Vivillon

17 kg for a creature with such light wings. Vivillon looks like a butterfly, with slender antennae, a segmented body and wings covered in colourful scales. Those wings do not always have the same pattern: the climate and the natural features of the terrain influence their appearance, to the point that Vivillon with very different designs exist depending on their region of origin. It is also said to be able to find sources of water and springs, while its scales can be poisonous to anyone who faces it.

Its Bug and Flying typing appears when it reaches the final stage of its evolutionary line. It starts as Scatterbug, passes through Spewpa and becomes Vivillon upon reaching level 12. That evolution completely changes its silhouette: it leaves behind the compact shape of the chrysalis and gains wings that are its most recognisable feature. Its most notable stat is Special Attack, at 90, ahead of Speed, which reaches 89.

Vivillon is not a consistent competitive choice in singles battles. Its 80 HP do not make up for a Defense of 50 and a Special Defense of 50, while its 52 Attack barely matters because its natural role is to attack from the special side. There, it does have 90 Special Attack and 89 Speed, enough to pressure slow opponents if it gets a free turn.

Compound Eyes defines the way it plays: it increases the Pokémon's accuracy and makes moves such as Sleep Powder, Hurricane and Supersonic more reliable. Sleep Powder can disrupt the opponent's momentum, while Quiver Dance boosts Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed in an attempt to sweep late in the game. Bug Buzz provides a reliable Bug-type attack, and Hurricane offers the most powerful Flying-type hit in its repertoire.

Its dual typing gives it an immunity to Ground and useful resistances against Fighting, Grass and Bug, but it stacks weaknesses to Electric, Fire, Flying and Ice. Rock is especially dangerous, both because of direct damage and entry hazards. In doubles, it has more room as an offensive support thanks to Sleep Powder, Light Screen and Pollen Puff, but it still depends on not taking a hit before it can act. Faster opponents, priority attacks and Pokémon resistant to Flying put a stop to its plan.

Vivillon belongs to the Bug Egg Group and has an even gender split: 50% female. Its Eggs need 15 cycles to hatch, equivalent to approximately 4080 steps. Breeding keeps the species' interest in its wing patterns, since the design the line will have is tied to the origin of the Pokémon generated in the game.

It has a catch rate of 45, so it is not an especially easy species to catch. In a normal playthrough, the most direct way to obtain it is to evolve Spewpa upon reaching level 12. Before that, Scatterbug evolves into Spewpa at level 9. This chain means Vivillon arrives relatively early, although its performance during the first stages depends on keeping it alive until it can learn its support and special attack moves.

Its level-up move set includes Poison Powder, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder and Struggle Bug from the early levels. Later, it learns Light Screen at level 12, Psybeam at level 17, Bug Buzz at level 35, Quiver Dance at level 45 and Hurricane at level 50. Breeding also allows the line to be passed on through Eggs from the Bug Egg Group.