The Origins of 7 Squid Pokemon & the Sea Creatures Behind Them

Real squids are rare in Pokemon. Only two of these 7 were drawn from a squid, and the rest are jellyfish and ancient shelled animals with a squid's arms.

See all 7 squid Pokemon in one list.

Here are the origins of the 7 squid Pokemon:

All 7 Squid Pokemon

#072

Tentacool

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

Tentacool fire beams from the glassy, magenta orbs atop their heads, drift in shallow seas, and can sometimes be found on beaches, desiccated, at low tide. Washed up and dried out is how we look on a Sunday.

Its Clear Body ability (an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle) stops other Pokemon from lowering its stats.

#138

Omanyte

Omanyte, the Spiral Pokemon, is based on the ammonite, a group of prehistoric mollusks related to the present-day squid and octopus that lived between the Devonian and the Cretaceous periods. It may also draw on the nautilus, a coiled-shelled cephalopod that has changed little since the Devonian, which leads some to consider it a living fossil.

Omanyte is a member of an ancient, extinct species, and it paddles through water with its 10 tentacles, looking like it is drifting along. Ten limbs going and still only drifting is something we relate to.

It stands 0.4 m tall. Its Swift Swim ability doubles its Speed in the rain.

#139

Omastar

Omastar, the Spiral Pokemon, is based on an ammonite as well. Its way of grabbing prey and cracking their shells with a ring-shaped mouth may come from Anomalocaris, and it may also draw on the nautilus, often considered a living fossil because it has changed very little over hundreds of millions of years and descends directly from the most primitive of cephalopods.

Omastar's sharp fangs could crush rock, but it can attack only the prey that come within reach of its tentacles. (Huge power and tiny reach, and we are the same with the top shelf.)

#592

Frillish

Frillish, the Floating Pokemon, was most likely inspired by the Nurarihyon, a jellyfish yokai shown either as a demonized jellyfish or as a jellyfish-like man in refined, sometimes regal, clothing. It may also come from the Stygiomedusa, a rarely seen deep sea jellyfish with fabric-like arms. Its two larger arms are more similar to a squid's than to a real jellyfish's tentacles, and its noble look may be Victorian-style royal dress.

According to legend, the residents of a sunken ancient city changed into these Pokemon. A whole city of jellyfish in Sunday best is a place we would visit.

Its Cursed Body ability has a 30% chance of disabling any move that hits it, so the attacker cannot use that move for a while.

#593

Jellicent

Jellicent, the Floating Pokemon, is most likely based on jellyfish, and its size and bulbous body may come from Stygiomedusa, the giant phantom jelly. Its frills and collars follow royal dress: the male's look is based on a king's and the female's on a queen's. Its two larger tentacles are more similar to a squid's than a jellyfish's. It also has traits in common with sea monsters like the Kraken, most notably the rumored habit of 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 to wait for their prey. Royals who eat sailors sound like the history books we have read.

It stands 2.2 m tall and weighs 135 kg. Its Water Absorb ability heals it when Water moves hit it, by 1/4 of its max HP.

#686

Inkay

Inkay, the Revolving Pokemon, appears to be based on a squid, with a small resemblance to a cuttlefish. Its flashing may come from the vampire squid or the Humboldt squid, or from deimatic behavior, the sudden displays cephalopods use to startle predators. Its look and its use of hypnosis to control others may also come from the extraterrestrial supervillains of tokusatsu shows.

Inkay demoralizes foes with the blinking of its luminescent spots and then seizes the chance to flee. (Flash them and leave is the plan we use at parties.)

It weighs 3.5 kg, and its Contrary ability inverts its stat changes, so a move that should lower its stats raises them instead.

#687

Malamar

Malamar, the Overturning Pokemon, is based on an upside-down squid. Its hypnosis appears to reference the cuttlefish, which mesmerizes prey by rhythmically changing color, and its flipped body and glowing may come from the vampire squid, which can invert its tentacles and produce light. Its tentacles act as living hair, a trait it shares with witches and gorgon-like monsters. Mega Malamar leans into the supervillain look with a swollen brain wrapped in tentacles and a high collar.

Its hypnotic powers are said to have played a role in certain history-changing events. We have never changed history, only a lightbulb on a good day.

Only Inkay and Malamar Come From Squids, and Both Hypnotize

Only Inkay and Malamar come from squids, and both have Dark and Psychic types and powers lifted from real cephalopod light shows. Inkay's flashing may come from vampire and Humboldt squids, and Malamar's hypnosis from the cuttlefish, which mesmerizes prey by changing color. In the games, that becomes hypnosis used to control others and, it is said, to change history.

Squid Pokemon FAQ

How many squid Pokemon are there?

There are 7 squid Pokemon. Inkay and Malamar are based on squids, Omanyte and Omastar on ammonites, and Tentacool, Frillish and Jellicent on jellyfish with squid-like arms.

What is the strongest squid Pokemon?

Omastar, with a base stat total of 495. Malamar is next at 482, and Jellicent follows at 480.

Is Malamar a squid?

Yes. Malamar is based on an upside-down squid, with hypnosis taken from the cuttlefish.

Is Tentacool a squid?

No. Tentacool seems to be based on a box jellyfish, though it shares some characteristics of a squid.

Are Omanyte and Omastar squids?

No. They are based on ammonites, prehistoric mollusks related to the present-day squid and octopus.