Scalchop and seamitar
- Scalchop redirects here. For the island in the Decolore Islands, see Scalchop Island.
Scalchops (Japanese: ホタチ hotachi) and seamitars (Japanese: アシガタナ ashigatana) are a type of shell weapon used by Oshawott, Dewott, and Samurott. Oshawott and Dewott use scalchops, while Samurott uses seamitars.
Oshawott has a scalchop on its stomach, Dewott has one scalchop on each hip, and Samurott's seamitars are tucked inside the scabbards on its forelegs. These are detachable, and are often thrown. They are used in the execution of the move Razor Shell when performed by a Pokémon with a scalchop or seamitar.
Scalchops are made of the same material as fingernails, known as keratin, and are capable of regrowing if they happen to get destroyed. According to a book in the Nacrene Gym, Oshawott's scalchop grows from its navel.
In the games
The scalchop can be seen on Oshawott and Dewott, and the seamitars can be seen on Samurott. Starting in the Generation VI games, the seamitar can be seen fully unsheathed in one of Samurott's battle animations. The scalchop is seen in the animation for Razor Shell, visibly slicing into the opponent.
In Pokédex 3D, each of Oshawott, Dewott, and Samurott's animations show them removing their scalchops or seamitars.
In PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, Oshawott uses his scalchop in battle. He is capable of throwing it like a boomerang, or slashing opponents with it like a sword. Dewott also uses its scalchops in battle, and to help Oshawott train. Samurott unleashes powerful blows with his seamitars that can cause geysers.
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Oshawott's Pokédex entry reveals it was Professor Laventon who coined the term "scalchop".
In the anime
Scalchops are shown to be vital to Oshawott, and its evolutionary family's survival, as it provides defensive and offensive benefits. According to Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster, an Oshawott uses its scalchop to break open Berries, and only lets those it truly trusts touch it. Cilan also mentions that a scalchop is actually a part of an Oshawott's body by some extension in Oshawott's Lost Scalchop!.
Ash's Oshawott frequently relies on his scalchop to defend him against moves that would typically have an advantage over him, such as Bullet Seed or Shock Wave. It often will fall off of his stomach onto the floor and give the opponent a temporary advantage until he is able to retrieve it. In Oshawott's Lost Scalchop!, it actually went completely missing and Oshawott learned to battle using a stone scalchop replacement, and later with no scalchop at all after the replacement was destroyed. However, by the end of the episode, Oshawott's scalchop was recovered by Iris's Axew.
A Dewott was first seen using its scalchops in The Battle Club and Tepig's Choice! to execute Razor Shell while battling Ash's Pikachu. Later in A Connoisseur's Revenge! Burgundy's Dewott used its scalchops against Cilan's Dwebble.
In both Victini and the Black Hero: Zekrom and Victini and the White Hero: Reshiram, Leeku's Samurott used its seamitars against Ash's Tepig.
During his Gym battle against Marlon at the Humilau Gym in The Road to Humilau!, Cameron commanded his Samurott to use her seamitars against Marlon's Mantine.
In Crowning the Scalchop King!, Scalchop Island was shown, an island celebrating Oshawott and Dewott. The island is shaped like a scalchop and its inhabitants sell merchandise based on it, such as T-shirts and souvenirs, but also food wares shaped like scalchops.
It is implied that if a scalchop is lost, then it can't be replaced[citation needed], but it can be repaired if broken.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Black & White arc
When angered, Bianca's Oshawott will fly into a rage and wildly swing its scalchop around at whoever happened to anger it. During Bianca, Black, and Cheren's Striaton Gym battle, Oshawott threw its water-soaked scalchop at Chili's Pansear like a boomerang, defeating it. Immediately afterward, Cilan's Pansage shattered the scalchop before throwing Oshawott into a wall. Cilan explained that scalchops are capable of regrowing after being damaged, much like a fingernail.
