We’re back for the Normal-type reviews, and today we’re going to focus on Helioptile and Heliolisk, Electric-type lizards who have solar abilities! If you are ready with this one, please proceed.
Selected Fan Art (Artist: Saital)
When it comes to Pokémon that represent that sun, Helioptile and Heliolisk are not the first. In fact, this concept had been done before by a few Pokémon such as Solrock and Volcarona. Even though we already have sun-based Pokémon, that doesn’t mean these lizard Pokémon didn’t bring something new to the party. For one, Helioptile requires the Sun Stone to evolve into Heliolisk, which used to be exclusive to certain Grass-types like Sunflora. Not only that, Heliolisk is able to look like the sun when it opens its frills.
The frills found around Helioptile and Heliolisk are used to absorb sunlight, after which the solar energy is converted to electricity. The ability to generate electricity this way is what makes them known as the “Generator Pokémon”. With black frills, they are able to absorb the sunlight quite easily since black absorbs light (while white reflects them), similar to the black solar panels. It is not known how black the frills are, but it might be as black as it can be, because the darker it is, the more light gets absorbed.
By the looks of it, Helioptile and Heliolisk look like frill-necked lizards, a species of lizards with frills around their neck. It isn’t always open, but it is most recognisable when its frill is wide open. By making the frill stand out, it appears bigger than it normally look. While doing that, it stands on two feet (and can run with them), which makes it look more intimidating than it normally is. As for the Pokémon in question, they open their frills for possibly the same reason as the frill-necked lizards, but they do that to also unleash their electricity.
Frill-necked lizards are mostly arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time on trees. Being that they are not safe from larger animals and have food (smaller animals) found on trees, they do have reason to be there. Helioptile, on the other hand, tend to live in the desert, similar to Scraggy. To be fair, Helioptile doesn’t need to eat that much when they could get energy from the sun.
One interesting titbit about these Pokémon is their ability to use Surf. Normally, this is nothing worth mentioning due to the widespread compatibility of that move, but for these Pokémon, it’s worth mentioning that the ability to learn Surf could be tied to the basilisk (the animal), a reptile that could run on the water surface. Heliolisk is said to be able to run fast when it is supercharged at 100 yards per 5 seconds, which is about 66 km/h (which is fast). At this speed, perhaps Heliolisk could dash across water.
Before Generation 6, no Pokémon has Normal as a secondary type, making Helioptile the first Pokémon known to have this type. Even then, it is not the first Pokémon you encounter with it, as Litleo is found earlier in-game. When looking at the Pokémon in question, the Normal-type is not the most dominant trait compared to the Electric, which the Pokémon is built around. As to why it is a Normal-type, my best guess is that they are based on an animal, making them “normal” in a sense. Reptiles are rarely Normal-type though, with Kecleon and possibly Lickitung and Lickilicky being the other Normal-types reptile.
If you notice these Pokémon’s abilities, you will notice that they have an advantage in different weather. Dry Skin is most beneficial in Rain, Sand Veil is useful in Sand while Solar Power grants a power boost in Sun. With high Special Attack and Speed, Heliolisk is able to do great damage with its Electric STAB and Hyper Voice. Surf is a useful move as complementary coverage against Ground-types and Fire-types, while Dark Pulse is for Ghost-types that are immune to its Normal STAB. The disadvantage is that its Defence is somewhat low, making it difficult to survive most Physical attacks.
Although advantage in weather is, well, and advantage, it seems that it shines under Generation 5’s permanent weather, because that basically equates to a long-term advantage. In Sun, for example, it has a lot of power, and it even out-speeds Terrakion and Keldeo. In the Rain, it can either be a Rain counter by soaking all those powerful Water attacks or be a Rain ally by dishing out powerful Surfs and Thunders. As it stands, its usefulness is not as prominent since weather can subside within a few turns.
Helioptile and Heliolisk are quite striking design-wise, since they resemble lizards and have a bright colour contrast. Heliolisk even looks like it is wearing a poncho around it. Besides, their expandable frills are exciting features to see, as if doing it means they are unleashing their full power. It isn’t as easy to see Helioptile as a lizard since its flaps are located on its head instead of around the neck, making it appear dog-like.
The sun-related abilities are quite a nice feature for these Pokémon, and it’s always fun to see Heliolisk expand its frills into a sun-shaped pattern. Most important, being based on a frill-necked lizard is a wonderful thing, because of their quirkiness of their frills and the way they run. Unlike Scraggy and Scrafty, Helioptile and Heliolisk represents those animals more accurately.
+ Sun-related abilities
+ Able to battle well in different weather
– Helioptile looks somewhat dog-like
– Habitat is not quite alike the origin animal’s
Helioptile’s TCG Card
Although Helioptile and Heliolisk are part-Normal, none of their cards shows them as Colourless. It’s quite understandable that they are known for the Electric-type above all else, since their abilities revolve around electricity more than being non-elemental. For this Helioptile card, it’s hard to tell whether the scenery looks real or too real as to look uncanny as a result. In any case, Heliolisk hardly fits in its surroundings even though by right it should, due to the difference in style between character and background. If it’s of any consolation, at least Helioptile looks cute.
Heliolisk’s TCG Card
In a display of intimidation, Heliolisk opens up its frills and make a run. It appears to be running as well, much like what a frilled lizard would do when threatened: to out-threaten its enemy. Except this time, Heliolisk has the power of electricity on its side. Now, not only does it make a mad rush to its enemy, it shocks them while it dashes!
Flash
The best move to represent an electrifying Pokémon is also a move that signifies the luminescence of a spark. It is also a move that was introduced in Generation 1, whereas Helioptile and Heliolisk are introduced in Generation 6.
This move was introduced as a way to brighten up dark-lit areas in Generations of past, and could be learned by a huge variety of Pokémon. The first two Generations have areas that you simply cannot properly navigate if it weren’t for Flash, while Generation 3 at least provided a small area to see your surroundings.
This move becomes a TM in later Generations, which meant that you don’t need to travel through dark areas in your main quest, though some dark areas still exists, which makes this move still relevant. This is a good thing, mainly because Flash has never been an instrumental move in overcoming obstacles in recent times. It does have the useful function in revealing more of an area in Generation 6 (an advantage in 3D models), which is a different effect, but a useful one nonetheless.
The truth with this move is, it was not a good move even at an early stage. Its main effect is to lower the opponent’s accuracy, but this effect doesn’t always activate with its 70% accuracy. Compare this to a few accuracy-lowering moves like Sand-Attack and Smokescreen, and you will see that even with its multitude of learners, this move is not reliable in battles. Due to this, it is a move you will likely not use again if you got past the necessary spots. That’s why it’s a good thing this move’s accuracy becomes 100% in Generation 4 onwards, at least making this move useable.
Overall, having extra visibility is a huge advantage, as with the lowering of the opponent’s accuracy. However, those advantages are not so important to have in the games, making it just another Normal move.
That’s all for today’s article. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.
Next Article: Hoothoot & Noctowl
