Red Chain

Red Chain あかいくさり Red Chain

Pokémon Global Link artwork

Introduced in Generation IV Pocket Generation IV Key items Generation V Key items Generation VI Key items Generation VII Key items

The Red Chain (Japanese: あかいくさり Red Chain) is an unobtainable Key Item that was first included in the game data of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. It is not legitimately available in any game.

While not obtainable by the player, the Red Chain plays a notable role in the story of the Sinnoh-based games. Team Galactic creates it from crystals extracted from the three lake guardians in order for Cyrus to control Dialga and/or Palkia without the need to catch them in a Poké Ball.

In the games

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn succeed in capturing Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf, respectively, at their respective lakes and bringing them to the Team Galactic HQ, where gems are extracted from their bodies to create the Red Chain.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Even though the player succeeds in freeing the lake guardians, the Red Chain is still completed. At the Spear Pillar, Cyrus uses the chain to summon and take control of Dialga^D/Palkia^P. However, just when the Legendary Pokémon is about to fulfill Cyrus's wish of a new universe, the lake guardians appear and destroy the Red Chain, preventing the new universe from being created.

Pokémon Platinum

Due to the player freeing the lake guardians when only one Red Chain was created, Cyrus is forced to create a second one through artificial means. Using these two chains, he summons both Dialga and Palkia to the Spear Pillar in order to recreate the universe. Even though the lake guardians appear to intervene, they cannot maintain the balance against both of the Legendary Pokémon at once. However, enraged by Cyrus's actions, Giratina then appears and drags Cyrus into the Distortion World, presumably destroying the Red Chains in the process.

Cyrus's PC entries

In Platinum, Cyrus's computer details information on the Red Chain:

The Pokémon of the lakes and Mt. Coronet are somehow connected. Capturing the Pokémon of the lakes will free the Pokémon of Mt. Coronet. From the Pokémon of the lakes, crystals can be extracted to create a Red Chain.
Using that Red Chain, the mythical Pokémon can be summoned and shackled to do as we command...

Price

Games Cost Sell price DPPtHGSS BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUM N/A N/A

Description

Games Description DPPtHGSS BWB2W2 A mythical chain that is said to link the legendary Pokémon that created the Sinnoh region. XYORAS SMUSUM A mythical chain that is said to link the Legendary Pokémon that created the Sinnoh region.

In the anime

In the main series

The Red Chain in the anime

In Unlocking the Red Chain of Events!, Team Galactic was revealed to be creating the Red Chain at the abandoned Fuego Ironworks, using the meteorites from Veilstone City as their raw material. By the end of the episode, the chain was completed and moved to the Team Galactic HQ. Charon purposefully left a fragment of the chain behind for the International Police to find, causing their database to get wiped out when they tried to scan it.

In The Needs of Three!, after Hunter J had succeded in capturing the lake guardians and delivering them to Team Galactic, Cyrus had a Red Chain fragment placed onto each of them, allowing him to control them, although the three Legendary Pokémon managed to transport Ash, Brock, and Dawn to their location before being completely subdued.

In Battle Finale of Legend!, Cyrus used the Red Chains to summon Dialga and Palkia to the Spear Pillar and force them to start the creation of a new universe. While wrapping themselves around the two Legendary Pokémon, the chains took the shape of the wheel-like structure seen around Arceus's body. However, with the combined efforts of Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Cynthia, the Red Chains controlling both the lake guardians and Dialga and Palkia were destroyed and the birth of the new universe was stopped.

In the anime, the Red Chains are said to be infused with power of Arceus, explaining their ability to control Legendary Pokémon.

The Red Chain in Pokémon Generations

In Pokémon Generations

The Red Chain made an appearance in The New World, where Cyrus used it to bind and control Dialga and Palkia. The chain was later broken by Giratina's Shadow Ball, freeing Dialga and Palkia from Cyrus's control and allowing them to escape.

In the manga

The Red Chain in the Pokémon Adventures manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Like in the games, the Red Chain was created by using Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit. In Creeping Away from Cradily, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum succeeded in freeing the lake guardians after the creation of the first Red Chain, preventing the creation of a second one. Thus, Cyrus had to use an artificially duplicated, less powerful copy to replace the missing chain.

In Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia I, Cyrus used the two chains to summon Dialga and Palkia to the Spear Pillar and force them to fight each other in order to wipe out the old world and create a new one on its place. However, in Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia II, the Gym Leaders of Sinnoh, who were partaking in the battle against Team Galactic, attacked the duplicate chain and were able to break it. Even though the two Legendary Pokémon continued to fight, Cyrus was no longer able to control both of them simultaneously. In Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia VI, the three Pokédex holders of Sinnoh exploited this weakness and destroyed the other chain as well, stopping Dialga and Palkia's battle.

In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga

Like in the games, the Red Chain was created by using Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit. In The Advent of the Legendary Pokémon!!, Cyrus used the chain to awaken and take control Dialga at the Spear Pillar so that he could return the world to its starting point and create a new universe. However, in the midst of the ensuing battle, the lake guardians suddenly appeared and used their Psychic powers to give Dialga strength to destroy the chain, ending Cyrus's plan. The three Pokémon were drawn in by Hareta's desire to free Dialga's heart.

Trivia

• The Red Chain's appearance as a dummied-out Key Item indicates that, during development, it may have been intended to have the same purpose as other Legendary artifacts in Generations II and III: the Rainbow Wing, Silver Wing, Red Orb, and Blue Orb all have a role in summoning the Legendary pair of game mascots of Johto and Hoenn's games, respectively. Whatever the case, it serves no purpose if it is hacked into the Bag.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 紅色鎖鏈 Hùhngsīk Sólihn * 紅鎖鏈 Hùhng Sólihn * Mandarin 紅色鎖鏈 / 红色锁链 Hóngsè Suǒliàn * 紅鎖鍊 Hóng Suǒliàn * Finnish Punaketju French Chaîne Rouge German Rote Kette Italian Rossocatena Korean 빨강쇠사슬 Ppalgang Soesaseul Polish Czerwony Łańcuch Spanish Cadena Roja Vietnamese Dây xích đỏ

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.