dondozo
Generation IX · #0977 — Big Catfish Pokémon
Dondozo is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IX, standing as National Pokédex entry #977. Known as the Big Catfish Pokémon, Dondozo is one of the largest Pokémon ever discovered, reaching an impressive height of 12.0 meters (39'04") and weighing 220.0 kilograms (485.0 lbs). Despite its colossal size and considerable physical strength, Dondozo possesses a surprisingly modest base stat total of 530, with an exceptionally high HP stat of 150 that reflects its massive body size. The Pokémon is notable for its unique symbiotic relationship with Tatsugiri, forming one of the most distinctive partnerships in the Pokémon world. Dondozo does not evolve from or into any other Pokémon, making it a standalone species that has captivated trainers since its introduction in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Base Stats
Height
12.0m
Weight
220.0kg
Category
Big Catfish Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
blue
Shape
fish
Abilities
Ignores other Pokémon's stat modifiers for damage and accuracy calculation.
Prevents infatuation and protects against captivate.
Prevents burns.
Dondozo Biology & Physical Characteristics
Dondozo is a giant piscine Pokémon displaying a tricolor body pattern that reflects its aquatic nature. Its upper body is covered in light blue coloration, transitioning to dark blue through its middle section, while its belly, upper lip, and all fins display a pristine white coloration. The Pokémon's head is crowned with a distinctive ring of six frills arranged in a circular pattern, with the two rightmost frills extending significantly longer and terminating in flat tips that resemble a traditional hachimaki headband. Its face features characteristic barbels—five extending from its lower jaw with one notably longer and curled protrusion directly beneath its lower lip, and two additional barbels positioned above its upper lip. Most remarkably, Dondozo possesses an extraordinarily long, rectangular tongue with blocky protrusions that collectively resemble a sushi geta (wooden serving tray), an unusual adaptation that connects to its hunting methodology. The Pokémon's posterior is flanked by elongated anal fins and concludes with a large, fan-like tail fin that aids in aquatic locomotion.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Dondozo Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Dondozo maintains a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female, allowing for standard breeding practices without gender-based complications. The Pokémon belongs to the Water 2 egg group, which it shares with numerous other aquatic Pokémon species, facilitating breeding compatibility with compatible partners within this category. With a base friendship value of 50 (considered normal), Dondozo exhibits neutral disposition toward trainers at the outset of capture, requiring typical bonding efforts to develop stronger affection. The species possesses an exceptionally long hatching cycle, requiring 40 egg cycles (equivalent to 10,024–10,280 steps) to produce an offspring, reflecting its massive size and the substantial biological investment required to gestate such a large creature. This extended incubation period positions Dondozo among the slower-hatching Pokémon species, rewarding patient trainers with a fully-formed juvenile that exhibits the characteristic traits of its species upon emergence.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm03
ruby sapphire
tm03
platinum
tm03
firered leafgreen
tm03
heartgold soulsilver
tm03
diamond pearl
tm03
emerald
tm03
xd
tm03
colosseum
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm07
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm08
red blue
tm08
yellow
tm08
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm08
sword shield
tm09
yellow
tm08
red green japan
tm08
blue japan
tm09
red blue
+307 more TMs/HMs
Dondozo Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Dondozo does not evolve into or from any other Pokémon, representing a standalone evolutionary line with no predecessors or successors. The species is not capable of Mega Evolution, nor does it possess any alternate forms or regional variants. This singular existence distinguishes Dondozo as a complete entity rather than part of a larger evolutionary chain. The Pokémon's design philosophy emphasizes its role as a fully realized, independent species that achieves its identity not through transformation or growth into another form, but through its unique collaborative mechanics with Tatsugiri. Its signature move, Order Up, exemplifies this partnership-based identity, as it cannot be fully utilized without a Tatsugiri present in double battles, making the Pokémon's strength intrinsically tied to its symbiotic bond rather than traditional evolution.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Dondozo Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Dondozo is characterized as a glutton with an insatiable appetite, yet it suffers from a critical hunting deficiency—despite its tremendous physical power, the Pokémon lacks the intelligence and hunting acumen to catch prey independently. To overcome this limitation, Dondozo has evolved an extraordinary symbiotic partnership with Tatsugiri, treating the much smaller Pokémon as its superior and following it with remarkable loyalty. The hunting dynamic is sophisticated and coordinated: Tatsugiri plays dead to lure unsuspecting prey, and upon command, Dondozo unleashes its devastating power to capture the meal. When not actively hunting, Dondozo protects Tatsugiri by sheltering it within its own mouth, demonstrating a protective bond despite the apparent intellectual hierarchy. The Pokédex notes that Dondozo's enormous body creates great waves of water when it thrashes about, suggesting it inhabits deep aquatic environments where its size and strength prove advantageous. Basculin are known to be among Dondozo's preferred prey species, indicating it hunts smaller fish Pokémon in its native habitat.
