From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Wobbuffet (Japanese: ソーナンス Sonans) is a Psychic-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

It evolves from Wynaut starting at level 15.

Biology

Wobbuffet is a tall, cyan Pokémon with a soft body. Its eyes usually appear scrunched, and it has a jagged upper lip. The female Wobbuffet has a red marking on its mouth that resembles lipstick, while the male does not. It has flat arms that are wider towards the tip and four stubby legs at the base of its body. There are two eyespots on its black tail. Its eyespots are revealed to be capable of blinking and looking around using its tail in the Pokémon Stadium series. Wobbuffet is very protective of its tail, to the point where it will suddenly turn uncharacteristically aggressive if the tail is attacked.

Wobbuffet is usually a docile Pokémon that will never attack first. However, when it is attacked, it will inflate its body and initiate a counter-strike. When two or more of this Pokémon meet, they will attempt to outlast each other in a battle of endurance. However, since neither is able to attack, they may compete to see which can last without food. Because of its overprotective nature regarding its tail and hatred of light, Wobbuffet lives in dark caves.

In the anime

In the main series

Female Wobbuffet in the anime

Major appearances

Jessie has a Wobbuffet that frequently emerges from his Poké Ball to shout his name or cause what Jessie considers to be trouble. Ever since she accidentally traded her Lickitung for him in Tricks of the Trade, he has appeared in almost every episode in the overall anime, excluding most of Pokémon the Series: Black & White. She rarely uses Wobbuffet in battle, but when she does, the results are generally good. On the other hand, Jessie's few attempts at using Wobbuffet in Contests have all had negative results.

During Pokémon the Series: Black & White, Wobbuffet was left at Team Rocket's headquarters prior to Jessie, James and Meowth's departure to the Unova region. He was later reunited with Jessie when the trio returned to Kanto, and he was the only one of Jessie's Pokémon to accompany her to the Kalos and Alola regions, as well as her worldwide travels in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

Other

Wobbu-Palooza! featured a town in which everyone owned a Wobbuffet, including the local Officer Jenny.

In A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!, Dr. White's female Wobbuffet became the love interest of Jessie's own Wobbuffet.

Minor appearances

The Mirror World has a counterpart for Jessie's Wobbuffet, appearing with Mirror Jessie at the end of The Cave of Mirrors!.

A Trainer's Wobbuffet appeared in A Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell?*.

A Wobbuffet appeared in a fantasy in A Talent for Imitation!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP146 Wobbuffet Ash's Pokédex Wobbuffet, the Patient Pokémon. Wobbuffet like to live in dark areas so they can keep their pitch-black tails concealed. EP146 Wobbuffet James's book Wobbuffet, the Patient Pokémon. --- is unable to initiate attacks.

In Pokémon: Twilight Wings

A Trainer's female Wobbuffet appeared in Buddy.

A Wobbuffet appeared in a flashback in Assistant, under the ownership of a Scientist.



In the manga

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

Similar to the anime, Jessie owns a Wobbuffet.

In the movie adaptations

Jessie also owned a Wobbuffet in the movie adaptations.

In the Pocket Monsters manga

Jessie's Wobbuffet debuted in JNM04.

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

A Wobbuffet appeared in PMDP20.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Wobbuffet debuted in Absolutely Azumarill, under the ownership of Mirei.

A Wobbuffet appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.

A Trainer's Wobbuffet appeared in The Final Dimensional Duel II.

A Wobbuffet appeared in Out-Odding Oddish, under the ownership of a Pokéathlon participant.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

A Wobbuffet appeared in GDZ67, under the ownership of a monk.

In the TCG

In the TFG

One Wobbuffet figure has been released.

Other appearances

When released from a Poké Ball, Wobbuffet will stand on the stage in one place. Anyone attacking or running into it will be damaged by its Counter, apart from the player who threw the Poké Ball, who will only be knocked back.

Wobbuffet is also a Poké Float in Melee. It appears on its side and never fully reveals itself. When it first appears, it will quickly return off-screen but will then come back and remain to allow for fighting to take place on top of it.

Melee trophy information

A Patient Pokémon, Wobbuffet lives in darkness to hide its mismatched black tail. Even for a stoic Pokémon, this creature is a testament to self-control; it will not actively attack an opponent. Its Counter and Mirror Coat moves are solely used for reflecting attacks directly back at its antagonist.

Brawl trophy information

"A Patient Pokémon. A nocturnal, cave-dwelling creature, Wobbuffet is calm and collected, but it will fight back viciously if its black tail is attacked--this hints at something secretive about its tail. If Wobbuffet is put into battle, the opponent cannot run away or switch. Females have lipsticklike markings around their mouths."

