It's been suggested to me that I begin to compile the bulk of my research into one standardized database, for the sake of convenience. I've decided to brand this compilation “The OmniDex", an ever-expanding and comprehensive guide to the various families of pokemon I've devoted my life to studying under the tutelage of [REDACTED]. I will strive to remain as factual and unbiased as I can while also conveying the full depth of these intricate creatures and how they interact with the world we live in. This first entry will cover Farfetch'd, its Galarian variant, and its evolution, Sirfetch'd.
Biology[]
Farfetch'd as known to most are incredibly simple avian creatures: birds about two feet in height with light brown feathers, white underbellies, and bright yellow beaks. They are almost always seen carrying the stalk of a leek-like plant, which varies depending on location. Most observed Farfetch'd carry these leeks using their left wings, but ambidexterity has been reported. They have been classified as dual normal/flying-types and this remains undisputed by the International Bureau of Pokemon Classification. Farfetch'd of this nature do not evolve.
In the Galar region, Farfetch'd differ genetically from the rest of their kind. While this has led to some calls to classify them as an entirely different species altogether, they are largely viewed only as a different breed. Galarian Farfetch'd have much darker feathers, with slightly sharper beaks. Their wings also contain much more muscle than standard Farfetch'd, allowing them to carry larger stalks at the cost of losing their ability to fly. These Farfetch'd seem to favor the use of their right wing, though left-winged specimens have been observed. Galarian Farfetch'd have been classified as Fighting-types since 1816.
Most notable about Galarian Farfetch'd is their ability to evolve into an entirely different pokemon, known colloquially as Sirfetch'd. Sirfetch'd resemble their base forms, with a few striking differences. Their dark brown feathers turn white upon evolution, and the muscle mass in the upper body increases significantly. They also choose to carry around the hardened leaf of a new strain of stalk, which they use for protection as well as food. They typically retain any wing preference they may have had as a Farfetch'd. Sirfetch'd was first documented in 1801 and was classified as a pure Fighting-type pokemon soon after.
Behavior[]
Both variants of Farfetch'd, as well as Sirfetch'd, are rather uniform in terms of temperament. Like most birds, they are incredibly proud, often displaying their strength in mock battles against other members of their flocks. Most of this battling is done with the leeks that they carry, which they are very protective over and very picky about. A trainer in the Johto region reportedly spent two years finding a new stalk for her Farfetch'd after the original was destroyed in a battle against Azalea Town's gym leader, Bugsy.
Sirfetch'd, unlike both breeds of Farfetch'd, will never find a replacement for their leeks. A Sirfetch'd that finds its leek to be missing or otherwise damaged will retire almost immediately. Depending on the age of the Sirfetch'd, it will either depart from the flock in shame (as typically seen in younger specimens) or join the eldest in the flock as caretakers of the Farfetch'd chicks (as seen in older specimens). A Sirfetch'd that has carried its leek until the end of its life is hailed with the highest respect from its flock. The mourning period for these pokemon can last from hours to weeks.
Due to their general lack of mobility, Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd do not migrate seasonally. Instead, they construct durable nests and spend the colder months in a period of light activity and heavy sleep, similar to an Ursaring's hibernation. Most Farfetch'd do migrate seasonally, however. While their wings lack the power most avians possess, their affinity for aerokinesis allows them to fly hundreds of miles over the course of a few weeks. Unlike most birds, who can travel almost endlessly, Farfetch'd must land rather frequently in order to tend to their leeks (which are held with their feet or beaks during flight) and rest their wings. This has rather limited their expansion globally.
During non-migrational times, Farfetch'd flocks will settle in grassy areas. They nest on the ground, not in trees, so foliage is unnecessary and sometimes even dangerous to them, providing cover for their predators. Farfetch'd adults sleep in shifts, keeping watch over the rest of the flock as others sleep. During the day, Farfetch'd will put on displays of strength, often in a jovial manner, through battle. Otherwise, they are beyond content to splash around in shallow waters, even playing with other pokemon such as Poliwag and Psyduck.
