TV Special
Description
Dusknoir hails from a paralyzed future timeline. Primal Dialga sends him back in time to capture Grovyle and a human transformed into a Piplup. These targets traveled to the past to prevent the world's paralysis by safeguarding the Time Gears.
Initially, Dusknoir presents himself as a famous, wise, and benevolent explorer. He gains the trust of the protagonist and their partner by rescuing them from hostile Pokémon groups and sharing purported knowledge about the protagonist's amnesia and Dimensional Scream ability. This façade conceals his true objective: thwarting efforts to alter the future. Recognizing the transformed human as his target, Dusknoir sets an elaborate deception. He frames Grovyle as a criminal stealing Time Gears to cause the planet's paralysis, manipulating the protagonist, their partner, and the Lake Guardians into helping capture Grovyle. After Grovyle's capture, Dusknoir abruptly kidnaps the protagonist and partner, transporting them to the future under Primal Dialga's orders to eliminate them.
In the future, after the protagonists and Grovyle escape execution, Dusknoir hunts them relentlessly. He corners them with Primal Dialga's aid, revealing the protagonist's past identity as Grovyle's partner. Despite this, the protagonists escape back to the past. Anticipating their next move, Dusknoir ambushes them at the Hidden Land. A fierce battle ensues, ending with his defeat when his own attack reflects into the mouth on his stomach. In a final manipulation, he warns that changing the past will erase all future beings, including themselves. Undeterred, Grovyle sacrifices himself to restrain Dusknoir and return with him to the future.
Back in the future, Dusknoir initially reverts to his antagonistic role. He devises a scheme to possess Grovyle's body by luring him into a trap using Celebi as bait. However, during their forced collaboration to survive the harsh environment and Primal Dialga's tyranny, Grovyle's unwavering belief in sacrificing oneself for a greater good shakes Dusknoir. At the critical moment, instead of allowing Grovyle's spirit to be destroyed, Dusknoir saves him, betraying Primal Dialga. This act of redemption prompts Primal Dialga to attack him. Witnessing Dusknoir's change of heart, his Sableye minions attempt to protect him. As time begins restoring due to events in the past, Dusknoir fully aligns with Grovyle and Celebi. They confront and defeat Primal Dialga at a Passage of Time. Accepting Grovyle's philosophy that meaningful actions transcend mere existence, Dusknoir vanishes contentedly as the future is erased.
Following the restoration of time, Dusknoir reappears in a new, hopeful future alongside Grovyle, Celebi, and the restored Dialga. He later appears as a recruitable ally in another dimension, testing the resolve of a new team before joining them.
Physically, Dusknoir resembles a typical member of his species: a cyclops-like, primarily black Pokémon with a cylindrical head, a single eye, a spherical body featuring a jagged mouth on its belly, and a wispy tail. He utilizes moves such as Shadow Punch, Shadow Sneak, Ice Punch, and Will-O-Wisp in combat. His belly mouth can swallow targets whole, though he only consumes spectral essence.
Initially, Dusknoir presents himself as a famous, wise, and benevolent explorer. He gains the trust of the protagonist and their partner by rescuing them from hostile Pokémon groups and sharing purported knowledge about the protagonist's amnesia and Dimensional Scream ability. This façade conceals his true objective: thwarting efforts to alter the future. Recognizing the transformed human as his target, Dusknoir sets an elaborate deception. He frames Grovyle as a criminal stealing Time Gears to cause the planet's paralysis, manipulating the protagonist, their partner, and the Lake Guardians into helping capture Grovyle. After Grovyle's capture, Dusknoir abruptly kidnaps the protagonist and partner, transporting them to the future under Primal Dialga's orders to eliminate them.
In the future, after the protagonists and Grovyle escape execution, Dusknoir hunts them relentlessly. He corners them with Primal Dialga's aid, revealing the protagonist's past identity as Grovyle's partner. Despite this, the protagonists escape back to the past. Anticipating their next move, Dusknoir ambushes them at the Hidden Land. A fierce battle ensues, ending with his defeat when his own attack reflects into the mouth on his stomach. In a final manipulation, he warns that changing the past will erase all future beings, including themselves. Undeterred, Grovyle sacrifices himself to restrain Dusknoir and return with him to the future.
Back in the future, Dusknoir initially reverts to his antagonistic role. He devises a scheme to possess Grovyle's body by luring him into a trap using Celebi as bait. However, during their forced collaboration to survive the harsh environment and Primal Dialga's tyranny, Grovyle's unwavering belief in sacrificing oneself for a greater good shakes Dusknoir. At the critical moment, instead of allowing Grovyle's spirit to be destroyed, Dusknoir saves him, betraying Primal Dialga. This act of redemption prompts Primal Dialga to attack him. Witnessing Dusknoir's change of heart, his Sableye minions attempt to protect him. As time begins restoring due to events in the past, Dusknoir fully aligns with Grovyle and Celebi. They confront and defeat Primal Dialga at a Passage of Time. Accepting Grovyle's philosophy that meaningful actions transcend mere existence, Dusknoir vanishes contentedly as the future is erased.
Following the restoration of time, Dusknoir reappears in a new, hopeful future alongside Grovyle, Celebi, and the restored Dialga. He later appears as a recruitable ally in another dimension, testing the resolve of a new team before joining them.
Physically, Dusknoir resembles a typical member of his species: a cyclops-like, primarily black Pokémon with a cylindrical head, a single eye, a spherical body featuring a jagged mouth on its belly, and a wispy tail. He utilizes moves such as Shadow Punch, Shadow Sneak, Ice Punch, and Will-O-Wisp in combat. His belly mouth can swallow targets whole, though he only consumes spectral essence.