Wobbuffet appears as a Spirit.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation II Johto

#107 Gold It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to pump up its counterstrike. Silver To keep its pitch-black tail hidden, it lives quietly in the darkness. It is never first to attack. Crystal In order to conceal its black tail, it lives in a dark cave and only moves about at night. Stadium 2 It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to pump up its counterstrike. Generation III Hoenn

#161 Kanto

#— Ruby If two or more Wobbuffet meet, they will turn competitive and try to outdo the other's endurance. However, they may try to see which one can endure the longest without food. Trainers need to beware of this habit. Sapphire Wobbuffet does nothing but endure attacks - it won't attack on its own. However, it won't endure an attack on its tail. When that happens, the Pokémon will try to take the foe with it using Destiny Bond. Emerald Usually docile, a Wobbuffet strikes back ferociously if its black tail is attacked. It makes its lair in caves where it waits for nightfall. FireRed To keep its pitch-black tail hidden, it lives quietly in the darkness. It is never first to attack. LeafGreen It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to pump up its counterstrike. Generation IV Sinnoh

#— Johto

#108 Diamond It desperately tries to keep its black tail hidden. It is said to be proof the tail hides a secret. Pearl Platinum HeartGold It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to pump up its counterstrike. SoulSilver To keep its pitch-black tail hidden, it lives quietly in the darkness. It is never first to attack. Generation V Unova

#— Black It desperately tries to keep its black tail hidden. It is said to be proof the tail hides a secret. White Black 2 It desperately tries to keep its black tail hidden. It is said to be proof the tail hides a secret. White 2 Generation VI Kalos

Coastal #119 Hoenn

#168 X It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to build up its counterstrike. Y To keep its pitch-black tail hidden, it lives quietly in the darkness. It is never first to attack. Omega Ruby If two or more Wobbuffet meet, they will turn competitive and try to outdo each other's endurance. However, they may try to see which one can endure the longest without food. Trainers need to beware of this habit. Alpha Sapphire Wobbuffet does nothing but endure attacks—it won't attack on its own. However, it won't endure an attack on its tail. When that happens, the Pokémon will try to take the foe with it using Destiny Bond. Generation VII Alola

#— Kanto

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VII. Generation VIII Galar

#217 Sword It hates light and shock. If attacked, it inflates its body to pump up its counterstrike. Shield To keep its pitch-black tail hidden, it lives quietly in the darkness. It is never first to attack.

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation VIII, this Pokémon is: Damaged

normally by: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 2× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic ½× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× Fairy 1× None Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 2× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic ½× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× Fairy 1× None Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 2× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic ½× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× Fairy 1× None Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 2× Ghost 2× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic ½× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 2× Fairy 1× None





Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII TM Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP TM19 TM19 Safeguard Normal Status 0000 — 00—}} —% 25 TM29 TM29 Charm Fairy Status 0000 — 100}} 100% 20 TR17 TR17 Amnesia Psychic Status 0000 — 00—}} —% 20 TR30 TR30 Encore Normal Status 0000 — 100}} 100% 5 Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets when used by Wobbuffet Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Parent Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon learns no moves by breeding. Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Wobbuffet in Generation VIII

onto Wobbuffet in Generation VIII Moves marked with a dagger (†) can only be bred onto Wobbuffet if it hatches as a Wynaut , and cannot be obtained otherwise.

, and cannot be obtained otherwise. Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.

Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Wobbuffet in that game.

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets when used by Wobbuffet Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets when used by Wobbuffet Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By a prior evolution

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Stage Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon has no moves exclusive to prior evolutions. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets when used by Wobbuffet Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Wobbuffet Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations

Side game data





Costumes in Pokémon GO Party hat

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

Origin

Wobbuffet is likely based on a punching bag; that is, when it is hit, it bounces back. Alternatively, it may be based on the concept of Karma as it can only cause damage if it is attacked first. Wobbuffet may also be based on an Okiagari-koboshi doll, a Japanese traditional doll with squinted eyes that stands back upright when pushed over.

Given that Wobbuffet often touches its hand to its forehead, it may also be based on the late Japanese comedian 林家三平 Sanpei Hayashiya, who was famous for repeatedly touching his hand to his forehead while saying one of his trademark lines, そうなんす、奥さん sō nansu, okusan, "That's the way it is, ma'am."

Name origin

Wobbuffet is a combination of wobble and buffet (to strike repeatedly), referring to its punching-bag shape.

Sonans is homophonous with the interjection そうなんす sō na-n-su, which roughly means, "That's the way it is." It is played off by its pre-evolution, Wynaut, whose Japanese name, Sohnano, is nearly homophonous with the phrase そうなの sō na no, meaning, "Really?" Together, they make for a potential perpetual conversation of, "Really?" followed by, "That's the way it is," and so on, as seen in Camp Pikachu.

Other languages' names for the Pokémon in this family, due to the fact that they were introduced in different generations, do not feature this pun.

In other languages





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