Kecleon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kecleon | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Castform - Kecleon (#352) - Shuppet Hoenn Pokédex Starmie - Kecleon (#145) - Shuppet |
|
| Japanese name | Kakureon |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | Third |
| Species | Color Swap Pokémon |
| Type | Normal |
| Height | 3 ft 3 in (1.0 m) |
| Weight | 48.5 lb (22.0 kg) |
| Ability | Color Change |
Kecleon (カクレオン? Kakureon in original Japanese language versions) are one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Kecleon in the games, anime, and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon—untamed creatures that characters encounter while embarking on various adventures— and tamed Pokémon creatures owned by Pokémon trainers.[2]
It was one of the "preview" Pokémon to the third generation of games, cards, and anime, having been released before the official release of the GBA versions.
Kecleon's name is a portmanteau of heckle (meaning to wind rope around, which refers to the stripe around Kecleon's body) and chameleon. The Japanese name Kakureon is a portmanteau of kaku meaning to hide, conceal, or cover; and chameleon.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Kecleon's appearance is somewhat based on the chameleon. It is a mostly green, bipedal lizard, with a yellow crest and eye markings. Its waist is circled by a red zigzag band, and it has a long curled tail.
Much like the real world chameleon, Kecleon possesses the ability to change its body coloration at will in order to blend with its surroundings, approaching invisibility. Kecleon puts this stealthy trait to good use when hunting, as it can sneak up on its prey undetected and trap it with its long and stretchy tongue.
Kecleon does not have absolute control of its appearance, however: it can never change the color of the zigzag band in the middle of its body, which renders his cloaking useless to any fairly keen observer. Secondly, a Kecleon can involuntarily shift colors based on its emotions, so that a sudden mood swing will change its looks completely. Finally, a Kecleon will revert to its original colors if it is startled.
[edit] In the video games
Kecleon are available in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald in Routes 118, 119, 120, 121 and 123. The species is featured specially in the games' storyline: an invisible Kecleon blocks the entrance to the Fortree City Gym, until Steven Stone arrives and gives the player the Devon Scope that can show Kecleon for what they are (compare with Silph Scope from older Pokémon titles).
Kecleon has very good Attack, excellent Special Defense and low Speed. It learns a strange collection of moves including Faint Attack, Psybeam and Ancientpower. It is one of only two Pokémon (the other being Mr. Mime) that can learn the move Substitute naturally, making it invaluable in cross-breeding. Kecleon also has a very impressive Technical Machine compatibility, which gives it many alternative movesets.
Kecleon's unique Color Change ability changes its type to match that of the last damage-dealing attack that hit it. Due to the fact that most attack types deal half the damage against Pokémon of the same type, Color Change could help Kecleon last a long time in battle. However, Pokémon that know attacks of more than one type may be able to manipulate Kecleon and take advantage of its ability. In the same way, teaching Kecleon Skill Swap can abuse this ability, giving the opponent Color Swap and slamming them with Shadow Ball or Dragon Claw.
A pair of Kecleon brothers, one regular and one purple, which is commonly mistaken as shiny, appears in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games as shopkeepers, selling useful items to the player. Kecleon shops can also be found in dungeons, where, should the player fail to pay the Kecleon for obtained items, the Kecleon will consider the player a shoplifter and more Kecleon will appear to defeat the player. These Kecleon are some of the strongest opponents of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, and should the player fail to escape from the Kecleon, not only will the player be kicked out of the dungeon and lose all of their money and most of their items, but the remaining items will be replaced with Plain Seeds. In addition, the player cannot send an SOS after being defeated by the Kecleon. Notably, this is also the only way to fight a Kecleon in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, and therefore the only way to recruit them in the wild, although the probability of doing so is very low. Kecleon can also be obtained as a team member by defeating Jirachi in the Wish Cave, although other Pokémon may be obtained instead.
Kecleon also stars in a mini-game in Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire. In this mini-game, the player has to hit the Kecleon with the pinball repeatedly. However, the Kecleon will appear as invisible until hit. Once it is visible, the player can aim and deal damage effectively. Also, Devon Scopes will fall from the tree in the center of the stage when hit. When the Devon Scopes are rolled over, the screen goes into a detection mode, revealing Kecleon's location.
Kecleon can also be encountered in the wild in Pokemon Diamond after the player learns about the Poketore, but if the player is playing Pokemon Pearl, he/she must trade with Diamond, or transfer a Kecleon from a GBA game to the Pal Park to get one.
[edit] In the anime
Kecleon was one of the first Pokémon of the Game Boy Advance generation to appear in the Pokémon anime while it was still in the Johto story arc. It made its first appearance in episode #207, "The Kecleon Caper". This particular episode featured two Kecleon, named Reddy and Greeny for their respective hues. Kecleon was also used by trainer Harrison against Ash in the Silver Conference and has made a number of additional cameo appearances in other episodes in the end of "Can't Beat the Heat, Playing With Fire" and "Johto Photo Finish". It also appeared in the short "Pikachu's Pikaboo", as well as the Pokémon Chronicles episode "Of Meowth And Pokémon". It also briefly appeared in "Now That's Flower Power", "Pros and Con Artists" and "A Double Dilemma".
A Kecleon accompanies a Larvitar and a Granbull at a large mansion in the short movie "Pikachu's Pikaboo" that accompanies "Pokémon 4Ever". This Kecleon hides by blending into a pillar, with only its red stripe remaining. However, Pikachu could not find it, thus causing Kecleon to miss out on the excitement of trapping and blowing up a killer lawnmower.
Another Kecleon appeared in "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate!". Kecleon and his brother, who has a purple coloring, run a shop and like to see old customers. They close their shop when Team Meanies steals everything.
[edit] In the trading card game
Though Kecleon has previously appeared only once in the card game, within the EX Sandstorm set as a Basic Pokémon, it is a unique card. Its Poké-Body, Energy Variation, makes its type the same as every type of Basic Energy card attached to it, and it can cause some wild compounding effects when applying weakness and resistance. If a Kecleon has a Lightning and a Grass energy card attached to it, and it attacks a card like Wailord EX (whose weaknesses are Lightning and Grass-type attacks), the resulting damage is quadrupled. Because Kecleon’s attack does up to 40 damage, the resulting damage can become 160.
It also features in the latest set "EX Legend Maker", in which its power is akin to its previous form from "EX Sandstorm". When attaching a React energy card, Kecleon becomes all six of the basic energy types at once.
[edit] 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
- ^ Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold. PR Newswire. Retrieved on 2006-02-28.
- ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 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 Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Kecleon as a species.
- Kecleon’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistical analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Kecleon Previously hosted by Wikibooks
