The Origins of 15 Mouse Pokemon & the Real Animals Behind Them

A mouse is the face of Pokemon, and only because one person made the call. Pikachu started out as a daifuku-like creature, and Game Freak CEO Satoshi Tajiri made the decision to base it on a mouse. The mice that followed borrow as much from rats and dormice as from mice.

See all 15 mouse Pokemon in one list.

Here are the origins of the 15 mouse Pokemon:

All 15 Mouse Pokemon

#019

Rattata

Rattata, the Mouse Pokemon, is based on a rat or a mouse and may draw visual inspiration from hairy-tailed packrats. Its Alolan form is based on the black rat, brown rat or Polynesian rat, which are invasive species in Hawaii. Their attacks on sugar cane fields caused the locals to import the small Indian mongoose as pest control, hence the rivalry with Yungoos and Gumshoos. The shape of its whiskers resembles the knot of a hokkamuri, the cloth disguise worn by thieves in Japanese media.

It will chew on anything with its fangs, and if you see one, you can be certain that 40 more live in the area. We would rather not count the ones in our kitchen. It stands 0.3 m tall.

#020

Raticate

Raticate is based on a rat, with parts borrowed from several other rodents. Its webbed feet come from semi-aquatic rodents such as the muskrat or the coypu, its prominent and exposed incisors may come from blesmols, and its scruffy ears are similar to a guinea pig's. The Alolan form adds the manners of a stereotypical crime boss, commanding groups of Rattata to steal.

Its hind feet are webbed and act as flippers, so it can swim in rivers and hunt for prey. (A rat that swims to work, and we take the bus and still arrive damp.)

#025

Pikachu

Pikachu was originally a daifuku-like creature with ears sticking out, and its black ear tips are remnants of that first concept. It wasn't originally intended to be based on a mouse, until Game Freak CEO Satoshi Tajiri made the decision to base it on such. The cheek pouches it stores electricity in were added to make it cuter, inspired by squirrels, which store food in their cheeks. The stripes on its back aren't based on anything in particular and were added to fill the empty space, since its back is always visible during battle.

It possesses cheek sacs in which it stores electricity, and this clever forest-dweller roasts tough berries with an electric shock before consuming them. (It roasts its own berries, and we microwave ours.)

#026

Raichu

Raichu has the legs and long tail of a jerboa or a kangaroo rat. Its Alolan form comes from the idea of a surfing Pikachu, and its designer, Atsuko Nishida, built it around the motif of bread, insisting that Raichu "has always been cuter than people might think". We agree, and we would also like some bread.

It weighs 30 kg and can discharge bursts of electricity exceeding 100,000 volts.

#028

Sandslash

Sandslash is based on armoured animals that can curl up, such as the pangolin and the echidna, which shows in its habit of digging into the ground to reveal only its quills while sleeping. It may also draw on the yamaoroshi, a radish grater yokai and mountain spirit sometimes seen as a porcupine-like creature, and the Alolan form adds the barbegazi, Alpine gnomes with large feet and icicle-covered hair.

It climbs trees by hooking on with its sharp claws, and Sandslash shares the berries it gathers, dropping them down to Sandshrew waiting below the tree. A parent that shares snacks is a model we are taking notes on.

#172

Pichu

Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokemon, seems to draw inspiration from squirrels and various other rodents. Ken Sugimori came up with the idea for it when Game Freak staff were trying to figure out a Pokemon to be the next Pikachu, and its Shiny coloring copies Pikachu's standard colors.

Pichu stores electricity in the sacs on its cheeks but discharges it inadvertently when agitated or excited, and its handling of electricity is rather inept. (Leaking electricity when excited is something we do with opinions.)

#183

Marill

Marill, the Aqua Mouse Pokemon, may be based on a combination of a mouse and a beach ball or a lifebuoy. Its body and ears also resemble a water molecule. It may also be based on water rats such as the European water vole and the rakali from Australia, and its name, Shiny colors and tail may come from marimo, the round balls of algae also known as moss balls.

Its water-repellent fur dries almost as soon as Marill leaves the water, even after a swim in a cold sea. We own a towel that cannot do this. Its Huge Power ability doubles Attack in battle.

#298

Azurill

Azurill, the Polka Dot Pokemon, is a mouse combined with a beach ball or a lifebuoy, the same mix as Marill. The idea of it storing nutrients in its tail may come from the mouse-like fat-tailed dunnart, a marsupial whose carrot-shaped tail stores fat for times of scarcity. Its Normal type, where Marill and Azumarill are Water types, may point to an inability to swim at this early stage of life.

