The Best Pokemon Based on Rabbits

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon, both fictional and based on real creatures, include rabbit-inspired ones like Buneary, Lopunny, Scorbunny, and more
• Whismur, Audino, and Magearna have rabbit-like features, showing Pokemon’s diverse inspirations even when they don’t directly resemble rabbits.
• Azumarill, Diggersby, Plusle, Minun, and Raboot also showcase the variety of rabbit-themed Pokemon across different generations.

Despite being fictional creatures, Pokemon are often based on real-life animals, plants, and even objects. Gen 9 marked the series’ 1000th Dex entry – Gholdengo – so there’s certainly plenty of Pokemon to love. Of the animals represented in the Pokemon series, bunnies seem to be few and far between, with the first rabbit Pokemon not being introduced until Gen 2 and none at all being added in the Gen 9 games. While there are only a handful of bunny Pokemon, the ones that exist are certainly iconic.

Updated October 9, 2024, by Ben Painter: Pokemon are based on all sorts of things, including plants, objects, and mythical creatures, but the main ones are animals. At this stage, there are only so many animals that have taken inspiration from the designs of Pokemon. There are many based around the fluffy, lovable creatures, rabbits. Some are loosely based, but others are just straight-up rabbits. This update gives readers more context on each Pokemon and information on where to find them in the latest entry in the franchise, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

15 Whismur – The Whisper Pokemon

Generation 3

• Type: Normal
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 64 HP
• Best Move: Uproar

Some of the Pokemon on this list are a lot more based on rabbits than others. Whismur just touches on that inspiration with its large, floppy ears, an iconic trait of rabbits.

Whismur loses this bunny style when it evolves into Loudred and definitely when it becomes Exploud, which takes its origins from a pipe organ. With an evolution line based on sound, it makes total sense to have the base form be a rabbit, as they have exceptional hearing thanks to their large ears.

Whismur’s Base Stats:

14 Nidoran – The Poison Pin Pokemon

Generation 1

• Type: Poison
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Red & Blue
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat:
  • Male: 57 Attack
  • Female: 55 HP
• Best Move: Earth Power

This references both forms of Nidoran (male & female), who are currently considered separate species of Pokemon. They appear to be based on a few different forms of mammals, but they do have a lot of things that are akin to a rabbit.

Both sets of Pokemon have large ears and buck teeth and have a similar posture to how a rabbit sits. The evolved forms of Nidorino and Nidorina keep some of these features but definitely are more of an amalgamation of a rhinoceros. The final forms almost have no features of a rabbit, but fans can see some sort of resemblance there.

Nidoran’s Base Stats:

13 Magearna – The Artificial Pokemon

Generation 7

• Type: Steel/Fairy
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Sun & Moon
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Transfer from Pokemon Home
• Best Stat: 130 Special Attack
• Best Move: Fleur Cannon

At the outset, the Mythical Magearna isn’t a rabbit at all, but if gamers look deeper, then they can see a rabbit inspiration somewhere. The Steel/Fairy-type is based on Pokeball, its original coloring is much more reminiscent of this, and the idea of this human-origin Pokemon is that it would fold up into a sphere to make a Pokeball.

But in its unfolded state, it has some characteristics of a bunny. The large ears, large eyes, and small mouth make for a very rabbit-like appearance to it. It certainly is stretching it, but there is definitely something in Magearna to base this on.

Magearna’s Base Stats:

12 Audino – The Hearing Pokemon

Generation 5

• Type: Normal
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Black & White
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 103 HP
• Best Move: Last Resort

There is a common theme here; a Pokemon that has large ears certainly has some rabbit influence. This is no different to Audino’s case, it certainly is based on a mammal and the closest thing it represents is a rabbit.

Audino is a Chansey reboot, and it was even given a mega evolution, which makes it more rabbit-like with its white coloring. It is known as the Hearing Pokemon and even has a little round tail, just like those found on rabbits. There are a lot of points to make this one a bunny ‘mon.

