Ash's Noctowl (Japanese: サトシのヨルノズクSatoshi's Yorunozuku) is a ShinyPokémon that Ash encountered on the way to Goldenrod City during his travels through Johto in Fowl Play. Not only does it have a unique color, but it is also unusually small and intelligent.
Dr. Wiseman was trying to capture the Noctowl using traps rather than Poké Balls, but each time Noctowl outwitted him and escaped the traps — usually leaving him hypnotized in the process. After Ash rescued it from Team Rocket, Ash had Pikachu battle it and he captured it, adding it to his team.
Ash used Noctowl much in the same way he did with Pidgeotto, sending it out to scout or to pop Team Rocket's balloon, but otherwise not focusing too much on it. For some reason, it was often absent from scenes featuring the rest of the group's Pokémon. Noctowl, however, was unique when compared to Pidgeotto in that it had Psychic powers that made it especially useful against Template:Type2 Pokémon. This contributed greatly towards Ash's victory against Morty in Ecruteak City.
Personality-wise, Noctowl was presented as intelligent, mischievous, and cunning — although these traits weren't usually emphasized or touched upon after its debut episode. Ash left Noctowl along with his other Johto Pokémon at Professor Oak's Laboratory when he set off for the Hoenn region.
Ash's Noctowl (right) with a wild normal Noctowl (left)
In the special episode Showdown at the Oak Corral, Noctowl was seen on a branch and spotted Cassidy and Butch when they where breaking into Oak's Lab. It appeared later when it was showing Tracey and Bayleef the way to Cassidy and Butch's helicopter. It was also seen in the Christmas special where it helped Delibird to retrieve its presents.
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
Trivia
Like Shiny Pokémon in the games, Noctowl sparkles as it exits its Poké Ball.
Noctowl is the first Shiny Pokémon seen in the anime, though it is not the first alternately colored Pokémon to appear and is also the only to be owned by a main character.
Noctowl is the only one of Ash's bird Pokémon to have been fully evolved when it was captured. As such, Noctowl is also the only Template:Type2 Pokémon currently owned by Ash that did not evolve under his ownership.
Noctowl is Ash's only Pokémon able to use damaging Template:Type2 moves.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Noctowl.
