Kecleon is a bipedal, reptilian Pokémon that is usually green. On either sides of its head are yellow frills, which are connected by lines to its yellow lips and rings around its eyes. There are small ridges on its shoulders and a red zigzag stripe around its midsection. The hands and feet have three short digits each, and it has yellow soles. It also has a long skinny tail that is usually curled tightly in a spiral.
Kecleon is able to change the colors of its body at will, and is known for frequently using this ability to camouflage itself. However, it is unable to change the color of its red stripe. By using camouflage to appear almost invisible, it can sneak up on prey and ensnare it with its long pink tongue. A purplish variant has been seen in the anime and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series; whether this is an example of it changing color or simply a different kind of Kecleon is unknown. This Pokémon lives in forests.
A Kecleon was one of the Pokémon that played hide-and-seek with Pikachu and the others in Pikachu's PikaBoo. However, said Kecleon missed out on the excitement when a lawn-mower was on the loose. The end of the short finds Kecleon standing in the same spot, wondering where everyone is. It was not found because it was invisible. Due to nobody ever finding Kecleon it was declared the winner.
Wally captured a Kecleon in the Petalburg Woods with Ruby's assistance in Tongue-Tied Kecleon. He cherishes him as his first Pokémon, like his game version's Ralts. He is often used for maneuvers involving his long tongue, and is the first of the mainly-green wardrobe of Wally's team, joined by a Roselia, Cacturne, and the Flygon given by Norman.
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team manga
Kecleon is capable of changing its body colors at will to blend in with its surroundings. There is one exception...this Pokémon can't change the zigzag pattern on its belly.*
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: Kecleon has the first Bonus Field on the Ruby Field. It will turn invisible, though a Devon Scope can be knocked out of the tree to make it visible for a short time. Kecleon must be knocked over and then hit with the ball ten times in two minutes to win the round.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series: Two Kecleon; an older purple Kecleon and a younger green Kecleon, run Kecleon Shop, a shop in the game's town settlement. Kecleon may also run shops in dungeons. They are normally courteous but shoplifting will result in multiple high level wild Kecleon appearing to attack the player. From the WiiWare games and on, only the younger Kecleon is running the shop.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Kecleon is capable of changing its body colors at will to blend in with its surroundings. There is one exception - this Pokémon can't change the zigzag pattern on its belly.
Kecleon alters its body coloration to blend in with its surroundings, allowing it to sneak up on its prey unnoticed. Then it lashes out with its long, stretchy tongue to instantly ensnare the unsuspecting target.
Kecleon is capable of changing its body colors at will to blend in with its surroundings. There is one exception—this Pokémon can’t change the zigzag pattern on its belly.
Kecleon alters its body coloration to blend in with its surroundings, allowing it to sneak up on its prey unnoticed. Then it lashes out with its long, stretchy tongue to instantly ensnare the unsuspecting target.
Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Due to its Abilities, this Pokémon will change its type throughout the battle, thus changing its weaknesses. For instance, if hit by* or when using* a Fighting-type move, it will become more vulnerable to a Psychic-type attack and more resistant to a Dark-type attack if either is used next.
Kecleon is the hardest Pokémon to recruit in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, with a base recruit rate of -33.9%. It can only be recruited if the player is level 90 or higher, and if they are holding a Friend Bow. Even after all this, Kecleon's recruit rate is only 0.1%. It is considered slightly easier to recruit in the Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky since the player now has a 0.5% chance of recruiting it at level 90, while holding an Amber Tear/Golden Mask with the "Fast Friend" IQ skill, despite its base recruit rate decreasing to -49.5%.