Jessie's Wobbuffet

Jessie's Wobbuffet ムサシのソーナンス Musashi's Sonans

Jessie's Wobbuffet

Debuts in Tricks of the Trade Caught at Johto Gender Male Ability Unknown Traded in Tricks of the Trade Original Trainer Benny Traded for Jessie's Lickitung Current location With Jessie

This Pokémon is fully evolved.

Voice actor Japanese English As Wobbuffet Yūji Ueda Kayzie Rogers

Jessie's Wobbuffet (Japanese: ムサシのソーナンス Musashi's Sonans) was the only Pokémon obtained by Jessie during her travels through Johto.

History

Original series

File:Wobbuffet initial appearance.png

Wobbuffet's first appearance, under the ownership of Benny

With Benny

Wobbuffet originally belonged to a Trainer named Benny. In Tricks of the Trade, Benny was searching for someone to trade Wobbuffet with for a stronger Pokémon at the Pokémon Swap Meet in Palmpona. He was not successful at first, though a Trainer with a Stantler seemed to like his offer, but then bailed for a Hoothoot at the last minute. Jessie's Poké Ball containing her Lickitung then accidentally fell into the machine instead when she crashed into it. Unbeknownst to her, Lickitung got swapped for Wobbuffet.

With Jessie

Jessie unaware that her Lickitung had been traded to Benny for his Wobbuffet

Later, after the trade had commenced, Jessie wanted to send out her Lickitung to battle Ash and his friends. But, much to her surprise, Wobbuffet appeared instead. James then immediately looked up his moves for Jessie. Even though Wobbuffet had no offensive attacks, he managed to counter Chikorita's attacks back to her. Wobbuffet was still blasted off along with the Team Rocket trio by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. 

Since the episode Tunnel Vision, Wobbuffet had his place in the Team Rocket motto, first before Meowth (which usually left him very upset) and some episodes later, right after Meowth. He could often be heard crying out subsequent to the "Team Rocket is blasting off again!" line, even if he was not out of his Poké Ball when the team was sent blasting off. Wobbuffet was thus somewhat a fourth team member.

When Wobbuffet popped out of his Poké Ball in Power Play!, and redirected Meowth's attack back to himself, Jessie had the idea of building a Robo-Mecha Wobbuffet, which would counter any attack back to the user similar to Wobbuffet's Counter.

In Wobbu-Palooza!, Ash, his friends and Team Rocket came across a festival honoring Wobbuffet. Jessie's Wobbuffet popped out of his Poké Ball much to the villagers's excitement. The Wobbuffet Festival crashers then showed up to attack the Wobbuffet and Jessie sent out her Wobbuffet to battle them. Jessie's single-handedly took out the Wobbuffet Festival crashers's Pokémon with the use of Counter and Mirror Coat.

In Imitation Confrontation, Wobbuffet battled Duplica's Ditto, Mini-Dit. Mini-Dit transformed into Wobbuffet and used the same moveset to battle Wobbuffet and Arbok. As a result, Wobbuffet ended up losing to his miniature counterpart.

In The Wayward Wobbuffet, Wobbuffet was tasked with guarding the Poké Pod containing Ash's Pikachu. During the chase to get the Pod, Wobbuffet, along with the Pod and the key to it, was separated from Jessie and went on an action-packed adventure. He bumped into a thief named Goneff who was not happy with Wobbuffet bumping into his vehicle. However, Goneff took Wobbuffet hostage. Team Rocket then dug a hole and headed to the warehouse Goneff was hiding from underground to rescue Wobbuffet. Ash and his Totodile went with them only for Totodile to get badly hurt by Golem. When Golem was about to finish off Totodile, Wobbuffet jumped in the way and sent Golem flying to its Trainer. Ash was then able to get the Poké Pod back but Wobbuffet still had the key as he flew away along with the Team Rocket trio on the Wobbuffet-shaped balloon. Ash sent out Noctowl to get the key from Wobbuffet, however. Noctowl was successful, and Pikachu was freed from the Poké Pod.

