I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Fennekin.
I often talk about the third generation of Pokemon games being the ones which really solidified the formula – fire grass and water starters, two box legendaries, evil team, regional bird and so on. Probably since around the 4th generation, then, people have been asking for a new Pokemon game to break those conventions. One common request is for an alternative three-type, rock-scissors-paper circle for the starters.
Psychic, dark and fighting are a trio of types often suggested, and while they do mechanically work just like fire, grass and water, I think they are a much less intuitive introduction to the concept than the three elements we get. That said, the sixth generations did give us a small taste of this alternative by featuring dark, psychic and fighting as the secondary typings of the final evolutions.
Fennekin is a fire-type fox Pokemon, stretching the fan-theory that fire starters are based on the zodiac. I would argue fox is less of a stretch for dog than hedgehog was for mouse, though.
Fennekin has large ears full of fluff, though these are actually useful for its fire abilities.
X
Eating a twig fills it with energy, and its roomy ears give vent to air hotter than 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
Y
As it walks, it munches on a twig in place of a snack. It intimidates opponents by puffing hot air out of its ears.

Scarlet
This Pokémon gets worked up easily. Its body can also overheat, so it uses its ears to dissipate the heat and calm down.

The name Fennekin specifically references the Fennec fox, a real-life breed, as well as the well-documented kindling of twigs. The Japanese name, fokko, combines the English word fox with the Japanese for child, ko.
This child reaches its awkward teenage phase when, at level 16, it evolves into Braixen.
Braixen stands up on its hind legs in a more anthropomorphic form, the twigs it used to eat as a Fennekin now tucked into its bushy tail for use as a magic wand.
X
It has a twig stuck in its tail. With friction from its tail fur, it sets the twig on fire and launches into battle.
Y
When the twig is plucked from its tail, friction sets the twig alight. The flame is used to send signals to its allies.
We talked about the fox, or kitsune’s, role in Japanese folklore before in both the Vulpix episode and the Zorua one. In many stories, kitsune take on the forms of human females, and foxfire is a widely reported phenomenon, so this slightly humanoid fire fox makes a lot of sense.
The name vixen is used for female foxes, but also often applied to human women. Combined with “braise”, the French for hot charcoal, we get the name Braixen. The Japanese name Tairenar combines the English word Tail with the French for fox, renard.
Braixen can be seen in action using its bushy tail and firey magic in the fighting game Pokken Tournament, where it is one of the few middle evolution Pokemon to make an appearance.
Perhaps this is because its sorceries would have been too powerful if it had been allowed to compete after reaching level 36 and evolving into Delphox.
Delphox has fully developed into a witch, with long cloak and constantly burning magic wand. Though it has gained an additional psychic typing, it still resembles a bushy fur-coated animal with firey red coat, so it actually does a nice job of toing the line between humanoid and animalistic.
The Japanese name Mahoxy combines the Japanese name for a witch, mado, with the English word fox. The English name Delphox refers to specific witches, the oracles of Delphi from Greek Myth, known for their prophetic powers.
X
It gazes into the flame at the tip of its branch to achieve a focused state, which allows it to see into the future.

Scarlet
It leaves burn marks in the ground with the flame at the tip of its wand. Long ago, people used the shapes of these burn marks for divination.

Seeing into the future is cool lore, but in gameplay it doesn’t do much more than let Delphox use the move Future Sight. Beyond that, powerful fire and psychic attacks are Delphox’s main talent.
Y
Using psychic power, it generates a fiery vortex of 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit, incinerating foes swept into this whirl of flame.
Violet
It controls flames telekinetically, trapping its foes in a fiery vortex surpassing 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit and burning them to a crisp.

Delphox can deal out a lot of damage, especially after using a boosting move like calm mind, but this requirement and a lack of speed have kept it from being a competitive mainstay. Still, its type combination and bulk have let it work on specific teams as a counter to certain opponents.
In the anime, Serena had a Fennekin which eventually evolved to Delphox, and it made itself known on the Showcase scene moreso than in battle.
Chesnaught was widely derided when Pokemon X and Y launched, while Greninja has become enduringly popular. Delphox seems to have been somewhat forgotten compared to those two – perhaps it was one kitsune pokemon too far, but I think it has its own unique flavor.
Music for Luke Loves Pokemon is by Jonathat Cromie. Artwork for the show is by KatieGroves. If you enjoy the podcast, find out about my other shows atpodcastiopodcastius.org, get in touch on bluesky @podcastpodcast, or support the showat patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.I love hearing from Listeners! Up next are Froakie and Bunnelby, so hit me up about those or any other Pokemon. Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much for listening.
I love Fennekin. And remember, I love you too