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Arbok is a serpentine Pokémon that resembles a cobra. It has narrow eyes and several sharp teeth. Just below its head is a large hood with a face-like pattern. This pattern has over 20 possible variations. The pattern typically has two red and yellow eyespots outlined in black, a wide black streak resembling an upturned mouth, and a black V-shaped stripe above the eyespots.
Arbok is capable of crushing opponents by coiling its body around them and squeezing them tightly. It can even flatten steel oil drums. If it encounters an enemy, it raises its head, mimics, and stuns the opponent using the frightening pattern on its body. It can also make eerie sounds by expelling air from its mouth. It has been stated that if any part of Arbok's body except for the head is cut off, it can regrow the rest of its body again in a matter of a few weeks. It also has the ability to detect vibrations as shown in the anime. Arbok has been known to be capable of spending long periods underwater and surviving in aquatic environments. One particular Arbok could change its pattern at any time to increase power to different stats and get invulnerability to status conditions, if the pattern is uncovered.
Arbok is territorial. It lashes out at intruders with long fangs tipped with deadly venom. Vengeful in nature, it will not give up a chase once it targets its prey or an opponent, no matter how far. It makes its home in grassy savannas and plains. In the wild, it hunts smaller Pokémon. First it uses the pattern on its hood to immobilize prey, then it begins constricting them, and finally poisons the target to finish them off and eat them. It is also capable of paralyzing opponents with its former signature move, Glare.
Jessie had an Arbok that she obtained as an Ekans. It evolved from Ekans in Dig Those Diglett!, thus marking the species' debut. It was extremely loyal to her and was her primary battling Pokémon until A Poached Ego!, when she set it free along with James's Weezing to protect a wild group of Ekans and Koffing.
Arbok is one of the supporting characters in Magical Pokémon Journey. Originally an enemy of the main cast, he along with the Ekans Brothers befriend Hazel and her Pokémon.
In Even an Arbok Falls in Love!, he gets a crush on Wigglytuff and goes to Jynx as well as Hazel and friends for advice. At the end of the chapter, he confesses his love to Wigglytuff and gives her one of his molted skins.
Manga author Yumi Tsukirino states in volume one that Arbok is one of her favorite Pokémon to draw.
Koga and Agatha both have Arbok as important parts of their teams in Pokémon Adventures. Agatha's first appeared in Muk Raking. In Pokémon Adventures, the pattern on an Arbok's belly may give an Arbok special abilities. With the help of Agatha's smoke, Agatha's Arbok had the ability to switch between a several different patterns: a standard pattern, a speed-boosting pattern, an attack-boosting pattern, and an invulnerability pattern that repels poisons. Koga's Arbok instead has only one pattern, which is a regenerative pattern that allows it to regenerate any part of its body as long as the head remains intact.
This Pokémon is terrifically strong in order to constrict things with its body. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once Arbok wraps its body around its foe, escaping its crunching embrace is impossible.
This Pokémon has a terrifically strong constricting power. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once it wraps its body around its foe, escaping is impossible.
This Pokémon is terrifically strong in order to constrict things with its body. It can even flatten steel oil drums. Once Arbok wraps its body around its foe, escaping its crunching embrace is impossible.
The face-like pattern on Arbok's chest has differences between games. Its appearance in Generation I, FireRed and LeafGreen, and Generations IV onward differs from the variants shown in Generation II and in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. This supports Pokédex text which notes differences between Arbok in different areas; however, its markings in Johto- and Hoenn-based remakes differ from those in the original games set in those regions.
It should be noted that other media have featured more variations. The Adventures series suggests that it can change the pattern, as done by Agatha's Arbok, based on Arbok's concept art. The Dark Arbok card from the TCG is also illustrated with another pattern.
Arbok is the last Pokémon to be featured on the Kanto Pokérap.
Origin
Its design is likely based on an Indian cobra. Arbok and Ekans may also be inspired by the legendary basilisk since they were originally the only Pokémon to learn Glare. The basilisk was said to be a poisonous, serpentine dragon that would kill people with its stare, which may explain Arbok's place in the Dragon Egg Group.
Name origin
Arbok is cobra spelled backwards, with k instead of c. Additionally, the name Arbok relates to its pre-evolution's Japanese name, Arbo.
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
アーボック Arbok
Cobra spelled backwards, with k instead of c. Also similar to Arbo.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.