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	Volt Absorb
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	003	Hatch Steps	20,480
Base Exp.	216	Effort Points	SpA
Happiness	35		Spe
To Lv.100	Slow		Spe

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

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 Darkness, 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. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Raikou would appar on a random floor between the twelfth and twenty-fourth floors of Southeastern Islands after accepting its challenge letter. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Raikou acted as the boss of Wireless Tower and could be captured (but would not join the player) at Rand's House upon completion of the game.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Raikou appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the Pokémon that could potentially be summoned at random from the Poké Ball item. After being released, it uses a powerful Spark attack on nearby enemies. Raikou was the only one of the three legendary dog Pokémon to not return as a Poké Ball Pokémon in later Super Smash Bros. games. Raikou has also been represented by a trophy in Melee, a trophy in the Wii U game and as part of an Ace-rank Primary Spirit (with the added effect of boosting speed) that was shared with Entei and Suicune in Ultimate. When fought against in a Spirit battle, the Spirit of the three dogs would possess a trio of fighters and battle in a stage with a lava floor. Pikachu (in its Pika Libre costume) represented Raikou, Incineroar represented Entei, and Greninja represented Suicine.

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. Shiny versions of the three legendary beasts also appeared in the thirteenth movie as guardians of Crown City, and they wound up clashing with Zoroark.
• 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)