Chinchou (Pokmon) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia
Publish date: 2024-06-17
Chinchou (Japanese: チョンチー Chonchie) is a dual-type Water/Electric Pokémon introduced in Generation II.
It evolves into Lanturn starting at level 27.
Biology
Chinchou is a small, piscine Pokémon with a round, blue body. It has large yellow eyes with pupils shaped like plus signs, a pair of semi-transparent, light blue pectoral fins, and stubby feet. Positioned on Chinchou's rear, where its tail would be, are a pair of antennae that curve up and over its head. The antennae developed from fins and have yellow, teardrop-shaped orbs at the tips.
Inside Chinchou's antennae are electricity-generating cells that create so much electrical power that they even make Chinchou tingle slightly. The orbs on its antennae can glow and light up from the electric current, which Chinchou uses to lure prey. It also flashes its light to communicate with others of its kind and claim territory. By discharging positive and negative electricity from the antennae, it can both defend itself and stun its prey. Chinchou lives on dark ocean floors, rarely ever coming up to the surface. However, it has demonstrated the ability to walk on land in the anime.
Evolution
Chinchou evolves into Lanturn.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Game data
NPC appearances
- Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: Chinchou are the main bumpers on the Ruby Field. Hitting a nearby button will change the formation from three floating in place, to three moving around, to just the one moving around. They will occasionally disappear and be replaced by Lotad or Whiscash.
Pokédex entries
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. |
|---|
| Generation II | | | Johto
#174 |
|---|
| Gold | It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies. |
|---|
| Silver | On the dark ocean floor, its only means of communication is its constantly flashing lights. |
|---|
| Crystal | Its antennae, which evolved from a fin, have both positive and negative charges flowing through them. |
|---|
| Stadium 2 | It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies. |
|---|
|
|
| Generation III | | Hoenn
#181 | | Kanto
#— |
|---|
| Ruby | Chinchou lets loose positive and negative electrical charges from its two antennas to make its prey faint. This Pokémon flashes its electric lights to exchange signals with others. |
|---|
| Sapphire | Chinchou's two antennas are filled with cells that generate strong electricity. This Pokémon's cells create so much electrical power, it even makes itself tingle slightly. |
|---|
| Emerald | When it senses danger, it discharges positive and negative electricity from its two antennae. It lives in depths beyond sunlight's reach. |
|---|
| FireRed | On the dark ocean floor, its only means of communication is its constantly flashing lights. |
|---|
| LeafGreen | It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies. |
|---|
|
|
| Generation IV | | Sinnoh
#— | | Johto
#176 |
|---|
| Diamond | It discharges positive and negative electricity from its antenna tips to shock its foes. |
|---|
| Pearl |
|---|
| Platinum |
|---|
| HeartGold | It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies. |
|---|
| SoulSilver | On the dark ocean floor, its only means of communication is its constantly flashing lights. |
|---|
|
|
| Generation V | | | Unova
#— |
|---|
| Black | It discharges positive and negative electricity from its antenna tips to shock its foes. |
|---|
| White |
|---|
| Black 2 | It discharges positive and negative electricity from its antenna tips to shock its foes. |
|---|
| White 2 |
|---|
|
|
| Generation VI | | Kalos
Coastal #147 | | Hoenn
#190 |
|---|
| X | On the dark ocean floor, its only means of communication is its constantly flashing lights. |
|---|
| Y | It shoots positive and negative electricity between the tips of its two antennae and zaps its enemies. |
|---|
| Omega Ruby | Chinchou lets loose positive and negative electrical charges from its two antennas to make its prey faint. This Pokémon flashes its electric lights to exchange signals with others. |
|---|
| Alpha Sapphire | Chinchou's two antennas are filled with cells that generate strong electricity. This Pokémon's cells create so much electrical power, it even makes itself tingle slightly. |
|---|
|
|
| Generation VII | | Alola
S M : #201 | | Alola
US UM : #257 | | Kanto
#— |
|---|
| This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. |
|---|
| Sun | Its two antennae were originally fins. It discharges electricity to stun its prey before attacking. |
|---|
| Moon | It lives in the depths beyond the reach of sunlight. It flashes lights on its antennae to communicate with others of its kind. |
|---|
