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Draft:Larvesta and Volcarona

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  • Comment: Per my previous rejection reason, this Pokemon is not independently notable and there's no demonstration of significant coverage about it and it only. A user-generated poll, game guides, and unreliable/low quality sources do not contribute to notability, and you are yet to resolve the numerous unsourced statements. I encourage you to take a look at already existing articles for Pokemon done by other editors, many of which are very well written and establish their notability. λ NegativeMP1 23:44, 27 July 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: Several unsourced statements, reception mostly built on list articles from low quality sources and how-to guides. λ NegativeMP1 15:57, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

Larvesta and Volcarona
Pokémon characters
First appearancePokémon Black and White
Designed byKen Sugimori
Voiced byBilly Bob Thompson (English)
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeBug and Fire

Larvesta (known as Merlarva, メラルバ, Meraruba in Japan) and Volcarona (known as Ulgamoth, ウルガモス, Urugamosu in Japan) are a pair of Pokémon species in the Pokémon franchise. Both Pokémon first appeared in Pokémon Black and White, and have appeared in almost every installment in the series since. Larvesta is known as the Torch Pokémon, while Volcarona is known as the Sun Pokémon. In the National Pokédex order, Larvesta and Volcarona are numbered 0636 and 0637, respectively.

The species have generally received positive reception since their debut, with many praising their designs, typing, and usage in battle. However, Larvesta has been criticized for its high evolution level, and for how difficult it is to obtain in most games, compared to how weak it starts out as an unevolved Pokémon.

Design and characteristics

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Larvesta is a moth larva Pokémon with white fur, a gray face and limbs, and a brown abdomen. It has blue eyes and red horn-like growths on its head, which are instead green and yellow in its Shiny form. According to Ken Sugimori, Larvesta is partially inspired by the Tower of the Sun; specifically, the red growths surrounding Larvesta's head.[1] Larvesta used to be worshipped as an emissary of the sun in ancient times, though has later been seen as a burden due to causing forest fires. Larvesta has also been dubbed "The Larva That Stole the Sun".[2] It evolves into Volcarona when it reaches Level 59. In Pokémon GO, it instead requires 400 Larvesta candies.

Volcarona is a Pokémon resembling a moth, with a blue, patterned abdomen and six giant red wings. It retains the gray limbs and blue eyes of its pre-evolved form, and the changes to its Shiny form mostly mirror those of Larvesta. In the Relic Caslte in the Unova region, a shrine dedicated to the Pokémon is located in the deepest part. Volcarona is capable of learning the move Fiery Dance, a trait it shares only with its future Paradox counterpart, Iron Moth.

Appearances

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In the video games

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Larvesta and Volcarona first appear in Pokémon Black and White. In it, a Larvesta egg can be obtained from a trainer in Route 18, while a Volcarona can be found in the Relic Castle during the postgame.[3] The pair have appeared in many subsequent games in the series, including Pokémon Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon[4], and the Isle of Armor expansion of Pokémon Sword and Shield[5]. Larvesta and Volcarona are typically not obtainable until near the end of the game in most games, with a notable exception being Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Paradox Pokémon resembling Volcarona, named Slither Wing and Iron Moth, appear in the endgame.

Larvesta and Volcarona appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon. In Gates to Infinity, a Larvesta runs a dojo that allows Pokémon to train Bug-type moves.[6] In Pokémon Conquest, the duo appear as the Perfect Link Pokémon for Okuni.[7] Two Volcarona appear as bosses in New Pokémon Snap, being worshipped as Illumina Pokémon in the Voluca Island Illumina Spot.

In the anime

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Larvesta and Volcarona have made few appearances in the anime, with their most notable appearance being in the episode Trial on a Golden Scale, where a Shiny Larvesta is shown evolving into a Volcarona. Luke, a rival featured in the Black & White seasons of the anime, also owns a Larvesta, which helps him with special effects in his film productions.

Promotion and reception

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Larvesta and Volcarona have enjoyed a positive reception since their debut. In the Google Pokémon of the Year popularity poll held in 2020, Volcarona ranked 4th place out of all Pokémon from the Unova region.[8]

Larvesta's high evolution level of 59 has been heavily criticized, frequently making lists of the hardest Pokémon to evolve in the games.[9][10][11] In its debut game, this is further exacerbated due to the fact only one is obtainable in the middle of the game at Level 1.

Larvesta's inclusion in Pokémon GO was received very negatively, with many fans criticizing how late the Pokémon was added in compared to other Pokémon from the fifth generation, as well as only being available through the highest rarity drops from eggs.[12][13] Spencer Whitworth of Sportskeeda wrote that "Larvesta and Volcarona's inclusion was initially heralded as a good move for the health of the game. However, making Larvesta only obtainable through egg hatches and setting its hatch chance incredibly low has upset more than a few fans," and that Larvesta's hatch rate from the eggs was reported to be less than 1%.[14]

In May 2024, Larvesta was featured in the Life Size Pokémon Plush brand, with commenters surprised at how large the species actually is.[15] Josh Coulson of The Gamer wrote that "[...] turns out when you're standing next to one in the games, thanks to the horns around its head it will almost reach your waist."

References

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  1. ^ Nintendo Dream Vol. 204, April 2011
  2. ^ https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/larvesta
  3. ^ "How to Catch the Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Black and White". May 8, 2012.
  4. ^ "Pokémon Ultra Sun And Moon Will Have More Than 400 Pokémon". September 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "How to find rare Larvesta & Volcarona in Pokemon Sword & Shield". June 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity - Pokémon Paradise".
  7. ^ "Pokémon Conquest - Warlords Listings - Unique".
  8. ^ "Greninja Wins Pokémon of the Year 2020 Vote - Full List of Best Pokemon". February 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "The 10 Hardest Pokémon to Evolve". March 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Pokémon: The 10 Hardest Pokémon to Evolve, Ranked". March 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Hardest Evolutions to Achieve, Ranked". October 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pokémon Go's rarest Pokémon and how to increase your chances of getting rare Pokémon". Eurogamer.net. October 10, 2017.
  13. ^ ""They have to be trolling": Pokemon GO community left fuming over Larvesta Volcarona evolution". Sportskeeda. May 8, 2023.
  14. ^ https://www.sportskeeda.com/pokemon/larvesta-reportedly-sported-less-1-hatch-rate-pokemon-go-an-instinctive-hero
  15. ^ "Larvesta Joins Pokemon's Collection of Life-Size Plushes". May 24, 2024.
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