Fantina

Fantina メリッサ Melissa
"The Alluring, Soulful Dancer"
Artwork from Diamond and Pearl
Gender	Female
Eye color	Violet
Hair color	Violet
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Unknown
Trainer class	Gym LeaderDPPt Pokémon TrainerB2W2 Coordinator
Generation	IV, V
Games	Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Black 2 and White 2
Leader of	Hearthome Gym
Badge	Relic Badge
Specializes in	Ghost types
Animated debut	Playing the Leveling Field!
English voice actor	Bella Hudson
Japanese voice actor	Kikuko Inoue

Fantina (Japanese: メリッサ Melissa) is the Gym Leader of Hearthome City's Gym, known officially as the Hearthome Gym. She hands out the Relic Badge to Trainers who defeat her. She specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon.

She is apparently not from the country the games are set in, and often peppers her speech with phrases of French (English in the Japanese and French versions).

In the games

Fantina speaks a mix of French and broken English (only broken Japanese in Japanese version, broken French with English in French version) and is an immigrant from another country. Upon arriving in Sinnoh, she decided to become a Contest performer, so she dresses up in fancy outfits for Pokémon Contests. She considers herself to be a Contest Expert and can occasionally be competed against in Super Contests, in which she uses her Drifblim, nicknamed Loony (Japanese: ばるん Balloon).

She also studied Pokémon and eventually attained the title of Gym Leader. Fantina uses Ghost-type Pokémon in her battles. For defeating her, Trainers receive the Relic Badge, TM65 (Shadow Claw) and are able to use Surf outside of battle (Defog in Platinum).

In Diamond and Pearl, she cannot be challenged until the Old Charm has been delivered to the Celestic Town elder at the request of the elder's granddaughter, Cynthia.

In Platinum, she is battled much earlier in the game and will make her Gym available to players as soon as they arrive in Hearthome City. She can be battled again at the Battleground and occasionally visits the Villa. Fantina claims to be a fan of Arcade Star Dahlia's dancing style and a member of the Ribbon Syndicate of the Resort Area. She also mentions making regular visits to the Lost Tower.

Pokémon

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Leader Fantina Hearthome Gym Diamond and Pearl Reward: $4320

Types: Ghost Flying Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Drifblim♀ Lv.32 Ominous Wind Ghost Special   --       Gust Flying Special   --       Astonish Ghost Physical   --       Minimize Normal Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♀ Lv.34 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Spite Ghost Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: Sitrus Berry Mismagius♀ Lv.36 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Psybeam Psychic Special   --       Magical Leaf Grass Special   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --

Pokémon Platinum

Gym battle

Leader Fantina Hearthome Gym Platinum Reward: $3120

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Duskull♀ Lv.24 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Future Sight Psychic Special   --       Shadow Sneak Ghost Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Haunter♀ Lv.24 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: Sitrus Berry Mismagius♀ Lv.26 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Psybeam Psychic Special   --       Magical Leaf Grass Special   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --

Rematch

Leader Fantina Battleground Platinum Reward: $7800

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Banette♀ Lv.61 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Mismagius♀ Lv.63 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Magical Leaf Grass Special   --       Types: Ghost Flying Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Drifblim♀ Lv.61 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Silver Wind Bug Special   --       Ominous Wind Ghost Special   --       Baton Pass Normal Status   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Pressure Held item: None Dusknoir♀ Lv.62 Shadow Punch Ghost Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Double Team Normal Status   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: Sitrus Berry Gengar♀ Lv.65 Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --

Pokémon Super Contests

	Types: Ghost Flying
Loony♀
Constrict Tough Appeal: 0     --               Ominous Wind Smart Appeal: 0     --               Focus Energy Cool Appeal: 0     --               Explosion Beauty Appeal: 0     --

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon World Tournament

Fantina uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. She will always lead with her signature Pokémon, Mismagius.

