Ho-Oh and Lugia are often collectively referred to as the tower duo by fans. It is also the creator and leader of the legendary beasts. Ho-Oh is the central Legendary Pokémon in the movieI Choose You!, where it is connected to the Rainbow Wing and the "rainbow hero", and is associated with Marshadow, which guides those chosen by the wing toward Ho-Oh.
Ho-Oh is an avian Pokémon resembling a phoenix and a peacock. Its feathers are predominantly gold and red, with yellow tail feathers, a white underside, and green feathers at the tip of its wings. Ho-Oh has a green stripe on its neck, a yellow beak, black rings around its red eyes, and a feathered, yellow crest on its head. It has darkly colored feet and legs with four toes and long talons.
Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light, and its body is said to shine in seven colors. Its wings are prismatic, causing it to trail a rainbow behind it when it flies. Legends claim that Ho-Oh flies through the world's skies on its magnificent, seven-colored wings, and that it lives at the foot of a rainbow. Its feathers are said to bring happiness and joy to those who bear them, while the rare few who witness Ho-Oh are promised eternal happiness. Ho-Oh is also said to reveal itself before a pure-hearted Trainer by shining its bright, rainbow-colored wings. In the Pokémon movie I Choose You!, Ho-Oh drops a Rainbow Wing after appearing to Ash and Pikachu; the wing marks the "rainbow hero" destined to meet and battle Ho-Oh, and can lose its color if held by someone with a cold heart.
Ho-Oh possesses the power to resurrect the dead, as seen with three unnamed Pokémon. When the Brass Tower was burned down 150 years ago, Ho-Oh descended from the sky and revived the three unnamed Pokémon into the Legendary beasts. After this event, Ho-Oh left Ecruteak City, but it is said that it will return from the heavens when a Trainer who can touch the souls of Pokémon appears. Its restorative power is further reflected in I Choose You!, where Ho-Oh appears at Mount Tensei and heals Ash, his friends, and the Pokémon in the area.
Pokémon Colosseum: A Ho-Oh appears in the game's climax, using Sacred Fire to shoot down the helicopter that Evice attempted to use to escape. The player can obtain a Ho-Oh if they complete Mt. Battle in Battle Mode after purifying all 48 Shadow Pokémon.
Legends claim this Pokémon flies the world's skies continuously on its magnificent seven colored wings. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
Its feathers--which glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light--are thought to bring joy. It is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
People say that if you find a feather from one of Ho-Oh’s seven-colored wings, you’ll be promised eternal happiness. Ho-Oh looked so beautiful, sparkling and shining with each flap of its wings.
According to the animated series, Ho-Oh lived in the Tin Tower in ancient times. When a war broke out, burning the Tin Tower down, it created Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, and all four disappeared. Later, a new Tin Tower was erected, but Ho-Oh since then has never come back for sure. A sacred flame from Ho-Oh burns in the Ho-Oh Shrine at Mt. Silver; it was obtained during the same war.
On occasion, Ho-Oh would only be seen by Ash, and always fleetingly. This trend began at the end of Pokémon - I Choose You!, where Ash saw it flying alongside a rainbow across the sky after the thunderstorm. In I Choose You!, which is set in a continuity different from the main series, Ho-Oh played a major role.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Ho-Oh first appeared as a silhouette in a flashback in Just a Spearow Carrier. It was used by the Masked Man to kidnap children showing remarkable talent in his scheme to capture Celebi, including Green and Silver, six years prior to the start of the entire manga.
Prior to the events of the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc, the Masked Man had lost control over Ho-Oh, and thus attacked the Tin Tower using Neo Team Rocket to prompt Ho-Oh to return to Ecruteak City. Ho-Oh was later seen at Indigo Plateau under the Masked Man's control, alongside Lugia, wreaking havoc and destruction. It was then lent to Karen and Will to fight Green with alongside Lugia, and nearly defeated her legendary birds, but both of them were eventually brought back to their senses and freed.
When released from a Poké Ball, Ho-Oh unleashes a spiral of Sacred Fire that deals massive amounts of damage to any opponent caught in it. However, it appears very rarely.
Melee trophy information
As it soars around the skies of the world, this Rainbow Pokémon leaves a trail of rainbows and myths in its wake. Its signature move is called Sacred Fire, and it is believed to appear only before trainers who are pure of heart. If you see a trainer with Ho-oh, you can assume that catching it took a lot of work.
Brawl trophy information
"A Rainbow Pokémon. On sparkling wings of seven colors, Ho-Oh leaves a rainbow behind as it flies. Legend says that Ho-Oh suppressed a war that scorched the land in ancient times. Its attack Sacred Fire can melt ice in an instant and also damage the target with burns. Ho-Oh will show its solemn figure only for the most righteous Trainers."
Ho-Oh returns as an occasional stage hazard in the Blazing Chamber of the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Rarely appearing, it makes the flames supporting the platforms flare up with higher intensity, likely KOing any characters unfortunate enough to be on the platforms at the time.
Trophy Information
This Pokémon flies through the skies, trailing rainbows from its wings, and is said to promise eternal happiness to all who see it. Supposedly, it appears every once in a while in the Fire-type Elite Four Trainer's room in the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Its screams cause pillars of fire to rise all the way to the ceiling.
Ho-Oh is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged defender.
Trivia
Ho-Oh in Pokémon Battle Chess
Ho-Oh was first revealed in the August 1996 issue of Corocoro, along with Pokémon Gold and Silver, thus making it the first sign that the Pokémon franchise would ever expand beyond 151 Pokémon.
From Generation VI onward, Ho-Oh is the heaviest Pokémon that can be taken to the sky by using Sky Drop.
Ho-Oh appears in Pokémon Battle Chess. Alongside Lugia, the player must lose a specific number of pieces (three in Ho-Oh's case) to use it, and it takes four spaces on the board.
Ho-Oh and Lugia are the only Legendary Pokémon that are game mascots that are not version-exclusives in their representative games.
Origin
Ho-Oh may be based on the legend of the phoenix, particularly the East Asian Fenghuang, known in Japan as Hō-ō, from which Ho-Oh derives its name. It may also be based on the Huma bird, a legendary bird said to spend most of its life soaring through the skies, and resurrects itself and others in its ashes and flames; it is a symbol of fortune and friendship and will bestow happiness to anyone who simply glimpses it. Many cultures view the Phoenix and Huma as symbols of resurrection; this is seen in Ho-Oh, which was reborn rising from its ashes and had a hand in resurrecting Suicune, Raikou and Entei; additionally, this is also reflected by its Hidden Ability Regenerator.
Given its category, it may also be an embodiment of the rainbow, very likely inspired by the multicolored aspect of the Fenghuang or by the rainbow-feathered bird god Achiyalabopa. It could also be inspired by many other firebirds; some notable examples are the three-legged bird, Simurgh, and the Ember Bird.
Ho-Oh's shiny coloration may be a reference to its depiction in its debut appearance in the anime.
Name origin
Ho-Oh and Houou may be derived from 鳳凰 Hōō, Japanese reading of the Fènghuáng (Chinese phoenix). It may also be derived from 皇 ō (emperor) or 王 ō (king).
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.
Sacred Ash (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Ho-Oh images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
