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Klefki

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Klefki
Pokémon character
Klefki artwork by Ken Sugimori
First gamePokémon X and Y (2013)
Designed byMana Ibe
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeSteel and Fairy

Klefki (/ˈklɛfkiː/ ⓘ), known in Japan as Cleffy (Japanese: クレッフィ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. It was designed by Pokémon graphic designer Mana Ibe and was inspired by old mansions and secret keys. Klefki was introduced in Pokémon X and Y and is a Steel and Fairy Pokémon known for collecting keys. A short film about Klefki called Pikachu, What's This Key For? premiered as an opener for Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.

Klefki received a mostly negative reception, though it gained the most attention among generation VI Pokémon prior to release. While multiple critics felt that it was poorly designed, other critics praised Klefki, defending it and other Pokémon based around inanimate objects. Critics also discussed how nostalgia impacts people's perception of Pokémon, citing Magnemite from Pokémon Red and Blue in comparison to Klefki. Klefki was also a popular Pokémon in the competitive scene of Pokémon X and Y.

Concept and design

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Klefki is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.[1] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon.[2] Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[3] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]

Classified as a Steel- and Fairy-type Pokémon and standing eight inches tall, Klefki resembles a key ring with four keys dangling off it, having two eyes and a keyhole-shaped mouth in the middle. A pink appendage hangs beneath the center of its body.[4] Klefki was designed by Mana Ibe, a graphic designer whose initial idea derived from the history of Kalos—the fictional region that Pokémon X and Y is set in. From there, they were inspired to add "story elements to a key design," basing the design off of old mansions and secret keys.[5] Character designer Ken Sugimori felt that Klefki exemplified the "variety and richness" of Pokémon species designs due to being based on an inanimate object such as a key ring.[6]

Appearances

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Klefki first appeared in Pokémon X and Y[7] before other future mainline titles, including Pokémon Sword and Shield[8] and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.[9] It was added to the mobile game Pokémon Go in 2020,[10] in which it was exclusively obtainable in France. Fans discovered that Klefki could also be obtained in areas geographically near France, including parts of England, Germany, Spain, and Italy, due to how the developer Niantic designed the spawn area.[11]

Klefki made a debut in the Pokémon anime in the short film Pikachu, What's This Key?, where it used its keys to help Pikachu and his friends visit several worlds.[12] Another Klefki appears in the anime episode "Dreaming a Performer's Dream!", entrusted to keep a key safe from the character Monsieur Pierre.[13]

Reception

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Klefki's design received mixed reception. Writer Imran Khan of Fanbyte identified it as the go-to example of issues with modern Pokémon designs.[14] Video game journalists regarded its design as among the worst of new Pokémon introduced in X and Y, characterizing the design as uninspired, insipid, strange, and an example of Game Freak's "creative bankruptcy".[a] VentureBeat staff felt unsurprised by the concept behind the Pokémon, arguing that the team had run out of ideas.[22] It has also been regarded as one of the worst Pokémon overall, with IGN readers voting Klefki as one of the worst Pokémon from Pokémon X and Y.[23][24][25][26] Hayes Madsen of Screen Rant claimed that Klefki should have never been made, deriding it for being based on an object.[27]

Official artwork of Magnemite, which was frequently compared to Klefki because it similarly consists of everyday objects.

Kotaku writer Zack Zwiezen initially assumed Klefki was a fake design due to its strange premise. He discussed how people differentiate modern Pokémon designs from classic ones, namely how a common criticism is that classic designs were "all-natural looking creatures." Refuting this claim, he stated that an earlier design in the series, Magnemite, was "just screws and magnets." However, he also wrote that Klefki's premise may indicate that the designers were out of ideas and needed to take a break.[4] Fanbyte writer James O'Connor similarly cited Magnemite as an example of early Pokémon designs being strange but still found Klefki unsettling despite the precedence of similar designs.[28] VGC's Jordan Middler, Chris Scullion, and Andy Robinson discussed Klefki in their podcast, citing its design as an example of Pokémon's lack of design creativity as more games are released.[29] Other critics were more positive, with many other authors regarding it as one of their favorite Pokémon.[30][31][32][33]

However, some praised Klefki for being based on an object. Kotaku's Patricia Hernandez noted that while some people dislike "inanimate objects that are somehow Pokémon", she defended it by saying its "ridiculous" concept made it noteworthy and may be based on the Japanese mythological tsukumogami.[7] TheGamer writer Sergio Solorzano suggested that people may be more okay with Pokémon like Magnemite than they are with Klefki because of nostalgia. He argued in favor of object-based Pokémon and appreciated that Steel-type Pokémon were getting more creative.[34]

