Number: # 046

Type: Bug - Grass

Species: Sewing

Gender: 50% Male – 50% Female

Japanese Name: Kurumiru

Description: As you walk through the forest one fine evening and hear the eerie chant of 'Sewaddle Sewaddle' you know you're in for a fight. While they may look unassuming, these feisty little critters cause quite a bit of trouble for the Pokémon Rangers, and many people travelling through Pinwheel Forest as well.

They're more of a nuisance than trouble, as they are individually weak and thus rely on the collective strength of their clan to fight opponents. Regardless of their efforts, even beginning trainers can scare them off with a disciplined Tepig. It's still annoying to have these guys constantly pursue you throughout the forest, shooting warning shots of silk at you for invading their supposed territory.

Sewaddle is first born into a family alongside 6 – 12 other Sewaddle, guarded by an industrious mother Leavanny. If the father is also a Leavanny, he will join the mother in parenthood, but if he is of another species the young Sewaddle may never see their father. The mother Leavanny loves her children very much, dotingly weaving sets of clothes for her babies shortly after they have been born. When Sewaddle has matured enough (usually around 7 months), it will depart from his family and wander off to join up with a nearby clan of Sewaddle. It will fit in unassumingly, and the other Sewaddle may not notice at all.

Their clothes are made of leaves, and thus it is not surprising that they wear down or decompose quickly. Fortunately, Sewaddle can produce silk from a spinneret located at the roof of its mouth to weave clothes out of gathered leaves, but can also use this to immobilize opponents in battle. Additionally, Sewaddle can craft small shelters out of leaves using this thread, although these can easily be destroyed in a storm.

Sewaddle can be quite hard to spot due to their colouring, especially when they cover their face with their leaf hood, which is what they do every time they go to sleep. If separated from their clan, they will do this to hide themselves from predators as well.

Personality: As stated Sewaddle are quite aggressive, attacking anyone who invades their territory simply to display their dominance. Even so, they aren't mean-spirited and only do this because this is what they have been taught to do. Generally speaking, this behaviour is only seen in Sewaddle who are members of clans; individual members are far friendlier although some still act defiantly when alone.

They are quite stubborn and single-minded, ignoring others or even arguing with them should they disagree with what Sewaddle has in mind. If Sewaddle doesn't like what anyone has to say, it will spray you with sinewy silk before waddling off to join another clan.

Regardless of this, Sewaddle are very affectionate and doting when they have developed a bond with someone, and can become very upset should they be betrayed. For a group Pokémon, Sewaddle have rather unique personalities, as opposed to species such as Pidove or Roggenrola.

Lifespan: As expected of an unevolved Bug type, poor Sewaddle lives a very short life, only reaching around 5 years. Thankfully, Sewaddle is registered as a low-grade evolutionary, meaning that it is a species that evolves rather quickly and without effort.

Diet: Sewaddle are fully herbivorous (thank goodness!) and mostly eat leaves. Since they live in a forest, food is easy to come by. Berries are treated as a delicacy, as a single Sewaddle clan usually devours them with impudence, ensuring that many members only get one or two per meals.

Due to the low levels of nutrients in foliage, Sewaddle will have to graze frequently so you will need to let it out frequently. Public parks have plenty of plants and caretakers should understand, but some places may charge you for eating their garden!

How To Bond: Sewaddle will be very arrogant and defiant upon first being caught, and certainly won't listen to what you have to say. Interestingly, it will most likely stick around out of pure curiosity; apparently wild Sewaddle envy caught ones.

Straight away you need to make it clear that you aren't going to tolerate any funny business from Sewaddle, otherwise it'll walk all over you. Organize some predetermined punishments for when Sewaddle breaks any set rules, but don't be too restricting, otherwise Sewaddle may feel constricted.

Don't hope for friendship for the first few weeks; don't even expect Sewaddle to fully comply, no matter how harsh you are. Bonding with Sewaddle is a long process which requires that patience of a saint and the diplomatic skills of an ambassador. As time passes for the two of you, Sewaddle will begin to warm up and may even express happiness once in a while.

Remember that Sewaddle is still just a baby Pokémon that is learning about the world, so if you treat it poorly in this developing stage that's what it will think of the world for the rest of it's life!

Battling: Sewaddle are a weak Pokémon, and rely on the strength of numbers to fight until they can evolve. Due to this, sending Sewaddle out to battle on its own makes things difficult, so for now keep it reserved for double battles.

Bug – Grass is horrendous typing that gives Sewaddle a slew of weaknesses, two of which are double weaknesses. Most Pokémon will have at least one move capable of inflicting super effective damage, so it's too big a chore avoiding all of Sewaddle's vulnerabilities. Fire and Flying are the two main killers, switch Sewaddle out immediately if you suspect that your opponent hides a move of those types.

To make matters worse, Sewaddle has a very restricted movepool and cannot any moves which can counter any of its 6 weaknesses.

String Shot will help you slow foes down initially, but don't rely on that move by itself. Many people such as Fire types can just burn their way out! Bug Bite and Razor Leaf are the only offensive moves you can learn, and while they can deal damage they are rather underwhelming. I wasn't kidding when I said Sewaddle isn't good at fighting.

With Fellow Pokémon: This Pokémon may be inclined to bully or steal form other Pokémon, especially if they are young or naïve. This will start some serious fights, and unfortunately is inevitable. When these do occur, you need to side with the other Pokémon and make it evident that what Sewaddle did is wrong. When it realises it is outvoted, it will grumble but concede defeat. This process may need to be repeated a few times, but you will start to notice better responses from Sewaddle each time.

It's poor attitude may incur bigotry from the other Pokémon, who will see it as a mere nuisance. Starter Pokémon have been known to oust them out of disgust. This will weaken the social structure of the group and badly hurt Sewaddle's feelings, so intervention is important. As much as your Pokémon may not like it, they need to bite their lip for the time being. Some Pokémon such as Sawk or Excadrill will simply not tolerate this however.

Warnings: None. Sewaddle may shoot silk at you if you make it mad enough, but other than that you're fine.

Summary: Sewaddle is a very difficult and unrewarding Pokémon, possessing very few redeeming points at all. I advise against catching one unless you are an avid bug collector or something. Swadloon is not much better, but is more compliant and slightly more versatile in battle.

Next Time… Number 047 Swadloon!


A/N: I don't mean to offend anybody, but Sewaddle is one Pokémon I really don't like, to the point where a group of them became the first antagonists in another story of mine.

The Sewaddle family is one species of Pokémon I certainly wouldn't use in battle, as most of my battle strategies involve sweeping the opponent and then falling back onto resistances or high defences. Cobalion using Volt Switch to bring in Terrakion against a Fire type is a good example.

Fun Facts: Sewaddle was first revealed on Yahoo's! official Pokémon site.

Sewaddle is based on the caterpillar of the Epargyreus clarus, who fold leaves over themselves for shelter and also produce silk.

It's name may come from sew, waddle or even swaddle (wrapping a baby up in cloth)

Kurumiru may be derived from kurumu (to wrap up)