Chinchou (Pokémon)

← #169: Crobat

Pokémon

#171: Lanturn →

Chinchou チョンチー Chonchie #170
Art by Ken Sugimori from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Types  Water  Electric   Water   Water   Water   Water   Water	Species Angler Pokémon
Abilities Volt Absorb or Illuminate Illuminate Water Absorb Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto #176* Hoenn #181 Sinnoh #— Unova #— Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R-088 Oblivia R-060 Oblivia (past) N— Not in any regional Browser
Height 1'08" Imperial 0.5m Metric 1'08"/0.5m 0.0m	Weight 26.5lbs Imperial 12.0kg Metric 26.5lbs/12.0kg 0.0kg
Dex color Blue	Footprint
Body style	Catch rate 190 24.8%
Gender ratio Genderless Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Water 2 group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 1 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 90 Battle Exp.: 901*
External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Smogon Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V On Eevee's Pokédex On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex Generation IV Generation V Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Chinchou (Japanese: チョンチー Chonchie) is a dual-type Water/Electric Pokémon.

It evolves into Lanturn starting at level 27.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 2.1 Major appearances 2.2 Minor appearances 2.3 Pokédex entries 3 In the manga 3.1 Pokémon Adventures 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 NPC appearances 5.2 Pokédex entries 5.3 Game locations 5.3.1 In side games 5.4 Held items 5.5 Stats 5.5.1 Base stats 5.5.2 Pokéathlon stats 5.6 Type effectiveness 5.7 Learnset 5.7.1 By leveling up 5.7.2 By TM/HM 5.7.3 By breeding 5.7.4 By tutoring 5.7.5 Dream World-only moves 5.7.6 TCG-only Moves 5.8 Side game data 5.9 Evolution 5.10 Sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 External links

Biology

Physiology

Chinchou is a small, round, blue fish-like Pokémon with a pair of tiny white fins and two small blue feet. It has two antennae that are positioned on its rear like two tails. There is a yellow teardrop-shaped orb at the end of each antenna. Chinchou's eyes have unique pupils that are shaped like plus signs.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Chinchou charges up its electric attacks by absorbing energy through its two antennae. Though Chinchou are fish, they have the ability to walk on land.

Chinchou and its evolved form Lanturn are the only Water-types to learn an Electric-type move by leveling up.

Behavior

Chinchou flashes its electric lights to exchange signals with others. The electricity-generating cells in Chinchou's antennae create so much electrical power, it even makes itself tingle slightly.

Habitat

Chinchou tend to lurk in the dark ocean floors, rarely ever coming up to the surface or near it.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Chinchou lets loose positive and negative electrical charges from its two antennas to make its prey faint.

In the anime

Major appearances

Chinchou's first major appearance was in Takin' it on the Chinchou!, under the ownership of Dayton.

Trinity used a Chinchou in her battle against Misty in the Whirl Cup in The Perfect Match.

Minor appearances

A Chinchou appeared in Pikachu And Pichu.

Chinchou is one of the Electric-type Pokémon that was seen in the lake with crystal in As Clear As Crystal.

Juan has a Chinchou that appeared in The Great Eight Fate!.

A Chinchou appeared in Up Close and Personable!.

A Chinchou also appeared in One Big Happiny Family! in Jessie's fantasy.

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 to the other. Chinchou can also communicate underwater by flashing its tentacles. This concludes the entries from the original series.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Chinchou were first seen in Volume 8, encountered by Gold during his search for his Poliwag.

Misty is later seen with a Chinchou in Volume 12, using it to light up the area behind the Tohjo Falls.

In the TCG

Main article: Chinchou (TCG)

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 I Red Blue {{{redbluedex}}} Yellow {{{yellowdex}}} Stadium {{{stadiumdex}}} Generation II 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. Generation III Ruby Sapphire Emerald {{{rsedex}}} Ruby Sapphire {{{rsdex}}} 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 LeafGreen {{{frlgdex}}} 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 Diamond Pearl {{{dpdex}}} Diamond Pearl Platinum It discharges positive and negative electricity from its antenna tips to shock its foes. Diamond {{{diamonddex}}} Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold SoulSilver {{{hgssdex}}} 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 Black White It discharges positive and negative electricity from its antenna tips to shock its foes. Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}}  ??? No Pokédex data is available.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation I Red Blue None Trade Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade Generation II Gold Silver Common Routes 26 and 27, New Bark Town, Union Cave, Olivine City, Pallet Town, Vermilion City, Cinnabar Island Crystal Common Routes 26 and 27, New Bark Town, Union Cave, Olivine City, Pallet Town, Vermilion City, Cinnabar Island Generation III Ruby Sapphire Common Underwater Emerald Common Underwater FireRed LeafGreen None Trade Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade Generation IV Diamond Pearl Uncommon Route 220 (Super Rod) Platinum Very Rare Route 220 (Super Rod) HeartGold SoulSilver Uncommon Routes 20, 21, 26, 27, 41 and 47, New Bark Town, Pallet Town, Vermilion City, Cinnabar Island (fishing) Pal Park Sea Pokéwalker White Lake and Beyond the Sea Generation V Black White Uncommon Route 18, Driftveil City (Fishing) Dream World Sparkling Sea

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Hatch from egg
Pokémon Trozei!	Secret Storage 12 Endless Level 9 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Silver Trench (70F-79F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Miracle Sea (B1-B18) Deep Miracle Sea (B1-B4)
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Puel Sea
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	Coral Sea Eastern Sea
Pokémon Rumble Blast	Beach: World Axle - B1F

