When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use {{m|Sky Attack}} in Melee or {{m|Fly}} in Brawl to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only [[legendary birds|legendary bird]] to return in Brawl.
When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use {{m|Sky Attack}} in Melee or {{m|Fly}} in Brawl to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only [[legendary birds|legendary bird]] to return in Brawl.
Moltres takes the form of a large bird with flame-colored plumage, resembling a phoenix. Its dazzling wings and elaborate head crest appear to be covered with flames. It has a straight, pointed brown beak, which is the same color as its feet. Compared to the other legendary birds, it has the smallest feet and legs. However, it is the largest of the legendary birds, but its feathers make up a good portion of its bulk.
Gender differences
Moltres is a genderless species.
Special abilities
When Moltres flaps its wings, it creates a brilliant flash of flames. It is also one of the few Pokémon known to naturally wield the very powerful Flying-type move Sky Attack.
Behavior
Moltres is one of the legendary birds of Kanto, and is a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. Its behavior is largely clandestine, but it appears to migrate to the south during the springtime. There are many folktales surrounding this species, but perhaps the most popular is that its appearance will bring about an early spring. When Moltres flaps its wings, it sheds hundreds of tiny embers. It is believed that these embers have healing properties. If injured, it will immerse itself in lava to heal.
Moltres appear to live in hot regions, particularly active volcanoes. They are spectacularly rare. Moltres have been sighted on Victory Road and near the Sevii Islands. One has been recently sighted, roamingSinnoh. Another, possibly the one from Victory Road, lives in Mt. Silver.
Additionally it was mentioned in The Fortune Hunters where James mistakenly believed that it was his "Inner Pokémon" and dressed up in a Moltres costume.
Moltres, a one-of-a-kind Legendary Flame Pokémon. So powerful, its fire dust can bring early spring to wintery land.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Sabrina is shown to have obtained Moltres for Team Rocket during the Kanto saga, but it is not seen in battle. It is later combined with Articuno and Zapdos to form a singular legendary bird, but they separate once Sabrina is defeated and go back to the wild.
Green later catches Moltres on Mt. Ember during her training journey to overcome her fear of birds. She used it and its fellow legendary birds in the fight against Karen and Will, who were commanding the Masked Man's Ho-Oh and Lugia. She has not used any of them since, meaning they have probably been deposited in the box or released.
When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use Sky Attack in Melee or Fly in Brawl to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only legendary bird to return in Brawl.
As tradition has it, the onset of spring heralds the return of this legendary Pokémon from its southern home. Its bright orange color and fiery aspect lends to its overwhelming appearance. Sky Attack, the strongest of flying moves, is a perfect fit for this burning phenom, but it obviously also excels at powerful Template:Type2 moves.
Brawl
A Flame Pokémon. It's one of the legendary bird Pokémon. When Moltres appears in a town, it is said that spring will come earlier there than in other towns. If Moltres is injured, it apparently returns to a volcano to heal its wings with magma. Moltres spreads its wide, flame-covered wings and attacks opponents with the exciting and highly damaging Sky Attack.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control fire. If this Pokémon is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.
Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that can control fire. If injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.
Moltres' sprites and artwork have depicted it with wings fully engulfed, or only partially engulfed in flames. As of Generation III, it is only shown with its wings partially engulfed.
On a similar note, its sprites and artwork show it with an orange body. In the anime, its body is colored cream.
Like Ho-Oh, Moltres is based on the legend of the phoenix. However, Moltres is most likely based on either the phoenix of Persian legend, simurgh or the Slavic Firebird. Others claim that the bird is based on the Japanese mythical bird known as 朱雀 Suzaku, guardian of the South, and is not a true phoenix. Regardless, the Pokémon has a very similar appearance to both the phoenix and the Suzaku. It may also be based on a swan or Bennu, because of the similar shape of the neck and body, as well as many other firebirds, such as the Three-legged bird.
Name origin
Moltres's name is a combination of the words molten and the Spanish word for three, tres, indicating that it is the third in the series of Kantolegendary birds. It may also be based on the word "molt" for the renewal aspect, possibly alluding to a phoenix's rebirth. Its Japanese name is simply Fire.
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.
BrightPowder (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Moltres images on Bulbagarden Archives.
