Entry 20 – Vikavolt
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Name (Unovan): Vikavolt – "wicga" (Old English for "insect") and "volt"
Name (Kantonese): Kuwagannon – "kuwagatamushi" (stag beetle) and "cannon"
Dex Number: 036
Classification: Insect, Stag Beetle Pokemon
Species: Fulguroptera magneticus – "magnetic lightning wings"
Primary Type: Bug. Reaching adulthood allows Vikavolt to access the full repertoire of Bug-type powers that other fully mature arthropods are capable of using. Whether it's using its jaws to clamp down on its opponent or unleashing damaging vibrations through the buzzing of its wings, Vikavolt's Bug-type attacks are varied and incredibly strong.
Secondary Type: Electric. Vikavolt's electrical output is even greater than Charjabug's, but the downside is that it no longer generates it as constantly. Its electric sacs are so powerful that they can only work in bursts, lest they overload and cause internal damage. Its jaws are there to help concentrate and direct such a massive output of energy.
Overall Description: If, for some reason, you're not satisfied with your own personal bus-shaped source of portable electricity, then take a quick trip to Ula'ula or Poni Island and allow your Charjabug to achieve its final form. Vikavolt is a fully-developed insectoid Pokemon with a hard turquoise exoskeleton and functional wings hidden under specialized wing cases. Its sleek shape is further streamlined by its massive, sword-like jaws. Said jaws glow brightly with electrical energy, as do the spots on its abdomen that denote the position of its internal lightning sacs. The head itself is small, orange in color, and consists mostly of sharp eyes and a pair of slicing mouthparts. It also has three sets of legs with grasping claws on the ends.
When Charjabug is exposed to a strong enough electric or magnetic current, it is granted enough power to break free of its thick, insulating carapace and allow its final evolution to take place. The shattered remnants of its old, rectangular skin are left behind as Vikavolt climbs free and spreads its newly-formed wings. Something that will be immediately obvious to the Trainer will be the sheer power thrumming through Vikavolt's jaws, which act as a conduit for electricity to be channeled and released in high-voltage bursts. The jaws are specifically designed for this purpose, as without them, Vikavolt's intense electrical output would surge out indiscriminately and smite everything in its vicinity – including itself!
Secondarily, once your new Vikavolt's wings finish drying, you should take note of its speed. When it takes off, Vikavolt is capable of some impressive aerial feats that almost make it seem like one of the starfighters in Omastar Wars. Its streamlined body shape only boosts its aeronautical prowess even further through the roof. Flying comes naturally to this Bug-and-Electric-type, its instincts directing it to pull off daring maneuvers that most Flying-types would have to practice hard not to struggle with. Surely, possessing such agility in combination with its sheer power would make your Vikavolt a force unable to be reckoned with on the battlefi–
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm sorry, did you actually expect me to say that with a straight face? Priceless. Ah, kids these days…
Your Rotom Dex, I'm sorry to say, is a diabolical liar. While it's true that Vikavolt can hit some impressive speeds in battle, that's only when it finds itself in its home environment. Vikavolt is utterly dependent on natural magnetic forces to sustain its flight – otherwise, its flying speed is comparable to a Slugma's crawl. An aerodynamic body is worthless when your wings are that small and your body weight averages at 45 kilos. Within the canyons of Poni and the mountains of Ula'ula, Vikavolt is an unstoppable force. Anywhere else, it's a sitting Ducklett for anything that can get past its ranged attacks.
In the wild, apparently, Vikavolt like to keep a Charjabug around so that the pupa can passively provide it with an external source of power. Of course, the younger Bug-type rarely has any say in the matter, but what may seem like an act of kidnapping is actually a mutually beneficial relationship – Vikavolt gets extra firepower and Charjabug gets a quick method of transportation. The "kidnapper" will even go out of its way to transport its partner to sources of food when the Charjabug becomes hungry.
Personality: As is true for most Bug-type Pokemon (and any other arthropods that aren't classified as Bug-types), it's hard to get a read on what Vikavolt is like emotion-wise. What most Pokemon biologists can agree on is that it's a voracious hunter and can be fairly short-tempered, most likely due to its sheer size requiring a lot of food to keep in shape. While they normally don't target anything other than Flying-types, it's generally advised not to get near one, as they tend to shoot first and fly away later. Most reports of Vikavolt attacking people or other Pokemon tend to be caused by either provocation or competition over resources.
