Ekans (Pokémon)

Fearow #022: Fearow
Pokémon
#024: Arbok Arbok
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Ekans (disambiguation).
Ekans
アーボ Arbo
#023
023Ekans.png
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type
Poison Unknown
Category
Snake Pokémon
Abilities
Intimidate or Shed Skin Unnerve
Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100
1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers
Kanto
#023
Johto
#050
Hoenn
#225
Regional Browser numbers
Fiore
R-151
Height
6'07"
Imperial
2.0 m
Metric
Weight
15.2 lbs.
Imperial
6.9 kg
Metric
Dex color
Purple
Catch rate
255 (33.3%)
Body style
Body02.png BodyUnknown.png
Blue-Striped
Footprint
 F023.png   F487O.png
Blue-Striped
Gender ratio
50% male, 50% female
Breeding
Field and
Dragon groups
21 cycles
(5355 minimum steps)
EV yield
HP
0
Atk
1
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
Base Exp.: 62 Battle Exp.: 621*

Ekans (Japanese: アーボ Arbo) is a Poison-type Pokémon.

It evolves into Arbok starting at level 22.

Biology

Physiology

This reptilian Pokémon is serpentine. It has a rattle at the tip of its tail, and is mostly purple while its underbelly, eyes, rattle, and the "bands" on it are yellow.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Ekans are able to detach their jaws to swallow large prey whole, although this makes their bodies heavy. It can also use its tongue to sense danger, and can move quietly through the grass. Ekans was also shown in the second movie to possess some swimming abilities.

Behavior

Like actual snakes, Ekans will lash out with a bite when frightened by anything it sees as a threat. If one happens to be bitten by a young Ekans, they are lucky. As an Ekans, it does not possess the ability to add venom to its bite until after it evolves into an Arbok, though this last bit of information clashes with Ekans's dungeon phrase.

Habitat

Ekans live in grassy savannas and plains. It also inhabits cemeteries. It is normally found in Kanto and Johto, but has been encountered in Sinnoh on rare occasions.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Ekans' favorite food is Eggs from Pidgey and Spearow nests.

In the anime

 
Ekans in the anime

Major appearances

Jessie's Ekans

Jessie had an Ekans, which for most of the Original series, was her only Pokémon. It was extremely loyal to her and eventually evolved into an Arbok just to make her happy.

Other

A poacher had captured a bunch of Ekans in A Poached Ego!.

Ekans was part of "Team Meanies" in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate! Special. Gengar commanded the Poisonous Snake Pokémon to eat all the Berries Team Go-Getters collected. At one point, Ekans was incorrectly referred to as Arbok by Gengar. While this was an intentional error that Ekans rebuked in the original version (due to the similarities in the Japanese names), this came across as a general mistake in the dub and was corrected in reairings of the episode.

Minor appearances

An Ekans appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Multiple Ekans also appeared in The Power of One.

An Ekans was one of the sick Pokémon in a Pokémon Center in Carrying On!.

Ekans made a cameo appearance in Different Strokes for Different Blokes.

In the manga

 
Ekans as seen in Pokémon Adventures

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Main article: Jessie's Arbok

Jessie's Arbok appears as both an Ekans and as an Arbok in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. It only appears as an Ekans in the seventh chapter of the manga, Pikachu's Excellent Adventure.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

Main article: Ekans Brothers

A pair of Ekans, the Ekans Brothers, are part of the supporting cast in the manga Magical Pokémon Journey. Led by Arbok, they are originally antagonists, but later they befriend the main characters when Arbok gets a crush on Wigglytuff.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Koga has an Ekans in Pokémon Adventures. Harry of the Team Rocket Elite Trio also has one.

An Ekans was also one of the Pokémon pitted against Gold when he offered to help out at the Day Care near Goldenrod City.

