zorua
Generation V · #0570 — Tricky Fox Pokémon
Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon, is a Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Generation V that has captivated trainers with its unique ability to assume the appearance of other creatures. As National Pokédex entry #570, Zorua stands at 0.7 meters tall and weighs a modest 12.5 kilograms, making it one of the smaller Dark-type Pokémon. Its defining characteristic is its signature ability, Illusion, which allows it to take on the physical appearance of the last conscious Pokémon in a trainer's party upon entering battle—a disguise that persists until the Zorua takes damage from a direct attack. This remarkable adaptation reveals much about the species' defensive nature and its timid disposition, traits that have shaped its evolutionary path and behavioral patterns throughout its existence.
Base Stats
Height
0.7m
Weight
12.5kg
Category
Tricky Fox Pokémon
Gender
Male 87.5% / Female 12.5%
Color
gray
Shape
quadruped
Abilities
Takes the appearance of the last conscious party Pokémon upon being sent out until hit by a damaging move.
Zorua Biology & Physical Characteristics
Zorua is a slate-gray, fox-like Pokémon adorned with distinctive red and black accents that give it a striking appearance despite its small stature. Its triangular ears feature dark insides, while a large tuft of fur tipped with red crowns the top of its head, creating an almost mischievous silhouette. The Pokémon possesses captivating greenish-blue eyes rimmed with red eyelids, complemented by circular red markings above the eyes that resemble expressive eyebrows. Its short, tapered muzzle contains two small fangs visible in its upper jaw when its mouth opens, while a distinctive ruff of black fur encircles its neck. Four short limbs tipped with red fur support its compact frame, and a short, bushy tail completes its fox-like anatomy. The most fascinating aspect of Zorua's biology is its capacity for physical transformation—through its Illusion ability, it can alter its appearance to mimic other Pokémon or even humans, though this remains a visual deception rather than a true physical change, as its type and movepool remain unaffected by the disguise.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Zorua Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Zorua exhibits a notable gender ratio heavily skewed toward males, with approximately 87.5 percent of the population being male and only 12.5 percent female, a distribution that is consistent across official Pokédex sources. This significant gender imbalance is intriguing from a biological standpoint and raises interesting questions about the species' reproductive dynamics and population stability. Zorua belongs to the Field egg group, which encompasses a diverse range of Pokémon sharing similar breeding compatibility, allowing it to produce offspring with compatible Pokémon partners from the same egg group. The species has a base friendship value of 70 in Generations 5 through 7, indicating a moderate disposition toward trainers and suggesting that Zorua can form reasonable bonds with its caretakers despite its naturally timid temperament. Breeding Zorua requires a gestation period equivalent to 25 egg cycles, translating to approximately 6,169 to 6,425 steps before a healthy egg hatches. The medium-slow growth rate means that Zorua takes a moderate amount of experience to level up, neither as quickly as fast-growing species nor as slowly as the slowest growers, positioning it in a middle ground that provides a balanced training curve for players developing their Zorua into the more powerful Zoroark.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
x y
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
yellow
tm03
red blue
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
blue japan
tm03
red green japan
tm04
emerald
tm04
firered leafgreen
tm04
ruby sapphire
tm04
diamond pearl
tm04
xd
tm04
heartgold soulsilver
tm04
black white
tm04
colosseum
tm04
platinum
tm04
sun moon
+647 more TMs/HMs
Zorua Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Zorua evolves into the more powerful Zoroark upon reaching level 30, a transformation that marks a significant increase in battle capability and presence. This evolution represents a maturation from the timid, illusion-dependent juvenile into a more formidable Dark-type Pokémon that retains the Illusion ability while gaining substantially improved base stats across most categories. The evolution is particularly notable because both Zorua and Zoroark were among the first Generation V Pokémon revealed to the public on February 10, 2010, generating considerable excitement within the Pokémon community. A regional variant of Zorua was later introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus set in the Hisui region, taking on a Normal/Ghost dual typing instead of the traditional Dark type. This Hisuian form evolves into Hisuian Zoroark through the same level 30 threshold, but features different stat distributions and type advantages that reflect its spectral nature. The existence of these regional variants demonstrates how Zorua's basic concept—a deceptive, shape-shifting fox—has been reinterpreted across different regions and time periods within the Pokémon world.