Blake's Dewott uses its scalchops in a variety of ways in battle. In addition to using them as blades, Dewott can throw a single scalchop to distract an opponent, allowing it to hit it with the second one. After battle, Dewott takes the time to polish its scalchops. In Choir Tournament, Dewott used its scalchops as a pair of castanets to help with the performance of Blake's team in the Autumn Choir Tournament.
Cedric Juniper's Samurott used its seamitars to battle against N's Gigi and Zorua while battling alongside Black's Bo and White's Amanda. Later, it was used to fight against N's Zekrom. Samurott attempted to strike Zekrom with its seamitar, but the blade easily shattered upon contact with Zekrom's arm.
Gallery
Ash's Oshawott using its scalchop in the anime
A Dewott using its scalchops in the anime
Leeku's Samurott using its seamitar in the anime
Artwork featuring Samurott holding its seamitar
Bianca's Oshawott having its scalchop broken in Pokémon Adventures
Blake's Dewott polishing its scalchops in Pokémon Adventures
Cedric Juniper's Samurott using its seamitar in Pokémon Adventures
Cedric Juniper's Samurott having its seamitar broken in Pokémon Adventures
A golden scalchop
Origin
The scalchop is based on the shells from scallops. Since they are shaped like fans and are used as weapons, they may also be based on the Japanese war fans used for tessenjutsu.
The seamitar is heavily inspired by the Japanese swords known as katana. It also shares a large resemblance to pen shells.
Hisuian Samurott's seamitar seems to be inspired by flame-bladed swords, also known as wave-bladed swords, such as the flamberge or kris.
Name origin
Scalchop
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ホタチ Hotachi | From 帆立 hotate (scallop) and 太刀 tachi (a type of sword) |
| English, Malay, Indonesian | Scalchop | From scallop and chop |
| French | Coupillage | From coupe (cut) and coquillage (shell) |
| German | Muschel | Literally "shell" |
| Italian | Mollusciabola | From mollusco (clam) and sciabola (saber) |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Quera-concha (Pokémon the Series: Black & White) Scalchop (JN081-present) |
From queratina (keratin) and concha (shell) Same as English name |
| Spanish (European) | Vieira | Literally "scallop" |
| Spanish (Latin American) | Caparaconcha | From caparazón (carapace) and concha (shell) |
| Korean | 가리비칼 Garibikal | From 가리비 garibi (scallop) and 칼 kal (knife) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 扇貝貝 / 扇贝贝 Shànbèibèi | From 扇貝 shànbèi (scallop) and 貝 bèi (shell) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 扇貝貝 Sinbuibui * 貝殼 Buihok * |
From 扇貝 sinbui (scallop) and 貝 bui (shell) Means shell |
| Finnish | Kuori | Literally "shell" |
| Indonesian | Kerang Kipas | Literally "fan shell" |
| Polish | Muszelka | Literally "scallop" |
| Swedish | Musselskal | Literally "clam shell" |
| Thai | เปลือกหอย Plueakhoi | Literally "seashell" |
| Vietnamese | Kiếm Vỏ Sò | Literally "shell sword" |
Seamitar
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アシガタナ Ashigatana | From 海驢 ashika (sea lion), 足 ashi (foot), and 刀 katana (a type of sword) |
| English, Malay, Indonesian | Seamitar | From sea, seal, and scimitar |
| French | Grande lame | Literally "large blade" |
| German | Langschwert | Literally "longsword" |
| Italian | Spada | Literally "sword" |
| Spanish | Sable | Literally "saber" |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 足刃 Zúrèn | From Japanese 足刀 Ashigatana |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 足刃 Jūkyahn | From Japanese 足刀 Ashigatana |
| Korean | 각검 Gakgom | From 각 gak (angle) and 검 gom (sword) |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Espadaqua | From espada (sword) and aqua |
| Vietnamese | Ngọn thương Kiếm hải sư |
From thương (spear) Literally "sea lion sword" |