Pokémon has always been a franchise full of surprises, and one such unique creature is Girafarig. This giraffe-like Normal/Psychic Pokémon was introduced in the Generation II games and initially had no evolutionary tree. With its dual typing and intriguing two-faced design, Girafarig has captured the hearts of trainers. It also finally got a new evolution, Farigiraf, in the Generation IX games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
While Girafarig may not be the most famous Pokémon in the series, its new evolution is still worth exploring, as Farigiraf has the potential to be a powerful part of any trainer’s battle lineup. In this article, we will delve into the evolution of Girafarig, breaking down each form’s moves, stats, weaknesses, and strengths, along with everything you need to know to make yours evolve.
Girafarig: The Base Form
Girafarig was introduced in the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. It has a distinct giraffe-like appearance with a dual-colored torso that indicates its dual Normal/Psychic typing. Curiously, it also has a second small head on its tail, complete with eyes, teeth, and a small brain (although it’s incapable of independent thought). In Gold and Silver, trainers can encounter and capture Girafarig along Route 43.
Here are Girifarig’s combat metrics in its base form:
Base Stats:
- HP: 70
- Attack: 80
- Defense: 65
- Special Attack: 90
- Special Defense: 65
- Speed: 85
Girafarig has solid Special Attack and Speed stats along with pretty good Attack, making it a capable offensive choice. With only 455 combined base stat points, though, it’s far from being one of the strongest Pokémon in its base form.
Girafarig also has one of two abilities, Inner Focus or Early Bird, and can have the hidden ability, Sap Sipper. Inner Focus prevents Girafarig from flinching, while Early Bird makes it wake up faster from sleep. If it has the Sap Sipper ability, then it will be immune to Grass-type attacks.
Strengths and Weaknesses: As a Normal/Psychic-type Pokémon, Girafarig boasts some unique type resistances. It’s immune to Ghost-type moves due to its Normal typing and resistant to Psychic-type moves due to its Psychic typing. However, its dual typing leaves it weak against Bug and Dark-type moves.
All in all, the base Girafarig evolution is a solid offensive Normal/Psychic-type Pokémon with decent stats and the potential for a diverse move set.
Notable Learned Moves:
- Level 5: Confusion (Psychic)
- Level 14: Stomp (Normal)
- Level 19: Psybeam (Psychic)
- Level 28: Double Hit (Normal)
- Level 32: Twim Beam (Psychic)
- Level 37: Crunch (Dark)
- Level 50: Psychic (Psychic)
Farigiraf: The New Girafarig Evolution
From Generation II to Generation VIII, Girafarig was a standalone Pokémon, meaning it had no prior evolution or evolution requirements. That changed in 2022 with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. These Generation IX titles introduced Farigiraf, the new Girafarig evolution available to trainers.
Whereas most Pokémon evolve through leveling or with the use of an item, Girafarig’s evolution is different. It still occurs naturally (no special items required), but only when Girafarig levels up after learning the move Twin Beam. This is Girafarig’s signature move, and it learns it only by reaching level 32. There is no other way for Girafarig to learn Twin Beam or for any other Pokémon to learn it.
After Girafarig evolves into Farigiraf, it undergoes a fearsome transformation. Overall, it retains its two-toned color scheme and giraffe-like appearance. However, the small head on its tail appears to merge with its “normal” head, almost making it look as if Farigiraf is wearing a helmet. This Girafarig evolution into Farigiraf also brings notable changes to its moves, abilities, and stats.
Base Stats:
- HP: 120
- Attack: 90
- Defense: 70
- Special Attack: 110
- Special Defense: 70
- Speed: 60
After evolving from Girafarig, Farigiraf gets a notable boost to its offensive stats, with its Special Attack now edging out its physical Attack by a much wider margin. It also gets a considerable HP upgrade but takes a big hit to its Speed stat (likely due to the Pokémon’s larger size). In this form, Farigiraf has a total base stat point count of 520, and its Normal/Psychic typing doesn’t change.
In terms of innate abilities, Farigiraf can have either Cud Chew or Armor Tail. Cud Chew lets a Pokémon use the same berry twice, but it will also be doubly affected by a Berry thrown by an opponent using Fling. Armor Tail, Farigiraf’s signature ability, makes it and its teammates immune to priority moves used by enemy Pokémon. Its hidden ability is still Sap Sipper.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Farigiraf’s typing doesn’t change upon evolution. As a dual Normal/Psychic type, it has the same effectiveness and resistances as Girafarig. That means it’s totally immune to Ghost-type attacks, resistant to Psychic-type moves, and only weak against Bug and Dark-type moves. Its learned moveset is also the same as Girafarig’s.
Farigiraf is a strong Girafarig evolution and a worthy offensive member of any team. Its stats are substantially improved, with a focus on Attack and Special Attack, making it a versatile powerhouse capable of dealing serious damage. Although it sacrifices some speed, it more than makes up for that with its much higher HP, allowing it to last a bit longer in battle.
Although it took a while for Girafarig to receive an evolution, it was worth the wait. Its dual typing adds a layer of complexity to its gameplay that sets it apart from other Pokémon and gives it very few major type weaknesses. It also has access to some unique abilities and powerful moves that make it a versatile attacker. Whether you choose to harness its Normal attacks or Psychic strengths, Girafarig is a captivating Pokémon with a powerful new evolution that makes it a worthwhile addition to your battle roster.