Ash's Swellow: Difference between revisions

'''Ash's Swellow''' (Japanese: '''サトシのオオスバメ''' ''Satoshi's Ohsubame'') was the first {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} that {{Ash}} {{pkmn2|caught}} in the [[Hoenn]] [[region]], and his twenty-first overall.

[[File:Ash Taillow.png|thumb|220px|left|As a Taillow]]

Ash caught Swellow as a Taillow in ''[[AG004|You Never Can Taillow!]]''. It was the leader of a flock of {{pkmn2|wild}} Taillow. It stole [[Max]]'s chocolate and challenged {{AP|Pikachu}} to a {{pkmn|battle}}. It also led the entire flock on a ceaseless attack until {{an|Brock}} and his {{TP|Brock|Forretress}} intervened and used {{m|Explosion}} to drive them away. Taillow then showed up alone and challenged Pikachu, and even though it took countless {{m|Thunderbolt}}s and a {{m|Thunder}} from Pikachu it still kept fighting. On Brock's advice, Ash captured Taillow to prevent it from getting hurt anymore. Ash then sent it out and Brock helped it recover.

In ''[[AG131|At the End of the Fray]]'', Ash used Swellow as his fourth Pokémon in his Full Battle against {{ho|Tyson}} in the Victory Tournament, it went up against his powerful {{p|Hariyama}}, who had already defeated {{AP|Torkoal}} and Corphish. Swellow used Peck, which the Arm Thrust Pokémon was able to catch in its hands. It then used {{m|Seismic Toss}}, throwing Swellow into a rock. Hariyama followed up with {{m|Focus Punch}} but Swellow used Aerial Ace, allowing it to avoid Focus Punch and hit Hariyama to knock it out. It then went up against Tyson's {{p|Donphan}} who used {{m|Sandstorm}}, causing Ash to be unable to see Swellow. Swellow flapped its wings to remove the Sandstorm, but this gave Donphan the opportunity to use {{m|Rollout}} and knock Swellow to the ground. Donphan used multiple Rollout attacks hitting Swellow each time and getting more powerful with each successful attack. Donphan launched another Rollout, intending to finish Swellow off as it lay on the ground, but at the last second Swellow was able to catch Donphan using its legs. Swellow lifted off and then threw the Armor Pokémon into a rock, knocking it out. It then went up against Tyson's {{p|Metagross}}. The Iron Leg Pokémon used {{m|Psychic}}, dealing damage and trapping Swellow in the air, with it unable to break free until it used Quick Attack, but Metagross's high {{stat|Defense}} allowed it to deflect the attack and cause Swellow to take damage. Metagross then finished the battle with {{m|Hyper Beam}}, knocking Swellow out. Despite the loss Swellow was able to make a crack in Metagross's body during the battle that would later be used by {{AP|Grovyle}} and Pikachu, the latter managing to defeat it.

[[File:Ash and Swellow.png|thumb|220px|Swellow and Ash]]

Swellow went with Ash through the Kanto Battle Frontier and fought well against Frontier Brains. In ''[[AG153|Tactics Theatrics!!]]'', it teamed up with {{p|Corphish}} to battle [[Dome Ace Tucker]] and his {{p|Swampert}} and {{p|Arcanine}}. Swellow launched a Quick Attack on Swampert, but Arcanine leapt forward and collided with Swellow, knocking it away from its intended target. It kept trying to attack Swampert, but Arcanine's speed proved too great and it continued to block it. Swellow managed to dodge Flamethrower with Double Team, but Arcanine powered up into a {{m|Fire Blast}} and hit Swellow dead on. After some maneuvering from Arcanine and Swampert, Swellow and Corphish were trapped inside a fire and water structure. After getting out, Swellow managed to smash Arcanine into Swampert for a direct hit on both, while Corphish protected Swellow from Fire Blast with {{m|Bubble Beam}}. The smoke from the clash between bubbles and fire blinded both of Tucker's Pokémon and Swellow managed to hit Swampert in its blind spot. Swampert fainted just as Corphish finished off Arcanine, winning Ash the Tactics Symbol.

Ash left Swellow at {{an|Professor Oak}}'s lab when he set off for [[Sinnoh]] in ''[[AG192|Home is Where the Start Is!]]''

In ''[[DP189|The Semi-Final Frontier!]]'', Swellow was brought back to Ash's team where it battled against {{si|Tobias}} in the semi-finals of the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]]. Swellow was Ash's second Pokémon to battle Tobias's {{p|Latios}} after Sceptile was defeated. It used Quick Attack on Latios, but the Eon Pokémon dodged it. Swellow then used Aerial Ace and flew from the sky towards Latios, coming down with great force. However, Latios used {{m|Luster Purge}} on Swellow, knocking it out.

It was mentioned in ''[[BW116|The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!]]'' by Professor Oak, who mentioned that Swellow would sometimes have air races with {{AP|Staraptor}} at the lab, and {{AP|Unfezant}} would make a good addition to those races.

Swellow was later reunited with Ash in ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]'', where it and the rest of Ash's Pokémon posed in a group photo with him.

Right from its debut as a Taillow, Swellow has been tough and persistent. It has been noted many times in the anime how Swellow was overly stubborn and would fight to its last breath in a battle, rather than give up. An example of Swellow’s determination was in ''[[AG100|Solid as a Solrock]]'' where Ash, knowing that Swellow would enjoy the challenge, ordered a {{m|Thunder}} attack on it. Swellow, determined to win their battle against [[Tate and Liza]], took the attack and used it to win the Double Battle.

{{anmov/h|normal|flying|Ash {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 7}}|0=Swellow Peck|1=Swellow Wing Attack|2=Swellow Double Team|3=Swellow Aerial Ace|4=Swellow Quick Attack|5=Taillow Quick Attack|6=Taillow Wing Attack}}.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 7}}|0=Peck|1=Wing Attack|2=Double Team|3=Aerial Ace|4=Quick Attack|5=Quick Attack as a Taillow|6=Wing Attack as a Taillow}}}}

{{anmov|flying|Peck|AG005|In the Knicker of Time!|rec=yes}}