Ekans is a serpentine Poison-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. Its name is "snake" spelled backwards, reflecting its snake-like appearance. Ekans has a purple body with a yellow rattle at the tip of its tail and a yellow band around its neck. As it grows older, Ekans increases in length, sometimes reaching up to 6'07" (2m) long. This Pokémon is known for its ability to dislocate its jaw, allowing it to swallow prey larger than itself.
Ekans is a stealthy predator, moving silently through grass to ambush its unsuspecting victims. It has a particular fondness for the eggs of bird Pokémon such as Pidgey and Spearow, which it swallows whole. However, this habit can sometimes lead to trouble, as Ekans may occasionally choke on eggs that are too large. To rest, Ekans coils itself up in a spiral, allowing it to quickly respond to threats from any direction.
Interestingly, newborn Ekans lack venom, making their bites painful but harmless. As they mature, they develop potent venom and can use moves like Poison Sting and Acid. Ekans also possesses a keen sense of smell, using its forked tongue to detect danger and prey in its surroundings.
Pokédex Data
- Category: Snake Pokémon
- Type: Poison
- Height: 6'07" (2.0 m)
- Weight: 15.2 lbs (6.9 kg)
- Abilities: Intimidate, Shed Skin, Unnerve (Hidden)
Breeding
- Egg Groups: Dragon, Field
- Gender Ratio: 50% male, 50% female
- Egg Cycles: 20 (4,884–5,140 steps)
Pokédex Entries Across Versions
- Red/Blue: Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
- Yellow: The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
- Gold: It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
- Crystal: It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings.
Evolutions
Ekans evolves into Arbok at level 22.
Habits and Additions Across Generations
In Generation II, Ekans gained the ability to learn moves like Pursuit and Crunch, enhancing its Dark-type movepool. Generation III introduced the ability Shed Skin, allowing Ekans a chance to heal status conditions each turn. In Generation IV, Ekans received a slight boost to its Special Defense stat. The hidden ability Unnerve was added in Generation V, preventing opponents from consuming their held Berries.