{{Availability/Entry1|v=Expansion Pass|color={{galar color}}|link=Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass|area=[[Ballimere Lake]] ([[Wanderer]]){{tt|*|After speaking to 32 online avatars, interacting with the lone tombstone and exiting and re-entering the area}}}}
{{Availability/Entry1|v=Expansion Pass|color={{galar color}}|link=Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass|area=[[Ballimere Lake]] ([[Wanderer]]){{tt|*|After speaking to 32 online avatars, interacting with the lone tombstone and exiting and re-entering the area}}}}
{{Availability/Entry2|v=Brilliant Diamond|v2=Shining Pearl|area=[[Hallowed Tower]] on {{rt|209|Sinnoh}}{{tt|*|After placing the Odd Keystone and speaking to people in Grand Underground 32 times and }}
Spiritomb is a ghostly purple Pokémon attached to a stone. Although lacking a physical body, Spiritomb projects its appearance out of a small rock called the Odd Keystone. The rock is trapezoidal in shape and has two small dots. There is a crack running down the middle, splitting in two near the bottom. The crack in combination with the two dots appears to form a frowning face. Spiritomb's projected appearance is an ethereal composition of swirling purple fog. Its face is set in the middle of the fog and contains green, crescent eyes that are connected to its jagged mouth. Its pupils are composed of a spiral and it is sometimes only seen with one. Swirling around its face are green orbs with yellow centers.
Spiritomb is formed by the collection of 108 spirits being trapped in an Odd Keystone by a traveler due to misdeeds it caused. Some of the spirits mixed in Spiritomb are ill-natured. Some Spiritomb are up to 500 years old. As seen in the anime, Spiritomb can be just as aggressive and destructive as the spirits that it is composed of. It will lash out at anyone with little thought, often exercising short-sightedness in its pursuit of vengeance.
Its Diamond, HeartGold, and SoulSilver Pokédex entries state that it was formed from 108 spirits. Spiritomb's number in the Sinnoh Pokédex is 108, its Defense and Special Defense base values are 108, and it weighs exactly 108.0 kg. In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire it can be found at Sea Mauville, which lies on Route 108. In Pokémon GO, Spiritomb is encountered at the end of a research quest involving feeding 108 Berries to Pokémon and catching 108 Pokémon. All of this is based on the number of temptations a person must overcome to reach Nirvana in Buddhism.
Prior to the introduction of the Fairy-type in Generation VI, Spiritomb was one of only two Pokémon that had no weakness (without the aid of an Ability) along with Sableye. As this occurred without the aid of an Ability, it was commonly hacked to have the ability Wonder Guard, making it immune to all direct damage. This hack is commonly referred to as Wondertomb.
Origin
Spiritomb seems to be based on a Jibakurei, a spirit bound to a single place, or a Deildegast, a Norwegian folklore spirit that is forced to haul around a boundary stone as punishment for moving one while it was alive. It might also be based on a Buddhist tradition performed on New Year's Eve in Japan. A bell is rung 108 times to chase away the 108 temptations in order to achieve Nirvana. The wisps of spirits surrounding its face also resemble a set of prayer beads, a possible reference to Japa.
Spiritomb may also be based on Water Margin, one of the Classic Chinese Novels, which is also very well known in Japan. In the first chapter of the novel, a foolish army marshal orders the removal of a stone monument that had been guarded by monks for generations. Doing so releases the spirits of 108 demons sealed therein. These 108 souls, having atoned for their sins, become the 108 Stars of Destiny. They are reincarnated centuries later as 108 outlaws, the heroes of the novel.
Name origin
Spiritomb is a combination of spirit and tomb.
Mikaruge may be a combination of 甕 mika (jar or urn, referring to it being a container of souls) and 軽石 karuishi (pumice) or 御影石 mikageishi (granite; both refer to its base, the Odd Keystone).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
ミカルゲ Mikaruge
From 甕 mika (jar or urn, referring to it being a container of souls) and 軽石 karuishi (pumice) or 御影石 mikageishi (granite)
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.