Eternatus (Japanese: ムゲンダイナ, Hepburn: Mugendaina) (ee-TURR-nuh-tuss[1]) is a Poison/Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. It has an Eternamax form known as Eternamax Eternatus.
Biology[]
Eternatus arrived on Galar in a meteorite 20,000 years ago. It is the source of all the Dynamax energy in Galar. 3,000 years ago prior to the events of Sword and Shield, Eternatus caused a calamity known as the Darkest Day, but was stopped by two Galarian nobles and the Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta.
Chairman Rose, believing that Galar would suffer an energy crisis 1,000 years into the future during the events of the game, collected Wishing Stars to awaken Eternatus and use its energy to power Galar indefinitely, believing it could be controlled. Eternatus proved to be uncontrollable and was only subdued with the help of Leon, Hop, the player, Zacian and Zamazenta.
Physiology[]
Outwardly, Eternatus is difficult to compare at least with something. Although this is the largest Pokemon, its entire body seems to consist of blue crystals, resembling, so to speak, the skeleton of a dragon with small gaps in the "bones" in which pink energy is visible. The head is shaped like a reptilian skull, with white eyes that look more like ovals. The mouth is at the bottom. The teeth are shaped like diamond-shaped crystals. The whole head is protected from above by a red translucent shield, which has 3 corners at the nose and 5 on the other side. Branches extend from the shield, attached to the "shield" with pyramid-shaped crystals, 2 on each branch, and then branch out as smooth, tapering towards the ends, processes with small gaps and pink energy, and the second part of the processes is connected to the corners at the end of the shield. There is also a small crystal near the nose in the middle of the shield. The rest of the body has a serpentine shape, like Chinese dragons, with "spikes" from below and above along the entire perimeter of the body. There are only 4 paws - 2 front and 2 back, however, Eternatus, in principle, does not need them, well, except for the front paws. On each (front) paw there are 3 fingers or claws, it's hard to say. A long crystal extends from the shoulders, which passes into crystals, resembling crystals on a shield. Both ends terminate in crystals resembling offshoots from the same shield. The longest crystal has 3 sharp crystals. All this forms the wings of Eternatus. The so-called "ribs" are built in the form of some kind of gun or laser of unknown origin. These "ribs" are lighter on the inside than on the outside. In the "ribs" themselves there is the "Eternatus Core". The hind legs resemble the bones of the hind legs (self-evident). The beginning resembles a hip bone, and the paws themselves, let's say, look very strange. The knee joint has 2 gaps with energy in them. Claws or fingers are simply impossible to describe. The tail looks like a body, but ends in 2 crystals.
No less strange and incomprehensible is its Gigantamax form, for which, in appearance, it can be classified as an Ultra Beast. It looks like a huge paw with a long "beginning", mostly made up of energy, and the crystals are minor, which is the complete opposite of its usual form. The energy itself looks like an incomprehensible pink substance with white grains and stripes on it. The head looks like a hand with incomprehensible crystals on the "fingers" and the center of the palm. The crystals in the center are most likely the mouth of this monster. Each finger is covered with crystals, similar to those that lined the wings. On top of each finger there is a sharp spike. To the ends of the fingers, the spikes are shortened. The body itself is twisted into a spiral and along the entire perimeter, except for the tail, is "dressed" in rings. The tail itself, in its appearance, resembles the same wings of Eternatus. In the center of the spiral is the Nucleus. Along the Core on the body there are sharp long crystals resembling a "fence".
Natural abilities[]
Being the source of all Dynamax energy, Eternatus is able to achieve a form known as "Eternamax", which could be considered similar to Gigantamax due to the drastic changes undergone. It is also capable of preventing opponents from performing any attacks and abilities in this state while charging up energy.
Regardless of form, Eternatus is also able to prevent other Pokémon from utilising Dynamax or Gigantamax states. The massive power it stores in itself is capable of causing Pokémon to inexplicably Dynamax at random.
