Dodrio is a large, wingless, three-headed avian Pokémon. Each head has a long, sharp beak and a black V-shaped, feather crest. It has bristly brown feathers covering its head and upper body, while its lower half has a smooth layer of black feathers. Its tail consists of three pale red feathers with lighter tips. Its wingless body rests on two long and slender, but powerful legs with feet that have three clawed toes in front and one in back. A male has black necks, whereas a female has brown necks; both genders have brown legs.
Each head has its own working brain and distinct personality. Each head represents and expresses either sorrow, anger, or joy. Despite being separate, it has the innate ability to use all three of its brains to collect data, formulate, and then execute complex plans and strategies. However, on occasion, it may overthink, which causes it to become immobilized and unable to carry out any action whatsoever. Being separate individuals on the same body, the three heads will continue to bicker until they, or at least one of them, gets to eat. This satisfies the other two heads, quelling them and temporarily ending their infighting. The strongest of Dodrio's heads and the thickest neck will become the leader and gain complete control of the body. Another form of adaptation that it has acquired is the ability to have at least one head alert at all times. Extreme caution is advised when all three heads are facing separate directions. It is in this state that it is the most dangerous and going near it may result in a severe pecking.
Along with its three heads, it has three sets of hearts and lungs as well. This allows it to efficiently oxygenate and pump blood throughout its body, thus giving it increased endurance to run vast distances without rest. It is especially prone to race vigorously across grassy plains, even in arid seasons with little rainfall. As a result, despite being slower than Doduo, Dodrio can keep running for an even longer time.
In Fighting Flyer with Fire, Falkner used a Dodrio in his Gymbattle against Ash. It battled Pikachu and initially had the upper hand, but it was eventually defeated after Ash used Falkner's strategy with Dodrio against it.
Dodrio made its anime debut in Pokémon - I Choose You!, where it was crowing in Pallet Town. Notably, it was the first Pokémon to be physically seen in the anime, since all of the Pokémon that had appeared beforehand were either on TV, in dreams, or not real.
In a flashback in The Lost Lapras, Tracey rode a Dodrio while Pokémon-watching. It is unknown whether Dodrio belonged to him or if it was simply borrowed, as it was never seen again.
A Dodrio appeared in Panic at the Cherry Blossom Festival, where it got drunk on amazake and caused havoc during a cherry blossom festival attended by Hazel and her friends.
Yellow's Doduo evolved into Dodrio in The Might of... Metapod?! in the battle against Lance. He later managed to save Pika and Chuchu from a surfing accident. He continues to be her main method of transportation using his quick speed.
In Old Ultima Puts Them to the Test, Ultima had Red and Blue ride on two Dodrio for the Path of Catching trial. Outside the trials, it is not known if the Dodrio are on her official team.
Watch out if Dodrio's three heads are looking in three separate directions. It's a sure sign that it is on its guard. Don't go near this Pokémon if it's being wary - it may decide to peck you.
Apparently, the heads aren't the only parts of the body that Dodrio has three of. It has three sets of hearts and lungs as well, so it is capable of running long distances without rest.
Watch out if Dodrio's three heads are looking in three separate directions. It's a sure sign that it is on its guard. Don't go near this Pokémon if it's being wary-it may decide to peck you.
Apparently, the heads aren't the only parts of the body that Dodrio has three of. It has three sets of hearts and lungs as well, so it is capable of running long distances without rest.
While one of its heads is saying something in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, the others say me too or mine too, but its pre-evolved form's other head will not.
Dodrio is the only Pokémon whose National Pokédex number is the whole number portion of its weight in kilograms.
Not including the opening, Dodrio was the first Pokémon to appear in the flesh in the anime (all others before that were either dreamt of by Ash, or else shown on the TV in his room).
According to its Pokédex entries, Doduo can run at 60 mph (100 km/h), while Dodrio can only run at nearly 40 mph (60 km/h). However, Dodrio's base Speed stat is higher.
Dodrio is featured in the Generation III wireless mini-game, Dodrio Berry Picking, where it is required that players own a Dodrio to be able to play.
Before Generation IV, the necks of normal Dodrio were beige (which became the female neck color), while its pre-evolution's necks were black (which became the male neck color).
Despite its name, Dodrio seems like it has more in common with ostriches than dodos. It also seems to show some similarities to the moa, an extinct flightless bird; and the emu, another flightless bird. It also resembles the kiwi in some ways as well. Its crests also indicate it was based on cassowaries. The triple head might be a biological mutation. It may also draw inspiration from the Buddhist asuras, three-headed demigods whose faces are sometimes said to each embody one of three emotions: joy, anger, and sorrow. This was connection was alluded to in its Pokédex entry in the anime and in Pokémon Stadium.
Name origin
Dodrio may be a combination of dodo (an extinct, flightless bird) and trio (group of three).
Dodorio may be a combination of ドードー dodo, 鳥 tori (bird), and トリオ trio.
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.
Sharp Beak (2%)
For other sprites and images, please see Dodrio images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
