Nihilego (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
0792MS.png #0792: Lunala
Pokémon
#0794: Buzzwole 0794MS.png
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Nihilego (disambiguation).
Nihilego
Parasite Pokémon
ウツロイド
Uturoid
#0793
Nihilego



Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type
Rock Poison
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Ability
Beast Boost Cacophony
Cacophony
Cacophony
Hidden Ability
Cacophony
Hidden Ability
Cacophony
Cacophony
Gender ratio
Gender unknown
Catch rate
45 (11.9%)
Breeding
Egg Group
No Eggs Discovered
Hatch time
120 cycles
Egg not obtainable
Height
3'11" 1.2 m
Nihilego
0'0" 0 m
{{{form2}}}
0'0" 0 m
{{{form3}}}
0'0" 0 m
{{{form4}}}
Weight
122.4 lbs. 55.5 kg
Nihilego
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form2}}}
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form3}}}
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form4}}}
Mega Stone
[[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield
Unknown
Gen. IV
Unknown
IV
257
Leveling rate
Slow
EV yield
Total: 3
Nihilego
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
3
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
Shape
Body10.png
Footprint
F0793.png F000.png
{{{form2}}}
Pokédex color
White
Base friendship
0
External Links

Nihilego (Japanese: ウツロイド Uturoid) is a dual-type Rock/Poison Ultra Beast introduced in Generation VII.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

It is code named UB-01 Symbiont (Japanese: UB01 Parasite).

Biology

 
Nihilego attaches itself to the cranium of a host, causing abnormal behavior from them

Nihilego is an Ultra Beast that resembles a jellyfish. The bell is semi-translucent and encircled with several white, star-shaped markings. The wavy rim of the bell flares outward and is bright blue. Its tentacles appear gelatinous and give it a vaguely humanoid shape. Several tentacles mesh together forming the appearance of a cape or long hair, while four shorter tentacles resemble shorter hair and arms. Two long tentacles make up the legs of the human shape. In addition to its shape, it is sometimes seen acting like a young girl. According to its concept art, Nihilego's body is made of various types of glass.

Nihilego was the first Ultra Beast to be discovered by Mohn of Aether Foundation. Mohn was the one who conned Nihilego's name. Nihilego live in another world named Ultra Deep Sea. Although its exact levels of intelligence are unknown, it is believed to act upon a self-preservation instinct.[1]Wicke from the Aether Foundation describes Nihilego's capabilities as such:

Its most distinctive feature is its parasitic capability. When Nihilego latches on to a host, it does not manipulate its actions directly. Rather it awakens the host’s own capabilities and boosts them to an extreme extent in order to protect itself.
It injects the host with a sort of neurotoxin to achieve this effect. This neurotoxin of Nihilego’s is incredibly stimulating and inspires feelings of extreme excitement and a lack of inhibition in its host. In other words, anything or anyone that Nihilego latches on to will have its native skills forcibly activated to their fullest extent and will then act as it naturally desires to.

Wicke further claims that Nihilego, like all Ultra Beasts, stores an energy within its body similar to the aura seen around Totem Pokémon.[2] This energy is called Z-Power. In The Homecoming Crown!, Nihilego are capable of creating illusions and seeing the memories of humans. That same episode also showed that Nihilego can demonstrate emotions other than self-preservation and the ability to heal people.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

As shown with Lusamine, Nihilego is capable of physically merging with a host. In this "merged" state, the bell loses its stars, developing several iridescent spots across its surface. The host's body is visible within the bell with their legs dangling beneath it. Its eight tentacles become long and flattened and have numerous deep black spots with various colored diamond-shapes inside. Four of the tentacles are connected to the bell via frilly white structures; these tentacles have four spines protruding from them that can be used similarly to hands. The remaining four tentacles each terminate in a single larger spine that, as depicted in 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!, injects its toxins into the ground while sharp rocks grow below. While the same episode shows that Nihilego can willingly end this merger and it may be disrupted in other ways as well, the lingering toxins and the shock of the separation can leave the host in critical condition, both physically and psychologically.

