Ho-Oh is an avian Pokémon resembling a phoenix and a peacock. Its feathers are predominantly gold and red, with yellow tail-feathers, a white underside, and green feathers at the tip of its wings. Ho-Oh has a green stripe on its neck, a yellow beak, black rings around its red eyes, and a feathered, yellow crest on its head. Ho-Oh's wings are prismatic, causing it to trail a rainbow behind it. It has darkly colored feet and legs with four toes and long talons.
Ho-Oh is considered the guardian of the skies and has a mythical power to resurrect the dead. Prior to Generation VI, Ho-Oh was the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Sacred Fire. It is said that when it flies its huge wings create bright, colorful rainbows. The rare few who bear witness to Ho-Oh are promised eternal happiness. Ho-Oh used to perch at the top of the various towers located across the Johto region: the Bell Tower until the Brass Tower was destroyed by fire and the Goldenrod Tower in ancient times. It now presumably flies through the world's skies in search of a Trainer with a pure heart.
According to the anime, Ho-Oh lived in the Tin Tower in ancient times. When a war broke out, burning both the Tin Tower and the Brass Tower down, it created Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, and all four disappeared. Later, a new Tin Tower was erected, but Ho-Oh since then has never come back for sure. A sacred flame from Ho-Oh burns in the Ho-Oh Shrine at Mt. Silver; it was obtained during the same war.
On occasion, Ho-Oh would only be seen by Ash, and always fleetingly. This trend began at the end of Pokémon - I Choose You!, where Ash saw it flying alongside a rainbow across the sky after the thunderstorm. In I Choose You!, which is set in a continuity different from the main series, Ho-Oh played a major role.
In Pokémon Adventures, Ho-Oh first appeared as a silhouette in Just a Spearow Carrier. It appeared again as a silhouette in Hitmonlee, Baby! (One More Time), when Green was explaining to Bill that she believes the Elite Four were the ones who controlled it to capture her. It was used by the Masked Man to kidnap children showing remarkable talent in his scheme to capture Celebi, including Green and Silver, six years prior to the start of the entire manga.
Prior to the events of the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc, Pryce had lost control over Ho-Oh, and thus attacked the Tin Tower using Team Rocket to prompt Ho-Oh to return to Ecruteak City. Ho-Oh was later seen at Indigo Plateau under Pryce's control, alongside Lugia, wreaking havoc and destruction. It was then lent to Karen and Will to fight Green with alongside Lugia, and nearly defeated her Legendary birds, but both of them were eventually brought back to their senses and freed.
When released from a Poké Ball, Ho-Oh unleashes a spiral of Sacred Fire that deals massive amounts of damage to any opponent caught in it. However, it appears very rarely.
Melee trophy information
As it soars around the skies of the world, this Rainbow Pokémon leaves a trail of rainbows and myths in its wake. Its signature move is called Sacred Fire, and it is believed to appear only before trainers who are pure of heart. If you see a trainer with Ho-oh, you can assume that catching it took a lot of work.
Brawl trophy information
"A Rainbow Pokémon. On sparkling wings of seven colors, Ho-Oh leaves a rainbow behind as it flies. Legend says that Ho-Oh suppressed a war that scorched the land in ancient times. Its attack Sacred Fire can melt ice in an instant and also damage the target with burns. Ho-Oh will show its solemn figure only for the most righteous Trainers."
Ho-Oh returns as an occasional stage hazard in the Blazing Chamber of the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Rarely appearing, it makes the flames supporting the platforms flare up with higher intensity, likely KOing any characters unfortunate enough to be on the platforms at the time.
Trophy Information
This Pokémon flies through the skies, trailing rainbows from its wings, and is said to promise eternal happiness to all who see it. Supposedly, it appears every once in a while in the Fire-type Elite Four Trainer's room in the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Its screams cause pillars of fire to rise all the way to the ceiling.
Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
Its feathers—which glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light—are thought to bring joy. It is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
People say that if you find a feather from one of Ho-Oh’s seven-colored wings, you’ll be promised eternal happiness. Ho-Oh looked so beautiful, sparkling and shining with each flap of its wings.
Ho-Oh was first revealed in the August 1996 issue of Corocoro, along with Pokémon Gold and Silver, thus making it the first sign that the Pokémon franchise would ever expand beyond 151 Pokémon.
From Generation VI onward, Ho-Oh is the heaviest Pokémon that can be taken to the sky by using Sky Drop.
Ho-Oh appears in Pokémon Battle Chess. Alongside Lugia, the player must lose a specific number of pieces (three in Ho-Oh's case) to use it, and it takes four spaces on the board.
Ho-Oh and Lugia are the only Legendary Pokémon that are game mascots that are not version-exclusives in their representative games.
Origin
Ho-Oh may be based on the legend of the phoenix, specifically the Fenghuang, the immortal phoenix of China from which it derives its name. It may also be based on the Huma bird, a legendary bird that is said to never rest, living its entire life flying continuously, and resurrects itself and others in its ashes and flames; it is a symbol of fortune and friendship and will bestow happiness to anyone who simply glimpses it. Many cultures view the Phoenix and Huma as symbols of resurrection; this is seen in Ho-Oh, which was reborn rising from its ashes and had a hand in resurrecting Suicune, Raikou and Entei; additionally, this is also reflected by its Hidden Ability Regenerator.
Given its category, it may also be an embodiment of the rainbow, very likely inspired by the multicolored aspect of the Fenghuang or by the rainbow-feathered bird god Achiyalabopa. It could also be inspired by many other firebirds; some notable examples are the three-legged bird, Simurgh, and the Ember Bird.
Name origin
Ho-Oh and Houou may be derived from 鳳凰 Hōō, Japanese reading of the Fènghuáng (Chinese phoenix). It may also be derived from 皇 ō (emperor) or 王 ō (king).
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.
Sacred Ash (100%)
Gold Bottle Cap (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Ho-Oh images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
