Darmanitan is a mainly red, squat ape-like Pokémon. Darmanitan has long, bushy flame-colored eyebrows, curled at the beginning portions, and round, black-ringed eyes. The upper portion of its tan-colored face is separated from the lower portion by a diagonal stripe of red, and its large mouth sports spiked teeth. All these facial features give the impression of a manic or angered expression. Darmanitan's head has no discernible neck to distinguish it from the rest of the body and its rounded back, which culminates in a stubby tail. It has long arms with spiky hair fringes on the wrists and large tan-colored hands, with a similar arrangement for its hind limbs. Additionally, Darmanitan's underside sports a patterning of three tan-colored ovals.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Under normal circumstances, Darmanitan are immensely strong physically, a single punch can destroy a dump truck. The ability Sheer Force, the ability these Pokémon normally have makes their attacks even stronger at the cost of not having benefical effects occuring.
Darmanitan with the ability Daruma Mode have access to a second Form, when they have less than half of their health left. In this form, they turn blue and become more like a daruma doll that's hard as a rock. They also gain Psychic as a secondary type. They experience an exchange in their Special Attack and Attack stats, their defense and special defense almost double, and their speed sharply drops. In "Daruma Mode" they fight using their spiritual and emotional strength, but they're completely physically immobile.
Behavior
These Pokémon are normally very active and fight using both physical and emotional strength.
A Darmanitan in Daruma Mode is completely immobile, so it uses its psychic powers in place of its arms in order to do things such as gather and eat food.
Darmanitan is the one of two Pokémon able to change into an alternative form, while its pre-evolutionary form is not. The other is Cherrim, which also part of two stage evolutionary line.
Origin
Darmanitan's physical appearance is based on an ape and the Daruma doll. It is also likely based on the the adage of the three wise monkeys "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" when in its Daruma Mode where its eyes become blank, its mouth is shut tight and has its ears covered, sitting patiently in contrast to its bold posture in Normal form. Its Daruma Mode form may also be a reference to Bodhidharma, achieving enlightenment.
Name origin
Darmanitan is derived from "Dharma" and "orangutan", and possibly "titan". Hihidaruma comes from words ヒヒ hihi meaning baboon, and "Daruma", and is a pun on 火達磨 hidaruma, which roughly translates to "the state of being on fire".