When raised under a Trainer, Vikavolt tend to be rather inscrutable. They spend most of their spare time lying motionless, probably out of an instinctive need to conserve energy. This is especially true after one is freshly caught and newly introduced into a team, where it prefers not to interact with the members of its new social group. However, some individuals seem to have hotter tempers than others and may attack nearby Pokemon at random. It's generally accepted, though, that Vikavolt is a fairly safe Pokemon to have, provided it doesn't feel provoked or threatened. Once it's used to being in a group environment, this Stag Beetle Pokemon may feel inclined to socialize with members of the team that it feels are the safest to approach.
Habitat: Because Charjabug is only able to evolve in areas with a particularly high magnetic force, Vikavolt is typically only found wild around Blush Mountain on Ula'ula Island, and Vast Poni Canyon on Poni Island. Wild Vikavolt do sometimes pop up around civilized areas, usually near power plants or other areas that generate enough electricity to stimulate a wandering Charjabug's evolution. However, without a sufficient environmental magnetic force to bolster their flight, most of these freak accidents don't survive longer than a few weeks before they succumb to starvation or predation.
Vikavolt stake wide territories and compete fiercely for space when two of them happen to meet. When it comes time to breed, mated pairs don't make nests – rather, they lay eggs in hiding spots throughout their territory, typically between clusters of boulders or under rocky overhangs. A single Vikavolt couple is able to lay close to ten thousand eggs. For those of you wondering how on earth Grubbin and Charjabug are able to populate the four islands of Alola when Vikavolt inhabit only a couple of specific locations, a fair number of these thousands of eggs end up being eaten and dispersed by Flying-type Pokemon, and others end up in the ocean where they're swept to other islands via ocean currents. When they're born, the newly-hatched Grubbin immediately burrow to safety and begin their search for succulent plant roots, often the only source of nutrients in the barren landscapes they call home.
Diet: Vikavolt switches from a placid leaf-muncher to a deadly carnivorous hunter after its evolution. In a complete reversal of the food chain, the Stag Beetle Pokemon turns to chasing down avian Pokemon in order to satiate its appetite. In the mountains and valleys it calls home, there's quite a variety of birds for it to sample, ranging from small Murkrow to massive Toucannon. It uses high-power, electrical lasers fired from its jaws in order to shoot them down, making a quick kill after getting within range. When Vikavolt finds itself in a foreign environment, thus lacking the speed it would normally possess, it has to resort to ambush strategies to pick them off more carefully.
Vikavolt itself, depending on where it's found, can be vulnerable to attack by a varying number of predators. On Poni Island, this number is zero, as not even the incredibly Sturdy (yes, that's a pun) Skarmory is willing to tangle with this fighter jet of a bug. Ula'ula Island does have a decent number of carnivorous Pokemon capable of taking down Vikavolt – Palossand, Garchomp, Flygon, and Bisharp, to name a few. Anywhere else, any Pokemon with a resistance to electricity or able to get within close range of a Vikavolt can quickly put an end to its unfortunate life.
Relationship with Humans: In ancient Alola, before the coming of the Beast That Calls The Moon (see Lunala entry), the four tapus were far more proactive and violent than they have been in the past few hundred years. During this time, they alternated their time between protecting their own territories and vying for dominance over the others. Not only would they directly clash in battles that shook the mountains and flattened the forests, but they'd often resort to more underhanded tactics in order to gain the upper hand. Native Alolans have long believed that the reason Vikavolt are only found on Ula'ula and Poni islands because they were directed there by Tapu Koko – a devilish air force tasked with destroying Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini with their powerful Bug Buzzes and Thunderbolts. After the tapus found peace with one another and settled into a more neutral relationship, the Vikavolt took up permanent residence within the craggy mountains and gulches they'd once attempted to conquer.
This Bug-and-Electric-type does bear some resemblance to Tapu Koko, certainly enough so that it inspired such a legend. Both are fast aerial predators that specialize in using electricity to attack. Alolan soldiers of Melemele Island would carve wooden shields in the shape of a Vikavolt's head and pincers, along with carapace-like armor painted to further resemble this Pokemon, and fall into battle behind their kahuna (who would traditionally wear equipment reminiscent of their native tapu). Although, it is up to speculation as to how the natives of Melemele were able to incorporate Vikavolt into their culture when it is so rarely seen on their island. Perhaps they were told stories of it by Ula'ula and Poni soldiers that they took prisoner?
