Basculin

Basculin
Lilligant
550
Sandile
Ability	Reckless (Red) Rock Head (Blue) Adaptability Mold Breaker(Hidden)
Egg group	Water 2
First game	Pokémon Black and White (2010)
Creator	Game Freak

Basculin <sup>(JPJapanese: バスラオ

Romaji: Bassrao)</sup> is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Water type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the fifth Pokémon generation in the Black and White games. It has three forms; Red-Striped, Blue-striped and White-Striped though, the only difference is game availability and one of the abilities. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it gained an evolution called Basculegion only for the White-Striped. Red-Striped Basculin and Blue-Striped Basculin cannot evolve. The status of Basculin's White-Striped Form as a Regional form is inconsistent between various Pokémon media.

Physiology and Behaviour

Basculin is a green aquatic Pokémon that comes in three forms. The bodies of both the Red- and Blue-Striped Forms are the same. They have a green, ovoid body, tapering off in the rear to a trapezoidal tail fin. A thick black stripe covers the top of their body from mouth to tail and a white, dorsal fin with four protrusions resembling spikes. Their lower jaw juts ahead of their upper jaw, with a small indent near the edges of their mouth. Both forms have three black dots on both sides of their body, behind their pectoral fins.

The main difference between the three forms of Basculin is the color of the stripe that separates the black and green on their body. All forms of Basculin have fins in the same places, with one on top of their body ahead of the tail fin, one below the body ahead of the tail fin, and two side fins. The Red-Striped Form has jagged fins that resemble tridents, whereas the Blue-Striped Form has smooth fins all around. The Red-Striped Form has circular, red eyes, while the Blue-Striped Form has narrower, blue eyes.

Red- and Blue-Striped Basculin are extremely hostile, especially towards their opposite form. They generally start fighting each other on sight for territory. However, on rare occasions, one form may swim with the other's school. Basculin is full of vitality and reproduces quickly. When a school of Basculin appears in a lake, Pokémon other than Corphish and Crawdaunt flee. It competes with Carvanha for food.

Basculin has often been referred to as the thug of the lake or Thug of the River, and uses its jaws, which are strong enough to leave bite marks in iron sheets, to devour everything in its way. However, despite their fierce reputation, Basculin become prey to stronger organisms, such as Bombirdier and Dondozo. Basculin were once also consumed by humans, and were considered very delicious. The meat of Blue-Striped Basculin has an inoffensive, light flavor, while the meat of Red-Striped Basculin is fattier, and was more popular with the youth. Basculin is a popular Pokémon with anglers due to its resistance. Many people release Basculin into lakes illegally, causing its population to grow abundant.

Forms

In Hisui, White-Striped Basculin has a similar appearance to the other two forms of Basculin. Despite its descriptor, the stripes above its eyes are actually a very pale shade of light blue, as are its irises. Its pectoral fins are smooth like Blue-Striped Basculin, but larger. Its dorsal fins are spiky and it has wide eyes, like Red-Striped Basculin. Its lower jaw is smaller than the jaws of either Red- or Blue-Striped Basculin, and both its lower and upper jaws have beak-like protrusions at the front.

Unlike the other two forms, White-Striped Basculin are known to be gentle, with an ecology different enough from other Basculin to spawn recent theories of it being a separate species. White-Striped Basculin are known to share food with each other unlike their two counterparts. They are known to travel upstream; the journey is often perilous for the species, and many of them don't survive. As a result, the souls of the deceased White-Striped Basculin are often left behind in the waters of Hisui. However, when an injured White-Striped Basculin survives, it can unite with the souls in order to achieve the unique evolution into Basculegion. In the present day, it's only known to be found in Kitakami's Timeless Woods along with its evolved form.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Red and blue Basculin get along so poorly, they'll start fighting instantly. These Pokémon are very hostile.
Pokémon White	Red and blue Basculin usually do not get along, but sometimes members of one school mingle with the other's school.
Pokémon Black 2	Red- and blue-striped Basculin are very violent and always fighting. They are also remarkably tasty.
Pokémon White 2	Red- and blue-striped Basculin are very violent and always fighting. They are also remarkably tasty.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Red- and blue-striped Basculin are very violent and always fighting. They are also remarkably tasty.
Pokémon Y	Red and blue Basculin usually do not get along, but sometimes members of one school mingle with the other's school.
Pokémon Omega Ruby	Red- and blue-striped Basculin are very violent and always fighting. They are also remarkably tasty.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Red and blue Basculin usually do not get along, but sometimes members of one school mingle with the other's school.

Red-Striped

Title	Entry
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Savage, violent Pokémon, red and blue Basculin are always fighting each other over territory.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	When a school of Basculin appears in a lake, everything else disappears, except for Corphish and Crawdaunt. That's how violent Basculin are.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Anglers love the fight this Pokémon puts up on the hook. And there are always more to catch— many people release them into lakes illicitly.
Pokémon Shield	In the past, it often appeared on the dinner table. The meat of red-striped Basculin is on the fatty side, and it's more popular with the youth.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Its temperament is vicious and aggressive. This Pokémon is also full of vitality and can multiply rapidly before anyone notices.
Pokémon Violet	It's so vicious that it's called the Thug of the River. Yet Basculin is still targeted by predators, such as Dondozo and Bombirdier.