Despite early assumptions that Klefki would be a weak Pokémon,[35] Klefki was significant in the Pokémon X and Y competitive scene, among the game's top Pokémon in part for being a "solid support wall."[34][36] Klefki's high placement was due to multiple factors, including its innate special ability, Prankster, and its access to certain status-affecting and support moves.[37][36] Additionally, both of Klefki's types gave it valuable defensive utility.[37] In Pojo's Unofficial Big Book of Pokemon, the author says Klefki was a solid lead in battles, but it was a better fit for a support role in double battles.[38] VG247 writer Cassandra Khaw was disappointed that the "sloppily-designed" species was advantageous competitively.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  3. ^ Pokémon Deluxe Essential Handbook. Scholastic Inc. July 28, 2015. p. 5. ISBN 9780545795661.
  4. ^ a b Zwiezen, Zack (July 27, 2019). "Klefki Will Steal Your Keys And Never Give Them Back". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (February 14, 2014). "Afterwords – Pokémon X & Y". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  6. ^ The Pokémon Company (December 2017). Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition. Piggyback Interactive. p. xv. ISBN 9781911015437.
  7. ^ a b Hernandez, Patricia (October 15, 2013). "The Best (and Possibly Worst) of The New Pokémon Designs". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Murray, Sean (July 1, 2020). "Pokémon Sword & Shield: How To Find Klefki". TheGamer. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Webb, Ethan (December 8, 2022). "How To Find (& Catch) Klefki in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  10. ^ McWhertor, Michael (November 18, 2020). "Gen 6 Pokémon are coming to Pokémon Go". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Shaw, Luke (December 5, 2020). "Fans have discovered that 'Pokémon Klefki' is available in multiple regions". NME. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Whritenhour, Jacob (February 3, 2015). "Watch a Special Pokémon Episode to Celebrate its New Season". Hardcore Gaming. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Thomas, Brooke (July 15, 2021). "10 Pokémon That Carry Around Weird Accessories". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Khan, Imran (July 13, 2023). "The Most Photogenic Pokémon We Want in the New Pokémon Snap". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "Klefki is a Pokemon that is a KEY RING. IT IS A KEY RING". October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  16. ^ "Analyzing The New Pokémon Of X & Y". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  17. ^ Vincent, Brittany (January 29, 2014). "14 Pokemon that are basically just ordinary objects with googly eyes". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "15 Worst Pokemon Designs Ever". ScreenRant. December 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  19. ^ Michels, Hana; Kokkinos, Asterios (February 11, 2016). "13 Pokemon That Prove They're Out Of Ideas". Paste. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  20. ^ Webber, Angela (October 14, 2013). "Has Pokémon Run Out of Ideas?". The Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  21. ^ Bailey, Kat (November 22, 2018). "Los peores Pokémon de cada generación". IGN. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  22. ^ Minotti, Mike; Grubb, Jeff (March 1, 2016). "20 years have produced some seriously ugly Pokémon". Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Dayus, Oscar (July 28, 2016). "The 7 worst Pokemon ever". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  24. ^ Loveridge, Sam (December 28, 2016). "20 worst Pokémon designs ever, ranked". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  25. ^ Finnegan, Liz (February 26, 2016). "10 Worst Pokemon Designs". Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  26. ^ Davis, Justin (November 26, 2013). "The Best & Worst X/Y Pokemon Revealed". Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  27. ^ Madsen, Hayes (April 28, 2020). "Pokemon: Klefki Shouldn't Have Been Made | Screen Rant". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  28. ^ O'Connor, James. "The Most Disquieting Parts of Pokemon Sun and Moon". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  29. ^ Middler, Jordan; Scullion, Chris; Robinson, Andy (April 18, 2024). "Podcast: 'Is Klefki the worst Pokemon?'". VGC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "The smaller Pokemon Sword and Shield Pokedex isn't all bad news". GameRevolution. November 13, 2019. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  31. ^ Plante, Chris (September 28, 2018). "Bulbasaur has been the best Pokémon all along". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  32. ^ Hilliard, Kyle. "Kyle's Favorite New Pokémon Of Sun & Moon". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  33. ^ Hilliard, Kyle. "23 Of The Weirdest Pokémon". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Solorzano, Sergio (February 27, 2021). "Object Pokemon Are Creative, Actually". The Gamer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  35. ^ López, Ángel (July 4, 2017). "Los 10 mejores Pokémon más OP, chetados y rotos". Meristation. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Hillier, Brenna (February 4, 2015). "These are the most powerful Pokemon". VG247. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  37. ^ a b c Khaw, Cassandra (January 16, 2019). "What are the Strongest, Most Competitive Pokemon That'll Help You Build the Best Team?". VG247. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  38. ^ Pojo's Unofficial Big Book of Pokemon. Triumph Books. November 1, 2016. ISBN 978-1-63319-704-6. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  1. ^ Attributed to multiple sources [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
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