Falinks is a group of small, bipedal Pokémon. A single Falinks is a formation of six individuals, similar to Exeggcute. It consists of five troopers and a leader, known as "the brass". Falinks usually march in a single file line headed by the brass, giving their formation the appearance of a caterpillar. This formation is known as the Column formation. However, Falinks occasionally break their formation to attack.
The six members rely on teamwork as their strategy to win battles, and constantly change formation when they fight. The five troopers follow their brass loyally, and the brass's orders are considered absolute by them. Falinks are capable of fitting into small holes, as shown in Route 8, where they can be seen marching and charging through small caves and crevices. In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, the six individual Falinks are shown to occasionally stand upon one another to execute certain moves. In Pokémon UNITE, it is shown that the brass may also dispatch troopers to attack on their own, with this strategy being known as the Dispatch formation.
An individual Falinks trooper has a black, spherical body with two stout, trunk-like legs. They also have blue, ovular eyes which can either be interpreted as being white or glowing slightly from their dark body. Each trooper has a golden, armored shell resembling a Spartan helmet that covers their dorsal half. This shell is topped with a red horn that continues into a small crest. The lateral sides of the trooper are protected by two horned plates resembling shields. Each of these shields features a red, central horn ringed in white. Each trooper also has a small red horn on their posterior resembling a tail.
The Falinks brass is the largest, strongest, and most intelligent out of the six members. It has a larger crest with an extendable horn it uses to attack and issue orders. The horn is supported by a golden anterior strut absent in the troopers. The brass's golden shell extends to the ventral half of its body. Unlike its troopers, the brass's lateral shields can be opposed. The brass's shields are often chipped or nicked. When Falinks is marching in formation, the brass holds its two shields in front of its face.
Falinks is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move No Retreat.
Origin
Falinks may be inspired by groups of soldiers in phalanx formations, where each unit is lined up close together and cover all sides with their shields, which Falinks's limbs resemble. Their heads resemble Spartan helmets during the period of Ancient Rome, adorned with golden plates and red crests. It may also be inspired by the Legio IX Hispana, also known as the 9th Roman Legion or the Lost Legion, which mysteriously disappeared in Britain around 120 AD.
It may also take inspiration from eusociality, a kind of social animal behavior found in certain insects, crustaceans, and mammals characterized by, among other things, the division of labor of the members of the colony, which are sometimes called castes, like soldiers, workers, and the queen. In Falinks's case, the castes are the troopers and the brass.
In addition, Falinks is possibly a visual pun on an admiral caterpillar.
Name origin
Falinks may be a combination of phalanx, family, link (chain link), and "fall in" (fall in line).
Tairetsu may be derived from 隊列 tairetsu (a rank or formation of troops).
For other sprites and images, please see Falinks images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
