Raikou

The Thunder Pokémon
#243 - Raikou
Debut	Pokémon: Gold Version Pokémon: Silver Version
Species Info
Type	+
Height	1.9 m (6'03")
Weight	178.0 kg (392.4 lbs.)
Color	Yellow
Gender Ratio	Genderless
Ability	Pressure
Hidden Ability
Egg Group	Unbreedable
Icon		Sprite
		File:243sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	90	Speed	115
Attack	85	Sp. Attack	115
Defense	75	Sp. Defense	100
Training Info
Catch Rate	{{{cat}}}	Hatch Steps	{{{hat}}}
Base Exp.	{{{exp}}}	Effort Points	{{{e1}}}
Happiness	{{{hap}}}
To Lv.100	{{{100}}}

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 243 >	< 238 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #

Raikou is one of the three legendary dog Pokémon introduced in the second generation Pokémon games.

Information

Raikou is a Pokémon that is said to embody the speed of lightning. According to legend, the three legendary dogs (at least the three found in Gold, Silver and Crystal) were originally three nameless Pokémon that died in the burning of the Brass Tower. However, the Pokémon were revived by Ho-oh as Raikou, Entei and Suicune. Raikou is also said to have descended with lightning, and carries rain clouds with it which let it fire lightning bolts at will. Raikou is also known to store up electricity and then race along the land, shooting off electricity as it runs.

Raikou is also known for its roars, which sound like thunder and cause shock waves which leave the impression of lightning bolts actually having come down.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: FireRed and LeafGreen Versions, one of the three legendary dogs could be found randomly throughout Kanto after defeating the Elite Four and obtaining the National Pokédex. Raikou would appear only if the player chose Squirtle as a starter Pokémon. Entei or Suicune would appear instead if Bulbasaur or Charmander had been chosen.

In Gold, Silver and Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, Raikou and the other two legendary dogs could be found roaming Johto after their resting place in the Burned Tower's basement was disturbed by Gold. Afterwards, Raikou and the other two dogs could be found roaming Johto.

Other Games

Raikou appeared in Pokémon Stadium 2. Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. In Colosseum, Cipher Admin Ein possessed a Shadow Raikou. The Raikou could be snagged from Ein by the player and, after it was purified, the Raikou could be traded into the Gameboy Advance games.

In Pokémon Trozei!, Raikou could be obtained from Random Agent Cards or Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Raikou appeared as the boss of the Lightning Field. After being defeated, Raikou would transform the Red Feather into the Sunset Feather if the player had obtained it, and the player would then be able to proceed to Northwind Field. Raikou could be challenged again to make it join the player's group.

In Pokémon Ranger, the Go-Rock Squad used a Capture Styler to take control of the three Legendary Dog Pokémon, to make them cause destruction, and the Go-Rock Squad would defeat them to appear as heroes. Raikou could be captured from the group when battled in the Fiore Temple. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darknes, Raikou could be found on the twentieth basement level of the Concealed Ruins if the player had the Mystery Part or Sacred Stone on them.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• Raikou appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the Pokémon that can randomly appear from the Pokéball item. After being released, it uses a powerful Spark attack on nearby enemies. A trophy of the Pokémon also appears in the same game.

Other Media

• Raikou has made scant appearances in the Pokémon anime. It made a brief cameo in one Johto episode where it was briefly spotted by Misty's Togepi and a Houndoom. It was also featured in the Pokémon Chronicles "Legend of Thunder" episode, where Jimmy and his friends helped to save it from the Team Rocket agents Butch and Cassidy.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the three legendary dogs roamed Johto after Yellow freed them from the Mask of Ice's dimensional prison in search of trainers who could fight off Ho-Oh once it was under Pryce's control. Raikou choose Lieutenant Surge and later went on to Gold after Surge's defeat. The same Raikou reappeared in the Emerald arc as Anabel's main Pokémon.

Trivia

• Raikou's name is Japanese for lightning, although its name can also be translated to mean "thunder emperor" (with "rai" meaning thunder and "kou" meaning emperor)