We’re back for the Normal-type reviews, and today we’re going to focus on Bouffalant, a pair of early-game Pokémon first found in Hoenn! If you are ready with this one, please proceed.
Selected Fan Art (Artist: Sushan Yue)
The first thing you might notice about Bouffalant is its bushy afro on its head. Already this is what made Bouffalant special. It even learns a signature move called Head Charge (called Afro Charge in certain languages, particularly Japanese). Unlike the bovine Pokémon before Bouffalant (Tauros and Miltank), Bouffalant can be either male or female.
Bouffalant looks very much like a bison compared to a buffalo, since it does not resemble a buffalo similar to those in Asian or African territories as much as a bison, or an American buffalo. This is because the bison has a head full of hair and is a great deal hairier. Perhaps the horns are similar as well, but I am not certain about this yet. A key characteristic with the bison that a Bouffalant share is the hairy head, exaggerated into an afro for a more memorable effect. Unova, the territory in which Bouffalant originates, is based on America, so the comparison is apt.
Any bovine specialises in employing their horns and their head as a means of offence. It helps that they are supported by their mass, giving them the impact they need to fend off any predators. Bouffalant certainly attacks with its head like a bovine would. Its Head Charge, which functions like Double-Edge, but it does less recoil (one-quarter HP instead of one-third HP). Perhaps the impact is lessened is thanks to Bouffalant’s hairdo softening the blow of the assault. In fact, it’s even mentioned that their “fluffy fur” absorbs the damage. I am guessing “fluffy fur” is used to avoid potentially mentioning afro, which is not being mentioned about Bouffalant in the English games. One could make a case that this word isn’t used since it could be interpreted as offensive.
Sometimes Pokémon like to have fun with its designs, which is why there are some odd choices that come off as funny, such as Stunfisk’s flat design. Bouffalant’s hairdo struck out as hilarious for making the Pokémon look a tad unusual on what appears to be a normal animal otherwise. The hilarity of the Bouffalant’s hairdo is played in the anime episode “Baffling the Bouffalant!”, where the Bouffalant are aggressive to anyone that doesn’t have an afro (wigs of that style is OK). This is understandable, as their characteristic afros make them recognisable, even to each other.
The impact of Bouffalant’s headbutt is said to be able to derail a train, but it didn’t say if the train is moving. If I were to guess, the train won’t be moving, because if it were, then more force is needed to derail it, and it is already heavy to begin with. Then again, there is a tendency to exaggerate the feats Pokémon can achieve, so it wouldn’t surprise me that the PokéDex meant that the train is moving.
One could draw comparisons between Unova’s Pokémon and Kanto’s Pokémon, since the former is an all-new region with all-new Pokémon, without reusing old Pokémon. This means that there will invariably be Pokémon which play a similar role to the old Pokémon. In Bouffalant’s case, the Pokémon is Tauros, since both are bull-like (though Bouffalant can be female, remember). While Tauros aims to be more aggressive, Bouffalant aims to be more stylish. Even though Miltank is a bovine like both, it does not have much in common with Bouffalant as much as Tauros does.
Unlike Tauros’ speedier approach in offence, Bouffalant opts for more power, since it has Head Charge (that can be boosted by Reckless) and Sap Sipper to use its herbivorous diet for a battle advantage. Since Bouffalant’s attacks are mainly Physical, this works out considering Bouffalant’s Attack stat is great. Bouffalant also has Swords Dance to boost its Attack further, and with its good defences, this is manageable. One could opt to utilise the afro’s cushion from sound in the form of Soundproof in order to have a safer time with a Substitute.
Bouffalant simply has an amazing design simply because it is made memorable with the inclusion of a head full of hair, which is something to be admired since Bouffalant still has its dignity intact. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a picture of a bald Bouffalant, unlike some Pokémon like Burmy and Vanillite, but I guess it’s fine since Bouffalant just won’t be Bouffalant without its afro.
+ An ordinary animal turned extraordinary
+ Distinct from its Kanto equivalent
– No official picture of a bald Bouffalant
TCG Card
This card brilliantly tells us what Bouffalant is about. In case you can’t tell, the afro takes up a lot of focus, but you can’t ignore those sharp horns too! When you put both together, you get a buff bull that you better steer clear from! It does bring up the question: just how big is Bouffalant’s head if it were to be shaved? In any case, it’s clear that it will be unrecognisable as a result.
Head Charge
This attack is Bouffalant’s signature move, so it’s natural that this move represents Bouffalant. Known as Afro Charge, this move is interestingly renamed as such in English, possibly due to certain uncomfortable connotations with the word “afro”. With huge power and STAB, Bouffalant won’t want to forgo this move.
In some ways, this move is similar to Double-Edge since they have the same Base Power, but the main difference between both moves is the recoil. While Double-Edge removes 1/3 of the damage the user inflicts, Head Charge only does 1/4 of that damage. The different doesn’t look big, but it might as well be, because it could mean the difference between life and death. Since this attack induces recoil, it is powered up by Reckless, which Bouffalant could take advantage of. Interestingly, Bouffalant cannot learn Double-Edge, so this move substitutes that attack.
All in all, Head Charge is a move that fits thematically with Bouffalant and provides it with a powerful and useful move at the same time.
That’s all for today’s article. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.
Next Article: Buneary & Lopunny