The toxins produced by Nihilego may remain in the host's body, even after Nihilego has left their body. This can leave the former host to remain ill for unspecified amounts of time and treatment may be necessary. Nihilego leaving a host's body can also cause unconsciousness, as is the case with Lusamine, however it unknown whether or not this is because of Nihilego's toxins, the stress of fusion or the overwhelming amount of Z-Power within her body.


  Spoilers end here.  

In the anime

Main series

 
Nihilego in the anime
 
Nihilego fused with Lusamine in the anime
 
Shiny Nihilego in the anime

Major appearances

Nihilego (anime)

In Faba's Revenge!, Faba managed to summon a Nihilego from an Ultra Wormhole. Lusamine, Gladion, and Ash briefly battled the Ultra Beast before it took Lusamine into the Ultra Wormhole and disappeared. They were given the proper name Nihilego in The Professors' New Adventure!.

In The Homecoming Crown!, a Shiny Nihilego, nicknamed Lillie, was revealed to have rescued Mohn after he had disappeared into an Ultra Wormhole and made him see it as Lillie after he developed amnesia. Once Mohn's memory of his real family was restored, Nihilego was invited into the family and caught by Gladion.

Other

Nihilego debuted in a flashback in A Masked Warning!, where Gladion revealed to Ash that Lillie was once attacked by one when she was younger, resulting in her present fear of touching Pokémon. It reappeared in a flashback in Mission: Total Recall! and The Homecoming Crown!.

Multiple Nihilego appeared in Rescuing the Unwilling! in Ultra Deep Sea. They reappeared in a flashback in The Professors' New Adventure!.

Minor appearances

GOTCHA!

A Nihilego briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

 
Nihilego fused with Lusamine in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Nihilego debuted as a silhouette in The Final Match and a Surprising Finale!.

Nihilego physically debuted in Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull. It was one of the Ultra Beasts summoned to Po Town by Guzma via an Ultra Wormhole. It proceeded to kidnap Guzma and drag him into a wormhole with it. Nihilego reappeared in a flashback in An Urgent Task and the Capture of an Ultra Beast. It was later captured by Lusamine.

Multiple Nihilego appeared in the Ultra Deep Sea in Summon the Emissaries of the Moon and the Sun.

In the TCG

Main article: Nihilego (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nihilego appears as a Spirit.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
Generation VII Alola
SM: #293
Alola
USUM: #391
Kanto
#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
Sun One of several mysterious Ultra Beasts. People on the street report observing those infested by it suddenly becoming violent.
Moon One of the Ultra Beasts. It's unclear whether or not this Pokémon is sentient, but sometimes it can be observed behaving like a young girl.
Ultra Sun A life-form from another world, it was dubbed a UB and is thought to produce a strong neurotoxin.
Ultra Moon It appeared in this world from an Ultra Wormhole. Nihilego appears to be a parasite that lives by feeding on people and Pokémon.
Generation VIII Galar
#—
Sinnoh
#—
Hisui
#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VIII.
Generation IX Paldea
#—
Kitakami
#—
Blueberry
#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation IX.


   
Nihilego in the Alola PokédexSM Nihilego in the Alola PokédexUSUM

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
Generation VII
Sun Moon
Diglett's Tunnel or Wela Volcano Park (Only one for either location)
Ultra Sun Ultra Moon
Ultra Deep Sea
Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee
Unobtainable
Generation VIII
Sword Shield
TradeVersion 1.3.0+
Expansion Pass
Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure) (Only one, requires unlocking the They Came From The Ultra Beyond! adventure)
Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
Unobtainable
Legends: Arceus
Unobtainable
Generation IX
Scarlet Violet
Unobtainable


