Hardly any bear Pokemon are called a bear. Only Teddiursa has bear in its category, and the rest go by titles like Sleeping Pokemon and Hibernator Pokemon. The designs give them away: brown bears, black bears, polar bears and pandas are all here, and so are two red pandas dressed as stuffed toys.
Snorlax, the Sleeping Pokemon, may be loosely based on hibernating bears or teddy bears. It may also be based on a food coma, since it eats large quantities of food and then takes a nap, both of which are symptoms of the condition. Its Gigantamax form, a giant shape it takes in some battles, resembles a small hill or nature park.
In the wild it is less cuddly. This glutton appears in villages without warning and devours their whole rice granaries, and such visits have long been counted among the gravest of disasters. (We aspire to be a natural disaster that eats and then naps.)
It weighs 460 kg in total. Its Thick Fat ability (an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle) halves damage from Fire and Ice moves.
#216
Teddiursa
#216
Type
Normal
Category
Little Bear Pokémon
National Dex
#0216
Debut
Gen II
Base stat total
330
Teddiursa, the Little Bear Pokemon, is based on a bear cub, such as the cub of an Asian black bear, whose Japanese name literally means "ring-of-the-moon bear". The marking on its face may come from that bear and the crescent moon it resembles. The link between a bear and the sky may also reference the Ursa Minor and Ursa Major constellations, with Teddiursa as the minor one. It also resembles a teddy bear.
It licks its paws because of the sweet honey soaked into them, and it is cunning enough to steal into the nests of Combee and take the honey they have amassed, which we admire for the nerve and fear for the stings.
#217
Ursaring
#217
Type
Normal
Category
Hibernator Pokémon
National Dex
#0217
Debut
Gen II
Base stat total
500
Ursaring, the Hibernator Pokemon, is based on bears such as the brown bear and the Asian black bear, which is the most capable of walking on two legs among bears. It stands for Ursa Major to Teddiursa's Ursa Minor, and its rectangular shoulder fur resembles the fringes of buckskins or epaulettes.
When the cold season arrives in Hisui, it wanders fields and mountains in search of its favorite berries, and its hunger during this time makes it a ferocious danger, and we understand that completely.
Its Guts ability raises its Attack to 1.5× while it has a major status ailment, such as a burn or poison.
#446
Munchlax
#446
Type
Normal
Category
Big Eater Pokémon
National Dex
#0446
Debut
Gen IV
Base stat total
390
Munchlax, the Big Eater Pokemon, is based on a baby bear. Its eating habits correspond to those of bears preparing to hibernate, honey included, and it is found in honey-slathered trees. Searching garbage and compost for food is another bear habit, and the yellow patch of fur on its chest resembles a baby's bib.
Its robust stomach lets it devour even rotted matter, and it pays frequent visits to villages, seeking out food scraps intended for compost. (We feel seen by a bib and a compost habit.)
It stands 0.6 m tall and weighs 105 kg.
#613
Cubchoo
#613
Type
Ice
Category
Chill Pokémon
National Dex
#0613
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
305
Cubchoo, the Chill Pokemon, is based on a polar bear cub. Its mucus is likely inspired by the fact that cold weather often results in a runny nose. It sniffles before performing a move, using its frosty snot to provide an icy element to any move that needs it, whereas a cold would get us sent home from the team.
It stands 0.5 m tall. Its Slush Rush ability doubles its Speed during hail.
#614
Beartic
#614
Type
Ice
Category
Freezing Pokémon
National Dex
#0614
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
505
Beartic, the Freezing Pokemon, is based on a polar bear. Its flat, cone-like head and icy beard also give it a resemblance to snow-capped mountains. The icicles on its fur may refer to a group of grizzly bears in the Yukon known for rolling themselves in sand and water to cover themselves in an insulating layer of icicles.
It swims energetically through frigid seas, and when it gets tired, it freezes the seawater with its breath so it can rest on the ice, and we cannot even make our bed in the morning.
It stands 2.6 m tall.
