Thievul is an orange-maroon vulpine Pokémon with a moderate build, slender limbs, and a long tail. It has white chest fur that puffs out from its body and vaguely resembles a cravat. There are two long black ears atop Thievul's head, as well as black fur around its eyes that resemble a domino mask. The black whiskers on the end of its muzzle are in the form of a pointed mustache and the white markings above its eyes resemble eyebrows. Its paws, back, and the tip of its tail are all black, and it retains the flared tail-tip of its pre-evolution Nickit.
When Thievul finds a potential target, it will secretly mark a scent on them. Thievul then uses that scent to track and stalk its targets. By using its lithe body and claws, Thievul steals the target’s food and eggs from them when they least expect it. Boltund is an enemy of Thievul. It competes with Liepard for territory.
In Japanese, the hiragana category "きつねポケモン" (Fox Pokémon) is shared by the evolutionary lines of Vulpix and Nickit, while the katakana version "キツネポケモン" (Fox Pokémon) is shared by Fennekin and its evolutions.
Origin
Thievul appears to be based on the red fox, possibly borrowing patterns from the cross fox, a variation of the red fox. Its gray shiny coloration resembles that of silver foxes, another variation of the red fox. Its facial features and moustache-like whiskers also bear a resemblance to stereotypical depictions of thieves and burglars, as well as the gentleman thief trope and Zorro. Its front legs resemble gloves, which thieves and burglars would wear. Thievul's relationship with Boltund may also be a reference to fox hunting, where red foxes were hunted by English foxhounds, which Boltund appears to be based on.
The design of Thievul and Nickit may draw inspiration from the story of Guy Fawkes, his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and it's annual commemoration of Bonfire Night, which was legally mandated in the United Kingdom up until 1859. Once seen as a villainous traitor trying to overthrow the government for oppressing his fellow Catholics, his story has since become a symbol of resistance against oppression; so much so, such things as a masks resembling Guy Fawkes have become a part of pop culture. Theivel's face appears similar in shape to depictions of Guy Fawkes, Nickit's tail appears similar in shape to a bonfire over logs, their traitorous history could be considered dark, the United Kingdom is what the land of Galar is based on, Thievul and Nickit's tail tips could be mistaken as gunpowder coated, and they’re foxes–a play off of Fawkes.
Name origin
Thievul may be a combination of thief, evil, and vulpine (of or pertaining to foxes; foxlike).
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.