Ho-Oh (anime)
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 Ho-Oh as shown in I Choose You! | ||||||||||||||
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Ho-Oh (Japanese: ホウオウ Houou) is a Legendary Pokémon that Ash has sighted at a few significant moments in his journey.
Legends say that Ho-Oh lived in the Tin Tower in ancient times. However, war broke out, and when the Brass Tower was burned, Ho-Oh created Raikou, Entei, and Suicune and then left. A new Tin Tower was created, but Ho-Oh never returned.
In the anime
Main series
History
Original series
Kanto
Ho-Oh debuted in Pokémon - I Choose You!, where Ash first saw it in a forest on his way to Viridian City during his first day as a Trainer. He was lying on the ground with his injured Pikachu and saw it fly over the rainbow that appeared in the sky after a storm. His Pokédex could not identify it and explained that many Pokémon were still unknown.
In Pokémon Emergency!, Ash tried to explain to Professor Oak what he had seen, though the image he used to point it out appeared to be of an Articuno rather than Ho-Oh. Either way, Professor Oak did not believe him and brushed it off as Ash being mistaken. This gold-colored version of Ho-Oh was an early concept of Ho-Oh as a Pokémon, as it, like all other Generation II Pokémon at that time, had not been fully developed yet.
Johto
The topic was brought up again in A Ghost of a Chance. While Ash was in Johto, he explained his encounter of Ho-Oh to Eusine, who also did not believe that Ash had seen this Legendary Pokémon. In For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!, they heard the bells in the Tin Tower ringing, which would signal Ho-Oh's approach. In Pop Goes The Sneasel, it was seen using Sacred Fire in a flashback.
In Gotta Catch Ya Later!, Ash saw Ho-Oh again after he parted ways with Brock and Misty.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
In Battling the Enemy Within!, May first saw Ho-Oh flying across the sky and pointed it out to the rest of the group. This was after Ash lost an unofficial battle against Pyramid King Brandon and was released from possession by the King of Pokélantis's spirit.
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
Ho-Oh appeared in a flashback in Dawn Of A New Era!. After making amends with Dawn, Ash recalled seeing it on the day his journey began.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Finding a Legend!, Ho-Oh flew over Ecruteak City, but this time, it was only seen by Jaye.
Personality and characteristics
Ho-Oh's personality is unknown as all of its appearances involve it flying around but it appeared to have chosen Ash as one of the people for its visits as evidenced in A Ghost of a Chance.
Ho-Oh's appearance is that it is a very large Pokémon, and there is one shot in A Ghost of a Chance in the Tin Tower that shows three humans on their knees while Ho-Oh is perched up on a stand. Ho-Oh appears to be significantly larger than the humans.
Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | ||||||||||
Artwork
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| Official artwork of Finding a Legend! |
I Choose You!
Ho-Oh appeared in I Choose You!, which is based in a continuity different from the main series.
Like in the main series, Ash and Pikachu witnessed Ho-Oh flying in the sky shortly after setting off on their journey. Unlike the main series, however, it dropped a Rainbow Wing as it passed by, with Ash picking it up. Keeping the wing with him, Ash set out to eventually meet and battle Ho-Oh. He eventually did, and it had a battle with Pikachu, the outcome of which was unknown.
Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | |||||||||||||
In the manga
Movie adaptations
I Choose You!
In I Choose You!, Ho-Oh was seen flying over Ash and Pikachu after they dealt with a flock of Spearow and their leader. It dropped a Rainbow Wing in the process. Ho-Oh was then referenced to throughout Ash's journey to Mount Tensei where Ho-Oh will reside.
After Ash managed to place the Rainbow Wing on top of the rock, Ho-Oh appeared and Ash, his friends, Cross, Bonji, and the Pokémon in the area got to see Ho-Oh. Ash and Pikachu then battle Ho-Oh, but the battle was not shown.
Pocket Monsters the Movie: I Choose You! Remix
Ho-Oh appeared in a flashback towards the end of ICYR1, where it flew over Ash and Pikachu, dropping a Rainbow Wing in the process.
Ho-Oh reappeared in ICYR3, where it was responsible for the creation of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
Ho-Oh appeared in Ash's flashback of the first day of his journey at the end of Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution.
Moves used
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves. | ||||||||||
In the games
This Ho-Oh was distributed to players who inserted a serial code that was found in the August 2017 issue of CoroCoro Comic, which was sold starting on July 15, 2017. The serial codes could be used to obtain Ho-Oh from July 15 to September 14, 2017. It was distributed to promote the 20th Pokémon movie.
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| Date received is the date on the system when the gift is picked up from the deliveryman. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the TCG
Merchandise
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Deck Case & Sleeves
To promote the upcoming twentieth movie in cinemas, the Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Deck Case & Sleeves (Japanese: デッキケース＆デッキシールド 劇場版ポケットモンスター キミにきめた！ Deck Case & Deck Shield: Pocket Monsters the Movie: I Choose You!) were released on April 15, 2017 exclusively in Pokémon Centers. Each product features Ash and his Pikachu gazing up at Ho-Oh soaring above them as a Rainbow Wing falls to the ground. The deck case comes with two card dividers and each has enough storage space for at least 90 cards. A set of 64 card sleeves are also supplied.
Product images:
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SM3 accessories
Rounding off the mainstream TCG releases on June 16, 2017 were a number of specially illustrated deck cases, card sleeves, and files. Deluxe items featuring Lillie and her relatives were subsequently released on June 17, 2017 as part of a Pokémon Center campaign.
Deck cases: Each regular deck case comes with two card dividers and each has enough storage space for at least 90 cards.
- The Marshadow Deck Case (Japanese: デッキケース マーシャドー) features the eponymous Gloomdweller Pokémon with its fighting spirit burning in addition to the Legendary Rainbow Pokémon Ho-Oh. Both have prominent roles in the upcoming movie I Choose You!.
Deck case images:
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Ho-Oh-GX Special Jumbo Card Pack
The Ho-Oh-GX Special Jumbo Card Pack (Japanese: スペシャルジャンボカードパック「ホウオウGX」) was made available on July 1, 2017 in the buildup to the Japanese release of I Choose You! in cinemas. It comes packaged with a Jumbo print of Ho-Oh-GX, an Ash's Pikachu promotional card, and 3 packs each from the To Have Seen the Battle Rainbow and Darkness that Consumes Light expansions.
Promotional cards:
- Ash's Pikachu (SM-P Promo 86)
- Ho-Oh-GX (SM-P Promo; Jumbo)
Product image:
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Trivia
- Ho-Oh is the first Generation II Pokémon to appear in any Pokémon media, making it the first sign that the franchise would expand beyond the original 151 Pokémon.
- Ho-Oh is the first Legendary Pokémon Ash encounters and the first Legendary to appear in the anime series.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Ho-Oh.
| Recurring wild Pokémon in the animated series | |||||||||
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| Recurring wild Pokémon that have been caught | |||||||||
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
