Swablu is National Pokedex Number 333
Out of the hundreds of Pokémon that have been discovered and catalogued over the years, the cotton-winged Dragon/Flying type known as Swablu holds distinction as #333 in the National Pokédex. But what does this national Pokédex number actually mean? And what secrets hide behind this unique Dragon Pokémon? Let‘s find out!
The National Pokédex – More Than Just Numbers
First things first – what exactly is the National Pokédex? Well, the National Pokédex is essentially an in-universe encyclopedia that contains detailed data on every single Pokémon in existence. Whenever a new Pokémon is discovered, it gets a new entry and Pokédex number added to the National Pokédex.
The National Pokédex made its debut alongside the original 151 Pokémon in the Pokémon Red/Blue games for Game Boy. With each new generation of games, more Pokémon are added and the National Pokédex grows bigger. By the latest Generation 8 games, the National Pokédex has reached well over 800 Pokémon!
So in summary, the National Pokédex number assigned to a Pokémon signifies when it was discovered and added to the Pokedex historically. Lower numbers like #001 for Bulbasaur represent the original Gen 1 Pokémon, while higher numbers like #333 for Swablu are from newer generations.
But the National Pokédex is more than just a simple numbering system – it‘s meant to be an in-depth record of each Pokémon‘s attributes, abilities, habitat, and more based on observations by Pokémon researchers in the games. Let‘s see what info the Pokédex provides on our focus Pokémon – Swablu!
Swablu By the Numbers
As National Pokedex entry #333, Swablu was introduced in Generation 3 alongside other Hoenn-region Pokémon. According to Swablu‘s Pokedex data, this unique Pokémon has the following attributes:
Type: Dragon/Flying
Height: 0.4 m (1′04′′)
Weight: 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs)
Abilities: Natural Cure, Cloud Nine (Hidden Ability)
Signature Move: Dragon Rush
Base Stats:
HP: 45
Attack: 40
Defense: 60
Sp. Atk: 40
Sp. Def: 75
Speed: 50
Total: 310
Numerically speaking, Swablu‘s stats show a preference for defense over offense. With decent HP and Special Defense, plus an array of self-healing moves like Roost, Swablu performs best as a stalwart defensive Pokémon. It can outlast opponents by replenishing its own HP while whittling them down.
Now let‘s see how Swablu compares to other popular Dragon types:
| Pokémon | HP | Atk | Def | SpA | SpD | Spe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swablu | 45 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 75 | 50 | 310 |
| Dratini | 41 | 64 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 300 |
| Bagon | 45 | 75 | 60 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 300 |
| Deino | 52 | 65 | 50 | 45 | 50 | 38 | 300 |
While not excelling in any one stat, Swablu‘s balanced stats allow it to go toe-to-toe with other unevolved Dragon types. It has comparable HP and better defenses than Dratini, Bagon, and Deino, while still being able to dish back neutral damage.
There‘s More to Swablu Than Stats
Of course, there‘s much more to a Pokémon than just numbers and stats. After all, Pokémon are living creatures with rich histories and behaviors seen in the anime and manga series!
In the anime, Swablu is portrayed as a peaceful Pokémon that dislikes confrontation. It prefers to avoid fighting altogether. But while timid, Swablu does exhibit fierce loyalty to its trainer once captured. It will overcome its non-violent nature to protect those it cares about.
According to the Pokémon Moon version Pokédex entry:
"For some reason, it likes to land on people‘s heads softly and act like it‘s a hat."
This fits with Swablu‘s gentle persona. And I can confirm from personal experience that having a Swablu land on your head is an absolute delight – like wearing a soft, cottony hat that hums happily!
So in summary, Swablu has more nuance than what the raw numbers might suggest. It‘s a peaceful Pokémon that brings joy to those around it – which is quite admirable for a Dragon type!
Swablu‘s Eventual Evolution into Altaria
Now let‘s take a look at what happens when little Swablu grows up! Starting at level 35, Swablu evolves into Altaria – an impressive Dragon/Flying type that resembles a majestic phoenix covered in fluffy clouds.
