Vulpix is a small, quadrupedal, caninePokémon. It has a red-brown pelt with a cream-colored underbelly. It has brown eyes, large, pointed ears with dark brown insides, and a triangular dark brown nose. Its paws are slightly darker than the rest of its pelt and have light brown paw pads. On top of its head are three curled locks of orange fur with bangs, and it has orange tails with curled tips. It is most commonly seen with six tails. However, Vulpix is born with only a single, white tail that splits as Vulpix grows. The tails grow hot as it approaches evolution.
Vulpix is capable of manipulating fire to such precision as to create floating wisps of flame. These wisps are sometimes mistaken for ghosts by humans, but Vulpix uses them to assist in catching prey. Inside its body is a flame that never goes out. When the temperature outside increases, it will expel flames from its mouth to prevent its body from overheating. Vulpix is known to feign injury to escape from opponents too powerful for it to defeat. Vulpix can be found most commonly in grassy plains.
In the Alola region, Vulpix has adapted to snowy mountain peaks and developed a snowy white pelt. It has pale blue paws, blue eyes, and dark blue insides its ears. Its snout is more pronounced and pointed than that of non-Alolan Vulpix. The locks of hair on its head and its six tails are curlier and have a wispy appearance. Alolan Vulpix is believed to have arrived in the region at the same time as humans but moved to the snow-capped mountain to avoid other Pokémon. It can be found in small packs, called skulks, that are led and protected by Ninetales. Alolan Vulpix can expel breath as cold as -58°F (-50°C), which is capable of freezing anything. While it is not suited to warmer environments, its tail can produce ice to lower the surrounding temperature if needed. An old, local name for this Pokémon is "Keokeo", referring to its white pelt. Weavile is a natural predator of Alolan Vulpix.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Vulpix was cloned from Brock's Vulpix. It then participated in the battle between the original Pokémon and the cloned Pokémon. Vulpix reappeared in Mewtwo Returns.
In Love, Pokémon Style, Macy has a Vulpix as her main Pokémon, though Macy doesn't use it in battle. Vulpix found itself captured by Team Rocket, but it was soon rescued by Ash.
An Alolan Vulpix appeared in a flashback in Getting a Jump on the Competition!, under the ownership of Cerah. By the events of that episode, it had evolved into an Alolan Ninetales.
Minor appearances
A Vulpix appeared as an image in the dubbed version of The Ultimate Test.
In a fantasy in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, Alexa told Ash and his friends that a Vulpix belonged to a Pirate. It was revealed that after the pirate disappeared, Vulpix stayed on the island where the treasure was hidden with the other Pokémon. It was revealed to have evolved into Ninetales afterwards.
Vulpix, Alola Form. The Fox Pokémon. An Ice type. Vulpix is covered in white fur and was discovered on Mount Lanakila. Its breath can reach a temperature of 60 below zero, freezing anything it touches. And that Vulpix? It's a Fire type. When carefully groomed, its six tails can be extremely beautiful.
Kiaraway, a Fire-type specialist, owns a female Vulpix. She is one of his most used Pokémon, first appearing with Cyndaquil in Vulpix and Cyndaquil. She is good friends with Coconut.
Flannery owns a Vulpix that debuted in Bravo, Vibrava. She used it to battle Shelly's Ludicolo. Although it ended up getting defeated, it managed to disable Ludicolo's main attack, Nature Power, by using Grudge just before fainting.
Both Kantonian Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix appear as Pokémon summoned from the Poké Ball. They attack using Ember and Frost Breath, respectively, with the former move burning opposing fighters with pillars of fire, and the latter move freezing them. Both forms of Vulpix also appear as Spirits.
At the time of its birth, Vulpix has one white tail. The tail separates into six if this Pokémon receives plenty of love from its Trainer. The six tails become magnificently curled.
Inside Vulpix's body burns a flame that never goes out. During the daytime, when the temperatures rise, this Pokémon releases flames from its mouth to prevent its body from growing too hot.
At the time of its birth, Vulpix has one white tail. The tail separates into six if this Pokémon receives plenty of love from its trainer. The six tails become magnificently curled.
Inside Vulpix's body burns a flame that never goes out. During the daytime, when the temperatures rise, this Pokémon releases flames from its mouth to prevent its body from growing too hot.
In its belly burns a fire, which Vulpix spits out in the form of fireballs. When young, this Pokémon has but one white tail. As the Pokémon matures, this single tail splits into six.
These Pokémon live in packs in the snowy mountains and defend themselves with icy breath. I suspect this species changed its form to adapt to the frigid climate.
When it feels wary, Alolan Vulpix exhales freezing-cold air from its mouth to intimidate foes. It was nice to see it playing innocently with its Pokémon friends.
In English, the category "Fox Pokémon" is shared by Vulpix, Fennekin, Nickit, and their evolutions.
In Japanese, the hiragana category "きつねポケモン" (Fox Pokémon) is shared by the evolutionary lines of Vulpix and Nickit, while the katakana version "キツネポケモン" (Fox Pokémon) is shared by Fennekin and its evolutions.
Alolan Vulpix can be seen as a parallel to Alolan Sandshrew. Both were initially introduced in Generation I and got Alolan Forms in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Both Pokémon are Ice-types, with Vulpix being exclusive to Sun and Sandshrew being exclusive to Moon. Furthermore, both Pokémon evolve when exposed to an Ice Stone.
Vulpix is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 299.
Vulpix has the lowest base HP of all Fire-type Pokémon.
Alolan Vulpix is the only unevolved Pokémon to have a Pokémon VSTAR card.
Origin
Vulpix may be based on a red fox and the 狐 kitsune of Japanese legend, which are said to have many tails, extremely long lifespans, and supernatural powers such as the ability to breathe fire. After reaching an advanced age, kitsune take on spirit forms, which may explain why Vulpix can learn various Ghost-type and Psychic-type moves.
Alolan Vulpix may be based on an Arctic fox, which grows a white coat of fur in the winter to camouflage in the snow.
Name origin
Vulpix may be a combination of vulpes (Latin for fox) and six. It may also involve Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
Its Alolan name, Keokeo, may be derived from keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian for white).
Rokon may be a combination of 六 roku (six), こん kon (onomatopoetic sound of a fox's cry), and 焜炉 konro (gas stove). It may also involve 恨 kon (grudge; from the curse its evolution may cast on its foes).
Rawst Berry (100%)
Fire Stone (100%)
Charcoal (5%)
Snowball (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Vulpix images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