Audino’s Base Stats:

11 Wigglytuff – The Balloon Pokemon

Generation 1

• Type: Normal/Fairy
  • Just Normal prior to Generation 6
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Red & Blue
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet:
  • North Province: Area One
  • Tera Raid Battles (4★)
  • Evolve from Jigglypuff
• Best Stat: 140 HP
• Best Move: Double-Edge

Its pre-evolution Jigglypuff is an iconic Pokemon known for putting Ash and friends to sleep with its singing in the anime. However, there is no rabbit in the Normal/Fairy type ‘mon.

Its final form in Wigglytuff has a much more rabbit-like appearance thanks to its ears and overall shape. Not only that, Wigglytuff may be based on the Chinese mythical figure, the moon rabbit, which is based on markings on the moon that resemble a rabbit. The fact that Wigglytuff evolves from Jigglypuff thanks to a Moon Stone is even more evidence for this being the case.

Wigglytuff’s Base Stats:

10 Plusle – The Cheering Pokemon

Generation 3

• Type: Electric
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC):
  • Canyon Biome
  • Chargestone Cavern
  • Polar Biome
  • Tera Raid Battles (3★)
• Best Stat: 95 Speed
• Best Move: Last Resort

The original Pikachu clone, as in Generation 2, Pichu was introduced as a pre-evolved form of the mascot, so it’s not entirely a clone. Plusle is normally paired with Minun as its ability, Plus, increases its Sp. Atk if Minun (with the Minus ability) is on the field with it. This makes use of the double battle feature introduced in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.

Although Plusle’s design takes a lot of inspiration from Pikachu’s mouse-like features, it also looks a lot like a rabbit with its long ears which are rounder than Pikachu’s. Looking a lot more like a bunny.

Plusle’s Base Stats:

9 Minun – The Cheering Pokemon

Generation 3

• Type: Electric
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC):
  • Canyon Biome
  • Chargestone Cavern
  • Polar Biome
  • Tera Raid Battles (3★)
• Best Stat: 95 Speed
• Best Move: Last Resort

Minun is Plusle but blue instead of red, meaning it also looks like a cute little electric rabbit. Introduced in Generation 3, it set the precedent for Pikachu clones introduced in later generations. The next in line was Pachirisu, which is a squirrel and not a rabbit. The only difference in-game between the two is that Plusle is slightly more attack-minded and Minun is slightly more defensive.

Minun even has a little tail, just like a bunny, in the shape of a minus symbol, whereas Plusle has a plus symbol, a reference to them working together and electricity as a battery. It may be a reference to the Duracell bunny, which first appeared in commercials in 1973. However, this may be a stretch.

Minun’s Base Stats:

8 Azumarill – The Aqua Rabbit Pokemon

Generation 2

• Type: Water/Fairy
  • Just Water prior to Generation 6
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Gold & Silver
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet:
  • West Province: Area Two
  • North Province: Casseroya Lake
  • North Province: Casseroya Lake (Fairy Tera Type)
  • Tera Raid Battles (4★)
  • Evolve from Marill
• Best Stat: 100 HP
• Best Move: Double-Edge/Superpower

The first ever bunny Pokemon was Azumarill, a cute Water/Fairy type from Pokemon Gold & Silver. This Pokemon evolves from a rodent – Marill – into a rabbit at level 18. Its design resembles bubbles coming up from the water — a camouflage tactic designed to confuse and hide from enemies.

Azumarill made several appearances in the anime and is in charge of the request counter in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, where players can accept or cancel job requests. It’s also a strong Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet, as its ability and moveset make it a powerful raid Pokemon.

Azumarill’s Base Stats:

7 Buneary – The Rabbit Pokemon

Generation 4

• Type: Normal
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 85 Speed
• Best Move: Bounce

Buneary is a cute, normal-type bunny Pokemon introduced in the Gen 4 Pokemon games. It shares its category with its evolution, Lopunny, as well as Scorbunny and Raboot, which are all known as Rabbit Pokemon.

While it looks to be cute and friendly, it is the only Pokemon with 0 base friendship that isn’t a Legendary, Mythical, or Ultra Beast. Players will, therefore, have to work hard to earn this rabbit’s trust.

Buneary’s Base Stats:

6 Lopunny – Rabbit Pokemon

Generation 4

• Type: Normal
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 105 Speed
• Best Move: High Jump Kick

Lopunny is the final evolution of Buneary, which evolves with high friendship. It is likely based on a Lop bunny, a type of rabbit that has long, floppy ears instead of ones that stand up straight. Its fur placement resembles a fashion model wearing women’s fur or faux fur-cuffed gloves and boots.

