Palafin (Pokémon)

← #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.

Biology

In its Zero Form, Palafin is a light blue cetacean Pokémon with the exact same physiology 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.

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. 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.

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

In the anime

Major appearances

Minor appearances

In the manga

Game data

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Zero Form

Hero Form

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

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

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

Side game data

Evolution

Unevolved Finizen  Water

Level 38 while in a Union Circle group →

First evolution Palafin  Water

Forms

Before switching out Zero Form Palafin  Water

↔

After switching out Hero Form Palafin  Water

Sprites

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.
• Palafin has different cries depending on its form. In particular, Zero Form Palafin and its pre-evolution, Finizen, have identical cries.

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 "going from zero to hero". The connection between dolphins and superheroes may be inspired by numerous real-life 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

Related articles

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 as a species.