Pak E. Derm
- “Pak E. Derm won't let you by, unless you give something special a try!”
- —Message Block, Yoshi's Story
Pak E. Derm is an elephant-like creature that first appears in Yoshi's Story. Their name is a pun on the word pachyderm, a term which is no longer in use; it refers to an obsolete taxonomic order of animals in biology that included elephants, whence Pak E. Derms' appearance was inspired.
History
Yoshi's Story
In Yoshi's Story, Pak E. Derm holds up a sign and does not let Yoshi pass. To pass, Yoshi has to Ground Pound the ground, and the Pak E. Derm will fall away, allowing Yoshi to pass. Yoshi has to act quickly because Pak E. Derm will soon recover. Yoshi encounters Pak E. Derm three times throughout the first level, and it does not appear thereafter. Pak E. Derm's Message Block states, "Pak E. Derm will not let you by, unless you give something special a try."
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Pak E. Derm also appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy and in the background of the Yoshi's Story stage. According to the trophy, there is only one; also according to the trophy, he has been practicing the skill of holding the sign for years.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Pak E. Derm is one of the many characters to appear as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Yoshi's Story stage reappears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; by extension, Pak E. Derm reappears as well in the background, having received a very minor redesign. Pak E. Derm also makes an appearance as a Spirit.
Game appearances
| Title | Description | Release date | System/format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoshi's Story | Enemy | 1997 | Nintendo 64 |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Cameo appearance in the background of Yoshi's Island and as a trophy | 2001 | GameCube |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Cameo appearance as a sticker | 2008 | Wii |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Cameo appearance in the background of Yoshi's Island and as a spirit | 2018 | Nintendo Switch |
Profiles and statistics
Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy
| Name | Image | Game | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pak E. Derm | 
|
Yoshi's Story 3/98 |
This pesky pachyderm bars Yoshi's path by sticking poles high into the air. Pak E. Derm has been practicing this skill for years, and he's so masterful that he can even block Yoshi's high-flying Flutter Jump. Pak E. Derm is a little unstable, however, and he tends to topple over if Yoshi pounds the ground anywhere nearby. |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker
| Image | Game | Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Yoshi's Story | [Tail] - Attack +9 Usable by: Yoshi |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirit
| Name | Image | Game | Type | Class | Effect | How to obtain | Spirit battle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponents | Battle conditions | Stage | Song | |||||||
| Pak E. Derm | 
|
Yoshi Series | Support (1) | Advanced | Perfect-Shield Reflect | World of Light (Light Realm); Summoned with an Ellie and Mega Eggdozer core | King Dedede | Rule: Jump Power ↓
|
Yoshi's Story | Yoshi's Story (Melee) |
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | とうさんぞう Tousanzou |
From 「通さなんぞう」 (tōsanzō, I won't let you pass) and 「象」 (zō, elephant). |
| Chinese | 拦路象 Lánlù Xiàng |
Block way elephant |
| German | Tröti |
From tröten (to trumpet) |
| Italian | Pak I. Derm |
from pachiderma, pachyderm |
| Korean | 가못 Gamot |
Possibly a play on 못 가 (You cannot go) |
| Russian | Пах И. Дерм Pakh I. Derm |
From пахидерм (pakhiderm, pachyderm) |
| Spanish | Pak I. Dermo |
From paquidermo, meaning pachyderm. |
