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. 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. Previously, it was the only known Pokémon that could learn Pain Split by level up.
Major appearances
Little Miss is a Misdreavus that first appeared under the ownership of Marina during The Legend of Thunder! special. She was usually seen outside of her Poké Ball.
Other
In Entei at Your Own Risk, Nelson used his Misdreavus to battle and attempt to capture an Entei, only for Entei to use Roar, allowing it to get away.
A group of wild Misdreavus were causing a ruckus in at the Silver Conference Hotel in Johto Photo Finish. Ash and his friends found that one of them was trapped under a fallen tree and helped it out.
Katie battled Ash with a Misdreavus during the Ever Grande Conference in Shocks and Bonds. Although Glalie defeated it, the Screech Pokémon used Destiny Bond, which caused Glalie to faint along with it.
A Misdreavus appeared in PK15. It was one of the residents of a spooky house.
Zoey owns a Misdreavus, which debuted in Mounting a Coordinator Assault!. It competed in the Jubilife Contest. Misdreavus later evolved into Mismagius prior to Coming Full-Festival Circle!.
A Misdreavus appeared in Try for the Family Stone!, under the ownership of Rhyanna. She often used it in battles that always ended in Misdreavus's victory.
Minor appearances
A Misdreavus appeared in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, taking part in the festival honoring Sir Aaron.
Ash and Angie encountered a Misdreavus in the forest during Ghoul Daze!. It scared them off with Screech.
Fantina once owned a Misdreavus, as seen in a flashback in Playing The Leveling Field!. It has since then evolved into a Mismagius.
A Misdreavus appeared in a flashback in Zoroark: Master of Illusions, under the ownership of Grings Kodai. It has since evolved into a Mismagius.
A Misdreavus appeared in Cilan's demonstration in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, where it evolved into a Mismagius.
A Misdreavus appeared in Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge! where it was among the Pokémon playing in Lillie's garden.
A Trainer's Misdreavus appeared in SM090, where it joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
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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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 origin is the banshee, a female spirit from Gaelic folklore who was known for its unearthly wailing and screaming. It is also possible that it was based on a Lang Suir, a type of vampire in Malaysian mythology known to appear as a flying decapitated head of a woman.
Name origin
Misdreavus is a corruption of mischievous. It may also incorporate mistress, miscreant (since it scares people), dream, dread, dreary, and reave (to rob).
Muma may be a corruption of 夢魔 muma (nightmare or a demon in a dream).