Shiftry is a bipedal, portly Pokémon that appears to be made of wood. A shaggy white mane covers most of its face and trails down its back. Long pointed ears poke out the top of its mane, and it has a long, pointed nose and a large mouth with teeth that are usually bared. Its eyes are yellow with black sclerae. This Pokémon's feet resemble Japanese tengu-geta. Three broad leaves with brown spokes form each of its hands, and are used to create powerful winds close to 100 feet (30 meters) per second in speed. A female will have smaller leaves than the male.
Shiftry is a wicked and mysterious Pokémon that lives atop ancient trees in deep forests. It arrives with chilly, wintry winds and is feared by people as the guardian of the forest. It is able to read an opponent's mind, and then take preemptive action. In the anime, it was shown to lead large groups of Seedot and Nuzleaf.
Major appearances
Shiftry made its main series debut in Jump for Joy!. This Pokémon kidnapped Nurse Joy and took her to its lair to aid a wounded Nuzleaf.
Tyson used a Shiftry during the Ever Grande Conference; it debuted in Choose It or Lose It!. Tyson used Shiftry in a battle against Ash's Torkoal in At the End of the Fray, and it was defeated.
A Shiftry appeared in From Cradle to Save, under the ownership of Angela, an instructor of a Pokémon Ninja School. It was used to handle Team Rocket after they tried to steal the Pokémon of the Pokémon Ninja School.
A Shiftry appeared in Ka Boom with a View!, under the ownership of Spenser. It was the first Pokémon Spenser used in his battle against Ash at the Battle Palace, and it lost to Sceptile. It later reappeared in a flashback in King and Queen for a Day.
A Shiftry appeared in Leave it to Brocko! as the leader of a colony of Seedot and Nuzleaf.
A Shiftry appeared in To Thine Own Pokémon Be True!, under the ownership of O. It participated in the Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament. During the tournament, it was able to knock Dawn, Barry, and their Pokémon out of the competition and helped O win his second consecutive title.
Three Shiftry appeared in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, where at least one of them was part of the Pirate's Pokémon crew. Multiple Shiftry later appeared on the Deserted Island with the treasure.
Minor appearances
Shiftry debuted in a cameo in Jirachi: Wish Maker, under the ownership of Brendan. It was used in a Double Battle alongside an Aggron.
A Shiftry appeared in a flashback in What You Seed is What You Get.
A Shiftry appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
A Shiftry appeared in a fantasy in Pinch Healing!.
A Shiftry was used by a student of the Pokémon Summer Academy in the first leg of the Pokémon Triathlon in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.
A Shiftry appeared in Cilan's demonstration in Mystery on a Deserted Island!, where it evolved from a Nuzleaf.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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AG037
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Shiftry
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Ash's Pokédex
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Shiftry, the Wicked Pokémon. Shiftry is a mysterious creature that lives deep within the forest. They are said to live in the tops of trees that are over 1,000 years old.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP014
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Shiftry
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Shiftry, the Wicked Pokémon. Its large fan can cause winds in excess of one-hundred feet per second and can blow anything away.
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Origin
Shiftry are based on tengu, who are known for their cruel tricks, ability to read minds, for protecting forests, and for wielding magical leaf fans called 羽団扇 hauchiwa, known to have the power to stir great winds. Tengu are also often depicted with long noses, flowing white hair, and wearing single-toothed wooden clogs called tengu-geta.
Name origin
Shiftry may be a combination of shifty (deceitful) and tree.
Dirteng may be a combination of dark or dirty and 天狗 tengu.