Bounsweet

Bounsweet appeared in Generation VII, with Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, as a small plant-like creature inspired by a fruit. Its body resembles a mangosteen and gives off a sweet aroma that attracts bird Pokémon. The problem is that the smell does not distinguish between friends and predators: Toucannon swallow it without chewing, while other Pokémon may mistake it for a Berry and carry it away.

When it feels threatened, it produces sweet, delicious sweat that attracts even more enemies. It also spins the calyx on its head like a propeller to try to escape, although the manoeuvre rarely works. People consider its sweat too sweet to drink directly, but diluting it produces a juice with a more balanced flavour.

It is the first stage of a three-stage evolutionary line. It evolves into Steenee at level 18 and, afterwards, Steenee can evolve into Tsareena when it levels up while knowing Stomp.

Bounsweet has no relevant role in general battles. Its base stats add up to 210: 42 HP, 30 Attack, 38 Defense, 30 Special Attack, 38 Special Defense and 32 Speed. It does not stand out in damage, bulk or initiative, and its pure Grass typing leaves it exposed to Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying and Bug.

Its Hidden Ability, Sweet Veil, does have a clear function: it prevents Bounsweet and its allies from falling asleep. In Double Battles, it can protect the team from Spore, Hypnosis and similar moves, although the species' poor durability greatly limits its usefulness. Leaf Guard fits sun teams because it prevents status problems in that weather, while Oblivious blocks Attract and Taunt.

Its movepool offers a few useful tools. Rapid Spin removes certain field effects and raises Speed, Razor Leaf provides physical Grass-type damage during the story, and Protect lets it buy a turn. It also learns Reflect, Light Screen, Endeavor and Grassy Terrain, options that are more practical for supporting than attacking.

In the LC format, it appears as a specialised choice, where Sweet Veil can be valuable against teams that rely on sleep. Outside that environment, it mainly works during the story, against Water-, Ground- or Rock-type opponents that it can pressure with Grass moves. Its low offensive stats and frailty mean that any opponent with a type advantage can easily force it out.

Bounsweet belongs to the Grass Egg Group, and all offspring are female. Hatching requires 20 cycles, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps using the usual formula. Its notable Egg Moves include Synthesis, which restores HP depending on the weather, Endeavor, which reduces the difference in health between it and its opponent, and Acupressure, which can greatly raise a random stat.

Its evolution is straightforward: Bounsweet evolves into Steenee at level 18. Steenee evolves into Tsareena when it levels up while knowing Stomp; simply reaching a specific level without that move is not enough.

In Paldea, it appears in wooded areas. Its catch rate is 235, a high figure that makes it easy to add to the team during the story. When breeding, remember that the species is exclusively female, so its Eggs are obtained with a compatible partner from the Grass Egg Group or with Ditto.