Kingambit's territory

Range and Habitat

Pawniard and Bisharp are native to much of the Northern Hemisphere south of the Arctic tundra, including the Unova, Kalos, Galar, Paldea, and Kitakami regions; with an introduced population in Alola. They inhabit a great variety of grasslands, woodlands, and forests wherever rivers and streams with good sharpening stones and a year-round supply of surface water run through; avoiding areas that are highly wet or dry. Kingambit is currently only known to occur naturally in Paldea and Kitakami, and is likely extirpated from the rest of the evolutionary line’s native range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, and absent due to insufficient habitat space in the introduced range. Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit are largely nocturnal and sometimes use small caves as shelter, but can still often be seen active in daylight. They also have individual favorite sharpening stones, and defend them. This often leads Bisharp to clash with Fraxure, which also use the stones to sharpen their tusks. Social Behavior In most cases, Pawniard live in packs that are commanded by a single Bisharp, either male or female. The number of Pawniard varies greatly, but is most commonly between 10-30. Bisharp battle one another for control of these groups, with three possible results:

The defeated Bisharp is allowed to live, but is cast out.

The victor kills its opponent and takes the blade from its head if it is in need of the Leader’s Crest item.

One Bisharp receives a dent in the same blade, gives up the fight, and retires as this is considered dishonorable (most often happens to older Bisharp).

When two packs engage in territorial battles, the Pawniard from the losing Bisharp’s pack join the winner’s.

If a Bisharp manages to defeat three others that are each holding a Leader’s Crest and then evolves into Kingambit, all nearby Pawniard and Bisharp will form into an army numbering in the hundreds, which continues to expand throughout the Kingambit’s life as more packs are assimilated.

Typically fewer than 20 Bisharp are present in such groupings, and most of those are the opposite gender of the leading Kingambit and have joined as breeding partners for it. When the Kingambit dies, its army dissolves into the usual packs until another Bisharp attains the 2nd evolution.

Reproduction and Life History

Pawniard are too young to breed, so only Bisharp and Kingambit do. Breeding takes place seasonally and depending on the duration of cold weather, from March to May in the Northern Hemisphere and from September to November in the Southern Hemisphere. Bisharp and Kingambit are polygynandrous, meaning that both males and females have multiple mates in a single breeding season, and Pawniard from the same clutch of Eggs often have different fathers. In order to breed, male and female Bisharp each with their own groups of Pawniard must temporarily join up on several occasions at the right time of the year. This occurs with as many potential mates as possible until Eggs are laid. After this, the partners usually tolerate each other’s presence for another breeding season, unless one has a smaller group of Pawniard and decides to challenge a mate for its group.

A lone male Bisharp will be rejected by females, and a lone female will not be able to defend her Eggs against predators. If a male Bisharp with a large enough pack of Pawniard meets a lone female, he will give up half of the Pawniard to her so she becomes willing to breed, although this will inevitably lead to the female challenging the male for the remaining Pawniard in order to better protect her Eggs. If the male wins, he will keep the Eggs until they hatch.

Kingambit most commonly breed with many Bisharp of the opposite gender within their armies, but will also temporarily pair with another Kingambit of the opposite gender if there is an opportunity. Female Bisharp usually lay up to 6 Eggs per breeding season, while female Kingambit are capable of laying 12. Both stages make nests of dirt and rotting vegetation for their Eggs, with Kingambit armies using a large communal nest. After three months of incubation, the Eggs hatch in July and August in the Northern Hemisphere, or January and February in the Southern Hemisphere. Pawniard are fully active and independent when they hatch, and disperse from their natal group shortly after to join another. They evolve into Bisharp around the age of 16 years, while the evolution into Kingambit can occur at any age for the few Bisharp that are successful at attaining it.

Longevity

Bisharp and Kingambit may live to be 50 years old in the wild. Pawniard may die from chips in their blades or attacks by Tinkatuff and Tinkaton, but have a greater chance of survival after evolving.

The main causes of death for Bisharp are old age, conflicts with other Bisharp, or being attacked by Tinkatuff and Tinkaton as with their pre-evolution. Kingambit most often survive for a full 50 years.