Sinnoh Leaders Tournament

PKMN Trainer Fantina Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: Salac Berry Mismagius♂/♀ Lv.50 Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Power Gem Rock Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Ghost Flying Ability: Aftermath or Unburden Held item: Flying Gem Drifblim♂/♀ Lv.50 Tailwind Flying Status   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Ghost Dark Ability: Pressure Held item: Sitrus Berry Spiritomb♂/♀ Lv.50 Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Pressure Held item: Apicot Berry Dusknoir♂/♀ Lv.50 Curse Ghost Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Shadow Sneak Ghost Physical   --       Types: Electric Ghost Ability: Levitate Held item: Electric Gem Rotom Lv.50 Substitute Normal Status   --       Charge Beam Electric Special   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: Psychic Gem Gengar♂/♀ Lv.50 Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Dream Eater Psychic Special   --       Nightmare Ghost Status   --       Hex Ghost Special   --

Type Expert/World Leaders Tournament

PKMN Trainer Fantina Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: Salac Berry Mismagius♂/♀ Lv.50 Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Ghost Flying Ability: Aftermath or Unburden Held item: Flying Gem Drifblim♂/♀ Lv.50 Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Explosion Normal Physical   --       Types: Ghost Dark Ability: Pressure Held item: Sitrus Berry Spiritomb♂/♀ Lv.50 Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Pressure Held item: Apicot Berry Dusknoir♂/♀ Lv.50 Curse Ghost Status   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Shadow Sneak Ghost Physical   --       Types: Water Ghost Ability: Water Absorb or Cursed Body Held item: Ghost Gem Jellicent♂/♀ Lv.50 Water Spout Water Special   --       Brine Water Special   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: Focus Sash Gengar♂/♀ Lv.50 Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Nightmare Ghost Status   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --

Legendary Pokémon Tournament

PKMN Trainer Fantina Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Types: Ghost Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: Ghost Gem Giratina Lv.50 Shadow Force Ghost Physical   --       Aura Sphere Fighting Special   --       Shadow Sneak Ghost Physical   --       Draco Meteor Dragon Special   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: Lum Berry Mismagius♀ Lv.50 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Types: Ghost Flying Ability: Aftermath Held item: Wacan Berry Drifblim♂ Lv.50 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Minimize Normal Status   --       Baton Pass Normal Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --

Quotes

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

In front of the Contest Hall

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please excuse me. Are you entering a Contest? Tehehe... Enjoy yourself, please! Incidentally, Fantina, the Hearthome Gym Leader, also happens to be a Contest expert. And you may ask yourself, how do I know this? Well, I am Fantina! You may challenge me, but not yet! You must become much stronger. Then, you may challenge me!"

Hearthome Gym

• Before battle

"Ohohoho!! Finally, you have arrived! Since I came to this country, always I try to learn new things. They hold Contests in this city? I say to myself, enfin, I will excel. That's why I dress this way. C'est une performance! Also I study Pokémon very much. I have come to be Gym Leader. And, uh, so it shall be that you challenge me. But I shall win. That's what a Gym Leader does, non?"

• After sending out last Pokémon

"Oh, heavens. What is this? Is this my final Pokémon?"

• Last Pokémon at critical health

"Never give up, never surrender!"

• Being defeated

"You are so fantastically strong. I know now why I have lost."

• After being defeated

"I am dumbfounded! So very, very strong! You, your Pokémon, so strong! Your power is admirable! I shall honor it with this Gym Badge!"

"Five^DP/Three^Pt Gym Badges... But you must not forget this. There are many other trainers. Strong Trainers, too. There are many more in Sinnoh. Have patience! You must become stronger, one at a time."

Battleground

• Before battle

"Finally, you have arrived! So, you shall challenge me. And I shall win. You will be startled by how much stronger I have become!"

No: "You... You disappoint me. It is very sad. But, realize, you have not beaten me if you refuse. "

"This time, you shall challenge me, yes? But I shall win. You will be startled by how much stronger I have become!"

Yes: "Ohohoho!!"

• Last Pokémon at critical health

"Never give up, never surrender!"

• Being defeated

"You are so fantastically strong. I know now why I have lost."