Advanced Generation series

Team Rocket joking with Wobbuffet in the AG series

Hoenn

In A Poached Ego!, Wobbuffet was sent out to battle Rico's Tyranitar. He was getting ready to counter Tyranitar's Hyper Beam but fainted as the Hyper Beam was too strong.

In Claydol Big and Tall, Wobbuffet put on the disguise of a maid which made a humongous Claydol fall in love with him. This was part of a plan to get this dangerous Claydol back inside its stone Poké Ball. When Wobbuffet's disguise was revealed, Claydol was angry, but Claydol was returned to its stone Poké Ball before Wobbuffet was hurt.

Kanto Battle Frontier

Wobbuffet participated in his first Contest onscreen in A Hurdle for Squirtle. Jessie planned for him to use the countering technique against Harley's Ariados. However, this backfired, as Ariados's String Shot manipulated him into a puppet. Since then, he was used in other Contests, but would usually cause the elimination of Jessie for one reason or another.

Wobbuffet ran away from the group in Fear Factor Phony after a fake ghost made by some Ghost Pokémon scared him off. While he was running away he saw a Kirlia dancing and fell in love with it. When Team Rocket caught Pikachu and Kirlia, Wobbuffet jumped into the mecha after it and broke the Kirlia and its Psychic Pokémon friends free from Team Rocket's capture. Entirely thanks to Wobbuffet, Team Rocket's plan was completely ruined.

Diamond & Pearl series

Jessilina with her Wobbuffet

Wobbuffet went with Jessie, James, and Meowth to Sinnoh in Following A Maiden's Voyage! where he countered Meowth's Fury Swipes after an argument with Jessie. As a result, he sent Team Rocket blasting off and Pikachu falling in the forest. In One Big Happiny Family!, Wobbuffet participated in catching Brock's Happiny and accidentally tugged on Team Rocket's balloon after trying to pull her down. After the balloon fell to the ground, Wobbuffet, Meowth, and Mime Jr. made funny faces at Happiny but she was not happy about it. Later in the episode, Wobbuffet, Meowth, and Mime Jr. prevented Happiny from reuniting with Brock but she single-handedly defeated them by throwing them in the air.

In Staging a Heroes' Welcome! Jessie used Wobbuffet in the appeals round in the Wallace Cup. After being sent out Jessie had Wobbuffet run straight towards her and use Counter, which sent her flying sky high. The judges were not impressed by this which caused Jessie to be eliminated. In Double-Time Battle Training!, she sent out Wobbuffet and Yanmega to perform double moves by having Wobbuffet deflect Yanmega's Silver Wind with Mirror Coat. However, this failed as Team Rocket were sent blasting off.

Best Wishes series

Wobbuffet popping out behind, and reuniting with Jessie, James, and Meowth

Following the Team Rocket trio's journey in Sinnoh, Jessie was forced to leave Wobbuffet at Team Rocket's headquarters as he is not a Pokémon native in the Unova region and would attract attention.

Since then, Wobbuffet made appearances along with Meowth in the Pikachu short, PK23, Meloetta's Moonlight Senerade and Eevee & Friends. Strangely, the three of these shorts take place during the BW series, which Wobbuffet is normally absent from for the aforementioned reasons. It should be noted, however, that these shorts call into question their canonicity with the main anime series altogether.

Wobbuffet's only appearance in a Best Wishes series episode was in The Dream Continues!. After returning to Kanto and giving away their Unova Pokémon to Giovanni at the headquarters, the Team Rocket trio walked through a corridor only for Wobbuffet to pop up, surprising them. Wobbuffet was later seen with Team Rocket as they eavesdropped on Ash from the roof of his house in Pallet Town, leaving for Kalos with them and marking his return to Jessie's team.

XY series

Wobbuffet with Jessie, James and Meowth in Lumiose City Pursuit!