Feeding Behavior

Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit are primarily carnivorous, and hunt prey in packs. Their main prey are ruminant Pokémon such as Tauros (although only Kingambit armies will take on all three Paldean Tauros forms, which possess a compound type advantage; unless they are sick or injured), Ampharos, Girafarig, Stantler, Sawsbuck, Bouffalant, Gogoat, and Dubwool; as well as Alolan Rattata/Raticate in the Alola region, Galarian Rapidash in the Galar region, and Zebstrika and Espathra in regions where they are found.

Armies that are headed by a Kingambit will also hunt Farigiraf. Prey that make up less biomass in the evolutionary line’s diet include Pidgeotto/Pidgeot, standard Raticate, Fearow, Furret, Bibarel, Lopunny, Watchog, Unfezant, Diggersby, Talonflame, Gumshoos, Toucannon, Greedent, Corviknight, Oinkologne, Bombirdier, and Cyclizar.

In the usual packs, the Bisharp leads every hunt, and selects the target. Once it commands the Pawniard to attack, they jump directly onto the selected prey and inflict stabbing and slashing wounds. When the prey has been sufficiently weakened, the Pawniard clang their blades together to celebrate the victory. Bisharp delivers the finishing blow, slicing the prey in half.

A Kingambit takes on the typical Bisharp role when its army takes on herds of Paldean Tauros or Farigiraf, in which the goal is to catch as many prey individuals as possible. After a successful hunt, the Bisharp or Kingambit further dismembers the carcass of its prey and opens the ribcage.

All individuals that participated in the hunt then cut off manageable chunks continuously as they eat. Any meat that is not eaten in a single sitting is cached for the following days. If the Kingambit is not present while Pawniard and Bisharp in the army hunt other prey, the Bisharp will save pieces of meat for it.

Once they have eaten their fill, Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit make their way to their favorite spots on a riverbank to sharpen their blades and clean the prey’s blood and fecal matter off themselves. In addition, Bisharp and Kingambit will eat Fraxure, Tinkatuff, and Tinkaton if they manage to defeat them; and even other Bisharp in the event that the winner of a territorial battle does not have a Leader’s Crest.

The evolutionary line also eats small amounts of plant matter such as Berries, grains, and some leaves; but does not actively seek out these foods.

Predators

Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit are apex predators; although Tinkatuff and Tinkaton kill Pawniard and Bisharp to use their metal for building both houses and the hammers they wield. Pawniard are very easy targets for Tinkatuff and Tinkaton, but Bisharp and Kingambit may be able to turn the tables on them.

In addition, Bisharp are sometimes killed and cannibalized by their opponents in territorial battles. The evolutionary line has no known predators besides other Bisharp, Tinkatuff, and Tinkaton.

Ecosystem Roles

At the top of their food chain, Pawniard, Bisharp, and Kingambit are important for regulating prey populations. Many other Pokémon also benefit from stealing cached meat, if they avoid being caught or are strong enough to fight back against a Bisharp.

The evolutionary line is also important as a source of metal for Tinkatuff and Tinkaton.

Body Language & Behaviours

Tapping

Many trainers might have noticed that their Pawniard/Bisharp will tap random surfaces. This behavior is just used to get your atention in order to tell you something. Maybe their hungry, maybe there's danger, and they want to warn you, but they are trying to get your attention for a reason.

Thiddling

It's a courting act where Pawniard/Bisharp tap their blades together or tap their partner/potential partner's blades in a rhythmic order.

Scraping

Sraping is a behavior where Pawniard/Bisharp scrape their blades together in order to threaten another Pawniard/Bisharp. This behaviour is used as a warning that they're about to attack. If a wild Bisharp does this to you, turn the other way because it most likely means that you are in its territory and doesn't want you there.

Bowing

Pawniard and Bisharp bow for 2 main reasons; bowing to their superiors to to invite someone to a friendly battle. Bowing to their superiors often includes keeping their blades behind their back, while bowing to initiate a friendly battle has their arms extended forward and their hands out.