Predators of Farfetch'd vary across regions. In Kanto, they face only occasional danger from pokemon when resting during migration. On these stops, they become a favorite of Ekans and Arbok. While rare, cases of Tentacruel's feasting on Farfetch'd have been reported. Despite this, Kanto's greatest threat against Farfetch'd is human hunting. Farfetch'd are known for the gamey taste of their meat when cooked with the leek and are often hunted for it. Attempts to breed Farfetch'd en masse for their meat have been wildly unsuccessful. In Johto, the biggest threats to Farfetch'd colonies near Olivine City are Persian packs. Flocks near the Lake of Rage must remain ever wary of Fearow flocks. Both fear Raticate and Furret attacks on their eggs and young. Sinnohian Farfetch'd, located on Ramanas Island, are commonly preyed on by Floatzel and Nidorino/a populations. Farfetch'd in Kalos will oftentimes find themselves the meal of a Litleo cub. Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd are widely regarded as too tough to eat, but face predation from pokemon like Nickit and Grimmsnarl.
Husbandry and Care[]
Farfetch'd of any locale are not particularly difficult to care for, even for a novice trainer. With proper care and exercise, even the most stubborn of leek-carriers would make a solid addition to one's team.
It is incredibly important to note that Farfetch'd are social creatures. In taking one in, one must begin to think of their team as a flock or family. Farfetch'd will generally dislike being in a pokeball, with the exception being in heavily-crowded places or anywhere else the individual specimen would regard as “scary”. Farfetch'd are very protective of their young, and will therefore take on a parental role towards any baby pokemon on the team. A particularly fond Farfetch'd might even offer anybody with appropriate limbs (including its trainer) a leek or leek substitute. This is not to be taken lightly, and the object should be dealt with respectfully. Thankfully, most Farfetch'd are rather intelligent and will understand the concept of storing it somewhere for safe-keeping, even if they may not agree with it. This behavior, strangely, has not been recorded in Galarian Farfetch'd or Sirfetch'd, who instead see themselves as the sole protector of the team. However, it is not rare for a Sirfetch'd to take on an “apprentice” of sorts. In my experience, this typically ends with the apprentice evolving and towering over its “teacher”. The Sirfetch'd is never particularly thrilled with this.
In terms of survival, Farfetch'd need only the basics of food and water. Their diet consists largely of aquatic grasses and various grains, though they will also eat seeds and berries. It has become common to feed these pokemon bread, though this can be unhealthy for them as it harms their digestive system. Water should also be readily available at all times, though this is typical for almost any pokemon (or human, for that matter). Sirfetch'd will occasionally eat pieces of their leeks, but this is only in extremely dire situations or massive celebrations.
Illness[]
Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd are frequent carriers of avian influenza. While it is often mild in these species, their social tendencies do make them fast spreaders, and the disease can be dangerous to humans or other birds. Proper vaccination shortly after capture should nullify any risks, and most pokemon centers are well equipped.
Much more common is bumblefoot. Especially common in Galarian Farfetch'd and their evolved form, it typically manifests as sores on the bottom of the feet. This is usually caused by prolonged walking on rough surfaces, as their feet are not used to them. These sores can be treated with specialized ointment, but the best treatment is preventative measurements and monitoring surfaces the specimen may be walking on for elongated periods of time.
Angelwing is a particularly common malady amongst Farfetch'd chicks. Occasionally, feathers may grow in on the wings before they are finished developing. The weight of the feathers may impact the growth and formation of bones in the wings. Chicks should be inspected routinely, and slings may be required. Wing dislocations are not uncommon in adulthood either due to the carrying of the leek.
It is important to note that Farfetch'd are proud creatures and will often feign wellness, if not hide their injuries or illnesses altogether. Sirfetch'd, however, seem to understand that receiving help often leads to them getting stronger, so they are more likely to actively seek medical help.
Evolution[]
Standard Farfetch'd do not evolve.
In Galar, Farfetch'd evolve into Sirfetch'd after an especially triumphant victory. It is theorized that the adrenaline of a good battle is what activates the evolution, but nothing is known for sure. Every evolution into Sirfetch'd witnesses thus far has been after the victory of a Farfetch'd who had been enjoying themselves in battle.
Battle[]
In the wild, Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd are notorious for battling with their leeks. Often used as a blade or club, the stalks can sometimes harness basic energies to enhance the damage done in attacks such as Slash or Fury Cutter. Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd rely on physical attacks and their fighting-typing, while standard Farfetch'd have limited aerokinesis that they are capable of utilizing in battle.
In professional circuits, standard Farfetch'd are not commonly seen by any means, though they received a slight boost in popularity after flying-type specialist Holly Velasco used one in the Lily of the Valley Conference in 2011. Their lack of defenses or offensive variety makes them more than capable of gym challenges, but unable to keep up in the big leagues.
