Whiscash (Pokémon) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Whiscash (Japanese: ナマズン Namazun) is a dual-type Water/Ground Pokémon introduced in Generation III.

It evolves from Barboach starting at level 30.

Biology

Whiscash is a dark blue, catfish-like Pokémon with a yellow underbelly. It has a cavernous mouth with light blue lips that have short, thin whiskers growing from the lower lips. Long, yellow barbels grow from its cheeks, and there is a yellow marking on its forehead that resembles a W. The light blue dorsal fin has a pattern of three spots arranged in a triangle, while its horizontal tail fin lacks spots. Its pectoral fins and belly fins match its main body color.

Whiscash uses its caudal fin to cause earthquakes that can extend for over three miles by hitting the bottom of swamp beds. Whiscash can predict when natural earthquakes will occur. It also uses these massive earthquakes to drive away any foes that come near it, going on rampages in the process. This behavior, along with sightings of Whiscash's leaping from lakes, has caused people to mistaken it for starting earthquakes. It lives in a nest at the bottom of ponds and swamps, and is territorial over them. Whiscash tends to wait silently for prey to come to it. This gluttonous fish will eat anything that is alive, sometimes whole, and has been shown in the anime to eat inanimate objects as well. Whiscash also has a diet of consuming mud. Whiscash has poor eyesight, so it has to use its whiskers to detect a prey's vibration.

Evolution

Whiscash evolves from Barboach.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

By breeding

By a prior evolution

Side game data

Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 2.22 seconds Base HP: 61 Base Attack: 77 Base Defense: 54 Base Speed: 60

Evolution data

Sprites

In the anime

Major appearances

Nero

Whiscash debuted in Whiscash and Ash. A fisherman named Sullivan had been hunting one nicknamed Nero for fifty years because of its huge size. After Ash had battled Nero and retrieved his Badge Case that it had eaten, Sullivan used it as his chance to finally catch Nero. However, even after Sullivan used a Master Ball, Nero simply swallowed the Ball and swam away.

Other

Multiple Whiscash were set to appear in an episode that would air between Solid as a Solrock and Vanity Affair. However, the episode ultimately never aired anywhere in the world due to an earthquake that occurred in Japan sometime before its scheduled air-date.

In Eight Ain't Enough!, Juan's Whiscash was the third Pokémon that he used for the second half of his Gym battle against Ash. The Whiskers Pokémon was able to defeat Corphish but was defeated by Swellow.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!, a Whiscash assigned Team Go-Getters and Team Meanies to rescue Pichu's brother, Pikachu.

Minor appearances

In Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, the Marina Group used a Whiscash for their Marina Underwater Pokémon Show.

A Whiscash appeared in Drifloon On the Wind!.

In One Big Happiny Family!, Jessie's fantasy featured a Whiscash.

In Strategy Begins at Home!, Team Rocket was fishing for Goldeen in a lake that had a Whiscash.

In Securing the Future!, a Whiscash joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.

A Whiscash appeared in Pikachu's Exciting Adventure!.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Mr. Briney owns a Whiscash. He uses it to predict the massive, constant earthquakes to determine when he could go fishing, among other reasons. It first appeared in Stick This in Your Craw, Crawdaunt! I.

Wallace's Whiscash, nicknamed Phillip, is primarily used for Contests. He first appeared in I More Than Like You, Luvdisc I.

The Battle Tower rented a Whiscash, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in The Final Battle VII.

Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

A Whiscash appeared in I've Got A Big Fish!!.

In the TCG

Main article: Whiscash (TCG)

Trivia

Origin

Whiscash is based on Namazu, a catfish in Japanese mythology that causes earthquakes (also note Whiscash's Japanese name "Namazun"). Its move Future Sight and ability Anticipation also alludes to this myth, which possibly originated from the observation that catfish are capable of predicting earthquakes and become agitated a few hours before their occurrence. Namazu is sometimes depicted as a dragon-serpent, which may explain why it can learn the move Dragon Dance. The yellow zigzag on Whiscash's head is similar to a crown.

Since its pre-evolved form appears to be based on a loach, it may also draw inspiration from loach catfish. Whiscash could also be based on Electric catfish due to being able to learn the move Spark.

Name origin

Whiscash may be a combination of whisker, mustache, and possibly catfish. The first letter of its English name may also come from the "W" shaped symbol on its head.

Namazun may be derived from 鯰 namazu (catfish) or 大鯰 Ōnamazu, a catfish in Japanese mythology which caused earthquakes.

In other languages

More languages Hindi मिलाची Milachi Thai นามาซูน Namasun Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

External links