Absol (Japanese: アブソル Absol) is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Generation III.

While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Absol can Mega Evolve into Mega Absol using the Absolite.

Table of Contents

Biology

Absol is a quadrupedal, mammalian Pokémon with a primarily white feline-like body with some dark blue coloration. It has a ruff around its neck and chest and a tuft on the top of its head adorned with a single blue-black oval. Between the dark fur, the curvature of the white fur on its head, and the positioning of its horn, Absol's face vaguely resembles a wu wei symbol. It has a humanoid face with almond-shaped, red eyes, a scythe-like tail, and a scythe-shaped horn on the side of its head. Its broad feet are equipped with three claws each, and dewclaw-like spikes protrude from the heels of its hind legs and the elbows of its front legs. It walks with a pacing gait like that of a bear.

Absol lives in the mountains far from civilization, and it rarely ventures down from its alpine home. Using its horn, Absol is able to sense even subtle changes in the sky and the land to predict when a disaster will occur and will try to warn people when one is approaching. Absol is also known to protect fields from natural disasters as well. This often has the unfortunate effect of Absol itself being blamed for the disaster, notably by the elderly. The hatred for Absol was started years ago by superstitions surrounding about it. Despite this, others are interested in its ability to predict disaster. Absol has been referred to as a bringer of doom. Absol can move as swiftly as the wind. Absol is said to have a lifespan of up to 100 years. As mentioned in the Sleep Style Dex, the powers of Absol's horn remains active even when it sleeps. Due to this, Absol can strongly detect danger even when its not awake.

Forms

Absol can Mega Evolve into Mega Absol.

As Mega Absol, its fur is longer overall, and the increased energy coursing through its body makes the fur at the back of its mane stand on end so that it appears to have wings.[1] The spikes on its heels and elbows grow larger, and the fur in these areas becomes longer as well. Its sickle-shaped horn widens, while an additional, smaller horn appears on the opposite side of its head. Its tail now has a more saw-like shape, and the oval marking on its forehead is now a rounded triangle.

Mega Absol emits a fearsome aura that has been known to kill fainthearted people from shock. It directs this aura at its opponents by beating its "wings", which are not capable of flight. However, Absol apparently detests assuming this form, as it normally dislikes fighting in the first place.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III Hoenn#152 Kanto#—
Ruby Every time Absol appears before people, it is followed by a disaster such as an earthquake or a tidal wave. As a result, it came to be known as the disaster Pokémon.
Sapphire Absol has the ability to foretell the coming of natural disasters. It lives in a harsh, rugged mountain environment. This Pokémon very rarely ventures down from the mountains.
Emerald It sharply senses even subtle changes in the sky and the land to predict natural disasters. It is a long-lived Pokémon that has a life-span of 100 years.
FireRed It appears when it senses an impending natural disaster. As a result, it was mistaken as a doom-bringer.
LeafGreen
Generation IV Sinnoh Pt : #209 Johto#—
Diamond It senses coming disasters and appears before people only to warn them of impending danger.
Pearl
Platinum Rumored to sense danger with its horn, it became a target. It fled deep into the mountains.
HeartGold It has the ability to foretell natural disasters. Its life span is over a hundred years.
SoulSilver
Generation V Unova B2  W2 : #216
Black Rumored to sense disasters with its horn, it became a target. It fled deep into the mountains.
White
Black 2 It appears from deep in the mountains to warn people about upcoming disasters it has sensed with its horn.
White 2
Generation VI KalosCoastal #009 Hoenn#159
X It senses coming disasters and appears before people only to warn them of impending danger.
Y It appears when it senses an impending natural disaster. As a result, it was mistaken as a doom bringer.
Omega Ruby Every time Absol appears before people, it is followed by a disaster such as an earthquake or a tidal wave. As a result, it came to be known as the disaster Pokémon.
Alpha Sapphire Absol has the ability to foretell the coming of natural disasters. It lives in a harsh, rugged mountain environment. This Pokémon very rarely ventures down from the mountains.
Generation VII Alola S  M : #245 Alola US  UM : #322 Kanto#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
Sun Long ago, superstitions were spread about it, saying it brought disaster. This fed a hatred of it, and it was driven deep into the mountains.
Moon Although it's said to bring disaster, in actuality, this Pokémon possesses a calm disposition and warns people of any crises that loom.
Ultra Sun The only thing unlucky about Absol is its appearance. It protects fields and warns people of disaster, so one ought to be grateful for it.
Ultra Moon The elderly call it the disaster Pokémon and detest it, but interest in its power to predict disasters is on the rise.
Mega Absol
Sun When this Pokémon whips the winglike fur on its back as though beating its wings, it sends an intimidating aura flying at its opponents.
Moon As the energy of Mega Evolution fills it, its fur bristles. What you see on its back are not true wings, and this Pokémon isn't able to fly.
Ultra Sun Normally, it dislikes fighting, so it really hates changing to this form for battles.
Ultra Moon It converts the energy from Mega Evolution into an intimidating aura. Fainthearted people expire from shock at the sight of it.
Generation VIII GalarCrown Tundra #107 Sinnoh#— Hisui#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Legends: Arceus.
Sword Swift as the wind, Absol races through fields and mountains. Its curved, bow-like horn is acutely sensitive to the warning signs of natural disasters.
Shield Because of this Pokémon's ability to detect danger, people mistook Absol as a bringer of doom.
Brilliant Diamond It senses coming disasters and appears before people only to warn them of impending danger.
Shining Pearl

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Diamond Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold SoulSilver
Slowpoke Well, Union Cave, Mt. Mortar, Dark Cave, Whirl Islands, Mt. Silver Cave, Ice Path, Cliff Cave, Diglett's Cave, Mt. Moon, Cerulean Cave, Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands, Victory Road, Tohjo Falls (Hoenn Sound)
Pal Park
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Absol
Mega Absol

Pokéathlon stats

Speed
3/5 ★★★☆☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

Learnset

Absol is available in Sword and Shield Version 1.3.0+ and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

By leveling up

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/TR

SwSh

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

SwSh

Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Absol in Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Absol in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

BDSP

Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Absol in Generation VIII
  • Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
  • Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Absol in that game.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation VIII
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By transfer from another generation

Generation VIII
Other generations:
IV - V - VI - VII - IX
  • Transferred Pokémon only retain these moves in Pokémon Sword and Shield
  • A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Absol
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Absol
  • × indicates a move that cannot be used in Sword and Shield
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see transfer-only moves for other generations

Side game data

Absol

Mega Absol

Form data

Mega Evolution

Evolution data

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation III.
Generation III
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
Cross-Generation

In the anime

Mega Absol in the anime

Main series

Major appearances

Goh's Absol

In Absol Absolved!, Goh caught an Absol to save it from being hit by an eruption of boiling water on Mt. Chimney. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

Other

Absol debuted in Jirachi: Wish Maker, where it showed up to take Jirachi back to Forina. However, Absol wasn't evil as Ash and his friends were initially led to believe, and it helped Jirachi once it returned to Forina.

Absol made its main series debut in Absol-ute Disaster. The people of a town were blaming Absol for all of the bad things that were happening to their town during the past month. Ash, his friends, and Nicky went out to verify the accusations. They found out that Absol was actually warning the town about a flood.

In What I Did for Love!, Mollie used an Absol during the second round of the Gardenia Town Pokémon Contest. It battled Brock's Marshtomp and lost.

In May, We Harley Drew'd Ya!, Drew revealed he caught and trained an Absol for the Kanto Grand Festival. It was first used in the Appeals Round. In Thinning the Hoard! and Channeling the Battle Zone!, it and Flygon were used during a two-on-two Contest Battle against May, who used Combusken and Squirtle. In the end, Drew lost too many points, resulting in May advancing to the next round.

In the original timeline of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, a hypnotized Damos commanded four Absol to attack Arceus with Shock Wave. When Ash and his friends traveled to the past to prevent this, Marcus, the one responsible for hypnotizing Damos, managed to use the Absol again to attack Arceus.

In Mega Evolution Special I, Astrid used an Absol that can Mega Evolve into Mega Absol against Alain and Charizard, but it was defeated. In Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, it was used in a battle against Ash and his Hawlucha, which resulted in Absol winning. In Valuable Experience for All!, it had a rematch with Hawlucha during the Lumiose Conference, which resulted in a loss for Absol.

In The Bonds of Evolution!, Magnus used an Absol to battle Diantha and her Gardevoir, but it was soon defeated by Gardevoir's Moonblast.

In Rescuing the Unwilling! and 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!, a Nihilego-possessed Lusamine ordered her Absol to attack Ash and his classmates. Gladion stayed to battle Absol with his Pokémon before Nihilego was defeated.

Minor appearances

In Mutiny in the Bounty, J and her henchmen captured an Absol after Ash's Pikachu, Melodi's Gardevoir, and Team Rocket's Meowth got stolen. Absol was eventually returned to its rightful owner after Ash, Team Rocket, and Melodi reunited with their Pokémon and some of J's minions were arrested.

An Absol appeared in Destiny Deoxys.

An Absol appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

In A Talent for Imitation!, the Pokédex image of an Absol was displayed.

Three Absol appeared in a picture in Absol Absolved!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry
AG107 Absol May's Pokédex Absol, the Disaster Pokémon. Absol live in steep mountainous regions, and rarely venture down into areas inhabited by humans, but should an Absol be seen by humans, it is said that catastrophe is soon to follow.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
XY028 Absol Serena's Pokédex Absol, the Disaster Pokémon. When disasters are detected with its horn, Absol comes down from the mountains to warn people.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
JN064 Absol Goh's Rotom Phone Absol, the Disaster Pokémon. A Dark type. Absol appears when it senses a disaster is about to happen. As a result, people mistake it for a catastrophic omen.

GOTCHA!

An Absol briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of Sidney.

In the manga

Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic

An Absol appeared in PRV4 as one of the Pokémon Kincaid controlled.

Movie adaptations

An Absol under the ownership of Astrid appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.

Pokémon Adventures

Ruby & Sapphire arc

Absol debuted in Assaulted by Pelipper II. It first appears to Ruby, who shudders in fear immediately. Absol is also present in the feud between Kyogre and Groudon.

X & Y arc

In Scizor Defends, Y encountered an Absol on Route 15 and battled him in order to capture a Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution. He made no attempt to resist her efforts and let himself be captured after Y asked him to help battle Team Flare, which he was nicknamed Solsol. Later, he was given an Absolite, enabling him to Mega Evolve into Mega Absol.

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc

Absol reappears at the start of this arc, where it was perched atop of a building, foreshadowing another disaster coming to Hoenn. It later appeared in front of Gabby and Ty, warning them of the upcoming disaster, and has the two ride on its back to head off to somewhere else.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

Ryū owns an Absol as a puck in ABM12.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Absol is one of Koya's main Pokémon. It is used in his battles at the Pokémon League, and in subsequent battles against Team Galactic. It first appeared in A New Battle Begins!.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team

Absol appeared in Battle in a Bitter Cold Land!!. When it first saw Ginji's scar, it was scared of him because Gengar told it that Ginji will destroy the world, but after Ginji explained that he is going to see Ninetales to find out the truth, Absol tells him that everyone thinks that it's causing the natural disasters and that they don't like it because of that misunderstanding. It then helps Ginji and Mudkip in their battle against Articuno. It appears again in Tears and Emotions - It's the Final Chapter! where it, along with several other Pokémon, help Ginji, Mudkip, Tyranitar, Charizard, and Alakazam defeat Groudon.

Pokémon Try Adventure

Toki has an Absol nicknamed Absō.

In the TCG

Main article: Absol (TCG)

In the TFG

One Absol figure has been released.

Other appearances

Absol in Pokémon UNITE

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Absol appears as a Spirit.

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Absol (UNITE)

Absol is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a melee speedster.

Trivia

Origin

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

Absol is most likely based on the Bai Ze (白澤) of Chinese mythology, whose name literally translates to "white marsh." It is generally described as a white beast, distinguished by having one or two horns on its head. Considered to be an intelligent beast, Bai Ze is gifted with the ability to understand human speech and the knowledge on the forms and habits of 11,520 types of supernatural creatures in the world. In legend, Bai Ze shared its knowledge to the Yellow Emperor, which was subsequently compiled in a book called Bai Ze Tu. Few of its supposed fragments survive today. In Japan, it is known as the hakutaku (白沢) and is said to resemble a cat or lion. In a related legend, a similar creature known as the kutabe predicted that a plague would sweep through the Toyama Prefecture of Japan. It is also sometimes said to have an extra eye on their head or back, which may be represented by the oval that appears on Absol's forehead.

Absol's head is modeled after a Taijitu symbol. Absol's humanized face and feline appearance may also be a homage to the sphinx. Its ruff resembling long human hair and a male lion's mane and the white fur on the top of its head loosely resembling the headpiece of an Egyptian sphinx also suggests this. Its scythe-shaped tail and horn suggest a resemblance to the Western personified depiction of Death, who is related to destiny and disaster. It may have also been inspired by the black cat superstition.

Mega Absol's wings and elongated hair give it the appearance of an angel, with its wings also being reminiscent of Greek portrayals of sphinxes and furthering the connection to sphinxes noted above. It also resembles a lamassu, an Assyrian creature with a human's head, wings, and sometimes with the body of a lion. The lamassu was a protective spirit, much how Absol attempts to warn people of danger.

Its feline appearance and the fact that it is usually seen in mountains, resembles the natural behavior of felines such as the snow leopard and the cougar.

Name origin

Absol may be derived from absolute or absolution (setting free from guilt), as well as 危ない abunai (dangerous) and possibly 物騒 bussō (dangerous). It may also be a combination of the Latin prefix ab- (away from) and sol (Latin for sun).

In other languages

References