Wobbuffet reappeared as a member of Jessie's team in the XY series, where he was shown to be much more competent in battle. In Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!, Wobbuffet was used in a battle against Pikachu, where he almost defeated Pikachu by returning his Thunderbolt right back at him with Mirror Coat. However, a wild Froakie came in and defended Pikachu from a reflected Electro Ball. Froakie helped defeat Wobbuffet by using its Frubbles to knock Wobbuffet on his back due to his inability to reflect moves that aren't attacks. Wobbuffet was soon blasted off by Pikachu, Froakie, and Clemont's Bunnelby.

Jessie and her Wobbuffet

In A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!, Wobbuffet was separated from Team Rocket along with Jessie after being blasted off by Pikachu. After falling into the sea due to a Gloom, he was rescued by Dr. White. He subsequently got romantically involved with Dr. White's female Wobbuffet. After Jessie tried to leave him behind with the Wobbuffet and Dr. White's Wynaut to help Team Rocket to fight a Pokémon hunter, he appeared at the last second to deflect the Pokémon hunter's Rhyperior's attacks. Afterwards, Team Rocket's Pokémon, as well as Pikachu and Fennekin combined their attacks to defeat Rhyperior. The Pokémon hunter was arrested by Dr. White and Beatrice, and Wobbuffet and Team Rocket left to continue following Ash and his friends.

In Performing with Fiery Charm!, Wobbuffet was used in the Dendemille Town Rookie Class Pokémon Showcase. In the Theme Performance, he and Meowth helped Jessie to make PokéPuffs and managed to proceed to the next round. During the Free Performances, Jessie had Meowth bounce on Wobbuffet, while he was using Counter. In the end, Meowth used Fury Swipes to slice a bunch of Tomato Berries, resulting in a heart-shaped pile of berries. Despite their performance was well received by the audience, Jessie ended up in fifth place.

In XY100, Wobbuffet aided Jessie in making Poké Puffs during the Theme Performances of the Couriway Town Rookie Class Pokémon Showcase and managed to help Jessie proceed to the next round. Later, he was used again during the Free Performance round along with Gourgeist. After using Counter to let Jessie bounce in the air, he reflected Gourgeist's Shadow Ball with Mirror Coat to create a collision with Seed Bomb, resulting in amazing fireworks. In the end, their performance received the most votes from the audience, making Jessie the winner and earning her first Princess Key.

Personality and characteristics

Wobbuffet in love

Wobbuffet is used occasionally for battles. Wobbuffet's knowledge of moves like Counter and Mirror Coat comes in handy, since Team Rocket often finds itself on the receiving end of powerful attacks. 

Wobbuffet usually serves as a comic relief character. He emerges from his Poké Ball frequently as a running gag, and often at inappropriate times which frustrated Jessie at times. Team Rocket has also had various vehicles and robots based on him.

Wobbuffet popping out of his Poké Ball

Even though Jessie often seems annoyed with Wobbuffet, she was shown to truly care for him. This is showcased in a handful of episodes, including Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut?, in which Wobbuffet temporarily went missing. Jessie was very worried and desperately went searching for him on the island. Another instance was in Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama! where Jessie was upset at James's idea to send Wobbuffet to Giovanni since they couldn't tell him apart from Narissa's Ditto. Even though Wobbuffet has been absent, he still been shown to be doing his comical pose every time Team Rocket do their motto.

Wobbuffet also seems to care for Jessie deeply and see her as a motherly figure. This can be seen in The Wayward Wobbuffet, when he was lost and imagined a cloud in the shape of Jessie, childishly clapping with joy after noticing it. Even so, his loyalty has sometimes been in question, such as in Fear Factor Phony, where he temporarily left the group to hang out with some Psychic-type Pokémon and even single-handedly stopped Team Rocket's plan to steal Pokémon. Since his return, Wobbuffet has taken back his role as the "fourth member" of the team. He also seems to get more battling time now, and his capability of reflecting attacks has proven useful many times. Before Jessie caught her Pumpkaboo, Wobbuffet was her major battler, and did rather well, despite his incapability of using offensive moves. By A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!, he was shown to have become very close to Jessie, as seen when he chose to stay with her over a female Wobbuffet.