Pokedex Entries
This Pokémon is a glutton, but it’s bad at getting food. It teams up with a Tatsugiri to catch prey.
It treats Tatsugiri like its boss and follows it loyally. Though powerful, Dondozo is apparently not very smart.
Dondozo Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Dondozo derives from Japanese origins, with its official Japanese designation being Heyrusher (ヘイラッシャ). The English name 'Dondozo' likely combines 'don' (referencing donburi bowls in Japanese cuisine, connecting to its sushi geta-shaped tongue) with repetitive 'dozo' elements that create a sense of massiveness and weight. The visual design draws heavily from real-world catfish species, particularly in the prominent barbels and overall morphology, while the sushi geta tongue is a uniquely creative addition that establishes a thematic connection to Japanese culinary traditions. The hachimaki-style frills atop its head further reinforce Japanese cultural influences, suggesting a creature of tradition and structure despite its apparent lack of intelligence. The color scheme—light blue, dark blue, and white—mimics natural coloration patterns found in large freshwater fish, providing camouflage in deep aquatic environments while maintaining visual appeal through the striking contrast between its dorsal and ventral surfaces.
Learnable Moves
Dondozo can learn 46 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aqua tail | water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| avalanche | ice | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| body press | fighting | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| chilling water | water | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| dive | water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fissure | ground | Physical | — | 30 | 5 |
| flail | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| heavy slam | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| hydro pump | water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice fang | ice | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| liquidation | water | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| noble roar | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| order up | dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| outrage | dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| soak | water | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| stomping tantrum | ground | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| supersonic | normal | Status | — | 55 | 20 |
| surf | water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| tackle | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thrash | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| tickle | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| water gun | water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| waterfall | water | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| wave crash | water | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| yawn | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Dondozo Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive battling, Dondozo occupies a specialized niche defined by its exceptional bulk and signature mechanics. With a base HP of 150 combined with respectable defense stats (115 Defense, 65 Special Defense), Dondozo functions as a bulky physical wall capable of absorbing considerable punishment. However, its abysmal base Speed of 35 severely hampers its viability, requiring careful team construction and strategic move selection to compensate. Its abilities—Unaware or Oblivious as standard options—provide valuable utility; Unaware allows Dondozo to ignore opponent stat modifiers like Swords Dance or Nasty Plot, while Oblivious prevents status complications like infatuation. The hidden ability Water Veil prevents burn status, a niche protection in specific metagames. Dondozo's movepool is respectable, featuring moves like Liquidation, Earthquake, and its signature Order Up, though its weak offensive stats (100 Attack, 65 Special Attack) limit its damage output. The signature move Order Up, when utilized with a Tatsugiri partner in double battles, gains significant power boosts depending on Tatsugiri's form, making Dondozo-Tatsugiri paired teams a legitimate strategic consideration in formats supporting double battles.
Commonly Asked Questions About Dondozo
What type is Dondozo?
Dondozo is a water type Pokemon.
What does Dondozo evolve from?
Dondozo does not evolve.
What are Dondozo's weaknesses?
Dondozo is weak to grass and electric type moves.
Dondozo Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Since its introduction in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Dondozo has captured the imagination of the Pokémon community through its unconventional design and parasitic partnership with Tatsugiri. The relationship between these two Pokémon challenged traditional notions of dominance and intelligence within the franchise, presenting a physically powerful creature that willingly subordinates itself to a much smaller partner. This dynamic resonated with players who appreciated the nuanced storytelling and world-building represented through Pokémon relationships. Dondozo's sushi geta tongue became an iconic design element that spawned considerable fan appreciation and meme culture, with the Pokémon's gentle giant archetype appealing to trainers who value personality over raw competitive power. The Pokémon has appeared in various media adaptations and remains a notable fixture in discussions about Generation IX's innovative design philosophy. Its presence in the Pokédex expanded the franchise's representation of large, somewhat unintelligent creatures portrayed sympathetically rather than antagonistically, contributing to broader conversations about monster design diversity.
Where to Find Dondozo in Every Pokémon Game
Dondozo is available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet with National Pokédex number #977 and local number #0374, making it natively obtainable in Generation IX titles. The species appears in the overworld of these games, allowing trainers to encounter it through standard exploration and battling mechanics. Its relatively low catch rate of 25 (approximately 7.7% with a standard Poké Ball at full health) demands either weakening the Pokémon beforehand or utilizing enhanced Poké Balls for efficient capture. The species subsequently appeared in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, expanding its availability to newer generation titles. Dondozo cannot be obtained through breeding, as it lacks a pre-evolution and produces eggs that hatch into the same species; players must capture wild specimens to obtain multiples. Its presence in various Pokédex entries and consistent inclusion across Generation IX and beyond ensures accessibility for collectors and competitive players seeking to build teams featuring this unique Water-type.