Scouting

A behavior seen more commonly in Pawniard than Bisharp, and certainly not Kingambit. This includes a group of Pawniard leaving their camp to go check their territory for any danger. With trainers or with humans, this behaviour includes getting up early and walking around the house or yard to check for any unwanted company.

Marking

Marking is when Pawniard/Bisharp mark their territory by carving their clan's symbol on rocks, trees, or other materials around them. This behaviour is more common in Pawniard than it is Bisharp, and Kingambit don't do it unless they're in captivity and their aren't any other Pawniard or Bisharp to do it for them. This behavior makes a lot of sense in the wild, but it can be annoying when your Pawniard ends up carving things on your walls or driveway.

Courting

Bisharp have a few different courting behaviors. This includes displaying their blades, gift giving, cutting up their partner's food, or sharpening their partner's blades. This behaviour can be a bit difficult when their mate isn't a member of thr Pawniard line, but they do pair very well with Gallade bcuz Gallade court in similar ways.

Clapping

The line claps for similar reasons we do; they like something. I'm just putting this here to explain the next part.

Laughing

Bisharp don't laugh the same reasons we do. We laugh when something is funny, but Bisharp will laugh to show power. It's common for Bisharp to laugh after a fight, and the behavior is seen as mocking. If you recently caught one, you should teach them that you're not mocking them when you're laughing. Or, if you want to accommodate your Bisharp, try clapping when you find something funny because clapping is also their version of laughing.

Clanging

Clanging is when Pawniard line members clang their heads together as a form of greeting. It's used as a way to form deeper bonds amongst their pack.

Culture

Each Pawniard/Bisharp pack/clan has different cultures and behaviors, and they're not all the same. I go over it a bit in my Pawniard Facts post, and I'll go over it as well in my Bisharp Fact posts, but I am going itno more detail here! Writing & Symbols Each Pawniard pack has their own symbols for their clan, which they use to mark their territory. While they don't write as much as Weavile do, there have been recorded cases of them drawing symbols that aren't their or other clan symbols that they use to communicate with one another.

Naming

The Pawniard line does, in fact, name each other! It's usually vocal sounds coming from the mouth, and they may even have symbols for their names. This extends to their trainers. If your Pawniard/Bisharp/Kingambit always refers to you with a specific soundz that means that they have named you. And while it's hard to translate what these names mean, as scientists aren't fully sure if what their symbols mean, they have figured out some, and many Pawniard/Bisharp/Kingambit are named after things that are around them; like different trees or rocks.

Affection

Because of the blades all over their body, the line isn't much for physical affection. Instead, the line will show affection to one's they are close with by doing acts of service or do something I like to call "Allogrooming but without the grooming bcuz idk what it's called," where clans will have dedicated times to just relaxing and communicating eith each other. For trainers, this behavior can translate as your partner following you around or giving you gifts.

Honor

So many Bisharp clans have such a high focus on honor. The most honorable thing a Bisharp can do is become a strong leader, so evolving into a Kingambit is one of the best things you can do. But since only one clan can have a kingambit, other Pawniard and Bisharp just focus on becoming stronger for their clan and Kingambit.

Mourning

Like humans, the Pawniard line buries their dead. They're often buried with different stones or beloved objects. Researchers understand the beloved objects part, but they're still trying to figure out what the stones mean. They will have funerals foe their dead and different clans have different ways for their funerals. Some clans will have moments of silence, some will have battles, and some will celebrate their fallen friends next chapter into the afterlife.

Integration

The Pawniard line prefers to keep to their own clans, with integration of clans not being a very common thing.

BUT, it isn't unheard of. It mostly happens when a Kingambit manages to take control over multiple clans, resulting in larger territories and more clan members. Integration can also happen with outer species as well. Members of the line are known to accept other humanoid pokenon into their clans, like Charcadet or Gallade, but they also get along very well with the Aegislash line.

Researchers believe it is because Aegislash is attracted to any pokemon that has organized societies and have power, making it easier for the Aegislash to befriend said pokemon. Works for Bisharp's favor, since now they have something to protect them from fighting types.