Where to Find
castelia city
unova
driftveil city
unova
alola route 1
alola
Zorua Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Zorua exhibits a fundamentally timid nature that paradoxically led to the development of its extraordinary illusory powers. According to various Pokédex entries, this species uses transformation as a primary defense mechanism, preferring to hide its true identity to protect itself from danger rather than engage in direct confrontation. The species is known for its deceptive habits, often changing its appearance to mimic other creatures or even assuming the form of a silent child to surprise unsuspecting targets. These behavioral patterns suggest that Zorua relies heavily on psychological tactics and subterfuge rather than physical prowess, using illusions to confuse potential threats and create opportunities for escape. In its natural habitat, Zorua demonstrates remarkable intelligence in employing these tricks strategically, mimicking its foes' appearances to startle them before fleeing from dangerous situations. This combination of timidity and cunning makes Zorua a fascinating study in defensive adaptation, as it prioritizes survival and self-preservation over aggressive confrontation, behaviors deeply rooted in its need for safety in the wild.
Pokedex Entries
It changes into the forms of others to surprise them. Apparently, it often transforms into a silent child.
It changes so it looks just like its foe, tricks it, and then uses that opportunity to flee.
To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon.
It changes so it looks just like its foe, tricks it, and then uses that opportunity to flee.
To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon.
It changes so it looks just like its foe, tricks it, and then uses that opportunity to flee.
To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon.
This Pokémon has a cowardly disposition, so when it’s not around friends, it basically always stays transformed as something else.
If a normally talkative child suddenly stops talking, it may have been replaced by Zorua.
Zorua is a timid Pokémon. This disposition seems to be what led to the development of Zorua’s ability to take on the forms of other creatures.
Zorua sometimes transforms into a person and goes into cities to search for food. When Zorua does this, it usually takes on the form of a child.
A once-departed soul, returned to life in Hisui. Derives power from resentment, which rises as energy atop its head and takes on the forms of foes. In this way, Zorua vents lingering malice.
Zorua Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Zorua derives from Japanese origins, combining elements that suggest both deception and animal cunning inherent to its design philosophy. Its English designation as the 'Tricky Fox Pokémon' accurately reflects its primary characteristic—the use of trickery and illusion as core survival mechanisms. The design itself draws clear inspiration from fox mythology across various cultures, particularly the Japanese kitsune tradition of shapeshifting fox spirits, and European folklore depicting foxes as clever, cunning creatures. The slate-gray coloration with red and black accents creates a visually striking contrast that communicates both its Dark-type nature and its connection to deception, while the prominent facial markings—particularly the red eyebrows and eye rings—give it an expressive, almost theatrical appearance befitting a Pokémon defined by its ability to deceive. The small fangs and compact frame emphasize vulnerability and timidity, explaining why such a small creature would need to rely on illusion rather than physical strength. The bushy tail and ear design cement its fox-like appearance while maintaining distinctly Pokémon-specific characteristics that prevent it from being a simple animal replica, grounding it within the broader design language of the Generation V Pokédex.
