Nihilego
Nihilego is a Rock/Poison-type Pokémon, the Parasite Pokémon, number 793 (#0793) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 7 and comes from the Alola region. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 55.5 kg.
Nihilego is the Parasite Pokémon, an Ultra Beast shaped like a jellyfish made of glass. The Pokédex says nobody knows whether it is sentient, though it sometimes behaves like a young girl.
How to pronounce Nihilego
Nihilego is pronounced ny-hih-LEE-goh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Nihilego said out loud:
In Japanese it is ウツロイド (Uturoid).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Nihilego is a jellyfish-like Ultra Beast with a semi-translucent bell ringed with white star shapes and a flaring bright blue rim. Its gelatinous tentacles bunch into a vaguely humanoid figure, with some resembling long hair and arms. Concept art says its body is made of various kinds of glass. It is 1.2 m (3'11") tall and weighs 55.5 kg (122.4 lbs).
Behaviour
Bulbapedia says it is believed to act on self-preservation and shows little emotion or will. When it latches onto a host's head it does not steer the host directly; instead, according to Wicke of the Aether Foundation, its neurotoxin awakens the host's own abilities to an extreme and removes inhibitions. A Sun entry says people on the street saw those infested suddenly turn violent.
Habitat
Bulbapedia says it lives in the Ultra Deep Sea and reaches Alola through Ultra Wormholes. In Sun and Moon one waits in Diglett's Tunnel or Wela Volcano Park, and in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon in the Ultra Deep Sea. It is not available in Scarlet and Violet or Legends: Z-A.
Powers
Its Ability Beast Boost raises its highest stat by a stage whenever it knocks out another Pokémon. It uses Power Gem, Venoshock, Acid Spray and Head Smash, and sets Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Bulbapedia says it can also create illusions. With 127 base Special Attack and 131 Special Defense it is a special attacker that can take a hit.
Name origin
Nihilego may combine nihil (Latin for nothing) and ego (Latin for I), roughly 'I am nothing'. The Japanese name is Uturoid (ウツロイド), which may blend utsuro (void) with id, the instinct-driven part of the mind.
Design inspiration
Bulbapedia says Nihilego is inspired by jellyfish, with a glass body that contrasts with their soft real bodies, and that its Rock typing may reflect glass being made from sand. It may also draw on parasites that affect their hosts' behaviour, such as Toxoplasma. These are fan readings, not official statements.
In the games
Nihilego is one of the Ultra Beasts, strange creatures that arrive from other worlds through Ultra Wormholes, and it debuted in Sun and Moon. It returns in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and in Sword and Shield it is a Max Lair Pokémon once the 'They Came From The Ultra Beyond!' adventure is unlocked.
In the anime
In 'Faba's Revenge!' Faba summoned a Nihilego through an Ultra Wormhole, and it was named properly in 'The Professors' New Adventure!'. A Shiny Nihilego nicknamed Lillie was caught by Gladion in 'The Homecoming Crown!'.
Fun facts
- Setting aside Arceus when it holds a Stone Plate, Nihilego is the one white Rock-type Pokémon.
- Its Shiny form has a yellow tint instead of white.
- Wicke says every Ultra Beast stores Z-Power, the energy that Totem Pokémon carry, which shows as a red flaring aura.
- In 'The Homecoming Crown!' a Nihilego is shown healing people and altering what they see.
Base stats
- HP: 109
- Attack: 53
- Defense: 47
- Sp. Atk: 127
- Sp. Def: 131
- Speed: 103
Nihilego’s base stat total is 570. Its highest stat is Sp. Def.
Type matchups
What is Nihilego weak to?
Nihilego takes extra damage from Ground (4×), Water (2×), Psychic (2×), Steel (2×) moves.
It resists Poison (¼×), Normal (½×), Fire (½×), Flying (½×), Bug (½×), Fairy (½×).
Evolution
Nihilego does not evolve, and it does not evolve from any other Pokémon.
