Zacian (Japanese: ザシアン, Hepburn: Zashian) (ZAH-shee-uhn[1]) is a Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. It is the mascot for Pokémon Sword.
When it is holding a Rusted Sword in battle it turns into its Crowned Sword form, which is a Fairy/Steel type.
Biology[]
Physiology[]
In Zacian's 'Hero of many battles' form resembles a quadrupedal yellow eyed, azure and white fur-colored wolf-like creature with a coral pink nose and lower jaw, small coral pink wing blade-like fur, long matching colored braid-like fur and a coral pink tail in a triangle shape. Zacian has multiple scars and scratches all over its svelte body and its left ear is cut half clean off, likely a result of injuries it suffered from battles. Its azure fur also looks somewhat messy.
In its Crowned Sword form, Zacian wears a gold armor with wing-like plates on its front legs, smaller plates on its hind legs, and a crown-like helmet that covers up the broken ear, the coral pink fur bangs become thicker and more slender, and the azure fur is cleaner. In this form, Zacian carries a golden sword with azure and coral pink colored gems on its mouth.
Shiny Zacian is cyan, as its name suggests.
Behavior[]
It seems to share a rivalry to who looks like its counterpart Zamazenta. Mainly Zacian lives in forests and woods. Zacian has been known to trick people who lurk too far into where it calls its home.
History[]
Long ago, the Galar region was brought to the brink of destruction by a terrible event known as the Darkest Day. It was through the courage of brave hero wielding a sword and a shield that Galar was saved from calamity. In some parts of the region, however, elders remember a slightly different version of the legend. According to them, the hero of Galar was actually two heroes, and they were Pokémon rather than people. Some say that Zacian was Zamazenta's older sister, while others saw them instead as rivals. Regardless, according to the old version of the myth, the two heroes worked together alongside an ancient king of Galar to save the region before descending into the Slumbering Weald east of Postwick to slumber, their weapons left to rust. Today, though the heroes have largely been misremembered, Galarians still believe that something peculiar remains afoot in the Slumbering Weald.
Game info[]
Game locations[]
Zacian (Zamazenta If playing Shield) is first found in the Slumbering Weald at the beginning of the game. You and your rival Hop take it on, but the moves seemingly get lost in the fog and have no effect. You also see it in the Post-Game in Wyndon on the top of the tower after defeating Sordward.
| Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Version(s) | Area(s) | Rarity |
| Sword and Shield | Tower Summit (Sword only) | One |
Pokédex entries[]
- Sword
Hero of Many Battles: Known as a legendary hero, this Pokémon absorbs metal particles, transforming them into a weapon it uses to battle.
Crowned Sword: Now armed with a weapon it used in ancient times, this Pokémon needs only a single strike to fell even Gigantamax Pokémon. - Shield
Hero of Many Battles: This Pokémon has slumbered for many years. Some say it's Zamazenta's elder sister, others say the two Pokémon are rivals.
Crowned Sword: Able to cut down anything with a single strike, it became known as the Fairy King's Sword, and it inspired awe in friend and foe alike.
Stats[]
- Generation IX-present
- Generation VIII
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 660
|
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 700
|
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 670
|
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 720
|
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 | Sacred Sword | 
|
Physical | 90 | 100% | 15 |
| 1 | Quick Guard |
|
Status | — | 100% | 15 |
| 1 | Metal Claw | 
|
Physical | 50 | 95% | 35 |
| 1 | Howl | 
|
Status | — | 100% | 40 |
| 1 | Quick Attack |
|
Physical | 40 | 100% | 30 |
| 1 | Bite | 
|
Physical | 60 | 100% | 25 |
| 11 | Slash |
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
| 22 | Swords Dance |
|
Status | — | 100% | 20 |
| 33 | Iron Head |
|
Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| 44 | Laser Focus |
|
Status | — | 100% | 30 |
| 55 | Crunch |
|
Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| 66 | Moonblast | 
|
Special | 95 | 100% | 15 |
| 77 | Close Combat |
|
Physical | 120 | 100% | 5 |
| 88 | Giga Impact |
|
Physical | 150 | 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[]
| Zacian 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 |
| ' | Steel Beam |
|
Special | 140 | 95% | 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. | ||||||
Sprites[]
Appearances[]
Anime[]
Zacian, alongside Zamazenta, only made brief appearances in the certain recent opening scenes of Pokémon (2019), and has debuted in some episodes they appeared in. It played a major role in the upcoming "Sword and Shield Edition" arc where it transformed into its Crowned Sword forme to help Ash and Goh with battling and defeating Eternatus, alongside Zamazenta in its Crowned Shield forme.
Trivia[]
- Its cry is identical to Zamazenta's, except it is higher-pitched.
- Even though Zacian is genderless in-game like all other mascots Legendary Pokémon, its Pokédex entry in Pokémon Shield implies that it is a female.
- Zacian's Crowned Sword sprite shows the sword in its mouth to be pointing to its left, but on the cover and in battle it points to its right.
- According to Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori, Zacian was originally planned to be named as "シアン", but later changed to its current name that is homophonic to "That Cyan!".
- Zacian is one of the three only Pokémon to be incapable of Dynamaxing, the other two being Zamazenta and Eternatus.
- Crowned Sword Zacian is the first dual Fairy-type Pokémon to have Fairy as its primary type that didn't have its type changed prior to Generation VI. (Togetic and Togekiss were originally created as Normal types.)
- Zacian's Hero of Many Battles Form is tied with Zamazentas with lowest base stat total for a box art legendary
- Prior to gen 9, Zacian had 720 in it's crowned form, but lost 20.
Origin[]
It is based on a wolf. The sword in its mouth may be a reference to Excalibur from the Arthurian legends of Celtic Mythology. It may also take inspiration from the Lady of the Lake from the same tale. Its sibling-like relation with Zamazenta can also take inspiration from the relationship between King Arthur and Morgan La Fey.
Its braid-like fur is in a similar fashion to Celtic braids. In its Crowned Sword form, its ribbons, head ornament and wing appendages are likely borrowed concepts from a Valkyrja (a Nordic goddess), namely Brynhild. Zacian and Zamazenta are also likely based on the wolves Skoll and Hati from Norse Mythology.
Etymology[]
Zacian may originate from "cyan", a greenish-blue color. This could refer to the blue color of Pokémon Sword or its Shiny coloration, in which it is cyan.
Gallery[]
_Masters.png "0888Zacian (Crowned Sword) Masters.png (44 KB)")
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| Generation VIII | |
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- ^ Silvestri, Cris (2024). Pokémon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook [Book]. p. 623. Scholastic. ISBN 978-1-339-02801-9.