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. In the anime, Misdreavus is shown to be able to use its "hair" to grasp objects and other Pokémon, as it were a pair of hands.
Major appearances
Little Miss is a Misdreavus that first appeared under the ownership of Marina during The Legend of Thunder!.
Other
In Entei at Your Own Risk, Nelson used a Misdreavus to battle and attempt to catch an Entei. However, Entei used Roar, allowing it to get away.
In Johto Photo Finish, four wild Misdreavus caused a interruption at the Silver Conference Hotel. It was eventually discovered that one of them was trapped under a fallen tree, so Ash and his friends freed it.
In Shocks and Bonds, Katie used a Misdreavus to battle Ash during the Ever Grande Conference. Although Glalie defeated it, its using Destiny Bond caused Glalie to faint along with it.
In PK15, a Misdreavus was living in the spooky house.
In Mounting a Coordinator Assault!, Zoey used a Misdreavus to compete in the Jubilife Contest. Misdreavus later evolved into a Mismagius prior to Coming Full-Festival Circle!.
In Try for the Family Stone!, Rhyanna owns a Misdreavus. She would often use it in battles that always ended in her victory.
In A Haunted House for Everyone!, a Misdreavus played with Harper and Sarah at the Pokémon School. It was also featured in the dream a Mismagius created.
In Finding a Legend!, Goh caught a Misdreavus that was casting illusions at the Bell Tower. It reappeared in Best Friend...Worst Nightmare!, JN020 and JN023.
Minor appearances
A Misdreavus appeared in A Fan with a Plan.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, a Trainer's Misdreavus competed in the Rota tournament.
A Misdreavus appeared in Dawn Of A New Era!.
In Ghoul Daze!, a Misdreavus scared Ash and Angie off with Screech.
In a flashback in Playing The Leveling Field!, Fantina was revealed to have a Misdreavus that is now her Mismagius in the present day.
In a flashback in Zoroark: Master of Illusions, Grings Kodai was revealed to have a Misdreavus that is now his Mismagius in the present day.
In Mystery on a Deserted Island!, Cilan's demonstration featured a Misdreavus evolving into a Mismagius.
In Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!, a Misdreavus played in Lillie's garden.
In Securing the Future!, two Trainers' Misdreavus joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
In The Battlefield of Truth and Love!, a Misdreavus watched Bewear and Stufful put on a performance in their hot springs.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP259
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Misdreavus
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Ash's Pokédex
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus are extremely mischievous and like to cry out at night just to startle people.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP011
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Misdreavus
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus loves being mischievous by pulling people's hair and shocking them.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN009
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Misdreavus
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Misdreavus, the Screech Pokémon. A Ghost type. Misdreavus scares people and gathers up their emotions, which it uses as energy.
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- Misdreavus's first two anime appearances both involved members of the Legendary beasts trio: Raikou and Entei, respectively.
- Misdreavus can be seen as a parallel to Murkrow. Both are Generation II Pokémon whose evolution process utilizes a Dusk Stone, and their evolved forms were both introduced in Generation IV. Misdreavus is exclusive to Pokémon LeafGreen, Pearl, and White while Murkrow is exclusive to FireRed, Diamond, and Black.
- Misdreavus is listed after Murkrow in the National Pokédex, but its evolution, Mismagius, comes before Murkrow's evolution, Honchkrow.
- Misdreavus was the only Ghost-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II.
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 source of 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).