By Jo
The newest Pokemon games have brought with them some pretty cute and interesting normal-types this generation. The Lillipup line is a prime example of that fact. The little fuzzy faced dogs act as a counterpart to the Purrloin line, as both are representations of house pets. Though where the cats are supposed to be tricky and untrustworthy, Lillipup and its evolutions act as noble dogs that would never even think of being disloyal to their trainer.
Lillipup, the Puppy Pokemon, is tiny and cute. It has a tan colored coat with a black patch on its back, and its face is covered with a sandy colored fluff. Its color scheme brings to mind a Yorkshire terrier, though the fuzz on its face and its evolutions’ appearance hints at traits coming from a Schnauzer. According to its pokedex entries, Lillipup face strong opponents with a great deal of courage. Being quite intelligent, it knows not to fight a losing battle and will flee from a battle if it’s at a disadvantage. The pokedex also states that the long hair around its face provides an amazing radar that lets it sense subtle changes in its surroundings. Besides the Unova starters, Lillipup is the only fifth generation Pokemon that evolves before level 20. Lillipup’s name seems to come from the words ‘little’ and ‘pup’.
Once it becomes strong enough, Lillipup will then evolve at level 16 into a Herdier. Herdier, like its pre-evolution, seems to be based off from a Yorkie. Its cheeks, ears, and legs are a tan shade, while its back is covered with long, black fur that resembles almost a cape or a cloak. Herdier has thick, sandy colored eyebrows that go down the bridge of its nose and connect to a fluffy mustache. Large eyebrows and mustaches are a common trait found in Schnauzers. Herdier’s pokedex entries state that the black, cape-like fur on its back is very hard and decreases the amount of damage it receives from attacks. The pokedex also say that they will loyally follow its trainer’s commands and that they’ve helped trainers raise Pokemon for ages. Herdier’s name seems to come from the words ‘herd’ (which would reference herding dogs) and ‘terrier’.
Herdier finally reaches its final evolution, Stoutland, once it reaches level 32. Stoutland is a bit larger than its pre-evolutions, and has a lot more fur. Its black back fur now reaches the ground, its brown paws only peeking through the thick fluff. Its sandy colored mustache reaches the ground as well, and even appears to be a bit longer than the rest of its fur. According to its pokedex entries, Stoutland is extremely intelligent and excels at rescuing people stranded in the mountains by blizzards. Its thick, long fur helps shield it from the cool temperature. Its appearance, like its pre-evolutions, brings to mind the Yorkshire terrier and the Schnauzer, though the fact that it is able to save people in the mountains might be a reference to St. Bernard’s. Stoutland’s name appears to be a combination of the words ‘stout’ (as in “bulky”) and ‘land’.
Tags: Herdier, Lillipup, Nintendo DS, Pokemon Black & White, Stoutland