tepig
Generation V · #0498 — Fire Pig Pokémon
Tepig is a Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation V, serving as one of the three premier starter Pokémon available to trainers beginning their journey in the Unova region across Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. As the Fire Pig Pokémon, Tepig represents National Pokédex entry #498 and marks the beginning of a powerful evolutionary line that culminates in the dual Fire/Fighting-type Emboar. This porcine creature stands at just 0.5 meters tall and weighs 9.9 kilograms, making it one of the smallest starter Pokémon despite its eventual evolution into a formidable powerhouse. With a base stat total of 308, Tepig demonstrates balanced foundational capabilities that improve significantly as it progresses through its evolutionary stages, while its signature Blaze ability provides a crucial damage boost during critical moments of battle.
Base Stats
Height
0.5m
Weight
9.9kg
Category
Fire Pig Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
red
Shape
quadruped
Abilities
Strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Halves damage from fire and ice moves.
Tepig Biology & Physical Characteristics
Tepig exhibits a distinctly porcine physiology adapted for its Fire-type nature, featuring a primarily orange body with striking visual distinctions that reflect its dual-purpose design as both a terrestrial pig and a fire-breathing creature. Its most distinctive feature is a prominent red snout marked by a thick yellow stripe, from which it expels fireballs with impressive accuracy and control. The upper portion of its head is dark brown, with long pointed ears positioned closely together, while a dark brown band encircles its lower back and rear—a coloration pattern that extends to its short, sturdy legs with dark brown front feet. A notably curly tail tipped with a ruddy red sphere completes its silhouette, providing balance and possibly serving as an additional fire-breathing apparatus. Despite its squat, compact frame suggesting limited mobility, Tepig is remarkably nimble and possesses exceptional agility that allows it to deftly dodge incoming attacks while positioning itself for counterattacks. Its exceptional olfactory capabilities, centered in its sensitive nose, enable it to locate food sources with remarkable precision, contributing to its characterization as an enthusiastic and somewhat voracious eater.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Tepig Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Tepig exhibits a significant sexual dimorphism in terms of population distribution, with approximately 87.5% of the species being male and only 12.5% being female, reflecting a heavily male-skewed gender ratio that impacts breeding availability and team composition strategies. This pronounced gender bias means that female Tepig specimens are considerably rarer and more difficult to encounter in the wild or through standard breeding methods, making them particularly valuable to collectors and competitive trainers seeking specific Pokémon lineups. The species belongs to the Field Egg Group, classifying it alongside other terrestrial and quadrupedal creatures, which influences its breeding compatibility with other Pokémon in that group and expands the genetic options available to trainers engaged in breeding programs. Tepig offspring require 20 cycles to hatch from their eggs, translating to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps of travel, placing it within the standard incubation period range for Generation V starters. The base friendship value of 70 demonstrates Tepig's inherent approachability and willingness to bond with trainers, suggesting that even freshly caught or hatched specimens begin their relationship with relatively high affection levels. These breeding characteristics combine to make Tepig an accessible but moderately challenging starter Pokémon to breed optimally, requiring patience and strategic planning for trainers seeking to cultivate ideal specimens with desired natures and individual values.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
sun moon
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
sword shield
tm04
gold silver
tm04
crystal
tm05
ruby sapphire
tm05
emerald
tm05
gold silver
tm05
crystal
tm05
diamond pearl
tm05
black white
tm05
platinum
tm05
heartgold soulsilver
tm05
firered leafgreen
tm05
black 2 white 2
tm05
omega ruby alpha sapphire
+576 more TMs/HMs
tepig's Evolution Chain
Tepig Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Tepig follows a straightforward two-stage evolutionary progression that significantly enhances its combat capabilities and physical stature. At level 17, Tepig evolves into Pignite, a more robust Fire/Fighting-type that retains its pig-like characteristics while gaining martial prowess and increased musculature. This intermediate evolution increases Pignite's base stat total to 418, with notable improvements in Attack, Special Attack, and Defense, better equipping it for competitive battles while maintaining reasonable bulk. The final evolution occurs at level 36 when Pignite transforms into Emboar, a powerful bipedal Fire/Fighting-type warrior pig that stands 1.6 meters tall and weighs 150 kilograms—a dramatic transformation from Tepig's diminutive frame. Emboar represents the apex of this evolutionary line with a base stat total of 528, featuring exceptional Attack and Special Attack statistics that make it a formidable physical and special attacker. The evolutionary line as a whole demonstrates a thematic progression from nimble fire-breathing juvenile to increasingly powerful combatant, with Tepig's dodge-oriented playstyle gradually shifting toward more aggressive and direct battling approaches through its evolutions.
