From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Ekans (Japanese: アーボ Arbo) is a Poison-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It evolves into Arbok starting at level 22.

Biology

Ekans is a purple, serpentine Pokémon. Its eyes, underbelly, the thick stripe around its neck, and rattle are yellow. Ekans has three pairs of black lines encircling its body, as well as another line that connects to each slit-pupiled eye and curves toward its nose. Its large mouth has a round, pink tongue and no visible teeth. While painful, a newborn Ekans's bite is not venomous. This Pokémon grows longer with age.

Ekans lives in grassy savannas and plains, where it moves stealthily through grass. It can also be found in forests and desolate wastelands, where it preys on Eggs from Pidgey and Spearow nests, but will strike other prey from behind. By flicking its tongue out, it is able to detect danger and the scent of prey. Its jaw can detach to swallow large prey, but such a meal can make Ekans too heavy to move or become stuck and cause it to faint. It wraps itself around tree branches at night to rest. If not in a tree, it will coil itself up—a position in which it can defend itself from all directions. It was also shown in the second movie to possess some swimming abilities. Its former signature move is Glare.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

Jessie received an Ekans as a chūgen gift (a birthday gift in the dub) prior to the start of the anime. It debuted in Pokémon Emergency!, which also marked the species' debut. It was extremely loyal to her and eventually evolved into an Arbok in Dig Those Diglett! just to make her happy.

Ekans was part of Team Meanies in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!. Gengar commanded the Poisonous Snake Pokémon to eat all of the Berries Team Go-Getters had collected. At one point, Ekans was incorrectly referred to as Arbok by Gengar. While this was an intentional error that Ekans rebuked in the original version (due to the similarities between the Japanese names), this came across as a general mistake in the dub and was corrected in reruns of the episode.

Other

In A Poached Ego!, multiple Ekans were captured by Rico. Jessie released her Arbok along with James's Weezing so they could protect these Ekans and a group of captured Koffing.

In Turning Heads and Training Hard!, a Team Skull Grunt's Ekans was quickly defeated by Ilima and his Eevee. In Battle Royal 151!, it competed in the Manalo Conference, only to be defeated by Ilima's Eevee again.

Minor appearances

In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Trainer's Ekans was defeated by Mewtwo while it was serving Giovanni.

In Pikachu's Vacation, an Ekans was at the Pokémon Theme Park.

In The Power of One, multiple Ekans sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.

An Ekans appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.

In Carrying On!, a sick Ekans was in Way Away Island's Pokémon Center.

In Different Strokes for Different Blokes, an Ekans was a resident of Bewilder Forest.

An Ekans appeared in a fantasy in A Dancing Debut!.

In The Power of Us, Ash caught an Ekans in a special blue Poké Ball for the Pokémon Catch Race.

In Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a Trainer's Ekans was at Old Shore Wharf.

In a flashback in Enter Pikachu!, an Ekans attacked Pichu, only to be scared off when Pichu retaliated.

In Dreams Are Made of These!, Goh caught an Ekans during a Pokémon Orienteering competition. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

An Ekans appeared in JN033.

In Pokémon Origins

In File 1: Red, an Ekans was one of the Pokémon seen in Professor Oak's introduction.

An Ekans appeared in File 3: Giovanni.



In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Jessie's Arbok first appeared as an Ekans in Pikachu's Excellent Adventure.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

Main article: Ekans Brothers

A pair of Ekans known as the Ekans Brothers are part of the supporting cast in Magical Pokémon Journey. Led by Arbok, they are originally antagonists, but later befriend the main characters when Arbok gets a crush on Wigglytuff.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga

An Ekans appeared in JBA4, under the ownership of a Team Rocket Grunt.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Ekans debuted in Go for the Golbat, under the ownership of Koga. It appeared on his arm.

An Ekans appeared in a flashback in Growing Out of Gengar, where it was driven away from its home after the Power Plant had been abandoned.

Harry of the Team Rocket Elite Trio has an Ekans, which first appeared in The Coming of Slowpoke (Eventually).

A Team Rocket Grunt in Johto owns an Ekans, as seen in Sneasel Sneak Attack.

An Ekans was one of the Pokémon pitted against Gold when he offered to help out at the Day Care near Goldenrod City in Quilava Quandary.

An Ekans appeared in The Final Battle IV, where it was one of the Pokémon that helped Emerald with his disabilities.

Team Skull Grunts were seen with an Ekans in Flash and Cosmog's Secret.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

An Ekans appeared in The New Pokémon Is Hatched!!.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

An Ekans appeared in GDZ21.

An Ekans appeared in GDZ23.

An Ekans appeared in GDZ27.

An Ekans appeared in GDZ34.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

An Ekans appeared in Catch That Pokémon Thief!!.

An Ekans appeared in Marill's Special Training to Surpass Pikachu!!.

An Ekans appeared in To the Dragon's Den!!.

In the Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission manga

An Ekans appeared in Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission Episode Two as one of the Pokémon that Solana captured with her Capture Styler. It reappeared in Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission Episode Four and was released in Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission Episode Five.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

An Ekans appeared in a fantasy in PZ01.

In the TCG

In the TFG

One Ekans figure has been released.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ekans is a member of Team Meanies. It attempted to climb Wish Cave with Medicham but collapsed on the first floor.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII.

Click on the generation numbers above to see Ekans's learnsets from other generations.





Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Ekans was originally known as "Arbo", its romanized Japanese name.

In early official art of Ekans, all of the bands on its body were colored yellow instead of just the one on its "neck". This was changed in later art.

An Ekans was originally going to be featured in Pokémon Snap, as shown in an early test shot of an environment that was never featured in the final product. This is also true of its evolution, Arbok.

Ekans is one of fourteen Pokémon that one can collect foreign Pokédex entries for in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

Ekans has never been scanned with a Pokédex in the anime, despite debuting in the second episode of the original series. As such, this makes it the Pokémon with the most episodes aired after its debut without it getting a Pokédex entry.

Origin

Ekans appears to be based on various snakes. Its venomous bite and tail rattle are similar to rattlesnakes, while its lack of visible teeth and diet of eggs are similar to egg-eating snakes. The single yellow stripe around its neck is reminiscent of the ring-necked snake, and the line connecting its eyes makes its face resemble the marking on the back of the Indian cobra's hood. Its ability to learn Glare may be inspired by the legendary basilisk - a venomous, serpentine dragon said to be able to kill people with its stare. This may also explain Ekans' placement in the Dragon Egg Group.

Name origin

Ekans may be snake spelled backwards.

Arbo may be a shortening of its evolution's name, Arbok (which is cobra spelled backwards). It also contains an anagram of ボア boa.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese アーボ Arbo Shortening of Arbok or a partial anagram of ボア boa French Abo Anagram of boa Spanish Ekans Same as English name German Rettan Natter spelled backwards Italian Ekans Same as English name Korean 아보 Abo Anagram of 보아 boa Cantonese Chinese 阿柏蛇 Ábaaksèh Transliteration of the Japanese name, with the character for "snake" added at the end Mandarin Chinese 阿柏蛇 Ābóshé Transliteration of the Japanese name, with the character for "snake" added at the end More languages Hebrew אקנס Ekans Transcription of English name Hindi एक्नस Ekans Transcription of English name Lithuanian Ekansas From English name Russian Эканс Ekans Transcription of English name Thai อาร์โบ Arbo Transcription of trademarked Japanese name





Related articles







