Pokemon Field Guide: Haxorus Report

#612: Haxorus
The Axe Jaw Pokemon
Dragon

Height: 6-14 feet

Length: 9-20 feet

Weight: 233-960 lbs

Sound: Usually a low grunting, or aggressive hissing. It's mostly associated with the clanking from its thick armor, along with heavy footsteps.

Gender: 50% male, 50% female. Females tend to have smaller tusks, but they're oftentimes sharper, and their armor color is usually dull in color. Males have brighter armor and tusks to catch the attention of females during mating season.

HP: 76
Attack: 147
Defense: 90
Sp. Attack: 60
Sp. Defense: 70
Speed: 97

Effective moves against it:
Fire (1/2x), Water (1/2x), Electric (1/2x), Grass(1/2x)
Ice (2x), Dragon (2x)

Location: Often found in warm forest regions all over Unova, most often in the White Forest, even though they are very hard to actually find. This is because their armor can show the reflection of the trees around them, effectively disguising them from watchful eyes. When winter comes, they usually migrate to the nearest, warmest forest area they can find. Expect a lot of humidity in their habitat.

( A ) General: These Pokemon are among the strongest non-legendary creatures currently in existence, Attack-wise. But contrary to what one would believe, they are also arguably one of the most placid of all Dragon-type Pokemon as well. The reason for this easy-going nature is to be discussed below. Although they are still territorial, and for good reasons, their shift in personality is quite radical considering how different they are from Fraxures.

Evolution: For a long time, their pre-evolved form, Fraxures, act very aggressively due to the number of different stresses on their body and instincts. Namely, their blood pressure and adrenaline levels rise quickly at one time, along with a sudden imbalance of brain chemicals, giving them a very aggressive demeanor, even to trainers who've been with them since birth. Then, they realize that their tusks are very prone to blunting, and worst of all, cannot grow back if broken. Finally, they need to scramble to find nutrients to properly nourish them, since berries and vegetation become insufficient to allow them to grow into Haxorus, nutrient-wise. This reduced ability to extract nourishment from fruits and vegetables is only temporary, but it drives the Fraxure to eat meat for that amount of time, and thus needs to seek out territory with just that. It also seeks a respectable amount of vegetation for when it finally does evolve. That is why confrontations for territory between Fraxures are so violent; they both need the same thing from a specific territory when they find it, but need to see who's strong enough to claim it. The loser of a confrontation often leaves with either broken tusks, or deep wounds that may or may not be fatal.

Fraxures eat very heavily, for a couple of years before it finally is close to evolution. When Fraxures are almost ready to evolve, they calm down and lose their volatile tempers, slowly but surely. They become bigger, and most of their scales bunch up together and harden, while having metallic ions secreted all over them via the food they eat to make it very akin to metallic armor. Finally, their tusks harden too, also becoming coated with metal ions, making their tusks nigh unbreakable after one month of constant secretions. After that's done, they become Haxorus, and now have very few things that can pose as natural predators to it.

( B ) Diet: A noteworthy feature of Haxorus is that they're actually herbivores. They live in forests that are very lush because many trees grow, which give it a lot of nutrition. This is considering they don't need it to grow into anything bigger, and can eat as much vegetation as they please. How the Haxorus gets its food depends. If the tree is only slightly taller than it, it will simply pull the branches down to its level and feed off the greens. If it's at least three times taller than it, and if it's worth the effort, Haxorus will use its tusks to cut the tree down and eat its greens. For very tall trees with lots of greens, it will use its claws to climb up the tree. However it rarely does this because of how heavy its armor is, so this would only happen during a food shortage.

It was discovered recently, they seem to be very fond of berries in particular, and will often go great lengths to get them. Of course, like all Pokemon, its preferences depend upon its personality, although most Haxorus seem to have a weakness for the so called "EV berries". While these berries effectively decrease some of their abilities while leveling up, such as their Special Attack, they see it as junk food, a guilty pleasure to be enjoyed no matter how empty it is in values. Thus, when a typical Haxorus smells them, they will seek these berries out with a lot of enthusiasm.

( C ) Territorial Behavior: Living on berries and plants gives it a docile disposition, even though it will still keep in mind, those are the things it lives off of, and needs to survive. When another organism enters its territory, it keeps a very watchful eye on that individual and monitors how much it takes. If that individual eats a respectable amount of food while still leaving some for the Haxorus, it will let it stay. If it tries to take the natural resources for themselves at a greater quantity than the Haxorus, it will not be tolerated. For example, creatures like Snorlax, Slaking, who eat a huge amount of vegetation and do nothing else other than that, or humans who may destroy the habitat for lumber. The Haxorus will do everything from roar, to felling trees the trespasser is hiding behind, but whatever it takes, it will make sure the trespasser leaves and doesn't return with the same intentions.

Smaller Pokemon living in the same forest as it share a symbiotic relationship with them; Haxorus ensure their safety from outside forces that threaten their way of life. In turn, the smaller Pokemon will manage the natural resources found in the forest, re-supplying them when needed. Therefore, these creatures are the exception to their territorial tendencies, because they are a benefit to its way of life.

