Castform is an artificial Pokémon created by the Weather Institute in Hoenn. It was designed to help scientists predict the weather, and consequently changes its appearance (and type) when the weather changes.
In its natural state, Castform is small, gray and resembles a cloud. When it is extremely sunny, Castform's lower half becomes pure white while the head turns orange with smaller orange balls surrounding it. This gives Castform's head a shape that is similar to the sun. During rain, Castform's lower half becomes a darker shade of gray. The head is blue, resembling a drop of rain. In hail or snowy weather, Castform's head turns purplish-blue. The rest of of the body changes into a mint green cumulonimbus cloud. Strangely, Castform does not have a form for sandstorms or fog.
In all forms, Castform has markings around its eyes similar to a pair of sunglasses.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Castform has the aforementioned ability to change its form with the weather (even though it lacks forms for sandstorms and fog). Castform is capable of various Fire-, Water-, Ice-, Electric- and Template:Type2 moves. Castform is one of the few Pokémon that can learn Weather Ball (the others are Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Roserade).
A Castform, nicknamed Popo, belongs to Ruby in Pokémon Adventures. Previously, she belonged to Mr. Stone, who was injured in an attack by Team Aqua. Popo was then given to Gabby and Ty to be cared for while he was being healed. She later decided to travel with Ruby when he began traveling with the reporters because she was lonely. Until he was reunited with Ruru, Popo was Ruby's Smart contest Pokémon.
Castform borrows the power of nature to transform itself into guises of the sun, rain clouds, and snow clouds. This Pokémon's feelings change with the weather.
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Weather Ball will become a Rock-type attack in a sandstorm, despite Castform not having an elemental form for it.
Castform's Weather Ball will always receive STAB, even when its form is changed, except in a sandstorm, when Shadow Sky is active, or if it loses its ability because of Gastro Acid or Skill Swap.
Castform and Cherrim are the only Pokémon to date that change with the weather.
They are also the only fully-evolved Pokémon that can change forms freely and are not banned from tournaments.
Castform's weather-based transformations cannot be viewed in the forms section of the Pokédex, nor do they appear on the field in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Despite several Pokédex entries stating that its molecules are just like water, it is not a Water-type Pokémon, though it does become one in rain.
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, Castform can't be added on to the team using Chimecho Assembly.
Origin
It appears to be intended to resemble and act like a living cloud. Its ability to change shape and type depending on the weather condition makes similar to a weather balloon. It's also similar both in concept and design to a teru teru bozu, a Japanese charm doll used to wish for good weather.
Name origin
Castform's name seems to be a combination of forecast, predict the weather, and transform, referring to its ability to change type depending on the weather. The German and French names refer to this as well.
Powalen may be a combination of 天気予報 tenkyohō, weather forecast, and 変わる kawaru, to change or transform.
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.
