The Pokémon of June 3rd, 2025 is…
#264 Linoone
“Linoone (Japanese: マッスグマ Massuguma) is a Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation III.
It evolves from Zigzagoon starting at level 20.
In Galar, Linoone has a dual-type Dark/Normal regional form. It evolves from Galarian Zigzagoon starting at level 20 and evolves into Obstagoon when leveled up starting at level 35 during the night. Hoennian Linoone is not known to evolve into any other Pokémon.
Linoone is a slender-bodied, quadrupedal Pokémon. Most of its fur is colored tan, but it has several brown stripes. One long stripe stretches the length of its body before ending in an arrowhead shape on its forehead. There are additional stripes on each side of its bushy tail and on its cheeks. It has sharp, elongated claws and small pointed teeth. It has small, tuft-like ears, long cheek fur, and blue eyes.
Linoone can run up to 60 miles per hour, but it can only run in a straight line, and has to stop before it can make a turn. Because of this behavior, it often fails to catch prey, and struggles on roads that are curving or winding. When it sees prey underwater in ponds, it leaps in and uses its razor-sharp claws to catch and take it down. Linoone’s fur is strong and supple, and the shed hairs are used to make high-quality shaving brushes. As shown in the Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episode Showdown at Linoone, Linoone has an attraction to anything round and will grab any orb-shaped object it sees if given the chance. It often carries a snatched object in its expandable cheek pouches and deposits it in any of a number of secret stashes it keeps on its territory. Linoone tends to live in grasslands.
Linoone’s appearance may be a cross between the European or Japanese badger and a member of the weasel and/or ferret family, or it may possibly be based on the ferret-badger or striped polecat. It also shares the same color scheme of tanuki. The word tanuki is used for both badgers and raccoon dogs in Japan, depending on the region. This may be the inspiration behind its mixture of traits, having similarities to both species. Its stripes slightly resemble flames and lightning, which may be a reference to race cars, who typically use these patterns on their vehicles for show. Linoone may also be based on the legendary Kamaitachi, which is usually depicted as lightning-fast weasels who wield razor-sharp claws which tear into their victims. There is a arrow symbol on its head which alludes to its tendecy to run in a straight line. Linoone’s obsession with round objects may be inspired by the Ramidreju, a long, weasel-like creature who has a desire for gold; or by the tanuki’s association with gold.
Galarian Linoone appears to be more explicitly based on European badgers. Taking its evolved form Obstagoon under consideration, Galarian Linoone’s color scheme, pointed tongue, and star marking around its eyes may also be inspired by Glam rock bands.
Linoone’s evolutionary line shares a common theme of movement where Zigzagoon moves in a zigzag pattern, Linoone moves in a straight line, and Obstagoon blocks the way by obstructing it. This may be a reference to badgers’ behaviour of habitually following the same foraging routes, leading to the formation of trodden paths.“-Bulbapedia.
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