The Forces of Nature, each in their Incarnate Formes
The Forces of Nature, each in their Therian Formes
The Forces of Nature (Japanese: 大自然の力 forces of nature) is a collective term to refer to the Legendary Pokémon quartet of Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, and Enamorus. They are also known by fans as the kami quartet, cloud quartet, or Legendary genies. They were originally a trio when first introduced in Pokémon Black and White before the introduction of Enamorus in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
The Reveal Glass, introduced in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, causes them to switch between their Incarnate and Therian Formes.
Myths
Myth as portrayed in the anime
Upon visiting the Abundant Shrine, the player will cross a group of three children arguing just before the shrine. They collectively tell the folktale of how "Great Landorus" allegedly punished two other Legendary Pokémon (Tornadus and Thundurus) for wreaking massive destruction across the land with their ferocious gales and fierce thunderstorms. As such, the thankful inhabitants of the land—saved from the danger posed by the Cyclone and Bolt Strike Pokémon—constructed a shrine in honor of Landorus. While Tornadus and Thundurus always fought each other since the beginning of time, they tend to try and avoid each other in order to avoid the wrath of Landorus.
At some point in history, Landorus and Enamorus would arrive at Hisui region after traveling the sea to it during winter's end. Together the duo brought life and field growth to the land of Hisui, bringing forth spring. The duo was revered as gods by the locals in gratitude.
In Black 2 and White 2, it is revealed that the Forces of Nature were in their Therian Formes in the time period depicted in the myth. A man suggests uncertainty on whether the Therian Formes or Incarnate Formes are the true Formes of the trio.
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Professor Laventon theorizes that the Therian Formes are the true forms of the Forces of Nature. Their Therian Formes are seen when they travel the seas, while they assume their Incarnate Formes when staying in a region.
Similar movesets
The following are the Forces of Nature's level-up movesets from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Base stat comparison
Incarnate Forme
Therian Forme
In the games
Pokémon Black and White
TornadusB/ThundurusW will start roaming around Unova after the player listens to the story of an old woman on Route 7. If the player possesses both in their party, they can encounter Landorus at the Abundant Shrine on Route 14.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The player can encounter the Forces of Nature while soaring in the sky. TornadusOR/ThundurusAS can be encountered in the Stormy Clouds located near Fortree City if the player has a Castform in their party. Landorus can also be encountered in the Stormy Clouds located near Fortree City as long as both Tornadus and Thundurus are in the player's party.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
The player can encounter the Forces of Nature in the Ultra Space Wilds' Cliff World dimension by traveling through red warp holes in the Ultra Warp Ride. Tornadus is exclusive to Ultra Sun, Thundurus is exclusive to Ultra Moon, and Landorus appears only if both Tornadus and Thundurus are in the player's party.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
In The Crown Tundra DLC, the Forces of Nature are among the Legendary Pokémon that can be encountered in Dynamax Adventures in the Max Lair. Tornadus is exclusive to Sword, while Thundurus is exclusive to Shield; however, participating in a Dynamax Adventure hosted by a player of the opposite version allows both to be obtained. Landorus appears in both versions.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
After the player receives the request "Incarnate Forces of Hisui" from Cogita, Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus can be found roaming Hisui in certain weather conditions. Tornadus can be found in Bonechill Wastelands during a snowstorm, Thundurus can be found between Sand's Reach and Lunker's Lair during a thunderstorm, and Landorus can be found on Ramanas Island during sunny weather. After the player completes the Pokédex entries for all three and reports back to Cogita, she reveals that there is a fourth member of the group, Enamorus, which she presents before it leaves. Enamorus can then be found in the Scarlet Bog (in any weather). After Enamorus's Pokédex entry is completed, Cogita rewards the player with the Reveal Glass.
In the anime
The initial Forces of Nature in the
anime- Main article: Forces of Nature (anime)
The Forces of Nature first appeared in Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 1 and Part 2 in which it was described that they once fought on Milos Island. Tornadus and Thundurus each had a shrine sealing them from returning to the island, but due to Team Rocket destroying the shrines, they arrived and resumed their destructive rampage. As a result, Lewis enlisted Ash and his friends in a plan to use the Abundant Shrine on the island to call Landorus, who would stop the battle.
Once Landorus finally appeared, the three fought viciously, eventually becoming tired out. At that point, Team Rocket attacked, with Dr. Zager using a weapon on his helicopter to trap the three in laser boxes so they could be taken away. When Ash and the others attacked the helicopter he was forced to release them, and they went back to fighting until Lewis's Revival Herb gave Landorus the strength to subdue Tornadus and Thundurus. The Forces of Nature then used their respective powers to heal Milos Island before leaving for good.
