Zorua is a fox-like Pokémon, mainly slate-gray in coloration with red and black accents on its head and feet. Zorua's ears are triangular with dark insides, and it has a large, whorled scruff of fur on its head, tipped with red coloration. Its eyes appear to possess no pupils, and its eyelids and circular "eyebrow" markings are red. Zorua possesses a ruff of black fur around its neck, and limbs tipped with red. Its tail is bushy, and when it opens its mouth small fangs can be seen developing.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Zorua are capable of changing their physical appearance. Unlike the transformations that are caused by the move Transform, this transformation is merely an illusion, allowing Zorua to keep its own type and moves. As evident in its movie appearance, whenever a Zorua takes on a human form, its tail still remains; when its tail is touched, the Zorua reverts back to its true form instantly. Zorua, along with its evolution, are the only Pokémon capable of learning Night Burst.
Behavior
Zorua takes on the appearance of other Pokémon to frighten off enemies. Sometimes it will take the form of a silent child. It keeps its true form hidden to ensure its safety. As shown in its movie appearance, Zorua are mischievous and will sometimes laugh at the enemies it confuses when it takes on their form. They will also laugh after they are forced back into their forms, snickering at the harmless mischief it caused. Zorua will sometimes laugh at enemies, even when it is in a dangerous situation.
Zorua debuted in the thirteenth Pokémon movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions, where it was used by the antagonist, Grings Kōdai, to blackmail its mother Zoroark into attacking Crown City. It escaped and met Ash and his friends, before befriending Celebi. It and Celebi were captured by Kōdai, but were able to defeat him with help from Zoroark and the three ShinyLegendary beasts serving as Crown City's guardians.
Zorua was first revealed with its evolved form, Zoroark, in the March 2010 issue of CoroCoro.
Although not a legendary Pokémon, both Zorua and Zoroark can only be obtained in the game using an event legendary Pokémon. In this case, Zorua can only be obtained using an event Celebi.
Origin
Zorua is likely based on a fox cub, with facial markings resembling Kabuki or Noh theatre makeup. The concept of a Zorua still having its tail while in human form, is similar to the Japanese folklore of the Kitsune, a shape-shifting fox who, in some stories, has difficulty of hiding its tail when it takes on human forms.
Name origin
Zorua comes from zorro, Spanish for "fox". "Rua" is Irish for red, possibly referring to its red fur.
In other languages
Korean: 조로아 Joroa - Transliteration of its Japanese name.
Chinese (Taiwan): 索羅亞 Suǒ Luó Yà - Transliteration of its Japanese name.
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.