Bouffalant

Bouffalant appeared in Generation V, in Pokémon Black and White, as a bovid resembling the American bison. Its enormous dark mane recalls an afro hairstyle and hides part of its eyes; two curved horns with golden adornments protrude from it. Its body combines thick brown fur, a pronounced hump and hooved legs, traits that also bring its design closer to other buffalo and certain domestic cattle.

Its temperament is territorial and direct. It charges anyone who enters its territory and makes little distinction between a threat and a simple obstacle. Pokédex entries describe it as strong enough to smash a car or derail a train, while the hair on its head absorbs some of the impact from its own headbutts. Within the herd, a thick mane indicates a high position; anyone who betrays the group loses this distinction. It lives in groups of around twenty individuals.

It has no evolution or alternate form. It shares its bovine imagery with Tauros, but its mane and social organisation give it an identity of its own.

Bouffalant is not a common competitive choice in open formats. Its stats clearly point to a bulky physical attacker: it has 95 HP, 110 Attack, 95 Defense and 95 Special Defense, but only 40 Special Attack and 55 Speed. It can take moderate hits and hit hard, although it is exposed against faster opponents and Fighting-type attacks.

Its most defining Ability is Reckless, which powers up moves that damage the user. With it, Head Charge, with a power of 120, becomes its main attack, although the recoil shortens its time in battle. Swords Dance lets it double its pressure after forcing a switch, while Earthquake covers the Rock- and Steel-type Pokémon that resist its Normal-type attacks. Megahorn and Close Combat broaden its physical coverage.

Sap Sipper completely changes its opportunities to enter the field: it nullifies Grass-type moves and raises its Attack. It is the most useful Ability for switching in against users of moves such as Sleep Powder or Leech Seed, and lets it take advantage of many Grass-type opponents as an opportunity to set up Swords Dance. Soundproof protects it from sound-based attacks, but creates fewer favourable situations.

The Normal type gives it an immunity to Ghost and only one weakness, Fighting, but offers no resistances that make switching easier. Ghost-type Pokémon that also avoid Earthquake, physical walls, status conditions and any faster attacker greatly reduce its room to manoeuvre. In a regular playthrough, it does work as a mid-game physical attacker, once the Fighting-type opponents and Pokémon resistant to the Normal type have been weakened.

Bouffalant belongs to the Field Egg Group and has an even gender ratio: 50% female. Its Eggs need 20 cycles to hatch, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps using the usual conversion. Its catch rate is 45, so catching it takes more work than catching a common species, especially if it appears in a later area and no moves that make catching easier are available.

Its notable Egg Moves include Headbutt, with a power of 70, Skull Bash, with a power of 130, and Cotton Guard, which reinforces its defensive side. Belch provides a special Poison-type option, while Endeavor lets it take advantage of low HP to leave the opponent within range of another attack. Stomp and Zen Headbutt are simpler physical alternatives for the early stages.

The species reaches its final form from the moment it is obtained. No level, item, trade or friendship condition triggers an evolution. Its experience growth rate is Medium, and defeating it awards 2 Attack points.