In the TCG

Main article: Ekans (TCG)

In the TFG

One Ekans figure has been released.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I
Red Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
Blue
Yellow The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Stadium Slithers silently through grass, searching for its favorite food--Pidgey and Spearow eggs.
Generation II
Gold It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
Silver It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
Crystal It flutters the tip of its tongue to seek out the scent of prey, then swallows the prey whole.
Stadium 2 It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
Generation III
Ruby Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. Assuming this position allows it to quickly respond to a threat from any direction with a glare from its upraised head.
Sapphire
Emerald An Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. This position allows it to quickly respond to an enemy from any direction with a threat from its upraised head.
FireRed A very common sight in grassland, etc. It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings.
LeafGreen Moving silently and stealthily, it eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
Generation IV
Diamond It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
SoulSilver It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
Generation V
Black It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
White
Black 2 It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
White 2
Generation VI
X Unknown
Y Unknown


Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I
Red Blue
Common Routes 4, 11, and 23 (Red only)
Blue (Japan)
None Trade
Yellow
None Trade
Generation II
Gold Silver
Unlimited G
Uncommon S
Goldenrod Game Corner G
Routes 3, 4, 32, and 33 S
Crystal
Few Routes 3, 4, 32, 33, and 42, Headbutting trees
Generation III
Ruby Sapphire
None Trade
Emerald
None Trade
FireRed LeafGreen
Common Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23 (FireRed only)
Colosseum
None Trade
XD
None Trade
Generation IV
Diamond Pearl
Dongle Route 212 (FireRed)
Platinum
Dongle Route 212 (FireRed)
HeartGold SoulSilver
Prize HG
Uncommon HGSS
Goldenrod Game Corner HG
Safari Zone HGSS
Routes 3, 4, 32, 33, and 37 SS
Pal Park
Forest
Pokéwalker
None
Generation V
Black White
None Poké Transfer
Black 2 White 2
None Poké Transfer
Dream World
Dream Park
Generation VI
X Y
None Trade



In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Pinball Pewter City
Mt. Moon
Vermilion City Seaside
Rock Mountain
Lavender Town
Saffron City
Indigo Plateau
Pokémon Trozei! Huge Storage 4
Endless Level 51
Pair Trozei
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red/Blue Rescue Team
Western Cave (3F-5F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time/Darkness
Shimmer Desert (1F-9F)
Pokémon Ranger Olive Jungle
Pokémon Rumble Rocky Cave Normal Mode C
Pokémon Rumble Blast Cave: Rugged Flats

In events

Games Event Language Location Level Distribution period
FRLG Pokémon Trade and Battle Day Ekans English United States 14 September 25, 2004
RSEFRLG Gotta Catch 'Em All #3 Ekans Japanese Japan 10 January 14 to 29, 2006

Held items

Game Held Item(s)
Red* Blue* Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
35
95 - 142 180 - 274
60
58 - 123 112 - 240
44
44 - 105 83 - 205
40
40 - 101 76 - 196
54
53 - 116 101 - 227
55
54 - 117 103 - 229
Total:
288
Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
  • This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 40.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed
3/5 ★★★☆☆
Power
3/4 ★★★
Skill
3/3 ★★★
Stamina
2/3 ★★
Jump
2/3 ★★
Total
13/18 ★★


Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
Damaged
normally by:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying
Poison ½×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Weak to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying
Poison ½×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Immune to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying
Poison ½×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Resistant to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying
Poison ½×
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Notes:

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V
Other generations:
I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
 Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
00Start Wrap Normal Physical 01515 09090% 20
00Start Leer Normal Status 0000 100100% 30
044 Poison Sting Poison Physical 01515 100100% 35
099 Bite Dark Physical 06060 100100% 25
1212 Glare Normal Status 0000 09090% 30
1717 Screech Normal Status 0000 08585% 40
2020 Acid Poison Special 04040 100100% 30
2525 Stockpile Normal Status 0000 —% 20
2525 Swallow Normal Status 0000 —% 10
2525 Spit Up Normal Special 0000 100100% 10
2828 Acid Spray Poison Special 04040 100100% 20
3333 Mud Bomb Ground Special 06565 08585% 10
3636 Gastro Acid Poison Status 0000 100100% 10
4141 Haze Ice Status 0000 —% 30
4444 Coil Poison Status 0000 —% 20
4949 Gunk Shot Poison Physical 120120 07070% 5
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ekans
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation V
Other generations:
I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
 TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
  TM06 Toxic Poison Status 0000 090}}90% 10
  TM09 Venoshock Poison Special 06565 100}}100% 10
  TM10 Hidden Power Normal Special 0000 100}}100% 15
  TM11 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000 —}}—% 5
  TM17 Protect Normal Status 0000 —}}—% 10
  TM18 Rain Dance Water Status 0000 —}}—% 5
  TM21 Frustration Normal Physical 0000 100}}100% 20
  TM26 Earthquake Ground Physical 100100 100}}100% 10
  TM27 Return Normal Physical 0000 100}}100% 20
  TM28 Dig Ground Physical 08080 100}}100% 10
  TM32 Double Team Normal Status 0000 —}}—% 15
  TM34 Sludge Wave Poison Special 09595 100}}100% 10
  TM36 Sludge Bomb Poison Special 09090 100}}100% 10
  TM39 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 05050 080}}80% 10
  TM41 Torment Dark Status 0000 100}}100% 15
  TM42 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20
  TM44 Rest Psychic Status 0000 —}}—% 10
  TM45 Attract Normal Status 0000 100}}100% 15
  TM46 Thief Dark Physical 04040 100}}100% 10
  TM48 Round Normal Special 06060 100}}100% 15
  TM66 Payback Dark Physical 05050 100}}100% 10
  TM78 Bulldoze Ground Physical 06060 100}}100% 20
  TM80 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10
  TM84 Poison Jab Poison Physical 08080 100}}100% 20
  TM87 Swagger Normal Status 0000 090}}90% 15
  TM90 Substitute Normal Status 0000 —}}—% 10
  HM04 Strength Normal Physical 08080 100}}100% 15
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ekans
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V
Other generations:
II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
 Father   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
Beat Up Dark Physical 100% 10
Disable Normal Status 100% 20
Iron Tail* Steel Physical 100 75% 15
Poison Fang Poison Physical 50 100% 15
Poison Tail Poison Physical 50 100% 25
Pursuit Dark Physical 40 100% 20
Scary Face Normal Status 100% 10
Slam Normal Physical 80 75% 20
Snatch Dark Status —% 10
Spite Ghost Status 100% 10
Sucker Punch Dark Physical 80 100% 5
Switcheroo Dark Status 100% 10
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Ekans in Generation V
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Ekans in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ekans
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation V
Other generations:
II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
 Game   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
B W B2 W2 Aqua Tail Water Physical 90 90% 10
B W B2 W2 Bind Normal Physical 15 85% 20
B W B2 W2 Dark Pulse Dark Special 80 100% 15
B W B2 W2 Gastro Acid Poison Status 100% 10
B W B2 W2 Giga Drain Grass Special 75 100% 10
B W B2 W2 Gunk Shot Poison Physical 120 70% 5
B W B2 W2 Iron Tail Steel Physical 100 75% 15
B W B2 W2 Seed Bomb Grass Physical 80 100% 15
B W B2 W2 Sleep Talk Normal Status —% 10
B W B2 W2 Snatch Dark Status —% 10
B W B2 W2 Snore Normal Special 40 100% 15
B W B2 W2 Spite Ghost Status 100% 10
  • A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Ekans can be tutored the move in that game
  • A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Ekans cannot be tutored the move in that game
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ekans
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

Dream World moves

Generation V
Other generations:
I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
 Event   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
Dream Park Beat Up Dark Physical 100% 10
Dream Park Dark Pulse Dark Special 80 100% 15
  • A superscript level indicates that Ekans can learn this move normally in Generation V at that level
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Ekans
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see event moves from other generations

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
     
Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Pinball RS
 N/A 
Not available
Pokémon Trozei!
   
Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
  Body size: 1
Recruit rate: 12.4%
Friend Area: Wild Plains
Phrases
51%-100% HP The poison in my fangs is wicked!
26%-50% HP My HP's gone down to half.
1%-25% HP Help... I'm running out of poison...
Level up Yesss! I leveled up! I'll do my best!
Partner phrases
51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%.
26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%.
1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%.
Level up Yesss! I leveled up! I'll do my best!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness
,
and Explorers of Sky
  Body size: 1
Recruit rate: 0.5%
IQ group: C
Pokémon Ranger
Group:  Poison  Poké Assist:  
( Poison )
Field move: None
Loops: 5 Min. exp.: 28 Max. exp.: 42
Browser entry  
If it spots a Capture Disc, Ekans will slither straight toward it.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None
Browser entry  
This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Group: Poké Assist: Field move:
 Normal  None Past
 
( Normal )
None Past
 
(Electrify ×1)
Browser entry  
This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Attack ●●
Defense ●●
Speed ●●●
Attack Not
Available
Defense
Speed
Attack ●●
Defense ●●
Speed ●●●
Attack Not
Available
Defense
Speed
Attack Not
Available
Defense
Speed
Attack Not
Available
Defense
Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
  PokéPark Pad entry:
This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
  Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}}
PokéPark Pad entry:
This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
  HP: Move: Poison Sting
Attack: ★★ Ability 1: Intimidate
Defense: ★★ Ability 2: Shed Skin
Speed: ★★ Ability 3: Frighten
Evolves into Arbok when Attack reaches 59
Range: 3 Perfect Links: Dosan, Yazaemon

Evolution

 
Unevolved
Ekans
 Poison 
 
Level 22


 
First evolution
Arbok
 Poison 


Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
       
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
       
       
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
       
       
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Back
       
       
V Black White Black 2 White 2 Back
     
     
  For other sprites and images, please see Ekans images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

 
Ken Sugimori artwork of Ekans from Pokémon Red and Green
  • In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Ekans was originally known as "Arbo". This is, of course, its romanized Japanese name.
  • An Ekans was originally going to be featured in Pokémon Snap, shown in an early test shot of an environment that was never featured in the final product. This is also true of its evolution, Arbok.
  • Ekans is one of fourteen Pokémon that one can collect foreign Pokédex entries for in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
  • In early official art of Ekans, it was shown having all of the bands on its body being yellow, as opposed to just one. This was removed when later official artwork was released.
  • The curving line in front of Ekans's eyes, when seen from above, looks like the pattern of the Spectacled Cobra.
  • Despite in-game text stating that young Ekans's bites are the least dangerous because they don't have any poison, in real-life, young snakes' bites are the most dangerous, because not only can they secrete venom, but they inject all of their venom in a single bite due to their inability to control their alveoli.
  • Ekans is the first pure Poison-type Pokémon in the National Pokédex order.

Origin

It appears to be based upon a boa and rattlesnake. However, its lack of teeth or venom, ability to swallow large prey, reference to it eating Pokémon eggs and its reaction to threats may mean it might have been based on an egg-eating snake. The yellow "band" at its neck may be a reference to the ring-necked snake, whose venom is minimal.

Name origin

Ekans is snake spelled backwards.

Arbo is an anagram of ボア boa.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning
  Japanese アーボ Arbo Anagram of ボア boa
  French Abo Anagram of boa
  Spanish Ekans Same as English name
  German Rettan Natter spelled backwards
  Italian Ekans Same as English name
  Korean 아보 Abo 보아 Boa backwards, and a transliteration of the Japanese name
  Mandarin Chinese 阿柏蛇 Ābóshé Transliteration of the Japanese name, with the character for "snake" added at the end
  Cantonese Chinese 阿柏蛇 Ábaaksèh Transliteration of the Japanese name, with the character for "snake" added at the end



Related articles

External links

Notes



  #022: Fearow
Pokémon
#024: Arbok  


  This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.