Altaria‘s National Pokedex number is #334, immediately following Swablu. But its stats and capabilities take a huge leap compared to its cute, cotton-winged pre-evolution:
Type: Dragon/Flying
Height: 1.1 m (3′07′′)
Weight: 20.6 kg (45.4 lbs)
Abilities: Natural Cure, Cloud Nine (Hidden Ability)
Signature Move: Dragon Dance
Base Stats:
HP: 75
Attack: 70
Defense: 90
Sp. Atk: 70
Sp. Def: 105
Speed: 80
Total: 490
Now those are stats befitting an elegant Dragon Pokémon! With its substantial HP, beefy defenses, and solid attacking power, Altaria can easily anchor a team by providing strong defensive utility along with offensive Dragon-type damage coverage when needed.
And for competitive players, Altaria has another ace up its feathery sleeve – the ability to Mega Evolve into Mega Altaria!
Mega Altaria Takes Flight
In Generation 6, certain fully-evolved Pokémon like Altaria gained the ability to temporarily Mega Evolve during battle. This granted the Pokémon a big boost in stats and sometimes even a type change!
Mega Altaria remains Dragon/Flying type, but with increased Attack, Special Attack, and Special Defense. This turns Altaria into a formidable mixed attacker and special tank. Here is the stat spread:
HP: 75
Attack: 110
Defense: 110
Sp. Atk: 110
Sp. Def: 105
Speed: 80
Total: 590
Competitively, Mega Altaria‘s improved offense combined with its Dragon/Fairy typing gained from Mega Evolution makes it a threat. It hits hard with STAB Fairy and Dragon moves while covering its former Dragon weaknesses.
According to usage statistics, Mega Altaria ranked as the 16th most used Pokémon in the 2020 Video Game Championships season – a true testament to its capabilities!
So in summary, the once-docile Swablu transforms into a mighty Dragon through evolution and Mega Evolution. It shows that even kind, cotton-winged Pokémon can unleash formidable power when trained up over time!
The Appeal of Shiny Swablu and Altaria
Another aspect that makes Swablu and Altaria highly sought after is the possibility of encountering them in extremely rare alternate-color "shiny" forms. As dedicated Pokémon fans know, shiny Pokémon have only a 1 in 4096 chance of appearing!
Instead of sky blue cotton wings, shiny Swablu‘s wings are a soft pink. And shiny Altaria turns primarily golden-orange instead of blue. These color variations make shiny Swablu and Altaria prizes among Pokémon collectors.
Personally, I was lucky enough to catch a shiny Swablu during last year‘s Pokémon GO Community Day. I‘ll never forget that moment – seeing the pink wings appear on the catch screen caused me to freeze in awe! I immediately knew this special Swablu would be a treasured member of my team.
While all Swablu have value, the insanely low chances of finding a shiny make them incredibly precious. And in my opinion, the pink shiny form just feels so perfect for an adorable Pokémon like Swablu. It really stands out while staying true to Swablu‘s cute cotton candy-inspired design!
Why Swablu Has Significance Despite Its Pokedex Number
When looking at #333 Swablu next to legendary and pseudo-legendary Pokémon with much lower National Pokedex numbers, it would be easy to assume Swablu isn‘t very significant. But I hope this article has shown that‘s far from the truth!
Despite being #333, Swablu and its evolved form Altaria have compelling backstories, eye-catching shiny color variants, and powerful battle capabilities. Not to mention, Swablu‘s cottony wings and sweet nature just give it incredible charm.
In my opinion, Swablu will always hold a special place among Dragon types. Its docile personality paired with hidden inner strength resonates with me. And I‘ll never tire of having my very own cotton-winged cloud bird perch softly on my head!
So while many may overlook unassuming little Swablu for more prominent Pokémon, true fans know that Swablu is so much more than its National Pokedex number. It‘s a dragon-in-disguise with the heart of an angel!