Palafin (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0963: Finizen	Pokémon	#0965: Varoom →

Palafin Dolphin Pokémon Hero Pokémon イルカマン Irukaman #0964 Zero Form Hero Form Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Water Unknown Unknown Unknown Hero Form Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Ability Zero to Hero Cacophony Hero Form Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hero Form Cacophony
Gender ratio Unknown 50% male, 50% female	Catch rate 45 (11.9%)
Breeding Egg Groups Field and Water 2 Hatch time 40 cycles
Height 4'03" 1.3 m Zero Form 5'11" 1.8 m Hero Form 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 132.7 lbs. 60.2 kg Zero Form 214.7 lbs. 97.4 kg Hero Form 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield Unknown Gen. IV Unknown IV 160	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 2 Zero Form 2 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed Hero Form 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint Hero Form
Pokédex color   Blue	Base friendship 50
External Links On Smogon Pokédex Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Palafin (Japanese: イルカマン Irukaman) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IX.

It evolves from Finizen starting at level 38 when leveled up while connected with another player via the Union Circle.

Palafin transforms into its Hero Form when it is switched out from battle.

(Refer to Game data→Form data for more details.)

Biology

Palafin is a blue cetacean Pokémon that can change between two markedly different forms in battle. When it hears its allies calling for help, Palafin will change its appearance and power itself up — a process which awakens its ancient genes and is always done in secret.

Palafin is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Jet Punch. It is also the only known Pokémon that can have Zero to Hero as an Ability.

Forms

Palafin has two forms: Zero Form and Hero Form.

Zero Form	Hero Form

Zero Form Palafin is an aquatic Pokémon that resembles a dolphin. Its body is mainly light blue. Its underbelly and the underside of its fins are colored in a paler shade of light blue, which extends further to its lower jaw and around its eyes. The tip of its dorsal fin and the wave patterns on the sides of its body are white. It has eyes with two-tone blue and pink irises, a short snout, a pair of flippers, a blowhole atop its head, and a split tailfin with a single water ring surrounding the peduncle. Overall, it is almost identical to Finizen, its pre-evolved form, except for one single detail: a light pink heart-shaped mark on its chest, outlined by a slightly larger white one.

Hero Form Palafin shooting off its water rings

Hero Form Palafin's appearance is drastically different, having given up its previous sleek, streamlined body in favor of a much more bulky and human-like physique. It is now able to stand on the flukes of its tail fin, which are longer and more slender than those of its Zero Form. Its body is now primarily indigo, although some parts, such as its sides, lower jaw, and the bottom of its flukes are colored in a pale shade of light blue. Its dorsal fin now has a white stripe in addition to the white tip. The heart-shaped mark on its chest has expanded into a shape that somewhat resembles a shield, now occupying most of its chest and abdomen. Notably, the central heart has deepened in color, going from light pink to dark pink, and also resembles the shape of a cetacean's tail flukes. As a result of its transformation, its eyes, the tip of its flippers, and shoulders have been covered by a set of bubble lenses, gloves, and cape, respectively. There are now three water rings around its peduncle.

Hero Form Palafin's chest glowing

As seen in the anime, Hero Form Palafin is able of stretching and contracting its water rings at will, as well as shooting them off its body. By releasing water from its blowhole, it can propel itself to jump very high and fly through the air. Despite the shape of its gloves, Hero Form Palafin does not gain hands upon changing into this form; instead, the tip of its flippers now have three small holes, from which it appears to expel the water needed to form its gloves and fire them off like jets of water. It has enhanced vision due to the bubble lenses that cover its eyes. The dark pink symbol on its chest glows pink as Hero Form Palafin takes on the people's cheers. That same episode also revealed that its chest is its weak point. In this form, it is known as the "Pelagic Protector" and the "Hero of the Ocean."

While in its Zero Form, Palafin is said to be equal to Finizen in terms of physical capabilities. Once it changes into its Hero Form, however, Palafin reaches its full power, being strong enough to lift a cruise ship with just one fin and swim at speeds of 50 knots. It is known to save drowning people and Pokémon. According to Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar, the sense of justice on Palafin's heart is its biggest source of strength.

