Pokeddex challenge - Sneasel

The 2nd generation is to me the oddest of the lot. It's peculiar- it's given us some incredible pokemon, and some completely forgettable ones, with no middle ground at all. 

I never played the original GSC games (I got them at some point between gen 3 and 4) so when I saw a Sneasel the 1st time, it was in a magazine for collectors I randomly bought because it had Pokemon. I was sold instantly- but I didn't know what this was, or what was its name! I tried describing it to my friends as cat-like, with a long ear and a short one, and long arms. They didn't understand, but recognized it in retrospect. I really wanted one! I can't remember when was the first time I actually found its name, but first time I caught one myself was prolly in Emerald. 

The Dark type is one of my three favourite types and Sneasel sits on top of all other Dark types (except for Weavile whom I like just as much) by a long shot, and it's in my top 5 favourites. I don't understand its design- they tell us it's a weasel demon from Japanese folklore, and yet its body shape is the complete opposite of a weasel's. It's got feathers and it is asymmetrical, and it's also got two gems. Its dex entry mentions it can put its claws away, but it really can't, we never see that happen. What does any of this mean? It means nothing. This is a Pokémon that gets away with a nonsensical design just because the whole picture is too damn good. 

There is nothing about Sneasel I don't like, everything screams wicked, smart, dangerous. The proportions are delightfully twisted, the long sloth-like arms are precious (especially when you realize they're longer than the body + legs), the red ear is a much needed sign of danger and so is the tail. The eyelashes add to the wicked look- here, they do not scream femininity to me. The entire design is agile and speedy. AND the (post-Silver) colour scheme is the too classic red + black: an overused combination in original characters, but one I always like.  

I love making biological sense out of nonsensical designs. So I like to think the asymmetric ears are actually an adaptation that allows Sneasel to sense the direction of a noise with much more precision. The gems may be some sort of speed dissuader (does this word exist)- picture that: an enemy is slashing right through your head or chest, but its claw clashes with the gem- you take that momentum to your advantage and you attack.

Sneasel has many weaknesses, but its speed and attack are too much for it to care about weaknesses. This is a Pokémon that I always want on my team (same for Weavile obv) because it is just so good. 

Also Sneasel beat Ash's Pikachu in the anime so... take that Pikachu.