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!. She was usually seen outside of her Poké Ball.
Other
Misdreavus made its main series debut in Entei at Your Own Risk, under the ownership of Nelson. He used it to battle and attempt to catch an Entei, only for Entei to use Roar, allowing it to get away.
Four wild Misdreavus appeared in Johto Photo Finish, where they were causing a ruckus in at the Silver Conference Hotel. Ash and his friends eventually found out that it was because one of them was trapped under a fallen tree and helped it out.
A Misdreavus appeared in Shocks and Bonds, under the ownership of Katie. It battled Ash during the Ever Grande Conference, and 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.
A Misdreavus appeared in Mounting a Coordinator Assault!, under the ownership of Zoey. 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.
A Misdreavus appeared in A Haunted House for Everyone!, where it played with Harper and Sarah at the Pokémon School and in the dream a Mismagius created.
A Misdreavus appeared in SS009, where it was seen causing illusions at the Bell Tower before being caught by Go.
Minor appearances
A Misdreavus appeared in A Fan with a Plan.
A Trainer's Misdreavus appeared in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, where it participated in the Rota tournament.
A Misdreavus appeared in Dawn Of A New Era!.
A Misdreavus appeared Ghoul Daze!, where it scared Ash and Angie off with Screech.
A Misdreavus appeared in a flashback in Playing The Leveling Field!, under the ownership of Fantina. 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.
Two Trainers' Misdreavus appeared in Securing the Future!, where they joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
A Misdreavus appeared in The Battlefield of Truth and Love!, where it was among the Pokémon watching Bewear and Stufful put on a performance in their hot springs.
Pokédex entries
Episode
|
Pokémon
|
Source
|
Entry
|
EP259
|
Misdreavus
|
Ash's Pokédex
|
Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus are extremely mischievous and like to cry out at night just to startle people.
|
|
Episode
|
Pokémon
|
Source
|
Entry
|
DP011
|
Misdreavus
|
Dawn's Pokédex
|
Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus loves being mischievous by pulling people's hair and shocking them.
|
|
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 Irish mythology, known for its unearthly wailing and screaming.
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).