I’m Luke Summerhayes, and I love Stunfisk.
I talked a little while back about the quest to create the smallest Pokémon the series had ever seen, and how that resulted in Joltik. Another Generation Five Pokémon created to set a record was the thinnest, flattest monster. The result was Stunfisk.
To create a flat Pokémon, the designers took inspiration from flatfish. These unusual creatures, the most of which is the flounder, are born looking more like regular fish but as they grow, in a Pokémon Evolution-like metamorphosis, one eye migrate around to the other side of the head and they flatten out, hiding in the sands of riverbeds.
Stunfisk is the trap Pokémon, a ground and electric type flat, brown fish, with two eyes and a round little mouth. A footprint-like pattern above the face tempts prey to keep walking.
White
It conceals itself in the mud of the seashore. Then it waits. When prey touch it, it delivers a jolt of electricity.
Black
Its skin is very hard, so it is unhurt even if stepped on by sumo wrestlers. It smiles when transmitting electricity.
This electricity generation and trapping behaviour is actually unlike a flatfish and more like the stargazer. Stargazers are another fish which live among the sands at the bottom of the water. When they bury themselves, only a grim mouth and two eyes are visible, looking very much like Stunfisk’s face. They are ambush hunters capable of delivering electric shocks.
Unlike Stunfisk though, Stargazers are not actually flat. They are full-bodied fish whose faces just happen to be positioned at the top of their heads, so when buried they can look straight up and blend in with the sands. Some Stargazers even have growths on their lips which act like fishing lures to draw prey in.
This takes us back to another recent Pokémon design conversation. With Foongus and Amoongus, we discussed how the game designers needed a new mimic that could blend with pokéball sprites in the overworld. In the first HD games, sword and shield, they needed to make the trap convincing even in the more detailed, dynamic visual style. And so we get Galarian Stunfisk.
Stunfisk in the Galar region are ground and steel type Pokémon, with spiky edges that can close like a bear trap. The top and bottom lips are red and white respectively, so when lying flat on the ground they resemble a Pokéball which might try to pick up.
Shield
Its conspicuous lips lure prey in as it lies in wait in the mud. When prey gets close, Stunfisk clamps its jagged steel fins down on them.

ANDY
Not all Pokémon are as hardy as Andy claims, but Stunfisk certainly is. Defensive, a lot of HP, and attack either special for the Unovan form or Physical for the Galarian, Stunfisk is a tough little defensive monster. The original Unovan form can supplement this with the ability Sand Veil, which as with real flounders and Stargazers hides it in sand, raising evasiveness in sandstorms. Galarian Stunfisk has the unusual Mimicry ability, letting it change typing to match terrain, a sort of dry run for the Terrastal phenomenon which would appear in the next generation.
The name Stunfisk of course comes from this being a disk-shaped fish that can stun you. The Japanese name, Maggyo, combines maddo, for mud, and gyo, a reading of the word for fish. It’s a mud fish, after all.
Andy might claim he wouldn’t take the opportunity to pick up a Pokéball in the street, but I know that any listener of this podcast would do really. I hope you don’t get zapped by a voltorb, spored by a Foongus or crunched by a Stunfisk.
Original music for Luke Loves Pokémon is by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork is by Katie Groves. Funding is provided by listeners at Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius. For just a dollar a month, supporters can listen to episodes a week early and also help cover hosting and fees, making it possible for me to keep making episodes every week.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch about upcoming Pokémon on twitter or facebook at LukeLovesPKMN. Drop a comment if you’re watching the video, or a review on apple podcasts or spotify. Coming up are Mienfoo and Druddigon, so please get in touch about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Stunfisk. And remember, I love you too.