Ash's Rowlet

**Ash's Rowlet** (Japanese: **サトシのモクロー** *Satoshi's Mokuroh*) is the first Pokémon that Ash caught in the Alola region, and his forty-ninth overall. It is often seen outside of its Poké Ball.

## History

### Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

#### As a wild Pokémon

 File:Pikipek Egg.png
Rowlet debuted in *First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!*. A flashback revealed that Rowlet had been born into a flock of Pikipek, led by a Toucannon and Trumbeak, and they took it in as one of their own. Later, it joined its flock to gather fruit from a town on Melemele Island. Rowlet mistook a wind chime for food and brought its bounty to its nest, only to be scolded by Trumbeak that evening and being sent back to gather more.

 File:Rowlet leaving its nest.png
The next day, a tired Rowlet noticed a sweet smell being produced by Mallow's Bounsweet. Believing it to be fruit, Rowlet tried to take Bounsweet, only to be deflected each time it tried. Eventually, the exhausted Rowlet fell out of the sky, but was caught in time by Ash. Rowlet was given a bunch of fruit to eat and after finishing its meal, it took a watermelon and returned to its nest, prompting Ash and Mallow to follow it.

Ash and Mallow soon found Rowlet's nest, but their reunion was cut short by Team Rocket, who arrived to take back the Berries the flock had taken from Bewear. After trapping the flock in nets, Team Rocket set their sights on Pikachu. While Pikachu battled Jessie's Mimikyu, Rowlet freed its friends and then used Leafage to save Pikachu from Mimikyu's attack. Before the battle could go on any longer, Bewear returned and carried Team Rocket back to its den. Ash thanked Rowlet for saving the day before saying goodbye, not wanting to separate it from its family in its nest. Seeing how it wanted to join Ash, Toucannon gave Rowlet its permission to leave the nest. Rowlet happily dove into Ash's backpack and waved goodbye to its family. Delighted, Ash threw a Pokéball at Rowlet and caught it.

#### With Ash

 File:Ash and Rowlet.png
Rowlet participated in its first official battle in *Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!*, where it went up against Hobbes and his Pom-Pom Style Oricorio. Hobbes showed off his great battling skills by having Oricorio gracefully dodge Rowlet's Leafage and shock it afterwards with Revelation Dance. Furthermore, Oricorio was able to counter Rowlet's Tackle with Mirror Move. Rowlet, however, was able to overpower Oricorio and knock it back using its sheer leg strength. Eventually, Oricorio used Teeter Dance which confused Rowlet, allowing the Dancing Pokémon to knock it out with Double Slap.

In *To Top a Totem!*, Rowlet was used in Ash's first island challenge trial in Verdant Cavern. Alongside Pikachu, it first fought a Yungoos and Gumshoos. The two Normal-types showed to be tough opponents, as they were able to use Sand Attack to obstruct Rowlet and Pikachu's sight and movements before hitting them with their attacks. Ash came up a similar tactic using its Leafage, allowing it to knock Yungoos out with Tackle, while Pikachu defeated Gumshoos. Afterwards, Rowlet and Pikachu had to face a Totem Gumshoos. Rowlet attempted to assist Pikachu in battle, but it was defeated by a single hit from Gumshoos' Fling.

In *Trial and Tribulation!*, Ash used Rowlet as his first Pokémon in the Melemele Island grand trial, where it battled against Hala's Crabrawler. It managed to hit Crabrawler with a super effective Peck after dodging a Bubble Beam. Rowlet's attempt to hit a second Peck was stopped however, allowing Crabrawler to hurl it in the air using Brutal Swing followed by a hit from Power-Up Punch. Using a collision between Leafage and Bubble Beam, Rowlet turned the tables by sneaking up on Crabrawler and hit it with a series of Pecks. After barely dodging another Power-Up Punch, it managed to outmaneuver Crabrawler and defeat it with Tackle. Afterwards, Rowlet fell asleep, preventing Ash from using it for the next battle.

