Sizzlipede

Generates heat by consuming the flammable gas it stores in its body. The yellow circles on its abdomen reach especially high temperatures, and it uses them to squeeze its prey until cooking it before devouring it. Its appearance combines an elongated centipede-like body with a radiator: it has dark segments, short legs and two incandescent appendages on its head. It also resembles the so-called fire centipede, a myriapod capable of producing light.

Its classification as the Radiator Pokémon sums up how it works. It does not release heat from outside; instead, it stores it in its body and concentrates it in the abdomen. The result is a small creature, measuring 0.7 m and weighing 1 kg, but a dangerous one when it manages to wrap itself around a target. The English name combines «sizzle», associated with something that crackles or cooks, and «centipede». In Japanese, Yakude combines yaku, «to burn», with words associated with millipedes or centipedes.

It occupies the first place in a short evolutionary line. At level 28 it evolves into Centiskorch, which retains the Fire and Bug types and develops the idea of its burning body even further.

It is not a competitive choice in general formats. Its base stats are modest: 50 HP, 65 Attack, 45 Defense, 50 Special Attack, 50 Special Defense and 45 Speed, for a total of 305. Attack is its best stat, but it is not enough to make up for its poor physical durability, low Speed and lack of reliable defensive tools.

The ability that makes the most sense is Flash Fire. If it is hit by a Fire-type move first, it powers up its own Fire-type moves. This allows it to switch into Fire attacks and punish the opponent afterwards with Flame Wheel, Fire Lash or Burn Up, although its effectiveness depends on correctly anticipating the opponent's switch. White Smoke offers a safer alternative against opponents that lower stats, while Flame Body can burn those making contact.

Fire and Bug give it attacks with good coverage against Grass-, Ice-, Bug- and Steel-type species. Defensively, it resists several common types, but its extreme weakness to Rock and its weaknesses to Water and Flying greatly limit its opportunities to switch in. Its low Defense and Speed also hurt it. In a normal playthrough, it works better during the adventure, when its Fire-type moves can secure quick progress, than in regulated battles.

It belongs to the Bug Egg Group and has an even gender ratio, with 50% females. Its Eggs require 20 cycles to hatch, equivalent to approximately 5355 steps using the usual formula. Flame Body is useful on the team while hatching Eggs, although the species can also be born with Flash Fire or White Smoke.

Notable Egg Moves include Defense Curl, Rollout, Knock Off and Struggle Bug. Knock Off provides utility against opponents that rely on held items, while Rollout fits a riskier strategy based on building up power. Struggle Bug allows it to attack from the special side, although Sizzlipede's Attack is higher.

The evolution is straightforward: it evolves into Centiskorch when it reaches level 28. Its catch rate is 190, a fairly favourable figure; there is no need to prepare an especially difficult capture in most encounters. Its experience growth rate is Medium and it grants 1 Attack when defeated.