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User:Cukie Gherkin/Arcanine

< User:Cukie Gherkin

Arcanine
Pokémon character
First gamePokémon Red and Green (1996)
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeFire
Fire/Rock (Hisuian)

Arcanine is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise, Arcanine being the evolved form of Growlithe. It is first available in Pokémon Red and Green, able to evolve from Growlithe through the use of an item called a "Fire Stone". Since its initial appearance, they have appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.

Classified as a Fire Pokémon, Arcanine is a dog Pokémon that is capable of producing flames and running at incredible speeds. It has orange, black, and beige fur. Arcanine is dubbed the "Legendary Pokémon," though distinct from Legendary Pokémon such as Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, based on the Ryukyuan Shisa. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a game set in the past, both Arcanine and Growlithe got new forms called Hisuian forms, gaining a Rock type in addition to the Fire type. Arcanine's new form becomes fluffier and grey.

Conception and development

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Growlithe is a fictional species of Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[1] In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[2]

Arcanine's English name comes from a combination of "arcane" and "canine."[3]

Design

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Arcanine is based on the Ryukyuan Shisa, a guardian dog that symbolizes good luck,[3] It is able to run at incredibly high speeds, able to travel 6,200 miles in a day due to the fire inside of it. It is known as the Legendary Pokémon due to its speed and its coat and mane.[3] Arcanine's cry is capable of causing people to grovel before it.[4] It is said to have come from China.[5]

Appearances

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Growlithe and Arcanine originally appear in Pokémon Red and Green (Red and Blue outside of Japan). Growlithe can be found in the wild in Red,[citation needed] but Arcanine can only be obtained by evolving through the use of a "Fire Stone".[6] In Green and Blue versions, it can only be obtained via in-game trading with another cartridge.[7][citation needed] Arcanine can be found on other trainers' teams, including Blaine and Blue.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, set in the past, both Growlithe and Arcanine receive new forms called Hisuian forms. The Hisui region, where the game is set, have guardian Pokémon called "Noble Pokémon", which includes Hisuian Arcanine, whom the player must battle after it becomes frenzied.

Arcanine appears in Pokémon Snap, found hiding in pools of lava.[8] Both its original and Hisuian form appear in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the original first appearing in the game's first set of cards.[citation needed][citation needed] Arcanine appears in the Pokémon TV series,[9] appearing briefly in its intro.[10]

An Arcanine statue is featured at the entrance of the first Pokémon Center store in Okinawa, Japan.[11]

Critical reception

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USgamer writer Nadia Oxford felt Arcanine's design was close to perfect, enjoying both its design, which she felt was a combination of a tiger, lion, and Tibetan mastiff, as well as how its mythology connects to East Asian lore behind Imperial lion statues at the entrances of temples and palaces. She also stated that the most memorable part of the Pokémon TV series intro was Arcanine's appearance, even if brief.[10] Pocket Tactics writer Nathan Ellingsworth considered it one of the best designs from the first generation, also regarding its appearance in the intro as an iconic moment. He felt that Growlithe was a great design that Arcanine improved upon, calling it the "perfect evolution." Ellingsworth also enjoyed the Hisuian form, stating that while he preferred its original form, he found the new form great, feeling that they added a "touch of Chinese mythic design".[12] USA Today writer Ryan Woodrow praised the designers' ability to make Arcanine look even fluffier with the Hisuian form, stating that the designers managed to alter it without losing what made Arcanine so good.[13] GamesRadar writer Carolyn Gudmundson felt that Arcanine's design wasn't entirely unique, though she felt it was a cool Pokémon regardless. Fellow GamesRadar [writer] enjoyed its tufts of flame fur as well as considering it and Growlithe his favorite version exclusive Pokémon.[5] IGN staff argued that Arcanine was a superior choice for players of Red version compared to Meowth in Blue, adding that it was a popular pick for players who chose Squirtle or Bulbasaur instead of Charmander. They believed that it was one of the strongest non-Legendary Pokémon in Red and Blue, and that it continued to be a fan favorite.[14]

