Moon

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This article is about the moon that orbits the Pokémon world. For other uses, see Moon (disambiguation).
Multiple Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable dancing around a giant Moon Stone under the moonlight at Mt. Moon in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

The moon serves as the Pokémon world's sole natural satellite. It is typically visible only at night and undergoes lunar phases just like Earth's Moon, with which it shares an identical appearance. It is also likely the cause of the Pokémon world's tides, which also resemble Earth's.

Overview

There are several moon-related Pokémon, moves, items, and locations that appear across various Pokémon media, as well as some characters with names related to the moon. Additionally, the games Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon feature the moon as a recurring theme, with Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Moon both containing Moon in their titles and featuring the lunar game mascot Legendary Pokémon Lunala and Dawn Wings Necrozma, respectively.

Lunar eclipses, during which the planet passes between the sun and the moon, causing the moon to appear dark and red, are mentioned in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. Solar eclipses, when the moon passes over the sun, have also been mentioned and shown in Pokémon the Series.

History

In the Generation I games and their Generation III remakes, an old man on the second floor of the Pewter Museum of Science states "July 20, 1969! Humankind first set foot on the moon that day. I bought a color TV just so I could watch that news." July 20, 1969 was indeed the date that humans first landed on Earth's Moon in the real world with the Apollo 11 flight. In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, he states: "It has been decades since mankind stood on the moon...and now, we’re following the dream of standing on that faraway red planet! News about space always makes me so excited!"

List of Pokémon associated with the moon

Cresselia and Darkrai in promotional art for the TCG

Several Pokémon are closely associated with the moon, often incorporating the moon into their appearance and biology, as well as capable of learning moon-related moves. A few also have Evolutions that are influenced by the moon.

Pokémon Description
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Cleffa
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Clefairy
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Clefable 		Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable are rumored to come from the moon.

In the Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episode A Real Cleffa Hanger, multiple Cleffa were revealed to be living at Mt. Moon.

Clefairy are known to gather at Mt. Moon and the Fabled Spring during a full moon. Their wings can store moonlight, allowing them to float. On the rare occasions that Clefairy comes down from its mountain home, it can be seen dancing underneath the full moon's light. On every night of a full moon, groups of this Pokémon come out to dance and play. It's said that happiness will come to anyone who sees Clefairy dance under a full moon.

Clefable is said to be drawn by the full moon to play at deserted lakes. Some scientists believe that Clefable stares intently at the moon because it is homesick. There is a legend to this as well, which tells of how Clefable listens for the voices of its kind on the moon during clear and quiet nights.

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Umbreon 		Umbreon evolves from Eevee as a result of being exposed to moonlight; it is known as the Moonlight Pokémon.
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Teddiursa
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Ursaring
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Ursaluna 		Teddiursa, Ursaring, Ursaluna, and Bloodmoon Ursaluna all have markings on their bodies resembling various phases of the moon. The Teddiursa family may be based on the Asian black bear, whose Japanese name (ツキノワグマ tsukinowaguma) literally means "ring-of-the-moon bear".

The marking on Teddiursa's face may be inspired by the crescent moon shape found on the chest of most Asian black bears. Teddiursa's Japanese name may involve 朏 hi (crescent moon).

Ursaring evolves into Ursaluna when exposed to a Peat Block during a full moon.

Ursaluna has luna in its name. Its Japanese name may involve 月輪 gachirin (round moon). Bloodmoon Ursaluna, as indicated by its name, appears to be based on the lunar eclipse phenomenon, also known as a "blood moon", in which the moon appears red in the sky.

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Lunatone 		Lunatone becomes active on a full moon. The moon increases its power, and its health is tied to the lunar phases. Wild Lunatone are sometimes found holding a Moon Stone. Additionally, its body is shaped like a crescent moon, and its name seems to incorporate the word luna, Latin for moon.
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Cresselia
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Darkrai 		Cresselia and Darkrai, commonly known by fans as the lunar duo, can be found on Fullmoon Island and Newmoon Island, respectively. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Cresselia is found at Moonview Arena.

Due to its appearance, Cresselia is said to be a representation of the moon, specifically resembling a crescent moon. It is also known as the Lunar Pokémon. On nights around the quarter moon, the aurora from its tail extends and undulates beautifully. Cresselia is also the only known Pokémon capable of learning the moves Lunar Dance and Lunar Blessing. Additionally, Cresselia is associated with the Lunar Feather.

Darkrai is said to be active during nights of a new moon. Folklore claims that on moonless nights, this Pokémon will make people see horrific nightmares.

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Mega Salamence
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Roaring Moon 		Salamence's Mega Evolution, Mega Salamence, has been called "the blood-soaked crescent", possibly referencing blood moons. Its ancient Paradox counterpart is named Roaring Moon (Japanese: トドロクツキ Todorokutsuki; literally 轟く月 todoroku tsuki roaring moon). The shape of their wings both resemble a crescent moon.
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Midnight Form Lycanroc 		Lycanroc's Midnight Form is influenced by Lunala's lunar energy, and only evolves into this form during the night. The animation for the Pokémon's unique Z-Move, Splintered Stormshards, displays a giant silver moon.
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Lunala
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Dawn Wings Necrozma 		Lunala, categorized as the Moone Pokémon, and Dawn Wings Necrozma are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Moongeist Beam, as well as the only known Pokémon capable of using the Z-Move Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom.

Known as the "beast that calls the moon" and "the Legendary Pokémon of the moon", Lunala has long been honored as an emissary of the moon. While Lunala does not have any forms, it has a transformation called its Full Moon phase. Dawn Wings Necrozma requires the N-Lunarizer to fuse mechanically.

Dawn Wings Necrozma is named Lunar Eclipse Necrozma in some media in certain languages.

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Celesteela 		Celesteela's design is likely inspired by Princess Kaguya from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, who was found as a baby in a bamboo stalk and is associated with the Moon. This connection is reinforced by Celesteela's exclusivity to Pokémon Moon and Pokémon Ultra Moon.


There are also multiple Pokémon that evolve via Moon Stone, namely the Nidoran, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Skitty, and Munna lines.

Additionally, various other Pokémon have behavior that is affected by or related in some way to the moon.

  • Golbat, Haunter, and Noivern become active on moonless nights.
  • Cubone cries in the moonlight after seeing a likeness of its mother in the full moon.
  • Gengar mimics shadows of people under the full moon.
  • Oddish is awakened and begins to move when exposed to moonlight.
  • Grimer was born when sludge in a dirty stream was exposed to X-rays from the moon.
  • Politoed gather on moonlit nights to form a large chorus.
  • Wynaut gather on moonlit nights to play.
  • Schools of Jellicent gather near the surface of the sea, waiting for their prey to appear when a full moon hangs in the night sky.
  • Gourgeist wander town streets on the night of the new moon, singing in eerie voices.
  • Primarina has a fantastical look on moonlit nights when it leads its colony in song.

List of characters with names related to the moon

  • Cynthia's name refers to the moon, paralleling Cyrus's name, which refers to the sun.
  • Selene's English name may be based on Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Her Japanese name, ミヅキ Mizuki, means beautiful moon. Additionally, she is the female player character for Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon.
    • Selene's Pokémon Adventures counterpart is named Moon, directly inspired by the moon and named after the game of the same title.
  • Cyllene of the Galaxy Team may also be named after the Greek goddess, Selene. Her Japanese name, シマボシ Shimaboshi, may incorporate しまぼし shimaboshi, a poetic name for the moon.
  • Lunick is the male player character from Pokémon Ranger, whose name may come from luna, the Latin word for moon. His Japanese name, カヅキ Kazuki, may be derived from 月 tsuki, Japanese for moon.

List of moves associated with the moon

Clefable using Moonblast in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon


List of items associated with the moon

A Moon Stone in Pokémon Journeys: The Series

List of locations associated with the moon

Fullmoon Island in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Artwork of Mt. Moonview for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

In the core series

Kanto

  • Mt. Moon - The shards of meteorites that fall here are known as Moon Stones. Mt. Moon is also known for being one of the few places where wild Clefairy can be found.
    • Mt. Moon Square - Multiple Clefairy can be found dancing around a rock with the full moon visible in the reflection of the pond at Mt. Moon Square. If startled, the Clefairy will run away and leave behind a Moon Stone.
  • Pewter Museum of Science - The museum holds a huge collection of artifacts, including rocks from the moon and space shuttles.

Johto

  • Blue Moon Falls (animated series-only) - In Once in a Blue Moon, Ash and his friends followed and found a group of Quagsire at Blue Moon Falls, where they saw that, on that night, the moon was actually blue. The Quagsire then threw their objects into the air and used Water Gun on them to send them flying over the waterfall, which sent them flowing back down. Brock suggested that the Quagsire do this as a competition to see who can get their object closest to the moon.

Sinnoh

Alola

Hisui

Kitakami

In spin-off games

Mystery Dungeon world

Eclipses

Lunar eclipses

A lunar eclipse is an event in which the moon passes between the planet and the sun, causing the moon to darken. This sometimes gives the moon a reddish appearance, sometimes called a "blood moon".

Lunar eclipses are mentioned in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. In the movie, the Sea Temple Samiya is an underwater palace that cannot be seen regularly, as it blends in with the water. Samiya will only reveal itself under the red moonlight of a lunar eclipse.

Solar eclipses

A solar eclipse in Pokémon Journeys: The Series

A solar eclipse is an event in which the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring the view of the sun from a portion of the planet's surface for a short period of time.

Solar eclipses have been mentioned a few times in Pokémon the Series.

See also


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