Frogadier

The Bubble Frog Pokémon moves with the precision of an amphibian trained for infiltration. Its design is based on a bipedal frog, with white foam around its neck that recalls the foam nests some species build to protect their eggs. Its crouched posture, dark blue face and foamy neck also evoke the image of a ninja. The bumps above its eyes resemble horned frogs.

Its lightweight body is built for climbing and changing position. It can climb a tower more than 600 metres tall in one minute and throw stones wrapped in bubbles with such precision that it can hit empty cans from 30 metres away. The tips of its fingers and toes let it cling to vertical surfaces, so it is not limited to moving along the ground: it also confuses opponents by jumping across roofs and trees.

It occupies the middle stage of the line that starts with Froakie and ends with Greninja. It evolves from Froakie upon reaching level 16 and reaches its final stage at level 36.

It has no place in battles focused on fully evolved species, but it fits formats where middle-stage evolutions compete against one another. Its 97 Speed is its main advantage: it moves before many opponents and can use its movepool to attack from the special side or force switches. Its 83 Special Attack gives it a decent offensive foundation, although it does not make up on its own for the lack of power of some moves.

Protean defines the way it plays. It changes its type to that of the move it has just used, allowing it to gain STAB with coverage moves such as Ice Beam, Grass Knot or U-turn, as well as strengthening Water Pulse, Surf and Hydro Pump. Torrent offers a more direct alternative: it powers up Water-type attacks when it is in a tight spot.

The Water type gives it resistances to Fire, Ice, Steel and Water, but leaves it exposed to Electric and Grass. Its 54 HP, 52 Defense and 56 Special Defense make it fragile; it does not take hits well even when it resists them. Substitute helps punish switches and Toxic Spikes adds pressure, while Hydro Pump aims for immediate damage. Fling, Taunt and U-turn let it adjust its role within the team, but it needs to come in carefully and can rarely afford to take a powerful attack.

It belongs to the Water 1 Egg Group and has a 12.5% female ratio. Its eggs require 20 cycles, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps. Its notable egg moves include Counter, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Switcheroo and Retaliate; Spikes and Toxic Spikes fit especially well with its ability to pressure switches.

To obtain one, Froakie must reach level 16. After that, Frogadier evolves upon reaching level 36. The species has a catch rate of 45, so catching one requires weakening it and carefully managing its status condition or the type of Poké Ball used; it is far from an easy catch.

Its growth rate is Medium Slow and its base friendship is 70. It is 0.6 metres tall, weighs 10.9 kg and belongs to a humanoid-looking line, although its features and behaviour remain those of a fast, climbing frog.