Cresselia (Japanese: クレセリア Cresselia) is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
It is a member of the lunar duo with Darkrai.
Biology
Cresselia is a Pokémon that has a blue, swan-like body with a yellow underside. It has pink eyes, a dark pink, round tuft on its head, and a pointed, beak-like snout. There are yellow, crescent-shaped ornaments on the sides of its head that merge in the back. It has a pointed, tail-like protrusion on its rear. Cresselia has glowing, pink, ring-like wings on its sides and back. The wings on its sides are solid dark pink, while the wing on its back is larger and consists of three shades of pink. These wings, especially its back wing, release shining particles and undulate beautifully around the quarter moon. It has paw-like protrusions resting on its chest. Cresselia generally floats in the air, but may rest on the floor when it is injured.
Due to its appearance, Cresselia is said to resemble a crescent moon and the woman who made the Milky Way. Cresselia has the power to dispel nightmares, and holding one of its feathers is said to bring happy dreams. It is also great at recovery and healing techniques. Cresselia can unleash spores in the air to cause confusion on opponents while forming a shield to defend itself at the same time. Its relationship to its counterpart, Darkrai, can vary between individuals and canons, with some being antagonistic, as seen in Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, or cooperative, as seen in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!. It tends to reside on an island or mountain that has a Darkrai nearby in order to keep an eye on it. Cresselia is a female-only species.
Cresselia is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the moves Lunar Dance and Lunar Blessing.
Game data
NPC appearances
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Spoilers end here.
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Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Generation IV
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Sinnoh #—
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Johto #—
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Diamond
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Shiny particles are released from its wings like a veil. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Pearl
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Platinum
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On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully.
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HeartGold
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Those who sleep holding Cresselia's feather are assured of joyful dreams. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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SoulSilver
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Generation V
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Unova #—
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Black
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On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully.
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White
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Black 2
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On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully.
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White 2
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Generation VI
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Kalos #—
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Hoenn #—
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X
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Shiny particles are released from its wings like a veil. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Y
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Those who sleep holding Cresselia's feather are assured of joyful dreams. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Omega Ruby
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Shiny particles are released from its wings like a veil. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Alpha Sapphire
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Those who sleep holding Cresselia's feather are assured of joyful dreams. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Generation VIII
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Galar #—
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Sinnoh #—
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Hisui #230
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This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sword and Shield.
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Brilliant Diamond
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When it flies, it releases shiny particles from its veil-like wings. It is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Shining Pearl
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Legends: Arceus
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Cresselia is reminiscent of the crescent moon. It leaves a brilliant line of light in its wake as it flies across the night sky. I daresay it resembles the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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In side games
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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Generation VIII
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This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII side games.
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In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Generation IV to VIII
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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120
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180 - 227
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350 - 444
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70
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67 - 134
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130 - 262
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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75
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72 - 139
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139 - 273
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130
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121 - 200
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238 - 394
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85
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81 - 150
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157 - 295
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Total: 600
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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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Generation IX
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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120
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180 - 227
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350 - 444
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70
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67 - 134
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130 - 262
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110
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103 - 178
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202 - 350
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75
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72 - 139
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139 - 273
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120
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112 - 189
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220 - 372
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85
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81 - 150
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157 - 295
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Total: 580
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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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Pokéathlon stats
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 Cresselia
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Cresselia
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Cresselia
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Cresselia
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Cresselia
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Cresselia
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Cresselia
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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Side game data
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Pokémon Rumble Rush
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Walking Speed: 1.5 seconds
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Base HP: 63
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Base Attack: 82
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Base Defense: 63
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Base Speed: 60
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Evolution data
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
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In animation
Major appearances
Cresselia (recurring)
A Cresselia first appeared in Nightfall? Nightmares!, where she was targeted by Team Rocket's Matori Matrix. At the end of the episode, she was found by Chloe and Dawn. In A Midsummer Night's Light!, Dawn helped to treat Cresselia's wounds. When Matori Matrix attempted to capture Cresselia, Darkrai defended it, but was badly hurt in the process. Cresselia used Lunar Dance to heal Darkrai, who defeated Team Rocket before clearing up the clouds, allowing Cresselia to heal herself with Moonlight.
Cresselia's known moves are Psycho Cut, Lunar Dance, and Moonlight.
