Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Kecleon is a monotype normal Pokemon. It is a standalone Pokemon which means that it does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. Kecleon is classified by the Pokedex as the “Color Swap Pokemon” which indicates its general design as a chameleon. This guide will showcase Kecleon’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime and other general facts about Kecleon.
About Kecleon
As a generation three Pokemon, Kecleon first appeared in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime in the episode The Kecleon Caper. A pair of Kecleon appeared in this episode under two trainers named Madison and Alexa, who attempted to foil Team Rocket’s plans. The Pokedex mentions that Kecleon can change the color of its body to match with its surroundings, but the stripe on its belly does not change.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire The Kecleon Caper |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire |
| Region | Hoenn |
| Evolution | Not known to evolve from or into any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | N/A |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Kecleon alters its body coloration to blend in with its surroundings, allowing it to sneak up on its prey unnoticed. Then it lashes out with its long, stretchy tongue to instantly ensnare the unsuspecting target. |
Kecleon Base Stats
| HP | 60 |
| ATTACK | 90 |
| DEFENCE | 70 |
| SP. ATTACK | 60 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 120 |
| SPEED | 40 |
| TOTAL | 440 |
Appearance
Kecleon is a bipedal, green Pokémon that resembles a chameleon. While it can change color at whim, it is typically green with a red stripe on its belly and yellow trimmings around its face. There is a small ridge on its back and it also has a long skinny tail that is usually curled tightly in a spiral. The hands and feet have three short digits each, and it has yellow claws. Kecleon is average sized for a Pokemon at 3 feet and 3 inches, or 1 meter, tall.
Behavior
Both in game and in the anime, Kecleon is able to camouflage into the environment almost perfectly. However, it is unable to change the color of its red stripe. Kecleon is an emotional Pokemon and its color can change based on its mood and health, darkening in color with better health. The Pokedex mentions that Kecleon uses camouflage to appear almost invisible, and then it sneaks up on prey and ensnares it with its long pink tongue. Kecleon can commonly be found in tropical and temperate climates.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Kecleon has a surprising amount of defensive stats as its special defense can hold up to some of the stronger defensive Pokemon. However, its health pool is low and with moderate offensive stats, it can have difficulty finding success in battle. Be prepared for its physical attacks and try to use physical attacks yourself to knock out Kecleon. As a monotype normal Pokemon, Kecleon takes 2x damage from fighting type moves. It is immune to ghost type moves but has no resistances to any other type in the game.
Best Moveset
With Kecleon’s strange ability choices, it can be difficult to plan around a good moveset for Kecleon. A typical build favored by players in competitive play uses an offensive Kecleon with a Life Orb, as a held item, trying to take advantage of its decent physical attack. With the Protean ability, any move that deals damage will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). Consider running Sucker Punch, Fire Blast, Grass Knot, and Knock Off/Iron Tail. Sucker Punch gives you the potential to outplay your opponents and Fire Blast, Grass Knot, Knock Off/Iron Tail are all used for type coverage options.
| Sucker Punch | Fire Blast |
| Grass Knot | Knock Off/Iron Tail |
How to Catch Kecleon in Pokemon Go?
Unfortunately, Kecleon is not available for capture in Pokemon Go and there is no official stated reason why Kecleon has yet to appear in the game. The developers likely have a special event in mind for Kecleon and have not been able to release it into the game yet. Kecleon has appeared as a part of an event, however, any Kecleon you caught ended up just being Ditto instead. Until Kecleon is released into the game, we will not know for sure if it will appear as a raid boss, if it can be hatched from eggs, or if it can be found in the wild. Since it does not evolve, you can save any candies you end up with for powering up your Kecleon.
Trivia
- Kecleon was the first Pokemon in the anime to showcase a Pokemon’s ability.
- The inspiration for Kecleon’s design is likely based on a chameleon, specifically the veiled chameleon.
- The name Kecleon is a combination of the Japanese word kakureru (to hide) and the word chameleon.
FAQ
Is Kecleon available in Pokemon Go?
Kecleon is not currently available for capture in Pokemon Go. Despite being a generation three Pokemon, it is still not available in game. It is likely that the developers have something special in mind for Kecleon but have not been able to implement it quite yet. Eventually, Pokemon Go will feature every Pokemon in the franchise. Until then, we will just have to wait.
Is Kecleon a Legendary Pokemon?
Only one thing about Kecleon classifies it as a legendary Pokemon. A legendary Pokemon cannot be encountered more than once per save file, cannot be bred at a Pokemon Daycare, and they do not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. While Kecleon is a standalone Pokemon, it does not satisfy the other qualifiers for being a legendary Pokemon.
Does Kecleon evolve?
Kecleon is a standalone Pokemon and does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. There is no level threshold, no evolution stone, or no other evolution mechanic that can get Kecleon to evolve. It simply has no other form to evolve from or into and the only way for Kecleon to get stronger is to get leveled up.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Color Swap Pokemon”. While Kecleon has not made the largest impact on competitive play, it is a remarkable Pokemon thanks to its unique abilities. Kecleon can deal a surprising amount of damage and is capable of taking many different special attacks. Reserve a slot on your team for Kecleon to have a Pokemon that can change its type.
