Kabutops
| Kabutops | |
|---|---|
| File:Kabutops.png National Pokédex Kabuto - Kabutops (#141) - Aerodactyl Johto Pokédex Kabuto - Kabutops (#223) - Aerodactyl | |
| Japanese name | Kabutops |
| Evolves from | Kabuto |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Shellfish Pokémon |
| Type | Rock / Water |
| Height | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) |
| Weight | 89.3 pounds (40.5 kg) |
| Ability | Battle Armor / Swift Swim |
Kabutops (カブトプス, Kabutopusu) is a fictional character from the Pokémon franchise.
The name "Kabutops" derives from the same origins of the name "Kabuto" - Japanese for helmet and Horseshoe crab, and the "-ceratops" suffix. This suffix is used to describe prehistorical animals - horned dinosaurs such as the famous Triceratops. Kabutops might not have horns, but this suffix fits the name "Kabuto" well and emphasizes Kabutops as a prehistorical, extinct Pokémon. Its English name was originally going to be Lantis.
Appearance/Biology
Kabutops is an amphibious relative of the crab. Although it lives in water, and can move at high speeds (comparable to a swordfish) by folding its limbs against its body, it comes out of the water to hunt.
Kabutops is a predator, but its nature of feeding is vampiric; instead of killing its prey, it uses its razor sharp claws to open wounds in its prey, and then drinking its blood. It attempts to avoid killing prey, so it may feed at a later date.
Although it was assumed extinct, the player-character in the Pokémon Red/Blue games had a hand in bringing it 'back to life,' and later games referenced their failed reintroduction into the wild. In the animé, however, it and the other 'ancient-type' Pokémon (including Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto, and Aerodactyl) were all erroneously assumed extinct because they had left the surface world for subterranean caverns for some years.
Kabutops may be an ancient ancestor to the modern day Scyther, as both share several common physical characteristics. However, Kabutops is far more rare, so much that several years ago it was widely considered extinct. Also very strong, it is able to rip a tank apart
In the video games
Kabutops cannot be caught in any Pokémon game. It must be evolved out of Kabuto at level 40.
Kabutops' attacks have been revised heavily between editions:
- In Red, Blue, and Yellow, Kabutops learned one Normal-type move and one Water-type move: the stat-modification type Leer at level 46, and the physical attack-type Hydro Pump at level 53. Its movelist was expected to carry over moves learned from the Pokémon's experience as a Kabuto.
- In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Kabutops learned one Normal-type move, one Grass-type move, and one Rock-type move: the physical attack-type Slash at level 40, the absorption-type Mega Drain at level 51, and the chance-type Ancient Power at level 65.
Kabutops is somewhat underused, despite its attack power being in the top 10 percent of all Pokémon. It also has decent speed, and can be used to hit hard with water- and rock-type moves. Its ability to learn the Grass-type move Mega Drain is somewhat strange, as it does not match Kabutops' types - in fact, Grass-type moves are super-effective against both Water and Rock-type Pokémon - but considering its description, the context of the move makes it justifiable.
In the Animé
- Kabutops has made three famous appearances so far in the TV show. In the first, Ash and friends wind up on an island that is actually an amusement park run by Team Rocket inhabited by giant robot Pokémon. Among these 'Giant Pokémon' are Zapdos, Moltres, Kabutops, and the final forms of the three starter Pokémon (of Red/Blue).
- In the second appearance, Kabutops was an ancient Pokémon sleeping at the bottom of a canyon along with unevolved form Kabuto and fellow ancients Omanyte and Omastar. When Ash and friends fall through a hole, the ancients attack. A battle ensues between them and Ash's Charmeleon.
- In Pokémon Heroes, Annie and Oakley resurrect one to prevent Ash Ketchum from getting to the museum.
In the trading card game
Kabutops, normally as a stage-1 Pokémon in the games, is a stage-2 Pokémon in the card game, because its pre-evolved form Kabuto evolves from the Mysterious Fossil trainer card. Therefore, in most of its appearances listed below, it is somewhat stronger than other Stage-1 Pokémon:
- Fossil (Ground/Fighting type)
- Neo Discovery (Water-type)
- Neo Destiny (Ground/Fighting type, as Shining Kabutops)
- Skyridge (Ground/Fighting type)
- Skyridge (Colorless, as a Secret Rare Pokémon with the Crystal-type Poke-Body)
- EX Sandstorm (Water-type, as Kabutops EX)
- EX Legend Maker (Ground-Fighting-type)
- EX Holon Phantoms (Lightning-type)
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
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0439154049.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 130206151.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 193020650X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0761547614
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1930206585
External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Kabutops as a species
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Kabutops Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Kabutops Tactical Data
[1]- a metroid-based comic with a Kabutops as main charater