Misdreavus is a dark bluish-green, ghost-like Pokémon. While it has no visible arms or legs, its lower half has several small appendages and resembles a ruffled dress. It has several round red gems around its neck, which are used to absorb fear and use it as nourishment. When defeated in the side series games, its body disappears, leaving only the gems around its neck behind. This implies that Misdreavus retreats into the gems when it has been severely weakened. It has long, flowing lilac-tipped "hair". Misdreavus's large, red eyes have yellow sclerae.
Misdreavus lives in caves. As a nocturnal Pokémon, it spends its days sleeping in darkness and its nights startling people with mischievous tricks. Since it loves watching frightened people, it is known to yank and bite at people's hair or sneak up on them and cry and shriek. In the anime, Misdreavus is shown to be able to use its "hair" to grasp objects and other Pokémon, as if it were hands. Flutter Mane shares a resemblance to Misdreavus. It was theorized to be a giant Misdreavus reborn as a pterosaur ghost.
Prior to Generation IV, Pain Split was its signature move. In Generation II, Psywave was also its signature move.
Main series
Major appearances
Little Miss is a Misdreavus that first appeared under the ownership of Marina during The Legend of Thunder!, thus also marking the species' debut.
In Finding a Legend!, Goh caught a Misdreavus that was casting illusions at the Bell Tower. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Other
Misdreavus made its main series debut in Entei at Your Own Risk, under the ownership of Nelson. He hoped to use its Mean Look to help him to catch an Entei, only for Entei to use Roar, allowing it to get away.
In Johto Photo Finish, four wild Misdreavus caused an interruption at the Silver Conference Hotel. It was eventually discovered that one of them was trapped under a fallen tree, so Ash and his friends freed it.
In Shocks and Bonds, Katie used a Misdreavus to battle Ash during the Ever Grande Conference. Although Glalie defeated it, its usage of Destiny Bond caused Glalie to faint along with it.
In PK15, a Misdreavus was living in the spooky house.
In Mounting a Coordinator Assault!, Zoey used a Misdreavus to compete in the Jubilife Contest. Misdreavus later evolved into a Mismagius prior to Coming Full-Festival Circle!.
In Try for the Family Stone!, Rhyanna owns a Misdreavus. She would often use it in battles that always ended in her victory.
In A Haunted House for Everyone!, a Misdreavus played with Harper and Sarah at the Pokémon School. It was also featured in the dream a Mismagius created.
Minor appearances
A Misdreavus appeared in A Fan with a Plan.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, a Trainer's Misdreavus competed in the Rota tournament.
A Misdreavus appeared in Dawn Of A New Era!.
In Ghoul Daze!, a Misdreavus scared Ash and Angie off with Screech.
In a flashback in Playing The Leveling Field!, Fantina was revealed to have a Misdreavus that is now her Mismagius in the present day.
In a flashback in Zoroark: Master of Illusions, Grings Kodai was revealed to have a Misdreavus that is now his Mismagius in the present day.
In Mystery on a Deserted Island!, Cilan's demonstration featured a Misdreavus evolving into a Mismagius.
In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, a Misdreavus played in Lillie's garden.
In Securing the Future!, two Trainers' Misdreavus joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
In The Battlefield of Truth and Love!, a Misdreavus watched Bewear and Stufful put on a performance in their hot springs.
A Misdreavus appeared in a flashback in Time After Time!.
A Trainer's Misdreavus appeared in To Train, or Not to Train!.
A Trainer's Misdreavus appeared in Take My Thief! Please!.
A Misdreavus appeared in Night and Day, You are the Ones!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP259
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Misdreavus
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Ash's Pokédex
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus are extremely mischievous and like to cry out at night just to startle people.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP011
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Misdreavus
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus loves being mischievous by pulling people's hair and shocking them.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN009
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Misdreavus
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. A Ghost type. Misdreavus scares people and gathers up their emotions, which it uses as energy.
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POKÉTOON
A Misdreavus appeared in Help! I've Turned into a Gengar.
Pokémon Evolutions
In The Show, a Misdreavus briefly appeared under the ownership of a Trainer in Ecruteak City.
- Misdreavus's first two anime appearances both involved members of the Legendary beasts trio: Raikou and Entei, respectively.
- Misdreavus can be seen as a parallel to Murkrow. Both are Generation II Pokémon that evolve when exposed to a Dusk Stone and have evolved forms that were introduced in Generation IV. Misdreavus is exclusive to Pokémon LeafGreen, Pearl, White, and Shining Pearl, while Murkrow is exclusive to FireRed, Diamond, Black, and Brilliant Diamond.
- Misdreavus is listed after Murkrow in the National Pokédex, but its evolved form comes before Murkrow's evolved form.
- Misdreavus was the first pure Ghost-type Pokémon to be introduced, as well as the only one in Generation II.
- Misdreavus's base HP, Attack, and Defense stats are the same as Mismagius's, but its base Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats are lower.
- In Pokémon Colosseum, Misdreavus is the only Ghost-type Pokémon that can be snagged.
Origin
Misdreavus' nocturnal habits of wailing to frighten people and its similarity in appearance to a disembodied head are shared by various mythological creatures. One of these is the nukekubi, which shares the similarities of nocturnal habits, flying about as a decapitated head, and wailing to increase its victims' fright. Another possible source of origin is the banshee, a female spirit from Irish mythology, known in modern media for its unearthly wailing and screaming. Its shape also resembles the Teru teru bōzu and the typical depiction of a ghost with a bedsheet. The red orbs look similar to a Japamala.
Its names in different languages referencing dreams also points to Mares as a possible inspiration.
Name origin
Misdreavus may be a combination of mischievous and dream. It may also involve mistress, miscreant, dread, and dreary.
Muma may be derived from 夢魔 muma (nightmare; demon in a dream).