Game info[]
Game locations[]
| Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Version(s) | Area(s) | Rarity |
| Sword and Shield | Energy Plant Tower Summit | One |
Pokédex entries[]
- Sword
The core on its chest absorbs energy emanating from the lands of the Galar region. This energy is what allows Eternatus to stay active.
Eternamax: As a result of Rose's meddling, Eternatus absorbed all the energy in the Galar region. It's now in a state of power overload. - Shield
It was inside a meteorite that fell 20,000 years ago. There seems to be a connection between this Pokémon and the Dynamax phenomenon.
Eternamax: Infinite amounts of energy pour from this Pokémon's enlarged core, warping the surrounding space-time.
Stats[]
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 690
|
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 1125
|
Learnset[]
By leveling up[]
| Generation IX | ||||||
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
| Generation VIII | ||||||
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| 1 | Poison Tail | 
|
Physical | 50 | 100% | 25 |
| 1 | Confuse Ray | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 1 | Dragon Tail | 
|
Physical | 60 | 90% | 10 |
| 1 | Agility | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 30 |
| 8 | Toxic |
|
Status | — | 90% | 10 |
| 16 | Venoshock |
|
Special | 65 | 100% | 10 |
| 24 | Dragon Dance |
|
Status | — | 100% | 20 |
| 32 | Cross Poison |
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
| 40 | Dragon Pulse |
|
Special | 85 | 100% | 10 |
| 48 | Flamethrower | 
|
Special | 90 | 100% | 15 |
| 56 | Dynamax Cannon |
|
Special | 100 | 100% | 5 |
| 64 | Cosmic Power |
|
Status | — | 100% | 20 |
| 72 | Recover | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 10 |
| 80 | Hyper Beam |
|
Special | 150 | 90% | 5 |
| 88 | Eternabeam |
|
Special | 160 | 90% | 5 |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
By TM[]
| Generation IX | ||||||
| Machine | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
By breeding[]
| Eternatus learns no moves via breeding. |
|---|
By tutoring[]
| Generation IX | ||||||
| Games | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
| Generation VIII | ||||||
| Games | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| SwShTIoASwShTCTBDSP | Draco Meteor |
|
Special | 130 | 90% | 5 |
| SwShTIoASwShTCTBDSP | Meteor Beam | 
|
Special | 120 | 90% | 10 |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
Sprites[]
Appearances[]
Anime[]
Eternatus made a brief appearance in Flash of the Titans!, where it flew through the clouds next to the plane Ash Ketchum and Goh use to travel to Galar while passing by it. Similar to Zekrom, it attracts the high-level energy signature of Ash's Pikachu.
It returned playing a major role as one of the antagonists in a Pokémon Journeys saga based on the primary Sword and Shield storyline; it was eventually caught by Goh and sealed away in a safe.
Trivia[]
- Eternatus is currently the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 690.
- Eternatus' Base Form currently holds the record of largest normal form Pokémon at 65'07", beating out Wailord's 47'07". It is also the heaviest of both of its types.
- After being caught, Eternatus cannot enter its Eternamax or Dynamax form, making it one of the only Pokémon in Sword and Shield to not be able to Dynamax (the others being Zacian and Zamazenta).
- Eternatus is the first, and currently, only permanent Poison-type Legendary Pokémon, excluding Silvally holding a Poison Memory.
- Without their armor, Eternatus has type advantage over Zacian and Zamazenta. Zacian, a Fairy type, is weak to Eternatus' Poison type, which also resists Zamazenta's Fighting type. However, when the two put on their armor, they both gain a secondary Steel type, making both of them immune to the Poison type. In addition, Zacian was already immune to Eternatus' Dragon type, and Zamazenta now resists it.
- Eternatus' Eternamax form has the following characteristics:
- It ties with Blissey for the highest base HP (255).
- It has the highest Defense and Special Defense stats (250 apiece).
- It has the highest base stat of all Pokémon, with a base total of 1125, beating the previous record of 780 of Mega Rayquaza and both forms of Mega Mewtwo.
- It is the only Pokémon whose base stat total exceeds 1000.
