Zen Mode (Ability)

Zen Mode (Japanese: ダルマモード Daruma Mode) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. It is the signature Ability of Darmanitan and one of the signature Abilities of Galarian Darmanitan.

Effect

In battle

If a Darmanitan has this Ability, it is able to change forms in battle, based on its HP. Each form has its own types, base stats, EV yield, height, and weight. This Ability has no effect on any other Pokémon, even one that transforms into Darmanitan.

At the start of battle or at the end of a turn, if the HP of a Standard Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is below half, it will change into its Zen Mode. At the end of a turn, if the HP of a Zen Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is above half, it will change into its Standard Mode. Darmanitan is always in Standard Mode outside of battle.

In Standard Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is Fire-type and Galarian Darmanitan is Ice-type; in Zen Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is dual-type Fire/Psychic and Galarian Darmanitan is dual-type Ice/Fire.

Generations V to VI

If Darmanitan loses Zen Mode or Zen Mode is suppressed with Gastro Acid, it will revert to its Standard Mode and not be able to change form. If Darmanitan gains Zen Mode, at the end of the turn it will change form if its HP is below half.

Role Play fails if the target has Zen Mode. Entrainment fails if the user has Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace.

Generation VII onward

Gastro Acid, Worry Seed, and Simple Beam fail if the target has Zen Mode. Role Play, Skill Swap, Entrainment, and Doodle fail if either Pokémon has Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver, replaced by Mummy or Lingering Aroma, suppressed by Core Enforcer or Neutralizing Gas, or traded by Wandering Spirit.

Outside of battle

Zen Mode has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Zen Mode

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0555		Darmanitan Standard Mode	Fire		Fire	Sheer Force	None
0555		Darmanitan Zen Mode	Fire	Psychic	None	None
0555		Darmanitan Galarian Form Standard Mode	Ice		Ice	Gorilla Tactics	None
0555		Darmanitan Galarian Form Zen Mode	Ice	Fire	None	None
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Zen Mode activating Darmanitan Galarian Darmanitan Zen Mode deactivating
The Pokémon changes form and gains a secondary type.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Darmanitan's body turns into a stone-like statue that turns it into a part Psychic-type. Moments before it turns back into Standard Mode, its eyebrows burst into flames or its body becomes surrounded in red-yellow flames.
A wild Darmanitan	Saving Darmanitan From the Bell!		Debut
Bianca's father's Red Flash Darmanitan	Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!		None
A Trainer's three Darmanitan	A Maractus Musical!		None
Five wild Darmanitan	Raid Battle in The Ruins!		None
Goh's Darmanitan	Raid Battle in The Ruins!		None
Rubella's Darmanitan	HZ107		None
	Galarian Darmanitan's body turns into a snowman-like form that turns it into a part Fire-type.
Indy's Darmanitan	HZ107		None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Darmanitan
The Pokémon changes shape when it takes damage.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	After taking enough damage, Darmanitan's body turns into a stone-like statue, giving it the powers of a Psychic type.
Several wild Darmanitan	To Make a Musical		Debut
N's Darmanitan	The Lesson Ends Here		None

Trivia

• Zen Mode is the only form-changing Hidden Ability.
• Zen Mode is the most commonly seen Hidden Ability in Pokémon animation and Pokémon Adventures.

In other languages

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.