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A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes, and I love Foongus.
The original Pokémon Red and Blue games, perhaps in a nod to the Capsule Corp from Dragon Ball, saw all items in the overworld represented by Pokéball-like sprites. This allowed them to add a mimic monster in the form of Voltorb and Electrode.
The fifth generation kept the Pokéball-esque sprites but, famously, 100% replaced the roster of monsters with a brand new Pokédex, at least for the duration of the main story. This allowed for the introduction of an all-new Pokéball monster, one that specifically works from the game’s overhead perspective. This version is reminiscent of a game which would have been very fresh in the memory of the developers of the original Red and Blue Pokémon games; the mushroom enemies in Super Mario RPG which disguise themselves as Mario’s health pick-up of choice.
Foongus is a grass and poison type Pokémon although, as with a couple of other grass types we’ve seen before, it’s based on a mushroom. Mushrooms are fungi, actually a completely different kingdom of life from plants, but in our ecosystem and our diets, they’re closer to plants than the others.
Black
It lures people in with its Poké Ball pattern, then releases poison spores. Why it resembles a Poké Ball is unknown.
White
For some reason, this Pokémon resembles a Poké Ball. They release poison spores to repel those who try to catch them.
Of course, we know in the real world that Foongus was created to resemble a Pokéball, but it doesn’t necessarily mean things happened that way around in the Pokémon World.
Scarlet
There is a theory that the developer of the modern-day Poké Ball really liked Foongus, but this has not been confirmed.
The name Foongus comes from Fungus, as this is one, perhaps combined with fool, as you are one for clicking on it. The Japanese name is Tamagetake, combining tama, ball, and a suffix used for many mushrooms, take, as in shiitake, while also being a pun on tamageru, to be surprised.
At level 39, which in keeping for Black and White’s high level thresholds is 9 levels higher than Voltorb, Foongus can evolve into Amoonguss.
Amoongus is a bigger, broader mushroom, still with a Pokéball design on its head, now with two arms as well, ending in two smaller pokéball patterned mitts.
Violet
Amoonguss mimics Poké Balls. It is not yet clear whether this mimicry is effective against other Pokémon.
Black
It lures prey close by dancing and waving its arm caps, which resemble Poké Balls, in a swaying motion.
White
They show off their Poké Ball caps to lure prey, but very few Pokémon are fooled by this.
Regardless of whether Amoonguss is able to fool anyone, it’s still dangerous.
Sword
This Pokémon puffs poisonous spores at its foes. If the spores aren't washed off quickly, they'll grow into mushrooms wherever they land.
Scarlet
Be wary of the poisonous spores it releases. Mushrooms resembling Amoonguss’s caps will grow out of anywhere the spores touch.
Amoonguss is infamous as a user of the move spore, which has a 100% success rate for putting opponents to sleep. Combined with bulky stats, the grass and poison typing which have few weaknesses, and the incredible ability Regenerator which recovers 1/3rd of the Pokémon’s health every time it switches out, Amoonguss is actually a really useful Pokémon in the competitive scene. So much so that an Amoonguss has been on the winning team of at least one age bracket at the world championships in six different years, a feat it shares with only one other Pokémon.
The name takes Foongus’ name and adds in a pun with the phrase “among us”, owing to the Pokémon’s sneaky behaviour. It may also incorporate humongous, owing to the Pokémon’s large size.
The Japanese name is Morobareru, meaning completely exposed. Perhaps this is meant to mock Amoonguss for no longer looking like a Pokéball, or perhaps it is to be shouted at the moment of reveal after a perfect disguise – like a “Ta-dah! It was me all along!”
As a big Dark Souls fan, I’ve always liked a good mimic enemy. Voltorb and Electrode, with their potential for exploding, were annoying examples but I have a lot of time for the Fungus Among Us, Foongus and Amoonguss.
Original music for Luke Loves Pokémon is by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork is by Katie Groves. Funding is provided by listeners at Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius. For just a dollar a month, supporters can listen to episodes a week early and also help cover hosting and fees, making it possible for me to keep making episodes every week.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch about upcoming Pokémon on twitter or facebook at LukeLovesPKMN. Drop a comment if you’re watching the video, or a review on apple podcasts or spotify. Coming up are Frillish and Alomomola, so please get in touch about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Foongus. And remember, I love you too.