Others
Cresselia made her animated series debut in Sleepless In Pre-Battle!. She normally returns to her shrine on Fullmoon Island during a certain time of the year when a Darkrai also comes by to cause nightmares. She may also leave her feathers, which people find to help stop the nightmares caused by Darkrai. In the episode, Cresselia helped Ash and the residents of Canalave City get better sleep by stopping Darkrai. Team Rocket attempted to catch Cresselia, but they were stopped when Dawn's Swinub evolved into Piloswine. She reappeared in a flashback in A Midsummer Night's Light!.
Minor appearances
Cresselia debuted in the opening sequence of Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
A Cresselia appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP104
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Cresselia
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Cresselia, the Lunar Pokémon. Shining particles are released from Cresselia's wings like a veil, and it is said to represent the crescent moon.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN075
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Cresselia
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Chloe's Rotom Phone
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Cresselia, the Lunar Pokémon. A Psychic type. Cresselia has been called a representation of the moon. It is also said that its feathers can dispel nightmares.
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In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Cresselia debuted as a silhouette in a fantasy in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).
Palmer's Cresselia first appeared in The Final Dimensional Duel II. He caught her on Fullmoon Island while seeking a cure for Sailor Eldritch's son's terrible nightmare. She followed her Trainer into the Distortion World, where she squared up against her nemesis, Darkrai. Later, Platinum borrowed Cresselia in order to chase Charon, who was commanding Giratina to fly him out of the Distortion World.
Pokémon Try Adventure
A Cresselia debuted in TA26.
In the TCG
- Main article: Cresselia (TCG)
Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Cresselia appears on the Spear Pillar stage as one of three Pokémon who appear in the center (the others being Dialga and Palkia). Cresselia acts completely different than the other two in terms of attacks it uses. It will often use Psycho Cuts around the field, and sometimes shoot one large Psycho Cut as if it were a boomerang, hitting anyone that touches it.
Trophy information
A Lunar Pokémon. Cresselia appears on Fullmoon Island and, once discovered, flies around different areas of Sinnoh. Its signature move, Lunar Dance, causes Cresselia to faint but recovers all the HP and cures the status conditions of the next Pokémon its Trainer sends out. Cresselia excels at recovery techniques and is unusual in that it appears only in female form.
Cresselia reprises its role as a stage hazard on the returning Spear Pillar stage. Spear Pillar now allows for any of the three Legendary Pokémon to appear each time, rather than being set for the whole match; however, Cresselia appears much less frequently than Dialga and Palkia. Unlike in Brawl, the stage now has a green color tint when no Pokémon is active, and Cresselia's appearance does not change the color from this default green; in Brawl, Cresselia used the same blue tint as Dialga to signify its appearance. Cresselia also appears as a Spirit.
Trivia
Origin
Cresselia's form seems to be based on a swan. Considering its crescent moon motif and the aurora-colored planetary rings around its body, it may be based on the constellation Cygnus. The rings also resemble the hagoromo gowns worn by the Tennin, spiritual beings in Japanese Buddhism, and its colour scheme of pink, yellow, and light blue, is the same as the dress worn by the Chinese goddess of the moon, Chang'e. Cresselia shares characteristics with Sarimanok, a legendary fowl with a profusely decorated head, feathered tail, and colorful wings that are said to be a symbol of good fortune. Its Hisui Pokédex entry states: "[Cresselia] resembles the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way" - this "heavenly maiden" may be a reference to the Estonian goddess of birds Lindu, who is said to have created the Milky Way with her tears, or the Greek Titan Rhea, who is also credited with creating the Milky Way and is the naming inspiration for the avian genus Rheidae (as well as associated species, such as the greater rhea).
Name origin
Cresselia may be a combination of crescent (referring to the lunar phase) and Selene (Greek goddess of the Moon).
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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クレセリア Cresselia
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From crescent and Selene
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French
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Cresselia
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Same as English/Japanese name
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Spanish
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Cresselia
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Same as English/Japanese name
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German
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Cresselia
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Same as English/Japanese name
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Italian
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Cresselia
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Same as English/Japanese name
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Korean
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크레세리아 Cresselia
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Mandarin Chinese
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克雷色利亞 / 克雷色利亚 Kèléisèlìyǎ / Kèléisèlìyà
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Cantonese Chinese
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克雷色利亞 Hāklèuihsīkleih'a
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Mandarin-based transcription of Japanese name
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More languages
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Hindi
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क्रसेलिया Cresselia
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Transcription of its English/Japanese name
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Thai
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เครเซเลีย Khreselia
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Related articles
External links
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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.
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