Exploud

Using Exploud in a Playthrough

The Whismur line is a straightforward pure Normal family that develops from a frail early cave encounter into the bulky mixed attacker Exploud. Whismur evolves into Loudred at level 20 and Exploud at level 40, with Exploud reaching base 104 HP and equal base 91 Attack and Special Attack, allowing it to use both physical Normal moves and an unusually broad collection of special coverage. In Generation III Normal attacks are physical, so strong STAB primarily uses Exploud's Attack while moves such as Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Surf, and other special coverage use its Special Attack; the physical/special split later lets sound-based Normal moves such as Hyper Voice become special as well. Generation VI provides the line's biggest offensive upgrade through Boomburst, a 140-power, perfectly accurate special Normal move, while the Hidden Ability Scrappy allows Normal and Fighting attacks to hit Ghost-types that would otherwise be immune. Exploud remains fairly slow and its defenses outside HP are only average, but pure Normal typing gives only one weakness to Fighting and the family's enormous coverage makes it useful when a team needs a flexible neutral-damage attacker.

Exploud in Competitive Pokémon

Exploud spent its early competitive life in low tiers because respectable mixed offenses and excellent coverage were not enough to overcome mediocre Speed and only average defenses. Generation VI changed its identity dramatically by giving it Boomburst: a 140-power special STAB move with perfect accuracy that becomes especially difficult to switch into when paired with Scrappy, since Ghost-types can no longer rely on their Normal immunity. Choice Specs sets have used Boomburst as the primary wallbreaking tool while Fire Blast, Focus Blast, Surf, Ice Beam, or similar coverage punish Rock- and Steel-type answers. Soundproof offers a defensive immunity to sound-based moves, but Scrappy is generally the more important offensive ability because it allows Exploud to attack with its strongest move without first predicting a Ghost switch. Its base 68 Speed and limited defensive utility keep it below the top competitive tiers, yet Boomburst transformed Exploud from an unfocused mixed attacker into one of the more recognizable slow special wallbreakers in lower formats.

Exploud in Nuzlockes

Whismur is commonly obtainable in Hoenn's Rusturf Tunnel and evolves without trades or items, making the family a dependable if somewhat slow-growing Nuzlocke option. Exploud's large HP pool and pure Normal typing provide a useful Ghost immunity and only one ordinary weakness, while broad coverage means it can often fill whatever offensive type gaps remain on the team. Its actual defenses are not especially high, however, and base 68 Speed means Exploud frequently takes a hit before attacking, so the large HP stat should not be mistaken for exceptional tanking ability. Soundproof can create completely safe switches against known sound-based attacks, while Scrappy prevents Ghost-types from turning Normal STAB into a wasted turn. The line is therefore a solid generalist in permadeath play: less explosive than specialist attackers, but comparatively simple to plan around and capable of adapting its moveset to many different boss battles.

Exploud's body contains numerous tube-like sound organs that allow it to generate an enormous range of noises, from low whistles used for communication to bellows powerful enough to create earthquake-like tremors. A full roar can reportedly be heard from more than six miles, or ten kilometers, away, and violently inhaling through the ports around its body signals that an especially powerful bellow is about to follow. Despite that destructive volume, Exploud can communicate emotional information through softer whistle-like sounds rather than relying entirely on roaring. Before modern long-distance communication, people are said to have used Exploud to pass messages between faraway settlements, turning its extraordinary voice into a practical human technology. The species therefore uses sound not merely as a weapon but as a sophisticated system for communication over ranges few other Pokemon can match.