Brock's Vulpix
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Brock's Vulpix (Japanese: タケシのロコン Takeshi's Rokon) was the fourth Pokémon acquired by Brock in the Kanto region, and the second he acquired within the series. It originally belonged to Suzie before being given to Brock, and was later returned to her.
In animation
History
Pokémon the Series: The Beginning
Kanto
Vulpix was given to Brock by Suzie in Pokémon Fashion Flash. Suzie was Brock's idol, and Vulpix took a liking to him, which was surprising, as the little Pokémon had a very snobbish nature. It even liked Brock's homemade Pokémon food. It drove away Team Rocket with a very powerful Fire Spin, driving home the point that a focus on outer beauty could eclipse a Pokémon's inner strength. Impressed with the way Brock cared for his Geodude and Ash's Pikachu, Suzie decided that Brock might be able to take better care of Vulpix than she could.
Like many of Brock's Pokémon, Vulpix received very little screentime compared to the Pokémon of other main characters. Brock was often seen grooming and pampering it when it was featured. This led to events in The Ninja Poké-Showdown, where Misty offered to trade her Psyduck for Vulpix, being sick of her Psyduck's headache and annoyed at Brock's compliments of Vulpix. Later the group met the Eevee brothers in The Battling Eevee Brothers who were throwing an evolution party for their younger brother Mikey to evolve his Eevee. Pyro of the Eevee Brothers offered Brock a Fire Stone to evolve Vulpix, to which Brock declined, stating that he didn't want to force Vulpix to evolve if it didn't want to.
Vulpix battled under Brock's ownership for the first time in Showdown at Dark City. It easily defeated Team Rocket with a Flamethrower, earning the attention of a Yas Gym recruiter.
During the Princess Festival in Princess vs. Princess, Brock lent Vulpix to Misty for the Queen of the Princess Festival as she wanted a more balanced team. It was seen defeating a Tangela with Flamethrower en route to the final. However, it was defeated easily by Jessie's Lickitung's tongue attack.
Vulpix auditioned for the lead role in Pokémon in Love, Cleavon Schpielbunk's film, in Lights, Camera, Quacktion!. However, it abandoned the stage once it became apparent that the lead Wigglytuff was impossibly picky.
Brock also used Vulpix to help Ash train sometimes, such as in The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis, when it fought Pikachu in a training match, resulting in the two of them discovering the ruins of Pokémopolis.
Orange Islands
In Poké Ball Peril, when Brock decided to stay with Professor Ivy while Ash and Misty explored the Orange Islands, Vulpix remained with him. It was seen, along with Onix, Geodude, and Zubat, bidding goodbye to Ash and Misty as they parted ways with Brock. However, it returned with him to Pallet Town when he decided to leave Ivy.
Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
When Brock returned to the group in A Tent Situation, he brought Vulpix with him, as revealed in A Bout With Sprout, where it and the rest of Brock's team were shown off to the kids attending Earl Dervish's Pokémon academy.
Vulpix battled Miki's Skarmory in Hot Matches!. Its Flamethrower was dodged by Skarmory via Agility. Vulpix attempted to outrun Skarmory with its own Agility, but Skarmory used Steel Wing on Vulpix, rendering it unable to continue battling.
In Spell of the Unown: Entei, Vulpix was called up against Molly Hale. It battled against Teddiursa, where the two traded multiple blows with Quick Attack and Fury Swipes before Vulpix collapsed.
Brock later met up with Suzie again in Beauty and the Breeder and returned Vulpix to her. He said at the time that he had always felt that Vulpix wasn't really his and was just looking after it for a time. Brock and Suzie later entered the Pokémon Beauty Contest as partners, with Vulpix being their Pokémon of choice for the event.
Vulpix reappeared in a flashback in Gotta Catch Ya Later!.
Personality and characteristics
Vulpix proved to be a rather particular Pokémon. It quickly took a liking and was affectionate towards Brock, who was often seen grooming and pampering it. Though Vulpix was very temperamental and wary towards new people, as seen when it used Flamethrower on Misty in Pokémon Fashion Flash. Suzie explained that Vulpix doesn't like being touched by strangers. This was further showcased in Lights, Camera, Quacktion! when it left the stage because a Wigglytuff was not to its liking. Despite its cute exterior, Vulpix possesses a lot of power, which was showcased on a few occasions.
Moves used
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- Brock told Vulpix to use Agility in The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis. This was a dubbing error. In the original, it was commanded to use Quick Attack.
In the games
Pokémon Stadium series
In Pokémon Stadium, Brock uses a Vulpix in Round 1 of the Gym Leader Castle, and a Ninetales in Round 2.
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Pokémon Puzzle League
Vulpix is one of Brock's three Pokémon in Pokémon Puzzle League.
In the manga
Pokémon Newspaper Strip
In Strip 9, Brock's Vulpix battled against Gary's Beedrill at school.
In Strip 146, Brock practiced some pick up lines on Vulpix, who looked distressed and thought, "Some lucky Pokémon only have to go battle for their Trainers..."
Movie adaptations
Vulpix appeared in Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei.
In the TCG
The following is a list of cards named Brock's Vulpix.
| Brock's Vulpix Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Brock's Vulpix | 
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Gym Heroes | 
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73/132 | Leaders' Stadium |
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| Brock's Vulpix |
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Gym Challenge | 
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37/132 | Leaders' Stadium |
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Trivia
- Since Brock mentioned in Beauty and the Breeder that he always knew it never really was his Pokémon to begin with, even though he explicitly caught it with a Poké Ball in its debut episode, Vulpix can be considered the only Pokémon not to be owned by a main character, despite being placed in said Trainer's Poké Ball.
- In its debut episode, Vulpix was able to be caught by one of Brock's Poké Balls without any problem, even though it was already Suzie's Pokémon.
- Not including temporary Pokémon, Vulpix is Brock's only Pokémon to no longer be under his possession.
- Vulpix is the only Fire-type Brock has had under his long-term possession and marks the first time a traveling companion of Ash's has a Fire-type Pokémon.
- When Brock obtained Vulpix, he captured it by simply taking out a Poké Ball and opening it, thus drawing Vulpix inside without making contact. This is the only Pokémon catch without direct physical contact between Poké Ball and Pokémon that has occurred.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Vulpix.
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
