Cyndaquil is a small, bipedal mammalianPokémon with bluish fur on top of its body and cream-colored fur on its underside. Its eyes are usually seen closed, and it has a long, thin snout. Its arms are short, but its legs are slightly more developed and have a single nail on each foot. On its back are four red circles that can erupt into flames. When the flames are burning, its back has the appearance of being covered in spines.
Cyndaquil is capable of defending itself using these flames, and the fire grows more powerful as it becomes angry or defensive. Cyndaquil's firepower is described as being tremendously powerful. However, if it is tired, the flames are not able to burn properly. It is usually timid by nature and often curls into a ball when intimidated. Due to this, Cyndaquil prefers staying hunched over. Though rare in the wild, it can be found living on grasslands. It has been recently seen living in the Terarium of Blueberry Academy. As mentioned in Pokémon Sleep, Cyndaquil is known to usually sleep curled up.[1] On rare occasions, it will spout flames from its back while sleeping.
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: Hitting Cyndaquil will knock it back. After a few hits, Cyndaquil will be knocked into the Egg stand and the flame on its back will start heating the Egg. Hitting Cyndaquil one more time will cause the Egg to hatch and the player will have a chance to catch the newly hatched Pokémon.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
It is timid, and always curls itself up in a ball. If attacked, it flares up its back for protection. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) It usually stays hunched over. If it is angry or surprised, it shoots flames out of its back. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Cyndaquil protects itself by flaring up the flames on its back. The flames are vigorous if the Pokémon is angry. However, if it is tired, the flames splutter fitfully with incomplete combustion.
It flares flames from its back to protect itself. The fire burns vigorously if the Pokémon is angry. When it is tired, it sputters with incomplete combustion.
Cyndaquil protects itself by flaring up the flames on its back. The flames are vigorous if the Pokémon is angry. However, if it is tired, the flames splutter fitfully with incomplete combustion.
In An Egg Scramble!, Dawn defeated Lyra in a battle, winning an Egg. Shortly after, the Egg hatched into a Cyndaquil. It later evolved into a Quilava in DPS01.
When released from a Poké Ball, Cyndaquil will aim a Flamethrower diagonally towards the ground in one direction. It is one of the easiest Pokémon to avoid, however. It can also be knocked off the screen.
Trophy information
Cyndaquil frighten easily, so they're often found curled up in balls. When threatened, they flare the flames on their backs to drive off enemies. Cyndaquil was one of the three Pokémon that Trainers could choose from at the beginning of Pokémon Silver, Gold, and Crystal. No one knows if their eyes are open.
Cyndaquil no longer come out of Poké Balls and instead return only as a trophy.
Trophy information
"A Fire Mouse Pokémon. It's a timid creature that often curls up into a ball. When threatened, it flares up the flames on its back to scare off enemies. When it's angry, it can produce powerful flames, but when it's tired, it has trouble producing fire and suffers from incomplete combustion. When it levels up, it evolves into Quilava. Its squinty eyes are adorable."
Trivia
Cyndaquil, Charmander, and their respective evolutionary lines have exactly the same base stats in the same distribution.
The game intro for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver features a sprite of Cyndaquil that is slightly different from the one used in the actual game (this is most noticeable in the eyes). This sprite is not used anywhere else.
Cyndaquil appears to be based on an echidna with traits of tenrecs, such as its long snout and having little to no tail. The shape of its closed eyes resemble those of baby porcupines, as well as its fire, when lit, resembles the quills of the same animal. Cyndaquil could also be based on the Chinese mythological creature called Hinezumi, the same as Cyndaquil's species name in Japanese, which is a fire mouse that lives in volcanoes.
Name origin
Cyndaquil may be a combination of cinder (ashes) and quill (referring to needle-like hairs).
Hinoarashi may be a combination of 火 hi (fire) and ヤマアラシ (山荒) yama-arashi (porcupine). It can be taken to mean 火の嵐 hi no arashi (storm of fire).
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.