#0037 · Kanto · Generation 1

Vulpix

Fox Pokémon · Fire-type

Vulpix is a Fire-type Pokémon, the Fox Pokémon, number 37 (#0037) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 0.6 m tall and weighs 9.9 kg.

Vulpix is the Fox Pokémon born with a single white tail that splits into six as it grows up, with a flame inside its body that never goes out. The wisps of fire it spits are so spooky that people mistake them for ghosts.

How to pronounce Vulpix

Vulpix is pronounced VUL-piks. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Vulpix said out loud:

In Japanese it is ロコン (Rokon).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Vulpix is a small, red-brown fox with a cream belly, large pointed ears, three curled locks of orange fur on its head and six orange tails that curl at the tips. It is 0.6 m tall and weighs 9.9 kg. It starts life with one white tail, which splits as it matures; the tails grow hot as it nears evolution.

Behaviour

Vulpix controls balls of fire to catch prey. Its inner flame never goes out, so on hot days it vents fire from its mouth to avoid overheating. If a stronger enemy attacks, it pretends to be injured and slips away. Raised from a youngster, it grows close to its Trainer like a puppy.

Habitat

The Pokédex lists it as a grassland Pokémon. Bulbapedia notes that many wild Vulpix sites have ghostly associations, such as Route 8 beside Lavender Town and Mt. Pyre.

Powers

Flash Fire absorbs Fire moves and powers up its own, and its hidden Ability is Drought. It uses Ember, Flamethrower, Will-O-Wisp and Confuse Ray. Alolan Vulpix is a pure Ice type with a snowy white coat, Snow Cloak, hidden Snow Warning and moves like Powder Snow and Aurora Veil. With base Special Defense and Speed of 65 it is a modest early-game Fire type.

Name origin

Vulpix may combine 'vulpes', Latin for fox, with 'six', and may also nod to Vulcan, Roman god of fire. The Japanese name is Rokon (ロコン), which may blend 六 roku (six), kon (a fox's yip) and 焜炉 konro (a gas stove).

Design inspiration

Atsuko Nishida designed Vulpix and Ninetales. Vulpix seems to draw on the red fox and on the kitsune, the fox spirit of Japanese folklore. Alolan Vulpix may instead be based on an Arctic fox, whose coat turns white in winter. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Vulpix evolves into Ninetales with a Fire Stone, but Alolan Vulpix needs an Ice Stone.

In the games

Vulpix gained an Alolan form in Sun and Moon. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A, though in Scarlet and Violet it is found in The Teal Mask's Kitakami, with Alolan Vulpix in The Indigo Disk's Polar Biome.

In the anime

Brock's Vulpix, which he got from Suzie, debuted in 'Pokémon Fashion Flash'. Alolan Vulpix hatched in 'Racing to a Big Event!' as Lillie's Snowy, and she caught it in 'Getting to Know You!'.

Fun facts

• In the Spaceworld '97 demo, Vulpix seems to have had a three-tailed, Water-type pre-evolution called Mikon.
• Translator Nob Ogasawara has said he wishes it had been named Vulpvi, a nod to the 6 and 9 tails of Vulpix and Ninetales, which are VI and IX in Roman numerals.
• No other Pokémon has Vulpix's base stat total of 299.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Vulpix (Pokémon) · Serebii: Vulpix (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 38
• Attack: 41
• Defense: 40
• Sp. Atk: 50
• Sp. Def: 65
• Speed: 65

Vulpix’s base stat total is 299. Its highest stat is Sp. Def and Speed.

Type matchups

What is Vulpix weak to?

Vulpix takes extra damage from Water (2×), Ground (2×), Rock (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Grass (½×), Ice (½×), Bug (½×), Steel (½×), Fairy (½×).

Evolution

How does Vulpix evolve?

Vulpix evolves into Ninetales (Fire Stone; Alolan Vulpix: Ice Stone).

The whole family: Vulpix, Ninetales.

Forms

• Alolan Vulpix (Alolan form): Ice-type, base stat total 299 (HP 38, Attack 41, Defense 40, Sp. Atk 50, Sp. Def 65, Speed 65). Abilities: Snow Cloak, Snow Warning (hidden).

Abilities

• Flash Fire: Protects against Fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
• Drought (hidden ability): Summons strong sunlight for five turns upon entering battle (eight with a Heat Rock).

Moves

Moves Vulpix learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (41)

Vulpix can learn 41 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Charm, Agility, Protect, Confuse Ray, Fire Spin, Facade, Hex, Snarl, Swift, Flame Charge, Endure, Sunny Day, Dig, Zen Headbutt, Foul Play, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rest, Imprison, Dark Pulse, Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, Heat Wave, Energy Ball, Encore, Flamethrower, Helping Hand, Baton Pass, Nasty Plot, Fire Blast, Overheat, Flare Blitz, Tera Blast, Roar, Spite, Weather Ball, Burning Jealousy, Pain Split, Psych Up, Double-Edge.

Egg moves (8):Baby-Doll Eyes, Flail, Flame Charge, Healing Wish, Howl, Hypnosis, Memento, Roar.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 25% male, 75% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 190 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Speed effort value.
• Base experience yield: 60.

Pokédex entries

In its belly burns a fire, which Vulpix spits out in the form of fireballs. When young, this Pokémon has but one white tail. As the Pokémon matures, this single tail splits into six. (Legends: Arceus)

As each tail grows, its fur becomes more lustrous. When held, it feels slightly warm. (Black 2, White 2, Shield)

While young, it has six gorgeous tails. When it grows, several new tails are sprouted. (FireRed, Y, Sword)

Both its fur and its tails are beautiful. As it grows, the tails split and form more tails. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)

It manipulates balls of fire to catch its prey. If you raise one from when it's young, it will grow close to you like a puppy Pokémon. (Ultra Moon)

Its beautiful tails have made it very popular. However, if it's not brushed diligently, it will be a mass of tangles before you know it. (Ultra Sun)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Shortest Fire type in Gen 1: 0.6 m, shared with 1 other.
• Lowest base stat total among Fire types in Gen 1: 299.
• Taller than 25% of all Pokémon (0.6 m).
• Heavier than 27% of all Pokémon (9.9 kg).
• Base stat total 299, ranked #880 of 1,025.
• One of 81 Fire-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 147 brown Pokémon.
• Number 37 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 55 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 190: about 24.8% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 17 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Vulpix (Pokémon), Serebii: Vulpix (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (VUL-piks): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Fire-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Flash Fire ability · Drought ability · Compare Vulpix · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 1 Fire-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Brown Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with V · What does the Fire Stone evolve? · What does the Ice Stone evolve? · Fox Pokémon

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