Toxapex is a small Pokémon with large, starfish-like tentacles sprouting from the top of its head. It has bright blue eyes with yellow sclerae and pupils. Its main body is a dark purple and consists of two sections: its head and lower body. Its head turns dark blue on top where the tentacles connect, and its lower body has triangular protrusions extending in all directions. Additionally, its body is typically suspended due to the length of its tentacles.
The tentacles themselves are light blue on top and covered with spines and dark blue with pinkish-purple spines on the undersides. When the inner spikes are present, the outer spikes sink back into its tentacles, and vice versa. The tip of each tentacle has two yellow claws, and there is a ring of yellow spines around a pinkish-purple marking where all the tentacles meet on top.
Toxapex uses its 12 tentacles as legs to walk along the ocean floor, where it hunts for Corsola. They can also be used to create a dome-like shelter from the tides. Its spines can be fired at enemies and carry a powerful poison, which causes pain for 72 hours (3 days), even to Pokémon as large as Wailord. Aftereffects of the venom remain even after recovery. If a foe bypasses its spines, it attacks with its claws instead. Bruxish is its natural enemy. Toxapex competes against it in warm ocean currents, despite the odds being against it.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Pokémon spin-offs[]
In the Anime[]
Origin[]
Toxapex may be based on a crown-of-thorns starfish, an invasive and venomous echinoderm that has dismantled numerous reef ecosystems by preying on reef coral polyps (similar to how Toxapex preys on Corsola). Its body shape may reference Colobocentrotus atratus, helmet-shaped sea urchins which are abundant on the shores of Hawaii. The pointy top of its head appears to be based on a crown.
Within the poison sac in its body is a poison so toxic that Pokémon as large as Wailord will still be suffering three days after it first takes effect.