Other than war, Vikavolt hasn't had much of an impact on Alolan culture. This fearsome insect certainly seems like an obvious choice when looking for inspiration for weapons and armor, though, considering its niche as an aggressive predator and all. Notably, historians once uncovered a painting depicting the erection of a hut, in which the dismembered jaws of a Vikavolt were used as saws to cut wood. A hilariously mundane use for a Pokemon typically associated with war, surely.
Battle Prowess: Now that you've been properly debunked on the truth behind Vikavolt's (*snicker*) exaggerated speed, it's time to start preparing your beetle of electric doom for battle. Obviously, Vikavolt's main claim to fame is its ungodly special attack, which reaches absurd levels with enough growth and training. Its defenses are, surprisingly, not too shabby, so the Stag Beetle Pokemon can definitely take a hit or three. Physical attack is lackluster while speed has been discussed already, so you should have an idea of Vikavolt's weaknesses and how to counter them.
One route to go when supplying your Vikavolt with moves is to go full-out offense. With power like that, Vikavolt's ranged attacks will hit any Pokemon very hard regardless of type classification. Its movepool is slightly different from Charjabug's, having mostly the same options with the addition of ranged attacks like Air Slash, Zap Cannon, Thunderbolt, and Bug Buzz. With specialized training, even more ranged options become available, such as Flash Cannon or Volt Switch. Guillotine is there if you want to end your battles with a decisive blow, although keep in mind it requires your slow Vikavolt to get in close to your opponent.
Increasing speed is a priority if you want your Vikavolt to reach its true potential. Fortunately, it learns Agility at a high power level, allowing it to move faster on its own. Although it doesn't have the same Surge Surfer ability as Alolan Raichu, some people provide Vikavolt with an artificial source of electromagnetic support via Electric Terrain, making its flight easier.
Levitate is Vikavolt's only known ability, automatically granting this aerial predator complete immunity to Ground-type moves, the bane of every Electric-type's existence. Not that I'm saying you should deliberately set Vikavolt against Ground-types, which is still a bad idea. But then again… with Energy Ball… hmm…
Affection: As the "Personality" section has hopefully made clear, Vikavolt is better able to express recognizable emotions than either of its previous forms, but not by much. While it's normally pretty unreadable, there are still ways of telling if it likes you or not. These signs should be present almost immediately after evolution if you've already spent enough time raising it. Apart from being content with remaining by your side, Vikavolt also responds visibly well to praise and being pet, flashing its bioluminescent lights and often performing a side-to-side shimmying motion in midair if it's hovering. When at rest, it might even settle down for a nap while clinging to your back (which honestly ends up looking kind of awesome if you can handle its weight).
Rarely, this Bug-and-Electric-type is capable of developing a crush for its Trainer. Despite possessing an open circulatory system that pumps hemolymph instead of blood, your Vikavolt admirer may give away its feelings when the area around its head lights up like a dim lightbulb. This soft orange glow is a telltale sign of romantic attachment, which you may or may not feel comfortable with reciprocating, depending on how willing you are to date a five-foot-long spacecraft-beetle. And before you ask, sexual attraction is absolutely out of the question due to the extreme differences in physiology between humans and insects. If you're disappointed, I don't know what to tell you. Science doesn't lie.
Special Warnings: None.
Professor Kukui's Words: "So you're training a Vikavolt, yeah? Woo! This Pokemon floats like a Cotton Spore and stings like a Hyper Beam! True Pokemon masters are able to find ways around Vikavolt's lackluster speed, so activating your Calm Mind should help you Minimize its weaknesses!"
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AN:
Geez, I'm on a roll with Kukui's move puns.
Also, the Alolan folklore about Vikavolt was not just made up because it sort of made sense (and because I thought it was really cool), it's actually also because I think Vikavolt looks a lot like the Seltas from Monster Hunter. Imagine the weapons and armor you could make from this thing.
Anyway, even though I infinitely prefer Charjabug, there's no denying how cool Vikavolt is. We haven't had a beetle Pokemon since… Heracross? Sun and Moon also introduced some other really awesome arthropods, so here's hoping we get some more in Gen 8!
*Prays for a mantis shrimp*
Vikavolt: "Viviviviviviviiiiiiiiii! Good readers, please send some reviews!"