Zen Mode (Ability)

Zen Mode (Japanese: ダルマモード Daruma Mode) is an Ability introduced in Generation V. It is the signature Ability of both regional forms of Darmanitan and allows it to change form.

Zen Mode ダルマモード
Daruma Mode
Flavor text
Generation V
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is halved.
Generation VI
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.
Generation VII
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.
Generation VIII
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is half or less.

Effect

In battle

At the start of battle or at the end of a turn, if the HP of a Standard Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is below half, it will change into its Zen Mode. At the end of a turn, if the HP of a Zen Mode Darmanitan with the Ability Zen Mode is above half, it will change into its Standard Mode. Darmanitan is always in Standard Mode outside of battle.

In Standard Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is Fire-type and Galarian Darmanitan is Ice-type; in Zen Mode, Unovan Darmanitan is Fire/Psychic-type and Galarian Darmanitan is Ice/Fire-type.

Only Darmanitan can change form with Zen Mode; if another Pokémon gains this Ability (e.g. via Transform), it cannot change forms.

Generations V to VI

If Darmanitan loses Zen Mode or Zen Mode is suppressed with Gastro Acid, it will revert to its Standard Mode and not be able to change form. If Darmanitan gains Zen Mode, at the end of the turn it will change form if its HP is below half.

Role Play fails if the target has the Ability Zen Mode. Entrainment fails if the user has the Ability Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace.

Generation VII onward

Role Play, Gastro Acid, Worry Seed, Simple Beam, and Entrainment fail if the target has the Ability Zen Mode. Skill Swap fails if either Pokémon has Zen Mode. Zen Mode cannot be copied by Trace, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver. Zen Mode cannot be replaced by Mummy or suppressed by Core Enforcer. If a Pokémon other than Darmanitan obtains Zen Mode with Imposter or Transform, the Pokémon will not change forms.

Outside of battle

Zen Mode has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Zen Mode

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
Darmanitan
Standard Mode
Fire Fire Sheer Force None Zen Mode
Darmanitan
Zen Mode
Fire Psychic None None Zen Mode
Darmanitan
Standard Mode
Ice Ice Gorilla Tactics None Zen Mode
Darmanitan
Zen Mode
Ice Fire None None Zen Mode
Please note that this is only 100% accurate to Generation VIII games.
  • For Generation III games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation IV or later and Hidden Abilities.
  • For Generation IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.
  • For Generation V games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VI or later.
  • For Generation VI games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VII or later.
  • For Generation VII games, ignore Abilities introduced in Generation VIII or later.

In the anime

Goh's Darmanitan Bianca's father's Darmanitan Trainer's Darmanitan
Changes the Pokémon's shape when HP is halved.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Darmanitan Darmanitan's body turns into a stone-like statue that turns it into a part Psychic-type. When Darmanitan turns back to normal, its eyebrows become covered in flames and its body changes instantly back to Standard Mode, or Darmanitan's body becomes surrounded in red-yellow flames and it changes back into Standard Mode.
A wild Darmanitan Saving Darmanitan From the Bell! Debut
Bianca's father's Red Flash Darmanitan Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader! None
A Trainer's three Darmanitan A Maractus Musical! None
Five wild Darmanitan Raid Battle in The Ruins! None
Goh's Darmanitan Raid Battle in The Ruins! None


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


Trivia

  • Zen Mode is the only Ability whose name begins with the letter Z.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 達摩模式 Daahtmō Mòuhsīk *
不倒翁模式 Bātdóuyūng Mòuhsīk *
Mandarin 達摩模式 / 达摩模式 Dámó Móshì *
不倒翁模式 Bùdǎowēng Móshì *
Dutch Zenmodus
Finnish Zen-tila
French Mode Transe
German Trance-Modus
Italian Stato Zen
Korean 달마모드 Dalma Mode
Polish Tryb Zen
Portuguese Modo Zen
Spanish Modo Daruma
Vietnamese Trạng thái Daruma



This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.
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