Zen Mode (Ability)

Zen Mode ダルマモード
Daruma Mode
Flavor text
Generation V
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is halved.
Generation VI
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.
Generation VII
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.
Generation VIII
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.
Generation IX
Changes the Pokémon's shape when its HP drops to half or less.

Zen Mode (Japanese: ダルマモード Daruma Mode) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. It is the signature Ability of Darmanitan.

Effect

In battle

If a Darmanitan has this Ability, it is able to change forms in battle, based on its HP. Each form has its own types, base stats, EV yield, height, and weight. This Ability has no effect on any other Pokémon, even one that transforms into Darmanitan.

At the start of battle or at the end of a turn, if the HP of a Standard Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is below half, it will change into its Zen Mode. At the end of a turn, if the HP of a Zen Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is above half, it will change into its Standard Mode. Darmanitan is always in Standard Mode outside of battle.

In Standard Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is Fire-type and Galarian Darmanitan is Ice-type; in Zen Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is dual-type Fire/Psychic and Galarian Darmanitan is dual-type Ice/Fire.

Generations V to VI

If Darmanitan loses Zen Mode or Zen Mode is suppressed with Gastro Acid, it will revert to its Standard Mode and not be able to change form. If Darmanitan gains Zen Mode, at the end of the turn it will change form if its HP is below half.

Role Play fails if the target has Zen Mode. Entrainment fails if the user has Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace.

Generation VII onward

Gastro Acid, Worry Seed, and Simple Beam fail if the target has Zen Mode. Role Play, Skill Swap, Entrainment, and Doodle fail if either Pokémon has Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver, replaced by Mummy or Lingering Aroma, suppressed by Core Enforcer or Neutralizing Gas, or traded by Wandering Spirit.

Outside of battle

Zen Mode has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Zen Mode

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
0555   Darmanitan
Standard Mode
Fire Fire Sheer Force None Zen Mode
0555   Darmanitan
Zen Mode
Fire Psychic None None Zen Mode
0555   Darmanitan
Galarian Form
Standard Mode
Ice Ice Gorilla Tactics None Zen Mode
0555   Darmanitan
Galarian Form
Zen Mode
Ice Fire None None Zen Mode
Please note that abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later.
  • For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In the anime

 
Goh's Darmanitan
 
Bianca's father's Darmanitan
 
Trainer's Darmanitan
The Pokémon changes shape and becomes a stone-like statue. This also makes it a part Psychic type.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
  Darmanitan's body turns into a stone-like statue that turns it into a part Psychic-type. When Darmanitan turns back to normal, its eyebrows become covered in flames and its body changes instantly back to Standard Mode, or Darmanitan's body becomes surrounded in red-yellow flames and it changes back into Standard Mode.
A wild Darmanitan Saving Darmanitan From the Bell! Debut
Bianca's father's Red Flash Darmanitan Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader! None
A Trainer's three Darmanitan A Maractus Musical! None
Five wild Darmanitan Raid Battle in The Ruins! None
Goh's Darmanitan Raid Battle in The Ruins! None


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 達摩模式 Daahtmō Mòuhsīk *
不倒翁模式 Bātdóuyūng Mòuhsīk *
Mandarin 達摩模式 / 达摩模式 Dámó Móshì *
不倒翁模式 Bùdǎowēng Móshì *
  Dutch Zenmodus
  Finnish Zen-tila
  French Mode Transe
  German Trance-Modus
  Italian Stato Zen
  Korean 달마모드 Dalma Mode
  Polish Tryb Zen
  Portuguese Modo Zen
  Spanish Modo Daruma
  Vietnamese Trạng thái Daruma


  This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.