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Basculin (JP) 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.

Physiology and Behaviour[]

Basculin is a green aquatic Pokémon that comes in two 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 two forms of Basculin is the color of the stripe that separates the black and green on their body. Both 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 have circular, red eyes, while the Blue-Striped Form have 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.

In Hisui and Kitakami, 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. 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.

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.

Appearances[]

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


Evolution[]

White-Striped
Basculin
Lose at least 294 HP from recoil
damage without fainting.
Basculegion
PKMNSV550-W PKMNSV902


Base Stats[]

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

Moveset[]

Main article: Basculin/moveset

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Sprites
Black White
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Black 2 White 2
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X Y
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Sword Shield
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Scarlet Violet
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Sprites
Black White
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Black 2 White 2
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X Y
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Sword Shield
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Scarlet Violet
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Renders
Legends Arceus
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Scarlet Violet
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