Ekans (Pokémon)

← #022: Fearow

Pokémon

#024: Arbok →

Ekans アーボ Arbo #023
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Poison ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Snake Pokémon
Abilities Intimidate or Shed Skin Shed Skin Blue-Striped ----- Tension Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #023 Johto #050 Hoenn #225 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-151 Almia R— Oblivia
Height 6'07" Imperial 2.0 m Metric 6'07"/2.0 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 15.2 lbs. Imperial 6.9 kg Metric 15.2 lbs./6.9 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Purple	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Ground and Dragon groups 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 1 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 62 Battle Exp.: 621*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Ekans (Japanese: アーボ Arbo) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Arbok starting at level 22.

Biology

Physiology

This reptilian Pokémon resembles a snake (its English name even being the word "snake" spelled backward while other languages use an anagram of the word "boa"). It has a rattle at the tip of its tail, and is mostly purple while its underbelly, eyes, rattle, and the "bands" on it are yellow.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Ekans are able to detach their jaws to swallow large prey whole, although this makes their bodies heavy. It can also use its tongue to sense danger, and can move quietly through the grass.

Behavior

Like actual snakes, Ekans will lash out with a bite when frightened by anything it sees as a threat. If one happens to be bitten by a young Ekans, they are lucky. As an Ekans, it doesn't possess the ability to add poison to its bite until after it evolves into an Arbok, though this last bit of information clashes with Ekans's dungeon phrase.

Habitat

File:Grassland.gif

Grassland Pokémon

Ekans live in grassy savannas and plains. It is normally found in Kanto and Johto, but has been encountered in Sinnoh on rare occasions.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Ekans' favorite food is eggs from Pidgey and Spearow nests.

In the anime

Ekans in the anime

Major appearances

Ekans was part of "Team Meanies" in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate! Special. Gengar commanded the Poisonous Snake Pokémon to eat all the berries Team Go-Getters collected. At one point, Ekans was incorrectly referred to as Arbok by Gengar. While this was an intentional error that Ekans rebuked in the original version (due to the similarities in the Japanese names), this came across as a general mistake in the dub and was corrected in reairings of the episode.

Jessie's Ekans

Jessie had an Ekans, which for most of the original series, was her only Pokémon. It was extremely loyal to her and eventually evolved into an Arbok just to make her happy.

Other

A poacher had captured a bunch of Ekans in A Poached Ego!.

Ekans made a cameo appearance in Different Strokes for Different Blokes.

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Jessie's Arbok appears as both an Ekans and as an Arbok in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. It only appears as an Ekans in the seventh chapter of the manga, Pikachu's Excellent Adventure.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

Main article: Ekans Brothers

A pair of Ekans, the Ekans Brothers, are part of the supporting cast in the manga Magical Pokémon Journey. Led by Arbok, they are originally antagonists, but later they befriend the main characters when Arbok gets a crush on Wigglytuff.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Koga has an Ekans in Pokémon Adventures.

In the TCG

Main article: Ekans (TCG)

In the TFG

One Ekans figure has been released.

• Next Quest: Ekans

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ekans is a member of Team Meanies. It attempted to climb Wish Cave with Medicham but collapsed on the first floor.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole. Blue Yellow The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest. Stadium Slithers silently through grass, searching for its favorite food--Pidgey and Spearow eggs.
Generation II Gold It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however. Silver It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless. Crystal It flutters the tip of its tongue to seek out the scent of prey, then swallows the prey whole. Stadium 2 It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
Generation III Ruby {{{rubydex}}} Sapphire {{{sapphiredex}}} Emerald An Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. This position allows it to quickly respond to an enemy from any direction with a threat from its upraised head. FireRed A very common sight in grassland, etc. It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings. LeafGreen Moving silently and stealthily, it eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
Generation IV Diamond It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind. Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however. SoulSilver It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
Generation V Black おとを　まったく　たてずに　くさちの　なかを　すすむ。ゆだんしている　えものに　はいごから　おそいかかる。 White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Common Routes 4, 11, and 23 (Red only) Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade
Generation II Gold Silver Unlimited (Gold) Uncommon (Silver) Goldenrod Game Corner (Gold) Routes 3, 4, 32, and 33 (Silver) Crystal Few Routes 3, 4, 32, 33, and 42, Headbutting trees
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen Common Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 23 (FireRed only) Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Dongle Route 212 (FireRed) Platinum Dongle Route 212 (FireRed) HeartGold SoulSilver Uncommon (Both) Prize (HeartGold) Goldenrod Game Corner (HeartGold) Routes 3, 4, 32, 33, and 37 (SoulSilver) Safari Zone (Both) Pal Park Forest Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball	Pewter City Mt. Moon Vermilion City Seaside Rock Mountain Lavender Town Saffron City Indigo Plateau
Pokémon Trozei!	Huge Storage 4 Endless Level 51 Pair Trozei Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Western Cave (3F-5F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Shimmer Desert (1F-9F)
Pokémon Ranger	Olive Jungle
Pokémon Rumble	Rocky Cave

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 35		95 - 142	180 - 274
Attack: 60		58 - 123	112 - 240
Defense: 44		44 - 105	83 - 205
Sp. Atk: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Sp. Def: 54		53 - 116	101 - 227
Speed: 55		54 - 117	103 - 229
Total: 288	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 40.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 3/5 ★★★☆☆	Power 3/4 ★★★☆
Skill 3/3 ★★★	Stamina 2/3 ★★☆
Jump 2/3 ★★☆	Total 13/18 ★★☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison ½× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Notes: In Generation I, the effectiveness of  Bug-type  moves is 2×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX

Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  00Start Wrap Normal Physical 01515 09090% 20 00Start Leer Normal Status 0000— 100100% 30 044 Poison Sting Poison Physical 01515 100100% 35 099 Bite Dark Physical 06060 100100% 25 1212 Glare Normal Status 0000— 09090% 30 1717 Screech Normal Status 0000— 08585% 40 2020 Acid Poison Special 04040 100100% 30 2525 Stockpile Normal Status 0000— ——% 20 2525 Swallow Normal Status 0000— ——% 10 2525 Spit Up Normal Special 0000— 100100% 10 2828 Acid Bomb Poison Special 04040 100100% 20 3333 Mud Bomb Ground Special 06565 08585% 10 3636 Gastro Acid Poison Status 0000— 100100% 10 4141 Haze Ice Status 0000— ——% 30 4444 Coil Around Poison Status 0000— ——% 20 4949 Gunk Shot Poison Physical 120120 07070% 5

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Ekans Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	0000—	090}}90%	10
	TM09	Venom Shock	Poison	Special	06565	100}}100%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM18	Rain Dance	Water	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM26	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100100	100}}100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM34	Slime Wave	Poison	Special	09595	100}}100%	10
	TM36	Sludge Bomb	Poison	Special	09090	100}}100%	10
	TM39	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	05050	080}}80%	10
	TM41	Torment	Dark	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM46	Thief	Dark	Physical	04040	100}}100%	10
	TM48	Canon	Normal	Special	06060	100}}100%	15
	TM66	Payback	Dark	Physical	05050	100}}100%	10
	TM78	Smooth Over	Ground	Physical	06060	100}}100%	20
	TM80	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	07575	090}}90%	10
	TM84	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	08080	100}}100%	20
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	0000—	090}}90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	08080	100}}100%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Ekans Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Beat Up	Dark	Physical	—	100%	10
	Disable	Normal	Status	100	80%	20
	Iron Tail*	Steel	Physical	100	75%	15
	Poison Fang	Poison	Physical	50	100%	15
	Poison Tail	Poison	Physical	50	100%	25
	Pursuit	Dark	Physical	40	100%	20
	Scary Face	Normal	Status	—	100%	10
	Slam	Normal	Physical	80	75%	20
	Snatch	Dark	Status	—	—%	10
	Spite	Ghost	Status	—	100%	10
	Sucker Punch	Dark	Physical	80	100%	5
	Switcheroo	Dark	Status	—	100%	10
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Ekans in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Ekans in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Ekans Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Game				Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring.
A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Ekans can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Ekans cannot be tutored the move in that game Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Ekans Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Ekans Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

TCG-only moves

• Bind

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball     Acquisition: Catch		Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 12.4% Friend Area: Wild Plains Phrases 51%-100% HP The poison in my fangs is wicked! 26%-50% HP My HP's gone down to half. 1%-25% HP Help... I'm running out of poison... Level up Yesss! I leveled up! I'll do my best! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up Yesss! I leveled up! I'll do my best!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 0.5% IQ group: C
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Poison  Poké Assist: ( Poison ) Field move: None Loops: 5 Min. exp.: 28 Max. exp.: 42 Browser entry   If it spots a Capture Disc, Ekans will slither straight toward it.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Normal  None Past ( Normal ) None Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Ekans  Poison

Level 22 →

First Evolution Arbok  Poison

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Ekans images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Ekans was originally going to use its Japanese name as its English name, "Arbo".
• Ekans' name, if spelled backwards, is "snake".
• In The Power of One, it is shown that Ekans can swim, though to date it has never been able to learn Surf.
  • Strangely, even though Ekans was shown swimming, its evolution was seen with all the other Pokémon that were "stuck on land and unable to do a thing."
  • Stranger still, Arbok was shown to be able to swim without the need for air in The Misty Mermaid.
• An Ekans was originally going to be featured in Pokémon Snap, shown in an early test shot of an environment that was never featured in the final product. This is also true of its evolution, Arbok.
• Ekans is one of fourteen Pokémon that one could collect foreign Pokédex entries for in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
• The line in front of Ekans's eyes, which curve to meet the other eye, when seen from above, looks like the pattern of the Spectacled Cobra.
• Ekans is the first pure Poison Pokémon in the National Pokédex order, though Bulbasaur's and Weedle's evolutionary lines, which are secondarily Poison, come before it.
• Despite in-game text stating that young Ekans's bites are the least dangerous because they don't have any poison, in real-life, young snake's bites are the most dangerous, because not only can they secrete venom, but they inject all of their venom in a single bite, due to their inability to control their alveoli

Origin

It appears to be based upon a boa and rattlesnake. However, its lack of teeth or venom, ability to swallow large prey, reference to it eating Pokémon eggs and its reaction to threats may mean it might have been based on an egg eating snake.

Name origin

Ekans's name is snake spelled backwards. Arbo (アーボ Ābo) is anagram of Boa (ボア Boa).

In other languages

• German: Rettan - Natter (colubrid) spelled backwards.
• Hebrew: Ekans - The same as its English name. It can also be an anagram of 'Akan, עכן, a type of snakes in Hebrew.
• French: Abo - Most likely an anagram of boa.
• Korean: 아보 Abo - 보아 boa backwards, and a transliteration of Ekans's Japanese name, Arbo.
• Chinese (Taiwan and Hong Kong): 阿柏蛇 Ā Bó Shé - Transliteration of Ekans's Japanese name, Arbo. The last character, 蛇, means snake.

Related articles

• Jessie's Arbok

Notes

← #022: Fearow

Pokémon

#024: Arbok →

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.