Whenever you start a Pokémon game, there’s a tacit understanding that most of the monsters you capture aside from your starter will be replaced by better options as you go along. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is proving to be an exception to that rule, and it’s all thanks to a bug-type Heracross called Bois. Bois has quickly become beloved within the community, both because of the meme-worthy name — my boy! — and its sheer strength. Bois is no joke. Bois might in fact be the entire reason you can progress or survive ordeals like the Pyroar in Zone 17.
Bois can be acquired early on via a trade with an NPC named Tracie, who is looking for a Pikachu as a part of a side-quest meant to teach you about evolution stones. The thing is, Heracross is a fairly strong Pokémon overall, even outside Z-A. It has a high attack stat that’s beefed up by its Brave nature, which additionally improves its power. Bois also happens to know the move Pin Missile, and that hits enemies a whopping five times in a row.
Bois remains useful as the game goes on due to his ability to mega evolve. That souped-up variant of the hardy beetle sees its power boosted to 185, which is the second-highest possible attack stat in the series. Like, the only thing that hits harder than mega Heracross is Mega Mewtwo. And since you get Bois via a trade, it also racks up experience points at a faster rate than other monsters do. As a result, many players say that Bois is carrying them through the entire game. The only downside to the trade is that you can’t rename Bois, but honestly, why would you want to?
Bois has thus become a fan favorite as players praise its staggering might and celebrate its name. English-speaking players can’t help but read the name as “boys,” though due to the heavy implication that Lumiose City is French, the proper pronunciation of Bois is probably more like “bwuah,” almost like a kiss. But spiritually, the Heracross is basically boys. At least, that’s how many memes are approaching Bois.
“Bois the Heracross is cracked,” one Instagram video says. “Bois carried me nearly as much as my starter did, he is the undisputed goat and I will not be hearing otherwise,” reads one response on the video.
“His mega felt like cheating,” declares a Reddit post dedicated to Bois.
Another aspect that lends itself to deifying bois is the design behind Heracross. The navy bug has wide yellow eyes that make it seem like Bois doesn’t have a single thought running through its brain. The lack of connected synapses only makes Bois more endearing. Its animation is kind of cute, too.
No wonder, then, that Pokémon Legends: Z-A fans can’t stop talking about Bois. Here’s a small selection for your viewing pleasure:
