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Raikou ライコウ Raikou
Artwork from GSC
National Dex	#243
Johto Dex	#238
Hoenn Dex	#378
Sinnoh Dex	#—
Fiore Browser	R-203
Almia Browser	R—
Type	Electric
Species	Thunder Pokémon
Height	6′03″ (1.9m)
Weight	392.4 lbs. (178.0kg)
Ability	Pressure
Egg group	No eggs
Time to hatch	20,480 steps
Effort yield	1 SpA, 2 Spd
Exp. yield	216 base exp.
Lv100 at	1,250,000 exp.
Gender	—
Pokédex color	Yellow
Catch rate	3
On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. II-III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. II-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex (Gen. II) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Raikou (Japanese: ライコウ Raikou) is a Legendary Electric-type Pokémon. First appearing in the Generation II Games, it is, along with Entei and Suicune, one of the Legendary Beasts created by Ho-Oh after the burning of Brass Tower.

Raikou comes with the ability Pressure, which causes the foe to use two PP instead of one each time it uses a move.

Raikou does not evolve, and no Pokémon evolves into it.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 3 In the manga 3.1 Pokémon Special 4 In the TCG 5 Other appearances 5.1 Super Smash Bros. Melee 6 Game data 6.1 Pokédex entries 6.2 Game locations 6.2.1 In side games 6.3 Base stats 6.4 Type effectiveness 6.5 Learnset 6.5.1 By leveling up 6.5.2 By TM/HM 6.5.3 By breeding 6.5.4 By tutoring 6.5.5 Special moves 6.6 Side game data 6.7 Evolution 6.8 Sprites 6.9 Trivia 6.9.1 Origin 6.9.1.1 Name origin 6.10 In other languages 6.11 Related Articles 7 External links

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.

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 partial mental powers.

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. 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

In the anime

Raikou has two appearances in the anime. The first is in Houndoom's Special Delivery, where Togepi and a Houndoom spot him before he disappears into the skies. He also appears in the Pokémon Chronicles episode, The Legend of Thunder!. Raikou is also currently the only Legendary Pokémon from the Second Generation to not appear in a feature movie (although a Ho-Oh featured in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew was Mew in disguise). Raikou is also the only Legendary Pokémon that hasn't been seen in person by Ash.

The Mauville City Gym Leader Wattson owns many Raikou robots which he uses in his gym.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

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 Mask of Ice 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

Super Smash Bros. Melee

When released from a Poké Ball, Raikou releases a powerful Spark attack that electrocutes any opponents that get caught in it.

Game data

Pokédex entries

Gen	Game	Pokédex entry
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.

Game locations

Gen	Game	Rarity	Location
II	Pokémon Gold and Silver	One	Roaming Johto
	Pokémon Crystal	One	Roaming Johto
III	Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire	None	Trade
	Pokémon Emerald	None	Trade
	Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen	One	Roaming Kanto
	Pokémon Colosseum	One	Shadow Pokémon Laboratory (Shadow)
	Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	None	Trade
IV	Pokémon Diamond and Pearl	None	Pal Park
	Pal Park		Mountain

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Trozei!	Random Agent Cards Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon	Lightning Field (30F)
Pokémon Ranger	Fiore Temple
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2	Concealed Ruins (B20F)

Base stats

HP:	90
Attack:	85
Defense:	75
SpAtk:	115
SpDef:	100
Speed:	115

Type effectiveness

Weakness	Resistance
Ground: 2×	Flying: ½× Steel: ½× Electric: ½×	Normal: 1× Fighting: 1× Poison: 1× Rock: 1× Bug: 1× Ghost: 1× Grass: 1× Fire: 1× Water: 1× Psychic: 1× Ice: 1× Dragon: 1× Dark: 1×

Learnset

Raikou is capable of learning the following moves.
Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.

By leveling up

Level	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
Start	Bite Leer	Bite Leer	Bite Leer
8			ThunderShock
11	ThunderShock	ThunderShock
15			Roar
21	Roar	Roar
22			Quick Attack
29			Spark
31	Quick Attack	Quick Attack
36			Reflect
41	Spark	Spark
43			Crunch
50			Thunder Fang
51	Reflect	Reflect
57			Discharge
61	Crunch	Crunch
64			Extrasensory
71	Thunder	Thunder	Thunder
78			Calm Mind
81		Calm Mind

