Jolteon
Mutatiovulpes octuplumiter - 2

Overview

In the pre-industrial era jolteon were one of the rarest of the eeveelutions, evolving only around areas of natural electric energy. These most often occurred in places with a high concentration of electric-types, such as caves with metals such as manganese and copper. Eevee are not naturally suited to caves of any kind, so only eevee that happened to live above these caves or around the mouth would evolve into jolteon. The rise of power stations and lines, as well as appliances entering into every home, made jolteon one of the most common eeveelutions, rivaled only by espeon and umbreon.

Jolteon are well-suited for trainers in a number of ways. They are one of the only eeveelutions that is almost entirely herbivorous. Unlike most electric-types they do not need to consume electricity on a regular basis, allowing trainers to plot out journeys without factoring in proximity to the power grid. They are also generalists that can be comfortable in all but the hottest and coldest of environments. Jolteon do not actively damage electronics, unlike magnezone or hodad, making them reasonably safe in a home environment.

There are a few drawbacks to jolteon, however. They can be very high energy during storms, wanting to race around the largest area possible and play. It is unsafe for their trainer to come outside to play with them during an electrical storm as they will die if hit by lightning. Jolteon do not see lightning as something to fear and will become irritated with their trainer's apparent irrationality or cowardice. In general they are prone to mood swings and can go from furious or heartbroken to playful in the span of a minute. They are known for being dramatic and needing a great deal of attention, either from their trainer or mate.

Trainers who want an electric-type but are unwilling to give up electronic devices are well served by jolteon. They should simply be aware that jolteon may not actually give them the time to use those devices.

Physiology

Jolteon are classified as pure electric-types.

Jolteon are quadrupeds with a typical canine body shape. Their ears are long and quite sensitive. They are usually tucked back but can be raised upright when something has caught the pokémon's attention. Most of jolteon's fur is yellow, except for a white main around the neck. Many of these hairs are hollow and contain a sharp tip. Jolteon can use static electricity to raise up these quills and become very difficult to attack without being harmed. Most of the time the quills rest against the body. Jolteon's tail is very short and often difficult to see as it is surrounded by a tuft of fur.

Two of jolteon's most important adaptations are their lungs and legs. Jolteon can rapidly accelerate to speeds of over eighty miles an hour. They cannot maintain these speeds for more than two to three minutes because their lungs are not particularly well adapted for long distance running. They lungs contain unique cells that produce electricity with every breath. Even while at rest jolteon's exhales have a crackling sound. After running a great deal of energy will be built up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe unless the electricity is vented out as an extremely powerful lightning bolt. Anything still pursuing will almost certainly be incapacitated by the attack. The jolteon can resume running about ten seconds after the discharge of electricity in the lungs.

Jolteon have the longest gut of any eeveelution. This is necessary to get enough energy to run from their herbivorous diet. Leafeon, the only other herbivorous eeveelution, can photosynthesize for food and only rarely needs to eat plant matter.

Jolteon typically grow to be thirty-five to forty inches long. Typical specimens weigh less than thirty pounds, although one obese jolteon was recorded as weighing fifty-two. Wild lifespans are around fifteen years. Captive specimens usually live for around twenty-five years.

Behavior

Jolteon live in family groups (charges) consisting of a mated pair and all offspring that wish to remain in the group. Eevee can leave once a new litter is born, but many choose to remain for several years afterwards. Foraging is generally non-cooperative outside of demonstrating techniques to the youngest litter. They are primarily nocturnal but have often been observed foraging and playing during the day, usually during storms. Jolteon usually sleep in a heap on the surface with one member of the charge staying awake to watch out for threats.

Jolteon dig relatively short burrows to rest in. When threatened they will often dive into the burrow and raise their quills to deter would-be predators. If cornered without sufficient charge they can run backwards at, quills raised, to run the aggressor through. Jolteon can also launch the quills, but this requires regrowing them in the future. As such the backwards charge is preferred against all but the most dangerous of opponents. Few things prey on jolteon as a result, finding the risk of electrocution or impalement to be too much trouble.

Unlike most canines, jolteon are primarily herbivorous. They spend most of their nights digging for roots and tubers or foraging for fruit. Near human settlements they will happily eat any crops they come across, earning the ire of local farmers. Jolteon have also been known to use their claws and teeth to strip off bark, letting them eat the softer flesh of the tree.

Jolteon have been known to gnaw at any bones they find and even use them as toys or tools. One jolteon was observed brandishing a rib as a crude weapon. Charges can also scare off birds of prey from a kill site, threatening to electrocute them unless they leave the carcass behind. Jolteon take these opportunities to eat meat, although they never actively hunt. Too much meat in the diet can lead to digestive problems and obesity.

Behavior

A captive jolteon's diet should consist of a combination of pre-made herbivore and leaf-eater mixes, whole maize, fresh greens and berries. More ambitious trainers can attempt to craft a nutritionally balanced diet without commercial mixes. It is recommended that trainers consult with a veterinarian or pokémon nutritionist before going down this route. Carnivores are relatively simple to feed without relying on commercial pellets, but herbivores require a mix of different nutrients. A bone with some meat on it can be provided as a rare reward but should not be a regular part of the diet.

Jolteon should almost always have access to at least one water bowl. Jolteon like water and will often flip over their bowl and wallow in the newly created mud if there is not a water feature nearby to swim or bathe in. Pokémon Center pools are unsuitable for this purpose as the jolteon might electrocute the other pokémon in the pool. Bathtubs work but the pokémon may end up making a mess of the area. Never get into the water with a jolteon. If the jolteon cannot wash itself make sure to wear a rubber protective suit when bathing the pokémon.