Evolution

Palafin evolves from Finizen.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Unevolved Finizen  Water

→

First evolution Palafin  Water

Game data

Pokédex entries

Palafin in the Paldea Pokédex

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Zero Form

Hero Form

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: None

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM001 TM001 Take Down Normal Physical 09090 085}}85% 20 TM002 TM002 Charm Fairy Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM004 TM004 Agility Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM011 TM011 Water Pulse Water Special 06060 100}}100% 20 TM014 TM014 Acrobatics Flying Physical 05555 100}}100% 15 TM019 TM019 Disarming Voice Fairy Special 04040 00—}}—% 15 TM022 TM022 Chilling Water Water Special 05050 100}}100% 20 TM025 TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20 TM032 TM032 Swift Normal Special 06060 00—}}—% 20 TM034 TM034 Icy Wind Ice Special 05555 095}}95% 15 TM037 TM037 Draining Kiss Fairy Special 05050 100}}100% 10 TM043 TM043 Fling Dark Physical 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM050 TM050 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM059 TM059 Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical 08080 090}}90% 15 TM064 TM064 Bulk Up Fighting Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM066 TM066 Body Slam Normal Physical 08585 100}}100% 15 TM069 TM069 Ice Punch Ice Physical 07575 100}}100% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM073 TM073 Drain Punch Fighting Physical 07575 100}}100% 10 TM077 TM077 Waterfall Water Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM081 TM081 Grass Knot Grass Special 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM087 TM087 Taunt Dark Status 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM099 TM099 Iron Head Steel Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM110 TM110 Liquidation Water Physical 08585 100}}100% 10 TM112 TM112 Aura Sphere Fighting Special 08080 00—}}—% 20 TM117 TM117 Hyper Voice Normal Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM122 TM122 Encore Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 5 TM123 TM123 Surf Water Special 09090 100}}100% 15 TM130 TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM134 TM134 Reversal Fighting Physical 0000— 100}}100% 15 TM135 TM135 Ice Beam Ice Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM142 TM142 Hydro Pump Water Special 110110 080}}80% 5 TM143 TM143 Blizzard Ice Special 110110 070}}70% 5 TM152 TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM156 TM156 Outrage Dragon Physical 120120 100}}100% 10 TM158 TM158 Focus Blast Fighting Special 120120 070}}70% 5 TM163 TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM167 TM167 Close Combat Fighting Physical 120120 100}}100% 5 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM174 TM174 Haze Ice Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM192 TM192 Focus Punch Fighting Physical 150150 100}}100% 20 TM196 TM196 Flip Turn Water Physical 06060 100}}100% 20 TM203 TM203 Psych Up Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM205 TM205 Endeavor Normal Physical 0000— 100}}100% 5 TM208 TM208 Whirlpool Water Special 03535 085}}85% 15 TM221 TM221 Throat Chop Dark Physical 08080 100}}100% 15 TM225 TM225 Hard Press Steel Physical 0000— 100}}100% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Palafin Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution or an alternate form of Palafin

By breeding

Generation IX Other generations: None

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Boomburst Normal Special 140 100% 10 Bounce Flying Physical 85 85% 5 Counter Fighting Physical — 100% 20 Haze Ice Status — —% 30 Tickle Normal Status — 100% 20

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Palafin Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Palafin Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Palafin

By a prior evolution

Side game data

Zero Form

Hero Form

Form data

Palafin has two interchangeable forms: Zero Form and Hero Form. It will always be in Zero Form outside of battle.

Palafin starts battles in its Zero Form. When it is switched out without fainting, it changes into Hero Form with its Ability Zero to Hero, and remains in that form until the battle ends.

Before switching out Zero Form Palafin  Water

↔

After switching out Hero Form Palafin  Water

The two forms have different base stats, with Hero Form having increased Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense but identical HP and Speed compared to Zero Form. It also has different cries depending on its form. In particular, Zero Form Palafin and its pre-evolution, Finizen, have identical cries.

