Introduced in generation three with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Trapinch is a monotype ground Pokemon. It is the base evolution of Flygon and will evolve into Vibrava after reaching the level threshold. Trapinch is known as the “Ant Pit” Pokemon which likely comes from its real life counterpart, the antlion. This guide will showcase Trapinch’s capability in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Trapinch.
About Trapinch
Released in generation three, Trapinch is a monotype ground Pokemon that gains the dragon typing as it evolves. Trapinch will evolve into Vibrava at level 35 and then into Flygon at level 45. It made its first appearances in the Ruby and Sapphire season of the anime with the episode Beg, Burrow, and Steal. As a base evolution Trapinch may not be the most powerful Pokemon, but it does have one of the highest base attack stats of any base evolution Pokemon. The Pokedex also states that its jaws are capable of munching through boulders.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Beg, Burrow, and Steal |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire |
| Region | Hoenn |
| Evolution | Base form of Flygon, evolves into Vibrava |
| 1st Evo level | 35 |
| 2nd Evo level | 45 |
| Pokedex Entry | Trapinch's nest is a sloped, bowl-like pit dug in sand. This Pokémon patiently waits for prey to tumble down the pit. Its giant jaws have enough strength to crush even boulders. |
Trapinch Base Stats
| HP | 45 |
| ATTACK | 100 |
| DEFENCE | 45 |
| SP. ATTACK | 45 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 45 |
| SPEED | 10 |
| TOTAL | 290 |
Appearance
Trapinch is a large insectoid Pokemon with an orange body and a white underside with small star shaped pupils and a jaw that makes up most of its large head. Trapinch wanders around on four legs and the Pokedex states that it can have trouble flipping itself back upright if it ever falls or lands on its back. Despite its rather large jaw, it is relatively small at only 2 feet and 4 inches, or 0.7 meters, tall.
Behavior
Trapinch is likely based on the real life insect, antlion. They burrow small pits in sand and attempt to capture smaller prey like ants. While Trapinch is never shown tunneling pits for catching prey, the Pokedex verifies this behavior. It supposedly creates an inescapable conical pit and lies at the bottom waiting for prey to come tumbling down. Trapinch is also hunted by Sandiles which is interesting considering both of their final evolutions will hunt for prey together.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution, Trapinch does not have too much to offer in terms of battle capabilities. It does have an impressive physical attack stat despite it being only a base evolution. That being said, Trapinch is very slow and will likely never move first without a priority move or Trick Room in effect. As a monotype ground Pokemon, Trapinch is weak to water, grass and ice type moves but is immune to electric types while it resists poison and rock type moves.
Best Moveset
Trapinch can see play in competitive formats but it is strictly limited to LC (Little Cup) brackets where the Pokemon are base evolutions. With Arena Trap as its ability you can prevent your opponents from switching out, unless they are flying, which means you can disable your opponent’s Pokemon without worrying. Running moves like Earthquake, Feint, Rock Slide, and Toxic can ensure that your Trapinch does well. Earthquake benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), Feint can go through Protect moves, Rock Slide can hit both slots of your opponent’s field and Toxic can synergize well with Arena Trap.
| Earthquake | Rock Slide |
| Feint | Toxic |
How to Catch Trapinch in Pokemon Go
If you want to catch a Trapinch in Pokemon Go, it is possible but tough as they are relatively rare and your best bet would be to search in the wild for a spawn eventually. Search near open fields, beaches, ditches, and airports to have the best chance of Trapinch spawning naturally. They can also hatch from 10 km eggs if you would like to increase your odds. Unfortunately, it does not seem like Trapinch has appeared as a raid boss in the past so you will have to do it the old fashioned way. In order to evolve your Trapinch you will need 25 Trapinch candies to evolve into Vibrava, and another 100 to evolve into Flygon.
Video
Trivia
- Of the three Pokemon in Trapinch’s evolution line, Trapinch is the only one with access to a hidden ability: Sheer Force.
- Of all the ground type Pokemon in the game, Trapinch has the lowest base speed stat.
- The name Trapinch is a portmanteau of the words trap and pinch.
FAQ
What Level does Trapinch Evolve?
Trapinch will evolve into Vibrava once it reaches level 35 and it does not need any special conditions in order to evolve either. You just need to hit the level threshold and allow the evolution animation to complete. To evolve your Vibrava into Flygon, you just need to reach level 45.
How good is Flygon?
Flygon is a solid Pokemon, especially in the older generations. It unfortunately did not age well and is often outclassed by newer Pokemon. Despite this, it is a perfect fit for casual play and has some success in its respective brackets during competitive battles. Flygon is also capable of learning a variety of moves, which makes it great for covering problematic types in your team.
Is Flygon Legendary?
While Flygon is a good Pokemon, it is not classified as a legendary Pokemon. It is not the mascot of Ruby and Sapphire and it can still be left at daycare for eggs. Flygon is not a legendary Pokemon by definition or battle capability although its lore may lead you to believe it is a legendary Pokemon. However, it is simply available in the wild which makes it a popular pick for casual playthroughs.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Ant Pit Pokemon”. Trapinch is quite powerful for a base evolution with its attack stat high enough to outmatch even fully evolved Pokemon. Most of its strength is better translated through Flygon, but its abilities along with its respectable stats are enough to warrant viability in competitive formats.
