Hydrapple is a Pokémon which comprises seven separate snake-like entities, known as "syrpents", living together inside a large, red, syrup structure shaped like an apple. Each syrpent has green, leaf-shaped eyestalks containing yellow eyes; a long, green body with a pale yellow underside; and a tail tipped with green, leaf-like ornaments.
Only three of the seven syrpents are always visible outside of the syrup: the one on the center acting as the "primary" head commanding the entire group, and two on the Pokémon's rear acting as its tails. The centermost syrpent has the longest body and is further distinguished by its two horns, with the left one having an apple stuck on it. The other four syrpents composing Hydrapple are usually hidden underneath the syrup, with only their closed eyestalks peeking out. Sometimes, these four syrpents may emerge out of the syrup, making the Pokémon appear to have five heads.
Each individual syrpent that forms Hydrapple has an unstable mood. Rarely, all of the syrpents will have their moods aligned, which lets them unleash their true power.
Hydrapple and its pre-evolved form, Dipplin, are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Syrup Bomb and the only known Pokémon that can have Supersweet Syrup as an Ability. Also, Hydrapple is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Fickle Beam.
Evolution
Hydrapple evolves from Dipplin and is one of the final forms of Applin.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
- Hydrapple is the only one of Applin's evolutionary relatives to be a third stage evolution.
- Dipplin and Hydrapple's evolution line is the only one released within a single generation that does not follow the logic of sequential numerical order, with Dipplin being number 1011 and Hydrapple being number 1019.
- Hydrapple's existence was indicated before the release of The Indigo Disk by the fact that Dipplin could use Eviolite.
- Hydrapple is the only Pokémon that requires a TM to obtain, as Dipplin can't learn Dragon Cheer without it.
Origin
Hydrapple seems to be inspired by multiheaded serpent-like monsters from different myths, such as the Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed dragon or serpent from Japanese mythology; Hachirō-Tarō or Hachi no Tarō no Daija (where daija is an alternative reading of orochi), a similar creature in the local myths of Northern Tōhoku, which Kitakami is based on; the Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed serpentine monster from Greek mythology; and Ladon, the multi-headed dragon from Greek mythology that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides, historically said to be located in the Iberian Peninsula or the Canary Islands. The fact, that their moods often don't align may be a reference to the golden Apple of Discord Like its evolutionary relatives, Hydrapple also appears to be based on the popular image of a worm burrowing into an apple, as well as a pun on the wyrm, a type of dragon — hence its Dragon typing. It also has visual similarities with candy apples and Flapples and Appletuns Gigantamax-Forms, while the Shiny may be inspired by caramel apples or a golden apple.
The connection between the syrpents and the apple present in Hydrapple's design could draw inspiration from the Christian myth of the original sin, in which a serpent tempts Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, commonly represented as an apple in Western Christianity from a Latin-based visual pun on mālum (apple) and malum (evil). Along these lines, Hydrapple's seven syrpents could then reference the number of cardinal sins, as well as the seven-headed beast from the Book of Revelation. Alternatively, these may reference the number of archons (including the creator god) in Gnosticism, commonly associated with the seven luminaries, as well as the Gnostic depiction of Leviathan as world serpent. The physical world is considered intrinsically flawed and chaotic in Gnosticism. This may explain Hydrapple's signature move Fickle Beam and its special mechanism to be doubled in power when the seven syrpents are aligned at random.
Name origin
Hydrapple may be a combination of Hydra and apple.
Kamitsuorochi may be a combination of 果 ka (fruit), 花蜜 kamitsu (nectar), and 八岐大蛇 Yamata no Orochi.