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. It has paw-like protrusions resting on its chest. Cresselia generally stays afloat in the air.
Cresselia resides on Fullmoon Island and is said to represent the crescent moon. Its veil-like wings release shining particles when it flies, and the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully on nights around the quarter moon. It also leaves a line of light as it soars throughout the night sky, with Professor Laventon noting that it bears a resemblance to the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way. Those who sleep holding Cresselia's Lunar Feather are blessed with joyful dreams. It can dispel the nightmares caused by its counterpart, the Mythical PokémonDarkrai, with its Lunar Feathers also being capable of achieving this effect. Additionally, Cresselia can combine its Drowsy Power with Snorlax's to repel Darkrai's nightmares through the power of slumbering. As mentioned in Pokémon Sleep, Cresselia has been observed, on very rare occasions, surrounded by light and praying in its sleep. There have been rumors that scientists felt a mysterious surge of power from this rare sight.[1] The relationship between Cresselia and Darkrai can vary between different individuals and canons, with some depicting it as antagonistic (Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon), while others portray it as cooperative (Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!).
In all Generation IV games, during a Multi Battle challenge in the Battle Tower, one of the Pokémon that Cheryl can select to help the player is a Cresselia.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, during during a Multi Battle challenge in the Battle Tower, one of the Pokémon that Buck can select to help the player is a Cresselia. Additionally, in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Buck may use a Cresselia during a Double Battle with Bertha against the player.
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.
Main skill: Lunar Blessing (Energy for Everyone S)
Base carry limit: 22
Restores some Energy to all helper Pokémon on your team plus gives ? of each of the Berries other Pokémon on your team collect.
Cresselia is said to represent the crescent moon. On very rare occasions, it can be seen surrounded by light and praying in its sleep. Rumor has it that scientists who saw this sight felt a mysterious surge of power.
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 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 Ketchum 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!.
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.
Cresselia appears on the Spear Pillar stage as one of three Pokémon who appear in the center, with the other two being Dialga and Palkia. It will often use Psycho Cut around the field, and sometimes shoots 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 signal its appearance. Cresselia also appears as a Spirit.
Cresselia seem to be based on a swan or a crane, and on a 仙女 xiānnǚ (the Chinese predecessor and counterpart of the Japanese 天女 tennyo). Xiānnǚ and tennyo are both central figures in swan maiden stories in East Asia, sometimes disguising themselves as a swan or a crane. Considering its lunar motif, Cresselia could be specifically based on Chang'e, a xiānnǚ and goddess of the Moon in Chinese mythology. It may also be inspired by other moon goddesses such as Selene.
Cresselia's wings and the aurora near its tail resemble planetary rings. They also resemble silk shawls worn by xiānnǚ; or 領巾 hire (also referred as 羽衣 hagoromo), similar scarves worn by tennin that are said to allow them to fly. Due to its celestial themes, Cresselia may also be based on the Cygnus constellation.
Cresselia's Pokédex entry from Pokémon Legends: Arceus states that it "(...) resembles the heavenly maiden who created the Milky Way". "Heavenly maiden" is a common translation of xiānnǚ and tennyo, the latter being the term used in the original Japanese Pokédex entry. However, the myth in the entry could instead be referring to the Estonian goddess of birds, Lindu, who is said to have created the Milky Way with her tears.
Name origin
Cresselia may be a combination of crescent (referring to the lunar phase) and Selene (Greek goddess of the Moon).
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.
Expert Belt (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Cresselia images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
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