Tympole (Pokémon)

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Pokémon

#536: Palpitoad →

Tympole オタマロ Otamaro #535 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Water Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Abilities Swift Swim or Hydration Cacophony Cacophony Water Absorb Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Unknown 50% male, 50% female	Catch rate 255 (43.9%)
Breeding Egg Group Water 1 Hatch time 21 cycles
Height 1'08" 0.5 m Tympole 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 9.9 lbs. 4.5 kg Tympole 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield Unknown Gen. IV Unknown IV 59	Leveling rate Medium Slow
EV yield Total: 1 Tympole 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 1 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Blue	Base friendship 70
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Tympole (Japanese: オタマロ Otamaro) is a Water-type Pokémon.

It evolves into Palpitoad starting at level 25, which evolves into Seismitoad starting at level 36.

Biology

Tympole is a round, tadpole-like Pokémon with a tan, circular face. It has large, oval, black eyes, a wide mouth with down-turned corners, and black eyebrows in the shape of quarter notes. Its spherical body is black with no visible limbs. Instead, it has two black-and-blue ringed half-spheres on either side of its head. These spheres are vibrated to create a sound too high-pitched for humans to hear. The sounds are used in rhythm to communicate with others of its kind, particularly for warning of danger. It has a long, blue tail with a fan-like shape and a black spot at its base. The anime demonstrates that Tympole swims and attacks in groups.

In the anime

A school of Tympole in the anime.

Major appearances

Tympole made its debut in Facing Fear with Eyes Wide Open!, when a group of them attacked Oshawott under water, under the command of a wild Palpitoad. They were trying to prevent him from getting the medicine to cure the team from the poisoning several Foongus inflicted, but fled when Oshawott opened his eyes while using Razor Shell.

Minor appearances

A Tympole made a very minor cameo near the end of Beheeyem, Duosion, and the Dream Thief!.

Multiple Tympole appeared in Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice.

A Tympole appeared in a flashback in Drayden Versus Iris: Past, Present, and Future!.

In the manga

Tympole in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

N used a Tympole to battle Black in Accumula Town. It was eventually defeated by Black's Tep.

Pokédex entries

Manga Chapter Entry Pokémon Adventures Listening to Pokémon Tympole emits rhythmic subsonic sound waves by vibrating its cheeks. These waves can be used to communicate.

In the TCG

Main article: Tympole (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation V.
Generation V Black They warn others of danger by vibrating their cheeks to create a high-pitched sound. White By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans. It uses the rhythm of these sounds to talk. Black 2 By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans and warns others of danger. White 2
Generation VI X By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans and warns others of danger. Y By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans. It uses the rhythm of these sounds to talk. Omega Ruby By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans and warns others of danger. Alpha Sapphire By vibrating its cheeks, it emits sound waves imperceptible to humans. It uses the rhythm of these sounds to talk.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation V.
Generation V Black White Pinwheel Forest (outside) Black 2 White 2 Pinwheel Forest (outside) (N's Pokémon) Dream World Pleasant Forest*
Generation VI X Y Breed Palpitoad Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Routes 102, 114, and 117 (hidden Pokémon*)

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity	Stompstump Peak, Forest Grotto, Mountain Pass, Magnagate dungeons, Dreamy Island, Slumbering Cave, Silent Tundra (Mapless Street), Moonlit Forest (Golden Chamber), Path of No Return
Pokémon Rumble Blast	Lake: Sun-Dappled Bank, Shimmering Lake
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond	Arbor Area

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Black	White	Persim Berry (50%)
Black 2	White 2	Pecha Berry (50%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 50		110 - 157	210 - 304
Attack: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Defense: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Sp. Atk: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Sp. Def: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Speed: 64		62 - 127	119 - 249
Total: 294	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Notes: If this Pokémon has Water Absorb, the effectiveness of  Water-type  moves is 0×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation VI Other generations: V - VII - VIII - IX

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP   Contest   Appeal   Jamming  00Start Bubble Water Special 04040 100100% 30 Cute 4 ♥♥♥♥ 0   00Start Growl Normal Status 0000— 100100% 40 Cute 2 ♥♥ 0   055 Supersonic Normal Status 0000— 05555% 20 Clever 3 ♥♥♥ 0   099 Round Normal Special 06060 100100% 15 Beautiful 2 ♥♥ 0   1212 Bubble Beam Water Special 06565 100100% 20 Beautiful 2 ♥♥ 3 ♥♥♥ 1616 Mud Shot Ground Special 05555 09595% 15 Tough 4 ♥♥♥♥ 0   2020 Aqua Ring Water Status 0000— ——% 20 Beautiful 1 ♥ 0   2323 Uproar Normal Special 09090 100100% 10 Cute 2 ♥♥ 1 ♥ 2727 Muddy Water Water Special 09090 08585% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥ 2 ♥♥ 3131 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— ——% 5 Beautiful 1 ♥ 0   3434 Flail Normal Physical 0000— 100100% 15 Cute 1 ♥ 0   3838 Echoed Voice Normal Special 04040 100100% 15 Beautiful 3 ♥♥♥ 0   4242 Hydro Pump Water Special 110110 08080% 5 Beautiful 1 ♥ 0   4545 Hyper Voice Normal Special 09090 100100% 10 Cool 2 ♥♥ 2 ♥♥

