Drifloon's mouth, in the middle of the "X"
Drifloon is a Pokémon with a spherical, purple body. It has 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 middle of its face is a yellow tape-like "X" mark, 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. Drifloon's body is filled with air, as well as the lost spirits of people and Pokémon. Its body expands as it collects more souls. If it explodes, the souls unleash with a screaming sound. It is also rumored that Drifloon itself is reincarnated from deceased humans.
This Pokémon is known as a "Signpost for Wandering Spirits" due to its aimless drifting. Desiring company, Drifloon often seeks out children and grabs their hands. However, due to its light weight, it can be resisted easily and is often pulled around. This results in Drifloon running away from any children that are rough with it. Drifloon also dislikes heavy children. There are rumors that Drifloon steals children that hold onto it, guiding them to the afterlife. Despite this reputation, as seen in the anime, Drifloon can be friendly and helpful. Drifloon sightings are typically more common at night. It prefers to reside in damp, humid locations, and can expand or shrink to express its feelings.
Main series
Major appearances
Fantina owns a Drifloon, which debuted in Playing The Leveling Field!. It evolved into a Drifblim while battling Ash's Pikachu in the same episode.
Other
Drifloon debuted in Drifloon on the Wind!. Marnie and Paige have four Drifloon they use for transport. Marnie owned three of the Drifloon, while Paige owned the fourth.
In PK18, Pikachu and his friends grabbed onto multiple Drifloon while escaping from Meowth and his cronies. Meowth's group was later forced to hold onto other Drifloon after being blasted off by a Registeel.
In A Full Course Tag Battle!, Kylie used a Drifloon alongside Roman's Girafarig in a Tag Battle against Dawn's Piplup and May's Blaziken. Drifloon was ultimately defeated by a combination of Piplup's Bubble Beam and Blaziken's Fire Spin.
In PK20, Pikachu's group grabbed onto multiple Drifloon while pursuing a Murkrow that had taken a large diamond ring piece.
In Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!, Ash used multiple Drifloon to hop across a gorge to safely reach Bonnie, who was sleeping on the other side.
Minor appearances
Multiple Drifloon appeared in The Rise of Darkrai.
In Tag! We're It...!, James's fantasy featured a Drifloon.
A Drifloon appeared in Camping It Up!.
In Coming Full-Festival Circle!, a Drifloon listened to Nando play his music.
Two Drifloon appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!.
Four Trainers' Drifloon appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A student's Drifloon appeared in The Guardian's Challenge!. It reappeared in the banned episode SM064.
Two Trainers' Drifloon appeared in A Shocking Grocery Run!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!.
Two Trainers' Drifloon appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Faba's Revenge!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Getting a Jump on the Competition!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Sours for the Sweet!.
Two Trainers' Drifloon appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids!.
A Drifloon appeared in Filling the Light with Darkness!, during a fantasy of a story from the past. It reappeared in a similar fashion during The Prism Between Light and Darkness!.
In Securing the Future!, a Trainer's Drifloon joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
In A Haunted House for Everyone!, a Mismagius created illusions of multiple Drifloon.
Two Trainers' Drifloon appeared in League Offenders and Defenders!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Z-Move Showdown!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Exhibition Unmasked!.
In The Climb to Be the Very Best!, Ash's fantasy featured a Drifloon.
In A Little Rocket R & R!, a Trainer's Drifloon was captured by the Matori Matrix but later freed by Ash and his friends.
A Drifloon appeared in Secrets of the Jungle.
Multiple Drifloon appeared in Nightfall? Nightmares!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in The Gates of Warp!.
Multiple Drifloon appeared in The Spectral Express!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy!.
A Trainer's Drifloon appeared in Helping the Hometown Hero!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP028
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Drifloon
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon. Drifloon is filled with air and can either expand or shrink to express its feelings. It also likes damp weather.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN091
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Drifloon
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Drifloon, the Balloon Pokémon. A Ghost and Flying type. Drifloon grab children's hands as if they were going to guide them to the Ghost World. Although Drifloon tug on children's hands, they often end up getting pulled around instead.
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Pokémon: Twilight Wings
A Drifloon appeared in Moonlight.
POKÉTOON
A Drifloon appeared in Help! I've Turned into a Gengar.
- Drifloon was the first Generation IV Pokémon to be revealed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- 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 release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the United States, the description along with Drifloon's trophy still states that it is "taking children to the underworld".
- Drifloon shares its category with Igglybuff, Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff, and Qwilfish. They are all known as the Balloon Pokémon.
- Drifloon and its evolved form are the only Pokémon not introduced in Generation III to be found in the Fluctuating Experience Group.
- They are also the only Flying-type Pokémon and the only Ghost-type Pokémon in the Fluctuating Experience Group.
Origin
Drifloon appears to be based on a balloon. The yellow shape around its mouth resembles a puncture bandage (its mouth being the puncture), and its heart-shaped feet resemble the weights on the strings of helium balloons. It also resembles the comb jelly, specifically the Tentaculata. It may also be based on space jellyfish (also known as atmospheric jellyfish), an atmospheric phenomenon caused by rocket launches that are often mistaken for cryptids or UFO sightings.
As a concept of a Ghost-type balloon, it may have been inspired by some Kaidan ghost stories, where ghosts and spirits have been compared to balloons.
Name origin
Drifloon may be a combination of drift and balloon.
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).