tatsugiri-curly #978
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
tatsugiri-curly
Generation IX · #0978 — Mimicry Pokémon
Tatsugiri, known as the Mimicry Pokémon, is a dual-type Dragon/Water Pokémon introduced in Generation IX that has captured the imagination of trainers through its unique symbiotic relationship with Dondozo. As National Pokédex entry #978, Tatsugiri exists in three distinct forms—Curly, Droopy, and Stretchy—each exhibiting different colorations and behavioral traits. The Curly Form, characterized by its vibrant orange coloration, represents one of the most fascinating examples of mutualistic behavior in the Pokémon world. With a base stat total of 475, Tatsugiri excels in Special Attack (120) and Special Defense (95), making it a formidable special attacker despite its diminutive stature of merely 0.3 meters in height and 8.0 kilograms in weight. Its signature ability, Commander, fundamentally changes how it operates within Double Battles, allowing it to enter the mouth of an ally Dondozo and grant stat boosts when Dondozo uses its signature move Order Up.
Base Stats
Height
0.3m
Weight
8.0kg
Category
Mimicry Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
pink
Shape
fish
Abilities
Goes inside the mouth of an ally Dondozo if one is on the field.
Redirects single-target water moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Water moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Tatsugiri-curly Biology & Physical Characteristics
The Curly Form of Tatsugiri is predominantly orange in coloration and presents a distinctly upright, energetic posture compared to its sibling forms. Like all Tatsugiri variants, the Curly Form possesses a cylindrical body structure positioned above a characteristic white throat sac that serves multiple biological functions. This throat sac, which resembles a bed of rice when inflated, is crucial to the species' survival strategy and adaptation mechanisms. The Pokémon features two large, prominent eyes that provide excellent vision for hunting and navigation, paired with elongated pectoral fins that aid in aquatic maneuvering. A wavy dorsal fin runs along its back, while a distinctive split tail fin enables precise directional control in water environments. The throat sac's versatility is particularly noteworthy—it functions as both a camouflage mechanism, allowing the Pokémon to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, and as an escape mechanism when swallowed whole by a larger predator like Dondozo, inflating rapidly to force itself free from danger.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Tatsugiri-curly Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Tatsugiri exhibits a balanced gender distribution with exactly 50% male and 50% female specimens occurring naturally in the wild and through breeding. This equal gender ratio suggests that Tatsugiri reproduction follows relatively standard patterns despite the species' unusual ecological role as a symbiotic partner. The species belongs to the Water 2 Egg Group, classification that aligns with its aquatic nature and connects it to various other water-dwelling Pokémon capable of producing compatible offspring. Breeding Tatsugiri requires a relatively extended gestation period of 35 egg cycles, equivalent to 8,739 to 8,995 steps depending on individual variation, which translates to approximately two weeks of real-world time in most gameplay contexts. The medium-slow growth rate of Tatsugiri indicates that reaching maximum level requires moderate investment of experience points compared to slower-growing species like Beldum or faster-growing species like Pidgeot. Trainers seeking to breed Tatsugiri for competitive purposes or collection should note the modest base happiness of 50, suggesting that newly caught or hatched Tatsugiri may require friendship-building efforts before reaching peak performance in battle.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
ruby sapphire
tm03
platinum
tm03
firered leafgreen
tm03
heartgold soulsilver
tm03
diamond pearl
tm03
emerald
tm03
xd
tm03
colosseum
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm07
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm08
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm08
sword shield
tm09
yellow
tm09
red blue
tm09
sword shield
hm03
ruby sapphire
hm03
platinum
hm03
omega ruby alpha sapphire
+244 more TMs/HMs
Tatsugiri-curly Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Unlike most Pokémon species, Tatsugiri does not evolve into or from any other Pokémon, representing a complete species unto itself despite its three distinct forms. However, the introduction of Mega Evolution has provided Tatsugiri with significant power escalation through Mega Tatsugiri, a transformation that requires the Mega Stone known as Tatsugirinite. Mega Tatsugiri, introduced in the Mega Dimension DLC of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, represents a substantial enhancement to the species' capabilities across multiple dimensions. All three forms of Tatsugiri—Curly, Droopy, and Stretchy—possess the ability to undergo Mega Evolution, each Mega form potentially retaining or augmenting the specific stat-boosting properties associated with their pre-Mega variant. The Curly Form's role in this evolutionary context remains particularly significant given its exceptional Special Attack stat of 120, which forms the foundation for a potent special attacker strategy even before Mega Evolution occurs. The availability of Mega Evolution has transformed Tatsugiri from a supporting Pokémon into a viable primary attacker, though its core identity remains deeply tied to synergy with Dondozo.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Tatsugiri-curly Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Tatsugiri in its Curly Form demonstrates cunning and strategic behavior that belies its small, seemingly defenseless appearance. According to Pokédex entries from Pokémon Violet, the Curly Form is an extremely cunning creature that feigns weakness to lure unsuspecting prey into vulnerable positions before orchestrating coordinated attacks through its partner. This deceptive behavior is intrinsically linked to its survival strategy in the waters of the Paldea region. In nature, the Curly Form of Tatsugiri inhabits aquatic environments where it seeks protection by living inside the mouth of a Dondozo, a relationship that provides mutual benefits to both species. The larger Dondozo gains a strategic commander that can coordinate attacks and provide sensory information, while the diminutive Tatsugiri receives shelter from external threats and predators. This symbiotic partnership is so integral to the species' identity that trainers discovered Tatsugiri cannot thrive in isolation and require the companionship of a Dondozo to reach their full potential in battle.
Pokedex Entries
Generation IX
This is a small dragon Pokémon. It lives inside the mouth of Dondozo to protect itself from enemies on the outside.
