#0571 · Unova · Generation 5

Zoroark

Illusion Fox Pokémon · Dark-type

Zoroark is a Dark-type Pokémon, the Illusion Fox Pokémon, number 571 (#0571) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 5 and comes from the Unova region. It is 1.6 m tall and weighs 81.1 kg.

Zoroark is the Illusion Fox Pokémon, a master of deception that the Pokédex says can fool hundreds of people at the same time. It would rather trick intruders away than fight them, and it will defend its pack fiercely.

How to pronounce Zoroark

Zoroark is pronounced ZOR-oh-ark. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Zoroark said out loud:

In Japanese it is ゾロアーク.

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Zoroark is a tall, bipedal grey fox with red and black accents and red claws. It has a long red mane tipped with black, tied back in a ponytail, and a black ruff across its shoulders. It stands 1.6 m tall and weighs 81.1 kg. Bulbapedia says it cannot physically change shape and only casts illusions, but when it appears as a human it can speak.

Behaviour

Zoroark is fiercely loyal to its pack, and the Pokédex says its family ties are very strong. It conjures terrifying illusions to keep its den safe and screens its lair behind illusory scenery. Stories say that people who tried to catch one were punished with an illusion that trapped them.

Habitat

Bulbapedia says it can paint fake scenery over the forest around its den, and that Hisuian Zoroark prefers cold areas. In Scarlet and Violet the Unovan form lives in Paldea's North Province.

Powers

Its only Ability is Illusion, which disguises it as the last conscious member of its team until it is hit. Night Slash is the move it has on evolving, and it also uses Foul Play, Nasty Plot, Flamethrower and Focus Blast. Hisuian Zoroark is a Normal and Ghost type that looks, the Pokédex says, like an embodiment of death and attacks with such bitter energy that it injures itself. With 120 base Special Attack and 105 Speed it hits hard and fast.

Name origin

Zoroark may combine 'zorro', Spanish for fox, with 'roar', and with 'dark', the Japanese aku (evil) or the prefix 'arch-'. The Japanese name is the same: Zoroark (ゾロアーク).

Design inspiration

Atsuko Nishida designed Zoroark, and Bulbapedia says Ken Sugimori described its ponytail mane as a stand-in for its missing tail. Like Zorua it may draw on the kitsune. Hisuian Zoroark may be based on the onryo, a vengeful ghost typically drawn with dishevelled hair, or on Cironnup Kamuy, the Ainu fox deity.

Evolution notes

Evolves from Zorua at level 30, and Hisuian Zoroark evolves from Hisuian Zorua at the same level.

In the games

Zoroark is a Poké Ball summon in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Ultimate, and it is playable in Pokémon UNITE, where it starts as Zorua and evolves at level 5. It debuted in Black and White, and Hisuian Zoroark is a Legends: Arceus resident of the Alabaster Icelands. In Scarlet and Violet the Unovan form can be found on Socarrat Trail, sometimes disguised as another Pokémon, and in 5-star Tera Raids; it is not in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Zoroark debuted in the film Zoroark: Master of Illusions, where villain Grings Kodai forced her to attack Crown City in the guise of Suicune, Entei and Raikou to keep Zorua safe. Gladion's Zoroark joins his team in 'Chasing Memories, Creating Dreams!'.

Fun facts

• According to Bulbapedia, Zorua, Zoroark and their Hisuian forms are the only Pokémon known to have the Ability Illusion.
• Like Lucario before it, Zoroark appeared in a film before its games, and the two share a gender ratio and the 1,059,860 Exp needed for level 100.
• Bulbapedia says pre-release CoroCoro information hinted that Zoroark would evolve by an unusual method, though the real one is a plain level 30.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Zoroark (Pokémon) · Serebii: Zoroark (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 60
• Attack: 105
• Defense: 60
• Sp. Atk: 120
• Sp. Def: 60
• Speed: 105

Zoroark’s base stat total is 510. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Zoroark weak to?

Zoroark takes extra damage from Fighting (2×), Bug (2×), Fairy (2×) moves.

It resists Ghost (½×), Dark (½×).

It is immune to Psychic moves.

Evolution

What does Zoroark evolve from?

Zoroark evolves from Zorua (Level 30; Hisuian Zorua: Level 30).

Zoroark is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Zorua, Zoroark.

Forms

• Hisuian Zoroark (Hisuian form): Normal/Ghost-type, base stat total 510 (HP 55, Attack 100, Defense 60, Sp. Atk 125, Sp. Def 60, Speed 110). Ability: Illusion.

Abilities

• Illusion: Takes the appearance of the last conscious party Pokémon upon being sent out until hit by a damaging move.

Moves

Moves Zoroark learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Zoroark learns the move the moment it evolves: Night Slash.

TM moves (57)

Zoroark can learn 57 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Fake Tears, Agility, Scary Face, Protect, Low Kick, Confuse Ray, Thief, Facade, Aerial Ace, Hex, Snarl, Swift, Low Sweep, Night Shade, Fling, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Dig, Brick Break, U-turn, Shadow Claw, Foul Play, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Grass Knot, Rest, Taunt, Swords Dance, Imprison, Dark Pulse, Substitute, Crunch, Trick, Shadow Ball, Hyper Voice, Psychic, Flamethrower, Calm Mind, Helping Hand, Nasty Plot, Sludge Bomb, Giga Impact, Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Toxic, Spite, Knock Off, Burning Jealousy, Lash Out, Pain Split, Psych Up, Skitter Smack, Throat Chop.

Egg moves (6), which Zorua can hatch knowing:Copycat, Counter, Detect, Extrasensory, Memento, Sucker Punch.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 179.

Pokédex entries

Seeking to ease the burden of their solitude, lonely Trainers tell Zoroark to show illusions to them. (Shield)

With its disheveled white fur, it looks like an embodiment of death. Heedless of its own safety, Zoroark attacks its nemeses with a bitter energy so intense, it lacerates Zoroark's own body. (Legends: Arceus)

This Pokémon cares deeply about others of its kind, and it will conjure terrifying illusions to keep its den and pack safe. (Sword)

If it thinks humans are going to discover its den, Zoroark shows them visions that make them wander around in the woods. (Ultra Moon)

It doesn't just transform itself—it also has the power to make hundreds of people see its illusions. (Ultra Sun)

Bonds between these Pokémon are very strong. It protects the safety of its pack by tricking its opponents. (Black, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 77% of all Pokémon (1.6 m).
• Heavier than 78% of all Pokémon (81.1 kg).
• Base stat total 510, ranked #237 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Sp. Atk, ranked #76 of 1,025.
• One of 69 Dark-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 107 gray Pokémon.
• Number 78 of 156 Pokémon introduced in Generation 5 (Unova).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 70 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 8 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: Zoroark (Pokémon), Serebii: Zoroark (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (ZOR-oh-ark): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Dark-type Pokémon · Zoroark vs Lucario · Zoroark vs Mimikyu · Zoroark vs Greninja · Unova region guide · Illusion ability · Compare Zoroark · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 5 Dark-type Pokémon · Gen 5 Pokémon list · Gray Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with Z · Fox Pokémon

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