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Tympole Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Tympole Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation VI Other generations: V - VII - VIII - IX

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP   Contest   Appeal   Jamming  TM06 Toxic Poison Status 0000— 090}}90% 10 TM07 Hail Ice Status 0000— —}}—% 10 TM10 Hidden Power Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15 TM17 Protect Normal Status 0000— —}}—% 10 TM18 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— —}}—% 5 TM21 Frustration Normal Physical 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM27 Return Normal Physical 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM32 Double Team Normal Status 0000— —}}—% 15 TM34 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100}}100% 10 TM36 Sludge Bomb Poison Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM42 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM44 Rest Psychic Status 0000— —}}—% 10 TM45 Attract Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 15 TM48 Round Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15 TM49 Echoed Voice Normal Special 04040 100}}100% 15 TM55 Scald Water Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM83 Infestation Bug Special 02020 100}}100% 20 TM87 Swagger Normal Status 0000— 090}}90% 15 TM88 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— —}}—% 10 TM90 Substitute Normal Status 0000— —}}—% 10 TM100 Confide Normal Status 0000— —}}—% 20 HM03 Surf Water Special 09090 100}}100% 15

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Tympole Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Tympole Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation VI Other generations: V - VII - VIII - IX

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP   Contest   Appeal   Jamming  After You* Normal Status — —% 15 Earth Power Ground Special 90 100% 10 Mist Ice Status — —% 30 Mud Bomb Ground Special 65 85% 10 Mud Sport Ground Status — —% 15 Refresh Normal Status — —% 20 Snore Normal Special 50 100% 15 Water Pulse Water Special 60 100% 20

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Tympole in Generation VI Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Tympole in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Tympole Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Tympole Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation VI Other generations: V - VII - VIII - IX

Game   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP   Contest   Appeal   Jamming  X Y OR AS After You Normal Status — —% 15 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Bounce Flying Physical 85 85% 5 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Earth Power Ground Special 90 100% 10 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Endeavor Normal Physical — 100% 5 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Hyper Voice Normal Special 90 100% 10 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Icy Wind Ice Special 55 95% 15 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Snore Normal Special 50 100% 15 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Uproar Normal Special 90 100% 10 Cool 0   0   X Y OR AS Water Pulse Water Special 60 100% 20 Cool 0   0

A black or white abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Tympole can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Tympole cannot be tutored the move in that game Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Tympole Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Tympole Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Trozei!  N/A  Not available
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 0% Friend Area: Beau Plains Phrases 51%-100% HP My HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP My HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP My HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up I leveled up. Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up I leveled up.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 0% IQ group: A
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Loops: 0 Min. exp.: 0 Max. exp.: 0 Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Normal  None Past ( Normal ) None Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ● Defense ● Speed ●●● Attack Not Available Defense Speed Attack Not Available Defense Speed Attack Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: Weak: PokéPark Pad entry: Magikarp bothers them, because he acts like a king. Seismitoad is the only idol for Tympole.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Tympole  Water

Level 25 →

First Evolution Palpitoad  Water  Ground

Level 36 →

Second Evolution Seismitoad  Water  Ground

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation V.
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back

For other sprites and images, please see Tympole images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Tympole shares its species name with Poliwag, Poliwhirl, and Poliwrath. They are all known as the Tadpole Pokémon.
• Tympole's face has become a phenomenon on the popular Japanese online artist community Pixiv.
• Although it is simulated as swimming in Pokédex 3D, Tympole does not display the bubbles effect that all other Pokémon simulated in an aquatic environment, such as Eelektrik and Stunfisk display. The reason for this is unknown.

Origin

Tympole appears to be a combination of a toad tadpole and a loudspeaker. Tympole's spherical "speakers" were probably inspired by toads' "warts" and poison glands, as well as the Surinam toad, an aquatic amphibian whose backs are covered in pockets that hold its eggs, or more likely, the tympanum of a real-life toad, located in the same area. It is an eardrum-like body part the toad uses to hear. Its Pokédex entry also mentions the fact that it creates vibrations underwater, also like the Surinam. Its eyebrows resemble musical notes, specifically the quarter note, and the bumps on the side of its head are similar to headphones.

Name origin

Tympole may be a combination of timpani (a low-pitched drum-like sound or the sensation felt in the abdomen when a drum is struck), tympani (a type of drum), or tympanic membrane (eardrum; referring to the bumps on each side of its head), and tadpole. It may also involve tempo.

Otamaro may be a combination of おたまじゃくし otamajakushi (tadpole or musical notes) and まろ maro (an affectionate suffix or shaved eyebrows, the latter referring to the markings above its eyes).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese オタマロ Otamaro From おたまじゃくし otamajakushi and まろ maro French Tritonde From triton and onde Spanish Tympole Same as English name German Schallquap From Schall and Kaulquappe Italian Tympole Same as English name Korean 동챙이 Dongchaengi From 동글다 donggeulda or 동 (童) dong and 올챙이 olchaengi Mandarin Chinese 圓蝌蚪 / 圆蝌蚪 Yuánkēdǒu Literally "Round tadpole". Cantonese Chinese

More languages

External links

← #534: Conkeldurr

Pokémon

#536: Palpitoad →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.