An even more helpful factor towards staying in a Haxorus's territory is if they can take advantage of their appetite for berries. If they perchance spot Grass-type Pokemon such as Cherrim that can potentially aid the growth of berries, they will very happily accept their company in the forest, and even bring it provisions like food and shelter as long as the supply of berries is respectable. Any difficulties are usually taken care of by the Haxorus, unless the other Pokemon itself refuses to aid the growth of berries any longer.

( D ) Battle Capabilities: These creatures are noteworthy in battle for their high attack stat. They can use their tusks to an advantage because they don't have to fear their tusks breaking off or denting in combat unless under some very high tensile force. These tusks are as sharp as they are durable, and can even cut through steel beams. Their method for using these tusks is via swinging their heads around like axes, while aiming the tusk blade toward the opponent; a ball-and-socket joint in its neck can allow it to swivel its head to attack enemies behind it too, which makes it able to counter even sneak attacks. Even more amazing is their guillotine attack; provided it will hit, the sheer force brought on by its mere swing will be enough to cut off nerve reception and put the rivaling Pokemon out of commission in one hit. Not even the heavily armored are safe, because an attack from a Haxorus will guarantee severe blunt force trauma, in best case scenario.

One more interesting detail is its abilities. The first being Mold Breaker, meaning that when the Haxorus attacks, they will recklessly charge at it and be sure that its move hits, at its same intended strength. There is no reducing how much damage is done unless the opponent holds a special berry, and these Haxorus in particular are more eager to battle and quick tempered than others. Then there's also Unnerve, which intimidates the opponent into giving up its held berry.

But most of all, its ability Rivalry stands out as the most common ability a Haxorus can have. How this works is that when they see another male Pokemon (in particular another Haxorus), they see them as rivals having a same goal in mind, and will fight them ferociously to try to out-do them. This is normal in the wild because male Haxorus are known to battle each other, for the right to mate with a female. Wild females with Rivalry fight others for food, which is essential when "pregnant". Naturally, when they are required to fight against a female, they attack with less power to prevent damaging it too heavily. This is also a natural reflex, because heavy damage to female Haxorus may have a chance of impairing their immune system while carrying a clutch of eggs. Conversely, female Haxorus are reluctant to fight against male Pokemon for this same reason, regardless if it's another Haxorus or not. To conclude, even though the ability Rivalry is of more use in the wild, domesticated Haxorus still carry these traits with it purely by instinct.

Trainer Tips:
- DON'T PROVOKE WILD HAXORUS. That is, don't act destructively in its habitat, or you will be driven out of the forest. Killed if it gets bad enough.
- LET YOUR HAXORUS COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER POKEMON OFTEN. Domesticated Haxorus are usually easy to tame, and can get along well with other fellow Pokemon. Give it a chance to "talk" to these Pokemon early and often.
- TREAT IT WITH BERRIES WHEN YOU CAN. Not to say to spoil it rotten, but when you come across an EV berry that a Haxorus wants to eat, don't deny them the pleasure even if it lowers effort values. Let them have their treat. They will appreciate it a lot.
- TELL IT NOT TO WORRY ABOUT LIVING QUARTERS. It may still have a territorial disposition, but simply let it know it can be provided for easily, and it doesn't have to fight for its living space. That should solve your problems very quickly.
- DON'T MIND IT IF ITS ABILITY IS RIVALRY. When males in particular happen to be apprehensive about attacking females, the best thing to do is relieve it of its stress and switch into another Pokemon. But if it needs to fight, then don't mind it's holding back. Even after winning, it may still feel very guilty afterwards, so tell it not to worry about it any longer. After all, a visit to the Pokemon Center will heal it nicely and without consequences.
- As for females, LET IT KNOW ITS BATTLE INJURIES ARE NOT SERIOUS. Females have a natural tendency to think its battle injuries may cause its nervous system to weaken, but let it know that casual Pokemon battles tend to never be that severe, and its injuries are easy to heal.
- NEVER USE THEM AS TRANSPORTATION. As random and fun as this sounds, and even if your Haxorus doesn't mind, it's still a very bad idea, considering your sitting on hard, metal plates. You will regret it if you do make that decision.
- Just for convenience sake, because it's very easy for them to puncture things with their tusks, REGULARLY ROUND THE TIPS OF THEIR TUSKS. They know enough to sharpen them before battle, but if the tips are rounded outside of battle, it still has just enough power to do what it considers everyday tasks. Such as slicing open fruits, or cutting down small trees.

Personal Experience:
Amongst Dragon-type specialists, these Pokemon are a common sight to see in their teams.

However, I've seen one in the wild in person, although it wasn't nearly as life-threatening and horrible as my encounter with a Hydreigon. I was in White forest at the time with my Krookodile. We've spent a long time in the grass, searching for Pokemon that would normally appear in other regions.

But much to my surprise, we came across a Haxorus grazing on some greens about 150 feet away from us. It simply kept eating until it noticed us. I noticed, it kept a vigilant eye on me, and almost looked threatened by the presence of my Krookodile. That is until he gave it a cue which told it not to worry; after all, we weren't here to capture or harm it. The Haxorus came closer and then realized it was right. I sighed to myself in relief that time, knowing it was more rational to make that judgement than Hydreigon.