Ash's Noctowl: Difference between revisions

'''Ash's Noctowl''' (Japanese: '''サトシのヨルノズク''' ''Satoshi's Yorunozuku'') is a {{Shiny}} {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} that {{Ash}} encountered on the way to [[Goldenrod City]] during his travels through [[Johto]] in ''[[EP154|Fowl Play!]]'', and the fifth Pokémon he caught in the region. In addition to being Shiny, it is also unusually small in size and quite intelligent.

[[File:Ash Noctowl debut.png|200px|thumb|left|Ash's Noctowl in its debut]]

Noctowl debuted in ''[[EP154|Fowl Play!]]'' where it flew to a bird house. [[Dr. Wiseman]] was trying to capture the Noctowl using traps rather than [[Poké Ball]]s, but each time Noctowl outwitted him and escaped the traps — usually leaving him hypnotized in the process. Ash was offended by Wiseman's tactics and plotted to capture Noctowl traditionally. Wiseman hypnotized Noctowl using its own Hypnosis and a mirror, but Noctowl managed to escape — just in time for {{TRT}} to attack and attempt to capture it. Ash risked his own safety to pry Team Rocket's mecha claw open and allow Noctowl to fly free, before Noctowl marshaled the power of {{AP|Totodile}}, {{AP|Cyndaquil}} and {{AP|Pikachu}} to destroy the mecha and send Team Rocket blasting off.

In ''[[EP164|Carrying On!]]'', Noctowl used its Hypnosis on a {{p|Fearow}} to make it believe it was a {{p|Charizard}}, causing it to flee in fear. It then used Hypnosis on the traumatized {{p|Pidgey}} victim, making it appear as a fellow Pidgey and allowing it to approach. Noctowl later led the gang to the lost carrier Pidgey that had been captured by Team Rocket and alongside Ken, the Pidgey it rescued before, freed them and led the Pidgey into an attack on Team Rocket's balloon.   

Noctowl was unique when compared to Ash's Pidgeotto in that it had {{t|Psychic}} powers to add to its abilities as a scout and aerial attacker. This gave it advantage over the {{type|Poison}} {{t|Ghost}}s under [[Morty]] in Ecruteak City. Noctowl's ability to use Foresight was revealed in ''[[EP181|A Ghost of a Chance]]'' and gave it a huge advantage as it made the Ghosts visible and vulnerable to Tackle.

[[File:Ash Noctowl head.png|thumb|200px|left|Noctowl rotating its head]]

Noctowl was the Pokémon Ash based his Ecruteak Gym campaign around in [[EP182|the following episode]]. It successfully used Foresight on {{p|Gastly}}, but had to be recalled because it couldn't land any other attacks. It was then sent out against {{p|Haunter}}, struggling to overcome the Ghost type but managed to win through learning Confusion. It was then left to battle [[Morty's Gengar]] which was still fresh, and looked vulnerable as Gengar was able to attack whilst invisible. However, Noctowl was able to reveal Gengar's location by using Confusion through the whole building and then using Foresight to keep Gengar visible. It then finished Gengar off with a Tackle attack and Ash got the {{badge|Fog}}.

In ''[[DP185|Working on a Right Move!]]'', Ash used Noctowl as his first Pokémon in his battle against [[Conway]] in the third round of the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]], it went up against his {{p|Shuckle}}, Shuckle started off with {{m|Withdraw}} raising Shuckle's defense, and Ash used Sky Attack, whilst it was charging, Shuckle used a second Withdraw, then using its Sky Attack, it charged against Shuckle who used withdraw a third time, deflecting Noctowl's attack, damaging it. Shuckle then used {{m|Power Trick}} to swap its [[Attack]] and [[Defense]], making its attack high but its defense low. Noctowl then used Air Slash, but Shuckle used a powerful {{m|Gyro Ball}} cutting Sky Attack and dealing major damage to Noctowl. Ash then returned Noctowl. Noctowl was later sent out against {{p|Lickilicky}}, Lickilicky used {{m|Power Whip}} but its long tongue was unable to reach Noctowl, who was airborne. Noctowl then dealt damage with Air Slash. After dodging {{m|Thunderbolt}}, Noctowl used Extrasensory, lifting Lickilicky into the air and then dropping it, defeating Lickilicky. Conway then used his last Pokémon, {{p|Dusknoir}}, Dusknoir immediately used {{m|Trick Room}}, Noctowl attempted to use Extrasensory, but Dusknoir qucikly came from behind and used {{m|Thunder Punch}}, knocking Noctowl out before it could use Extrasensory. Conway then explained it was because of Trick Room, as it makes the slowest Pokémon attack first, thus the slow Dusknoir attacking before the normally faster Noctowl.

Personality-wise, Noctowl was presented as intelligent, mischievous, and cunning — although these traits weren't usually emphasized or touched upon after its debut episode. It also presents a serious side to its personality, often going to sleep with dignity, or using its hypnosis on others in order to save them, instead of for prank purposes, as was the case in ''[[EP164|Carrying On!]]'', where it was also shown to develop a soft spot for a small {{p|Pidgey}}. Noctowl is very loyal to Ash because he saved it from Team Rocket, and similar to {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, was captured in a fair contest with Pikachu. Noctowl also proved to be a very powerful Pokemon, being used as Ash's secret weapon in his battle with [[Morty]] and also performing well in the battle against [[Conway]].

{{anmov/h|normal|flying|Ash Noctowl {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 4}}|0=Sky Attack|1=Air Slash|2=Extrasensory|3=Peck}}.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 4}}|0=Sky Attack|1=Air Slash|2=Extrasensory|3=Peck}}|image2=Ash Noctowl {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 5}}|0=Hypnosis|1=Confusion|2=Foresight|3=Tackle|4=Whirlwind}}.png|caption2=Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 5}}|0=Hypnosis|1=Confusion|2=Foresight|3=Tackle|4=Whirlwind}}}}

[[zh:小智的猫头夜鹰]]