Cresselia has a blue, swan-like body with a yellow underside. It has pink eyes, a dark pink, round tuft on its head, and a pointed, beak-like snout. There are yellow, crescent-shaped ornaments on the sides of its head. Cresselia has glowing, pink, ring-like wings on its sides and back with paw like protrusions resting on its chest. These wings release shining particles and undulate beautifully around the quarter moon. Cresselia has the power to dispel nightmares, and holding one of its feathers is said to bring happy dreams. However, as seen in the anime, it can be quite hostile towards its counterpart, Darkrai. Cresselia is the only known Pokémon able to learn Lunar Dance. Cresselia is a female-only species.
In the anime
Cresselia in the anime
Major appearances
Cresselia made its debut appearance in the anime in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!. Cresselia normally returns to its shrine on Fullmoon Island during a certain time of the year when a Darkrai also comes by to cause nightmares. It may also leave its feathers, which people find to help stop the nightmares caused by Darkrai. In the episode, Cresselia helped Ash and the residents of Canalave City get better sleep by stopping Darkrai.
Cresselia, the Lunar Pokémon. Shining particles are released from Cresselia's wings like a veil, and it is said to represent the crescent moon.
In the manga
Cresselia in Pokémon Adventures
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Cresselia appears under the ownership of Palmer, who caught it on Fullmoon Island in order to give Sailor Eldritch's son the cure to wake up from a terrible nightmare. Cresselia followed its Trainer into the Distortion World where it squared up against its nemesis, Darkrai. Eventually, Platinum got on Cresselia in order to chase Charon who was commanding Giratina to fly him out of the Distortion World.
Cresselia appears on the Spear Pillar stage as one of three Pokémon who appear in the center (the others being Dialga and Palkia). Cresselia acts completely different than the other two in terms of attacks it uses. It will often use Psycho Cuts around the field, and sometimes shoot one large Psycho Cut as if it were a boomerang, hitting anyone that touches it.
Trophy information
A Lunar Pokémon. Cresselia appears on Fullmoon Island and, once discovered, flies around different areas of Sinnoh. Its signature move, Lunar Dance, causes Cresselia to faint but recovers all the HP and cures the status conditions of the next Pokémon its Trainer sends out. Cresselia excels at recovery techniques and is unusual in that it appears only in female form.
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: Cresselia has made it her mission to foil Darkrai's plot of plunging everyone in the world into an endless nightmare. After healing Azurill of his nightmare, she joins the player's team as a guest in Dark Crater. After defeating Darkrai, Cresselia will offer to officially join the team back at Sharpedo Bluff.
Cresselia can be seen as a counterpart of Darkrai, as Darkrai causes nightmares, whereas Cresselia prevents them. Also, their islands are shaped and named opposite of each other.
Furthermore, in the TCG, one of the attacks on Darkrai 3/106 of Great Encounters, Darkness Pursuit, has a base damage of 100 if Cresselia is the opposing Pokémon. Otherwise, it deals 50 damage.
Prior to Generation VI, Cresselia's body style was .
Origin
Cresselia's form seems to be based on a swan. Considering its crescent moon motif and the aurora-colored planetary rings around its body, it may originate from the constellation Cygnus. Cresselia shares characteristics with Sarimanok, a legendary fowl with a profusely decorated head, feathered tail, and colorful wings that is said to be a symbol of good fortune.
Name origin
Cresselia and Crecelia may be a combination of crescent (referring to the lunar phase) and Selene (Greek goddess of the Moon).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
クレセリア Crecelia
From crescent (referring to a phase of the moon) and Selene (Greek goddess of the Moon)