Reworked Biology section according to Message from the Editor. Although I used mostly footnotes anyway, it would've been messy to cite the Pokédex otherwise.
Misdreavus is a dark bluish-green, ghost-like Pokémon. While it has {{DL|List of Pokémon by body style|Pokémon consisting of only a head|no visible arms or legs}}, its lower half has several small appendages and resembles a ruffled dress. It has a several round, red gems around its neck, which are used to absorb fear as nourishment. It has long, flowing lilac-tipped "hair" which it can manipulate. Misdreavus's large eyes are yellow with red irises.
Misdreavus is a dark bluish-green, ghost-like Pokémon. While it has {{DL|List of Pokémon by body style|Pokémon consisting of only a head|no visible arms or legs}}, its lower half has several small appendages and resembles a ruffled dress. It has a several round, red gems around its neck, which are used to absorb fear as nourishment. It has long, flowing lilac-tipped "hair" which it can manipulate. Misdreavus's large eyes are yellow with red irises.
====Gender differences====
Misdreavus lives in {{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|caves}}, dark forests and run-down buildings. It is usually active at night, sleeping in darkness in daytime.<ref name="P">Pokédex entry, {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s|Pokémon Pearl}}</ref> Misdreavus is a phobovore: it eats fear that it collects in its red orbs.<ref name="RS">Pokédex entry, {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}</ref><ref name="Pt">Pokédex entry, {{game|Platinum}}</ref> However, it can also eat normal food.
None.
===Special abilities===
Misdreavus tends to startle people with mischievous tricks,<ref>Pokédex entry, {{game|Gold and Silver|s|Pokémon Gold}}</ref> specifically at night.<ref name="Pt" /> It is known to yank and bite at people's hair,<ref>Pokédex entry, {{game|Gold and Silver|s|Pokémon Silver}}</ref> sneak up on them<ref name="P" /> and cry<ref name="RS" /> and shriek.<ref>Pokédex entry, {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s|Pokémon Diamond}}</ref> It loves watching the people it has scared.<ref>Pokédex entry, {{game|Crystal}}</ref>
Misdreavus can use various {{t|Ghost}}, {{t|Dark}}, {{t|Psychic}}, and {{t|Electric}}al attacks.
Prior to [[Generation V]], Misdreavus was the [[Signature move|only known Pokémon]] that learns {{m|Pain Split}} by level-up.
Misdreavus can use various {{t|Ghost}}, {{t|Dark}}, {{t|Psychic}}, and {{t|Electric}}al attacks. Prior to [[Generation V]], it was the [[Signature move|only known Pokémon]] that learns {{m|Pain Split}} by level-up.
===Behavior===
As {{type|Ghost}} Pokémon, Misdreavus have a habit of being pranksters. Misdreavus tend to yank at people's hair or scream at them from behind.
===Habitat===
[[File:Cave Habitat.png|thumb|{{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Cave Pokémon}}]]
Misdreavus live in caves, dark forests and run-down buildings.
===Diet===
{{main|Pokémon food}}
Misdreavus is a phobovore: it eats fear that it collects in its red orbs. However, it can also eat normal food.
Misdreavus is a dark bluish-green, ghost-like Pokémon. While it has no visible arms or legs, its lower half has several small appendages and resembles a ruffled dress. It has a several round, red gems around its neck, which are used to absorb fear as nourishment. It has long, flowing lilac-tipped "hair" which it can manipulate. Misdreavus's large eyes are yellow with red irises.
Misdreavus lives in caves, dark forests and run-down buildings. It is usually active at night, sleeping in darkness in daytime.[1] Misdreavus is a phobovore: it eats fear that it collects in its red orbs.[2][3] However, it can also eat normal food.
Misdreavus tends to startle people with mischievous tricks,[4] specifically at night.[3] It is known to yank and bite at people's hair,[5] sneak up on them[1] and cry[2] and shriek.[6] It loves watching the people it has scared.[7]
A group of wild Misdreavus were causing a ruckus in at the Silver Conference Hotel in Johto Photo Finish. Ash and his friends found that one of them was trapped under a fallen tree and helped it out.
Misdreavus appeared in Misdreavus Misgivings as one of Morty's Pokémon, and one of his strongest battlers, able to both exploit its own abilities and those of its opponents using non-damaging attacks like Spite. Having used it in the Gym Leaders' Tournament match (which ended in a draw due to it using Destiny Bond), he still keeps it in his team to this day.
Misdreavus frightens people with a creepy, sobbing cry. The Pokémon apparently uses its red spheres to absorb the fearful feelings of foes and turn them into nutrition.
Misdreavus' nocturnal habits of wailing to frighten people and its similarity in appearance to a disembodied head are shared by various mythological creatures. One of these is the Nukekubi, which shares the similarities of nocturnal habits, flying about as a decapitated head, and wailing to increase its victims' fright. Another possible origin is the banshee, a female spirit from Gaelic folklore who was known for its unearthly wailing and screaming. It is also possible that it was based on a langsuir, a type of vampire in Malaysian mythology known to appear as a flying decapitated female head.
Name origin
Misdreavus is a corruption of mischievous. It may also be any combination of mistress, miscreant (due to the way it always scares people), dream, dread, dreary, and reave (to rob).
Muma may be a corruption of 夢魔 muma (nightmare or a demon in a dream).
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.
Spell Tag (8%)
For other sprites and images, please see Misdreavus images on Bulbagarden Archives.
