| Fuecoco | |
|---|---|
| Pokémon character | |
 Fuecoco artwork byKen Sugimori | |
| First game | Pokémon Scarlet andViolet (2022) |
| Designed by | Mana Ibe Mari Shimazaki James Turner |
| Voiced by | EN:Zeno Robinson JA:Daiki Yamashita |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Pokémon |
| Type | Fire |
Fuecoco (/fweɪˈkoʊkoʊ/ ⓘ), known inJapan asHogator (Japanese:ホゲータ,Hepburn:Hogēta), is aPokémon species inNintendo andGame Freak'sPokémon media franchise, and one of the first three Pokémon players may choose at the beginning ofPokémon Scarlet andViolet. Since its initial appearance, Fuecoco has appeared in multiple games in the series, includingPokémon Go and thePokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.
Classified as a Fire-type Pokémon, Fuecoco is the first stage of an evolutionary line, eventually becomingCrocalor and laterSkeledirge, gaining the secondary typing of Ghost in its final form. It is one of the three Pokémon available at the start ofScarlet andViolet, alongsideSprigatito andQuaxly. Fuecoco has been met positively, primarily for its cute and appealing design.
Fuecoco is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for thePokémon media franchise. Developed byGame Freak and published byNintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video gamesPokémon Red andGreen for theGame Boy, which were later released in North America asPokémon Red andBlue in 1998.[1] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[2] Each Pokémon has one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[3] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]
Fuecoco is a small redcrocodilian Pokémon.[4] It is one of the three Pokémon players can obtain as their first inPokémon Scarlet and Violet, and it can evolve intoCrocalor (アチゲータ,Achigēta; Achigator) andSkeledirge (ラウドボーン,Raudobōn; Laudbon) after gaining enoughexperience. It and its evolutions all have the elemental attribute of Fire-type, which determines their strengths and weaknesses, while Skeledirge has a secondary Ghost-typing it gains when Crocalor evolves into it.[5] Fuecoco is voiced byZeno Robinson in the English dub ofPokémon Horizons: The Series,[6] while it is voiced byDaiki Yamashita in Japanese.[7]
Fuecoco first appeared inPokémon Scarlet andViolet as one of the three Pokémon available for the player to select as their first Pokémon, alongsideSprigatito andQuaxly.[5] If the player chooses a different Pokémon, Fuecoco will either be owned by the player'srivalNemona[8] or by the academyDirector Clavell,[9] depending on which is chosen. Fuecoco also appears in other games, such asPokémon Go[10] and thePokémon Trading Card Game.[11][12] In the anime, one of the main characters inPokémon Horizons: The Series,Roy, catches a Fuecoco.[13] Fuecoco and its evolutions have been used in promotion material for the series, withplushes being produced.[14]
Fuecoco has received positive reception, having become a fan favorite due to its "goofier design and big happy smile" according toFanbyte writer Imran Khan.[15] In aFamitsu reader poll, Fuecoco was voted the second best starter fromScarlet andViolet.[16] Another popularity poll put Fuecoco as the fourth best Pokémon available inScarlet andViolet, as well as the most popularScarlet andViolet starter.[17] AnInside Games poll also ranked it as the most popular starter inScarlet andViolet, withInside Games staff noting that readers found it stupid and cute.[18]Esquire writer Josh Rosenberg regarded Fuecoco as his favorite Pokémon inScarlet andViolet, praising its design and expressing hiscute aggression- a desire to affectionately squeeze cute things- for it.[19]Den of Geek writer Matthew Byrd called Fuecoco "objectively cute," feeling that, in combination with its Fire-typing and strength, would enable it to make it more popular.[20]
Hindustan Times writer Paurush Omar responded positively to Fuecoco inPokémon Horizons: The Series. They stated that its singing ability and cuteness contributed to its overall likability and popularity. In addition, they felt that its "childlike disposition" made it relatable, saying that it crying over losing its food would "make anyone's heart melt."[21]Kotaku writer Sisi Jiang agreed, calling Fuecoco the "breakout star" ofPokémon Horizons, noting how its appearance in the anime has led to fans picking Fuecoco as their favorite. They stated that the positive reception was due to both its cute appearance and its singing ability.[22] FellowKotaku writer Ashley Bardhan felt that it was the best starter, attributing its popularity to its design, personality, and power.[23] Similar to fans not wantingSprigatito to stand on two legs when it evolved, there was also a fan reaction for people who wanted Fuecoco to not stand on all fours when it evolved.[24]
Fuecoco has been noted for its strength in the games "Nuzlocke" challenges, a popular fan-challenge wherein a Pokémon cannot be used after it is KOed. It has been noted for its strong type combination and moveset being powerful against many important trainers in the game, allowing for the challenge to become notably easier due to its presence alone. This has led to popular Nuzlockers and content creators, such asPokémon Challenges, to suggest that players ban it from use to make runs more interesting.[25][26][27][28]
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