Ash's Noctowl

**Ash's Noctowl** (Japanese: **サトシのヨルノズク** *Satoshi's Yorunozuku*) was the fifth Pokémon that Ash caught in the Johto region, and his nineteenth overall. Noctowl is a Shiny Pokémon. During the original series, it was also unusually small in size.

## History

### Original series

Noctowl debuted in *Fowl Play!*, where it flew to a birdhouse. Dr. Wiseman was trying to capture the Noctowl using traps rather than Poké Balls, but each time Noctowl outwitted him and escaped the traps — usually leaving him hypnotized in the process. Ash was offended by Wiseman's tactics and plotted to capture Noctowl traditionally. Wiseman hypnotized Noctowl using its own Hypnosis and a mirror, but Noctowl managed to escape — just in time for Team Rocket to attack and attempt to capture it. Ash risked his own safety to pry Team Rocket's mecha claw open and allow Noctowl to fly free, before Noctowl marshaled the power of Totodile, Cyndaquil, and Pikachu to destroy the mecha and send Team Rocket blasting off. Following the rescue, Noctowl challenged Ash to a battle. Dr. Wiseman decided that it was too smart for him to catch, so Ash should have a go. Pikachu was hypnotized and began to use Thunderbolt on everything except Noctowl. When he shocks himself, he returns to normal. Cunningly, to avoid further hypnosis, Pikachu closed his eyes and listened for Noctowl's wings, then used Thunderbolt, knocking Noctowl out and allowing Ash to capture it.

Throughout Johto, Noctowl performed a lot of the group's scouting, doing so for the first time in *Type Casting* to search for a Sudowoodo.

In *Carrying On!*, Noctowl used its Hypnosis on a Fearow to make it believe it was a Charizard, causing it to flee in fear. It then used Hypnosis on the traumatized Pidgey victim, making it appear as a fellow Pidgey and allowing it to approach. Noctowl later led the gang to the lost carrier Pidgey that had been captured by Team Rocket and alongside Ken, the Pidgey it rescued before, freed them and led the Pidgey into an attack on Team Rocket's balloon.

Noctowl was the Pokémon Ash based his Ecruteak Gym campaign around in *From Ghost to Ghost*. It successfully used Foresight on Gastly, but had to be recalled because it couldn't land any other attacks. It was then sent out against Haunter, struggling to overcome the Ghost type but managed to win through learning Confusion. It was then left to battle Morty's Gengar which was still fresh, and looked vulnerable as Gengar was able to attack while invisible. However, Noctowl was able to reveal Gengar's location by using Confusion through the whole building and then using Foresight to keep Gengar visible. It then finished Gengar off with a Tackle attack and Ash got the Fog Badge.

In *All That Glitters!*, Ash's Gym badges were stolen by a trio of Murkrow, with Noctowl being sent out to retrieve them. However, it ended up getting knocked out due to the battle being three-against-one. It later got a chance at redemption by flying down next to the Darkness Pokémon and remaining completely still. This tricked the Murkrow into a false sense of security, during which Noctowl snatched Ash's last badge. The Murkrow gave chase, but the pursuit was interrupted by Team Rocket. Noctowl protected the Murkrow trio, and with a newfound respect for each other, the four birds worked together to send Team Rocket blasting off.

Ash briefly transferred Noctowl to Professor Oak in *Ring Masters* so that Oak could study its unique coloring while Ash borrowed his Snorlax.

In *The Big Balloon Blow-Up*, Ash used Noctowl during the Pokémon Balloon Race to tow their balloon. During the race it teamed up with Pikachu and Skyler's Fearow to defeat Team Rocket. In the end, Ash and Skyler reached the goal at the same time, making the race a tie.

In *Throwing in the Noctowl*, Ash sent out Noctowl and used its ability to fly in order to carry a plane headed for Olivine City.

In *Fangs for Nothin'*, Ash used Noctowl in battle with Clair's Kingdra at the Blackthorn Gym. Noctowl managed to land a Confusion attack, but an attempt to telekinetically levitate Kingdra was broken by a Hydro Pump attack. Hypnosis also failed and Kingdra was about to knock Noctowl out when the battle was suspended by Team Rocket's antics. Noctowl was not used in the rematch.

Noctowl was used in the battle against Harrison in the quarterfinals of the Silver Conference in *Playing with Fire!*. It was put at a huge disadvantage by fighting Harrison's Steelix, who blinded Noctowl with Sandstorm and then used Dig to avoid Noctowl's Psychic attacks. A single Iron Tail took Noctowl out of the match.

