Maractus is a cactus-like Pokémon, with a pair of large ear-like extensions emerging from its head, reminiscent of cactus arms. These extensions feature dark green spiky arrangements at the base, yellow spikes midway up, and are topped with flowers composed of six pink petals and a yellow center. It has a yellow spike on its forehead, yellow eyes, and a spiky-looking mouth. It has two lobe-like arms resembling those of cacti, and its hands each feature three yellow spines serving as fingers. Other dark green spiky arrangements adorn its neck, wrists, and the base of its body where the green spikes are arranged in a five-pointed star.
When Maractus moves its body rhythmically, it emits sounds reminiscent of maracas being played. This allows Maractus to produce up-tempo songs and dances that it can use to scare away predators. Avian Pokémon in particular may try to feed on its flower seeds.
Maractus live in arid regions and dry desert-like areas.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation V.
Three Maractus debuted in A Maractus Musical!, each one under the ownership of Toby. The three were nicknamed Marra, Racca and Tussy, and performed in the Pokémon Performance Competition, though they had problems with one particular performance. As a result, they were used in a Triple Battle against Ash, where they went up against Pikachu, Tepig, and Snivy to improve their skills, but to no avail. The Maractus eventually overcame this obstacle following an attack by a wildScolipede.
Maractus is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 461.
Maractus shares its category with Cacnea. They are both known as the Cactus Pokémon.
Two of Maractus's Abilities revolve around how a real-world cactus stores water with great efficiency: Water Absorb absorbs direct damage from Water-type moves to restore health from them as well as making it immune to them, while Storm Drain draws in Water-type moves directed at another target, also making it immune.
Although Maractus can only be found at the Desert Resort in Generation V where a permanent sandstorm rages, it cannot have any Ability negating sandstorm damage, nor is it Rock-, Ground-, or Steel-type, and thus it is susceptible to damage by the sandstorm.
Origin
Maractus appears to be based on a flowering cactus, most likely the prickly pear, and a maraca. It also physically resembles a rabbit and may be a visual pun on the bunny ears cactus. It also seems to be based on traditional Mexican dress styles and, due to the fact that it dances and makes maraca-like sounds, may be based on Spanish dances, possibly the Mexican version of the Cuban son cubano.
Name origin
Maractus may be a combination of maraca and cactus.
Maracacchi may be a combination of maraca, cactus and mariachi.
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.