Introduced in generation three, with the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games, Zangoose is a monotype normal Pokemon. It is a standalone Pokemon which means that it does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. Zangoose is classified by the Pokedex as the “Cat Ferret Pokemon” which is a nod to its general appearance. This guide will showcase Zangoose’s appearances in the anime, its capabilities in battle, as well as other general facts about Zangoose.
About Zangoose
As a generation three Pokemon, Zangoose first appeared in the anime with the Ruby and Sapphire season in the episode ZigZag Zangoose. This episode featured the natural rivalry between Zangoose and Seviper. While Zangoose does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon, it is the counterpart to Seviper as they were both exclusive to their own Generation three game (Zangoose in Ruby and Seviper in Sapphire). The Pokedex mentions that Zangoose’s rivalry with Seviper has a long history and both Pokemon share a hatred of the other.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire ZigZag Zangoose |
| 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 | Memories of battling its arch-rival Seviper are etched into every cell of Zangoose's body. This Pokémon adroitly dodges attacks with incredible agility. |
Zangoose Base Stats
| HP | 73 |
| ATTACK | 115 |
| DEFENCE | 60 |
| SP. ATTACK | 60 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 60 |
| SPEED | 90 |
| TOTAL | 458 |
Appearance
As Zangoose’s epithet implies, it appears to be a mix between a cat and a ferret. It will typically walk on four legs while in battle, but is often depicted standing upright on two legs. Most of Zangoose’s body is white with red markings over its left ear, front legs, along its mid-riff and over its left eye. There are two long black claws at the end of Zangoose’s front legs and it is at an average height for a Pokemon at 4 feet and 3 inches, or 1.3 meters, tall.
Behavior
A lot of Zangoose’s appearances are alongside its counterpart Seviper and the bitter rivalry between the two Pokemon. While the rivalry is never fully explained, it appears that the history of the two Pokemon date back for generations. This rivalry can also help players remember that Zangoose is exclusive to Ruby and Seviper is exclusive to Sapphire as much of the media surrounding these two Pokemon show their hatred of the other.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a standalone Pokemon, Zangoose seems very powerful in the early game, but will begin to lose to fully evolved Pokemon in terms of base stats. It has a high physical attack stat along with a respectable speed stat which makes it a strong offensive threat. As a normal type Pokemon, Zangoose will only take 2x damage from fighting type moves. It is immune to ghost type moves, but has no resistances to any other type in the franchise.
Best Moveset
Zangoose has not had the biggest impact on competitive play and is typically seen near the bottom of competitive formats. However, it has high offensive capabilities and can quickly sweep a team if built correctly. A Toxic Orb, as a held item, along with the Toxic Boost ability can ensure that every hit Zangoose connects with will likely be a One Hit KO. Consider running Facade, Knock Off, Close Combat, and Quick Attack. Facade will capitalize off of Toxic Orb while also benefiting from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), Knock Off can deal with problematic held items, Close Combat is for type coverage, and Quick Attack can give your Zangoose a priority move option.
| Facade | Knock Off |
| Close Combat | Quick Attack |
How to Catch Zangoose in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Zangoose in Pokemon Go, there are a few ways to do so. You can encounter a Zangoose in the wild just about anywhere but there is a boosted spawn rate near residential areas like universities, parking lots, and other neighborhoods. Zangoose can also be hatched from 5 km eggs and you can also encounter it as a tier three raid boss in Pokemon Gyms. As Zangoose is a standalone Pokemon, any candies you find can be used for powering up your Zangoose rather than saving them for evolution.
Trivia
- Both Zangoose and Seviper are the only two Pokemon to share a total base stat of 458.
- The inspiration for Zangoose’s design likely comes from mongoose, which might also explain the rivalry between Zangoose and Seviper.
- The name Zangoose is a combination of the Chinese word san (cut down) and the English word mongoose.
Video
FAQ
Why does Seviper hate Zangoose?
The rivalry is likely inspired from mongoose and snakes in real life as a mongoose is often used to kill venomous snakes in real life. It is also a convenient way for the developers to provide exclusivity with the different games in the same generation providing different Pokemon encounters.
What does a Zangoose evolve from?
A Zangoose is a standalone Pokemon which means that it does not evolve from or into any other Pokemon. There is no Pokemon for Zangoose to evolve from and when you encounter a Zangoose you do not have to worry about collecting its pre-evolution or its final evolution. If you end up breeding Zangoose, the egg will hatch into a Zangoose.
Is Zangoose a good Pokemon?
Zangoose has a good base stat distribution for an offensive strategy. It can hit very hard with its high physical attack, but it is often held back by normal type moves with straightforward potential. In order to deal large amounts of damage, you will likely need to rely on Facade and a Toxic Orb held item. This combination can handle even the bulkiest Pokemon, but will chip away quickly at your Zangoose.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Cat Ferret Pokemon”. While Zangoose has not had the biggest impact on competitive play, it is still quite a powerful Pokemon. It is held back by its type and its limited selection of moves, but a well built Zangoose can easily handle many different strategies. Reserve a slot on your team for Zangoose if you want a Pokemon with a straightforward strategy and good offensive potential.