It is a Normal-type Pokemon with a Normal/Fighting-type Mega Evolution that evolves when exposed to Lopunnite in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Interestingly, its mega evolution has the highest speed stat of any Normal-type Pokemon.

Lopunny’s Base Stats:

5 Bunnelby – Digging Pokemon

Generation 6

• Type: Normal
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon X & Y
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 57 Speed
• Best Move: Earthquake

Bunnelby is another normal-type rabbit Pokemon that made its debut in the Gen 6 Pokemon games and made a return in Pokemon Sword & Shield‘s Galar region. In Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon, Bunnelby is fittingly in charge of underground explorations of the Expedition Society.

It is a small, gray Pokemon with brown-tipped ears that is split into three segments. They’re almost like fingers and are strong enough to dig through the earth. Interestingly, its Generation 8 Pokedex entry notes that it is the natural prey of Corviknight, and it will quickly dig a hole underground should it hear one coming.

Bunnelby’s Base Stats:

4 Diggersby – Digging Pokemon

Generation 6

• Type: Normal/Ground
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon X & Y
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Unobtainable
• Best Stat: 85 HP
• Best Move: Earthquake/Hammer Arm

Diggersby is the final evolution of Bunnelby and is a Ground/Normal-type Pokemon that was introduced in the sixth-generation Pokemon games. It makes a major appearance in the Pokemon anime as one of Claremont’s Pokemon.

Given that its strong ears are used for digging, it’s likely that this Pokemon is based on an excavator. The brown fur on its ears resembles excavated dirt or mud, which is a nice touch that keeps the design cohesive. It could perhaps be argued that its tendency to laze about after work could be based in part on the construction workers themselves.

Diggersby’s Base Stats:

3 Scorbunny – Rabbit Pokemon

Generation 8

• Type: Fire
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Sword & Shield
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC):
  • Chargestone Cavern (after boosting biodiversity in the Polar Biome)
  • Polar Biome (after boosting biodiversity in the Polar Biome)
• Best Stat: 71 Attack
• Best Move: Double-Edge

Scorbunny is the Fire-type starter of Pokemon Sword & Shield and arguably the most popular of the three Gen 8 starter Pokemon. This adorable rabbit Pokemon has a patch of yellow fur across its nose resembling a bandage; a cute detail for a Pokemon that has that troublemaker personality.

Scorbunny is primarily male Pokemon, with a gender ratio of 87.5/12.5 male/female. This somewhat controversial choice was likely made as Scorbunny’s evolutionary line is based on British (Galarian) football culture, which is dominated by male players.

Scorbunny’s Base Stats:

2 Raboot – Rabbit Pokemon

Generation 8

• Type: Fire
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Sword & Shield
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC): Evolve from Scorbunny
• Best Stat: 94 Speed
• Best Move: Double-Edge

Between the adorable Scorbunny and powerful Cinderace comes Raboot, an oft-overlooked Pokemon as middle-stage evolutions can sometimes be. Raboot evolves from Scorbunny at Level 16 and continues to be a cute, bipedal rabbit Pokemon.

Raboot is shown to be quite aloof in the anime, as its casual appearance would suggest. It has a fur collar that resembles a balaclava covering its mouth and neck, a fitting design choice for its home climate of Galar.

Raboot’s Base Stats:

1 Cinderace – Striker Pokemon

Generation 8

• Type: Fire
• Game First Introduced: Pokemon Sword & Shield
• Location In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC): Evolve from Raboot
• Best Stat: 119 Speed
• Best Move: Pyro Ball/Double-Edge

Cinderace evolves from Raboot at Level 35 and is the final evolution of starter Pokemon Scorbunny. Its football-inspired ‘outfit’ is actually patches of different colored fur, giving it the appearance of a shoulder brace, tank top, shorts, and even boots.

Cinderace and its evolutionary line are the only known Pokemon with the hidden ability Libero. It’s a super powerful ability that’s great for competitive play as it allows the user to change its type to whatever type the move that it’s using.

Cinderace’s Base Stats: