Cresselia (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #0487: Giratina	Pokémon	#0489: Phione →

Cresselia Lunar Pokémon クレセリア Cresselia #0488 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Psychic Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Ability Levitate Cacophony Cacophony Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Hidden Ability Cacophony Cacophony
Gender ratio Unknown 100% female	Catch rate 3 (1.6%)
Breeding Egg Group No Eggs Discovered Hatch time 120 cycles Egg not obtainable
Height 4'11" 1.5 m Cresselia 0'0" 0 m {{{form2}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form3}}} 0'0" 0 m {{{form4}}}	Weight 188.7 lbs. 85.6 kg Cresselia 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form2}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form3}}} 0 lbs. 0 kg {{{form4}}}
Mega Stone [[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield 210 Gen. IV Unknown IV 270 V+	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 3 Cresselia 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 3 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 0 HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint {{{form2}}}
Pokédex color   Yellow	Base friendship 100
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Cresselia (Japanese: クレセリア Cresselia) is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

It is a member of the lunar duo with Darkrai.

Biology

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. These wings, especially its back wing, release shining particles and undulate beautifully around the quarter moon. It has paw-like protrusions resting on its chest. Cresselia generally floats in the air, but may rest on the floor when it is injured.

Due to its appearance, Cresselia is said to resemble a crescent moon and the woman who made the Milky Way. Cresselia has the power to dispel nightmares, and holding one of its feathers is said to bring happy dreams. It is also great at recovery and healing techniques. Cresselia can unleash spores in the air to cause confusion on opponents while forming a shield to defend itself at the same time. Its relationship to its counterpart, Darkrai, can vary between individuals and canons, with some being antagonistic, as seen in Sleepless In Pre-Battle! and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, or cooperative, as seen in Nightfall? Nightmares! and A Midsummer Night's Light!. It tends to reside on an island or mountain that has a Darkrai nearby in order to keep an eye on it. Cresselia is a female-only species.

As mentioned in Sleep Style Dex, 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. Cresselia has three different sleep styles it sleeps in: Flattened Sleep, Floaty Nodding Sleep, and Lunar Blessing. Cresselia can combine its powers with Snorlax's Drowsy Power to repel Darkrai's nightmares through the power of slumbering.

Cresselia is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the moves Lunar Dance and Lunar Blessing.

Game data

NPC appearances

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: Cresselia has made it her mission to foil Darkrai's plot of plunging everyone in the world into an endless nightmare. After healing Azurill of his nightmare, she joins the player's team as a guest in Dark Crater. After defeating Darkrai, Cresselia will offer to officially join the team back at Sharpedo Bluff.

	Spoilers end here.

• Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Cresselia is the guardian of the Yellow Gem.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Events*		Expert Belt (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Generations IV-VIII

Generation IX

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM

Generation IX Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII - VIII

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM005 TM005 Mud-Slap Ground Special 02020 100}}100% 10 TM006 TM006 Scary Face Normal Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM007 TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM016 TM016 Psybeam Psychic Special 06565 100}}100% 20 TM017 TM017 Confuse Ray Ghost Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM023 TM023 Charge Beam Electric Special 05050 090}}90% 10 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 TM041 TM041 Stored Power Psychic Special 02020 100}}100% 10 TM047 TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM049 TM049 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM050 TM050 Rain Dance Water Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM054 TM054 Psyshock Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM059 TM059 Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical 08080 090}}90% 15 TM066 TM066 Body Slam Normal Physical 08585 100}}100% 15 TM070 TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM074 TM074 Reflect Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM075 TM075 Light Screen Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 30 TM079 TM079 Dazzling Gleam Fairy Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM081 TM081 Grass Knot Grass Special 0000— 100}}100% 20 TM082 TM082 Thunder Wave Electric Status 0000— 090}}90% 20 TM085 TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM098 TM098 Skill Swap Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM101 TM101 Power Gem Rock Special 08080 100}}100% 20 TM103 TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM109 TM109 Trick Psychic Status 0000— 100}}100% 10 TM114 TM114 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 08080 100}}100% 15 TM119 TM119 Energy Ball Grass Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM120 TM120 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM126 TM126 Thunderbolt Electric Special 09090 100}}100% 15 TM129 TM129 Calm Mind Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM130 TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 20 TM135 TM135 Ice Beam Ice Special 09090 100}}100% 10 TM138 TM138 Psychic Terrain Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM152 TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5 TM161 TM161 Trick Room Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM163 TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5 TM166 TM166 Thunder Electric Special 110110 070}}70% 10 TM168 TM168 Solar Beam Grass Special 120120 100}}100% 10 TM171 TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10 TM178 TM178 Gravity Psychic Status 0000— 00—}}—% 5 TM203 TM203 Psych Up Normal Status 0000— 00—}}—% 10 TM217 TM217 Future Sight Psychic Special 120120 100}}100% 10 TM218 TM218 Expanding Force Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Cresselia Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Cresselia Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Side game data

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 100% IQ group: H
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Body size: Standard (1 tile) How to Recruit: Meet up with at Lake of Mysterious Light Connected to: Palkia Connection Orb Set: 3 Phrases Normal My name is Cresselia. I represent the crescent moon. I keep bad dreams away. Low HP (< 50%) This is…hard…
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group: Psychic Poké Assist: Psychic Field move: None Browser entry R-254 It lets loose strange orbs. It attacks by spitting orbs of psychic power.
Pokémon Rumble Attack ●● Defense ●●●●● Speed ●●●			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●● Defense ●●●●● Speed ●●●
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.5 seconds Base HP: 63 Base Attack: 82 Base Defense: 63 Base Speed: 60
Pokémon Battle Trozei Psychic Attack Power: ★★★★★ Builder Repairs damage done to the walls of the Trozei Box.			Pokémon Shuffle Psychic Attack Power: 80 - 145 20 #275 Barrier Bash+ Sometimes removes three barrier-type disruptions. Swappable Skill(s): Eject++
Pokémon GO Base HP: 260 Base Attack: 152 Base Defense: 258 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 20 km Evolution Requirement: N/A Fast Attacks: Psycho Cut, Confusion Charged Attacks: Aurora Beam, Moonblast, Future Sight, Grass Knot†, Frustration, Return
Pokémon Sleep Sleep type: Snoozing Pokémon type: Psychic Points to befriend: 30 Specialty: Skills Berry: Mago Berry ×1 Primary ingredient: Warming Ginger ×1 Possible ingredients: Warming Ginger Soothing Cacao Snoozy Tomato 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. Flattened Sleep Floaty Nodding Sleep Lunar Blessing Sleep ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Evolution data

Unevolved  Psychic

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Front Back Front Back Front Back
Generation V Black White Black 2 White 2 Front Back Front Back
Generation VI X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Front Back Front Back
Generation VII Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Front Back Front Back
Generation VIII Sword Shield Legends: Arceus
Cross-Generation HOME

For other sprites and images, please see Cresselia images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

In animation

Major appearances

Cresselia (recurring)

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's known moves are Psycho Cut, Lunar Dance, and Moonlight.

Others

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 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!.

Minor appearances

Cresselia debuted in the opening sequence of Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

A Cresselia appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Cresselia debuted as a silhouette in a fantasy in Unplugging Rotom (Heat, Wash, Mow, Fan, Frost).

Palmer's Cresselia first appeared in The Final Dimensional Duel II, having been caught on Fullmoon Island while he was seeking a cure for Sailor Eldritch's son's terrible nightmare. She followed her Trainer into the Distortion World, where she squared up against her nemesis, Darkrai. Later, Platinum briefly borrowed Cresselia in order to chase Charon, who was commanding Giratina to fly him out of the Distortion World.

Pokémon Try Adventure

A Cresselia debuted in TA26.

In the TCG

Main article: Cresselia (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Cresselia appears on the Spear Pillar stage as one of three Pokémon who appear in the center (the others being Dialga and Palkia). Cresselia acts completely different than the other two in terms of attacks it uses. It will often use Psycho Cuts around the field, and sometimes shoot 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.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

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 signify its appearance. Cresselia also appears as a Spirit.

Trivia

• Prior to Generation VI, Cresselia's shape was .
  • Cresselia is the only Psychic-type Pokémon with a serpentine body.
• In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, despite being a Legendary Pokémon, battling the wild Cresselia plays Battle! (Wild Pokémon). In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Battle! (Strong Wild Pokémon) plays instead.
• Cresselia is incorrectly stated to be an Ice type in Pokémon 4Koma.
• In the English demo of Diamond and Pearl, Eldritch refers to Cresselia as the Quarter Moon Pokémon.
• Cresselia is the only Legendary Pokémon in the Coronet Highlands sublisting of the Hisui Pokédex.

Origin

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, 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).

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese クレセリア Cresselia From crescent and Selene French Cresselia Same as English/Japanese name Spanish Cresselia Same as English/Japanese name German Cresselia Same as English/Japanese name Italian Cresselia Same as English/Japanese name Korean 크레세리아 Cresselia Transcription of Japanese name Mandarin Chinese 克雷色利亞 / 克雷色利亚 Kèléisèlìyǎ / Kèléisèlìyà Transcription of Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 克雷色利亞 Hāklèuihsīkleih'a Mandarin-based transcription of Japanese name

More languages Hindi क्रसेलिया Cresselia Transcription of its English/Japanese name Thai เครเซเลีย Khreselia Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

• Lunar duo
• Legendary Pokémon

External links

Legendary Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Mythical Pokémon

← #0487: Giratina

Pokémon

#0489: Phione →

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.