Physiology
Spoink is a gray-colored, piglike Pokémon with dark, circular eyes, stubby arms, a large gray nose, and small ears. Spoink is most notable in that it leads an unusually fragile existence. It possesses no hind legs and motion is achieved by bouncing on its spring like tail. However, the bouncing serves a far more vital function in that it keeps its heart beating; if it's stopped from bouncing, it'll go into cardiac arrest and die. It also wears a pearl produced by a Clamperl on top of its head to amplify its psychic powers. However, if it loses the pearl, it begins to weaken, so Spoink is in constant danger from either ceasing to bounce or losing its pearl.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
The pearl on Spoink's head magnifies its psychic powers. It is able to constantly bounce, even while sleeping, which is imperative to its existence. This is due to the previously mentioned risk of cardiac arrest. Spoink was also one of the few Pokémon originally able to use the move Bounce, though this move now can be used by a decent quantity of Pokémon.
Behavior
Spoink are constantly on the search for a bigger pearl, which will most likely strengthen its psychic powers when it does so. Due to this factor, Spoink are known to steal round objects that it may confuse for a pearl. They seem to be kleptomaniac Pokémon.
Habitat
Spoink are mostly found on rocky mountains or on route paths. In the games, Spoink is found at the Jagged Pass.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
They seem to love mushrooms that grow underground. How they manage to get at them while bouncing is unknown. However, they also seem to be sometimes found with the Tanga Berry.
Major appearances
A Spoink first appeared in Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend. The Bounce Pokémon had lost its pearl and Ash and his friends helped find the missing pearl. Spoink happened to be a kleptomaniac for anything round (especially round Pokémon) when it didn't have its pearl. The same Spoink appeared again in Clamperl of Wisdom, where it loses its pearl once again. Ash and his friends go searching for another pearl, but Team Rocket stole the only Clamperl that had one.
Minor appearances
Ash used a Spoink in the first leg of the Pokémon Triathlon One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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AG079
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Spoink
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Ash's Pokédex
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Spoink, the Bounce Pokémon. Spoink bounces about on its tail. The pearl upon its head helps to magnify its psychic powers. If a Spoink loses its pearl, it grows extremely tired.
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- Despite saying that it would die if it stopped bouncing, it has been seen not bouncing many times in the anime.
- Despite its Pokédex entry saying that its pearl comes from a Clamperl, Shiny Spoink's pearls are gray, but Shiny Clamperl's pearls are gold.
- Spoink is the middle of National Pokédex—there are 324 Pokémon before and after Spoink.
- Tepig's German name, Floink, is very similar to Spoink, who has the same name in German.
Origin
It is possible the inspiration for Spoink came from the Biblical phrase "do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet." The pearls were supposed to represent wisdom given to an audience who would not appreciate the teachings. Spoink and Grumpig appear to instead use those pearls of wisdom to enhance their psychic powers. It is also possible that Spoink was a literal interpretation for a spring pig. It is obviously based off a pig and a spring, this might indicate a reference to a jack in the box.
Name origin
Spoink may be a combination of spring and oink (the sound a pig makes).
Baneboo may be a combination of 発条 bane (spring) and ブーブー būbū (the sound of grumbling or oinking). Boo may also be a shortening of 豚 buta (pig).