archen
Generation V · #0566 — First Bird Pokémon
Archen, known as the First Bird Pokémon, is a Rock/Flying-type fossil Pokémon introduced in Generation V. Designated as National Pokédex #566, Archen represents a remarkable bridge between ancient extinct creatures and modern Pokémon biology. Revived from the Plume Fossil, this small but mighty Pokémon stands at just 0.5 meters tall and weighs a mere 9.5 kilograms, making it one of the lightest fossil Pokémon available. Despite its diminutive size, Archen possesses a respectable base Attack stat of 112, making it a formidable physical attacker in its weight class. The Pokédex entries across multiple generations consistently describe Archen as the ancestor of all bird Pokémon, though more recent research has begun to cast doubt on this universally accepted claim, adding an intriguing layer of scientific uncertainty to this ancient creature's legacy.
Base Stats
Height
0.5m
Weight
9.5kg
Category
First Bird Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
yellow
Shape
wings
Abilities
Halves Attack and Special Attack at 50% max HP or less.
Archen Biology & Physical Characteristics
Archen presents a fascinating blend of reptilian and avian characteristics in its physical composition, reflecting its position as an evolutionary ancestor. The Pokémon features a large, prominent red head covered in discernible scales, paired with a neck adorned in striking blue and red feathers that create a striking color contrast. Its body is covered in unkempt, yellowish feathers that appear somewhat disheveled, while its most distinctive feature—its wings—are notably small, clawed appendages colored deep blue that are clearly unsuitable for powered flight. The creature's lower body consists of short, thin legs built for terrestrial locomotion rather than aerial pursuits, and a twig-like tail crowned with a single diamond-shaped blue feather that adds to its peculiar charm. Archen's face is particularly expressive, featuring large white eyes with distinct black pupils and no irises, giving it an almost prehistoric stare that emphasizes its ancient origins. The Pokémon's overall physiology suggests an intermediate stage in avian evolution, frozen in time by fossilization millions of years ago.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Archen Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Archen exhibits a pronounced sexual dimorphism in terms of gender distribution, with an overwhelming 87.5 percent of individuals being male while only 12.5 percent are female, making female specimens considerably rarer in the wild or through breeding. This significant gender ratio disparity reflects a biological leaning toward male offspring in this species, which may have evolutionary implications for how wild populations sustained themselves in ancient times. Archen belongs to two egg groups—Flying and Water 3—allowing it to breed with a diverse range of compatible Pokémon depending on the specific breeding partner selected. The species has a base happiness value of 70, indicating a moderate level of friendliness toward trainers, and exhibits a medium-fast growth rate that strikes a balance between slow and fast developmental progressions. With a hatch counter of 30 cycles, Archen eggs require approximately 7,454 to 7,710 steps to hatch, making them relatively quick to incubate compared to many other fossil Pokémon, though still requiring notable dedication from breeding enthusiasts.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
x y
tm02
emerald
tm02
firered leafgreen
tm02
ruby sapphire
tm02
black white
tm02
heartgold soulsilver
tm02
platinum
tm02
colosseum
tm02
diamond pearl
tm02
black 2 white 2
tm02
sun moon
tm02
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm02
x y
tm02
xd
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
ultra sun ultra moon
tm05
ruby sapphire
+614 more TMs/HMs
archen's Evolution Chain
Archen Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Archen undergoes a straightforward evolutionary transformation into Archeops upon reaching level 37, with both forms maintaining their Rock/Flying typing. This evolution represents a dramatic increase in stats across the board, particularly in Attack and Speed, allowing the evolved form to capitalize on the strong attacking prowess that Archen establishes early in its development. The evolution is linear with no branching paths or alternative forms, making it a consistent progression for trainers who choose to develop their Archen. Interestingly, both Archen and Archeops share the unique distinction of being the only Pokémon species capable of possessing the Defeatist ability, a somewhat limiting trait that halves both Attack and Special Attack stats when the Pokémon's health falls to 50 percent of its maximum. This shared characteristic creates a notable strategic weakness that trainers must account for when utilizing these ancient fossil Pokémon in competitive play or challenging battles.
Where to Find
alola route 8
alola
+1 more
Archen Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Despite being classified as a bird Pokémon, Archen fundamentally lacked the ability to achieve sustained flight, instead inhabiting the treetops of ancient forests where it moved through a sophisticated system of hopping and gliding locomotion. According to multiple Pokédex entries, Archen would navigate from branch to branch with remarkable agility, using its small wings not for flying but for controlling glides across longer distances—a method that allowed it to descend from tall treetops to snag unsuspecting prey below. The Pokémon's hunting strategy relied on this gliding capability combined with its predatory instincts, targeting both small bug Pokémon and the various berries available in its arboreal environment. Archen possessed considerable jumping ability despite its flightlessness, suggesting powerful leg muscles developed through countless generations of branch-to-branch traversal. Interestingly, the anime has revealed that Archen has distinctive dietary preferences, showing a reluctance toward standard Pokémon food but demonstrating the remarkable ability to grow special berry-bearing plants through the vibrations of its cries, which it then consumes with apparent satisfaction.
Pokedex Entries
Said to be an ancestor of bird Pokémon, they were unable to fly and moved about by hopping from one branch to another.
It was revived from an ancient fossil. Not able to fly, it lived in treetops and hopped from one branch to another.
Revived from a fossil, this Pokémon is thought to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon.
Revived from a fossil, this Pokémon is thought to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon.
Said to be an ancestor of bird Pokémon, they were unable to fly and moved about by hopping from one branch to another.
Revived from a fossil, this Pokémon is thought to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon.
Said to be an ancestor of bird Pokémon, they were unable to fly and moved about by hopping from one branch to another.
It is the ancestor of all bird Pokémon. Archen itself could not actually fly but moved by hopping from treetop to treetop.
