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

In its Zero Form, Palafin is a light blue cetacean Pokémon with the exact same physical appearance as its pre-evolution Finizen, except for a pink heart-shaped marking on its chest, surrounded by a larger white heart-shaped marking. Like Finizen, it has a pale bluish white coloration on its underbelly that extends to its lower jaw and eyes, as well as on its dorsal fin. Its eyes have two-tone blue and pink pupils, and it has a short snout, as well as a single blowhole atop its head. On the sides of its body are pale bluish white wave patterns. It has a pair of pectoral fins and a split tailfin, with a ring of water surrounding the base of its tail.

Palafin is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Jet Punch.

Forms

Palafin has two forms: Zero Form and Hero Form.

In its Hero Form, Palafin's physiology drastically changes, gaining considerable muscle mass and becoming able to stand on its tail fins. Its body is primarily dark blue with white colorations on its lower jaw, belly, sides, dorsal fin, and the bottom of its tail fins. The heart-shaped marking on its chest grows larger to resemble a shield and a cetacean's tail fin. Parts of its body are covered with water, forming gloves, a cape or cowl, and three tail rings. Its eyes are also covered with water, evoking a mask.

Palafin is known as the "Pelagic Protector". When it hears its allies calling for help, Palafin will change its appearance from its Zero Form to its Hero Form via its signature Ability, Zero to Hero. This transformation awakens its ancient genes, and is done in secret. Palafin is at full power when in the Hero Form. Hero Form Palafin is strong enough to lift a cruise ship with just one fin, and is capable of swimming at speeds of 50 knots. It is known to save drowning people and Pokémon.

Zero Form	Hero Form

Evolution

Palafin evolves from Finizen.

Unevolved Finizen  Water

→

First Evolution Palafin  Water

In the TCG

Main article: Palafin (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.

Generation IX Paldea #292 Kitakami #— Zero Form Scarlet This Pokémon changes its appearance if it hears its allies calling for help. Palafin will never show anybody its moment of transformation. Violet Its physical capabilities are no different than a Finizen's, but when its allies are in danger, it transforms and powers itself up. Hero Form Scarlet This Pokémon’s ancient genes have awakened. It is now so extraordinarily strong that it can easily lift a cruise ship with one fin. Violet This hero of the ocean swims at a speed of 50 knots and saves drowning people and Pokémon.

Palafin in the Paldea Pokédex

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IX.
Generation IX Scarlet Violet Tera Raid Battles (5★)

In events

Games	Event	Language/Region	Location	Level	Distribution period
SV	Gavin Michaels' Palafin	All	Online	50	April 14 to 17, 2023

Stats

Base stats

Zero Form

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 100		160 - 207	310 - 404
Attack: 70		67 - 134	130 - 262
Defense: 72		69 - 136	134 - 267
Sp. Atk: 53		52 - 115	99 - 225
Sp. Def: 62		60 - 125	116 - 245
Speed: 100		94 - 167	184 - 328
Total: 457	Other Pokémon with this total
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.

Hero Form

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 100		160 - 207	310 - 404
Attack: 160		148 - 233	292 - 460
Defense: 97		91 - 163	179 - 322
Sp. Atk: 106		99 - 173	195 - 342
Sp. Def: 87		82 - 152	161 - 300
Speed: 100		94 - 167	184 - 328
Total: 650	Other Pokémon with this total
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.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IX Other generations: None

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 011 Jet Punch Water Physical 06060 100100% 15 011 Water Gun Water Special 04040 100100% 25 011 Supersonic Normal Status 0000— 05555% 20 Evo.Evo. Flip Turn Water Physical 06060 100100% 20 077 Astonish Ghost Physical 03030 100100% 15 1010 Focus Energy Normal Status 0000— 00——% 30 1313 Aqua Jet Water Physical 04040 100100% 20 1717 Double Hit Normal Physical 03535 09090% 10 2121 Dive Water Physical 08080 100100% 10 2525 Charm Fairy Status 0000— 100100% 20 2929 Acrobatics Flying Physical 05555 100100% 15 3434 Encore Normal Status 0000— 100100% 5 3939 Aqua Tail Water Physical 09090 09090% 10 4444 Mist Ice Status 0000— 00——% 30 5050 Hydro Pump Water Special 110110 08080% 5 5555 Focus Punch Fighting Physical 150150 100100% 20 6161 Wave Crash Water Physical 120120 100100% 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 of Palafin

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

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

Generation IX Other generations: None

Stage   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  This Pokémon has no moves exclusive to prior Evolutions.

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

Side game data

Zero Form

Pokémon GO File:GO0964.png Base HP: 225 Base Attack: 143 Base Defense: 144 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 5 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Waterfall, Charm, Counter Charged Attacks: Aqua Jet, Water Pulse, Icy Wind, Drain Punch, Acrobatics

Hero Form

Pokémon GO File:GO0964H.png Base HP: 225 Base Attack: 322 Base Defense: 196 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 5 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Waterfall, Charm, Counter Charged Attacks: Aqua Jet, Water Pulse, Icy Wind, Drain Punch, Acrobatics

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.

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'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 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

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 species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.