Where to Find
nuvema town
unova
aspertia city
unova
hoenn route 101
hoenn
Tepig Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Tepig demonstrates a personality marked by enthusiasm and an insatiable appetite, with particular fondness for roasted berries that it carefully prepares by heating them with its natural fire abilities. However, this eagerness occasionally results in overcooking its food to the point of burning it to ash, revealing a charming lack of restraint that defines the species' youthful exuberance. The Pokédex entries across multiple generations consistently highlight Tepig's love of roasted berries, suggesting that this dietary preference and preparation method represent core behavioral traits of the species. When healthy, Tepig breathes controlled flames from its snout with impressive accuracy, but this ability transforms dramatically when the Pokémon falls ill—a unique physiological response where the fire becomes thick, pitch-black smoke instead of typical flames, serving as a visible indicator of the creature's compromised health status. Tepig's natural habitat encompasses the Unova region, where it thrives in environments suitable for its Fire-type nature, and it operates effectively both as a solitary forager and as a loyal companion to trainers who earn its trust and affection.
Pokedex Entries
It can deftly dodge its foe’s attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them.
It loves to eat roasted berries, but sometimes it gets too excited and burns them to a crisp.
It blows fire through its nose. When it catches a cold, the fire becomes pitch-black smoke instead.
It can deftly dodge its foe’s attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them.
It loves to eat roasted berries, but sometimes it gets too excited and burns them to a crisp.
It can deftly dodge its foe’s attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them.
It loves to eat roasted berries, but sometimes it gets too excited and burns them to a crisp.
Tepig Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Tepig derives from a straightforward portmanteau of 'Tepid' and 'Pig,' reflecting both its Fire-type designation and porcine nature, while also suggesting the warm but not excessively hot nature of a young fire starter—a creature still developing its full thermal potential. Its Japanese name, Pokabu, similarly combines 'Poka' (a Japanese onomatopoeia for small bursts or explosions) and 'Buta' (the Japanese word for pig), emphasizing the character's fire-breathing capabilities and porcine form. The design philosophy behind Tepig draws inspiration from real-world domestic pigs while incorporating distinctly fantastical Fire-type elements, including the bright orange coloration, red facial features, and ability to breathe flames. The thick yellow stripe across its snout may reference both the visual distinction markers found on pigs and the yellow coloration commonly associated with fire and heat in Pokémon design language. The curly tail, characteristic of domesticated pig breeds, undergoes stylization with its distinctive ruddy-red sphere tip, transforming an ordinary anatomical feature into something visually suggestive of embers or fire. This balanced approach to design allows Tepig to feel both grounded and fantastical, instantly recognizable as a pig-based Pokémon while conveying its elemental affiliation through thoughtful visual cues.
