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Drifloon has a spherical, purple body with two stringy arms that have yellow, heart-shaped hands on the ends of them. At the base of its body is a frayed protrusion that resembles the tied end of a balloon. In the very center of its body is a yellow tape-like "X", which contains its small mouth in the very center. Located on either side of the "X" are its small, black eyes. A white mass of fluff that resembles a cloud sits on top of Drifloon's head.
Due to its aimless drifting, this species is known as "Signpost for Wandering Spirits". It has been known to steal children that mistake it for a regular balloon. However, due to its light weight, it can be resisted easily and is often pulled around. Although created by lost spirits of Pokémon and people, as seen in the anime, it can be friendly and helpful. It prefers to reside in damp, humid locations and can expand or shrink to express its feelings.
Multiple Drifloon appeared in PK18, where Pikachu and his friends grabbed on to them while escaping from Meowth and his cronies. Meowth's group was later forced to hold on to more after being blasted off by a Registeel.
Multiple Drifloon appeared in PK20, where Pikachu and his friends grabbed on to them while pursuing a Murkrow that had taken a large diamond ring piece.
Multiple Drifloon appeared in Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!. They were used by Ash to hop across a gorge safely in order to reach Bonnie, who was sleeping on the other side.
"A Balloon Pokémon that appears each Friday at the Valley Windworks in the Sinnoh region. It's round and cute, but it has a dreadful side too, as it attempts to drag children into the underworld by their hands. It likes damp, humid seasons. If it's on the verge of fainting in battle, it will counterattack by self-destructing. It evolves into Drifblim."
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
In the Japanese version of Pearl's Pokédex entry, Drifloon specifically takes children to the "world of the dead" (Japanese: あのよ), instead of just trying to "steal them away" as in the English version. However, in the US release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the description along with Drifloon's trophy still states that it is "taking children to the underworld".
Fuwante may be a combination of ふわふわ fuwa fuwa (soft, airy and light, or an onomatopoeia for floating), 風船 fūsen (balloon), and 不安定 fuantei (unstable).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.