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Artwork featuring Reshiram and Zekrom
The Tao trio, sometimes called the energy trio, is the collective term used to refer to the three powerful legendary Pokémon of the Unova Region: Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem. According to Unova myths, the trio was created during the war plaguing the region.
Much like members of other legendary trios, the three Pokémon have similar appearances. Each has Dragon as their primary type. Both Reshiram and Zekrom have a base stat total of 680 while Kyurem's is 660.
Each of the members of the trio have control of their own types and sides. Reshiram represents the concept of yang and controls Fire, Zekrom represents the concept of yin and controls Thunder and Kyurem represents the concept of wuji (the absence of yin and yang) and controls Ice.
Myths
The mythologies of the trio are implied to be connected, despite having no true relation. The origins of Zekrom and Reshiram are told in legends, as they were once a single powerful Dragon Pokémon used by twin heroes in order to create the Unova region. But the brothers each sought something different in life—truth for the older brother and ideals for the younger—and they began to argue, then fight, over who's side was right. The single dragon, in response, split into two Pokémon: Reshiram, who sided with the older twin, and Zekrom, who sided with the younger twin.
The two dragons were equally matched as they battled and neither conquered the other. As a result, the brothers set aside their differences, and equally declared there was no right side, either. But the sons of the heroes resumed the fight, and Reshiram and Zekrom destroyed the region with their fire and lightning powers. They subsequently disappeared afterward.
At the beginning of Black and White, one of them resides in the Dragonspiral Tower, who is called upon by N to create his ideal world. The player is tasked with finding the other dragon in its corresponding stone (Light Stone in Black and Dark Stone in White) and revive it to resolve the history the twins began in the past.
Kyurem's origins are much different than those of the other two. The third dragon came down to Earth from an icy meteor and crashed into a place called Giant Chasm. An old legend in Lacunosa Town describing Kyurem claims that it would take people and Pokémon away from the town and eat them; this is why the town is now surrounded by a giant wall.
Similar movesets
Zekrom and Reshiram using Fusion Bolt and Fusion Flare, one of their respective signature moves
Zekrom and Reshiram using Bolt Strike and Blue Flare, their other signature moves
Base stat comparison
Trivia
- Like the legendary beasts in HeartGold and SoulSilver, each member of the trio share battle music that is slightly remixed to match their secondary typing.
- Zekrom's theme has a crackling thunder effect and Reshiram has a burning fire effect. However, Kyurem does not have a special effect, but has an extra slapped bass part playing in the background.
- The Trio may refer to The Three Pure Ones, due to their relations with Taoism.
- It is so far the only legendary trio with no known trio master as of yet.
- Although, if Kyurem truly is what remains of the original dragon that Reshiram and Zekrom split from, Kyurem may, like Rayquaza, internally serve as the trio's master.
- This is unlikely, however as kyurem is actually weaker than zekrom and reshiram having a base stat total of 660 while the others have 680. No trio master so far has been weaker than the other members in stats.
- This legendary trio is the first since the legendary birds to return to the three types being Fire-, Electric-, and Ice-type, even though these types are secondary to Dragon.
- The Tao Trio have their own battle transition. A few lights will gather in the center of the screen and a swirl vortex will zoom in from the center.
- Reshiram, Zekrom and Kyurem are occasionally known as the "Blazing White Yang", "Electrifying Black Yin" or "Frozen Boundary" respectively. This is a reference to the concept of Yin and Yang of Taoism.
- Reshiram and Zekrom are the only legendary Pokémon to have more than one signature move.
- Kyurem is the only member of the Tao Trio to only have one signature move.