Once thought to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon, some of the latest research suggests that may not be the case.
To all appearances flightless, it was able to glide down from tall treetops to snag its prey.
Restored from a fossil, this ancient bird Pokémon has wings but can’t yet fly.
This Pokémon was successfully restored from a fossil. As research suggested, Archen is unable to fly. But it’s very good at jumping.
Archen is said to be the ancestor of bird Pokémon. It lived in treetops, eating berries and bug Pokémon.
Archen Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Archen derives from the Greek words "archaios" meaning ancient and "ornis" meaning bird, perfectly encapsulating its role as the supposed primordial ancestor of modern avian Pokémon. The design itself draws clear inspiration from Archaeopteryx, the famous transitional fossil species that bridges dinosaurs and modern birds, featuring characteristics of both lineages in a single organism. This inspiration manifests visually through Archen's combination of reptilian scales on its head, feathered body, clawed wings, and bipedal stance—all elements that echo Archaeopteryx's own hybrid nature. The color palette of yellows, blues, and reds was deliberately chosen to differentiate Archen from other bird Pokémon while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic that suggests prehistoric origin. The deliberately unkempt, untidy appearance of its feathers further reinforces the sense that this is a primitive, ancient creature rather than one of the refined avian Pokémon seen in contemporary times. The Japanese name "アーケン" (Āken) maintains this etymological connection while remaining phonetically distinct and memorable.
Learnable Moves
Archen can learn 75 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acrobatics | flying | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 |
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| ally switch | psychic | Status | — | — | 15 |
| ancient power | rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| aqua tail | water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| bounce | flying | Physical | 85 | 85 | 5 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| defog | flying | Status | — | — | 15 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| dragon breath | dragon | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| dragon claw | dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| dragon pulse | dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| dual wingbeat | flying | Physical | 40 | 90 | 10 |
| earth power | ground | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| head smash | rock | Physical | 150 | 80 | 5 |
| heat wave | fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| lash out | dark | Physical | 75 | 100 | 5 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| meteor beam | rock | Special | 120 | 90 | 10 |
| pluck | flying | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| quick attack | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| quick guard | fighting | Status | — | — | 15 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock blast | rock | Physical | 25 | 90 | 10 |
| rock polish | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock throw | rock | Physical | 50 | 90 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| roost | flying | Status | — | — | 5 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| smack down | rock | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| steel wing | steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| switcheroo | dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| tailwind | flying | Status | — | — | 15 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| thrash | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| u turn | bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| wing attack | flying | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Archen Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive play, Archen presents an intriguing but ultimately limited movepool and stat distribution that restricts its viability to specialized strategies and lower-tier competitive formats. Its signature strength lies in a base Attack stat of 112, which sits impressively high for a Pokémon with such minimal bulk, as both its Defense and Special Defense stats languish at a mere 45. The creature's Special Attack of 74 and Speed of 70 are respectable but not exceptional, leaving Archen reliant on physical attacks to make an impact in battle. However, the presence of its ability Defeatist creates a significant competitive liability—halving both Attack and Special Attack stats at 50 percent health represents a crippling weakness that forces trainers to either keep Archen at full health or face severely diminished offensive capability. This limitation makes Archen viable primarily in formats where damage control and preventative strategies can maintain its HP above the critical threshold. Its Rock/Flying typing provides useful resistances to Normal, Flying, and Bug-type moves while introducing weaknesses to Water, Electric, Grass, and Rock-type attacks, a typing that is decent but not exceptional in modern competitive environments.
Commonly Asked Questions About Archen
What type is Archen?
Archen is a rock and flying type Pokemon.
What does Archen evolve into?
Archen evolves into archeops.
What are Archen's weaknesses?
Archen is weak to ground, rock, steel, water, electric and ice type moves.
Where can I find Archen?
Archen can be found in alola route 8 (alola).
Archen Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Archen holds significant cultural importance within the Pokémon universe as the embodiment of paleontological discovery and evolutionary wonder, representing humanity's ability to resurrect extinct species through scientific advancement. The Pokémon's prominence in Generation V's narrative, particularly through its availability via the Plume Fossil early in the Unova region's storyline, gave it considerable exposure to players exploring the region's fossil-rich locations. In the anime, Archen received substantial character development through episodes dedicated to exploring its paleontological significance and its relationship with modern Pokémon species, though recent research within the show's universe has begun challenging the long-held assumption of its universal ancestry. The species has appeared in various Pokémon media and merchandise, though it remains less iconic than other fossil Pokémon like Aerodactyl or the more recent fossil Pokémon from later generations. Archen's unique position as a genuinely flightless bird Pokémon—a rarity in a franchise dominated by flying creatures—has made it a subject of interest for fans exploring the biological and evolutionary mechanics of the Pokémon world.
Where to Find Archen in Every Pokémon Game
Archen is primarily obtained through fossil revival mechanics available early in most Pokémon games where it appears, specifically through the Plume Fossil found in the Unova region. In Pokémon Black and White, trainers can acquire the Plume Fossil by defeating or capturing the Litwanye Pokémon in the Desert Resort, then reviving it at the Nacrene City Museum. The species maintains consistent availability across subsequent generations in their respective regional Pokédex entries, appearing in Generation VI (X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), Generation VII (Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon), Generation VIII (Sword and Shield, available in the Crown Tundra DLC), and Generation IX titles. In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Archen serves a prominent role as a member of the Expedition Society, functioning as the team's aerial explorer, giving players extended interaction with this species beyond standard capture mechanics. Breeding remains a consistent method of obtaining additional Archen specimens once a single individual has been obtained, though the heavily skewed gender ratio toward males may complicate breeding efforts for trainers seeking multiple females for collection or strategic purposes.