Koffing is a poison-type Pokemon that was introduced within the original games, also known as Generation one, which evolves into Weezing from at level 35. While it has an overall simple design, this simpleness, as well as its clear focus on pollution has made Koffing an iconic Pokemon. So much so, that its evolution Weezing has a new Galarian form, the only poison and psychic-type Pokemon in the game, Galarian Weezing.
About Koffing
| First appearance in anime | Original Series |
| First appearance in game | Red, Blue, and Yellow |
| Region | Kanto |
| Evolution | -->Weezing |
| 1st Evo level | 35 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Because it stores several kinds of toxic gases in its body, it is prone to exploding without warning. |
Koffing Base stats
| HP | 40 |
| ATTACK | 65 |
| DEFENCE | 95 |
| SP. ATTACK | 60 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 45 |
| SPEED | 35 |
| TOTAL | 340 |
Appearance
Koffing is a spherical Pokemon filled with poison gas with hollow eyes and a wide mouth. Its upper jaw usually has two fangs but a large number of teeth have been seen in the anime. Beneath his face is a cream-colored skull and crossbones mark. It has several geyser-shaped bumps that often release mustard-colored gas that covers the body of this Pokemon.
Behavior
Koffing's purple skin is very thin, and over-inflation can cause it to burst and the several geyser-shaped bumps on its body often release mustard-colored gas that covers the body of this Pokemon. Koffing produces gas in the body by mixing toxins and garbage, and produces more gas at higher temperatures. These gases are very smelly and can cause colds, coughs and tears in people around. Gas is also lighter than air, allowing Koffing to float. When stimulated, it produces a more toxic gas and expels it through its geyser-like holes. As shown in the Pokemon anime, Koffing's gas is flammable and can be ignited by fire or electricity. It feeds on the smoke of raw and rotting garbage in gas dumps and polluted air. Because of the factories throughout Galar, Koffing used to be very common in the region with it most common in urban areas.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Koffing has an especially high defence stat, but its speed is lower than average. As a poison-type, Koffing is weak to ground and psychic-types and is resistant to fighting, poison, bug, grass, and fairy-types. However, a Koffing with the ability Levitate has fewer weaknesses because the ability gives it an immunity to ground-types, leaving it with only one weakness.
Galarian Koffing
Koffing itself remains in its Kantonian form in the Galar region, but evolves into the first fairy and poison-type Pokemon, Galarian Weezing starting at level 35. Galarian Weezing is a version of Weezing which has changed due to the absorption of polluted air from the factories within the region. It has a gray body, and the skull, crossbones and ring have all turned yellow. There is a tophat-shaped tube above the two heads, which can continuously release purified air. You can see five clouds of green poisonous gas floating around it. The larger head has a cloud-like beard while the smaller head is covered with clouds in the form of eyebrows and beards. Galarian Weezing consumes particles in the polluted air and its exhaust clean air instead of feces. The toxins in Weezing's body gathered into a cluster of poisonous gas, seeping and drifting around him. Toxic gas is Weezing's best weapon in battle, because it is powerful enough to stun and make the opponent immobile with one spray. Galarian Weezing feeds on the steam produced by Trubbish.
Best moveset
A Koffing with the ability Levitate is most useful due to it causing Koffing to be immune to ground-types, leaving it with only one weakness. Most of Koffing’s best moves focus on continuous damage by using status effects such as burning or poisoning. Will-O-Wisp burns physical threats, and its continuous damage is almost always helpful over time. Pain Split is Koffing's only way to restore HP and while this is not the most reliable method for healing, Pain Split’s ability to heal Koffing while damaging enemies proves to be very useful. Sludge Bomb has good damage ability as Koffing’s best STAB (same-type attack bonus) move and has a 30% chance of causing poisoning. Finally, Fire Blast can help with type coverage, notably for steel-types who are hard to damage with poison.
| Will-O-Wisp | Pain Split |
| Sludge Bomb | Fire Blast |
How to catch Koffing in Pokemon Go?
As a poison type, Koffing can be found near ponds, marshes, lakes, cities, parks, and industrial areas. It can also be found more often during cloudy weather. Its Galar form evolution, Galarian Weezing is a three-star raid boss. Koffing evolves into Weezing with 50 candy, but it cannot currently be evolved into Galarian Weezing.
Trivia
- Koffing was originally known as "Ny" in the Pokemon Red and Blue Beta, representing New York City's polluted air
- Koffing was supposedly first discovered in a public bathhouse according to a question from a Pokemon Exam the characters of the anime participated in. However, in the Team Rocket expansion's Koffing card, it states that Koffing was first discovered in a weapons factory. This may be either because Jessie answered the question incorrectly in the anime, or due to an inconsistency between the TCG and anime.
- Koffing and Munna are the only Pokémon whose names are mentioned in music found in the games with Koffing's Japanese name being heard in タチワキジム(演奏・DOGARS) Virbank Gym (Performance - KOFFING), although it is replaced with the word "Pokemon" in international releases.
- Koffing shares similar traits to Grimer and Trubbish: all three Pokemon are pure poison-type Pokemon with a single evolved form, roughly the same base stat totals and evolution levels, and all appear to be based on a different kind of pollution (with Koffing being based on air pollution)
- Koffing and its evolved Kantonian form are the only Pokemon who had their Abilities changed in Generation VIII, since in previous generations, their only Ability was Levitate
- Due to its ability to float, and its tendency to explode, Koffing may have been based upon a floating naval mine or living meteorite due to its appearance
- Koffing may also be based on the imagined fear that heavy pollution, caused by the leakage and/or improper disposal of toxic/radioactive waste, could result in the creation of new lifeforms due to Koffing’s inspiration coming from a living representation of smog and other forms of air pollution
- The skull and crossbones symbol under Koffing’s face is a reference to the real world toxic hazard symbol
- Koffing is a combination of corruption (the process by which something is changed from its original form to one that is regarded as erroneous or debased) and coughing (due to it being based on air pollution)
FAQs
Does Koffing always have Levitate?
Koffing, and its evolved Kantonian form, are the only Pokemon who had their Abilities changed in Generation VIII, as compared to the previous generations. Their only Ability was Levitate but after generation VIII, Koffing can also have Neutralizing Gas or Stench as abilities.
How do you evolve Koffing into Galarian Weezing?
If a Koffing is caught or bred from parents native to the Galar region, it will grow into Weezing's Galarian form after being leveled up past level 35.
What is the weakness of Koffing?
Koffing is weak to ground and psychic-types due to being a poison-type, but a Koffing with the ability Levitate has an immunity to ground-types, leaving it only weak to psychic-types.
What is Koffing’s hidden ability?
Koffing’s hidden ability is Stench, which gives a 10% chance of making the target Pokemon flinch when hit by a damaging move used by Koffing.
Conclusion
While Koffing itself may not be the strongest poison-type Pokemon before its evolution into Weezing, Koffing has an iconic design and diverse moveset which have made it a memorable staple of poison-type Pokemon and of the Pokemon series as a whole.
