation one that got babies, but thankfully there isn't one here, we visit the original foxes that were firestarters before Delphox and the family came along.

Vulpix is a pretty sweet little thing, but I must say that I haven't been fair to it lately in Alpha Sapphire since all I've used it for is breeding extrasensory as an egg move onto a Zorua, which I like a bit more... As a Pokemon, Vulpix is ok, at least in a cute design. Its stats leave a lot to be desired, however, since with only base 38 HP, it's very impressive special defence (65) is kinda let down, especially when the defence is a mere 40. Attack is also meagre at 41, and special attack is middling at 50 with 65 speed, so it can dash in but not really hurt you, which is a bit of a problem.

Pretty cute, but for some reason that expression reminds me of kid Gohan...

Vulpix does get some nice moves, especially if you do spec it for special attack as you immediately get ember, which isn't terrible since it's very early, has large PP and can inflict a burn, so this is a great move before maybe the third gym, but not really in competitive, to be honest. That's ok, however, as you can eventually replace it directly with flamethrower or fire blast (or if you don't mind less power than fire blast and only 50% accuracy you can get inferno, which will result in a burn if it lands...). There is also the option of fire spin, which hits less powerfully than ember, but does trap them in a swirling vortex of inescapable fire for a few turns (85% of the time) unless they are a ghost, and this also does some damage at the end of every turn unless they carry rapid spin to escape. This shouldn't be confused with a burn.

Damage dealing fire moves aside (well, there is flameburst, but you'll take flamethrower since it has the same accuracy and PP with more power), there is will-o-wisp, which causes a burn to Pokemon that can be burned with an 85% success rate. Couple this with hex, and you're laughing. Hex is like venoshock, only ghost type and it works with any status affliction: the only reason why I like venoshock more is because of toxic spikes and the ability to mess up fighting, I guess. You also gain access to extrasensory for a special coverage move (which I really like, for some reason), as well as quick attack, payback (physical dark which doubles in damage output if you've already been hit this turn) and feint attack (a higher base power dark physical that works like swift in that other than being off screen like with fly, it will hit the target).

If you want to run as a wall or tank, you have options for this or for setting up. Confuse ray is fairly standard (it confuses them), roar makes the opponent run away forcing a switch (so works well with entry hazards), tail whip cuts the opposition defence (by being cute), baby-doll eyes gets in with priority +1 (like quick attack) to drop their attack by a stage, safeguard (lasting 5 turns) protects your team from incoming status afflictions like from thunderwave, imprison stops the opponent from using a move that you also know (which I guess can be useful in certain circumstances but not sure if it is here unless you're against another Vulpix and they've got the same moveset), grudge saps all PP of the opponent's move if it kills you, captivate drops opposition special attack by two stages if it is of opposite (not neutral or same) gender as the user. So you have some options in levelling up to either hit hard or stop them in their tracks and grind them out.

So what do we have by TM/HM? More fire moves, of course! Well, the ones you already have and incinerate, overheat and flame charge, which is physical but can buff speed a bit. You also get access to things like toxic which also feeds hex quite nicely, double team to raise your evasion, and attract. More interestingly, you can get energy ball, a grass-type special attack to cover both water and ground weaknesses. Further to this, going back to a staller set (say with will-o-wisp or toxic) you can get access to rest and sleep talk, as well as swagger to impose confusion (or as a boost to an own tempo or lum berry carrying team mate), substitute, protect and confide. Other options present themselves with dark pulse, psych up (copies all opposition stat changes on their current Pokemon, even the negatives), facade, return/frustration, dig and sunny day. There's a fair bit to choose from, but not much type variation...

Breeding can give you a few new moves (flail, heatwave, spite (reduces their PP on the attack that just hit) and a few possibilities like hypnosis and power swap, howl and disable) but it's mainly stuff you probably would have from levelling anyway, so they're probably not worth the effort breeding egg moves then IVs and natures. If you want spite, you may as well go to the tutor and whilst there consider iron tail, foul play and zen headbutt (all physical) and maybe role-play, which can replace your ability (flash fire or drought, will cover these again in a second) with theirs. You also could take pain split (balances HP across both Pokemon, so use it on a full health foe when you're at death's door to be restored and punish them for existing) and snore (which goes with the idea of having rest).

I'm sure I covered drought before when I covered Mega Charizard Y, but it basically acts like an automatic sunny day for the first 5 turns of a battle (can be 8 with heat rock unless a new weather is triggered). Flash fire is conditional, but really works if you predict a switch in or use an all consuming fire move from a doubles partner. What it does is grant immunity to fire damage (so fully resistant rather than half damage) and boosts your fire attacks by 1.5x. Not bad if you guess right, so both these abilities can be useful.

If you have a fire stone and want to use it, your already excessive collection of tails grows, and you get the rather regal looking Ninetales (not to be confused with The Amazing Nine-Tails character in Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies second case). I'm sure I've hear people moan about Ninetales being nerfed in gen 6, but it's still pretty cool, since it gets a pretty hefty stat boost across the board, giving a decent HP (73) to go with special defence (100) and defence (75) to soak up a few hits, especially with fire immunity on flash fire (the abilities don't change). Attack (76) and special attack (81) leave a bit to be desired, and the speed is only decent at 100, but these stats mean you have decent balance and survivability, so you can throw in a few surprises, going as a special wall, a special attacker, a physical threat (sort of, but without the best set of STAB moves) or a reasonable mixed-attacker.

Nothing says elegance more than two genetic mutations: multiple tales and albinism...

Other than getting nasty plot (special attack boost) on evolving, level up contains no new moves. The thing is, the TM list now gains some devastating bite, with psyshock there to hit defence stats if you spec as special attack and meet something like a special wall (say a Blissey), solar beam (which couples brilliantly with drought, allowing for 5 (or 8 with heat rock) successive uses if you need), calm mind (buffs both special stats by a stage) and dream eater, for some reason. You could also take either giga impact or hyper beam, but your missed turn could ruin you.

My advice is basically wait until you have the moveset fixed and then use the fire stone. If you then have a change of heart on anything, use can use the relearner and TMs, but I wouldn't evolve until you've reached the end of the level list on Vulpix (so at least level 50). If you plan on using this beautiful pure fire-type Pokemon, you have a lot of options on how to build it, which is nice since it can keep people guessing, but it does mean it is easier to screw things up and be dead in the water (type attacks) unlike with something as straight forward as Mega Beedrill. Further to this, it could work ace on beauty contests, using the sunny day/overheat or whatever combos.

(All artwork presented by Ken Sugimori, taken from the Bulbapedia image archives)