Yanmega is a large, dark green dragonfly Pokémon. Its large eyes are red with black lines that make a sideways "T" shape in each one. It has two large, white fangs or mandibles next to its small mouth. Its immense jaw power allows it to bite apart foes while flying by at high speed. Each of Yanmega's segments has a red spot on them, while the last tail segment has a black triangular plate. It has two similar plates on the back of its thorax and a third on its head. Yanmega has six black thin legs. It has four white, oval wings with red tips, and there are two smaller white wings on the end of its tail.
Yanmega can create shock waves by beating its wings. These shock waves are so powerful, they may inflict critical injuries on any foes or even knock down huge trees. Yanmega's wings are powerful enough to carry an adult human. Yanmega is very rare in the wild, though it can be found in wooded and swampy areas. It has very strong jaw power and bites apart its prey's heads while flying at high speed. Yanmega usually aim for the prey's most vulnerable spot, wasting no energy in the process. Yanmega is said to be an extremely violent Pokémon, usually requiring someone of incredible bravery to tame this aggressive bug. When Yanmega needs to rest, it flips its body over and finds a branch to rest on.
Extremely violent. When hunting, it wastes none of its energy, aiming only for prey's most vulnerable spots. Any who manage to tame this Pokémon must be of incredible bravery.
Yanmega’s wings are powerful enough to create shock waves when it accelerates. When it wants to rest, it turns its body upside down and stops for a while on a branch.
Jessie has a female Yanmega that debuted in The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, which also served as the species' main series debut. After catching her as a Yanma, Jessie used her in a battle against Ash and his friends, where she evolved into Yanmega in the same episode. Yanmega was then used in several Pokémon Contests before Jessie left her at the Team Rocket HQ when she headed to Unova, so she would not attract attention by using a Pokémon foreign to the region. Yanmega returned to Jessie's party in Rocket Revengers!.
Like its pre-evolution, Yanmega is based on a dragonfly, and, as its name suggests, also the Meganeura monyi, a particularly large, prehistoric species related to dragonflies and damselflies. Its species name suggests it is based on a golden-ringed dragonfly, called オニヤンマ oniyanma in Japanese, literally meaning oni or ogre dragonfly. Its dulled green color, robust body shape, and ability to transport humans may be inspired by certain military helicopters.
Name origin
Yanmega and Megayanma are a combination of 蜻蜓 yanma (large dragonfly) and the prefix mega- (great or large) or Meganeura (a genus that is a member of an order commonly referred to as "griffinflies", gigantic prehistoric relatives of modern dragonflies/damselflies).
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.