Moltres takes the form of a large bird with flame-colored plumage, resembling a phoenix. Its dazzling wings and elaborate head crest appear to be covered with flames. It has a straight, pointed brown break, which is the same color as its feet. Compared to the other legendary birds, it has the smallest feet and legs. However, it is the largest of the legendary birds, but its feathers make up a good portion of its bulk.
Gender differences
Moltres is a genderless species.
Special abilities
When Moltres flaps its wings, it creates a brilliant flash of flames. It is also one of the few Pokémon known to naturally wield the very powerful Flying-type move Sky Attack.
Behavior
Moltres is one of the legendary birds of Kanto, and is a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. Its behavior is largely clandestine, but it appears to migrate to the south during the springtime. There are many folktales surrounding this species, but perhaps the most popular is that its appearance will bring about an early spring. When Moltres flaps its wings, it sheds hundreds of tiny embers. It is believed that these embers have healing properties. If injured, it will immerse itself in lava to heal.
Moltres appear to live in hot regions, particularly active volcanoes. They are spectacularly rare. Moltres have been sighted on Victory Road and near the Sevii Islands.
Additionally it was mentioned in The Fortune Hunters where James mistakenly believed that it was his "Inner Pokémon" and dressed up in a Moltres costume.
In the manga
Pokémon Special
Sabrina is shown to have obtained Moltres during the Kanto saga, but it is not seen in battle. It is later combined with Articuno and Zapdos to form a singular legendary bird, but they separate once Sabrina is defeated.
Blue later catches Moltres during her training journey to overcome her fear of birds.
When released from a Poké Ball, Moltres will remain where it is released, flapping its wings. It will then use Fly to leave the arena. Any opponent that touches it will receive a sizable amount of damage. Moltres is the only legendary bird to return in Brawl.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control fire. If this Pokémon is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.
Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control fire. If this Pokémon is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.
Moltres is a legendary bird Pokémon that can control fire. If injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself.
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Moltres's original sprites from Generation II often depicted it to have wings completely engulfed in flames. But in its more recent sprites, Pokémon Yellow sprites and artwork it is depicted with wings that are only partially covered in flames.
Although legendaries cannot be bred, in Pokémon Snap Moltres and the other birds are in eggs, which shows that they were bred in some type of way.
Its appearance is very similar to that of the Donkey Kong enemy, Fire Necky another bird covered in flame.
In Generation I, Moltres had a different base stat total (495) than the other members of its trio; Articuno had 485 and Zapdos had 490. As of Generation II, due to the Special Attack/Defense split, all three legendary birds have had a base stat total of 580.
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Moltres's nest in Victory Road is abandoned in favor of Mt. Ember. However, its original location in Victory Road will have a crater where Moltres used to be and have a Burn Heal on it.
Like Ho-Oh, Moltres is based on the legend of the phoenix. However, Moltres is based on the phoenix of Arabic legend. Others claim that the bird is based on the Japanese mythical bird known as 朱雀 Suzaku, guardian of the South, and is not a true phoenix. Regardless, the Pokémon has a very similar appearance to both the phoenix and the Suzaku. It may also be based on a Swan, because of the similar shape of the neck and body.
Name origin
Moltres's name is a combination of the words molten and the Spanish word for three, tres, indicating that it is the third in the series of KantoLegendary birds. It may also be based on the word "molt" for the renewal aspect, possibly alluding to a phoenix's rebirth. Its Japanese name is simply Fire.
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.
For other sprites and images, please see Moltres images on Bulbagarden Archives.