#674
Pancham
#674
Type
Fighting
Category
Playful Pokémon
National Dex
#0674
Debut
Gen VI
Base stat total
348
Pancham, the Playful Pokemon, is based on a panda bear cub. It picks up the Dark type when it evolves, which it can only do around other Dark types, and that evokes a naughty child led astray by bad influences into becoming a full-blown delinquent. Its shiny coloring could be a reference to the Qinling panda, whose coat tends to be more brown than black.
It glares at others because it wants to be taken seriously, but if it is not focusing, it ends up smiling. (We relate deeply to trying to look tough and cracking.)
Its Iron Fist ability strengthens punch-based moves to 1.2× their power.
#675
Pangoro
#675
Type
FightingDark
Category
Daunting Pokémon
National Dex
#0675
Debut
Gen VI
Base stat total
495
Pangoro, the Daunting Pokemon, is based on a panda bear. Its hot-blooded, belligerent yet virtuous attitude, along with its coat-like cape and chewing stick, also draws on the bancho, Japanese juvenile-delinquent leaders. That fits a Pokemon whose pre-evolution had to be around Dark types to grow up.
It can predict its opponents' moves using its leaf, while the leaf on our desk predicts nothing, and it strikes with punches that can turn a dump truck into scrap in one hit.
Its Mold Breaker ability lets its moves ignore a target's ability when that ability would block them.
#759
Stufful
#759
Type
NormalFighting
Category
Flailing Pokémon
National Dex
#0759
Debut
Gen VII
Base stat total
340
Stufful, the Flailing Pokemon, is based on the red panda, as well as stuffed animals such as teddy bears. The white flail under its tail resembles the tags seen on stuffed animal toys.
The way it protects itself by flailing its arms may be an adorable sight, but you should stay well away, since that flailing can snap thick tree trunks, and we would still pick it up.
Its Fluffy ability halves damage from contact moves (attacks that touch the target) but doubles damage from Fire moves. It stands 0.5 m tall.
#760
Bewear
#760
Type
NormalFighting
Category
Strong Arm Pokémon
National Dex
#0760
Debut
Gen VII
Base stat total
500
Bewear, the Strong Arm Pokemon, is based on a red panda and a stuffed bear, and it has some similarities to a mascot costume. It may also take inspiration from wrestling bears in professional wrestling and from the bear hug, a wrestling move used for submission. It even looks like it is wearing an animal-ears headband.
The moves it uses to take down its prey would make a martial artist jealous, and it tucks subdued prey under its arms to carry them to its nest, and we will wave from over here.
#901
Ursaluna
#901
Type
GroundNormal
Category
Peat Pokémon
National Dex
#0901
Debut
Gen VIII
Base stat total
550
Ursaluna, the Peat Pokemon, may be based on the Ussuri brown bear, a subspecies of the brown bear native to Hokkaido, on which Hisui is based. Its mountain-like body and Ground type may refer to Kim-un-kamuy, the Ainu god of bears and mountains, and its link with peat may come from Ussuri brown bears living around former coal mines. The pattern on its head evokes a full moon shining through clouds.
Its Bloodmoon form is based on the lunar eclipse known as a blood moon, and on the onikuma, bears that have turned into yokai after living for an exceptionally long time. Hisui's swampy terrain gave it its burly physique and its new power to manipulate peat at will, while swamp living only made us damp.
Every Panda Is a Fighting Type and Every Polar Bear Is Ice
All four panda and red panda Pokemon are Fighting types, and both polar bears are Ice types. The other five bears are Normal types, and Ursaluna adds Ground. Pangoro's panda design draws on the bancho, Japanese juvenile-delinquent leaders.
Bear Pokemon FAQ
How many bear Pokemon are there?
There are 11 bear Pokemon. Teddiursa has a bear word in its category, and the rest are modeled on brown bears, polar bears, pandas, red pandas and teddy bears.
What is the strongest bear Pokemon?
Ursaluna, with a base stat total of 550 and an Attack of 140. Snorlax is next at 540.
Is Snorlax a bear?
Yes, loosely. Snorlax may be based on hibernating bears or teddy bears, and on the food coma that follows a big meal.
Is Bewear a bear?
Yes, in part. Bewear is based on a red panda and a stuffed bear.
Which Pokemon are pandas?
Pancham and Pangoro are based on pandas, and Stufful and Bewear on the red panda.