Moves used

Using Mirror Coat	Move First Used In Counter Tricks of the Trade Bide × A Hot Water Battle Mirror Coat Freeze Frame
An × shows that the move cannot be legitimately known by this Pokémon in the games.
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the games

A Wobbuffet based on Jessie's Wobbuffet was distributed for Pokémon X and Y from June 21 to 22, 2014 via local wireless in Italy as part of the Pokémon Day event. For details, see here.

#0202 Wobbuffet ♂ Level 15 Type: Ability: Shadow Tag Held item: None	ID: 06214 OT: Jessie Met: a Pokémon event (fateful encounter) Nature: Random Ribbon: Classic Ribbon
Counter Fighting Physical Mirror Coat Psychic Special
Games Method Region Location Duration XY local wireless all Mirabilandia, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy June 21 to 22, 2014
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the receiving system's date when the Wonder Card is received.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.

In the manga

Jessie's Wobbuffet in the Ash and Pikachu manga

In the Ash and Pikachu manga

Jessie's Wobbuffet first appears in After the Missing Rucksack!! of the Ash and Pikachu manga.

In the movie adaptations

Jessie's Wobbuffet briefly appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction when Team Rocket saw the diamonds Diancie created were disappearing.

He also appeared in The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa.

Moves used

Using Mirror Coat	Move First Used In Mirror Coat The Archdjinni of the Rings: Hoopa
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Trivia

• Wobbuffet was the first traded Pokémon to become an important part of the main cast.
• For DP024, Professor Oak's lecture is about Jessie's Wobbuffet. He writes this senryū about it: 「きがつけば　なのりもやってる　ソーナンス」 "He's introducing himself before you realize, Sonans."
• Until Duplica pointed out the existence and effect of Mirror Coat to Jessie, she always told Wobbuffet to use Counter to deflect attacks. Depending on the move, Wobbuffet would "do what he had to do to defend himself". After this, due to Jessie having trouble distinguishing the two moves, she would instead commonly tell Wobbuffet to counter that attack, seemingly letting him decide what to do himself.
• Wobbuffet spent 511 consecutive episodes as a part of Jessie's party, making him the Pokémon to have spent the most time on a main character's party before leaving, more than two complete series together, and spending the third-most time as a main cast member, after Pikachu and Meowth.
• Wobbuffet is the only one of Team Rocket's Pokémon to return to its Trainer's party after previously leaving their Trainer's party.
• Wobbuffet has appeared at least once in every series so far.
• Wobbuffet is the only Pokémon Team Rocket obtained in the original series to still be owned.
• In A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!, it was confirmed that Wobbuffet is male. His physical appearance could not be used as proof, as gender differences were not introduced until Generation IV.

Related articles

• For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Wobbuffet.
• Episodes focusing on Team Rocket
  • Episodes focusing on Wobbuffet

Team Rocket's Pokémon
Travel with:	Meowth	Rotom Phone
	Jessie			James
On hand:	Wobbuffet	Seviper	Yanmega	Mime Jr.	Carnivine	Yamask
	Woobat	Frillish	Gourgeist	Amoonguss	Inkay	Morpeko
In training:				Cacnea
At home:				Growlie	Chimecho
Released:	Arbok	Dustox	Mimikyu	Weezing	Gyarados	Mareanie
Traded away:	Lickitung			Victreebel
Lived with (all three):	Bewear	Stufful
Worked with (all three):	Delibird	Pelipper
Temporarily owned:	Porygon Zero	Shellder	Magikarp	Second Victreebel	Hoppip
	Mawile
Befriended:	Blissey
Status unknown:	Starmie			Pidgey	Numel
For a list of other Pokémon Team Rocket has commanded, see here and here

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.