Rattata
| Rattata | |
|---|---|
| File:19rattata.png National Pokédex Pidgeot - Rattata (#019) - Raticate Johto Pokédex Noctowl - Rattata (#017) - Raticate | |
| Japanese name | Koratta |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | Raticate |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Rat / Mouse Pokémon (The latter from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire onwards) |
| Type | Normal |
| Height | 1 ft (0.3 m) |
| Weight | 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg) |
| Ability | Run Away / Guts |
Rattata (コラッタ, Koratta in original Japanese language versions) is one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Ratatta in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2]
“Rattata” is a portmanteau of “Ratta” and “attack”. Its name in the English beta version of Red/Blue was “Rattatak”. This makes sense because it is a rapidly attacking rat-like Pokémon. As far as the original Japanese name is concerned, one convention of the Japanese language is that the prefix “ko-” (子, meaning "child") is added to the name of some animals to create the name for its offspring. “Koratta” would then mean “baby Ratta”, the adult form into which this Pokémon eventually evolves.
Biological characteristics
Rattata looks a lot like the common mouse or rat. It is a quadruped with purple fur (cream on its underbelly area), red eyes, two thick whiskers and a curled tail. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the female has much shorter whiskers.
One of the most prolific Pokémon in the world, Rattata can make its nest almost everywhere and dash; and it will, too, if the area provides adequate food. Food is another area Rattata is not particular about: it is an omnivore in the broadest sense of the word, meaning it will eat anything it can scavenge. After it settles down somewhere, Rattata will multiply very rapidly, even to the point of infestation. It is said that seeing just one Rattata guarantees the existence of at least 40 more in the vicinity. This is probably right, as Rattata is the second most common Kanto Pokémon (the most common being Pidgey).
Since Rattata is small and fairly low in the food chain, it keeps itself constantly alert for danger. It is jittery, constantly scurrying around. Even when sleeping, Rattata keeps moving its ears, listening for signs of trouble. If forced to defend itself, Rattata displays impressive vitality and resilience. It moves quickly and bites the foe with its fangs, which are very sharp and long. Like in many real world rodents, Rattata’s fangs grow continuously during its lifetime, so it whittles them down to a comfortable size by gnawing on hard objects. It enjoys preying on the snacks of unwary Pokémon Trainers.
In the Pokémon video games
Rattata is, perhaps, the single most common (Next to Pidgey in Kanto) Pokémon found in the Kanto and Johto regions, encountered frequently in many of locations. For many trainers, Rattata is one of the first that they catch and train.
Rattata has high speed and a decent attack stat, but the rest of its attributes are low. It has been given the potential to learn many and powerful elemental attacks, but its low special attack stat renders them fairly useless. Players usually use Rattata’s evolved form, Raticate, if possible. If they must use Rattata, powerful Normal-type attacks such as Hyper Fang, Body Slam or even Double-Edge can still cause satisfactory amounts of damage. Rattata and Raticate were the only Pokémon who could learn Hyper Fang and Super Fang until Pokémon Diamond and Pearl introduced Bidoof. Rattata can also learn Bite as an egg move.
In the Pokémon animé
Rattata has made a few appearances in the Pokémon anime, usually as an incidental, background Pokémon. It was one of the first Pokémon Ash consulted his Pokédex about, and recurring character Casey catches one in her first appearance.
In other media
Template:SpoilerIn the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red helps Yellow catch a Rattata, Ratty, one of the few Pokémon she keeps and uses. Later, during her training with Blue, she is dismayed by Ratty’s unexpected evolution.Template:Endspoiler
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game contains a number of Rattata cards, specifically in the Base Set (included in Base Set 2 and the Legendary Collection), Team Rocket, Gym Heroes (as Lt. Surge’s Rattata), Gym Challenge (as Lt. Surge’s Rattata), Expedition, Skyridge, EX FireRed & LeafGreen, and EX Team Rocket Returns (twice).
Trivia
In the original Red and Blue versions of Pokémon, the Pokédex classified Rattata as a Rat Pokémon, as seen on Rattata's Base Set trading card (see picture). However, for unknown reasons, Rattata was (re)classified as a Mouse Pokémon in Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald. This could have been to further affiliate it with other such rodent Pokémon as Pikachu and Sandshrew (which are also classified as Mouse Pokémon), or simply as an issue of inconsistency; the Japanese word used, nezumi, refers to both rats and mice.
References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Notes
- ^ "Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2006-02-28.
- ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
External links
- Template:Bulbadex
- Template:Serebiidex
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Rattata Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Template:WikiKnowledge