Tepig

The Fire Pig Pokémon
#498 - Tepig
Evolve	Pignite
Debut	Pokémon: Black Version Pokémon: White Version
Species Info
Type	+
Height	0.5 m (1'08")
Weight	9.9 kg (21.8 lbs.)
Color	Red
Gender Ratio	7♂ : 1♀
Ability	Blaze
Hidden Ability	Thick Fat
Egg Group	Ground
Icon		Sprite
File:I498.gif		File:498sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	65	Speed	45
Attack	63	Sp. Attack	45
Defense	45	Sp. Defense	45
Training Info
Catch Rate	045	Hatch Steps	5,120
Base Exp.	028	Effort Points	HP
Happiness	70
To Lv.100	Slow

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 498 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #
< 004 >

Tepig is a pig-like Pokémon that was introduced in the fifth generation Pokémon games as one of the three starter Pokémon for Pokémon: Black and White Versions. It is the first in a three-step evolutionary line, with its evolved forms being Pignite and Emboar.

Information

Tepig resembles a red pig and has the ability to shoot fireballs from its nose. When one catches a cold, the fire becomes pitch-black smoke instead. It is able to deftly dodge foe's attacks while shooting fire from its nose, and it is known for roasting its berries before eating them.

It is a quadrupedal Pokémon, but its evolutionary forms become bipedal. Tepig evolves into Pignite at Level 16.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: Black and White Versions, Tepig is one of the three starter Pokémon sent to the player's house in Nuvema Town by Professor Juniper at the beginning of the game. If the player does not choose Tepig, it instead does to Cheren (if the player chooses Snivy) or Bianca (if the player chooses Oshawott).

Other Games

In Pokémon Rumble Blast, Tepig could be found at Beginner's Park, the meadow area of Trailhead Field, the cave area of Echo Valley and the lava area of Volcanic Slope. In PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, Tepig was one of the four playable characters (the other three being Pikachu and the two other Unova starters), and it has the special ability to use Flame Charge to break through boulders that acted as roadblocks. Tepig is the last of the characters to become available and was found in the Crag Area at Rockridge Fort. This Tepig was timid but trying to prepare for the Battle Tournament, and the group meets him when he is stuck in a cannon.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Tepig made a cameo appearance in the Kalos Pokémon League stage that appeared in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which consisted of it appearing in the background of the stage's Blazing Chamber. Its appearance in the Wii U game was accompanied by a trophy.

Other Media

• In the Pokémon anime, Ash acquired a Tepig during the Black/White-based series. This Tepig had been abandoned by its original trainer (an origin similar to that used for previous fire starters obtained by Ash such as Charmander and Chimchar) after losing to a Deerling, and Ash managed to acquire it by gaining its trust. This Tepig has been shown to be a somewhat sensitive Pokémon that does not take defeat well most of the time and is eager to please Ash. It usually performs well in battle, however and has been useful in several gym matches.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Black winds up with a male Tepig at his starter Pokémon at the beginning of the Black/White arc. The Tepig was shown to have a quarrelsome relationship with the other two starters (especially Snivy), and they often roughhoused when left to their own devices. It initially ran away from Black until he calmed it down by deciding to nickname it after its current form as opposed to what it would evolve into. White had her own female Tepig that acted as part of her BW Agency, and Black's Tepig later did some acting alongside it, with the two Tepig becoming popular. This was threatened when Black's Tepig approached evolution, and he initially tried to hold it back for White's sake, but it wound up evolving into Pignite during his battle with Burgh. White was able to adjust their image by portraying Pignite as the big boyfriend to the female Tepig. However, after White used her Tepig for the first Pokémon Musical at Nacrene City, N met them on the ferris wheel and convinced the Tepig to leave White for him so that it could unlock its true power.

Trivia

• Its name is a pun on "tepid" (which refers to lukewarm temperatures), combining it with "pig".