In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
Generation VII
Rumble Rush
Mimikyu SeaFinal
Generation VIII
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII side games.
Cross-Generation
Shuffle
Event: Ultra Beasts appear


Held items

Stats

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
109
169 - 216 328 - 422
53
52 - 115 99 - 225
47
46 - 108 89 - 212
127
118 - 196 233 - 388
131
122 - 201 240 - 397
103
97 - 170 189 - 335
Total:
570
Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damaged
normally by:
Normal ½×
Fighting
Flying ½×
Poison ¼×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire ½×
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy ½×
None
Weak to:
Normal ½×
Fighting
Flying ½×
Poison ¼×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire ½×
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy ½×
None
Immune to:
Normal ½×
Fighting
Flying ½×
Poison ¼×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire ½×
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy ½×
None
Resistant to:
Normal ½×
Fighting
Flying ½×
Poison ¼×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire ½×
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy ½×
None

Learnset

Nihilego is available in Sword and Shield Version 1.3.0+.

By leveling up

Generation VIII
Other generations:
VII - IX
 Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP
011 Wrap Normal Physical 01515 09090% 20
011 Pound Normal Physical 04040 100100% 35
055 Acid Poison Special 04040 100100% 30
1010 Tickle Normal Status 0000 100100% 20
1515 Acid Spray Poison Special 04040 100100% 20
2020 Clear Smog Poison Special 05050 00——% 15
2525 Power Split Psychic Status 0000 00——% 10
2525 Guard Split Psychic Status 0000 00——% 10
3030 Venoshock Poison Special 06565 100100% 10
3535 Headbutt Normal Physical 07070 100100% 15
4040 Toxic Spikes Poison Status 0000 00——% 20
4545 Venom Drench Poison Status 0000 100100% 20
5050 Power Gem Rock Special 08080 100100% 20
5555 Stealth Rock Rock Status 0000 00——% 20
6060 Mirror Coat Psychic Special 0000 100100% 20
6565 Wonder Room Psychic Status 0000 00——% 10
7070 Head Smash Rock Physical 150150 08080% 5
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nihilego
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Nihilego

By TM/TR

Generation VIII
Other generations:
VII - IX
   TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
TM14 TM14 Thunder Wave Electric Status 0000 090}}90% 20
TM17 TM17 Light Screen Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 30
TM19 TM19 Safeguard Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 25
TM21 TM21 Rest Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM22 TM22 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10
TM24 TM24 Snore Normal Special 05050 100}}100% 15
TM25 TM25 Protect Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM32 TM32 Sandstorm Rock Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM39 TM39 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20
TM48 TM48 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 06060 095}}95% 15
TM70 TM70 Trick Room Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM71 TM71 Wonder Room Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM73 TM73 Cross Poison Poison Physical 07070 100}}100% 20
TM74 TM74 Venoshock Poison Special 06565 100}}100% 10
TM76 TM76 Round Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15
TM77 TM77 Hex Ghost Special 06565 100}}100% 10
TM97 TM97 Brutal Swing Dark Physical 06060 100}}100% 20
TR01 TR01 Body Slam Normal Physical 08585 100}}100% 15
TR08 TR08 Thunderbolt Electric Special 09090 100}}100% 15
TR09 TR09 Thunder Electric Special 110110 070}}70% 10
TR11 TR11 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10
TR20 TR20 Substitute Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TR22 TR22 Sludge Bomb Poison Special 09090 100}}100% 10
TR25 TR25 Psyshock Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10
TR26 TR26 Endure Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TR27 TR27 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TR54 TR54 Toxic Spikes Poison Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TR57 TR57 Poison Jab Poison Physical 08080 100}}100% 20
TR63 TR63 Power Gem Rock Special 08080 100}}100% 20
TR69 TR69 Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical 08080 090}}90% 15
TR73 TR73 Gunk Shot Poison Physical 120120 080}}80% 5
TR74 TR74 Iron Head Steel Physical 08080 100}}100% 15
TR76 TR76 Stealth Rock Rock Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TR77 TR77 Grass Knot Grass Special 0000 100}}100% 20
TR78 TR78 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100}}100% 10
TR81 TR81 Foul Play Dark Physical 09595 100}}100% 15
TR83 TR83 Ally Switch Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 15
TR91 TR91 Venom Drench Poison Status 0000 100}}100% 20
TR92 TR92 Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special 08080 100}}100% 10
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nihilego
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Nihilego