Learnable Moves
Tepig can learn 72 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| burn up | fire | Special | 130 | 100 | 5 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| defense curl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| echoed voice | normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| ember | fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fire blast | fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
| fire pledge | fire | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| fire punch | fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| fire spin | fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| flame charge | fire | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| flamethrower | fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| flare blitz | fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| gyro ball | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| head smash | rock | Physical | 150 | 80 | 5 |
| heat crash | fire | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| heat wave | fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 |
| heavy slam | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| incinerate | fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| magnitude | ground | Physical | — | 100 | 30 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| odor sleuth | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| overheat | fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| rollout | rock | Physical | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| smog | poison | Special | 30 | 70 | 20 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| stomping tantrum | ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sucker punch | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| superpower | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| tail whip | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| temper flare | fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thrash | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| wild charge | electric | Physical | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| will o wisp | fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| yawn | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Tepig Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Tepig serves primarily as a beginner-level Pokémon whose modest base stat total of 308 limits its effectiveness in high-level competitive environments without significant training and evolution investment. Its base Attack and Special Attack statistics are functionally equivalent at 63 each, while its defensive and speed statistics are uniformly low at 45, creating a somewhat fragile physical profile that struggles against faster opponents or powerful attackers. However, Tepig's Blaze ability provides a crucial advantage when health drops to critical levels, multiplying the power of Fire-type moves by 1.5 times and potentially enabling unexpected comebacks or clutch victories in closely contested battles. The hidden ability Thick Fat offers a valuable alternative for specific strategic approaches, halving damage from both Fire and Ice-type attacks and providing survivability against opponents who rely heavily on these elemental types, particularly useful in double and triple battle formats. Tepig's movepool progresses through level-up training to include powerful Fire-type attacks such as Ember at level 6, Flame Wheel at level 15, Fire Spin at level 20, Flamethrower at level 29, and ultimately Flare Blitz at level 50 in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, supplemented by utility moves like Smokescreen and coverage options such as Tackle, Tail Whip, Rollout, and Take Down. Competitive viability improves significantly upon evolution to Pignite and Emboar, which feature superior stat distributions and access to Fighting-type moves that dramatically expand their coverage, making the Tepig line a worthwhile investment for trainers willing to commit resources to development.
Commonly Asked Questions About Tepig
What type is Tepig?
Tepig is a fire type Pokemon.
What does Tepig evolve into?
Tepig evolves into pignite, then into emboar.
What are Tepig's weaknesses?
Tepig is weak to ground, rock and water type moves.
Where can I find Tepig?
Tepig can be found in nuvema town (unova), aspertia city (unova) and hoenn route 101 (hoenn).
Tepig Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Tepig and its evolutionary line have achieved considerable popularity within the Pokémon franchise and community, establishing themselves as beloved representatives of the Generation V Unova region and iconic starter Pokémon despite competition from Snivy and Oshawott. The character of Ash's Tepig, featured prominently in the Pokémon anime series, earned significant affection from viewers through its characterization and memorable battles, contributing substantially to the species' recognizable presence in popular culture. Tepig's appearance in multiple significant media properties, including the Pokémon Legends: Z-A games where it returns as a starter option, Super Smash Bros. franchise entries as trophies, and various animated specials and films, demonstrates its sustained relevance and appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences. The species' distinctive design and Fire-type elemental affiliation have made it a frequent subject of fan artwork, merchandise, and community discussions, with its evolutionary line frequently appearing in fan-created competitive teams and theoretical battle scenarios. The presence of Tepig in spin-off titles such as PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon expansions further solidifies its cultural footprint, while its trading card game representations have maintained collector interest across multiple TCG generations. As a first-partner Pokémon and Fire-type starter, Tepig occupies a meaningful position within the broader Pokémon cultural landscape, maintaining relevance through continuous inclusion in major franchise releases and sustained community engagement.
Where to Find Tepig in Every Pokémon Game
Tepig's availability to trainers varies significantly based on the specific Pokémon game or media property in question, though it consistently appears as a primary starter option in main series games set within or related to the Unova region. In Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, Tepig is one of three starter Pokémon available to players at the beginning of their adventure in Unova, obtained directly from Professor Juniper as a first partner Pokémon alongside Snivy and Oshawott. The species returns as a starter option in Pokémon Legends: Z-A for the Lumiose City region, offering new players another opportunity to select Tepig as their initial companion. Beyond the main series, Tepig appears in various spin-off titles including Pokémon Mystery Dungeon entries and PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, expanding its accessibility to players engaging with different game franchises. The Pokédex classification indicates Tepig holds local Pokédex number #0004 in Black/White and Black 2/White 2 versions, and #0004 in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, reflecting its prominent early-game availability in these titles. Capture mechanics identify Tepig as possessing a base capture rate of 45, meaning it requires moderate effort to catch in the wild if encountered, though its starter status ensures reliable initial acquisition. Trainers seeking Tepig specimens beyond direct starter selection can typically find the species in appropriate wild locations within Unova or breed evolved forms to obtain eggs that hatch into Tepig, making the species reasonably accessible to dedicated collectors and team builders.