('''Hoodin''' フーディン ''Fūdin'' in
Japan , '''Simsala''' in
Germany and in
France ) is a fictional character from the
Pokémon series of games. It is listed as Pokémon #065 in the Pokédex.
''Alakazam'''s name is a common word in
Magician s' parlance.
Alakazam's Japanese name, Hoodin, is a reference to either the French magician
Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin or his namesake,
Harry Houdini .
Alakazam is vaguely cat-like in appearance. It stands on two legs and always holds two silver spoons - this can be taken as a reference to psychic
Uri Geller , who can allegedly bend spoons with the power of his mind. (For the controversy involving Geller and Pokémon, see
Kadabra .) As seen in Pokemon: The Movie, these spoons bend when Alakazam is defeated to show it has been overcome. Parts of Alakazam's body are brown, but its predominate colouring is gold. Alakazam wears a long gold moustache - nonetheless, some Alakazam are female.
Alakazam's brain is the most powerful of any Pokémon, with an
IQ said to be in excess of 5,000. It can outperform a
Supercomputer and memorize anything that it sees. It is able to calculate a great deal of information in order to gain the advantage over its opponent. (Compare with
Metagross .) However, its large brain is too heavy to be held up by its neck and shoulders, so Alakazam must use its psychic powers to keep its head aloft. In fact, its muscles are far underdeveloped, so Alakazam uses its psychic powers to move parts of its body. This makes Alakazam's frail body its weakness, but oftentimes it does not need to worry because its mental powers can thorougly defeat most Pokémon before they can attack.
Alakazam must be evolved from a
Kadabra by trading it to another Pokémon game. It will evolve immediately once the trade is completed.
Alakazam is a popular Psychic-type Pokémon, known for high Special Attack, high Speed, and a wide movepool. It can take on a wide range of opponents for this reason. It is often compared to fellow stage-2 Psychic-type
Gardevoir for battling prowess.
This is a possible moveset for Alakazam, ideal back in the second generation of games when the latter three Punch moves were easily available on Technical Machine:
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
The advantage of it is that it covers many types, and is aware of the fact that Alakazam has a much greater special attack power than attack power. With its good speed, Alakazam can theoretically strike quickly, knocking out its opponents with a single hit.
Another possible moveset for Alakazam could be:
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Calm Mind
- Recover
This moveset attempts to first setup with Calm Mind, raising Alakazam's special defense and special attack to enormous levels. Every now and then, the trainer will use recover to heal any damage done from the opponent. Once Alakazam's special attack has been nearly maxed out, he can sweep the enemy team using mainly psychic (which receives STAB). Fire Punch is to be used against Steel Pokémon, which are resistant to psychic attack. Also Fire Punch is good against Bug Pokémon (Bug is good against Psychic Pokémon).
Alakazam is a member of the Red Partnership alongside Charizard and Tyranitar in Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon-Red Rescue Force
Alakazam has not had any prominent roles in the continuity of the Pokémon animé and movies. It was glimpsed once as a Pokémon attempting to battle Mewtwo at the Viridian City Gym, both owned by Giovanni, in Pokémon: The First Movie. Another role involved a giant Alakazam battling a giant Gengar in episode 74, "The Ancient Puzzle of Pokemopolis". This episode is also the first to feature Alakazam on Ash's pokedex.
Anabel , the most powerful Frontier Brain, has an Alakazam.
Alakazam has had four cards, none of them very recent:
- ''Base Set''
- ''Gym Challenge'' (as Sabrina's Alakazam)
- ''Expedition''
- ''Skyridge''
Alakazam was one of the most popular Psychic-type cards in the early stages of the game. Its original appearance in Base Set sported the Damage Swap Pokémon Power, which allowed any damage on the player's side of the field to be arranged in any way. Alakazam made a potent defensive combo with the original
Chansey in the same set.
In the future expansion set currently known as "Miracle Crystal", Alakazam makes its first appearance in several years, as Alakazam "Star".