Learnable Moves
Zorua can learn 84 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| assurance | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| bounce | flying | Physical | 85 | 85 | 5 |
| burning jealousy | fire | Special | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| calm mind | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| confuse ray | ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| copycat | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| dark pulse | dark | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| detect | fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| embargo | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| encore | normal | Status | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| extrasensory | psychic | Special | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fake tears | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| feint attack | dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| foul play | dark | Physical | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury swipes | normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hex | ghost | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper voice | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| imprison | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| incinerate | fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| lash out | dark | Physical | 75 | 100 | 5 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| memento | dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| nasty plot | dark | Status | — | — | 20 |
| night daze | dark | Special | 85 | 95 | 10 |
| night shade | ghost | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| pain split | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psych up | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| punishment | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| pursuit | dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| retaliate | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| revenge | fighting | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| scratch | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shadow ball | ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| skitter smack | bug | Physical | 70 | 90 | 10 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sludge bomb | poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| snarl | dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| snatch | dark | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| spite | ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sucker punch | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trick | psychic | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| u turn | bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
Zorua Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Zorua functions primarily as a utility Pokémon rather than a heavy hitter, with a base stat total of 330 distributed in a way that emphasizes Special Attack (80) and Speed (65) while compromising defensive capabilities across the board. Its most valuable competitive asset remains its signature Illusion ability, which provides significant mind-game potential by allowing players to deceive opponents about which Pokémon they are actually facing until the first hit lands, enabling strategic switches and tactical advantages that can swing momentum in dynamic team compositions. With base Special Attack of 80 and a respectable Speed stat of 65, Zorua can function as a moderately speedy special attacker, though its modest bulk—with only 40 base Defense and 40 base Special Defense—means it cannot absorb significant punishment before fainting. Most competitive players recognize that Zorua's true value lies in its evolution into Zoroark rather than using the base form itself, as the evolved form dramatically improves base stats while maintaining access to the Illusion ability and a superior movepool. However, in lower-tier competitive formats and casual play, Zorua's unpredictability combined with moves like Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, and Nasty Plot can create surprise victories against unprepared opponents, particularly in Double Battles where illusion effects can influence team decision-making on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Commonly Asked Questions About Zorua
What type is Zorua?
Zorua is a dark type Pokemon.
What does Zorua evolve into?
Zorua evolves into zoroark.
What are Zorua's weaknesses?
Zorua is weak to fighting, bug and fairy type moves.
Where can I find Zorua?
Zorua can be found in castelia city (unova), driftveil city (unova) and alola route 1 (alola).
Zorua Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Zorua has achieved notable recognition within Pokémon culture both as an iconic Generation V representative and as a featured Pokémon in major media appearances that have significantly boosted its popularity among fans worldwide. The species achieved prominence through its appearance in the thirteenth Pokémon film alongside a legendary form, introducing millions of viewers to its deceptive nature and emotional narrative, establishing emotional connections that extended beyond casual gameplay. Luke's Zorua in the animated series provided viewers with an intimate look at the species' personality and capabilities, showcasing how its illusion abilities could be used strategically and emotionally, reinforcing the character-driven storytelling that defines the Pokémon franchise's appeal. The design's appeal to creators lies in its thematic depth—a timid creature developing remarkable powers as a coping mechanism resonates with audiences on a psychological level, exploring themes of adaptation and survival through unconventional means. Fan communities have embraced Zorua enthusiastically, with the Pokémon featuring prominently in fan art, fan fiction, and competitive discussion forums, demonstrating sustained interest decades after its initial introduction. The introduction of Hisuian Zorua in Pokémon Legends: Arceus reinvigorated interest in the species by providing a fresh interpretation of its core concept, allowing both veteran and new fans to engage with the Pokémon anew and appreciate how regional variations can reimagine beloved creatures through different thematic lenses.
Where to Find Zorua in Every Pokémon Game
Zorua has been distributed across nearly every major Pokémon game generation since its introduction in Generation V, though availability varies significantly between titles and regions. In its original debut games, Pokémon Black and White, Zorua could be obtained early in the adventure, appearing as a gift Pokémon in Castelia City with a base friendship value reflecting its gentle nature. Subsequent generations have included Zorua in various locations and methods of acquisition, from wild encounters in specific routes to gift distributions and transfer mechanics that allow players to bring Zorua from older games into newer titles through services like Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Home. The species appears in Pokémon X and Y within the Mountain Kalos area, in the Alola region through Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (though not as a native Alolan form until much later), and has been featured in Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee compatible content through transfer mechanisms. The introduction of Hisuian Zorua in Pokémon Legends: Arceus provided players in that game with a method to obtain and train the regional variant, expanding accessibility options for collectors seeking both forms. In more recent generations including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Zorua maintains presence in the Pokédex with various catch locations and methods, while its continued inclusion in competitive distributions and event mystery gifts ensures that both casual players and competitive trainers can reliably obtain the species to build their teams and collections.