While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Hoopa has an alternate form, which it changes into by using the Prison Bottle. Its default form, Hoopa Confined, will then become the Psychic/DarkHoopa Unbound. In Generation VI and VII, Hoopa Unbound will revert into Hoopa Confined while in the player's party if three days have passed since changing to Hoopa Unbound. Other circumstances may also cause it to revert.
Hoopa Confined was officially revealed in the February 2015 issue of CoroCoro magazine. Hoopa Unbound was officially revealed in the May 2015 issue of CoroCoro magazine.
Hoopa Confined is a light-purple Pokémon with a vaguely humanoid appearance. It has green eyes with yellow sclerae, a yellow ring marking on its forehead, a small, pink dot under each eye, and dark pink hair tied into a short ponytail. On either side of its head is a dark gray horn that curves slightly upward. Its body has a dark pink, V-shaped marking on the chest and a small, golden spike on each shoulder. Its arms are not attached to its body and instead float next to it; each arm has a small golden spike similar to those on its shoulders. It has mitten-like hands and dark pink rings around each wrist. In place of actual legs, it has a wispy tail. Hoopa has three gold rings: one large one around its lower body and one hanging freely on each of its horns.
The rings on Hoopa's body can warp space and allow it to transport items by passing them through its hoop. This allows it to seize anything in the world. With its power, Hoopa is willing to cause mischief and take anything it wants. In the past, Hoopa's true power is said to have been sealed in the Prison Bottle, reducing it to a smaller and weaker form; opening the bottle grants Hoopa its true form once again, but only for three days. It stores its gathered loot in a secret spot only it knows. Hoopa is said to have the power to bend dimensions. It is heavily implied to be the one causing many of the Mirage Spots in the Hoennregion. As seen in Pokémon Masters EX, Hoopa can even bring people and Pokémon from alternate timelines through its hoops. Hoopa is known to steal stuff from humans if provoked. Hoopa is known to like donuts, as depicted in the Pokémon anime, Masters EX and Unite.
Hoopa has two forms: Hoopa Confined and Hoopa Unbound.
Hoopa Unbound is a large, bipedal Pokémon with six arms. It is mostly light blue with purple hair. The ponytail on its head is larger and bushier and held in place by two golden rings. Its hair now covers its chin, where it forms a pointed beard, and the back of its neck. The horns are less curved and have spiky purple hair around the bases. There are three gold rings on each horn: two around the base and one around the middle. It has yellow eyes white sclerae, a pointed, dark gray nose, a small hole inside of the ring-marking on its forehead, and prominent fangs in the back of its lower jaw. Similar to Hoopa Confined, its arms are disconnected and float next to its body. Instead of a small, gold spike the arms now have large, dark gray spikes and appear from holes along the sides of its body. Each arm has three fingers with dark gray claws, a gold ring around the wrist, and a gold ring around the base. Several tufts of purple hair surround its torso and a gold ring encircles a hole in the center of its chest. Another large gold ring encircles its waist and there are small tufts of hair poking out from underneath it. There is a purple stripe that widens at the knee down each leg and two gold rings around each ankle. The tips of its feet are gold and curl upward. Additionally, this form has a tail with a purple stripe along the top and an arrow-shaped tip. Hoopa Unbound is tied with MegaGyarados as the tallest Dark type.
Hoopa Unbound is said to be Hoopa's true form and is said to have a humongous amount of power. Hoopa Unbound is capable of bending dimensions on a more powerful scale. [1] Hoopa Unbound can control and summon powerful Legendary Pokémon, as depicted in the movie Hoopa and the Clash of Ages. It can use its rage to drive the Legendary Pokémon berserk. However, this has the dangerous side effect of creating space-time warps that can destroy the area where they were summoned. One legend stated it greedily teleported an entire castle from Kalos 3,000 years ago to obtain its hidden treasure. It can even teleport an entire island through its portals. Hoopa can remain in Unbound form for three days until its power is sealed away, reverting to the smaller Confined Form.
In the anime, both forms of Hoopa are shown to be able to travel through its rings.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Hoopa appears as a special non-recruitable ally that must be found contained in the Djinn's Bottle in Sahra Town. Upon approaching the bottle, Hoopa will "connect" with the player's team and will accompany them only for the next exploration. Whilst exploring, Hoopa will randomly choose between its Unbound or Confined Formes. The leader may ask Hoopa to summon a random Legendary or Mythical Pokémon through one of its portals for help, but the target may randomly end up as a hostile enemy instead.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
In its true form, it possess a huge amount of power. Legends of its avarice tell how it once carried off an entire castle to gain the treasure hidden within.
It is said to be able to seize anything it desires with its six rings and six huge arms. With its powers sealed, it is transformed into a much smaller form.
Hoopa has two forms it can change between using the Prison Bottle: Hoopa Confined and Hoopa Unbound
Hoopa Confined is Hoopa's default form, which is Psychic/Ghost-type. When exposed to a Prison Bottle, Hoopa Confined transforms into Hoopa Unbound, which is Psychic/Dark-type. Hoopa Unbound was introduced in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Hoopa Unbound will change back into Hoopa Confined after three days have passed since using the Prison Bottle. Hoopa also changes back to Hoopa Confined when deposited in a Box (Generation VI), when withdrawn from a box (Generation VII), when deposited in the Pokémon Day Care or Pokémon Nursery, or when exposed to the Prison Bottle again.
Wait three days, deposit in storage, or use Prison Bottle
The two forms have different base stats, types, moves they can learn, and cries. Additionally, the move Hyperspace Fury is usable only by Hoopa Unbound (or a Pokémon that has transformed into Hoopa Unbound with Transform or Imposter), and will fail if Hoopa Confined (or any other Pokémon) attempts to use it. In Generation IX, when Hoopa becomes Hoopa Unbound, Hyperspace Hole is replaced with Hyperspace Fury, and becoming Hoopa Confined replaces Hyperspace Fury with Hyperspace Hole.
In PS602, a silhouetted Hoopa was on the Sea Mauville, causing trouble by attacking Emerald and Steven. Later, after it was properly revealed in PS605, Hoopa took a liking to Emerald and began following him around.
Hoopa is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged supporter that's mostly in its Confined Form, but can temporarily change into its Unbound Form after using its Unite Move.
Trivia
Hoopa Unbound has the highest base Special Attack stat of all Dark-type Pokémon.
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the "mysterious rings" in mirage spots, from which Pokémon jump out when interacted with, resemble rings used by Hoopa.
Origin
Hoopa Confined may have been inspired by common depictions of djinn. The rings around its wrists could have been inspired by the djinn in the story of Aladdin.
Hoopa Unbound may also have been inspired by djinn, while its six arms may be drawn from the Hindu deities known as Shakti, who were rumored to grow multiple arms. It may also be based on the Gegenees, who were a tribe of six-armed giants who fought the Argonauts in Greek mythology. Its tail and horns may also derive from common depictions of demons.
Hoopa's relationship with the Prison Bottle is similar to the djinn's with its lamp in traditional Arabian stories, since its full power is sealed within its respective vessel. Hoopa only being able to maintain its Unbound state for three days parallels the limit to the number of wishes a djinn can grant to its current master.
Both forms of Hoopa could also be partly based on the legend of Nezha, a deity worshiped in Taoism and Chinese folk religion and commonly referred to as a trickster deity and a worldly protector. Very much like Hoopa Unbound, Nezha is depicted holding rings and is sometimes depicted with multiple arms.
Name origin
Hoopa may be derived from hoop. It may also involve hoopla (something loud, attention-grabbing, and possibly misleading).