Raikou (Pokémon)

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Raikou ライコウ Raikou #243
Artwork from GSC
Type Electric ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Thunder Pokémon
Ability Pressure Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto #238 Hoenn #378 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 6'3" Imperial 1.9 m Metric 6'3"/1.9 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 392.4 lbs. Imperial 178 kg Metric 392.4 lbs./178 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Yellow	Catch rate 3 (0.4%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding No eggs group 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 216 Battle Exp.: 2161*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Raikou (Japanese: ライコウ Raikou) is a Legendary Electric-type Pokémon. First appearing in the Generation II Games, it is--along with Entei and Suicune--one of the Legendary Beasts created by Ho-oh after the burning of Ecruteak Tower.

Raikou comes with the Ability Pressure, which causes the foe to use two PP instead of one each time it uses a move.

Raikou does not evolve, and no Pokémon evolves into it.

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 has 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 grey crest on its forehead. Raikou has red eyes and long fangs in its upper jaws.

Gender differences

Raikou is a genderless species.

Special abilities

Raikou has the ability to shoot bolts of lightning from the rain clouds on it's back. Raikou can also attack using its fangs and has partial mental powers.

Behavior

Raikou are normally distrustful of humans due to the fact that humans have tried to capture the Ledgendary Beast of Thunder for many centuries. Raikou tend to show up either when there is thunderstorm or when other Electric-type Pokémon are in danger.

Habitat

As a member of the Ledgendary 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 has two appearances in the anime. The first is in Houndoom's Special Delivery, where Togepi and a Houndoom spot him before he disappears into the skies. He also appears in the Pokémon Chronicles episode, The Legend of Thunder!

The Mauville City Gym Leader Wattson owns two Raikou robots.

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 is not certain if 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.

Other appearances

Super Smash Brothers Melee

When released from a Poké Ball, Raikou releases a powerful Spark attack that electrocutes any opponents that get caught in it.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Generation I Red {{{redbluedex}}} Blue Yellow {{{yellowdex}}} Stadium {{{stadiumdex}}}
Generation II Gold The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it desended 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 desended with lightning.
Generation 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 desended with lightning.
Generation IV Diamond It is said to have fallen with lightening. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back. Pearl It is said to have fallen with lightening. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back. Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Generation I Red Blue None Trade Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade
Generation II Gold Silver One Roaming Johto Crystal One Roaming Johto
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen One Roaming Kanto Colosseum One Shadow Pokémon Laboratory (Shadow) XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Pal Park Platinum None Trade HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park None Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Trozei!	Random Agent Cards Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon	Lightning Field (30F)
Pokémon Ranger	Fiore Temple

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 90		150 - 197	290 - 384
Attack: 85		81 - 150	157 - 295
Defense: 75		72 - 139	139 - 273
Sp. Atk: 115		108 - 183	211 - 361
Sp. Def: 100		94 - 167	184 - 328
Speed: 115		108 - 183	211 - 361
Total: 580	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Learnset

By leveling up

Game	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
Start	Bite Leer	Bite Leer	Bite Leer
8			Thundershock
11	Thundershock	Thundershock
15			Roar
21	Roar	Roar
22			Quick Attack
29			Spark
31	Quick Attack	Quick Attack
36			Reflect
41	Spark	Spark
43			Crunch
50			Thunder Fang
51	Reflect	Reflect
57			Discharge
61	Crunch	Crunch
64			Extrasensory
71	Thunder	Thunder	Thunder
78			Calm Mind
81		Calm Mind

By TM/HM

Game	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
TM02	Headbutt
TM03	Curse
TM04		Calm Mind	Calm Mind
HM05	Roar	Roar	Roar
TM06	Toxic	Toxic	Toxic
TM07	Zap Cannon
TM08	Rock Smash
TM09	Psych Up
TM10	Hidden Power	Hidden Power	Hidden Power
TM11	Sunny Day	Sunny Day	Sunny Day
TM13	Snore
TM15	Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam
TM16			Light Screen
TM17	Protect	Protect	Protect
TM18	Rain Dance	Rain Dance	Rain Dance
TM20	Endure
TM21	Frustration	Frustration	Frustration
TM23	Iron Tail	Iron Tail	Iron Tail
TM24		Thunderbolt	Thunderbolt
TM25	Thunder	Thunder	Thunder
TM27	Return	Return	Return
TM28	Dig	Dig	Dig
TM30			Shadow Ball
TM31	Mud Slap
TM32	Double Team	Double Team	Double Team
TM33		Reflect	Reflect
TM34	Swagger	Shock Wave	Shock Wave
TM35	Sleep Talk
TM37	Sandstorm	Sandstorm	Sandstorm
TM39	Swift
TM42		Facade	Facade
TM43	Detect	Secret Power	Secret Power
TM44	Rest	Rest	Rest
TM57			Charge Beam
TM58			Endure
TM68			Giga Impact
TM70			Flash
TM73			Thunder Wave
TM82			Sleep Talk
TM83			Natural Gift
TM87			Swagger
TM90			Substitute
HM01	Cut	Cut	Cut
HM04	Strength	Strength	Strength
HM05	Flash	Flash
HM06		Rock Smash	Rock Smash
HM08			Rock Climb

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.

Origin

Name origin

Raikou's appearance resembles the ancient creature known as the sabretooth tiger. The name in Japanese could be taken to mean 雷光, raikou, lightning. This Pokémon is also based on a demon of Japanese lore, the 雷獣 raijū. It may also be a combination of the Japanese word for thunder and the Japanese word for lightning.

In other languages

• German: Raikou
• French: Raikou
• Korean: 라이코 Raiko

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Rakurai, the fanlisting for Raikou at The Anime Fanlistings Network

Legendary Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Mythical Pokémon

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Pokémon

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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.