Jolteon appreciate wide open spaces and places to burrow. If it is not suitable to burrow anywhere a dark, secluded place should be provided. A jolteon confined to the inside of a room or building may cause property damage when agitated. Bored jolteon have also been known to steadily pick at something in their surroundings until it eventually breaks.

The main problem with raising jolteon is their mood swings. Jolteon can go from heartbroken to furious and back within seconds and will often demand attention when they are feeling emotional. These shifts occur most often when they are alert. Jolteon are nocturnal. This means that they will bother their trainer in the middle of the night with a pressing emotional concern that may disappear within minutes, sometimes replaced by a different but equally powerful emotion. Having a mate or at least a nocturnal teammate is crucial if the trainer wants to sleep peacefully at night. Otherwise it might be prudent to shift to a reversed sleep schedule of activity at night and rest during the day.

Jolteon prefer to sleep against their trainer. Be very careful when sharing a space with a sleeping jolteon. Sometimes their quills will perk up due to a nightmare or they will accidentally release a small shock. Jolteon can sleep in a stasis ball but become very lonely in habitat balls. This is a problem that can also be solved by giving the jolteon someone else to cuddle. Luxray and manectric are particularly well-suited for this role.

Jolteon can be safely pet when their quills are not raised. Always pet from the head to the tail. Gloves are recommended but not required.

Illness

Jolteon suffer from many of the same problems as the other eeveelutions, including rabies and canine parovirus. They will need to be vaccinated against both, as well as tetanus.

The most unique health problem jolteon suffer from is ingrown quills. Just like humans sometimes get ingrown hairs, jolteon's quills will sometimes not properly grow out and become entirely or partially lodged underneath the skin. The difficulty in removing the quill depends on the extent to which it is ingrown. Entirely ingrown quills are best handled by a veterinarian under anesthetic.

Putting a jolteon to sleep is also somewhat complicated. Their quills are longer than most needles, making injection a risky endeavor. Hypnosis and sleep powder are the preferred methods instead. Not every Pokémon Center will have a pokémon available to use these techniques. Thankfully ingrown quills do not usually cause the jolteon distress and removal can wait until a suitable pokémon arrives.

Evolution

Eevee are most likely to evolve into jolteon when they grow up in urban environments or around power plants. Some areas also carry a natural charge, including Vast Poni Canyon. Trainers who have money and do not wish to leave the evolution to chance can use a thunder stone to induce evolution. The stone can be kept away from the eevee to gradually cause evolution, at which point it can be resold. This method still carries some risk of another evolution occurring in the meantime. The only surefire way to get a jolteon is to give an eevee a thunder stone and let it be used up.

Battle

Electric-types are great on the competitive circuits. Fliers hard counter many melee attackers, so melee heavy teams want to stock up on electric types, as wing paralysis can easily bring a bird back down to earth. Jolteon is fast and reasonably strong. It could have a niche. But in high level play, where trainers can afford the absolute best pokémon at their role, jolteon is almost never seen. Vikavolt, hodad, magnezone, rotom, and other airborne electric-types can glide above seismic waves, strike down birds, and put distance between themselves and the strong physical attackers that could threaten them.

Jolteon is relatively frail and unable to fly. It is very vulnerable to seismic moves that can trip it up and dampen electric elemental energy. Aside from its quills jolteon have fairly minimal defenses. Even their bones are lighter than the other eeveelutions to allow for faster running speeds. Like most eeveelutions, jolteon have fantastic power in their specialized element but relatively few tricks outside of it. Ground types can completely wall it and ranged attackers can usually take it down with a few hits, striking from a distance where the quills don't matter.

On the island challenge, resources and ease of care and capture matter a lot more than they do to professionals. Hodad and magnezone's device breaking magnetic fields disqualifies them for many trainers. Vikavolt are difficult to earn the respect of. Jolteon, emotional issues aside, are fairly low maintenance. Ground-types are rare in Alola and most trainers do not have one, making the lack of coverage a non-factor in most matches. Jolteon's speed lets them outpace most opponents and until the end of the challenge powerful and accurate ranged attacks are rare. Jolteon do two things, run away and throw lightning bolts, but they do them well.

Acquisition

A few wild jolteon have been observed in Alola, mostly near Heahea City. These may have been strays. There is no evidence a this point of a wild eevee evolving into Jolteon in Alola, largely due to the rural area they currently call home.

Jolteon can be adopted or purchased with a Class III license. Capture is currently prohibited to allow the DNR a chance to study whatever wild populations crop up.

Breeding

Jolteon have no external sex differences. Both sex organs are stored inside the body with the penis only protruding during the copulation. It is possible to manipulate the groin to determine the sex of a jolteon, but this is best done while the pokémon is heavily sedated.

Mating rituals are initiated by the male. He will approach a prospective mate while making high-pitched squeaking sounds, only to abruptly retreat when he gets close. This will continue until the female either walks away, displaying a lack of interest, or charges the male when he tries to retreat, displaying acceptance. The two will then make an expanded burrow network before copulation. Pregnancy lasts approximately two months, at which point the female will give birth to one to three eevee. The mother will rarely let the eevee leave her side until they are six months old and never let them out of sight until they evolve or a new litter is conceived. New litters are born about once a year, although if a litter is lost to stillbirth, disease, or predation a new one will be conceived almost immediately.

Relatives

Consult the Eevee entry for more information.