Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Aipom is a monotype normal type. It is the base evolution of Ambipom and will evolve when leveled with the move Double Hit. Aipom is classified by the Pokedex as the “Long Tail Pokedex” which may be a nod to its general design. This guide will showcase Aipom’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in battle, as well as other general facts about Aipom.
About Aipom
While Aipom was released with generation two, it appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode Slaking Kong!. It appeared as one of Ash’s Pokemon, but was eventually traded to Dawn for her Buizel. Aipom is the base evolution of its two stage evolution line and will evolve into Ambipom when leveled with the move Double Hit learned. The Pokedex mentions Aipom’s tail is as functional as a human hand.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Slaking Kong! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Evolves into Ambipom when leveled with Double Hit, not known to evolve from any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | Evolves when leveled up knowing the move Double Hit |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Aipom's tail ends in a hand-like appendage that can be cleverly manipulated. However, because the Pokémon uses its tail so much, its real hands have become rather clumsy. |
Aipom Base Stats
| HP | 55 |
| ATTACK | 70 |
| DEFENCE | 55 |
| SP. ATTACK | 40 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 55 |
| SPEED | 85 |
| TOTAL | 360 |
Appearance
Aipom is a purple and yellow, monkey-like Pokemon. Most of its body is purple but the end of its tail, its feet, stomach, and face are yellow. It has two black eyes with white pupils and almost always has a wide smile on its face. There is also a small tuft of fur on top of Aipom’s head and its long tail ends with a three fingered hand. Aipom is a somewhat small Pokemon at 2 feet and 7 inches, or 0.8 meters, tall.
Behavior
The tail at the end of Aipom’s base is nimble and is more capable than its own hands. Its tail can be used to swing from branches much like a real-life monkey, but its hands are more clumsy as a result. Aipom is known to hang from a branch from its tail, often up to mischief or able to pick fruit. The Pokedex mentions the habitats that Aipom lives in as well as how Aipom’s tail is more capable than its hands. Aipom’s favorite food is berries.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As the base evolution Pokemon in its evolution line, Aipom does not have many strengths. It is somewhat fast for a base evolution Pokemon, but it does not have many relevant stats. Its defensive stats are subpar and its special attack is much weaker than its physical attack. As a monotype normal Pokemon, Aipom takes 2x damage from fighting type moves. It is immune to ghost type moves, but will not resist any type in the franchise.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution Pokemon, Aipom is exclusively limited to the LC (Little Cup) brackets of competitive play. In this format it only needs to fight against other base evolution Pokemon which can make it easier for Aipom to succeed in battle. With the Skill Link ability, it can function as an offensive Pokemon. Consider running Fury Swipes, Knock Off, Brick Break/Fire Punch, and Fake Out/Seed Bomb. Fury Swipes synergizes with its Skill Link Ability, Knock Off can remove problematic items, Brick Break/Fire Punch are for type coverage, and Fake Out/Seed Bomb are interchangeable depending on whether you prefer a defensive move or more type coverage options.
| Fury Swipes | Knock Off |
| Brick Break/Fire Punch | Fake Out/Seed Bomb |
How to Catch Aipom in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain an Aipom in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. You can find Aipom spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near residential areas, universities, college campuses, and parking lots. Aipom can also be hatched from 2 and 5 km eggs, and you can also find Aipom as a tier two raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. Aipom requires 100 candies as well as a Sinnoh Stone in order to evolve into Ambipom.
Trivia
- Clemont has a gadget that resembles Aipom’s tail called Aipom Arm.
- The inspiration for Aipom seems to be based on a generic New World Monkey.
- The name Aipom is a combination of the words ape and palm.
Explainer Video
FAQ
What attacks does Aipom have?
There are not many moves that Aipom can learn naturally through leveling up. The best moves to concern yourself with involve Baton Pass, Fury Swipes, and Agility. The other moves require TMs/HMs, move tutors, or are learned through breeding. You will want to prioritize moves that hit multiple times due to its Skill Link ability.
How can Aipom evolve?
Starting from generation four, Aipom will evolve into Ambipom once it is leveled while knowing the move Double Hit. After the Aipom is leveled with this move learned, it will begin to evolve into Ambipom. You will just need to allow the evolution animation to finish playing without pressing the “B” button.
Is Aipom rare in Pokemon Go?
Aipom can be obtained through regular means in Pokemon Go. You can find it in the wild, hatch it from 2 and 5 km eggs, and encounter Aipom as a tier two raid boss. While it tends to be more rare than other normal type Pokemon, it is not nearly as exclusive as evolved Pokemon or dragon type Pokemon.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Long Tail Pokemon”. While Aipom’s usability is tied to its ability Skill Link, it can function as a powerful Little Cup offensive Pokemon. Aipom luckily received an evolution in generation four which makes it much more powerful. Because of its ability, decent speed stat, and its ability to evolve, it is a Pokemon worth investing in. Reserve a slot on your team for Aipom if you want a hard hitting normal type Pokemon.
