Snivy (Pokémon)

This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Snivy.

**Snivy** (Japanese: **ツタージャ** *Tsutarja*) is a Grass-type Pokémon introduced in Generation V.

It evolves into Servine starting at level 17, which evolves into Serperior starting at level 36.

Along with Tepig and Oshawott, Snivy is one of three starter Pokémon of Unova available at the beginning of Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. It is also one of the starter Pokémon available in Pokémon Legends: Charaina, along with Piplup and Fennekin.

## Biology

Snivy is a bipedal, reptilian Pokémon with a slender build. Most of its body is green with a cream underside. A yellow stripe runs down the length of its back and tail, and it has yellow markings around its large eyes. Two curved yellow structures that resemble leaves or small wings protrude from its shoulders and bend backwards. Its slender arms have three fingers, while its tiny feet have no digits whatsoever. It has a large, palmate leaf with three prongs on the end of its tail. This tail is capable of performing photosynthesis, which allows Snivy to move more quickly. However, the tail will begin to droop when Snivy loses energy. This Pokémon has a calm, collected demeanor.

## Game data

### Stats

#### Base stats

* Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

## Trivia

 File:PokéSun May09 10.png
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* Snivy and the other Black and White starter Pokémon were first revealed as silhouettes on the May 9, 2010 episode of Pokémon Sunday. They were later revealed in full in the June 2010 issue of CoroCoro.
* Shortly after its release, much like many other Generation V Pokémon newly introduced, Snivy received the fan-made moniker, "Smugleaf". This name was picked up on and published in an article on the video gaming-focused blog Kotaku and later in an issue of Official Nintendo Magazine Australia and New Zealand, as well as its United Kingdom counterpart.
* Snivy is the only Grass-type starter Pokémon that is not listed as the first Pokémon in its regional Pokédex, although it is still #001; this is because the Pokémon before it has a Pokédex number of #000. It is also the only Grass-type starter Pokémon that is not the first Pokémon of its generation in National Pokédex order.
* Snivy has the lowest base stat total of all Grass-type starter Pokémon.
* In Pokémon Black and White, Snivy, along with Tepig and Oshawott, has the lowest experience yield of all Pokémon, with a base value of 28. This was done specifically for the first two battles of the games, so the player's starter wouldn't level up after defeating Bianca and thus have a level advantage over Cheren.
	+ From Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 onward, their base experience yield was raised to 62 to bring them in line with the other starter Pokémon in the series.
* Snivy was designed by Reiko Tanoue, who was inspired by a picture book that compared snakes to vines.

### Origin

Snivy may be based on a variety of green vine snake species with a pointed snout, including *Oxybelis fulgidus*, *Ahaetulla nasuta*, and *Ahaetulla prasina*. Snivy's color scheme is similar to its species' possible namesake, the smooth green snake. The Pokémon's combination of snake- and lizard-like features are also similar to that of the Florida sand skink, a lizard that resembles a snake with small, stubby legs. The shape of its head, body, and the protrusions on its shoulders may be based on the bird of paradise or false bird of paradise flowers. Ken Sugimori has said that Snivy, Servine, and Serperior are based on French royalty, specifically mentioning the anime *The Rose of Versailles* as inspiration.

#### Name origin

Snivy is a combination of *snake* and *ivy*. It may also involve *snide*, *sly*, *snark* (a snide remark), or *snicker* (a sly or snide laugh).

Tsutarja may be a combination of ツタ *tsuta* (Japanese ivy) and 蛇 *ja* (snake).

## Related articles

* Ash's Snivy
* Trip's Snivy
* Cheren's Snivy
* N's Snivy
* Monta's Snivy
* Starter Pokémon
* Partner Pokémon (Mystery Dungeon)

## Notes

1. ↑ http://www.pokebeach.com/2010/09/pokemon-peer-interview-translations
2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20101228065540/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/sp/index5.html (archived link)

## External links

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