Raikou
ライコウ Raikou
|
|
| 
Artwork from HG/SS
|
|
|
| EV yield
|
HP
0
| Atk
0
| Def
0
| Sp.Atk
1
| Sp.Def
0
| Speed
2
| Exp.
216
|
|
|
|
Raikou (Japanese: ライコウ Raikou) is an Electric-type legendary Pokémon.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
It is, along with Entei and Suicune, one of the legendary beasts created by Ho-Oh after the burning of the Brass Tower.
Biology
Physiology
Raikou is a yellow tiger-like creature with black stripes that resemble lightning bolts and a white under-side. Raikou has a skinny, light-blue tail with a star-shaped formation at the end. Raikou appears to have a purple cape that is supposedly made of thunderclouds. Most of Raikou's face is white with a light-blue "X" on its face and a gray crest on its forehead. Raikou has red eyes and long fangs in its upper jaws that make its appearance similar to the sabre-tooth cat.
Gender differences
Raikou is a genderless species.
Special abilities
Raikou has the ability to shoot bolts of lightning from the rain clouds on its back. Raikou can also attack using its fangs and has limited psychic powers. Raikou has also shown an ability to create storm clouds from its cape, allowing it to fly, however this has only been seen in the Pokémon Adventures manga, whilst attacking Falkner.
Behavior
Raikou is normally distrustful of humans due to the fact that humans have tried to capture the Legendary Beast of Thunder for many centuries, though it has shown some friendship with those that just wish to help it. Raikou tends to show up either when there is a thunderstorm or when other Electric-type Pokémon are in danger.
Habitat
As a member of the legendary beast trio, Raikou is constantly on the move and seems to lack any set place where they show up.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Being an Electric Type Pokémon, Raikou tends to feed on electricity at most Powerplants and Storm clouds.
In the anime
Major appearances
Raikou appeared in the Pokémon Chronicles episode, The Legend of Thunder! where members of Team Rocket hunt down and attempt to catch Raikou.
Other
Raikou will make its first movie appearance alongside Celebi, and the other members of its trio in the thirteenth Pokémon movie, Ruler of Illusions Z. It is currently unknown what bearing its role will have on the plot.
Minor appearances
Raikou first appeared in Houndoom's Special Delivery. It was spotted by Togepi and a Houndoom before it disappeared.
The Mauville City Gym Leader Wattson owns many Raikou robots which he uses in his Gym.
Raikou made a small cameo at the opening of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
Raikou also had a minor appearance in Dawn's Piplup's dream in Three Sides to Every Story!.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
| Pokémon
| Pokédex
| Entry
|
| The Legend of Thunder!
| Raikou
| Jimmy's Pokédex
| Raikou, the Thunder Pokémon. It is said to have descended to earth on a bolt of lightning.
|
| This concludes the entries from the original series.
|
|
In the manga
Raikou was awakened by Yellow along with its two counterparts, and the three raced around Kanto and Johto looking for Trainers to help them defeat the Masked Man to free Ho-Oh. Raikou eventually pairs up with Lt. Surge, and later Gold.
Anabel also owns a Raikou in the Battle Frontier saga. It has been confirmed that it is the same Raikou as the one that befriended Gold. Raikou is more powerful than other Electric-type Pokémon in the manga because billowing thunder clouds follow it everywhere, allowing it to perform powerful attacks more quickly than regular Electric Pokémon.
In the TCG
- Main article: Raikou (TCG)
Other appearances
When released from a Poké Ball, Raikou releases a powerful Spark attack that electrocutes any opponents that get caught in it. Raikou is the only legendary beast that does not return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Game data
Pokédex entries
| Gen
| Game
| Pokédex entry
|
| I
| This Pokémon was not available in Generation I.
|
| II
| Gold
| The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
|
| Silver
| A Pokémon that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
|
| Crystal
| This rough Pokémon stores energy in its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity.
|
| Stadium 2
| The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
|
| III
| Ruby
| Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. The roars of this Pokémon send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down.
|
| Sapphire
| Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. The roars of this Pokémon send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down.
|
| Emerald
| Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. Its roars send shock waves shuddering through the air and ground as if lightning bolts were crashing down.
|
| FireRed
| This Pokémon races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
|
| LeafGreen
| The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
|
| IV
| Diamond
| It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
|
| Pearl
| It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
|
| Platinum
| It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
|
| HeartGold
| The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
|
| SoulSilver
| A Pokémon that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
|
Game locations
In side games
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
| Range
|
| At Lv. 50
| At Lv. 100
|
|
| 150 - 197
| 290 - 384
|
|
| 81 - 150
| 157 - 295
|
|
| 72 - 139
| 139 - 273
|
|
| 108 - 183
| 211 - 361
|
|
| 94 - 167
| 184 - 328
|
|
| 108 - 183
| 211 - 361
|
|
|
- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.
|
Pokéthlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Weak to
| Resistant to
| Immune to
| Normal effectiveness
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learnset
Special moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
Raikou in
Jimmy's Pokédex
- Raikou is the only Pokémon in the anime whose image on the anime Pokédex was of stylized art rather than Ken Sugimori's official artwork for it.
- In the 4Kids dub of the anime, Raikou's name is frequently mispronounced as rai-kuu, rather than rai-ko.
- Raikou is also the only legendary Pokémon that Ash hasn't encountered in the anime.
- Raikou is the only member of its trio not to be weak to another member of its trio. Entei is weak against Suicune and Suicune is weak against Raikou, but Raikou is not weak to either of them.
- In Pokémon Gold and Silver versions, Raikou is incorrectly depicted with short fangs and no cross as well as an orange cloud. This was fixed in Pokémon Crystal version.
Origin
Raikou is based on the 雷獣 raijū, a thunder demon of Japanese lore. In regards to physical build, it most closely represents Smilodon fatalis, an well-known but extinct species of wildcat, often (and incorrectly) referred to as a "saber-toothed tiger". Raikou is particularly based on the Thunder and Lightning gods of most cultures surrounding the world. The flowing purple mane on its back is likely meant to invoke the image of a cumulonimbus cloud, the cloud type most often associated with thunderstorms.
Name origin
The name in Japanese could be taken to mean 雷光, raikou, lightning. It could also be a combination of 雷 rai, thunder and 皇 kō, emperor. Its name may also come from 雷公 raikō ("thunder duke"), identical to the name of the Taoist deity Lei Gong.
In other languages
Related articles
External links
Notes
( Electric )
Body size: 2
For other sprites and images, please see Raikou images on Bulbagarden Archives.