• After being defeated

"You are an amazing person! Très fantastique! I am delighted-for now I have a purpose! My purpose, it is to defeat you! It is a gift from you to me!"

Battleground (alternate)

• Before battle

"Oh? It is you? Are you not taking part in Contests? Since you are involving yourself in contests, you should challenge me."

No: "No? Well, that is OK, also. Just seeing your face, it has made me happy."

"Yes, what is it? I accept your challenge if you give it!"

Yes: "Pokémon battles, they are fun, always without fail. Why, you ask? Because, in those moments, we are at our most serious."

• Last Pokémon at critical health

"Never give up, never surrender!"

• Being defeated

"You are so fantastically strong. I know now why I have lost."

• After being defeated

"I wish to battle as if I were dancing."

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon World Tournament

• Before battle (first round)

"You shall challenge me, yes? But I shall win. That is what the Gym Leader of Hearthome does, non?"

• Before battle (second round)

"I also study Pokémon very much. I have come to be Gym Leader. And, uh, so it shall be that you challenge me. But I shall win. That is what the Gym Leader of Hearthome does, non?"

• Before battle (final round)

"I learned a lot of things in the Sinnoh region. Also, I study Pokémon very much. I have come to be Gym Leader. And, uh, so it shall be that you challenge me. But I shall win. That is what the Gym Leader of Hearthome does, non?"

• Being defeated

"You are so fantastically strong. I know why I have lost."

• If the player is defeated

"You are strong. But it's me who won."

• After being defeated

"I am dumbfounded! So very, very strong! You, your Pokémon, so strong! Your power is admirable!"

• After winning

"Never give up, never surrender! There are many other Trainers. Strong Trainers, too. There are many more in this world. Have patience! You must become stronger, one at a time."

• In the lobby, after the tournament

"I'm so very happy! Because you're so very strong! There's so much I can learn from you. I can become even stronger. When I do, let's battle again!"

Sprites

Sprite from Diamond and Pearl	Sprite from Platinum	Sprite from Black 2 and White 2
Overworld sprite from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum	Overworld sprite from Black 2 and White 2	VS sprite from Platinum

In the anime

Fantina in the anime

Despite the group having traveled through Hearthome City twice, once in Dawn's Early Night and a second time in Arriving in Style!, the Hearthome Gym remained closed with the Gym Leader nowhere in sight. Fantina had left a note saying that she was going on a journey for a while, and to not look for her. Apparently she was developing a whole new battle style.

She finally appeared in Playing The Leveling Field! where she battled and defeated Ash and Zoey. She had a tendency to break into dance regularly, occasionally interspersing French phrases in as well, such as "s'il vous plaît". It was also revealed that she battled Alan twice with him winning the second time. It was revealed in Aiding the Enemy! that Paul also managed to defeat her.

Ash met with Fantina upon returning to Hearthome City in Barry's Busting Out All Over! and battled her again in Shield with a Twist!, where he defeated her and earned the Relic Badge.

In Gotta Get a Gible!, it was revealed that Fantina has once again left her Gym, so Barry had to take a number in order to battle her when she came back.

Fantina appeared from Last Call — First Round! to A Grand Fight for Winning!, having yet again left the Gym in order to be a guest judge for the Grand Festival.

Pokémon

This listing is of Fantina's known Pokémon in the anime:

Misdreavus → Mismagius

Debut	Playing The Leveling Field!
Voice actors
Japanese	Chinami Nishimura
English	Sarah Natochenny

Mismagius is one of Fantina's main Pokémon, the Gym Leader having trained it since it was a Misdreavus. It was first seen battling Zoey and her Glameow in Playing The Leveling Field! where it was able to easily defeat the Catty Pokémon using Contest combination moves. It was seen later when Fantina was with Ash and his friends in the Pokémon Center.

It next appeared during the Gym battle against Ash's Chimchar where, like Gengar, it was unable to withstand the Counter Shield and was eventually knocked out.

Mismagius's known moves are Psybeam, Magical Leaf, Psywave, and Dark Pulse.