The same cannot be said for Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd. Their physical prowess and powerful movesets have made them incredibly popular in Galarian and international circuits. Sirfetch'd has consistently been a staple of Stow-on-Side's leader Bea Rousey's team since she took leadership in 2017, and Alolan Champion Ash Ketchum used one regularly during the 2019 World Coronation series.
Acquisition[]
Standard Farfetch'd can be found in Kanto, Johto, Kalos, and Sinnoh, with some unconfirmed sightings in Unova. Kantonian Farfetch'd tend to flock east, settling south of Lavender Town. In Johto, areas between Ecutreak and Olivine City are home to many Farfetch'd, but some flocks nest just south of the Lake of Rage. The plains east of Santalune City in Kalos home a few populations, as does the nature preserve in the south. Sinnohians roost on Ramanas Island.
No license is required to capture or even hunt these pokemon. They are not considered hazardous or endangered and thus there are no limitations to ownership.
In Galar, Farfetch'd congregate in the center of the region, most commonly found in the plains between Turffield and Hulbury. Flocks have also been reported in various regions of the Wild Area. Sirfetch'd will be found living in these flocks as well.
A Class C Training License is required to own a Galarian Farfetch'd or Sirfetch'd. Hunting these pokemon is illegal.
Breeding[]
Standard Farfetch'd mate seasonally, forming pairs in the winter months and then breeding once they've migrated to their spring locations. This is usually brought on by males displaying their strength in battle in order to impress nearby females. Female Farfetch'd are notoriously picky about their mates. Farfetch'd typically lay about 8 to 15 eggs a season, and most batches hatch a full roster of live chicks. Farfetch'd eggs tend to hatch after about a month, and the mother will raise the chicks closely until they strike out as full-fledged members of the flock after approximately 50 to 60 days. Rarely, a lone Pidgey will be taken in as a Farfetch'd chick, wielding a leek in its mouth. These specimens will most often revert to living as their own species once evolution realigns their brain functions.
Galarian Farfetch'd do not breed often, as the role is often taken on by Sirfetch'd. Sirfetch'd mate year round, though certain flocks adopt different times of the year to do so. A flock near Hulbury chooses to lay eggs in the summer months, but a southern flock will often do so in the winter. Young Farfetch'd often embark on short journeys upon reaching sexual maturity, traveling and training for a number of months before returning to the flock.
In Pop Culture[]
As stated in “Battle”, only two notable trainers in recent history have used a member of the Farfetch'd family in professional battle. They are much more notable for appearances in other media, such as television and film. One of the first Johtonian cartoons ever created, Ricky Rattata, featured an ensemble cast that included Fred Farfetch'd, a short tempered but well-meaning Farfetch'd.
The phrase “far fetched” comes from the species’ name. It was coined originally as Unovan slang, as travelers from the region couldn't believe that a bird was capable of wielding a tool. They began to use “Farfetch'd” as a stand-in for wild or unbelievable, but it was misheard as the semi-sensical “far fetched", which is widely used to this day. It's often misconceptualized that Farfetch'd was named after the phrase, but this is false. Farfetch'd comes from an old Kantonian language, from fari meaning “bird” and fech'd meaning “that carries”.
In Galar, Farfetch'd is massively underrepresented in culture, though Galarian nationalists once used Galarian Farfetch'd alongside pokemon like Corsola and Ponyta in a claim that Galar is the original origin point of the world and that the aptly named Galarian Formes are the “original species”. This is grossly incorrect.
Sirfetch'd are very popular in Galarian art. They are seen primarily as icons of justice, strength, and determination, with old Galarian royalty seeing their emergence in the wild as inspiring. Statues of the bird were constructed all across Galar as monuments. They were a popular painting motif in the rococo movement.
Final Notes[]
I've studied six flocks of Farfetch'd closely (four internationally and two in Galar), roughly 400 individuals. These birds are fascinating and pleasant creatures, but fall short of greatness in most regards. My professional opinion would be to disregard these creatures largely when moving forward with [REDACTED].
Galarian Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd should be monitored closely over the next few years. Nests and burrows should be monitored lightly and vocal communication should be interpreted as quickly as possible. Any progress forward should be noted and responded to quickly. In the case of rebellion, Sirfetch'd lack any mental fortitude and can be taken out en masse via [REDACTED].
Should any anomalies occur, the file will be updated accordingly. So far, no Farfetch'd have been reported with any anomalous qualities. [REDACTED] willing it stays that way.
End of transmission.
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