The Pokemon series has been around for over two decades and there are no signs of it slowing down as it continues to dominate video games, television, film, and more. The Pokemon franchise has expanded in major ways, but it’s still a big event when a new entry in the core series gets released and the Nintendo Switch’s Pokemon Sword and Shield is no exception.
The Pokemon games beautifully translate onto the Switch and the title’s new region of Galar has provided players with tons of new content, including all-new Pokemon. Snom is a new creature from Generation VIII that may not look like much, but there’s surprising depth to this Pokemon.
10 It Evolves Into Frosmoth In An Unusual Way
There are plenty of joys in a Pokemon game, but there’s nothing quite like the excitement that accompanies the news that a Pokemon is about to evolve. Sometimes all that a Pokemon has to do is reach a certain level through battle, but some other evolutions incorporate many mechanics from the series. Snom is a particularly complex situation since it involves both the Pokemon’s temperament as well as the time of day. If Snom levels up during nighttime while the Pokemon has a high friendship level then it will evolve into Frosmoth, but it must fulfill those conditions.
9 It And Its Evolved Form Are The Only Combination Of Ice- And Bug-Type
It’s impressive to see how areas of the Pokemon series have evolved in different ways over time. There are a handful of new types of Pokemon that have been added and even though there’s such a diverse collection of Pokemon that exist there are still combinations and varieties that have yet to be explored. A Pokemon that’s a mix of Ice- and Bug-Types didn’t exist before Snom and now both it and its evolved form, Frosmoth, are the only Pokemon that fit into this mold. It helps give these two newer Pokemon a bit of a greater significance.
8 It’s The Only Ice-Type Pokemon That Can’t Learn Ice Beam And Blizzard
Pokemon are full of anomalies and the things that are applicable to some types of Pokemon don’t apply to others. Pokemon that are a combination of types usually get a little more freedom in what attacks they can learn. Snom is both a Bug- and Ice-Type Pokemon, but it actually suffers some restrictions as far as other Ice-Type Pokemon are concerned.
Snom is the only Pokemon of his kind that can’t learn Ice Beam and Blizzard, two of the most iconic Ice-Type techniques. Snom’s Bug-Type skills make up for this, but it reflects the disadvantage of a Worm Pokemon.
7 It Camouflages Itself As An Icicle At Night
Some Pokemon are so extraordinary that they can’t help but stand out, but there are others that are specifically designed to blend in with their surroundings, either as a way to avoid attacks or sneak up on their prey. Snom’s Ice-Type design makes the Pokemon resemble snow from the start, but it emits an icy thread that it uses to tie its body to branches and hang from as it sleeps. This act makes the already icy Pokemon look even more like an icicle and avoid any disturbances.
6 It Has A Voracious Appetite, Especially For Snow
Snom is a particularly tiny Pokemon, but it’s the first stage in a metamorphosis. Some of the smaller Pokemon don’t cause much of a fuss, but Snom has so much growing to do that despite the Pokemon’s tiny size it’s a creature that has an appetite so extreme it could put a Munchlax to shame. Snom doesn’t just have an unquenchable hunger, but the Pokemon’s preferred food is snow. The consumption of this actually causes Snom to increase in size and build up more of an icy defense mechanism.
5 It Shares A Connection With Caterpie And Wurmple
What keeps the Pokemon series so versatile after all of these years is that there are so many different places that the creatures can draw from for design inspiration. Snom is a largely defenseless thing due to how it’s classified as a Worm Pokemon.
Up until this point it was just Caterpie and Wurmple that fit into this category, but now Snom joins them. They all reflect a similar nature with their designs, where they can be found, as well as how they all evolve.
4 It Sometimes Comes Holding A Snowball
Each new Pokemon title finds a careful balance where they incorporate more ideas into the battle system, but in a way that doesn’t convolute what they’ve built in the past games. Titles introduced the idea that Pokemon can hold objects that allow certain benefits in battle. A very rare percentage of Snom (only 5%) will be carrying a Snowball when they’re caught. A Snowball is an item that increases a Pokemon’s attack power after they’ve been hit by an Ice-Type attack, but it feels like a fitting accessory for the Pokemon, considering its appetite.
3 It Has The Lowest Base Stat Total Out Of All Ice-Type Pokemon
Some Pokemon are able to fool their predators and put on a big show that can spare their lives, but Snom is a Pokemon whose stats are just as disappointing as the Pokemon’s droopy appearance lets on. Snom is expected to be one of the weaker Pokemon to come out of Sword and Shield, but it actually has the lowest base stat total out of all Ice-Type Pokemon and his stats only add up to a low 185. Snom’s speed and special defense are especially egregious and at least its evolved form, Frosmoth, is a substantial improvement.
2 Its Signature Ability, Ice Scales, Is Also Its Hidden Ability
Another innovation to Pokemon and how they function in battle is that they all have certain abilities that work independently of their standard techniques. Abilities and Hidden Abilities apply broader effects that aid, and sometimes even hinder, Pokemon under certain circumstances. Ice Scales is helpful in the sense that it halves any damage that’s done from special moves. This ability is first introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield through Snom and Frosmoth. They’re the only Pokemon that come with this ability, which makes sense since they can use help in battle.
1 It’s A Water-Type Pokemon In The Trading Card Game
Pokemon has been able to survive for so long and be as successful as it has because it’s not just a popular video game series, but also many other forms of media, like an anime and a trading card game. It’s impressive that the Pokemon TCG consistently releases new sets that feature the latest additions to the Pokédex. In this respect, Snom only enters in Generation VIII, but it still has its own TCG card. Curiously, Snom is a Ice- and Bug-Type in the video games, but it’s depicted as a Water-Type Pokemon in the card game.
NEXT: Pokémon Sword & Shield: 5 Pokémon That Are Useless Without Gigantamax Forms (& 5 That Don’t Need Them)