Egg → Drifloon → Drifblim

Debut	Playing The Leveling Field!
Voice actors
Japanese	Miyako Itō
English	Bella Hudson

Main article: Fantina's Drifblim

Drifblim is Fantina's main Pokémon, having raised it since it was an Egg. It first appeared as a Drifloon in Playing The Leveling Field! where it was used in a practice battle against Ash and completely overwhelmed his team with Hypnosis before evolving into Drifblim.

After training, Ash returned for an official Gym battle where Drifblim proved to be more powerful than before, managing to put to sleep and knock out Pikachu and Buizel before being defeated by Chimchar.

Gengar

Debut	Playing The Leveling Field!
Voice actors
Japanese	Kiyotaka Furushima
English	Bill Rogers

Gengar first appeared in a flashback in Playing The Leveling Field!. It was the first Pokémon to be used during the Gym battle against Ash in Shield with a Twist!. Gengar went up against Buizel and Ash struggled against the quick Ghost-type, however Buizel was able to use the newly-developed Counter Shield technique and was able to defeat Gengar.

Gengar's known moves are Shadow Punch, Hypnosis, and Night Shade and its Ability is Levitate.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 井上喜久子 Kikuko Inoue English Bella Hudson Polish Katarzyna Łaska Brazilian Portuguese Cláudia Carli (DP093, DP101-DP102) Denise Reis (DP174-DP177) Spanish Latin America Georgina Sánchez Spain Mercedes Cepeda

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Fantina and her Mismagius with Byron and his Bronzong

Fantina first appeared at the Super Contest Hall. When two women were making rude comments about rookie contestants, she sent out her Drifblim to carry them out and throw them into a garbage can. When Diamond, Pearl and Platinum came back to Hearthome City for the Gym Challenge, they discovered that she was the Gym Leader, saying that her studies for the lifetime passion of Pokémon Contests granted her the title of Hearthome City Gym Leader. Fantina watched as Platinum made her way through the quizzes given by the Gym easily and took up the challenge, after which her Drifblim was beaten after Platinum's Empoleon manipulated it into freezing itself using its own wind. Her Mismagius, however, proved to be much trickier; its Trick Room turned Empoleon's speed against it, and beat it easily. It then trapped Platinum and the borrowed Lax in an illusion where the Pokémon was in a room full of its favorite sweets and Platinum suffered. Before long though, the girl managed to subvert the illusion in her favor with Pearl's help, and defeated the Mismagius. She later appeared on the Spear Pillar with the other Sinnoh Gym Leaders where she fought Team Galactic Commander Saturn along with Roark and together they defeated him. They later fought Cyrus on the top of the Spear Pillar and with the help of her fellow Gym Leaders, they managed to break his Red Chain controlling Dialga and Palkia. However, it was revealed that the one they destroyed was the artificial one he had made earlier and they were all defeated by him.

Pokémon

She has these Pokémon:

Drifblim ♀

Debut	Perturbed by Pachirisu

Main article: Fantina's Drifblim

Drifblim is the first Pokémon seen on Fantina's team and is her main mode of transportation. Drifblim first appears after Platinum wins her first Pokémon Contest where it throws the two women who attempted to sabotage her Contest in the trash. Drifblim is used to take Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to the Lost Tower and later appears at the Celestic Ruins where she saves Diamond and Pearl's lives after they fall off of a stone pillar created by Cyrus' Probopass. Fantina used it in her Gym battle against Platinum where she fought her Empoleon, and despite putting up a good fight, she was defeated when Empoleon used her Blizzard to freeze her. Fantina lent it to Platinum after she learned that her father had gone missing and was later lent to Diamond who used her to sneak in the Team Galactic Airship after failing to stop them from capturing Mesprit.

Mismagius ♀

Debut	Perturbed by Pachirisu

Mismagius is Fantina's strongest Pokémon and main battler. Mismagius was first seen watching Fantina's Drifblim throw the two women in the trash after they attempted to sabotage Platinum's Contest challenge. It was used to battle Platinum in her Gym battle and it fought the Munchlax she borrowed from Diamond, using its powers to create powerful illusions before eventually being defeated by its Fling. She was later used to battle Saturn's Pokémon on the Spear Pillar and later fought Cyrus in order to destroy the first Red Chain.

