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Pop Culture

Lechonk Is Already The Internet’s Favorite New Pokemon Of 2022

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Here's a wild Pokémon encounter we won't skip.
BY Rafael Bautista
06.06.2022

Aside from all the new features, one thing we all can look forward to when Pokemon Scarlet/Violet drops this November is Lechonk.

Related: This Pinoy Artist Imagined What Pokémon Would Look Like In The Philippines And Genshin Impact

Ever since its debut, Pokémon has looked to real life as inspiration for many of its creatures. All the way back in Gen 1, we had Pokémon like Krabby and Butterfree based on animals you probably can guess. At over 900 species and counting, many animals have been used as creative starting points for Pokémon. And that trend continues to this day with the upcoming Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games. So, which animal got the Pokémon treatment? It is none other than the humble pig playfully christened after the iconic Filipino roast, Lechonk.

LECHONK, THE INTERNET’S NEW FAVORITE POKEMON

On June 1, the Pokémon Company released a new trailer for Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. The over three minute trailer showcased many new features of the upcoming entry such as new looks at professors Sada and Turo, four person multiplayer, and the first look at the new serpentine-inspired legendries Koraidon and Miraidon. The trailer also showcased three brand new Pokémon coming to the game, Smoliv, Pawmi, and Lechonk. But based on the internet’s reaction, Lechonk was a standout moment from the trailer.

According to the Pokémon Company, Lechonk is a Normal type Hog Pokémon. The scene-stealing piglet has a noted snout that has a strong “sense of smell to find and eat only the most fragrant wild grasses.” Given it’s wholesome appearance, Lechonk isn’t a typically aggressive Pokémon. “If attacked by an opponent and startled, it will charge forward in a panic.” But just because the pig has a thicc exterior, that doesn’t mean it’s a pushover. “It may appear fat at first glance, but in reality, the Pokémon’s body is mostly muscle built by constantly walking around in search of food,” reads the character’s official description. And because of the way it eats, it has a aroma “resembling herbs that Bug-type Pokémon dislike.”

Furthermore, weighing 22.5 lbs and with a height of 1’8″, Lechonk has two abilities, Aroma Veil and Gluttony. Aroma Veil prevents it and its allies from being affected by attacks like Taunt, Torment, Encore, Disable, and Cursed Body. Gluttony, meanwhile, uses the pig’s berry finding abilities to good use as the ability lets it take a pinch berry when its HP drops to 50 percent instead of the usual 25.

PORK POWERS

No word yet if Lechonk has any evolutions or alternate variants. But if it does, we’re hoping its called Lechungus or maybe Lechonk kawali. At the very least, given how it is described as having mostly a body of muscle, it’s evolution could be a large boar or a muscular pig if that makes sense. As you can expect, when you name a Pokémon Lechonk and make it look like that, the memes fly far and fast. Even though there is still a lot of more new Pokémon to be featured in the new games, Lechonk has already become a fan favorite.

Naming a pokemon after lechon has struck a chord, especially since this is also the closest we get so far to a Pokémon being named something associated with the Philippines, which means we are one step nearer to realizing our Pokémon in the Philippines fantasy. More importantly, its name includes chonk, which already is just a mood and three quarters honestly.

Even if we won’t necessarily include Lechonk in our main six lineup, we for sure are catching this cute pig. Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are both set in Mediterranean Spain, so having a lechon-inspired Pokémon is not too far off. Lechon is Spanish for pig and Lechonk looks to be particularly inspired by the Black Iberian Pig found around Spain and Portgual. Smoliv also looks to be inspired by the olives used to make olive oil, one of the main exports of Spain.

READY TO CLAIM AS OUR OWN

Pokémon fans started off 2022 strong with the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. And now, they have another open world Pokémon game to look forward to and a new Pokémon called Lechonk, a name we will not get tired of saying anytime soon. Pokémon Scarlet/Violet are both releasing on November 18, 2022. Pre-orders are available now on the Nintendo e-Shop. While you wait for the release of the game, here are a few of our favorite Lechonk memes, reactions, and edits we found on the internet.

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