By TM/HM

#	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
TM02	Headbutt
TM03	Curse
TM04		Calm Mind	Calm Mind
HM05	Roar	Roar	Roar
TM06	Toxic	Toxic	Toxic
TM07	Zap Cannon
TM08	Rock Smash
TM09	Psych Up
TM10	Hidden Power	Hidden Power	Hidden Power
TM11	Sunny Day	Sunny Day	Sunny Day
TM13	Snore
TM15	Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam
TM16			Light Screen
TM17	Protect	Protect	Protect
TM18	Rain Dance	Rain Dance	Rain Dance
TM20	Endure
TM21	Frustration	Frustration	Frustration
TM23	Iron Tail	Iron Tail	Iron Tail
TM24		Thunderbolt	Thunderbolt
TM25	Thunder	Thunder	Thunder
TM27	Return	Return	Return
TM28	Dig	Dig	Dig
TM30			Shadow Ball
TM31	Mud Slap
TM32	Double Team	Double Team	Double Team
TM33		Reflect	Reflect
TM34	Swagger	Shock Wave	Shock Wave
TM35	Sleep Talk
TM37	Sandstorm	Sandstorm	Sandstorm
TM39	Swift
TM42		Facade	Facade
TM43	Detect	Secret Power	Secret Power
TM44	Rest	Rest	Rest
TM57			Charge Beam
TM58			Endure
TM68			Giga Impact
TM70			Flash
TM73			Thunder Wave
TM82			Sleep Talk
TM83			Natural Gift
TM87			Swagger
TM90			Substitute
HM01	Cut	Cut	Cut
HM04	Strength	Strength	Strength
HM05	Flash	Flash
HM06		Rock Smash	Rock Smash
HM08			Rock Climb

By breeding

By tutoring

Special moves

Side game data

Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 0.1%	Friend Area: Sacred Field
Phrases
51%-100% HP	I am the thunderbolt that races through the fields!
26%-50% HP	I don't like this... My HP is cut to half?
1%-25% HP	This is it... The power of lightning fails here...
Level Up	I gained a level! May lightning bolts empower me!
Pokémon Ranger
Group:	Loops: 11	Minimum Experience: -
Poké Assist:	Field Move: Recharge x3	Maximum Experience: -
Raikou is a legendary Pokémon that dashes while dropping thunderbolts.

Evolution

Basic Raikou

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
			Image:Spr 2c 243.gif
			Image:Spr 2c 243 s.gif			Image:Spr b g2 243 s.png
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
	Image:Spr 3r 243.png			Image:Spr 3f 243.png
	Image:Spr 3r 243 s.png		Image:Spr 3e 243 s.gif	Image:Spr 3f 243 s.png		Image:Spr b g3 243 s.png
IV	Diamond	Pearl				Back
	Image:Spr 4d 243.png
						Image:Spr b g4 243 s.png

For other sprites and images, please see Raikou images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Raikou is the only Pokémon in the anime whose image on the 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's sprites in Pokémon Gold and Silver, portrayed it as having an orange cape and lacked the four-point star on its face. This was corrected in Pokémon Crystal.
• Raikou is the only one of the legendary beasts that has not had an appearance in a feature-length movie.
• Raikou is the only pre-Generation IV legendary Pokémon that Ash hasn't met in real life. However, he did see one's tail and a mecha-Raikou inside Wattson's Gym.

Origin

Raikou's appearance resembles the extinct animal known as the sabertooth tiger.

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. This Pokémon is also based on a demon of Japanese lore, the 雷獣 raijū.

In other languages

• German: Raikou
• French: Raikou
• Korean: 라이코 Raiko

Related Articles

• Legendary beasts

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Rakurai, the fanlisting for Raikou at The Anime Fanlistings Network

Legendary Pokémon
	Before the Elite Four									After the Elite Four		Event Pokémon
	Legendary trios			Version mascots								Cute		Über
Kanto	Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres							Mewtwo		Mew
Johto	Raikou	Entei	Suicune	Lugia			Ho-Oh					Celebi
Hoenn	Regirock	Regice	Registeel	Kyogre		Groudon		Rayquaza		Latias	Latios	Jirachi		Deoxys
Sinnoh	Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf	Dialga			Palkia			Heatran	Regigigas	Phione	Manaphy	Darkrai
										Giratina	Cresselia	Shaymin		Arceus

Super Smash Bros. series
Games:	Super Smash Bros. | Super Smash Bros. Melee | Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Characters:	Pikachu | Jigglypuff | Mewtwo | Pichu | Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle | Ivysaur | Charizard) | Lucario
Stages:	Saffron City | Pokémon Stadium | Poké Floats | Pokémon Stadium 2 | Spear Pillar
Poké Ball:	Articuno | Beedrill | Bellossom | Blastoise | Bonsly | Celebi | Chansey | Charizard | Chikorita | Clefairy | Cyndaquil | Deoxys Electrode | Entei | Gardevoir | Goldeen | Groudon | Gulpin | Hitmonlee | Ho-Oh | Jirachi | Koffing | Kyogre | Latias and Latios Lugia | Manaphy | Marill | Meowth | Mew | Metagross | Moltres | Munchlax | Onix | Piplup | Porygon2 | Raikou | Scizor Snorlax | Staryu | Starmie | Suicune | Togepi | Torchic | Unown | Venusaur | Weavile | Weezing | Wobbuffet | Zapdos
Stickers & Trophies:	Melee Trophy list | Brawl Sticker list | Brawl Trophy list
Misc:	The Subspace Emissary | My Music | Final Smash | Pokémon Change | Brawl cameos

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.