By breeding

Generation VIII
Other generations:
VII - IX
 Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
This Pokémon learns no moves by breeding.
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Nihilego in Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Nihilego in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nihilego
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Nihilego

By tutoring

Generation VIII
Other generations:
VII - IX
 Game   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
Sw Sh EP BD SP Corrosive Gas Poison Status 100% 40
Sw Sh EP BD SP Meteor Beam Rock Special 120 90% 10
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nihilego
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Nihilego
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By transfer from another generation

Generation VIII
Other generations:
None
 Gen.   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
VII Bind Normal Physical 01515 085}}85% 20
VII Charge Beam Electric Special 05050 090}}90% 10
VII Confide Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
VII Constrict × Normal Physical 01010 100}}100% 35
VII Double Team Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 15
VII Echoed Voice Normal Special 04040 100}}100% 15
VII Frustration × Normal Physical 0000 100}}100% 20
VII Hidden Power × Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15
VII Knock Off Dark Physical 06565 100}}100% 20
VII Magic Coat Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 15
VII Pain Split Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
VII Psywave × Psychic Special 0000 100}}100% 15
VII Reflect Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
VII Return × Normal Physical 0000 100}}100% 20
VII Role Play Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
VII Spite Ghost Status 0000 100}}100% 10
VII Swagger Normal Status 0000 085}}85% 15
VII Telekinesis × Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 15
VII Toxic Poison Status 0000 090}}90% 10
VII Worry Seed Grass Status 0000 100}}100% 10
  • Transferred Pokémon only retain these moves in Pokémon Sword and Shield
  • A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Nihilego
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Nihilego
  • × indicates a move that cannot be used in Sword and Shield

Side game data

Pokémon Shuffle
 
Poison
  Attack Power: 70 - 116   7

#768
 

Possession
Delays your opponent's disruptions.
  Swappable Skill(s): Beast Power


Pokémon Rumble Rush
  Walking Speed: 1.5 seconds Base HP: 61
Base Attack: 83 Base Defense: 57 Base Speed: 70
Pokémon GO
  Base HP: 240 Base Attack: 249 Base Defense: 210
Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A
Fast Attacks: Acid, Pound, Poison Jab*
Charged Attacks: Power Gem, Sludge Bomb, Rock Slide, Gunk Shot

Evolution data

 
Unevolved
Nihilego
 Rock  Poison 



Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VII.
Generation VII
Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon
Front Back Front Back
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
Cross-Generation
HOME
   
  For other sprites and images, please see Nihilego images on the Bulbagarden Archives.


Trivia

Origin

Nihilego is inspired by jellyfish, with its body made of glass to contrast the soft bodies of real jellyfish.[3] It being Rock-type may be inspired by the fact that artificial glass is usually made out of sand. The specific species of jellyfish it is based on may be the Aurelia aurita or the Phyllorhiza punctata; the Ultra Beasts have been stated to be based on invasive species,[4] and the Phyllorhiza punctata is an invasive species in the waters surrounding Hawaii. It may also draw inspiration from Myxozoa, a class of microscopic parasites in the phylum Cnidaria (which includes jellyfish). In particular, the Myxobolus cerebralis is known to cause the infectious "whirling disease" in various fish species. The disease causes the fish to develop bone and neurological abnormalities that cause them to swim in a corkscrew-like "whirling" motion.

