Whirlipede
Whirlipede is a Bug/Poison-type Pokémon, the Curlipede Pokémon, number 544 (#0544) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 58.5 kg.
Whirlipede is the Curlipede Pokémon, a Bug and Poison pupa that sits motionless like a spiked purple tyre while it stores energy to evolve. Provoke it and it spins like a wheel at a top speed of just over 100 km/h (60 mph), the Sword Pokédex says.
How to pronounce Whirlipede
Whirlipede is pronounced WUR-lih-peed. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Whirlipede said out loud:
In Japanese it is ホイーガ (Wheega).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Whirlipede's body is a hard, segmented purple shell, 1.2 m long and 58.5 kg, with a red ring around the centre of each segment and two poisonous barbs flanking each one. Two pairs of striped feelers stick out of the front and rear. Its slit-pupilled eyes peer out from the open centre of the shell.
Behaviour
It is usually motionless and well known for its aggressive temper. When attacked, the Pokédex says, it rotates at high speed and crashes into its opponent, and when predators approach it stabs them with poison spikes.
Habitat
Its Pokédex entries give no habitat. In the games it lives in Pinwheel Forest and Lostlorn Forest in Unova, and it appears in Max Raid Battles in the Fields of Honor on the Isle of Armor.
Powers
Whirlipede's Abilities are Poison Point and Swarm, with Speed Boost hidden. It learns Iron Defense as it evolves and later Poison Tail, Venoshock, Toxic and Agility, with Rollout and Take Down to suit its wheel shape. Its base Defense of 99 is the highest of any Poison type in Generation V.
Name origin
Whirlipede may combine 'whirl' with 'centipede' or 'millipede'. The Japanese name is Wheega (ホイーガ), possibly from 'wheel' and iga, a word for sphere.
Design inspiration
Whirlipede may draw on centipedes and on pill millipedes, which curl into a ball when in danger, and it also resembles a rubber tyre, according to Bulbapedia. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Whirlipede evolves from Venipede at level 22 and into Scolipede at level 30.
In the games
Gym Leader Burgh uses a Whirlipede in the Castelia Gym of Black and White, and Roxie uses one in her Virbank Gym battle in Black 2 and White 2. It is unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet. In Legends: Z-A it is in the Bleu District's Wild Zone 5 and the Jaune District's Wild Zone 15, and the Mega Dimension DLC adds Hyperspace Lumiose.
In the anime
Burgh's Whirlipede debuted in 'Battling For The Love of Bug-Types!', where Ash's newly evolved Swadloon beat it in their Gym battle. In 'A Restoration Confrontation! Part 2', a group of wild Whirlipede went after Ash, Ferris and the Tirtouga Ferris had befriended.
Fun facts
- Its base stat total is exactly 360, and Bulbapedia suggests that, like Spinda's, it may nod to the 360 degrees of a full spin.
- The Whirlipede in Roxie's Gym battle in Black 2 and White 2 is under-levelled on every difficulty mode, according to Bulbapedia, since Venipede only becomes Whirlipede at level 22.
- In Pokémon Conquest, Whirlipede evolves into Scolipede once its Speed reaches 57.
Base stats
- HP: 40
- Attack: 55
- Defense: 99
- Sp. Atk: 40
- Sp. Def: 79
- Speed: 47
Whirlipede’s base stat total is 360. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Whirlipede weak to?
Whirlipede takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Flying (2×), Psychic (2×), Rock (2×) moves.
It resists Grass (¼×), Fighting (¼×), Poison (½×), Bug (½×), Fairy (½×).
Evolution
What does Whirlipede evolve from?
Whirlipede evolves from Venipede at level 22.
How does Whirlipede evolve?
Whirlipede evolves into Scolipede at level 30.
The whole family: Venipede, Whirlipede, Scolipede.
Abilities
- Poison Point: Has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact.
- Swarm: Strengthens Bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
- Speed Boost (hidden ability): Raises Speed one stage after each turn.
Moves
Moves Whirlipede learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo | Iron Defense | Steel | Status | — |
| 1 | Iron Defense | Steel | Status | — |
| 1 | Poison Sting | Poison | Physical | 15 |
| 1 | Defense Curl | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Rollout | Rock | Physical | 30 |
| 1 | Protect | Normal | Status | — |
| 12 | Poison Tail | Poison | Physical | 50 |
| 16 | Screech | Normal | Status | — |
| 20 | Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 |
| 26 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 |
| 32 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 |
| 38 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — |
| 44 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — |
| 50 | Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — |
| 56 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 |
“Evo” means Whirlipede learns the move the moment it evolves: Iron Defense.
TM moves (24)
Whirlipede can learn 24 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Pin Missile, Solar Beam, Screech, Rest, Snore, Protect, Attract, Sunny Day, Facade, Payback, Venoshock, Round, Hex, Agility, Substitute, Sludge Bomb, Spikes, Endure, Sleep Talk, Iron Defense, Gyro Ball, Toxic Spikes, Poison Jab, Venom Drench.
Egg moves (2), which Venipede can hatch knowing:Bite, Fury Cutter.
Move tutor moves (2): Skitter Smack, Steel Roller.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Bug.
- Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
- Catch rate: 120 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
- Base experience yield: 126.
Pokédex entries
Whirlipede protects itself with a sturdy shell and poisonous spikes while it stores up the energy it'll need for evolution. (Shield)
This Pokémon spins itself rapidly and charges into its opponents. Its top speed is just over 60 mph. (Sword)
It is usually motionless, but when attacked, it rotates at high speed and then crashes into its opponent. (White, Y, Alpha Sapphire)
Protected by a hard shell, it spins its body like a wheel and crashes furiously into its enemies. (Black, X, Omega Ruby)
Storing energy for evolution, it sits. But, when predators approach, it moves to stab them with poison spikes. (Black 2, White 2)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ホイーガ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Wheega |
| French | Scobolide |
| German | Rollum |
| Spanish | Whirlipede |
| Italian | Whirlipede |
| Korean | 휠구 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 车轮球 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 車輪毬 |
Trivia
- Highest Defense among Poison types in Gen 5: 99.
- Taller than 58% of all Pokémon (1.2 m).
- Heavier than 71% of all Pokémon (58.5 kg).
- Base stat total 360, ranked #684 of 1,025.
- One of 12 Pokémon that are both Bug and Poison.
- One of 107 gray Pokémon.
- Number 51 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 36 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 5 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: Whirlipede (Pokémon), Serebii: Whirlipede (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex), Bulbapedia: Burgh, Bulbapedia: Roxie.
- Pronunciation (WUR-lih-peed): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Bug-type Pokémon · Poison-type Pokémon · Bug/Poison weaknesses and matchups · Unova region guide · Poison Point ability · Swarm ability · Speed Boost ability · Compare Whirlipede · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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