Tatsugiri is an extremely cunning Pokémon. It feigns weakness to lure in prey, then orders its partner to attack.
Tatsugiri-curly Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Tatsugiri derives from the Japanese 'Syaritatsu' (シャリタツ), a creative portmanteau reflecting the Pokémon's identity as a small dragon with characteristics mimicking its much larger aquatic companion. The English name 'Tatsugiri' itself combines 'tatsu' (dragon in Japanese) with 'giri,' suggesting a small or diminished version of dragon-kind. The Curly Form specifically takes its common name from its characteristic upright, coiled posture that resembles a curled serpent or spring. Visually, the Curly Form's orange coloration distinguishes it from the pink Droopy Form and yellow Stretchy Form, creating a color-coded system that allows trainers to instantly identify which form they're encountering. The design philosophy emphasizes the Pokémon's dual nature as both a predatory strategist and a vulnerable creature requiring protection, with the throat sac design serving as the most distinctive biological feature. The deliberate contrast between the Tatsugiri's diminutive size and its calculated, predatory behavior creates a striking character archetype that subverts expectations of weakness based on physical stature.
Learnable Moves
Tatsugiri-curly can learn 36 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| baton pass | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| chilling water | water | Special | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| draco meteor | dragon | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| dragon cheer | dragon | Status | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| dragon dance | dragon | Status | — | — | 20 |
| dragon pulse | dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| harden | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hydro pump | water | Special | 110 | 80 | 5 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| lunge | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| memento | dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| mirror coat | psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| muddy water | water | Special | 90 | 85 | 10 |
| nasty plot | dark | Status | — | — | 20 |
| outrage | dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rapid spin | normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| soak | water | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| splash | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| surf | water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| water gun | water | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| water pulse | water | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| whirlpool | water | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
Tatsugiri-curly Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battling, Tatsugiri in its Curly Form occupies a specialized niche as a support Pokémon with offensive capabilities, primarily functioning within Double Battle formats where its Commander ability becomes invaluable. The Curly Form's exceptional Special Attack base stat of 120, combined with respectable Special Defense of 95 and decent Speed of 82, positions it as a threatening special attacker that can simultaneously provide strategic support to teammates. The Commander ability represents the cornerstone of Tatsugiri's competitive identity, allowing it to assume a position inside an ally Dondozo's mouth, from which it can issue commands that cause Dondozo's Order Up move to grant stat boosts—specifically raising Attack when the Curly Form commands. The hidden ability Storm Drain provides an alternative competitive avenue, redirecting single-target water-type moves and boosting Special Attack by one stage, enabling a more aggressive self-sufficient playstyle for trainers preferring to leverage Tatsugiri's high Special Attack stat. With a respectable 100 Capture Rate and relatively modest base stats compared to legendary Pokémon, Tatsugiri's EV yield of 2 Special Attack points makes it an accessible but specialized choice for competitive teams. Trainers utilizing Tatsugiri competitively must carefully construct team compositions that either support its symbiosis with Dondozo or allow its Storm Drain ability to function optimally.
Commonly Asked Questions About Tatsugiri-curly
What type is Tatsugiri-curly?
Tatsugiri-curly is a dragon and water type Pokemon.
What does Tatsugiri-curly evolve from?
Tatsugiri-curly does not evolve.
What are Tatsugiri-curly's weaknesses?
Tatsugiri-curly is weak to dragon and fairy type moves.
Tatsugiri-curly Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Since its introduction in Generation IX, Tatsugiri has become a beloved and culturally significant Pokémon within the community, particularly celebrated for its innovative gameplay mechanics that fundamentally alter how Double Battles function. The symbiotic relationship between Tatsugiri and Dondozo captured player imagination by representing a genuine partnership mechanic that rewards coordinated team building and strategic synergy. The three-form variation system, with each form contributing different stat boosts through Order Up, created engaging team-building puzzles that encouraged experimentation and discussion within competitive and casual communities alike. Tatsugiri's cunning personality and deceptive hunting behavior resonated with players who appreciated complex, psychologically nuanced character designs that subvert simple good-versus-evil narratives. The Pokémon has appeared in various media adaptations including the Pokémon animated series, Challenge the World!, and trading card game releases, cementing its status as a Generation IX icon alongside other standout species from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Fan communities have extensively theorized about Tatsugiri's ecological role and the evolutionary pressures that could produce such a specialized survival strategy, with the species becoming a frequent subject of detailed biological and behavioral analyses within fan communities.
Where to Find Tatsugiri-curly in Every Pokémon Game
Tatsugiri in its Curly Form can be encountered and captured throughout the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, where it serves as Pokédex entry #0375 in the regional Pokédex. The species possesses an exceptional capture rate of 100, making it one of the easiest Pokémon to catch once encountered, requiring minimal resource expenditure and only basic Poké Balls to secure. This generous capture rate reflects the developers' intention to make Tatsugiri accessible to players of all skill levels while still maintaining its strategic value through careful stat distribution and ability design. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Tatsugiri receives updated availability as Pokédex entry #0031 within the Mega Dimension DLC, where players can encounter and utilize Mega Tatsugiri forms. The species has also been featured in special event distributions and downloadable content releases, ensuring that trainers who may have missed initial encounters during standard gameplay can still obtain specimens through legitimate methods. Its presence in both mainline Generation IX titles and subsequent content updates demonstrates Game Freak's confidence in the species as a cornerstone of modern Pokémon gameplay, with the relatively high encounter rate in wild areas making it a common sight for players exploring Paldea's diverse aquatic ecosystems. Trainers seeking specific natures or individual values for competitive breeding purposes should expect to encounter multiple Tatsugiri specimens through standard gameplay progression.