Nihilego may have also been inspired by Lillie and vice-versa. Throughout the games, Lillie mentions how her Ultra Beast-obsessed mother, Lusamine, chooses what clothes she wears and how she wears them, with both characters mentioning dress-up and outfits throughout the game. This implies that, in-universe, Lusamine has intentionally dressed her daughter up to resemble the Pokémon. Lillie's white sunhat resembles Nihilego's bell, with each of Nihilego's tentacles resembling Lillie's hair, legs, sundress, braids, and arms. Nihilego's white coloring with a blue accent is reminiscent of both of Lillie's outfits seen in the games. Furthermore, Nihilego's shiny coloration has a yellow hue, making it resemble Lillie's long blonde hair. Nihilego's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Moon states that "sometimes it can be observed behaving like a young girl." The anime episode The Homecoming Crown! notes the similarities between a shiny Nihilego and Lillie.

Name origin

Nihilego may be a combination of nihil (Latin for indefinite nothing) and ego (Latin for I), which together roughly translates to "I am nothing" or "I have nothing". Ego may also refer to the part of the psychic apparatus that governs rational decision-making, and together with nihil reflects how the creature may have no ego, and only have an id (the survival and instinctual part of the psyche). The former may reflect its victims' lack of will outside their focus on Nihilego, while the latter may represent Nihilego's role in dominating the desires of its victims.

Uturoid may be a combination of 虚ろ utsuro (void) and void. It might also involve asteroid or meteoroid, 鬱 utsu (depression), 移ろい utsuroi (transience), the suffix -oid (meaning "of similar form"), and id.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning
  Japanese ウツロイド Uturoid From 虚ろ utsuro, asteroid, meteoroid, void, id, and possibly the suffix -oid (meaning "of similar form")
  French Zéroïd From zéro, id, and suffix -oïde
  Spanish Nihilego Same as English name
  German Anego From ἀν- an- (ancient Greek prefix indicating "not" or "without") and ego
  Italian Nihilego Same as English name
  Korean 텅비드 Teongbid From 텅빈 teongbin and id
  Mandarin Chinese 虛吾伊德 / 虚吾伊德 Xūwúyīdé From 虛無 / 虚无 xūwú , , and possibly 佛洛伊德 Fóluòyīdé / 弗洛伊德 Fúluòyīdé
  Cantonese Chinese 虛吾伊德 Hēui'nghyīdāk From 虛無 hēuimòuh, ngh, and possibly 佛洛伊德 Fahtlokyīdāk


UB-01 Symbiont

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese UB01:寄生物 UB01: Geisāngmaht
Mandarin UB01:寄生物 UB01: Jìshēngwù
  Danish UB-01 Symbiont
  Finnish UP-01 Symbiontti
  French UC-01 Parasite
  German UB-01 Schmarotzer
  Indonesian UB-01 Simbion
  Italian UC 01 Parasitus
  Korean UB01 패러사이트 UB01 Parasite
  Norwegian UB-01 Symbiont
  Polish UB-01 Symbiont
Portuguese   Brazil UC-01 Parasita
  Portugal UF-01 Simbionte
  Russian УЧ-01 UCH-01
  Spanish UE-01 Parásito
  Swedish UB-01 Symbiont

Related articles

References

  1. Ultra Beasts Threaten Alola, pokemon-sunmoon.com, archived August 28th, 2017
  2. Wicke, Pokémon Sun and Moon:"When the UBs pass through the Ultra Wormhole, they are bathed in a great deal of this energy and likely store it within their bodies."
  3. (2017). An Exclusive Interview with the makers of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon! - Pokemon.com (archived)
  4. Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: The Official Alola Region Pokédex & Postgame Adventure Guide, page vii: Ohmori: "...When I read about [invasive species], I wondered if we couldn't express invasive species in the Pokémon world as well, and the idea we came up with was the Ultra Beasts..."

External links

  #0792: Lunala
Pokémon
#0794: Buzzwole  
  This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.