The Origins of 6 Jellyfish Pokemon & the Real Species Behind Them

Jellyfish in Pokemon are mostly something else in disguise. One line comes from a ghostly jellyfish yokai, and another is made of glass and came from another world. Only Tentacool and Tentacruel are filed as jellyfish in the Pokedex, and the closest match to Tentacruel is a mushroom.

See all 6 jellyfish Pokemon in one list.

Here's every jellyfish Pokemon:

All 6 Jellyfish Pokemon

#072

Tentacool

Tentacool, the Jellyfish Pokemon, is based on a jellyfish, possibly a box jellyfish such as Chironex fleckeri or Carukia barnesi. Having only two tentacles may come from the Tentaculata class of comb jellies, most of which have a pair of long tentacles used to catch prey. It also resembles the bug-eyed monsters and alien invaders of 1950s B-movies, which shows in its ability to fire lasers from the gems on its head.

They fire beams from the glassy, magenta orbs that resemble eyes atop their heads, and during low tide they can sometimes be found on beaches, desiccated. (We call being dried out on a beach at low tide a holiday.)

#073

Tentacruel

Tentacruel may take inspiration from the jellyfish and the Portuguese man o' war, as its category and its prototype English name show. It also shares some traits with a squid. Like Tentacool, it looks like a 1950s B-movie alien, and the shape of its body resembles a flying saucer.

It has 80 tentacles, each with a venomous tip, and these tentacles lengthen when Tentacruel attempts to catch prey. Anyone near one should use caution, and we plan to follow that advice from the sand. Its Liquid Ooze ability damages opponents using leeching moves (moves that steal HP) for as much as they would heal.

#592

Frillish

Frillish, the Floating Pokemon, was most likely inspired by the Nurarihyon, a jellyfish yokai that is either shown as a demonized jellyfish or as a jellyfish-like man who wears refined, sometimes regal, clothing. It may also come from the Kurage no Hinotama, a jellyfish-like will-o'-the-wisp, and from the Stygiomedusa, or Phantom Jelly, a rarely seen deep sea jellyfish with fabric-like arms. Its noble look may be Victorian-style monarch attire.

Legend has it that the residents of a sunken ancient city changed into these Pokemon. We would have moved before the whole city turned into jellyfish. Its Cursed Body ability has a 30% chance of disabling any move that hits it, which locks that move for a few turns.

#593

Jellicent

Jellicent is most likely based on jellyfish, and its size and bulbous body may be drawn from the giant phantom jelly. It also shares traits with the crown jellyfish and the jelly blubber. Its frills and collars seem to be based on typical monarch attire, with the male's appearance based on a king's and the female's on a queen's. It also has traits in common with sea monsters like the Kraken, most notably its rumored penchant for destroying ships and feeding on the crew.

Whenever a full moon hangs in the night sky, schools of Jellicent gather near the surface of the sea, waiting for their prey to appear. (We know the feeling of waiting under a full moon for dinner.) It stands 2.2 m tall and weighs 135 kg.

#793

Nihilego

Nihilego, the Parasite Pokemon, is inspired by jellyfish, with its body made of glass to contrast the soft bodies of real jellyfish. Its Rock type may come from the fact that glass is usually made out of sand. It may be based on the moon jellyfish or the Phyllorhiza punctata, an invasive species in the waters around Hawaii, since the Ultra Beasts have been stated to be based on invasive species.

It may also have been inspired by Lillie, whose white sunhat resembles Nihilego's bell, and it sometimes behaves like a young girl. It appeared in this world from an Ultra Wormhole and seems to be a parasite that lives by feeding on people and Pokemon. We will not be sending an invite to a guest that feeds on its hosts.

#949

Toedscruel

Toedscruel, the Woodear Pokemon, is based on mushrooms, specifically a wood ear mushroom, known as kikurage (literally tree jellyfish) in Japan, hence its likeness to Tentacruel. Its pink growths may come from the droplets of fungi such as Hydnellum peckii, which produces red droplets that look like Tentacruel's red orbs, and its tubular mouth resembles the hyponome of cephalopods.

It coils its 10 tentacles around prey and sucks out their nutrients, causing the prey pain, and the folds along the rim of its head are a popular delicacy. We would like the recipe for eating the thing that eats you first. Its ability, Mycelium Might, makes its status moves (moves that deal no direct damage) go last, but they are not affected by the opponent's ability.

Toedscruel and Tentacruel share all six base stats: 80 HP, 70 Attack, 65 Defense, 80 Special Attack, 120 Special Defense and 100 Speed, for the same total of 515. The likeness may be a nod to convergent evolution, where separate organisms end up with similar bodies on their own, and to the joke in kikurage, the tree jellyfish. Toedscool and Tentacool share their stats as well.

Toedscool looks like Tentacool, but it is a completely different species.

Jellyfish Pokemon FAQ

How many jellyfish Pokemon are there?

There are 6 jellyfish Pokemon. Tentacool and Tentacruel have Jellyfish in their category, and Frillish, Jellicent, Nihilego and Toedscruel were designed from jellyfish, jellyfish yokai or a mushroom called tree jellyfish.

What is the strongest jellyfish Pokemon?

Nihilego, with a base stat total of 570. Among the jellyfish Pokemon that are not Ultra Beasts, Tentacruel and Toedscruel tie at 515.

Is Toedscruel a jellyfish?

No. Toedscruel is a wood ear mushroom, which is called tree jellyfish in Japan, and its stats copy Tentacruel's.

Is Nihilego based on Lillie?

Yes, possibly. Its design may have been inspired by Lillie, whose white sunhat resembles Nihilego's bell.