Blue-Striped

Title	Entry
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Even Basculin, which devours everything it can with its huge jaws, is nothing more than food to organisms stronger than itself.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Some people call it “the thug of the lake.” Whether the differences in color are meaningful is not yet known.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Blue-striped Basculin used to be a common food source. They apparently have an inoffensive, light flavor.
Pokémon Shield	Known for their violence, these Pokémon have the most fights with schools of red-striped Basculin.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	These Pokémon form schools with others of the same color. The greatest foe of a school of blue Basculin is a school of red Basculin.
Pokémon Violet	The power of its jaws is immense—enough to leave teeth marks in iron sheets. Its personality is also extremely vicious.

White-Striped

Title	Entry
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	Though it differs from other Basculin in several respects, including demeanor—this one is gentle—I have categorized it as a regional form given the vast array of shared qualities.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	They live in frigid seas, forming schools and sharing food among themselves. When the time comes, they return to the river they were born in.
Pokémon Violet	Its ecology is starkly different from that of other Basculin, so theories that it's a totally different species have gained traction in recent years.

Game locations

Title	Location(s)
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, and 14, Striaton City, Wellspring Cave, Pinwheel Forest, Dragonspiral Tower, Challenger's Cave, Victory Road, Village Bridge, Giant Chasm, Abundant Shrine, and Lostlorn Forest(Surfing or fishing) Blue-Striped Form is available in rippling water
Pokémon White	Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, and 14, Striaton City, Wellspring Cave, Pinwheel Forest, Dragonspiral Tower, Challenger's Cave, Victory Road, Village Bridge, Giant Chasm, Abundant Shrine, and Lostlorn Forest(Surfing or fishing) Red-Striped Form is available in Rippling Water
Pokémon Black 2	Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22 and 23, Aspertia City, Floccesy Ranch, Relic Passage, Clay Tunnel, Dragonspiral Tower, Striaton City, Wellspring Cave, Pinwheel Forest, Undella Town, Humilau City, Victory Road, Village Bridge, Giant Chasm, Abundant Shrine, Nature Preserve and Lostlorn Forest(Surfing or fishing) Blue-Striped Form is available in rippling water
Pokémon White 2	Routes 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22 and 23, Aspertia City, Floccesy Ranch, Relic Passage, Clay Tunnel, Dragonspiral Tower, Striaton City, Wellspring Cave, Pinwheel Forest, Undella Town, Humilau City, Victory Road, Village Bridge, Giant Chasm, Abundant Shrine, Nature Preserve and Lostlorn Forest(Surfing or fishing) Red-Striped Form is available in rippling water
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Routes 15, 16 and 21, Laverre City, Frost Cavern, Couriway Town, Pokémon Village, Victory Road (Good Rod for Blue-Striped) (Super Rod for (Red-Striped)
Pokémon Y	Routes 15, 16 and 21, Laverre City, Frost Cavern, Couriway Town, Pokémon Village, Victory Road (Good Rod for Blue-Striped) (Super Rod for (Red-Striped)
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Trade
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Brooklet Hill, Malie Garden, Vast Poni Canyon (Fishing) (Red-Striped Form)
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Brooklet Hill, Malie Garden, Vast Poni Canyon (Fishing) (Blue-Striped Form)
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Bridge Field Hulbury, North Lake Miloch, Bridge Field (Fishing) Red-Striped only
Pokémon Shield	Bridge Field Hulbury, North Lake Miloch, Bridge Field (Fishing) Blue-Striped only
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	Cobalt Coastlands, Coronet Highlands, Alabaster Icelands White-Striped only
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	South Province: Area One, Area Two, Area Three, Area Four, Area Five, Area Six (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) East Province: Area Two, Area Three (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) West Province: Area One, Area Two, Area Three (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) North Province: Glaseado Mountain (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) Timeless Woods (White-Striped Form)
Pokémon Violet	South Province: Area One, Area Two, Area Three, Area Four, Area Five, Area Six (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) East Province: Area Two, Area Three (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) West Province: Area One, Area Two, Area Three (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) North Province: Glaseado Mountain (Red/Blue-Striped Forms) Timeless Woods (White-Striped Form)

Evolution

White-Striped Basculin	Lose at least 294 HP from recoil damage without fainting.	Basculegion

Base Stats

Base Stats
HP	70
Attack	92
Defense	65
Sp. Attack	80
Sp. Defense	55
Speed	98
Total	460

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Black White File:PKMNBW550-R-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2550-R-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY550-R.png File:PKMNXY550-R-S.png
Sword Shield File:PKMNSS550-R-S.png	Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV550-R-S.png

Sprites
Black White File:PKMNBW550-B-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2550-B-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY550-B.png File:PKMNXY550-B-S.png
Sword Shield File:PKMNSS550-B-S.png	Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV550-B-S.png

Renders
Legends Arceus File:PKMNPLA550-W-S.png Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV550-W-S.png