Infernape is a bipedal, primate-like Pokémon that is primarily reddish-brown with sections of white fur on its chest, head, and lower legs. Several gold markings adorn its body: swirled, circular ones on its knees and shoulders flame-shaped ones on the back of its hands, and a stripe around its back that forms two swirls on its chest. On top of its head is a large flame, which is never extinguished. Infernape has an orange, rounded muzzle, long, round ears with blue inside, and a red ridge over its eyes. The eyes themselves are blue with yellow sclera. There are five blue digits on both its feet and hands, and it has a long tail. This quick Pokémon practices a unique kind of martial art that involves all of its limbs. This style uses fiery punches and kicks as well.
Infernape is the only final form Sinnoh starter Pokémon not to have an immunity, since Empoleon is immune to Poison-type attacks and Torterra is immune to Electric-type attacks.
Infernape is the only fully evolved starter Pokémon who has no base stats that are divisible by 5.
Infernape is the shortest fully evolved starter Pokémon.
Origin
Infernape is based on a monkey. The gold elements in its design as well as its Japanese name are most likely linked to Son Goku, the Japanese interpretation of the character Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong is the main character in the Chinese epic Journey to the West and is a monkey with powerful abilities. It is also similar to the Vanara, a race of ape-like humanoids in the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is most likely based off the martial art Muay Thai which uses all the limbs and possibly Monkey Kung Fu, another type of martial arts. It may have also be loosely based on Crazy Monkey Defense, a boxing style that incorporated elements from other martial arts such as Muay Thai.
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.