| Ultra Sun | Its two antennae glow softly to lure in prey, making it a useful Pokémon for night fishing. |
|---|
| Ultra Moon | Chinchou blink their shining antennae at one another to claim their respective turf. |
|---|
|
|
| Generation VIII | | Galar
#220 | | Galar
Isle of Armor #188 | | Sinnoh
#— | | Hisui
#— |
|---|
| This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus. |
|---|
| Sword | Its antennae, which evolved from a fin, have both positive and negative charges flowing through them. |
|---|
| Shield | On the dark ocean floor, its only means of communication is its constantly flashing lights. |
|---|
| Brilliant Diamond | It discharges positive and negative electricity from the tips of its antennae to shock its foes. |
|---|
| Shining Pearl |
|---|
|
|
| Generation IX | | Paldea
#— | | Kitakami
#— | | Blueberry
#78 |
|---|
| Scarlet | It lives in ocean depths beyond the reach of sunlight. It flashes lights on its antennae to communicate with others of its kind. |
|---|
| Violet | It shoots positively and negatively charged electricity from the tips of its two antennae and stuns its opponents. |
|---|
|
|
Game locations
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Generation VIII | |
|---|
| Sword | Shield | Hulbury, Giant's Mirror, East Lake Axewell, West Lake Axewell
East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch, South Lake Miloch, West Lake Axewell (Max Raid Battle) |
|
|---|
| Expansion Pass | |
|---|
| Brilliant Diamond | Shining Pearl | |
|---|
| Legends: Arceus | |
|---|
|
|
|
In side games
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. |
|---|
| Generation II | |
|---|
| This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation II side games. |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is: | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learnset
Chinchou is available in Scarlet and Violet Version 3.0.0+.
|
|
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Chinchou
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Chinchou
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
|
|
|
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Chinchou
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution or an alternate form of Chinchou
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
|
|
|
- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Chinchou
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Chinchou
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Chinchou
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
|
TCG-only moves
Side game data
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pokémon Rumble Rush | Walking Speed: 2.08 seconds | Base HP: 54 | | | Base Attack: 69 | Base Defense: 47 | Base Speed: 60 |
|
|
| |
|
New Pokémon Snap | | Photodex entry #116 | | Chinchou’s two antennae, which evolved from a fin, can light up from the electricity running through them. It flashes those lights to communicate with others. |
|
|
Evolution data
Sprites
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the anime
Main series
A Chinchou Egg in the animeMajor appearances
Multiple Chinchou made their main series debut in Takin' It on the Chinchou, all under the ownership of Dayton, with one of them being nicknamed Bright. They were featured as subjects of the Parade of the Chinchou, which celebrated the natural migration of newly-hatched Chinchou from the mountains to the ocean.
In The Perfect Match!, Trinity used a Chinchou in her battle against Misty during the Whirl Cup. It was able to defeat Corsola with a combination of Confuse Ray and Water Gun. It reappeared in a flashback in Espeon, Not Included.
In The Great Eight Fate!, a Chinchou was part of Juan's Sootopolis City Water Exhibit. It and Juan's other Pokémon were captured by Team Rocket, but they all worked together to escape.
In Octo-Gridlock at the Gym!, Goh caught a Chinchou while in Cianwood City. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Minor appearances
Chinchou debuted in Pikachu & Pichu, where it was one of the Pokémon living in Big Town.
A Chinchou appeared in Snorlax Snowman.
In The Legend of Thunder!, a Chinchou was swimming in a lake. Another was swimming in a pool in a Pokémon Center.
A Chinchou appeared in Pikachu's PikaBoo.
In As Clear As Crystal, a Chinchou was affected by a crystal that gave a lake the ability to heal Electric-type Pokémon.
In Enlighten Up!, multiple Chinchou were living in Lake Slowpoke.
In Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, two Chinchou and a Mantine escorted Latias to Ash and his friends' boat. A third belonged to a Trainer competing in the Tour de Alto Mare.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in The Relicanth Really Can.
A Coordinator's Chinchou appeared in Harley Rides Again.
In Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, multiple Chinchou witnessed the final showdown with The Phantom and his crew. They briefly reappeared in a montage in The Rise of Darkrai, which chronicled the preceding nine movies.
In One Big Happiny Family!, Jessie's fantasy featured a Chinchou.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
In Up Close and Personable!, a Chinchou lived in the lake near the Pokémon Summer Academy.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!.
In An Undersea Place to Call Home!, multiple Chinchou made the wreck of the S.S. Cussler their home.
Three Chinchou appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A Chinchou appeared in a fantasy in Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!.
A Chinchou appeared in The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!.
Multiple Chinchou appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
In Love at First Twirl!, a Chinchou was attacked by Poipole and forced to defend itself.
In Securing the Future!, four Chinchou joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
Four Chinchou appeared in Pikachu's Exciting Adventure!.
A Chinchou appeared in a fantasy in Dreams of the Sun and Moon!.
A Trainer's Chinchou appeared in Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!.
In The Sinnoh Iceberg Race!, multiple Chinchou used their lights to mark the racetrack for the Pokémon Iceberg Race.
A Chinchou appeared in On Land, In the Sea, and to the Future!.
Pokédex entries
| Episode | Pokémon | Source | Entry |
|---|
| EP212 | Chinchou | Ash's Pokédex | Chinchou, the Angler Pokémon, have the ability to conduct electrical currents from their two tentacles, which flow positive from one end and negative from the other. Chinchou can also communicate underwater by flashing its tentacles. |
|
Pokémon Generations
In The Cavern, two wild Chinchou were in the waters that surrounded the Seafloor Cavern.
Pokémon: Twilight Wings
In Early-Evening Waves, a Chinchou lived in a lake where Nessa was doing a photo shoot.
Pokémon Evolutions
In The Show, a Chinchou briefly appeared in the seas around the Whirl Islands.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Chinchou debuted in Number One Donphan, where Gold encountered them during his search for his Poliwag. He caught multiple of them to avoid being electrocuted and later released them.
In Teddiursa's Picnic, a Chinchou appeared in its Poké Ball after a wild Granbull had spit out all of the Poké Balls that it stole to get attention on its dislocated jaw. It was later returned to its owner by Wilton afterwards.
Misty is later seen with a Chinchou in Chinchou in Charge, using her to light up the area behind the Tohjo Falls.
A Chinchou was one of the aquarium Pokémon seen in Archie's collection in Stick This in Your Craw, Crawdaunt! I.
A Chinchou was one of the rental Pokémon used by Emerald in his Battle Factory challenge in Pinsir Me, I Must Be Dreaming.
The Battle Factory rented a Chinchou, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in Skirting Around Surskit I.
Two Chinchou first appeared in Well Met, Weepinbell, under the ownership of Sebastian. They were used as makeshift headlights for his carriage.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Multiple Chinchou appeared in The Truth About The Mysterious Whirl Islands!!.
Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
Shu caught a Chinchou in GDZ54.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
A Chinchou appeared in a fantasy in Legend? Check! Friends? Check!.
In the TCG
Main article: Chinchou (TCG)Trivia
- Although Chinchou is shown to have the ability to walk on land in the anime, in the games, it can only be caught in water, and it lacks a footprint.
- The vowel sounds in Chinchou's English name are reverse of the vowels in its Japanese name.
- Chinchou and its evolution are the only Electric-type Pokémon in the Water 2 Egg Group.
Origin
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:Chinchou appears to be based on an anglerfish, more specifically the footballfish.
Name origin
Chinchou and Chonchie may be derived from 提灯 chōchin (lantern) or 提灯鮟鱇 chōchin-ankō (footballfish).
In other languages
|
| More languages |  Hebrew | צ'ינצ'ו Chinchu | Transcription of English name |  Hindi | लालटून Laaltun | From लालटेन laalten |  Russian | Чинчоу Chinchou | Transcription of English name |  Thai | ชอนชี Chonchi | Transcription of Japanese name |
|
|
External links
ncG1vNJzZmiapaGvorzEnaCaZpKquaOtxpqpnZ2eY7umwI6woKShX3i1qrrCoaaul1iFvKxxomxcenGdpLtq
