Raikou (Pokémon)

Raikou ライコウ Raikou
Artwork from GSC
Pronunciation	rai-ko
Type	Electric
Species	Thunder Pokémon
National Dex	#243
Johto Dex	#238
Hoenn Dex	#378*
Sinnoh Dex	#—
Fiore Browser	R-203
Almia Browser	R—
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.
Lv. 100 at	1,250,000 exp.
Gender	—
Pokédex color	Yellow
Catch rate	3
Footprint
Body style
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 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.

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 7 Trivia 7.1 Origin 7.1.1 Name origin 8 In other languages 9 Related articles 10 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 that make its appearance similar to the sabre-tooth tiger.

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 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, 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

In the anime

Raikou first appeared in Houndoom's Special Delivery. It was spotted by Togepi and a Houndoom before it disappeared.

One also appeared in the Pokémon Chronicles episode, The Legend of Thunder!.

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. Raikou is the only legendary beast that does not return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

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.
	Platinum	Currently unknown

Game locations

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

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Trozei!	Random Agent Cards Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Red and Blue)	Lightning Field (30F)
Pokémon Ranger	Fiore Temple
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Time and Darkness)	Concealed Ruins (B20F) (with Mystery Part or Secret Slab in the bag)

Base stats

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

Type effectiveness

Weak to	Resistant to	Immune to	Normal effectiveness
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

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
Start	Bite	Dark	Physical	60	100%	25	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
Start	Leer	Normal	Status	—	100%	30	Cool	2 ♥♥
8	ThunderShock	Electric	Special	40	100%	30	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
15	Roar	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
22	Quick Attack	Normal	Physical	40	100%	30	Cool	2 ♥♥
29	Spark	Electric	Physical	65	100%	20	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
36	Reflect	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
43	Crunch	Dark	Physical	80	100%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
50	Thunder Fang	Electric	Physical	65	95%	15	Smart	3 ♥♥♥
57	Discharge	Electric	Special	80	100%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
64	Extrasensory	Psychic	Special	80	100%	30	Cool	2 ♥♥
71	ThunderDP	Electric	Special	120	70%	10	Cool	2 ♥♥
71	Rain DancePt	Water	Status	—	—%	5	Tough	2 ♥♥
78	Calm Mind	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20	Smart	0
85	ThunderPt	Electric	Special	120	70%	10	Cool	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By TM/HM

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
TM	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
TM04	Calm Mind	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20	Smart	0
TM05	Roar	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Cool	0
TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	85%	10	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15	Smart	1 ♥
TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM15	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150	90%	5	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM16	Light Screen	Psychic	Status	—	—%	30	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM18	Rain Dance	Water	Status	—	—%	5	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM23	Iron Tail	Steel	Physical	100	75%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM24	Thunderbolt	Electric	Special	95	100%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM25	Thunder	Electric	Special	120	70%	10	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100%	10	Smart	1 ♥
TM30	Shadow Ball	Ghost	Special	80	100%	15	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM33	Reflect	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM34	Shock Wave	Electric	Special	60	—%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM37	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM43	Secret Power	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM57	Charge Beam	Electric	Special	50	90%	10	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM58	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM68	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150	90%	15	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM70	Flash	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM73	Thunder Wave	Electric	Status	—	100%	10	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM82	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
TM83	Natural Gift	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	50	95%	30	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	80	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
HM06	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	40	100%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
HM08	Rock Climb	Normal	Physical	90	85%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

Generation III and IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
Game							Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Double-Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100%	15	Tough	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Iron Head	Steel	Physical	80	100%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Magnet Rise	Electric	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mimic	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mud-Slap	Ground	Special	20	100%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Psych Up	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Signal Beam	Bug	Special	75	100%	15	Beauty	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Snore	Normal	Special	40	100%	15	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Swift	Normal	Special	60	—%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Thunder Wave	Electric	Status	—	100%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game, while a colored background indicates that the move is available.

Special moves

Pokémon Colosseum
Shadow moves		Level 40+	Purified moves
Shadow Rush	???		Rain Dance	Water
--			Leer	Normal
--			Quick Attack	Normal
--			Thunder	Electric

Side game data

Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
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: 500
Poké Assist:	Field Move: Recharge x3	Maximum Experience: 600
Raikou is a legendary Pokémon that dashes while dropping thunderbolts.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 2	Recruit Rate: 5%	IQ Group: D

Evolution

	Does not evolve
	Raikou  Electric

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum			Back
			Image:Spr 4p 243.png
			Image:Spr 4p 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 also the only pre-Generation IV legendary Pokémon that Ash hasn't encountered in the anime. However, he did see one's tail and three mecha-Raikou inside Wattson's Gym.
• Raikou is also currently the only legendary Pokémon from Generation II to not appear in a feature movie (although a Ho-Oh featured in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew was Mew in disguise).
• In the anime, the four-pointed star on its face is blue, while in the games it is much lighter.

Origin

Raikou's appearance resembles the tiger with its stripes and coat color. However due to its extremely long canine teeths, some suspect it is based on the extinct feline 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
• Chinese: 雷皇

Related articles

• Legendary beasts

External links

• Article on Wikipedia

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 | Giratina	Heatran | Regigigas | Cresselia	Phione | Manaphy | Shaymin	Darkrai | Arceus

Super Smash Bros. series
Games:	Super Smash Bros. | Super Smash Bros. Melee |