Both it and Zorua were the first Generation V Pokémon to be revealed to the public on February 10, 2010. Zoroark initially debuted as a silhouette before being revealed in full. The Hisuian forms of it and Zorua were revealed in a teaser video on Youtube: Mysterious footage restored! | Pokémon Legends: Arceus, on October 21, 2021.
Zoroark is a bipedal, slate gray, fox-like Pokémon with crimson and black accents. It has a pointed snout and ears with red insides. It also has some red rimming its eyes and mouth. Zoroark has a large, red, voluminous mane with black tips, tied into a ponytail, as a teal bangle down its length separates a mass of the mane from the lower portion. It has a black ruff on its upper body, pointed at the shoulders from which its arms extend. Its upper arms are thin, whereas its lower arms, while still slim, are bulkier. The arms have spiky extensions of fur at the elbows, and it has red claws on its hands and feet. Zoroark's eyes are red-rimmed with light blue irises.
Zoroark can create illusions that are indistinguishable from reality, deluding many people simultaneously. It can even create illusory landscapes in the forests where it dwells, to hide its territory and protect its den. However, Zoroark is incapable of physically changing itself into another form; it is merely capable of casting illusions. When a Zoroark takes the form of a human, it is capable of human speech. It can make convincing illusions of attacks, and these illusions are extremely realistic, enough to fool even cameras and make one believe they're being physically affected, though the illusion does not have any direct physical effect. Lonely Trainers tend to use Zoroark to create illusions in order to ease their own burden of solitude. There are stories of Zoroark punishing people who tried to capture it with illusions.
Zoroark lives in groups, where unity is strong. It is extremely protective of those it cares about and will go to any lengths to keep them safe, including risking its own life, and it can hold grudges on those who harm its loved ones. Zoroark will hide its Zorua young in its mane to protect them and carry them around. There are stories that say Zoroark punishes those who attempt to catch it by trapping them in an illusion. Prior to Generation VII and in Generation IX, Night Daze is its signature move.
Forms
Zoroark has an ancient regional form: Hisuian Zoroark.
In the Hisui region, Zoroark takes on a drastic ghostly appearance due to dying from the harsh conditions and being reborn through spite. Its main body color is now disheveled with light gray with red and white accents. Hisuian Zoroark's head and face are similar to its Unova counterpart but colored gray. It has gray ears with black insides and two white markings on both sides of the face. The ears also have light red split parts. The long mane has changed into a longer mane that is colored white with the ends of each tips being colored light and dark red, while covering the right side of Zoroark's face. The arms and legs have several red spots and light red fur that dangles around. The claws and toes of Zoroark are colored black. The eyes are now red with yellow sclera.
As a result of its appearance, Hisuian Zoroark was said to resemble an embodiment of death. The illusions channeled through Hisuian Zoroark's long withering fur are full of spite. Uniquely, this spiteful illusion can cause physical harm to its opponent on both the inside and outside. This power comes from the hatred it has for every living thing in the world. Hisuian Zoroark's illusion malice is powerful enough to drive anyone who sees it to insanity due to their terror. Hisuian Zoroark recklessly attacks its foes or nemeses, to the point its own bitter energy can cause physical harm onto itself. Despite its extremely hostile and aggressive nature to everything, Hisuian Zoroark can be compassionate to those it cares about, however, such as Hisuian Zorua, and it will become an invaluable ally once someone earns its trust.[1] Hisuian Zoroark prefers to reside in the cold areas where it lingers onto. Like its Unova counterpart, Hisuian Zoroark can make its illusion of humans talking, to the point of easily fooling anyone in order to get food.
A Zoroark appeared in a flashback in The Secret Princess!, under the ownership of Mohn. At some point after the disappearance of its Trainer, Zoroark ran away and disappeared. It physically debuted in Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams!, where it encountered Gladion and joined his team on his quest to find Mohn.
Hisuian Zoroark debuted in Fiery Reflections in Snow, where a group of them inhabited Alabaster Forest in Alec's youth.
A Shiny Hisuian Zoroark appeared in Two Hues, where it scares an Alpha Garchomp away to save the Galaxy Team and their old friend Alec.
Zoroark appears as a Poké Ball summon. In the 3DS version of the game, it is unlocked after clearing 10-Man Smash. Upon release, it uses Fury Swipes to send fighters into the air, slash them repeatedly, and smash them back down. This move is very similar to Greninja's Final Smash.
Zoroark trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
Zoroark also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
Zoroark in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS.
NA: This Dark-type Pokémon will protect its home and anyone it cherishes by creating illusions to fluster opponents. When it uses Fury Swipes, it will vanish from view and then suddenly appear next to its targets, launching them upward. It will then finish them off by sending them crashing back down.
PAL: This Dark-type Pokémon is a powerful illusionist, and uses its power to confuse any that would threaten its home and loved ones. When it uses its Fury Swipes attack, it vanishes, then reappears next to an opponent and sends them flying into the air. It then slashes at them furiously before slamming them into the ground.
With its disheveled white fur, it looks like an embodiment of death. Heedless of its own safety, Zoroark attacks its nemeses with a bitter energy so intense, it lacerates Zoroark's own body.
No other Pokémon has the same typecombination as Hisuian Zoroark and its pre-evolution.
Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark are also the only Pokémon immune to both of their types.
Zoroark was first revealed by Junichi Masuda as a silhouette in the February 7, 2010 edition of Pokémon Sunday. Its full image was later revealed in the March 2010 issue of CoroCoro, alongside its pre-evolved form Zorua.
They both share the same names in Japanese and English versions of the game, have the same Gender ratio, are in the Field Egg Group and need 1,059,860 Exp. to reach level 100.
Though evolving from Zorua at level 30, pre-release information from CoroCoro suggested it would evolve from Zorua by a method different from known evolution methods. What this method might have been if it was true is unknown.
Zoroark and its pre-evolution Zorua are the only non-Mythical Pokémon to have been event-exclusive for a time, prior to the release of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
In Generation IX, Unovan Zoroark is unable to learn Encore via TM while its pre-evolution can.
Prior to Version 1.2.0 of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Hisuian Zoroark's base stats were the same as Unovan Zoroark's. This change was undone when Hisuian Zoroark became available in those games. Similar occurences happened to Hisuian Zorua and Kleavor.
Origin
Zoroark appears to be based on the kitsune of Japanese folklore, a shape-shifting mythical fox that would trick unsuspecting travelers for fun. Its facial markings may draw from Kabuki and Noh theater makeup. It also resembles a werewolf, due to the fact that it is an anthropomorphic canid, like most werewolves. According to Ken Sugimori, Zoroark's large mane is supposed to be a stand-in for its lack of a tail.[4]
Hisuian Zoroark may draw inspiration from vengeful ghosts and revenants. Its coloration may be based on kitsune masks. The red portions on its arms and legs resemble frostbite sores.
Name origin
Zoroark may be a combination of zorro (Spanish for fox) and dark, 悪 aku (evil), or arch- (prefix for "top" or "chief").
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.
Expert Belt (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Zoroark images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
