Pest Control: Pokémon Edition [Kanto]

Written by LunaticTactician, who has battled real-life mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches for 10 years.

Welcome to Pest Control: Pokémon Edition.

The world of Pokémon is filled to the brim with a wide variety of interesting and mysterious creatures. Some are friendly and often kept as pets and house helpers. Some are powerful and rare, making them enticing for aspiring Pokémon Masters.
Some, on the other hand, can be dangerous to mankind and other Pokémon if not controlled properly, just like with real-life pests.

In this blog post, I will teach readers how to protect themselves, their homes, and their Pokémon from these Poké pests.

General Pokémon Safety

• Train your Pokémon frequently to make them stronger and help them adapt to any kind of pest attack.
• Close all windows and doors when leaving the house.
• Memorize the Pokémon type matchups to exterminate pests faster.
• Unplug all electrical appliances after use. Electric-type Pokémon tend to steal electricity from them. If you will be away from your house for long, break all the circuits then lock the circuit breaker.
• Always bring Repel.
• Have Pokémon that know moves like Recover, Heal Pulse, Aromatherapy, and/or Safeguard.
• Have your Pokémon learn multi-target moves like Surf, Dazzling Gleam, and Earthquake.
• Have a high-level Pokémon that has the Intimidate Ability. Not only does it lower the opposing Pokémon's Attack, but it can also repel weak wild Pokémon.
• Call 911 if a Pokémon pest outbreak is uncontrollable.

Pokémon that are not included

• Fossil Pokémon, since it's unlikely that they would be living in the wild in the modern day
• Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
• Mega-Evolved Pokémon forms

Weedle evolutionary line

Weedle is one of the most common Bug-type Pokémon, commonly encountered by newbie Trainers. Beedrill also frequently appear in groups, typically in the forest. Unlike Caterpie, they can use Poison Sting, which can severely affect health, especially for children. (As a kid, I was a victim of Weedle's Poison Sting.)

Fortunately, this evolutionary line is comparatively weak, so they can be disposed of by using moves like Air Cutter and Rock Slide.

Rattata evolutionary line

According to the Pokédex, Rattata multiplies very quickly, and seeing one Rattata means that 40 more live in the area.

Rattata and Raticate often compete against humans and Pokémon for food, and can easily demolish wooden doors and concrete walls with their big, sharp incisors. They can also live almost anywhere no matter how harsh the conditions are.

Again, an individual Rattata or Raticate (Alolan or not) is weak, so exterminate groups of them with Surf or Dazzling Gleam.

Zubat evolutionary line

Ah, yes. The classic bat Pokémon that is so common that it annoys Trainers of all ages who walk into almost any cave in the series.

But it's not just caves--Zubat can sometimes appear outdoors at night, and also in abandoned buildings.

What some might not know is that the Zubat evolutionary line is a bloodsucker. In fact, Golbat can drink up to 10 ounces of blood in one sitting.

However, as a Pikachu fan, I had fun exterminating Zubat with Pikachu back in Pokémon Yellow when I was a kid.

You can, too, by teaching your Pokémon Discharge.

To ensure that Zubat and Golbat do not enter your house, clean it every day to avoid making it look abandoned.

Paras evolutionary line

You can probably tell that I'm a fan of The Last of Us, based on this video by Truegreen7.

Paras and Parasect have parasitic mushrooms growing on them called tochukaso, another name for Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which is the same genus as the species in The Last of Us, which is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis.

While it's not known in either real life or the Pokémon universe if Ophiocordyceps can spread to humans, it's better to be safe anyways.

Wear a gas mask to avoid breathing spores, and don't let the Paras evolutionary line touch you or your Pokémon.

Fortunately, Paras and Parasect are 4x weak to Fire- and Flying-type attacks, so wreck them with Heat Wave or Air Cutter.

The same can (probably) be done to infected. Just watch out for Bloaters.

Meowth and Purrloin

Yes, I know Purrloin is from the Unova region, and Meowth is one of my favorite Pokémon, but I have to diss them because these two Pokémon like stealing from other people.

Actually, Meowth usually targets money and shiny objects. Purrloin, on the other hand, goes for anything considered valuable.

While Meowth are somewhat rare in most regions except Alola, Purrloin are common in Unova, so be extra cautious if you live in the Unova region.

Just like when dealing with human thieves, watch your belongings frequently, especially your backpack.

Ensure all items are securely placed inside your bag or clothing pockets to avoid having your things fall out.

Of course, dispose of these pests using moves like Earthquake or Dazzling Gleam.

Mankey evolutionary line

Mankey and Primeape are like tornadoes when triggered even the slightest bit; they can destroy their surroundings in a rage.

They typically live in mountainous forests, which adds to their risk factor due to the mostly rural communities in these areas, causing potential damage to crops as well as Tauros and Miltank farms, where it can deal super-effective STAB damage.

Fortunately, Flying-type Pokémon like Spearow are also common in the mountains and forests, so use them to control rampaging Mankey and Primeape.

When you see a Mankey or Primeape, avoid looking at its eyes or getting too close to its territory, unless you want to battle or catch it.

Magnemite evolutionary line

Note that I have yet to research on these pests.

Magnemite and Magneton like to absorb electricity from houses, causing power failures, which is extra harmful to a society that now relies heavily on the Internet for research, business, and entertainment. Just ask my brother how much he loves using the Internet.

Note that some of them have the Sturdy Ability, making hordes of them extra difficult to take down in one move.

Fight them with multi-hit moves, like Double Kick. Pikachu and Eevee have been recently discovered to learn this move.
Alternatively, a Pokémon with the Mold Breaker Ability, like Excadrill or Pangoro, can bypass Sturdy.

Kantonian Grimer and Muk

These Poison-type Pokémon not only look and smell awful, but can also cause massive damage to property and health if not controlled properly.

In fact, Muk kills the land whenever it moves its body.

The move Earthquake can make short work of these sludge monsters, but if it's unavailable in the event of a Grimer or Muk invasion, call 911 immediately.

Note that Alolan Grimer and Muk are harmless. In fact, they help people by consuming garbage, and don't leave foul odors or health risks.