Speculation exists that Arcanine was originally meant to be a Legendary Pokémon, the theory forming due to it being classified as the "Legendary Pokémon." Another piece of evidence compounding this is a scene in the anime, where Arcanine is present in a series of four carvings alongside Legendary Pokémon Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Screen Rant writer Camden Jones believed that these carvings were meant to represent that Arcanine is a reference to the Chinese guardian lion statues,[15]

Competitive play

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Arcanine is a popular Pokémon species according to IGN staff, who noted it as one of the strongest Fire-type Pokémon.[16] TBeckett Pokémon Unofficial Collector writer Sean Cooper felt that it was a strong Pokémon in the first generation and only became stronger in later generations.[3] Dot Esports writer Adam Snavely considered it the best Fire-type Pokémon, saying that it was a good pick for players who choose Bulbasaur or Squirtle and that it was even better than Charizard. Despite not considering it the most iconic Pokémon, he felt that it was proof that there are memorable Pokémon outside of Starters and Legendaries.[17]

Arcanine became useful in competitive Scarlet and Violet play, thanks in large part to its ability Intimidate, which reduces the attack of opposing Pokémon when Arcanine enters battle. This ability, combined with its Fire typing and moveset, helped contribute to its success. Its competitive usefulness became reduced following the introduction of the item "Clear Amulet," which counteracts this ability. Game Rant writer Smangaliso Simelane felt that, once Hisuian Arcanine is able to be transferred, it could succeed in taking Arcanine's place.[18] Dot Esports writer Karli Iwamasa stated that Hisuian Arcanine was a dominating Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet competitive play, winning four regional titles and one international title. Iwamasa stated that Hisuian Arcanine managed to replace Arcanine as an Intimidate user.[19] Despite Hisuian Arcanine's dominance, Game Rant writer Drew Swanson believed it was as powerful, if not more so, than it, believing that its particular weakness to Water and Ground-type attacks made it a risky Pokémon to use.[20]

References

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  1. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  2. ↑ Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Cooper, Sean (March 2010). "Arcanine: The Legendary Pokemon". Beckett Pokémon Unofficial Collector. No. 124. Beckett Media. pp. 14–17.
  4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference TheGamer2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. 1 2 Gudmundson, Michael; Gilbert, Henry; Grimm (October 5, 2010). "Pokemon Monday 20 - the philosophy of Pokemon". GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Game Informer Magazine". Game Informer. No. 68. Sunrise Publications, Funco, Inc. December 1998. p. 93. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Pokémon". Electronic Gaming Monthly's Player's Guide to Video Games for the Nintendo 64. No. 5. Ziff Davis, Inc. p. 60.
  8. ↑ "Game Informer Magazine". Game Informer. No. 77. Sunrise Publications, Funco, Inc. September 1999. p. 96. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cite error: The named reference egm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. 1 2 Oxford, Nadia (April 30, 2019). "The Top 25 Pokemon in Series History: The Best Monsters From Pokemon Red and Blue to Sun and Moon". USgamer. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ Harding, Daryl (May 13, 2022). "1st Pokémon Center to Open in Okinawa With Arcanine Guarding the Entrance". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ Ellingsworth, Nathan. "The 20 best gen 1 Pokémon". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ Woodrow, Ryan (September 24, 2022). "The top ten Rock Pokémon, ranked". USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Arcanine - #12 Top Pokémon". IGN. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ Jones, Camden (August 14, 2020). "Pokémon Theory: Arcanine Was Supposed To Be A Legendary". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Pokemon of the Day: Arcanine". IGN. October 30, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ Snavely, Adam (June 8, 2022). "The best Fire-type Pokémon of all time, ranked". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ Simelane, Smangaliso (February 20, 2023). "Arcanine's Rise and Fall in Competitive Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Battles Explained". Game Rant. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ Iwamasa, Karli (November 21, 2023). "Hisuian Arcanine rules Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's meta—but it's not as popular as you think". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  20. ↑ Swanson, Drew (May 19, 2024). "Even After Pokemon Legends: Arceus, A Gen 1 Pokemon is One of the Best". Game Rant. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
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