In *They Might Not Be Giants!*, Rowlet was asleep on the beach while Ash, Lana, Mallow, Pikachu, and Rockruff watched Lana's Popplio practice making balloons. However, as Popplio was making a balloon, Mallow's Bounsweet sneezed, and blasted out its sweet scent by accident. The scent promptly awoke Rowlet and it flew towards Bounsweet, who instinctively deflected it. Rowlet was sent flying at a high speed into Popplio, and the two eventually floated away in Popplio's balloon. While the others looked for the duo, Rowlet accidentally popped the balloon, causing the duo to fall straight onto a radar that Team Rocket was constructing, with Rowlet getting caught in a ring that was part of the machinery. With this ring, Rowlet was unable to fly. Popplio distracted Team Rocket by using Bubble Beam, then bounced Rowlet on its nose so the two could escape. The two were confronted by Meowth and James' Mareanie, but were saved by a Litten. Litten took the duo to its home, where Stoutland advised it to take the two back to their Trainers. During their long search, the trio got caught by Team Rocket. However, they managed to escape thanks to Litten and blasted Team Rocket off with their combined attacks. Afterwards, Rowlet and Popplio were reunited with their Trainers, with Ash removing Rowlet's ring.

 File:Ash Rowlet defending Litten.png
In *Currying Favor and Flavor!*, Rowlet was sent out to assist Litten in battling a Totem Lurantis and its ally Castform in the Lush Jungle trial. When Litten was tired and about to be hit by a super effective Water Gun from Castform, Rowlet jumped in and took the attack, easily shaking it off and knocked out the Castform with a single Tackle, getting rid of the Sunny Day it had set up in the process. This allowed Litten to defeat Lurantis, meaning Ash cleared the trial and earning him a Grassium Z.

In *Trials and Determinations!*, Rowlet was used in the Akala Island grand trial alongside Rockruff, battling Olivia's Lycanroc and Probopass. Despite their opponents giving them tough times with their combination tactics, Rowlet eventually managed to defeat Probopass with Bloom Doom. Unfortunately for Ash, Rockruff impulsively attacked Rowlet in a fit of aggression, accidentally knocking it out and leaving the Puppy Pokémon to face Lycanroc alone.

In *Rescuing the Unwilling!*, Rowlet and Litten joined Lana, Sophocles, and Mallow in the fight against Lusamine's Mismagius, Milotic, and Lilligant, which were being controlled by Nihilego. Rowlet used Tackle to free Ash's friends and their Pokémon from Lilligant's Teeter Dance, but Lilligant drew Rowlet towards it with its Sweet Scent move. In the next episode, Mallow's Steenee emitted its own Sweet Scent to bring Rowlet back to her. Rowlet was launched into the air by Steenee's Double Slap and afterwards kicked back towards the ground, allowing Rowlet to perform a high-speed Peck attack, dubbed "Rowlaunch" by Lana, on Lilligant. The attack angered Lilligant, causing it to charge up its Solar Beam attack, but Litten interrupted the move with Fire Fang. Although Lilligant appeared to have been defeated by this move, Nihilego made it get back up and continue battling. The battle ended when Ash and Pikachu performed 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt to defeat Nihilego.

In *Some Kind of Laziness!*, Ash went to see Tapu Bulu so it could help train for a rematch with Nanu. After agreeing to help, Tapu Bulu used its powers to make several large trees grow instantly before resting on them to absorb their energy. When Rowlet decided to roost on the trees, it absorbed some of the trees' energy as well, causing it to learn Razor Leaf.

In *Securing the Future!*, Rowlet joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.

 File:Everstone SM anime.png
In *No Stone Unturned!*, Rowlet was used in Ash's battle against Hau, where it went up against its evolved form Dartrix. Rowlet's tendency to fall asleep caused trouble for it, and it was eventually defeated when Ash ended up dropping his Grassium Z while trying to use it. That night, Rowlet became serious, attacking the Substitute doll in Professor Kukui's house. The next day, Ash and Rowlet visited Rowlet's old foster family, who demonstrated how to use Bullet Seed, despite Rotom telling Ash that Rowlet can't learn the move. While searching for small rocks suitable for its Bullet Seed training, Rowlet found an Everstone and swallowed it, much to Ash's horror. Even though Rowlet was able to spit out the stone, it immediately swallowed it again, having taken a liking to it. Using the example of its foster parents, it subsequently learned to use Seed Bomb with the Everstone. The next day, Rowlet and Ash had a rematch against Hau, managing to pull off a win this time around with Bloom Doom.

In *Show Me the Metal!*, a Meltan approached Rowlet as it slept at the Pokémon School. When Rowlet woke up, Meltan was startled and dropped the hex nut on its head to the school roof, from which it was almost taken by a wild Murkrow, but Rowlet managed to get the hex nut first and returned it to its proper owner, making Meltan like Rowlet. As Rowlet subsequently flew into Ash's backpack to sleep, Meltan followed it, and was thus unknowingly taken to Professor Kukui's house by Ash later.

In *Got Meltan?*, Rowlet helped Meltan when it lost its nut head. Later, when Team Rocket attempted to capture Meltan, Rowlet stepped in, protecting it from multiple Fury Swipes until Meltan stepped up and defeated Team Rocket with Flash Cannon. Meltan was later caught by Ash.

In *Aiming for the Top Floor!*, Ash decided to use Rowlet during his battle against Ryuki at the Kantonian Gym, intending to use Rowlet's laid-back nature to prevent it from getting distracted by Ryuki's music, which had gotten Kiawe's Marowak defeated shortly earlier. Although the strategy worked, Rowlet was soon caught by Ryuki's Zweilous' Bite. Seeing its friend in trouble, Meltan angrily retaliated by eating away some of the decorations on Ryuki's suit. Ryuki changed the battle into a Double Battle, with Ash using Rowlet and Meltan against Ryuki's Zweilous and Druddigon. Due to its slow movements, Meltan was unable to dodge Druddigon's Dragon Claws and was forced to try to protect itself with Harden. As Meltan's endurance was running low, Rowlet's Peck suddenly evolved into Brave Bird, allowing it to save Meltan from being defeated. Rowlet and Meltan launched a combination attack at Zweilous and Druddigon, defeating them and winning the battle for Ash.

In *The Battlefield of Truth and Love!*, Ash chose to use Rowlet in his upcoming battle against Hau and his Decidueye. Upon learning this, Rowlet flew into the sky and approached a wild Wingull, asking it to bring its foster family to the Manalo Stadium.

 File:Ash Rowlet Decidueye costume.png
In *Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy!*, Ash and Rowlet were training for their battle when its family arrived at the stadium. Toucannon and Trumbeak demonstrated to Rowlet how to use the move Feather Dance. Rowlet attempted to master it afterwards, but before it could do so, the battle was already about to begin. Trumbeak and the Pikipek returned with a cloak resembling Decidueye, prompting Lana to refer to Rowlet as **Decidulet** (Japanese **ジュナクロー** *Junakroh*) and the battle started. Ash and Rowlet attempted to attack Decidueye with Bloom Doom, but Decidueye was able to dodge it before trapping Rowlet with Spirit Shackle. This nearly left Rowlet unable to avoid Sinister Arrow Raid, but it barely avoided the attack by making it hit its cloak instead.

The match continued in the next episode, with Rowlet enduring a series of powerful Leaf Blade and Razor Leaf attacks. Ash had Rowlet retaliate with Brave Bird, which Decidueye intercepted with Sky Attack. When the smoke cleared, Decidueye eventually got back on its feet while Rowlet lay face-down on the ground. However, just as Nanu was about to award the victory to Hau, Hala quickly realized that Rowlet was sleeping instead and allowed the match to continue. After being hit by Spirit Shackle, Rowlet was able to master Feather Dance while avoiding Sky Attack, molting the entirety of its surface plumage. Afterwards, it knocked Decidueye out with Brave Bird, winning the match.

In *A Full Battle Bounty!*, Rowlet was the third Pokémon Ash used during his Full Battle against Professor Kukui. It went up against his Braviary, which had just defeated Lycanroc. After a lot of struggling, Rowlet was able to beat Braviary. Rowlet went up against Kukui's Venusaur and ended up getting trapped inside his flower while trying to use Brave Bird. Though Rowlet was able to escape from a Solar Beam by using Feather Dance, it was soon defeated by a combination of a super-effective Sludge Bomb and a powerful Vine Whip.

Following Ash's decision to travel the world, he left Rowlet, along with his other Alolan Pokémon, with Professors Kukui and Burnet, before heading back to Pallet Town.

### Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In *That New Old Gang of Mine!*, Rowlet greeted Ash upon his return to Alola and also met Goh.

In *Helping the Hometown Hero!*, Rowlet attended a party to celebrate the return of Lillie and her family after they found Mohn.

In *Paring Pokémon While Parrying!*, Rowlet was seen watching Ash's Masters Eight Tournament match against Leon at the Pokémon School. In *Partners in Time!*, Rowlet appeared as a vision to Pikachu during his battle against Leon's Charizard.

In *A Fated Face-Off!*, Rowlet was shown to have rejoined Ash's team. During the episode, it met Misty and later watched as she and Ash battled over a wild Clauncher.

## Personality and characteristics

 File:Ash Rowlet Nebby backpack.png
Rowlet is somewhat naive and absent-minded. In *First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!*, it brought a wind chime from a market on Hau'oli City to its nest, thinking it was fruit. When Ash asked it to find Lillie in *Getting to Know You!*, it returned with a watermelon instead. Its carefree nature can also be seen in the way it dealt with the Everstone it found in *No Stone Unturned!*: unlike other Pokémon that have prevented themselves from evolving, like Ash's Pikachu or Dawn's Piplup, Rowlet doesn't seem uninterested in evolution or shows a desire to become stronger just as it is—it appears to have done so unintentionally, having decided it simply liked the Everstone better than any other rock it found on the ground. It is irresistibly drawn to the aroma of Sweet Scent, which is mainly seen with Mallow's Tsareena, and will be attracted to it even if the user is an opponent, such as Lusamine's Lilligant in *Rescuing the Unwilling!*. Similarly, Rowlet is easily distracted by the smell of Team Rocket's honey donuts, which can be seen in *Love at First Twirl!* and *Got Meltan?*.

Ash and Rowlet quickly bonded after meeting each other. Seeing how much it wanted to join him, Toucannon encouraged Rowlet to go with Ash as they were parting ways. Rowlet likes to roost and sleep in the tight space of his backpack and does not mind having company inside the bag as well, having shared it at different points with Nebby and Meltan. Its closeness to Ash can be seen when it sits or sleeps on his head or shoulders. Rowlet seems to lack some level of experience and likes to please its caretakers, as seen in *First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!*, when it stayed up all night searching for fruit to take back to its nest, and *They Might Not Be Giants!*, when it was shown to be happy at the thought that Ash would be brought to tears of joy after it reunites with its Trainer. In the same episode, it also revealed a cowardly side to itself, cowering in fear at the presence of a Stoutland due to its appearance.

 File:Rowlet sleeping during battle.png
It has also been shown to be a very relaxed Pokémon, such as in *Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!*, when it spent most of the episode not being bothered by whatever was going on around it, including being splashed by water of being kidnapped by Team Rocket. During the events of *They Might Not Be Giants!*, Rowlet remained somewhat carefree about the whole situation, even taking naps at some points, much to Popplio's dismay. In *Aiming for the Top Floor!*, it was shown to not be distracted by music, having been specifically chosen by Ash to battle Ryuki for this very reason. Rowlet is often seen sleeping during the day, only waking up when it is needed by someone else, mainly for battling. This trait was shown in *To Top a Totem!*, *Currying Favor and Flavor!*, and *Aiming for the Top Floor!*, when Ash called Rowlet out to battle, only to find it asleep. Moreover, it has been shown to sleep in almost any situation, be it mid-air, as seen in *Trial and Tribulation!*, whilst being buried under sand, as seen in *A Grand Debut!*, or even in the middle of a battle, such as in *Battling on the Wing!*. In its time as a wild Pokémon, Rowlet was even seen nodding off as it was being lectured by Trumbeak. However, this does not seem to be a trait common to Rowlet as a species, as Rotom}} noted that it shouldn't be sleeping so much in *Lulled to La-La Land!*.

