Hi Bill! Is shedding skin painful for Pokémon? My Arbok is usually chill, but lately he seems rather uncomfortable and a bit snappy. I’ve noticed him rubbing his body against anything from my desk, door frames, walls and even trees outside. I’m worried that something might be wrong with him… How can I help?

Not entirely painful, no. It’s simply uncomfortable because the skin beneath is tender, and the displeasure is meant to encourage an arbok to shed. Still, the vulnerability that a pokémon experiences as they shed their skin, as well as the tenderness of their new skin, is very much liable to make them irritable and defensive. However, rest assured this is perfectly natural. All you need to do is keep an eye on your arbok and make sure he’s in a comfortable environment (that is, his normal requirements, plus perhaps a rock or rough surface to rub against). Pay particular attention to how much water he has; it’s vital that an arbok remain hydrated throughout the shedding process.

Also, check in with him regularly to see how his shedding is going. If it seems like he’s struggling to remove some part of his skin, you may help him by gently rubbing that skin towards the tail with a damp paper towel until it falls off. Just be sure that your arbok will allow you to do this first, of course. You may wish to communicate clearly (by telling him) what you intend on doing, just to avoid startling him.

Best of luck!