Combusken (ワカシャモ, Wakashamo, Wakasyamo in original Japanese language versions) are one of the Template:Pokenum fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the Pokémon media franchise. Combusken is the Stage-1 evolution of Torchic, one of the three Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. The purpose of Combusken in the games, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both "wild" Pokémon, which are untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and "tamed" Pokémon that are owned by Pokémon trainers.

Combusken is a portmanteau of the words combust, the act or process of burning, and chicken, a type of domesticated bird.^[1] The origin of its Japanese name, Wakashamo, comes from wakai (若い), meaning young,^[2] and shamo (シャモ), meaning gamecock.^[2] The name Combusken refers to both the overall species, and to individual Combusken within the games, anime and manga series.

Characteristics

Combusken's legs are both fast and powerful,^[3] and to keep them at peak physical condition, many run through nearby fields and mountains to stay agile and strong.^[3] By doing this, Combusken can kick up to 10 times per second, not giving up easily.^[3]

Like Torchic, Combusken has a place within its body that stores and produces incredibly hot flames.^[3] Its strong will allows it to spew flames from its beak and to kick continuously until an opponent either faints or gives up. It also has three large claws on each of its wings/arms.^[3] Combusken boosts its concentration by emitting harsh cries,^[3] distracting opponents by doing so with the loud screech.^[3]

Combusken's meat is also very delicious and has a naturally spicy flavor. A chain called Kanto Fried Combusken is famous for its tasty Combusken drumsticks and wings.

In the video games

One of the things consistent among most of the Pokémon games—spanning from Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo Game Boy to the un-released Nintendo DS game, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, is the choice of three different Pokémon at the start of the player's adventures; these three are often labelled "Starter Pokémon". Players can choose a Water-type, a Fire-type, or a Grass-type Pokémon indigenous to the region; an exception to this rule is Pokémon Yellow (a remake of the original games that follows the story of the Pokémon anime), where players are given a Pikachu—an Electric-type mouse famous for being the mascot of the Pokémon media franchise.^[4]

Combusken is the Stage-1 evolution of Torchic, the Fire-type choice in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Combusken evolves from Torchic, at level 16. By evolving into Combusken, it gains highers Stats, and becomes a dual-type of Fire/Fighting. It also gains its resistance to Ice-types,^[5] although there are very few Ice attacks around at the point before Combusken evolves. It also changes the Move List that Combusken can learn, as only Torchic can learn Flamethrower and Fire Spin,^[6] while Combusken and Blaziken learn Sky Uppercut and Blaze Kick.^[7]

Torchic evolves, a metamorphic change within a Pokémon caused by gaining experience in battle,^[8] into Combusken, its Stage-1 (middle) form at level 16, and evolves into its Stage-2 (final) form, Blaziken, at Level 36.^[9] When Combusken evolves into Blaziken, it boasts better stats and a larger moveset.^[10]

In the Pokémon anime

The Pokémon anime series and films are a set of adventures separate from most other versions of Pokémon, featuring Ash Ketchum as the main character, and following his quest to become a Pokémon Master – though what constitutes a Master is somewhat ambiguous. He and his companions travel around the Pokémon world battling other Pokémon trainers.

In the anime, May—Ash's female companion from the Hoenn region onward—chose a Torchic as her starter Pokémon because she considered it to be cute.^[12] May's young Torchic was very playful and fun; but, because of its aesthetic appeal, May frequently avoided using it in her Pokémon Contests, contests similar to dog shows that test a Pokémon's appeal,^[13] preferring to use Skitty, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle because of their superior strength. In "Episode 355: A Shroomish Skirmish", May's Torchic evolved into a Combusken in order to defend Ash's Corphish against an angry mob of newly-evolved Breloom.^[14] In the episode "Ash Vs May: The Last Battle!" May's Combusken evolves into a Blaziken.

Another Torchic—being looked after by Nurse Joy, a recurring nurse character, of Slateport City—appeared in "Episode 310: Having A Wailord of a Time".^[15] When Nurse Joy had to leave the Pokémon Center, a hospital for Pokémon, Ash's Pokémon couldn't control the aggressive Torchic, causing it to evolve into a Combusken; once Nurse Joy returned, however, the Combusken stopped Team Rocket's attempts to steal a Wailord and chose to stay and guard the Pokémon Center.^[15]

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectable card game first published by Wizards of the Coast in North America, in 1999. The concept is similar to that of a Pokémon battle in the video games in that each player takes turns to hit the opponent’s Pokémon. Combusken, despite being an evolution of a Starter Pokémon, a group of Pokémon who are given significant prevalence in the Pokémon Trading Card Game because of their rarity in the Pokémon video games, has not appeared frequently in the series.

Combusken has appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game in many sets including; EX Ruby and Sapphire (appears twice), EX Dragon and EX Emerald.^[16] Most Combusken cards are typical, Stage-1 Pokémon cards, primarily used to play stronger cards, such as Stage-2 Pokémon, Blaziken and Charizard. Combusken cards have some similarities with fellow starter evolutions, Charmeleon and Quilava.

In the Pokémon manga

Sapphire, a female protagonist of Pokémon Adventures (a manga series based on the Advanced Generation games), has a Torchic named Chaka that she received from her father, Professor Birch.^[17] Chaka evolved into a Combusken during Sapphire's battle with Brawly, the Dewford Town Gym Leader,^[18] and then evolved again into a Blaziken while training for a battle with Winona, the Fortree City Gym Leader.^[19] Chaka was first used in battle (in "Chapter 183: VS. Torchic") against Ruby, Sapphire's rival.^[20] Chaka's Combusken form was first used in battle in (in "Chapter 195. VS. Makuhita") against Brawly's Makuhita.^[18]

Another Combusken, originally a Torchic, is the Starter Pokémon of Brendan (the male character and rival in the Advanced Generation games) in the Pokémon spoof web-comic, Pebble Version.^[21] This feisty Torchic has a reputation for the running gag of using Ember—a weak Fire-type attack—on Brendan and other characters, including Professor Birch,^[22] and, like those in the anime, has evolved into a Combusken.^[23]

References

External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki) ’s article about Combusken as a species.
  • Starter Pokémon Guide
  • Pokémon anime Combusken Guide
• Template:Serebiidex
• Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
• PsyPoke Pokédex entry
• Smogon Pokédex entry
• Template:WikiKnowledge