Banette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Banette | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Shuppet - Banette (#354) - Duskull Hoenn Pokédex Shuppet - Banette (#147) - Duskull |
|
| Japanese name | Juppeta |
| Evolves from | Shuppet |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | Third |
| Species | Marionette Pokémon |
| Type | Ghost |
| Height | 3'7" (1.1 m) |
| Weight | 28 lb (12.5 kg) |
| Ability | Insomnia/Far Sight(the latter from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl onwards) |
Banette (ジュペッタ Jupetta?, Juppeta in original Japanese language versions) is a fictional, puppet-like character in the Pokémon franchise.
Banette's name is a portmanteau of bane, meaning a source of harm, and marionette, meaning a hand-controlled puppet.
Contents |
[edit] Biological characteristics
The origins of the Banette species are unusually sinister. They are said to come from plush toys that were thrown away, similar to how Grimer and Koffing are formed by industrial waste. Shuppet possesses a discarded doll, growing into and forming Banette, a being which is actually somewhat large for a toy (3 foot 7 inches on average). It is also said that Banette live in garbage dumps of back alleys and wander around looking for the children that disposed of them, most likely in order to harm or kill them as its revenge.
A Banette is filled with strong feelings of hate, which it expresses by laying powerful curses. It gains power to cast those curses by sticking pins into its own body, turning itself into a voodoo doll.
Banette's weakness lies in that its vital force is artificial, since it is an inanimate object infused with a cursed energy. This energy can be removed and effectively exorcized by forcing its zipper-like mouth open. Surprisingly, Banette can learn Screech, a vocal attack which would seem to require opening of the mouth, theoretically killing it; however it may produce noise by supernatural means. Other than its aforementioned feature, Banette is blackish-gray, has creepy-looking red eyes, small pointy ears, a horn, a long strand of hair drawn like a cartoon ghost, flipper-shaped arms, and a yellow tail shaped like a spiky doorknob. This is probably why, in Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness, Banette opens its mouth just before fainting, so that the evil spirit can escape before Banette is recalled. The evil inside of it is likely the Shuppet which possessed what once was a doll and is now Banette.
Furthermore, the idea of Banette being a puppet controlled by a spirit is illustrated by Banette's name. As mentioned earlier, its name comes from the word "marionette", a puppet on strings controlled by a human.
[edit] Role
[edit] In the Pokémon video games
Banette are featured in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire of the Pokémon video game series. Originally in Japanese, but later translated into other languages, the games have sold over 143 million copies worldwide. [1]
Banette can be found in the Sky Pillar, in Pokémon Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald. They are not found in the wild in any other version and must be traded. They can also be evolved from Shuppet. Evolution in the Pokémon universe is a type of metamorphic change, usually caused by gaining experience in battle.
The second Elite Four trainer Phoebe, uses two Banette at level 49, to battle the player.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness has a Banette available as well. It can be snagged from Cipher Peon Litnar at Citadark Island.
All Pokémon have specific statistical ratings of the qualities, such as power, speed, and vitality, which help them in battles. All ratings can be improved by certain costly items available in the game.[2] Banette's speed and defense ratings are below average. Banette can be considered the statistical counterpart to Dusclops in that it sacrifices speed and defense for offense, whereas Dusclops sacrifices speed and offense for defense.
[edit] In the Pokémon anime
The trainer Harley owned a Banette and used it in the episodes 'Deceit and Assist' and 'Rhapsody in Drew'. Strangely, its mouth unzipped itself to make it look and sound more evil.
[edit] In the Pokémon Trading card game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game similar in goal to a Pokémon battle in the video game series; players must use cards in an attempt to defeat their opponent by "knocking out" all of his cards.[3] The game was first published in North America by Wizards of the Coast in 1999, until Nintendo USA started publishing the series in 2003.[4]
Banette have appeared four times in the Pokémon Trading Card Game thus far, in
- EX Hidden Legends as a holographic Stage 1 Psychic Pokémon, * EX Legend Maker (as Banette EX),
- EX Crystal Guardians and EX Power Keepers .
Its EX version is particullary strong - due to the fact that the Shuppet version from "EX Crystal Guardians" can use the move called "Ascension", allowing a player to get Banette Ex straight from the deck to the field. This makes Banette EE the best Turn 2 hitter in the game.
[edit] Notes and references
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red 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
- Notes
- ^ "The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri", TimeAsia.com URL Accessed July 12, 2006 (Waybacked).
- ^ List of Power-up Items, IGN.com.
- ^ Pokémon Trading Card Game "How to play" guide Pokemon-tcg.com. URL Accessed July 3, 2006.
- ^ [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=company/pr/20030312b Pokemon Trading Card Game News; "Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire TCG Releases"] Wizards.com. URL Accessed July 3, 2006.
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Banette as a species
- Banette’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Banette Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Banette Tactical Data
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Banette Previously hosted by Wikibooks