 File:Rowlet Decidueye Rivalry.png
Like its species is known for, Rowlet is capable of flying silently and delivering powerful kicks, traits which can be seen as soon as its debut episode. It is also a fast flyer, capable of dodging a Z-Move with Rockruff in tow during Ash's Akala Island Grand Trial in *Trials and Determinations!*. In *To Top a Totem!*, it took initiative by cornering an opposing Yungoos without being commanded. Additionally, in *Currying Favor and Flavor!*, it was shown instinctively shielding Litten from getting hit by a super-effective Water Gun, and in *Got Meltan?*, Rowlet protected Meltan from a flurry of Meowth's Fury Swipes. These situations show that Rowlet is an independent and quick-thinking Pokémon, as well as loyal to its friends. Rowlet has taken a more serious approach to battling after its loss to Hau's Dartrix in *No Stone Unturned!*, to the point of returning to its nest in order to get some training with its old foster family. Since then, Rowlet has developed a rivalry with Decidueye. While normally friendly, they can be extremely competitive, as seen in *The Battlefield of Truth and Love!*, when they interacted aggressively and passionately upon learning they would be facing each other in the Manalo Conference.

 File:Ash Rowlet Melmetal.png
Starting in *Show Me the Metal!*, Rowlet formed a close friendship with a Meltan. In fact, it was this closeness between the two Pokémon that allowed Ash to catch Meltan. This particular Meltan approached Rowlet while it was asleep and started to take a nap, but ended up being frightened by Rowlet as it woke up and ended up losing its hex nut. Rowlet managed to return it back to Meltan, swooping in before a wild Murkrow could do so. Rowlet spent the next day taking care of Meltan, who had lost its hex nut after almost being kidnapped by a Murkrow. Rowlet's protectiveness of its friends saw it take Meowth's Fury Swipes in the place of Meltan until it, moved by Rowlet's actions, decided to retaliate with a Flash Cannon, evidencing the strong bond they had formed in a short period of time. A similar thing occurred in *Aiming for the Top Floor!*, when Rowlet gathered its resolve and learned Brave Bird to fight Ryuki's Pokémon after Meltan was the receiving end of a series of Dragon Claw attacks.

Rowlet often had to prevent Meltan from causing damage, such as in *The Secret Princess!*, when it stopped the Hex Nut Pokémon from eating a frying pan. Despite being asleep during Meltan's evolution into Melmetal in *Final Rivals!*, Rowlet instantly recognized its friend upon waking up, congratulating it and finding a nice place to rest inside the hole in its stomach, called **Mel-Row-Tan** (Japanese: **メタルモロー** *Metalmoroh*) by Ash.

## Moves used

 A **†** shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

### Z-Moves used

 A **†** shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

### Moves improvised

File:Rowlaunch Mallow Tsareena.png

## Trivia

* Rowlet is Ash's first:
	+ Officially owned walking Pokémon since Pikachu.
	+ Starter Pokémon to have battled and defeated both of its evolved forms.
	+ Pokémon caught in Alola to have been on rotation from Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet's house.
* Rowlet is the only one of Ash's Flying-type Pokémon to not be fully evolved.
* Out of the Pokémon that Ash caught in Alola, Rowlet is the only one:
	+ To be unevolved.
	+ To have been caught in its debut episode.
	+ To not be weak to Ground-type moves, if non-temporary Pokémon are not counted.
* Out of the ones that can evolve, Rowlet is the only first catch in a series to have not done so.
* Rowlet is Ash's lightest and shortest Pokémon.
* Despite not having its gender confirmed in the original version, Rowlet is referred to as a male in the English dub of *Aiming for the Top Floor!*.