In this recurring series, I’ll analyze the origins of Pokémon designs and their allusions to Mediterranean culture from Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
Pawmi
Revealed as one of Nemona’s partners in a pre-release trailer to Scarlet and Violet, Pawmi fits the ongoing trope of an Electric-type rodent Pokemon. Its name is derived from a combination of “paw” and “marmot”.
Specifically it is based on the Alpine marmot, a rodent that was indigenous to Spain for millennia prior to the ice age. They lived in the Alps, the mountain range which stretches across much of central Europe including in the mountains of Spain. They also lived in the Pyrenees, the mountains that cut through Spain.
The variant that lived in the Pyrenees died during this period, although they continued to live in the Alps. More recently, in 1948, a colony was reintroduced to the region and have continued to live and thrive there.
Marmots continue to be common rodents found across the mountainous regions of Europe today.
It has underdeveloped electric sacs on its cheeks. These sacs can produce electricity only if Pawmi rubs them furiously with the pads on its forepaws.
The pads of its paws are electricity-discharging organs. Pawmi fires electricity from its forepaws while standing unsteadily on its hind legs.
Pokédex
Pawmo
When Pawmi evolves, it starts standing on two legs. Its bright orange fur dulls into a redish yellow. It gains the Fighting-type, with its name “paw” referring to its strong palms that it can use in battles.
When its group is attacked, Pawmo is the first to leap into battle, defeating enemies with a fighting technique that utilizes electric shocks.
Pawmo uses a unique fighting technique in which it uses its forepaws to strike foes and zap them with electricity from its paw pads simultaneously.
Pokédex
Its unique fighting technique involves electricity, and it is the first Pokemon with the Electric/Fighting type combination.
Shocking opponents with paw pads alludes to defibrillation, a medical technique for people experiencing heart arrhythmia. In this condition, a person’s heart is unable to beat normally and needs prompt attention. Defibrillation uses powerful electrical currents to reset the heart so that the patient’s heart can beat normally.
In many public spaces today you may see automated external defibrillators, devices that can provide defibrillation in a way that a layperson can access and use for prompt first aid. The next time you’re in public you may notice one on the wall, with the universal sign of a heart and lightning bolt on a green background.
Pawmot
Pawmo evolves when it walks a thousand steps with the trainer in the Let’s Go mode. Its hair grows out even further and it regains some of the strong orange fur of Pawmi. It fully embraces its “marmot” design inspiration from its name.
This Pokémon normally is slow to react, but once it enters battle, it will strike down its enemies with lightning-fast movements.
Pawmot’s fluffy fur acts as a battery. It can store the same amount of electricity as an electric car.
Pokédex
Pawmot fits in the defibrillation theme even further. Its signature move Double Shock refers to the behavior for an AED to release a powerful discharge of electricity across the two pads of the defibrillator. In doing so, the AED will deplete its battery after only a few shocks.
This move may also allude to a supercapacitor, a circuit element which can store up a lot of energy and discharge at a high current. Consider a camera that can quickly charge and deliver a bright flash, where power draw needs to be fast and then requires time to recharge.
Pawmot is also one of two Pokemon who learn the move Revival Blessing, an extraordinary move that allows the player to revive one of their fainted allies. While its not quite a signature move, it is one that is closely associated with Pawmot and may also refer to Pawmot’s defibrillation saving lives.
Conclusion
There have been many Electric-type rodents introduced since the start of Pokémon, with new ones being introduced in each generation. Pawmi, Pawmo, and Pawmot are the only “Pikachu clones” that have evolutions, and their unique Fighting secondary typing make them stand out as great Electric-type Pokémon in Paldea.
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