The initial Forces of Nature in their Therian Formes in the anime
Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus appeared again in Unova's Survival Crisis!, as the final goal of Team Rocket's Operation Tempest. In the episode, it is described that they together have the power to control nature, which can be harnessed by one who possesses both Meloetta and the Reveal Glass. Giovanni lead a massive charge of Team Rocket's forces in a bid to capture Meloetta, then took it to the Abyssal Ruins to acquire the Reveal Glass. Using the Reveal Glass, he summoned the Forces of Nature and transformed them into their Therian Formes, enslaving them to be his servants.
A great battle ensued, pitting the Therian Forme Forces of Nature under Giovanni's control against Ash, his friends, Ridley, and Cynthia. However, after absorbing a Thunder attack from Thundurus, Ash's Pikachu used a gigantic Electro Ball that destroyed the pedestal atop the ruins, freeing Meloetta and causing Giovanni to accidentally look directly into the Reveal Glass. As a result of losing Meloetta, who acted as a medium for the use of the trio's power, the power possessed Giovanni and bent him on destroying all of Unova. After Giovanni was saved and Team Rocket fled a short time later, the Forces of Nature were calmed by Meloetta's singing and transformed back into their Incarnate Formes when Ridley used the Reveal Glass himself. They were last seen disappearing into a portal in the sky as the Abyssal Ruins returned to the depths of the ocean.
In the manga
Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus in their Therian Forme in Pokémon Adventures
Be the Best! Pokémon B+W
Only Tornadus appeared in Be the Best! Pokémon B+W, being caught by Monta in Let's Master Pokémon Capturing! in order to add his data to the Pokédex.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Forces of Nature (Adventures)
In Pokémon Adventures, Thundurus was the first of the Forces of Nature to appear, with Black encountering him in Nimbasa City after defeating Elesa. Later, White and Shauntal witnessed Thundurus and Tornadus clashing while aboard the Battle Subway. The clash was stopped by Landorus, but just as he was dragging Thundurus and Tornadus back into the skies, all three Legendary Pokémon were easily caught by Giallo of the Seven Sages. The Forces of Nature were later used by the Shadow Triad to defeat the Gym Leaders defending the Nacrene City museum, and by the Hood Man to battle the Elite Four during Team Plasma's assault on the Pokémon League.
In the Black 2 & White 2 arc, Team Plasma gained access to the Therian Formes of the Forces of Nature after acquiring the Reveal Glass. They were used by the Shadow Triad to battle Blake at the Cold Storage and the Swords of Justice near the Giant Chasm. After Keldeo broke the Reveal Glass, the Forces of Nature were defeated, along with the Shadow Triad. Following this, the Forces of Nature escaped from Team Plasma's control and flew away.
Trivia
- Each member of the group bears a different number of horns: Thundurus has one, Tornadus has two, Landorus has three, and Enamorus has four.
- In Generation V, the Forces of Nature have their own battle transition. A small orange beam will shoot across the screen horizontally from right to left and then a flash will appear before the battle starts.
- In Generation V, the Therian Formes of the Forces of Nature cannot be traded.
- All of the Forces of Nature are weak to the Ice type, with Landorus having a double weakness to it.
- Tornadus and Thundurus were initially designed as red and blue demons, but were changed as they clashed with Sawk and Throh, who were also later redesigned to distance them further. In addition, Landorus was added later when a change was made during development, suggesting that the Forces of Nature was meant to be a duo as opposed to initially a trio.[1]
- In-universe, Professor Burnet was the one who created the name "Therian Forme".[2]
Origin
The Incarnate Formes of the Forces of Nature appear to be based on deities from Japanese mythology. According to Ken Sugimori, Tornadus is based on Fūjin, the kami of wind; Thundurus is based on Raijin, the kami of thunder; and Landorus is based on a deity of the land,[1] perhaps specifically referring to Inari, the kami of harvests. Enamorus appears to be based on Ugajin, the kami of fertility. The Therian Formes of the Forces of Nature seem to draw inspiration from the Four Auspicious Beasts: Tornadus represents the Vermillion Bird, Thundurus represents the Azure Dragon, Landorus represents the White Tiger, and Enamorus represents the Black Tortoise.
The original trio may also be thought of as representing the different domains of the world: Landorus represents the land, Tornadus the heavens, and Thundurus a transitional state between the two (lightning).
The concept of Incarnate and Therian Formes and the Reveal Glass may be based on ancient Chinese Yaoguai, animals/plants cultivating the universal powers for thousands of years to become deities, but their true identities can still be revealed by the Demon-Detecting Mirror. Incarnation is the process of an immaterial being taking on a material form, with this material form being an incarnation. Therian refers to something with a spiritual or psychological association with an animal.
In other languages
References
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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