Munkidori is a blue simian Pokémon with long black fur covering most of its body, except for its face, hands, feet, and part of its chest, the latter forming an arrowhead pattern. Its face has yellow eyes with black striped markings between them, and they have magenta colorations on its rear and ankles. Each of its hands has three fingers, and its feet resemble sandals, each with two toes. Part of its head hair is slicked back, and a magenta Toxic Chain encircles its head like a headband. Munkidori is a male-only species with no female counterpart.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
In myth, it is said that Munkidori was once a clumsy, dim-witted Pokémon, but a longing for cleverness led it to meet the Mythical PokémonPecharunt, that in need of retainers in its journey to Kitakami, used its Binding Mochi and Toxic Chain to tame and transform Munkidori. This resulted in the Toxic Chain being wrapped around its head, chaining Munkidori to Pecharunt's will.[1] Munkidori transformed as the chain enhanced its capabilities, stimulating its brain and causing its Psychic powers to bloom, it could even see into the near future.[2] It prefers to keep itself somewhere safe while toying with its enemies, using its psychic powers to induce intense dizziness. It traveled from a distant land with Okidogi, Fezandipiti, and Pecharunt to steal the masks of Ogerpon and its partner and gift them to Pecharunt's caretakers, Okidogi and Fezandipiti were sent to sneak into Ogerpon's cave while the two were away, managing to steal three of them, but Ogerpon's partner return in time to see what was happening and fend them off, managing to protect one of the masks, though left heavily injured. After finding out, Ogerpon encounters the four close to Mossui Town, and attacks them, Munkidori losing its life in the fight along with the other retainers. Pecharunt managed to survive, being knocked out and sent rolling away inside its shell. To the villagers of Mossui Town, it looked like the trio had fallen protecting the village from the enraged ogre, nicknaming them the Loyal Three and giving them a proper burial while Ogerpon retreated to Oni Mountain.
Munkidori, together with Okidogi and Fezandipiti, are known as the Loyal Three, the heroes of Kitakami. They are beloved by the people of Kitakami as heroes that once protected the land from the "evil ogre",[3] and stone statues bearing their likenesses were made by the people as an expression of their gratitude right where the three had been buried.[4] According to locals, worshiping Munkidori ensures one is successful in life and that everything will be hunky-dory. Even with its greedy and manipulative personality, Munkidori has great relationships with its teammates, talking to each other in private and acting together to defeat their opponents. By consuming the Kitakami Mochis, Munkidori can become a Titanic Pokémon.
In The Teal Mask, Munkidori, Okidogi and Fezandipiti are resurrected by Kieran at Loyalty Plaza and retrieve the three masks they stole in the past, but they're scared off by the player, Carmine and Kieran, deciding to split up across Kitakami. Munkidori can be found at Wistful Fields with the Wellspring Mask. Eventually the player and Carmine find it as The Titanic Munkidori, having grown larger thanks to the Kitakami Mochi served to the three at Kitakami Hall, but is still defeated and flees, leaving the mask behind as the team retrieves it.
After finishing the story, the player can find Munkidori where it was last fought, battle it and catch it.
In Mochi Mayhem, if any of the Loyal Three are used during the battle against Pecharunt, it'll become shocked and angered that its retainers serve the player instead of itself now.
Spoilers end here.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
All of the levels it learns moves at, aside from level 1, are multiples of 8. It shares this trait with Pecharunt and the rest of the Loyal Three.
Origin
Munkidori may be based on a monkey, particularly the Japanese macaque, such as the northernmost Japanese macaque population from Aomori Prefecture of the Tōhoku region (which Kitakami draws inspiration from). This is partly reflected with Munkidori's Shiny form, which gives it a slight tanned fur coat similar to Japanese macaques. Meanwhile, Munkidori's regular coloration together with its short stature may reference chimpanzees. Munkidori's head hair resembles the 丁髷 chonmage, a traditional Japanese topknot worn by men; while its two toes are reminiscent of sandals. Its mischievous personality and Psychic typing could be a reference to the Satori, a yokai that takes the form of a mind-reading monkey and torments travelers.
Pecharunt and its Loyal Three of Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, and their relationship to Ogerpon, may reference the Japanese folktale of Momotarō. The tale relates the titular Momotarō, a boy born from inside a peach, who traveled alongside a talking dog, monkey, and pheasant to fight a band of oni (a Japanese folkloric creature commonly equated to ogres in translations). The chains binding the Loyal Three may be based on shimenawa, woven ropes used in Shinto purification rituals; on Munkidori, the chain resembles a 鉢巻 hachimaki (Japanese headband), particularly the twisted variant.
Name origin
Munkidori may be a combination of monkey and hunky dory (slang meaning that things are good).
Mashimashira may be a combination of 増し mashi (better, improving) and 猿 mashira (archaic word for monkey or ape).
↑Map Mission Guide:"Locals believe worshiping Munkidori leads to success in life—that doing so will make everything hunky-dory. Munkidori was originally a clumsy and dim-witted Pokémon, but a longing for cleverness led it to gain great wisdom." (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask)
For other sprites and images, please see Munkidori images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
