Shiftry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shiftry | |
|---|---|
 National Pokédex Nuzleaf - Shiftry (#275) - Taillow Hoenn Pokédex Nuzleaf - Shiftry (#024) - Taillow |
|
| Japanese name | Dirtengu |
| Evolves from | Nuzleaf |
| Evolves into | None |
| Generation | Third |
| Species | Wicked Pokémon |
| Type | Grass / Dark |
| Height | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) |
| Weight | 131.4 lb (59.6 kg) |
| Ability | Chlorophyll / Early Bird |
Shiftry (ダーテング Dātengu?, Dirtengu in original Japanese language versions) is a fictional character from the Pokémon franchise.
Shiftry's English name is a portmanteau of the words shifty and tree. This is a fitting name for an untrustworthy (or shifty) grass type. The Japanese name comes from "dirty," as in "dishonorable," and tengu.
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[edit] Biological characteristics
As its original Japanese name implies, Shiftry is based on the long-nosed Tengu of Japanese mythology. Its long nose, white hair, and large fan-like hands are very typical of how Tengu are commonly portrayed. Its feet even resemble Geta sandals, which Tengu are often depicted as wearing, specifically those of the one-toothed variety ("Tengu-geta"). Shiftry resembles the long-nosed human-like Tengu (rather than the Karasu (crow) Tengu), which are said to be the "Dai-tengu" (Great Tengu), which is likely another source of the play-on-words contained in its Japanese name.
The similarities don't stop with Shitry's appearance. Its Pokédex entries reveal a few other similarities to the mythical Tengu. It is classified as the "Wicked Pokémon," and the Tengu are often depicted as being wicked and malevolent. Its fans can generate fierce winds, which is one of the abilities credited to the magical fans Tengu carry. Finally, Shiftry is feared as a guardian of the forests it resides in, just as Tengu are feared as guardians of the forests and mountains.
Shiftry, is, to be put bluntly, the polar opposite of its happy, dancing counterpart, Ludicolo. Rather, Shiftry is a mysterious being in the Pokémon world, for not much is known about its lifestyle. It therefore has deep folklore attached to its image. It is said to arrive by the chilly winds of Winter, and it is said to be a fearsome guardian of the deep forests it holds sway over. It is known that Shiftry lives deep in the darkness of forests where people generally do not dare venture, and that the Pokémon makes its physical home on the top of toweringly tall trees that have been around for upwards of a thousand years.
Shiftry’s hand-fans contain astounding wind-based powers. By flapping them, Shiftry can whip up potent gusts of wind 100 feet per second to blow anything away from it, and it can also summon a powerful windstorm around its general area to blow away anything in all directions. It is yet to be determined whether this is fueled by psychic power or is simply a naturally developed trait of its fans.
Shiftry even appears to possess a developed degree of Extra-sensory perception (popularly referred to as "ESP"). In battles, both in the dark wilderness of its habitat and in Pokémon trainer battles, Shiftry can read its foe’s mind and take preemptive actions most other Pokémon would be unable to do in time.
A female Shitfry's leafy fans are smaller than its male counterpart's are.
[edit] In the video games
Shiftry can only be obtained by exposing a Nuzleaf to a Leaf Stone.
Shiftry’s stats are good all around (average Defense and Special Defense aside), and it can carry on moves it learned naturally as Nuzleaf, including Razor Wind and the unique Psychic-type attack Extrasensory. (It must learn these as Nuzleaf before evolution into Shiftry, as Shiftry cannot learn moves by level up). However, the strongest Dark-type move it can learn is merely Faint Attack, and its strongest Grass-type moves Giga Drain and Solarbeam can only be taught by Technical Machines, though it can now learn the powerful Leaf Storm in the fourth generation, and its Extrasensory attack does not gain a STAB boost from Shiftry’s Dark/Grass type. Though it can also be taught Shadow Ball, Brick Break, Aerial Ace, and Dig, there is a lack of STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), though this does not hinder its ability to battle well.
Shiftry is weak against Poison, Fire, Flying, Fighting and Ice, and due to its dual Grass/Dark type, it has a quadrupled weakness against Bug attacks. It also has a natural strength against Grass, Dark, Water, Electric, and Psychic-type attacks.
Shiftry is considered the offense-oriented Ruby equivalent to the Sapphire version’s defensive Ludicolo. However, Shiftry can also be used as a tank Pokémon because it has several moves which can flinch and confuse the opponent.
Shiftry also plays a semi-important role in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon as the leader of a rescue team named Team Shifty, themed to himself complete with a Nuzleaf pair. When he is first seen, Shiftry is refusing a help request from a Jumpluff, due to his policy of only going on rescue missions with rich rewards. However, Alakazam passing by with his own rescue team persuades Shiftry to go anyway. In the face of such a well-known rescue force, Shiftry complies, but is later kidnapped by Zapdos when he accidentally wakes it up during the rescue and must be rescued in turn by the player. Later he forms a temporary alliance with the player's team to hunt for treasures in the Buried Relic dungeon (actually he allows the player access to the dungeon, although he doesn't actually tag along).
[edit] Anime appearances
In the episode Jump for Joy, a Shiftry kidnaps Nurse Joy, although it is for her to heal a wounded Nuzleaf. Ash remembers this a few episodes later, and is inspired to teach Treecko the move Bullet Seed becase of it.
Tyson, Ash's main rival in the Hoenn League, has a Shiftry which he uses in his battle against Ash.
Shiftry, along with Aggron, appeared as one of Brendan's Pokémon in his cameo appearance at the beginning of the sixth movie.
[edit] Manga appearances
Shiftry appears in Chapter 222 of Pokémon Adventures, which is in volume 18. In it, Norman is attacked by a wild Shiftry. Though it is a tough opponent, he easily defeats it with his Slaking, and earns the other Gym Leader's respect for him.
[edit] In the trading card game
Shiftry has appeared on six trading cards, all stage 2 and Grass-type unless otherwise noted:
- EX Sandstorm (Rare and holographic)
- EX Hidden Legends (Holographic, Dark-type)
- EX Deoxys (Rare)
- EX Legend Maker (Holographic, Dark-type)
- EX Crystal Guardians (as Shiftry ex - Holographic, Dark-type)
- EX Power Keepers (as Shiftry ex - Holographic, Dark-type)
[edit] References
- The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Publications
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
- "Tengu." The Obakemono Project
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Shiftry as a species
- Shiftry’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry on Serebii.net
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke - Shiftry Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
- Smogon.com - Shiftry Tactical Data
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Shiftry Previously hosted by Wikibooks