Ash left Noctowl along with his other Johto Pokémon at Professor Oak's Laboratory when he set off for the Hoenn region.

### Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Chronicles

In *Showdown at the Oak Corral*, Noctowl was seen on a branch and spotted Cassidy and Butch when they were breaking into Oak's Lab. It appeared later when it was showing Tracey and Bayleef the way to Cassidy and Butch's helicopter.

In *The Right Place and the Right Mime*, Noctowl reunited with Ash and met his Swellow.

### Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

In *An Old Family Blend!*, Noctowl reunited with its Trainer.

In *Working on a Right Move!*, Ash used Noctowl as his first Pokémon in his battle against Conway in the third round of the Lily of the Valley Conference, where it went up against his Shuckle. With Shuckle first using Withdraw to better withstand Noctowl's Sky Attack and then using Power Trick to switch its offensive and defensive powers with each other, the Mold Pokémon was able to overwhelm Noctowl, forcing Ash to recall it. After Shuckle had been defeated by Gible, Ash sent Noctowl back out to face Lickilicky. Using its ability to fly to its advantage, Noctowl was able to stay out of the reach of Lickilicky's tongue and dodge its long-range Thunderbolt before defeating it with Extrasensory. Next, Conway sent out Dusknoir, which immediately used Trick Room, allowing its subsequent Thunder Punch to outspeed Noctowl and take it out of the fight.

### Pokémon the Series: Black & White

Noctowl was reunited with Ash in *The Dream Continues!*, where it and the rest of Ash's Pokémon posed in a group photo with him.

### Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Noctowl, along with the rest of Ash's Pokémon at the lab, reunited with Ash in *Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!*. During the visit, it was seen relaxing with Gliscor and Leavanny and later watched the battle between Ash and Paul. Before Ash left, it posed with the rest of Ash's Pokémon in a group photo with him.

From *Battling as Hard as Stone!* onwards, Noctowl watched Ash's Masters Eight Tournament matches against Steven, Cynthia, and Leon. In *Partners in Time!*, Noctowl appeared as a vision to Pikachu during his battle against Leon's Charizard. After Ash won the battle, Noctowl joined the rest of Ash's Pokémon at the lab in celebrating their Trainer's victory.

In *Heroes Unite!*, Noctowl, along with the rest of the Pokémon at the lab, welcomed Ash back to Pallet Town after his victory over Leon.

## Personality and characteristics

Personality-wise, Noctowl was presented as intelligent, mischievous, and cunning — although these traits weren't usually emphasized or touched upon after its debut episode. It also presents a serious side to its personality, often going to sleep with dignity, or using its hypnosis on others in order to save them, instead of for prank purposes, as was the case in *Carrying On!*, where it was also shown to develop a soft spot for a small Pidgey. Noctowl is very loyal to Ash because he saved it from Team Rocket, and similar to Bulbasaur, was captured in a fair contest with Pikachu. Noctowl also proved to be a very powerful Pokémon, being used as Ash's secret weapon in his battle with Morty and also performing well in the battle against Conway. In addition, Noctowl served as a scout to look for Team Rocket whenever they would get away with something.

Unlike Ash's other bird Pokémon at the lab, Noctowl does not often participate in flight-based activities like races, searches, or training. It instead is much more likely to be seen relaxing. However, Noctowl did become friends with Ash's Gliscor and Leavanny, as it often hangs out with them, as shown in *Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!*.

## Trivia

* Noctowl is the first Shiny Pokémon seen in the anime, although it is not the first alternately colored Pokémon to appear.
	+ It is also the first Shiny Pokémon to be owned by a main character and the only Shiny Pokémon owned by Ash.
* Noctowl has the most appearances of all Shiny Pokémon in the anime.
* Noctowl is the only one of Ash's bird Pokémon to have been fully evolved when it was caught.
* Noctowl is Ash's only Pokémon to have first used a move in a Pikachu short.
* Although Noctowl was stated to be smaller than other members of its species, it is shown to be about its natural size in its appearances in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series*. It's unknown if this is an error or if it means that it has grown during its time at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
* Out of the Flying types Ash has caught in his journeys, Noctowl was caught the latest, being the last Pokémon Ash caught in the original series. Although Phanpy was the last Pokémon obtained by Ash in the original series, it was obtained as an Egg given to Ash rather than being caught from the wild.