By Jo
It’s tiny, incredibly cute, and even has a popular saying specifically about it. Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokemon, is one of the most popular Pokemon ever (In a poll conducted by Nintendo of Europe, Mudkip was voted a fan favorite with Typhlosion and Blastoise following not too far behind) and is the Hoenn region’s water-type starter.
“So i herd u liek mudkipz?” Though it looks a bit strange in that sort of context, that quote is one of the most popular Pokemon-related memes on the internet. It just goes to show how popular Mudkip really is in the Pokemon community. Being powerful for its small size, Mudkip has the highest attack out of all the starters at base form. Mudkip has a rather large head, a small blue body, and travels about on its tiny legs. Mudkip appears to be based on a mudskipper or mudpuppy, as well as an axolotl which is a type of salamander. The blue amphibian-like creature’s name is most-likely a combination of the words ‘mud’ and ‘skip’ and sounds very similar to ‘mudskipper’.
When Mudkip reaches level 16, it evolves into Marshtomp and gains the secondary type of Ground. Marshtomp is a bit larger than Mudkip and is able to stand on its hind limbs rather than being quadrupedal. Marshtomp is the only middle evolution of any water-type starter to have two types. Like its pre-evolution, Marshtomp has a high attack stat, though its stats are a bit more evened out than they were before; its health and defense stats are a bit higher, though it still lacks in speed. Though it originates from a purely water-type starter, Marshtomp is only able to learn three water-type attacks through leveling up. Also like Mudkip, Marshtomp is probably based off from the mudskipper, or perhaps the axolotl. The fin atop its head appears to be based on a type of helmet worn by the Roman Gladiators. Marstomp’s name comes from the words ‘marsh’, which is a type of wetland, and ‘stomp’.
Marshtomp evolves at level 36 and becomes a Swampert. Swampert has the highest base stat total of all the starter evolutions, as well as the highest base attack of all fully evolved water starters. Like Marshtomp, it can only learn three water-type attacks by leveling up. It’s also the only fully evolved water-type starter that does not learn the move Hydro Pump by leveling up, though it can learn it as a Mudkip before evolving. Swampert’s name most-likely comes from the word ‘swamp’ and possibly ‘rampart’, ‘expert’, or ‘inert’. Like Mudkip and Marshtomp, Swampert is most-likely based off from the mudskipper or a type of salamander.
Mudkip and its evolutions are all known as Mud Fish Pokemon. Because of that, their names each have a bit of what you’d associate with muddy water; the ‘mud’ in Mudkip, the ‘marsh’ in Marshtomp, and the ‘swamp’ in Swampert. The line is also known for having large attack stats, despite their size.
Tags: Hoenn Region, Marshtomp, Mudkip, Swampert