Mismagius's known moves are Trick Room, Dark Pulse, and Energy Ball, and her Ability is Levitate.

Duskull ♀

Debut	Problematic Probopass and Mad Magnezone III

Duskull was first seen rescuing Diamond and Pearl after they fell off a pillar created Cyrus' Probopass. Fantina used it against Platinum's Munchlax in their Gym battle, where she was easily defeated by Munchlax's Lick attack. She was later used to battle Saturn's Pokémon on the Spear Pillar alongside Mismagius.

None of Duskull's moves are known, and her Ability is Levitate.

In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga

Fantina's first appearance in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! is a brief cameo in chapter 7 handing a Badge to Hareta. She is subsequently offended when he calls her "Grandma". Later in The Legendary Pokémon Captured, she sends out her Drifblim in order to fight Team Galactic.

Pokémon

Drifblim

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

Fantina makes an appearance in a flashback in PMDP07 of the Pocket Monsters DP manga.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Fantina or her Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Fantina's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Mismagius		Rising Rivals		10/111	Bonds to the End of Time		046/090
Gengar		Rising Rivals		40/111	Bonds to the End of Time		065/090
Mismagius LV.X		Rising Rivals		110/111	DPt-P Promotional cards		011/DPt-P

Trivia

• During the Gym battle in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Fantina exclaims "Never give up, never surrender!", the catchphrase from the 1999 science fiction comedy Galaxy Quest.
• In the Japanese and French versions she speaks English, while in the Danish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish versions she has a noticeable French accent.
• Although Fantina's dress incorporates elements of Drifblim, she does not use a Drifblim in the Gym match in Pokémon Platinum.
• In the anime, Ash intended to battle Fantina and win the Relic Badge on his first visit to Hearthome City, as his third Badge. While this would have meant that he went out of order compared to Diamond and Pearl, this is the correct order in Platinum, which came out shortly before Ash finally battled her for the Relic Badge (as his fifth).
• If Brock, Misty, Cilan, and Clemont — all of whom are Ash's travelling companions — aren't counted, the Gym Leader to appear in most episodes of the anime is Fantina, having appeared in seven so far. Roark and Clair are tied for second place with six episodes each.
• Fantina is one of two Gym Leaders known to have their origins outside the Pokémon nation. However, it is not confirmed where Fantina is from except her home country uses French as the national language. The other is Lt. Surge, who is from the United States.
• Fantina is similar to Juan in that both speak French (Juan does so in Pokémon Adventures), and both are Coordinators and Gym Leaders. Juan appeared in a flashback in the episode Fantina debuted in.
• In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Fantina uses an Origin Forme Giratina without a Griseous Orb in the Legendary Pokémon Tournament.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	メリッサ Melissa	From Melissa. An obviously non-Japanese name, highlighting her status as an immigrant. Resembles the word "malice".
English, Spanish	Fantina	A phonetic pun on phantom, perhaps combined with -ina, an Italian feminine diminutive ending. May also refer to "fantasia", also known as 'show tango'.
French	Kiméra	Similar to chimera.
German	Lamina	From Lamia, a Greek mythological spirit.
Italian	Fannie	French name, similar to fantasma, phantom.
Korean	멜리사 Melissa	Same as Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin)	梅麗莎 / 梅丽莎 Méilìshā	Transliteration of her Japanese name. Also similar to 美麗 měilì (beautiful) and 魅力 mèilì (charm, enchantment).

External links

Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region
Oreburgh Gym Roark	Eterna Gym Gardenia	Veilstone Gym Maylene	Pastoria Gym Crasher Wake
Hearthome Gym Fantina	Canalave Gym Byron	Snowpoint Gym Candice	Sunyshore Gym Volkner

Top Coordinators
Abby • Fantina • Johanna • Juan • Marina • Robert • Solidad • Wallace • Yuma • Zoey

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.