Azurill are normally docile, but an angry one will swing around the big ball on its tail and try to smash its opponents. Calm until provoked and then the tail comes out is also how we are before coffee. Azurill stands 0.2 m tall, and like Marill, it can have Huge Power.

#311

Plusle

Plusle, the Cheering Pokemon, is based on a cheerleading mouse, chipmunk or rabbit. It could also be an incarnation of a positive electric charge.

It flashes with electric sparks from all over its body when cheering on its partner, and it cries loudly if its partner loses. Loud support and louder grief is something we relate to more than we should. Its Plus ability increases its Special Attack to 1.5× when a friendly Pokemon has Plus or Minus.

#399

Bidoof

Bidoof, the Plump Mouse Pokemon, is based on a beaver or a gopher. It is particularly similar to the mountain beaver, a primitive relative of beavers lacking tails.

It has an unsophisticated face and is rarely flustered by anything, and there have been incidents involving Bidoof sauntering into villages and gnawing on the houses without a single care. (We admire the confidence of eating a house and feeling fine about it.) It weighs 20 kg, and its Simple ability doubles its stat changes, which makes a single boost count twice.

#702

Dedenne

Dedenne, the Antenna Pokemon, is based on a dormouse, with some elements from gerbils and hamsters, combined with a television antenna. Its Fairy type may reference La Petite Souris, the French tooth fairy, which is described as a small mouse that exchanges baby teeth for coins.

Dedenne can't generate much electricity on its own, so it steals electricity from outlets or other electric Pokemon. It stands 0.2 m tall. We respect the hustle of charging itself off the neighbors.

#921

Pawmi

Pawmi, the Mouse Pokemon, is based on rodents, specifically the alpine marmot, which was reintroduced in 1948 to the Pyrenees, at the border of Spain and France. It may also come from the chinchilla or the viscacha, which shares its long ears and reddish-brown coat. Its electric paws may be inspired by defibrillators.

The pads of its paws are electricity-discharging organs, and Pawmi fires electricity from its forepaws while standing unsteadily on its hind legs. Unsteady on its feet and armed describes us after a long lunch.

#922

Pawmo

Pawmo is based on a marmot, such as the alpine marmot. The defibrillator idea grows here: its Fighting type and its move Arm Thrust could be a grim reference to the injuries that can result from CPR.

Pawmo uses its forepaws to strike foes and zap them with electricity from its paw pads simultaneously. We can barely do one thing at a time, let alone punch and shock at once. Its Iron Fist ability strengthens punch-based moves to 1.2× their power.

#924

Tandemaus

Tandemaus, the Couple Pokemon, is based on a pair of mice. Its look resembles dollhouse figurines such as the Japanese doll line Sylvanian Families.

The pair sticks together no matter what, and they split any food they find exactly in half and then eat it together. We have never managed to split a pizza exactly in half. Tandemaus weighs only 1.8 kg.

#925

Maushold

Maushold, the Family Pokemon, is based on a family of mice. Its white coloring and its large nests with dedicated rooms suggest laboratory mice, and its forms may be based on the concept of a nuclear family.

The larger pair protects the little ones during battles, and the whole group will join the fight when facing strong opponents. (The whole family shows up to the fight, and we know families like that.) Its Technician ability strengthens moves of 60 base power or less to 1.5× their power (base power is a move's damage before stats count).

13 of the 15 Mouse Pokemon Are Electric or Normal Types

Seven of the 15 have the Electric type and six have the Normal type, which leaves only Sandslash and Marill outside the two. Pikachu set the pattern, and Pichu, Raichu, Plusle, Dedenne, Pawmi and Pawmo all share its Electric type. The Normal group is the rodents with nothing to spark, from the rats to the mice of Tandemaus and Maushold. Sandslash is a Ground type and Marill a Water type.

Mouse Pokemon FAQ

How many mouse Pokemon are there?

There are 15 mouse Pokemon. 10 of them have mouse in their category, and Azurill, Plusle, Dedenne, Tandemaus and Maushold were designed from mice and their relatives.

What is the strongest mouse Pokemon?

Raichu, with a base stat total of 485. Maushold comes next at 470.

Is Pikachu a mouse?

Yes. Pikachu is the Mouse Pokemon, though it wasn't originally intended to be based on a mouse until Satoshi Tajiri made the call.

Is Sandslash a mouse?

No. Sandslash is called the Mouse Pokemon, but it is based on armoured animals such as the pangolin and the echidna.