Illusion (Ability)

Illusion (Japanese: イリュージョン Illusion) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. Only two Pokémon are currently known to have this Ability.

Effect

In battle

Illusion will change the appearance of the Pokémon to a different species. This is dependent on the last Pokémon in the player's party. Illusion will replicate the type of Poké Ball, species name, Shininess (if any), and gender of the Pokémon it is masquerading as; however, it does not replicate the level of the masqueraded Pokémon. The effect is only aesthetic, and does not affect the Pokémon's types or moves. However, Illusion could help if Zorua/Zoroark is used in the global terminal rotation battle, because, for instance, Zorua/Zoroark is sent out as the pokemon in front, and turns into a psychic type. The opponent has a ghost-type sent out. The opponent, thinking he/she will have and advantage with a ghost-type against a psychic-type, will switch to the ghost-type. Because Zorua and Zoroark are dark-type, they will be resistant in the defensive position. Then Zorua/Zoroark can attack the ghost-type with a dark-type move, (preferably Night Daze, which will weaken, if not defeat, the opponent.

Illusion is broken when the user is damaged by an attack, but it is not broken by Substitute, Life Orb, weather conditions, status ailments or entry hazards. It is also broken if the user's Ability is changed or nullified.

A Zorua with Illusion will transform into a Zoroark with Illusion, if the Zoroark is last in the party, and vice versa.

Outside of battle

Illusion has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Illusion

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0570		Zorua	Dark		Dark	Illusion	None	None
0571		Zoroark	Dark		Dark	Illusion	None	None
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

The user can either change its shape into a human or Pokémon, or it creates illusions for everyone to see.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Zoroark's eyes glow light blue and its outlines start to glow pink. Then, a magenta wave of energy appears by its face and moves down to its feet. As the wave moves down, its body changes its shape into the opponent, or Zoroark's eyes glow red and it causes the opponent to see illusions of its choosing.
Zoroark (movie 13)	Zoroark: Master of Illusions		Debut
	Zorua's eyes glow light blue and it jumps into the air, spinning its body while in the air. As it spins, its body starts to glow pink and it changes its shape into the opponent. As a human, its tail is always visible, and when the tail is pushed, pulled or grabbed, Zorua instantly returns to its normal form.
Zorua (movie 13)	Zoroark: Master of Illusions		None

In the manga

In the Black & White arc of Pokémon Adventures, Zorua is shown to be able to change its appearance at will, much like its other media counterparts. It was shown to be able to change into both human and Pokémon forms, of various genders and varieties as well, such as changing into an innocent-looking boy near Black, and changing into a female Tepig to distract Black's Tepig.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 幻覺 Huàn​​jué​ French Illusion German Trugbild Italian Illusione Portuguese Ilusão Spanish Ilusión

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.