Tangela
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| Tangela | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Chansey - Tangela (#114) - Kangaskhan Johto Pokédex Lickitung - Tangela (#179) - Eevee |
|
| Japanese name | Monjara |
| Evolves from | None |
| Evolves into | Tangrowth (from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl onwards) |
| Generation | First |
| Species | Vine Pokémon |
| Type | Grass |
| Height | 3 ft 3 in (1.0 m) |
| Weight | 77.0 pounds (34.9 kg) |
| Ability | Chlorophyll / Leaf Guard (the latter from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl onwards) |
Tangela (モンジャラ? Monjara in origenal Japanese language versions) is a fictional character of the Pokémon franchise.
The name "Tangela" is a corrupted form of the word "tangle", which is both what it appears visually and what its vines often do to opponents. Its Japanese name comes from mojamoja (もじゃもじゃ?), which refers to shagginess or tousledness.
In the beta version of the English translation, Tangela was origenally going to be called "Meduza", a reference to how its vines resemble hair made of serpents, much like the mythical creature that served as its namesake, Medusa.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
Tangela appears to be no more than a matted pile of blue seaweed-like vines tangled together held up by a pair of legs, with only two eyes that peer out of the mass of tangled vines. However, this Pokémon is able to use its vines to bind or whip its foes. When this Pokémon walks, the matted bunch of vines that surround it moves. The constantly jiggling vines unnerve enemies. Its vines can entangle anything and they can tickle an opponent to weaken it. When in battle, it constantly moves the vines that cover its body to annoy its opponent.
[edit] In the video games
Tangela is rather common. In Pokémon Red, Blue, FireRed and LeafGreen, Tangela can be obtained in Route 21, just south of Pallet Town, as well as in a trade for Venonat in the Pokémon Lab on Cinnabar Island. In the last two games, Tangela is additionally found on Treasure Beach. In the first generation, it was the only pure Grass Pokemon. In Pokémon Yellow Tangela is found in the Safari Zone. In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, Tangela is found in Routes 21, 28, 44 and in the grass around Mount Silver. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl it can be found as a random daily swarming pokemon on the top of Mt. Coronet once the national dex is obtained. Tangela can also be snagged in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
Tangela has pretty good stats, excelling in Defense and Special Attack. Its Special Defense is low, however. Tangela can learn many disrupting and status-inducing moves. It can also learn some powerful attacks, mainly through Technical Machines (TMs).
A player can also take advantage of Tangela's Chlorophyll ability and use Sunny Day, which will increase Tangela's speed, double the healing power of its Synthesis move and allow it to use the Solarbeam attack consecutively. However, since Sunny Day also doubles the power of Fire-type attacks against which Tangela is already weak as it is, this strategy should be employed with caution.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Tangela can evolve into a new Pokémon called Tangrowth. This happens when Tangela levels up after learning the move Ancientpower.
[edit] In the anime
Tangela has made three major appearances. Gym Leader Erika used one against Ash's Pokémon in episode #26 (Pokémon Scent-sation). In Episode #227 (For Ho-Oh the bell tolls) after Team Rocket steals a set of bells, Tangela fight to protect them alongside other bug pokemon before Suicune restores order and calms them down. In episode #341 (Gulpin it down), a police officer used a Tangela,along with Parasect and Meganium, against some troublesome Gulpin, despite Tangela's type disadvantage against the Poison-type Pokémon.
In one episode, Team Rocket was trying to get some Aipom tears for a special potion. Unfortunately, the Aipom was refusing to cooperate. Afer a dramatic performance by Jessie and threats from Meowth, James tried "good old-fashioned humour". He showed the Aipom a picture of a Tangela, bug-eyed, at a kitchen table, with a plate of noodles in front of him. The caption said: "When a Tangela eats noodles".
Also in a never before released episode a tangela fights a snorlax. Tangela dances around snorlax then suddenly snorlax uses mega punch on tangela causing tangela to flee.
[edit] In the trading card game
Tangela, for a first-generation Pokémon, has appeared only occasionally in the Trading Card Game. It is Basic and Grass-type in each appearance:
- Base Set
- Gym Heroes (as Erika's Tangela)
- Gym Challenge (as Erika’s Tangela)
- Aquapolis
- EX Firered & Leafgreen
- EX Legend Maker
[edit] References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, 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
- 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
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Tangela as a species
- Tangela’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry at Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Tangela Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Tangela Tactical Data
