Chesnaught Pokémon

Introduced in generation six, with the Pokemon X and Y games, Chesnaught is a dual type fighting and grass Pokemon. It is the final evolution of Chespin and evolves from Quilladin when it reaches the level threshold. Chesnaught is classified by the Pokedex as the “Spiny Armor Pokemon” which is a nod to its general hedgehog resemblance. This guide will showcase Chesnaught’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Chesnaught.

About Chesnaught

While Chesnaught is the grass type starter of the generation six games, it first appeared in the Pokemon movie Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction and played a minor role as an antagonist. Chesnaught is the final evolution of its line and also represents the grass type starter of generation six. It will evolve from Quilladin at level 36, which evolves from Chespin at level 16. The Pokedex mentions that Chesnaught is strong enough to flip a 50 ton tank.

Chesnaught Base Stats

Appearance

Chesnaught is a large hedgehog-like Pokemon that stands on two legs and has some grass-like features throughout its body with a large shell on its back. The shell has spiked quills to ward off opponents with two arms that extend outwards from its main body and fingers that resemble thorns. Most of its body is cream colored although its large shell has some green trimmings. Chesnaught has a spiky face that resembles a beard as well as a tuft of fur running down its chest. It stands at 5 feet and 3 inches, or 1.6 meters, tall.

Behavior

Chesnaught is a hot-headed Pokemon that fights for its friends, and its large body often acts as a shield to protect its trainer and other companions. Its bulky exterior is capable of withstanding an explosion from a bomb. While its defensive capabilities are frequently mentioned, it also has the strength to flip a 50 ton tank. Many of its appearances throughout the franchise’s media showcase Chesnaught as a reliable battler, but it does not appear in the wild regularly.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Chesnaught has a fair share of health along with a strong physical defense although while its physical attack is respectable, its slow speed stat pushes Chesnaught into a more defensive role. While it does not have the best defensive typing, it is still reliable in a defensive role. As a dual type fighting and grass Pokemon, Chesnaught is 2x weak to poison, fire, psychic, ice, and fairy type moves while taking 4x damage from flying type moves. It is immune to no types but is resistant to ground, rock, water, grass, electric, and dark type moves.

Best Moveset

Since Chesnaught’s introduction in generation six, it has managed to maintain a position in the middle of competitive brackets. That is because it has the capability to set up many hazards on your opponent's side of the field while also sporting a more powerful version of the move Protect. Consider running Spikes, Leech Seed/Synthesis, Spiky Shield and Drain Punch/Wood Hammer. The damage from Spikes can add up very quickly, Leech Seed/Synthesis are interchangeable as self-sustaining options while Spiky Shield can buy you time while also dealing chip damage. Finally, Drain Punch/Wood Hammer are powerful STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) damaging options.

How to Catch Chesnaught in Pokemon Go

If you would like to obtain a Chesnaught in Pokemon Go, the only way to do so is to first obtain a Chespin. Unlike most final evolution Pokemon, Chesnaught does not naturally spawn in the wild and you will have to evolve a Chespin in order to obtain a Chesnaught. You can hatch a Chespin from 5 km eggs and find it in the wild which makes things easier. Search near parks, farmlands, forests, hiking trails, and other grassy areas to have a boosted grass-type spawn rate. Unfortunately none of the Pokemon in Chespin’s evolution line has appeared in raid battles which means you’ll need to do this the hard way. You will need 25 candies to evolve into Quilladin and another 100 to evolve into Chesnaught.

Trivia

1. Of all the starter Pokemon in the franchise, Chesnaught has the highest base physical defense stat.
2. The inspiration for Chesnaught’s design seems to be a combination of hedgehogs with chestnuts.
3. The name Chesnaught is a combination of the words chestnut and juggernaut.

Video

FAQ

Is Chesnaught any good?

Since Chesnaught’s inclusion in generation six it has managed to stay near the middle of the competitive tiers. It performs as a solid defensive Pokemon that seeks to have a prolonged battle and win through chip damage and hazards. The move Spiky Shield also gave it a premier stalling move that can also deal damage.

Is there a Mega Chesnaught?

There is no official Mega Chesnaught in the mainline games. It is not likely that Chesnaught will receive a mega evolution in the future as the developers have been moving away from mega evolutions entirely. While Mega Chesnaught would certainly raise its battle capabilities from middle tier to top tier, it will have to make due with its current strategies.

What animal is Chespin?

It is likely that Chespin is based on a hedgehog mixed with a chestnut plant. It resembles a real-life hedgehog and its grassy hood resembles the shoots of a chestnut plant. The name Chespin implies that chestnuts are included with its design and pin indicates the quills of a hedgehog.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Spiny Armor Pokemon”. Chesnaught has had a mild impact on competitive play as a solid pick for a defensive Pokemon on any team. Its ability to self-sustain itself while also setting up hazards for the opponent’s Pokemon as well as having a stronger Protect move makes it a good defensive Poekmon. Reserve a slot for Chesnaught on your team if you want to fight a prolonged battle.