The fire starter Pokémon bird refers to Torchic, one of the three starter Pokémon that players can choose at the beginning of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald games. Torchic is a Fire-type chick Pokémon that eventually evolves into Combusken and Blaziken.
Torchic’s Appearance and Abilities
Torchic is a small, chick Pokémon covered in orange and yellow downy feathers. It has stubby arms and feet with three talons on each foot. Torchic has a feathered, yellow crest on top of its head that is said to spew embers when it gets excited. On its underside are patches of red feathers.
As a Fire type, Torchic can learn Fire type moves like Ember, Flamethrower, and Fire Blast naturally. Its hidden ability is Speed Boost which increases its speed stat at the end of every turn. Torchic has decent Attack and Special Attack stats but is somewhat fragile defensively with low Defense and Special Defense stats.
Type | Height | Weight | Abilities |
---|---|---|---|
Fire | 1’04” | 5.5 lbs | Blaze, Speed Boost (hidden) |
Torchic’s Evolution Line
At level 16, Torchic evolves into Combusken. Combusken is larger and gains feathered forearms and shin guards for kicking. It remains primarily orange and yellow but with more vivid red feathers on its underside and around its neck. Combusken can learn strong Fire and Fighting type moves like Fire Spin, Sky Uppercut, and Blaze Kick.
At level 36, Combusken evolves into Blaziken, the final evolution. Blaziken is tall and bipedal with long, powerful legs for kicking. Its feather crest grows into a flowing mane, and its forearms become longer with small wings. The red markings around its waist resemble a championship belt. Blaziken gains the Fighting subtype and can unleash devastating Fire and Fighting moves. Its Speed Boost ability makes it extremely fast and dangerous after a few turns.
Pokémon | Type | Height | Weight | Abilities |
---|---|---|---|---|
Torchic | Fire | 1’04” | 5.5 lbs | Blaze, Speed Boost (hidden) |
Combusken | Fire/Fighting | 2’11” | 43 lbs | Blaze, Speed Boost (hidden) |
Blaziken | Fire/Fighting | 6’03” | 114.6 lbs | Blaze, Speed Boost (hidden) |
Torchic in the Anime
In the Pokémon anime, Torchic was one of the three starter Pokémon that new Pokémon trainer May had to choose from Professor Birch in the episode “Get the Show on the Road!” She struggled with the decision but ultimately chose Torchic due to its cuteness.
May’s Torchic quickly became one of her main battling Pokémon throughout her travels in the Hoenn region and into later regions like Kanto and Sinnoh. It evolved into Combusken in the episode “A Shroomish Skirmish” and then into Blaziken in “Once More with Reeling!” May’s Blaziken helped her make it all the way to the finals of the Kanto Grand Festival.
Key Anime Episodes
- “Get the Show on the Road!” – May chooses Torchic as her starter
- “Ready, Willing, and Sableye” – Torchic battles a wild Shroomish
- “A Shroomish Skirmish” – Torchic evolves into Combusken
- “Once More with Reeling!” – Combusken evolves into Blaziken
- “May, We Harley Drew’d Ya!” – May and Blaziken compete in the Kanto Grand Festival finals
May’s Torchic and its evolutions were reliable fighters and helped her develop as a Pokémon Coordinator. It remains one of the most iconic starter Pokémon obtained by any main character in the anime.
Torchic in the Pokémon Games
In the core Pokémon RPGs, Torchic is one of the three starter Pokémon players can choose at the beginning of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. The other two are Treecko and Mudkip.
Torchic and its evolutions have always been popular choices for players thanks to the power and speed provided by their Fire/Fighting typing. Having a Torchic in your party also makes the early Gyms much easier since the first two Gyms in Hoenn use Rock and Water type Pokémon.
Base Stats
HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
45 | 60 | 40 | 70 | 50 | 45 |
Torchic has decent Attack and Special Attack for an unevolved starter Pokémon. Its Speed stat is a bit low starting out but gets much higher as it evolves. HP, Defense, and Special Defense are on the lower side so Torchic can be prone to getting knocked out quickly.
Move Pool
Here are some of the key moves Torchic and its evolutionary relatives can learn:
- Ember, Flamethrower, Fire Blast – STAB Fire moves
- Peck, Double Kick, Blaze Kick – STAB Fighting moves
- Quick Attack, Agility – Priority and speed boosting moves
- Slash, Flame Charge, Acrobatics – Coverage moves
Having both Fire STAB and Fighting STAB gives Torchic a lot of type coverage. Speed Boost combined with moves like Agility and Flame Charge make Blaziken incredibly fast. Blaziken also gets very powerful Fighting and Fire type attacks like Sky Uppercut, Brave Bird, and Flare Blitz.
Torchic’s Popularity and Legacy
As the Fire starter of the third generation, Torchic has gained widespread popularity among Pokémon fans. It provides a nice contrast to the more mellow Water-type Mudkip and stoic Grass-type Treecko with its energetic, fiery personality.
Torchic’s cute appearance appeals to many players while its evolved form Blaziken boasts power. Many players choose Torchic simply because Charizard and other previous Fire starters have been such fan favorites. The Torchic line’s Fire/Fighting type is also offensively unique for a starter.
Torchic has gone on to appear in many spin-off games, merchandise, the anime, and more. Along with Charmander and Chimchar, it remains one of the most beloved Fire-type starters. Its legacy is carried on in newer Fire starters like Litten and Scorbunny who take inspiration from Torchic’s kicking, fighting motif.
Conclusion
In summary, Torchic is the iconic Fire-type starter Pokémon from Gen 3. This fiery chick Pokémon evolves into Combusken and Blaziken, gaining a Fighting type and powerful kicking moves. Torchic and its evolutions have been prominently featured in the anime and Pokémon games, cherished for their cute appearance, offensive power, and Speed Boost ability. Along with Charmander and Cyndaquil, the Torchic line represents the beloved tradition of bipedal, fighting-oriented Fire starters in Pokémon.