Palafin Zero Form  Water  Zero to Hero Default HP Atk Def SpA SpD Spe 100 70 72 53 62 100

Palafin Hero Form  Water  Zero to Hero Switch out HP Atk Def SpA SpD Spe 100 160 97 106 87 100

Evolution data

Unevolved Finizen  Water

+ Level 38 while in a Union Circle group →

First evolution Palafin  Water

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Palafin images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

In the anime

Zero Form Palafin in the anime

Hero Form Palafin in the anime

Major appearances

Both forms of Palafin debuted in HZ042. Throughout the episode, it was seen changing back and forth between its Zero Form and Hero Form in order to act as a hero. Only Liko, however, was able to see the actual transformation process, as a token of gratitude for preventing the Snap Boys from photographing its transformation.

Minor appearances

In the manga

In the TCG

Main article: Palafin (TCG)

Trivia

• Zero Form Palafin is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 457.
• Hero Form Palafin:
  • is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 650.
  • has the highest base Attack stat of all Water-type Pokémon.

Origin

Palafin seems to be based on a dolphin and a comic book superhero. Its Zero Form's relative lack of visual changes from its pre-evolution seems to be inspired by the trope of superheroes assuming civilian identities to keep their true identity a secret, while its Hero Form seems to represent the hero suiting up whilst unseen and emerging as a superhero. The names of its forms and Ability reference the term "go from zero to hero". The connection between dolphins and superheroes may be inspired by numerous accounts of wild dolphins saving people in open seas.

Additionally, Palafin may be based on the Boto Encantado, a mythical South American creature that takes the form of an ordinary pink river dolphin but can occasionally take a human form and will join in human festivities. Eventually, the Boto must return to the water and shapeshift back into an ordinary pink dolphin. Hero Form Palafin may also draw inspirations from the Ultraman series, with the red symbol on its chest somewhat resembling the one worn by Ultraman Noa. This can also be seen by its heart-shaped symbol glowing and emitting a beeping sound when it is weak, much like the various iterations of Ultraman. Hero Form Palafin's Shiny coloration is reminiscent of the orca, a type of dolphin.

Palafin evolving from Finizen at level 38 may be a reference to 1938, the year Superman debuted.

Name origin

Palafin may be a combination of paladin or pal (since another player is needed to evolve it) and fin or delfín (Spanish for dolphin).

Irukaman may be a combination of 海豚 iruka (dolphin) and man, which is often used as a suffix for superhero codenames.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese イルカマン Irukaman From 海豚 iruka and man French Superdofin From super and dauphin or Dofin Spanish Palafin Same as English name German Delfinator From Delfin and Terminator Italian Palafin Same as English name Korean 돌핀맨 Dolpinmaen From dolphin and man Mandarin Chinese 海豚俠 / 海豚侠 Hǎitúnxiá From 海豚 hǎitún and 俠 / 侠 xiá Cantonese Chinese 海豚俠 Hóityùhnhahp From 海豚 hóityùhn and 俠 hahp

More languages Hindi डॉल्फ़िमान Dolphimaan From dolphin and man or शक्तिमान śhaktimān Thai อิรุกะแมน Irukamaen Transcription of Japanese name

Zero Form

Language Title Japanese ナイーブフォルム Naive Form Chinese Cantonese 平凡形態 Pìhngfàahn Yìhngtaai Mandarin 平凡形態 / 平凡形态 Píngfán Xíngtài French Forme Ordinaire German Alltagsform Italian Forma Ingenua Korean 나이브폼 Naive Form Spanish Forma Ingenua Thai ฟอร์มไร้เดียงสา

Hero Form

Language Title Japanese マイティフォルム Mighty Form Chinese Cantonese 全能形態 Chyùhnnàhng Yìhngtaai Mandarin 全能形態 / 全能形态 Quánnéng Xíngtài French Forme Super German Heldenform Italian Forma Possente Korean 마이티폼 Mighty Form Spanish Forma Heroica Thai ฟอร์มทรงพลัง

Related articles

External links

← #0963: Finizen

Pokémon

#0965: Varoom →

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