While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Giratina transforms from its standard form, called its Altered Forme, into a second form, called its Origin Forme, while either holding a Griseous Orb (Generation IV to Generation VIII), a Griseous Core (Generation VIII onward), or while in its home, the Distortion World.
(Specifics may differ in past games. Refer to Game data→Form data for these details.)
Giratina's Origin Forme was officially revealed in early February 2008.
Giratina is a large gray draconic Pokémon with three gold half-rings on each side of its long neck. Its head has a gold crown-like object surrounding it with two large horns pointing sideways. A thick black stripe runs vertically along its front with five red horizontal stripes. In its Altered Forme, it has two large black ghostly wings with three red tips on each that can resemble claws. These wings can change shape as if made of a liquid or gas. Its six legs are thick and have golden claws. Two golden half-circles similar to those on its neck are on each side of each leg, resembling shackles. It has a tail with two band-like markings. Giratina remains in its Altered Forme when outside of its home dimension. It generally moves by levitating itself in the air, as opposed to walking on its six legs.
Giratina is a highly aggressive and territorial Pokémon that is protective of its home. It has also been reported to appear in ancient cemeteries. As seen in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Giratina has the power to tear a hole in reality, creating a space-time rift along with driving both Dialga and Palkia berserk. The rift also causes huge lightnings that drive Noble Pokémon into a frienzied state. It is also capable of cloaking itself in darkness as it attacks. Giratina is said to be equal in strength to Dialga and Palkia. Giratina at one point carried a large grudge against its creator Arceus and was willing to stand against it with the help of a human named Volo, but after being beaten by a human from another time and fleeing, it would start to change its ways and protect the universe from threats such as Cyrus. Due to its typically violent nature, the history of Giratina was covered up due to ancient people fearing it. Giratina is said to have observed the real world silently while in its home dimension. As depicted in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Giratina can also open portals through any reflective surface. Giratina's role is to keep both worlds in balance. Giratina also had many different titles to it; banished Pokémon, Arceus's shadow, the Pokémon of Shadows, and being on the other side of our world.
Giratina is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Shadow Force by leveling up, which gives it the ability to temporarily turn invisible.
Forms
Origin Giratina's plate mask opened
Giratina can change between its Altered Forme and Origin Forme.
Compared to Palkia and Dialga, both of which resemble Arceus in their Origin Formes, Giratina's Origin Forme takes on a serpentine look. Its legs are reduced to golden-tipped spikes, and four additional golden spikes appear near the edge of its tail. While in Origin Forme, the six gold half-rings can grip objects. The back points of each half-ring have a black ghostly tendril with a red spike at its tip. The horns on its head are now facing the back. The sides of the golden "crown" cover its mouth and separate vertically like an insect's mandible when it opens its mouth. The black vertical stripe is broken into pieces and runs down its body.
The Origin Forme of Giratina is said to be Giratina's true form, capable of traveling through and controlling dimensions besides those of time and space. Giratina can only be in its Origin Forme when in its home, the Distortion World, or when holding either a Griseous Orb or Griseous Core. Giratina can also maintain its Origin Forme in the real world without items should it get a sufficient amount of power, enough to potentially be equal to Arceus. Giratina is at its full power when in the Origin Forme, and is always levitated in this state. When in its Origin Forme, it can pass through dimensions at will, although it will turn back to its Altered Forme due to the gravity change from the Distortion World. Giratina has the power to turn itself into a shadow and to merge the Distortion World with the Pokémon world, as seen during the events of Spear Pillar. However, this has the dangerous side effect of distorting it to the risk of being destroyed.
Giratina loses its legs upon changing into this form. I believe this Pokémon must hail from a world where the heavens and the earth are as one, though I have no way of proving it.
Along with the other members of the Pokémon of Myth, Giratina has the ability to switch to a second form: Origin Forme. However, Giratina is unique in that its standard form is called Altered Forme.
The forms differ in their base stats: Giratina's Origin Forme has its Defense and Special Defense switched with its Attack and Special Attack (its base stat total is unchanged). In Legends: Arceus, its signature move, Shadow Force, has modified base power and accuracy when used by its Origin Forme, as well as a unique animation.
Giratina debuted in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, where it sought revenge against Dialga for the damage it caused to its home, the Reverse World, during its battle with Palkia in The Rise of Darkrai. Zero later attempted to copy Giratina's powers so he could conquer the Reverse World. Throughout the movie, Giratina would take on its Origin Forme whenever it is in the Reverse World, and its Altered Forme whenever it is in the real world.
In Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Giratina was shown for the first time with both the other members of its trio. It resumed its attack on Dialga, but was finally calmed down through the intervention of Ash and Sheena. It later joined forces with Dialga and Palkia to fight Arceus.
Other
In Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, Giratina was one of six Legendary Pokémon summoned and hypnotized by the shadow Hoopa Unbound as its reinforcements. It and its teammates engaged in a battle against the Latios, Latias, and ShinyRayquaza summoned to protect the real Hoopa in Dahara City. Eventually, after the shadow Hoopa was sealed in a Prison Bottle, the hypnosis on Giratina and the other Legendary Pokémon was lifted, and Giratina departed for its home. It appeared in both of its formes.
Altered Forme Giratina in Pokémon GenerationsOrigin Forme Giratina in Pokémon Generations
In The New World, Giratina interfered with Cyrus's plan to destroy the world and recreate it. It first emerged from the Distortion World to free Dialga and Palkia from the Red Chain. Then, it took Cyrus with it back to its homeworld. It was last seen in its Origin Forme, observing Cyrus as he regained consciousness, realized he was in the Distortion World, and accepted it as the new world he sought.
GOTCHA!
A Giratina briefly appeared in its Origin Forme as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.
In the manga
Altered Forme Giratina in Pokémon AdventuresOrigin Forme Giratina in Pokémon Adventures
Hareta bonded with Giratina after battling it in the Distortion World. After realizing it wanted to fight, Hareta teamed up with Giratina and fought his friends in a friendly battle. It first appeared in A Surprise Visit from Hareta's Father!.
Altered Forme Giratina appears as a Poké Ball summon. It uses Dragon Breath to cause a whirlwind. It also causes damage on contact.
Altered Forme Giratina also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA: This Ghost/Dragon-typePokémon is a resident of the Distortion World. When it is given a Griseous Orb, it'll change into its Origin Forme. Its Dragon Breath attack can catch fighters in a powerful, damaging tornado. If you're on the receiving end, be careful it doesn't carry you right off the stage
Giratina in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
PAL: Also called the Renegade Pokémon, Giratina lives in a dimension known as the Distortion World. It has two forms, and will only be seen in its Origin Forme in our world if it's holding a Griseous Orb. Its Dragon Breath attack creates a powerful tornado that not only damages you, but can carry you off the stage!
Giratina returns as a Poké Ball summon, retaining its behavior from the previous game. Giratina cannot be summoned on Balloon Fight, Brinstar, Corneria, Dream Land GB, Golden Plains, Green Hill Zone, Jungle Japes, Living Room, Mute City SNES, Reset Bomb Forest, Suzaku Castle, Tomodachi Life, Tortimer Island, WarioWare Inc., or Yoshi's Island. It also appears as two Spirits, one in its Altered Forme, which can be enhanced into its Origin Forme.
It is the only member whose box art differs from its official art released with Diamond and Pearl.
Giratina's encounter in the Distortion World in Pokémon Platinum has several distinctions from other battles:
At the start of battle, it uniquely descends from the top of the screen, and is accompanied by the unique message "The Distortion World's Giratina appeared!". It is still a wild Pokémon despite the unique message.
No platform is displayed beneath Giratina, and it does not have a shadow until it uses Shadow Force or breaks out of a Poké Ball.
Giratina may also draw inspiration from fallen angels, celestial beings that rebelled against God and were excommunicated to Hell — analogous to Giratina being exiled by Arceus to another dimension due to its belligerent nature. Furthermore, it might allude to Samael, who is the ruler of the 5th Heaven and has grim and destructive duties whilst being a member of a heavenly host.
In its Altered Forme, Giratina resembles a European dragon or sauropod. It also shares similarities with some kaiju depictions in popular media. Its wings may be based on a bat's, and its body has an insect-like six-legged feature.
Giratina Origin Forme's serpentine body may be based on a Chinese dragon, an Amphiptere, or an Oomukade, a giant centipede with dragon-like features, said to prey on dragon and be as large as a mountain. It may also be based on a Seraph, a class of angels known for its six wings and, in some depictions, a serpentine body. Similarly, it also shares some similarities with other serpents or dragon-like creatures in Abrahamic religions, such as the ancient serpent or the Leviathan. The design of its six wings may be based on a scorpion's stinger or spider legs.
Giratina may be derived from platina (Spanish for platinum). It may also involve guilty, guillotine, ギラリ girari (onomatopoeia for glaring), and possibly girasol (a type of opal).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
ギラティナ Giratina
From platina and possibly guilty, guillotine, ギラリ girari, and girasol
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.
Griseous Orb (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Giratina images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
and the Lost Origin expansion 
resemble Giratina's Origin Forme, seen from the front.
