Palafin is a blue cetacean Pokémon that can change between two markedly different forms in battle. It is known as the "Pelagic Protector". When it hears its allies calling for help, Palafin will change its appearance and power itself up — a process which awakens its ancient genes and is always done in secret.
In its Zero Form, Palafin is remarkably similar to Finizen, its pre-evolved form, except for one single detail: a light pink heart-shaped marking on its chest, outlined by a slightly larger white heart-shaped marking. Its body is mostly light blue. Its underbelly and the underside of its fins are a pale shade of blue, which extends further to its lower jaw and around its eyes. The tip of its dorsal fin and the wave patterns on the side of its body are white. Its eyes have two-tone blue and pink irises. It has a short snout, a single blowhole atop its head, a pair of pectoral fins, and a split tailfin, with a water ring surrounding the base of the tail.
In its Hero Form, Palafin's physiology drastically changes, gaining considerable muscle mass to the point of becoming able to stand on its tailfin. Its body is now primarily indigo, with its sides, lower jaw, dorsal fin, and bottom of tailfin in a pale shade of blue. The marking on its chest is considerably deeper in color and bigger, covering most of its chest and abdomen, and resembles both a shield and a cetacean's tailfin. Parts of its body are covered with water, forming gloves, a cape or cowl, and three tail rings. Its eyes are also covered with water lenses, evoking a mask.
While in its Zero Form, Palafin is said to be equal to Finizen in terms of physical capabilities. Once it transforms into its Hero Form, however, Palafin reaches its full power, being strong enough to lift a cruise ship with just one fin and swimming at speeds of 50 knots. It is known to save drowning people and Pokémon. As seen in HZ042, Hero Form Palafin is able of stretching and contracting its water rings at will, as well of shooting them off its body. By releasing water from its blowhole, it can jump very high and fly through the air. The water lenses confer enhanced vision to Palafin, which is also capable of firing off its gloves like jets of water. The vaguely heart-shaped symbol on its chest glows pink as Hero Form Palafin takes on the people's cheers. That same episode also revealed its chest is its weak point.
Zero Form Palafin in the animeHero Form Palafin in the anime
Major appearances
Both forms of Palafin debuted in HZ042. Throughout the episode, it was seen transforming back and forth between its Zero Form and Hero Form to act as a hero. Only Liko, however, was able to see the actual transformation process, as thanks for preventing the Snap Boys from photographing its transformation.
Palafin has two interchangeable forms: Zero Form and Hero Form. It will always be in Zero Form outside of battle.
Palafin starts battles in its Zero Form. When it is switched out without fainting, it changes into Hero Form with its AbilityZero to Hero, and remains in that form until the battle ends.
The two forms have different base stats, with Hero Form having increased Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense but identical HP and Speed compared to Zero Form. It also has different cries depending on its form. In particular, Zero Form Palafin and its pre-evolution, Finizen, have identical cries.
Palafin seems to be based on a dolphin and a comic book superhero. Its Zero Form's relative lack of visual changes from its pre-evolution seems to be inspired by the trope of superheroes assuming civilian identities to keep their true identity a secret, while its Hero Form seems to represent the hero suiting up whilst unseen and emerging as a superhero. The names of its forms and Ability reference the term "go from zero to hero". The connection between dolphins and superheroes may be inspired by numerous accounts of wild dolphins saving people in open seas.
Additionally, Palafin may be based on the Boto Encantado, a mythical South American creature that takes the form of an ordinary pink river dolphin but can occasionally take a human form and will join in human festivities. Eventually, the Boto must return to the water and shapeshift back into an ordinary pink dolphin. Hero Form Palafin may also draw inspirations from the Ultraman series, with the red symbol on its chest somewhat resembling the one worn by Ultraman Noa. This can also be seen by its heart-shaped symbol glowing and emitting a beeping sound when it is weak, much like the various iterations of Ultraman. Hero Form Palafin's Shiny coloration is reminiscent of the orca, a type of dolphin.
Palafin evolving from Finizen at level 38 may be a reference to 1938, the year Superman debuted.
Name origin
Palafin may be a combination of paladin or pal (since another player is needed to evolve it) and fin or delfín (Spanish for dolphin).
Irukaman may be a combination of 海豚 iruka (dolphin) and man, which is often used as a suffix for superhero codenames.
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.