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 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 lenses, gloves, and cape, respectively. There are now three water rings around its peduncle.
Hero Form Palafin's chest glowing
As seen in Transform! Hero of the Seas, Palafin, 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 seafoam gloves and fire them off like jets of water. It has enhanced vision due to the waterproof 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"[1] and the "Hero of the Ocean".[2]
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.)
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
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Generation IX
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Paldea #292
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Kitakami #—
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Blueberry #—
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Zero Form
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Scarlet
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This Pokémon changes its appearance if it hears its allies calling for help. Palafin will never show anybody its moment of transformation.
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Violet
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Its physical capabilities are no different than a Finizen's, but when its allies are in danger, it transforms and powers itself up.
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Hero Form
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Scarlet
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This Pokémon’s ancient genes have awakened. It is now so extraordinarily strong that it can easily lift a cruise ship with one fin.
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Violet
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This hero of the ocean swims at a speed of 50 knots and saves drowning people and Pokémon.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
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In side games
In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Zero Form
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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100
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160 - 207
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310 - 404
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70
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67 - 134
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130 - 262
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72
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69 - 136
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134 - 267
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53
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52 - 115
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99 - 225
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62
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60 - 125
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116 - 245
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100
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94 - 167
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184 - 328
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Total: 457
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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.
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Hero Form
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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100
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160 - 207
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310 - 404
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160
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148 - 233
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292 - 460
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97
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91 - 163
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179 - 322
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106
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99 - 173
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195 - 342
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87
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82 - 152
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161 - 300
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100
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94 - 167
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184 - 328
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Total: 650
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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.
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Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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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.
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.
Evolution data
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
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- 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 Pink Boto, 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. 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.