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Ruby	Sapphire	Yellow Shard (5%)
Emerald
Diamond	Pearl	DeepSeaScale (5%)
Platinum
HeartGold	SoulSilver	DeepSeaScale (5%)
Black	White	DeepSeaScale (5%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat	Range
	At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 75	135 - 182	260 - 354
Attack: 38	38 - 99	72 - 192
Defense: 38	38 - 99	72 - 192
Sp.Atk: 56	54 - 118	105 - 232
Sp.Def: 56	54 - 118	105 - 232
Speed: 67	64 - 130	125 - 256
Total: 330   Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 3/4 ★★★☆	Power 2/3 ★★☆
Skill 3/5 ★★★☆☆	Stamina 2/4 ★★☆☆
Jump 2/3 ★★☆	Total 12/19 ★★☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
Weak to Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ¼× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Resistant against Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ¼× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Unaffected by Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ¼× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Damaged normally by Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ¼× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None
Notes: If this Pokémon has Volt Absorb, the effectiveness of  Electric-type  moves is 0×. If this Pokémon has Water Absorb, the effectiveness of  Water-type  moves is 0×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
Start	Supersonic	Normal	Status	—	55%	20
Start	Bubble	Water	Special	20	100%	30
6	Thunder Wave	Electric	Status	—	100%	20
9	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
12	Confuse Ray	Ghost	Status	—	100%	10
17	Water Gun	Water	Special	40	100%	25
20	Spark	Electric	Physical	65	100%	20
23	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85%	20
28	Electro Ball	Electric	Special	—	100%	10
31	BubbleBeam	Water	Special	65	100%	20
34	Signal Beam	Bug	Special	75	100%	15
39	Discharge	Electric	Special	80	100%	15
42	Aqua Ring	Water	Status	—	—%	20
45	Hydro Pump	Water	Special	120	80%	5
50	Charge	Electric	Status	—	—%	20
A level of "Start" indicates a move that will be known by a Chinchou obtained at level 1 in Generation V 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

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	90%	10
	TM07	Hail	Ice	Status	—	—%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15
	TM13	Ice Beam	Ice	Special	95	100%	10
	TM14	Blizzard	Ice	Special	120	70%	5
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM18	Rain Dance	Water	Status	—	—%	5
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM24	Thunderbolt	Electric	Special	95	100%	15
	TM25	Thunder	Electric	Special	120	70%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	—	100%	15
	TM48	Round	Normal	Special	60	100%	15
	TM55	Scald	Water	Special	80	100%	15
	TM57	Charge Beam	Electric	Special	50	90%	10
	TM70	Flash	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	TM72	Volt Switch	Electric	Special	70	100%	20
	TM73	Thunder Wave	Electric	Status	—	100%	20
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM93	Wild Charge	Electric	Physical	90	100%	15
	HM03	Surf	Water	Special	95	100%	15
	HM05	Waterfall	Water	Physical	80	100%	15
	HM06	Dive	Water	Physical	80	100%	10
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 TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Agility	Psychic	Status	—	—%	30
	Amnesia	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20
	Brine	Water	Special	65	100%	10
	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Mist	Ice	Status	—	—%	30
	Psybeam	Psychic	Special	65	100%	20
	Screech	Normal	Status	—	85%	40
	Shock Wave‡	Electric	Special	60	—%	20
	Water Pulse	Water	Special	60	100%	20
	Whirlpool	Water	Special	35	85%	15
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Chinchou in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Chinchou in that game. 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

By tutoring

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Game		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring.
A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Chinchou can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Chinchou cannot be tutored the move in that game 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 move tutor moves from other generations

Dream World-only moves

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Event	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
Dream World	Amnesia	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20
Dream World	Shock Wave	Electric	Special	60	—%	20
A superscript level indicates that Chinchou can learn this move normally in Generation V at that level 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 event moves from other generations

TCG-only Moves

• Headbutt
• Pound

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball  N/A  Not available	Pokémon Pinball RS     Acquisition: Hatch	Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.7% Friend Area: Deep-Sea Floor Phrases 51%-100% HP Want me to light you up from behind? 26%-50% HP What's up? Why's my health half gone? 1%-25% HP I'm beat... My lamps are growing dim... Level up I leveled up! I think. Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up I leveled up! I think.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: A
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Loops: 0 Min. exp.: 0 Max. exp.: 0 Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Electric  Poké Assist: None Field move: (Recharge ×2) Browser entry   It attacks by shooting bolts of electricity.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Electric  None Past ( Normal ) (Recharge ×1) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   It restores the Styler Energy a little.
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.

Evolution

Unevolved Chinchou  Water  Electric

Level 27 →

First evolution Lanturn  Water  Electric

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White				Back

For other sprites and images, please see Chinchou images on Bulbagarden Archives.

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.

Origin

It is based on an anglerfish, more specifically the footballfish.

Name origin

Chinchou's name is a play on 提灯 chōchin, lantern. Its Japanese name is also a corruption of chōchin. Also, the チョウチンアンコウ chouchin-anko is the name of the footballfish, a deep-sea fish similar to Lanturn. In addition, chouwa is the Japanese word for harmony, since this would describe the balance of Chinchou's water and electric types.

In other languages

Language Name Name Origin German Lampi Probably from Lampe. French Loupio From loupiote. Korean 초라기 Choragi Chinese (Taiwan) 燈籠魚 Dēng Lóng Yú "Lantern fish".

External links

← #169: Crobat

Pokémon

#171: Lanturn →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.