Abilities
- Beast Boost: Raises this Pokémon's highest stat by one stage when it faints another Pokémon.
Moves
Moves Nihilego learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrap | Normal | Physical | 15 |
| 1 | Pound | Normal | Physical | 40 |
| 5 | Acid | Poison | Special | 40 |
| 10 | Tickle | Normal | Status | — |
| 15 | Acid Spray | Poison | Special | 40 |
| 20 | Clear Smog | Poison | Special | 50 |
| 25 | Power Split | Psychic | Status | — |
| 25 | Guard Split | Psychic | Status | — |
| 30 | Venoshock | Poison | Special | 65 |
| 35 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 |
| 40 | Toxic Spikes | Poison | Status | — |
| 45 | Venom Drench | Poison | Status | — |
| 50 | Power Gem | Rock | Special | 80 |
| 55 | Stealth Rock | Rock | Status | — |
| 60 | Mirror Coat | Psychic | Special | — |
| 65 | Wonder Room | Psychic | Status | — |
| 70 | Head Smash | Rock | Physical | 150 |
TM moves (39)
Nihilego can learn 39 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Safeguard, Rest, Rock Slide, Snore, Protect, Sandstorm, Facade, Rock Tomb, Trick Room, Wonder Room, Cross Poison, Venoshock, Round, Hex, Brutal Swing, Body Slam, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psychic, Substitute, Sludge Bomb, Psyshock, Endure, Sleep Talk, Toxic Spikes, Poison Jab, Power Gem, Zen Headbutt, Gunk Shot, Iron Head, Stealth Rock, Grass Knot, Sludge Wave, Foul Play, Ally Switch, Venom Drench, Dazzling Gleam.
Move tutor moves (2): Corrosive Gas, Meteor Beam.
Breeding & training
- Gender: genderless.
- Egg groups: Undiscovered.
- Egg cycles: 120 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 15,360).
- Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 0.
- Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 3 Sp. Def effort values.
- Base experience yield: 257.
Pokédex entries
It appeared in this world from an Ultra Wormhole. Nihilego appears to be a parasite that lives by feeding on people and Pokémon. (Ultra Moon)
A life-form from another world, it was dubbed a UB and is thought to produce a strong neurotoxin. (Ultra Sun)
One of the Ultra Beasts. It's unclear whether or not this Pokémon is sentient, but sometimes it can be observed behaving like a young girl. (Moon)
One of several mysterious Ultra Beasts. People on the street report observing those infested by it suddenly becoming violent. (Sun)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ウツロイド |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Uturoid |
| French | Zéroïd |
| German | Anego |
| Spanish | Nihilego |
| Italian | Nihilego |
| Korean | 텅비드 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 虚吾伊德 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 虛吾伊德 |
Trivia
- Highest HP among Poison types in Gen 7: 109.
- Highest Sp. Atk among Poison types in Gen 7: 127, shared with 1 other.
- Highest base stat total among Poison types in Gen 7: 570.
- Highest HP among Rock types in Gen 7: 109.
- Highest Sp. Atk among Rock types in Gen 7: 127.
- Highest Sp. Def among Rock types in Gen 7: 131.
- Highest base stat total among Rock types in Gen 7: 570, shared with 1 other.
- Taller than 58% of all Pokémon (1.2 m).
- Heavier than 69% of all Pokémon (55.5 kg).
- Base stat total 570, ranked #93 of 1,025.
- Its best stat is Sp. Def, ranked #22 of 1,025.
- One of 3 Pokémon that are both Rock and Poison.
- One of 88 white Pokémon.
- Number 72 of 88 Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 (Alola).
- Can learn 52 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 4 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Nihilego (Pokémon), Serebii: Nihilego (Sword/Shield Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (ny-hih-LEE-goh): no English source says it out loud, so it is our best guess from the parts of the name.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Rock-type Pokémon · Poison-type Pokémon · Rock/Poison weaknesses and matchups · Alola region guide · Beast Boost ability · Compare Nihilego · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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