Tropius Report

Tropius (the Fruit Pokémon) is a relatively rare Grass/Flying-type Pokémon found among tropical jungles and forested areas within the Hoenn, Unova, Alola and Paldea regions. Though perhaps not as strong as other Grass-type Pokémon or as agile as some might like, Tropius are fascinating beasts that can easily pummel opponents on the ground and in the sky with their diverse array of Normal, Grass and Flying-type moves. Of course, if you're just looking for a quick, nutritious snack, you still might want to consider having one of these creatures; after all, if a beast loves a certain fruit so much that it actually begins to grow it, who wouldn't want to try it?

It is believed that Tropius were once little more than simple reptilian herbivores that grazed on low-lying grasses and similar plants prior to taking on their current state of being. Although it is a common belief that monkeys enjoy bananas, primates have nothing on the love that Tropius have for the fruit (though technically is it actually a berry) and are attracted to them for both their flavor and texture, which is perfectly soft and easy to devour without accidentally hurting themselves on the spines or barbs used by some low-growing plants for defense. While it is not completely apparent when Tropius became what they are today, it is more than evident that the love for the banana seems to have been the catalyst for these creatures willingly accepting infection via a parasitic variety of banana plant that slowly integrated itself into their bodies and genes until the two effectively became one, creating the symbiotic animal/plant hybrid variety observed today. Today, wild Tropius do not have to worry about gathering their favorite food because their own distinct and completely unique type of banana-like fruit grows from their neck about once a week, and it’s effectively the definition of the perfect banana in terms of flavor and texture; this way, Tropius can always get the best bananas available without having to actually go out and hunt for food. These strange but sweet-tasting bananas (the sweetest of all being found in tropical areas like the Alola region) have managed to become a popular snack among young children, particularly in tropical areas where the best bananas would otherwise be extremely difficult for young children to get without having to physically climb a banana herb (in turn leading some people to raise ranches devoted entirely to the care of these large creatures). Tropius do not seem to mind this at all and willingly share their bounty with young children and people of all ages on a regular basis, demonstrating that their otherwise daunting size is a poor measurement of their sweet temperament.

Unlike most plant-based creatures, Tropius have managed to develop the ability to fly by flapping the massive, broad leaves on their backs, which is extremely surprising since they are otherwise far too large for flight to be a possibility; aside from enabling them to learn the Gust and Air Slash attacks, this power also makes Tropius one of the few Grass-type Pokémon able to actually learn the Fly attack trough any known method. Tropius apparently developed this power in order to make the process of spreading pollen from their necks much easier, as banana herbs will only grow properly in the right environments and are more often than not isolated from human eyes. While they might be fairly gentle for their size, Tropius do not take kindly to people destroying or otherwise taking more fruit from banana herbs than is due and will viciously strike with powerful Stomp and Body Slam attacks the moment they feel the need to against others. They are further gifted in their capacity to ward off others in that they can learn the potent Dragon Dance technique to increase their physical might and mobility, plus they have access to the Dragon Hammer attack, a potent physical strike that only they and Alolan Exeggutor can learn naturally. In combination with their impressive girth, this makes Tropius a powerful beast to fight in close quarters even though their offensive and defensive strengths are average at best for a fully-evolved Pokémon. Even so, the unique combination of moves that Tropius can possibly learn make them an interesting fighter to rely on in battle and can certainly pay off as long as the opposition does not have access to Ice-type attacks.

Though they might not have the power needed to be a dangerous contender in most fights, Tropius are still fascinating beasts that can certainly give Bug-type specialists a run for their money. It might take a while to locate and capture one of these bizarre beasts, but for those looking for the perfect soft fruit, you can't go wrong with these titans. If anything else, you could at least enjoy riding one into the sky with little effort; just make sure to wear a face guard so you don't accidentally choke on airborne pollen!

Professor Wormwood