Mirage Pokémon

If you were looking for the quest given by Spinda in Rescue Team: DX or Red and Blue Rescue Team, see The Mystery of the Mirage Pokémon.

Mirage Pokémon (Japanese: ミラージュポケモン) are holographic Pokémon, first seen in the anime special The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon. They were created by Dr. Yung, the Pokémon scientist who invented the Pokémon Mirage System, a machine that generates Pokémon holograms. The Mirage System was initially created for the purpose of creating a new species of "perfect" Pokémon. It was later used by Dr. Yung in an attempt to get revenge on the members of the Pokémon Institute who expelled him after he presented them with the Mirage System, claiming that it was a cruel and disrespectful way to treat Pokémon.

Mirage Mewtwo

Description

The expanded Mirage System

The Mirage System is capable of creating virtually any Pokémon included in its database. These Pokémon are formidable battlers, able to withstand and evade damage, but can be destroyed if struck with enough force. They can use any move, even ones they would naturally be unable to learn. This is comparable to a Pokémon in the core series games which is hacked, such as a Mewtwo with Quick Attack, a Beautifly with Aeroblast, or a Walrein with Meteor Mash. Pokémon that were created during the events of The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon include Kabutops, Omastar, Armaldo, Aggron, two Aerodactyl, Machoke, Machamp, Ursaring, Houndoom, Mightyena, Absol, Magnemite, Articuno, Zapdos, Entei, Mewtwo, and Mew.

Although the main area that the Mirage Pokémon can travel is held inside Dr. Yung's laboratory, it can be expanded through the use of holographic generators that are launched from the laboratory like missiles. This expanded Mirage System allows the Mirage Pokémon to travel outside the laboratory and battle in different environments. The extent of this expanded area is unlimited.

Mirage Pokémon outside Dr. Yung’s laboratory

When the Mirage Pokémon are not in use, they can be "stored" in the Mirage System until they are needed, much like how real Pokémon are kept in Poké Balls. A trait that is unique to the Mirage Pokémon is the ability to use the data of other Mirage Pokémon to give them an edge in battle. This ability was used by the Mirage Mewtwo when it battled Ash and his friends. During the time that this ability was being used, it was revealed that any Mirage Pokémon whose data is being used are still fully conscious; this became evident when the Mirage Mew acted out and stopped Mewtwo from attacking. However it should be noted that the only reason Mew was able to do so is because it had the free will that the other Mirage Pokémon lacked.

If a Mirage Pokémon suffers critical damage, it reverts into data represented by hexagons floating in the air that then return to the system through the hologram generators. If there is an overwhelming amount of data for the generators to absorb—seen when the Mirage Mewtwo with the entire database written into it is destroyed—the system overloads and explosively crashes.

The system is also seen to be capable of creating mirages of other things besides Pokémon, as Dr. Yung used it to create a mirage of his Mirage Master persona in order to misdirect suspicion from him being the Master's true identity.

Moves used

Mirage Armaldo

Using Shadow Ball	Move First Used In Shadow Ball The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Aggron

Using Bullet Seed	Move First Used In Sandstorm The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Thunder Wave The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Bullet Seed The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Houndoom

Using Flamethrower	Move First Used In Flamethrower The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Mew

Using Protect	Move First Used In Protect The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Magnemite

Using Thunder	Move First Used In Thunder The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Mewtwo

Using Iron Tail

Move First Used In Shadow Ball The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Hydro Pump The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Bullet Seed The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Thunderbolt The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Psybeam The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Ice Beam The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Iron Tail The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Quick Attack The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Mega Punch The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Entei

Using Flamethrower	Move First Used In Flamethrower The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Articuno

Using Steel Wing	Move First Used In Ice Beam The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Steel Wing The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Zapdos

Using Drill Peck	Move First Used In Drill Peck The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon Thunderbolt The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Arcanine

Using Flamethrower	Move First Used In Flamethrower The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Rayquaza

Using Hyper Beam	Move First Used In Hyper Beam The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Mirage Tropius

Using Solar Beam	Move First Used In Solar Beam The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Trivia

• Mew was the only holographic Pokémon who had a heart and who wasn't able to be controlled. This could be a reference to the obedience mechanics of Generation III games, where Mew not met in a fateful encounter will always disobey the player to discourage acquisition of Mew using cheats.
• "Mirage Pokémon" also refers to Legendary Pokémon and Mew in particular, though this is mainly a coincidence. In Japanese, the term used for Legendary Pokémon is まぼろしの ポケモン illusory Pokémon, using the Japanese word "maboroshi"; meanwhile, Yung's mirages are ミラージュポケモン mirage Pokémon, which uses the English word "mirage."
• Even though the Mirage Pokémon are often described as holograms, both they and their attacks are made of actual matter rather than light.

In other languages

Language Title Dutch Illusie-Pokémon Finnish Mirage-Pokémonien French Pokémon mirage German Mirage-Pokémon Italian Pokémon miraggio Portuguese Pokémon Miragem Spanish Pokémon espejismo

See also

Pokémon forms and variants Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (anime) Gender differences‎ • Form differences (GO) Brilliant Pokémon • Alpha Pokémon Transformations: Mega Evolution • Primal Reversion • Bond Phenomenon • Ultra Burst Dynamax (Gigantamax) • Eternamax • Terastal phenomenon Groups: Totem Pokémon • Noble Pokémon • Titan Pokémon Regional forms: Alolan • Galarian • Hisuian • Paldean Analogous: Paradox Pokémon • Ecologically similar Pokémon Pikachu variants: Surfing Pikachu • Flying Pikachu • Cosplay Pikachu • Pikachu in a cap Miscellaneous: Pokémon fusions • Giant Pokémon • Spiky-eared Pichu • Partner Pokémon Side series original: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Lugia Spin-off original: Shadow Pokémon • Primal Dialga • Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon) Shadow Mewtwo • Pokéxel • Illumina phenomenon Anime original: Pink Butterfree • Clone Pokémon • Crystal Onix Mirage Pokémon • Meta Groudon • Green-crystal Deoxys Manga original: Thu-Fi-Zer • Black Fog • Black Tyranitar

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.