- It holds the record for largest Pokémon height (328'01").
- Eternatus is one of few Legendaries to not have a name that is globally shared.
- A Poké Ball is automatically given to the player if there aren't any Poké Balls in the bag during the battle with Eternatus, making it impossible to fail Eternatus' capture.
- It is somewhat similar to Necrozma. Both are the main antagonists of their games’ stories, both power the game's battle mechanic, and both have alternate forms, which can be accessed via using a certain mechanic, along with 2 signature moves.
- Eternatus has an unused theme song.
- Despite being similar, Eternamax Eternatus is neither a Dynamax Pokémon nor a Gigantamax Pokémon. This also means Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash do not double in power.
- Voice effects of Eternatus within the anime is a remix of those of Gamera and Ebirah.[2]
Origin[]
Eternatus is based on various depictions of dragons, most likely the ones depicted in the United Kingdom (the region Galar is based on). It is most likely based on depictions of venomous dragons in folklore such as the one St. George had killed. It also resembles an ancient dinosaur skeleton. According to its etymology, it may be based on Thanatos, the god of death. Strangely, its bones resemble the armor of Necrozma, another extraterrestrial death-themed Pokémon who provided its generation's region with the energy needed for that generation's signature combat mechanic (Z-Moves in Necrozma's case, Dynamax in Eternatus's). Its multiple blank white eyes resemble those of Crocomire, a boss from the game Super Metroid. It could also be based on several personifications of evil, as it was the Pokemon that almost destroyed Galar, but was stopped by Calyrex.
It may also be based on the biblical Seven Headed Dragon that throws one-third of all stars down to Earth and is then banished, which leads to the end of all time. This may have inspired the Wishing Stars (the stars that fall down to Earth, with Eternamax Eternatus' "hand" resembling a giant star), the banishment (the player only being able to catch Eternatus and being unable to let it retreat), and the Darkest Day (the end of all time). Eternamax Eternatus is also depicted with several heads rather than the single head it has in its normal form, albeit it only sports five heads rather than seven. Additionally, Eternatus may be based on a deity named "Etermalden" from some rare Abrahamic branches of religion, which is believed to be a dragon who represents the state of absence of good and evil and is powerful enough to destroy Hell and severely mutilate even Heaven and the angels. Eternatus's Eternamax form could be based on the theory that said dragon of absence also is to transform into the seven headed dragon at the end of the Hebrew Bible.
In terms of genre analysis or "meta", or "fourth wall genre awareness", Eternatus likely draws upon classical fantasy motifs of slaying primordial and chthonic forces that threaten humanity, as to the Lernaden Hydra, Yamata no Orochi, and the Dragon slain by St. George, and to RPGs, to embody the form of a more traditional endboss that threatens the world and all who live in it. Finally, its Eternamax form harkens to the European art motif of the Hand of God, used to display God's intervention and His will to depict Him without displaying a tangible form, which was considered blasphemous in the Middle Ages. In turn with Eternatus' RPG Endboss theming, this may also be a throwback to the 1990s and early 2000s JRPG era, significantly to such series and installments such as Lunar, Grandia II, Final Fantasy X, Xenosaga, and Tales of the Abyss, which came to challenge religious fatalism and eschatological/end times zealotry.
Etymology[]
Eternatus comes from the words "eternal", "aeternatus" (immortalized in Latin), and "Thanatus" (Thanatos in Latin).
Its Japanese name, Mugendaina, comes from the words "mugendai" (infinity), "dynamic", "die" (as it's a Poison type), and "Daimax" (Dynamax).
Gallery[]
| Generation I | |
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| Generation II | |
| Generation III | |
| Generation IV | |
| Generation V | |
| Generation VI | |
| Generation VII | |
| Generation VIII | |
| Generation IX | |
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| See also | |
| Generation VIII | |
- ^ Silvestri, Cris (2024). Pokémon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook [Book]. p. 175. Scholastic. ISBN 978-1-339-02801-9.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmbBE8yIrI