Raikou (Pokémon)

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Raikou (Japanese: ライコウ Raikou) is an introduced in Generation II.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
Along with and , it is one of the Legendary beasts resurrected by after the burning of the Brass Tower. Of the three Legendary beasts, Raikou is said to represent the lightning strike which ignited the fire that consumed the Brass Tower.
The Paradox Pokémon is said to be either an ancient relative of Raikou or a counterpart of it from a parallel timeline.
==Biology==
Raikou is a quadrupedal, yellow, -like with black stripes and a white underside. It has a thin, light blue tail with sharp angles and a spark-shaped formation at the end. Most of its face consists of thick, white fur and shorter yellow fur around its red eyes. Raikou's muzzle is a light blue "X" and it has a black faceplate with two bumps that cover its forehead, nose, and ears. Raikou has two long fangs that make its appearance similar to the . Its large claws each converge to form a single point and never retract. Extra fur hangs off its body in front of its thighs. Raikou has a mane across its back that resembles dull purple rain clouds and allows it to shoot bolts of lightning.
150 years ago, Brass Tower in Johto was hit by a lightning bolt, causing it to catch on a huge fire and would be later put out by a sudden downpout. Three unnamed Pokémon perished in the fire, however, the Legendary Pokémon granted the trio new life, one of those Pokémon was revived as Raikou, which represents the lightning that struck the now Burned Tower.
A proverb claims that Raikou descended from the sky with a lightning bolt. Raikou is able to fly by creating storm clouds, as depicted in the Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (animated special). In The Legend of Thunder!, Raikou is shown to be distrustful of humans, though it may form some friendship with those who help it. Raikou tends to appear during thunderstorms and when other Electric-type Pokémon are in danger. Raikou is said to represent the speed of lightning and can control storm clouds at will. Raikou races across while barking cries that sound like thunder. Raikou's cries can also send shock waves in the air while shaking the ground at the same time. Raikou loves Raikou Treats made by Snacksworth, who once encountered and raced up a mountain with it in the past. bears a resemblance to Raikou. According to Occulture, Raging Bolt is believed to be an ancestor of Raikou.
As mentioned in the Sleep Style Dex, while Raikou is sleeping, its breath makes a rumbling sound similar to distant thunder.Sleep Style Dex entry: "This Pokémon embodies the speed of lightning. It's said that when Raikou sleeps deeply, you can hear a rumbling like distant thunder in its breath. When it wakes, it sweeps once more across the land, roaring like crashing thunder." The moment Raikou awakens, it will quickly travel the lands, with a roar sounding similar to a crashing thunder. Raikou is known to enjoy eating Raikou Biscuits. Raikou can be lured over to a sleeping spot using the Raikou Incense. Raikou has three different sleep styles it sleeps in: Energy-Storing Sleep, Meditative Sleep, and Lightning Sleep.
==Game data==
===NPC appearances===
* : Raikou first appears alongside up on Revelation Mountain, where they confront , believing he turned to stone, only to discover that was the actual culprit. Raikou later helps the and escape from the Voidlands. He goes by the title "Raikou the Lightning".
===Pokédex entries===
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===Game locations===
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====In side games====
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====In events====
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===Held items===
===Stats===
====Base stats====
====Pokéathlon stats====
===Type effectiveness===
===Learnset===
Raikou is available in Version 3.0.0+.
====By leveling up====
====By TM====
====By ====
===Side game data===
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===Evolution data===
===Sprites===
==In animation==
===Main series===
====Major appearances====
=====Raikou (The Legend of Thunder!)=====
In The Legend of Thunder!, Team Rocket members Attila and Hun attempted to capture a Raikou, but failed.
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A Raikou appeared alongside the other members of its trio in Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
=====Other=====
A Raikou appeared at the end of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 2).
====Minor appearances====
Raikou debuted in Houndoom's Special Delivery, where and a briefly spotted it before it disappeared.
A Raikou appeared in a flashback in For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!.
A Raikou appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Raikou appeared in the opening sequence of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
In Three Sides to Every Story!, Dawn's Piplup had a dream where he battled a Raikou to protect his .
In I Choose You!, , Verity, and Sorrel saw a Raikou as they approached Mount Tensei, but it disappeared before they could get a better look.
A silhouetted Raikou appeared in a fantasy in Healing the Healer!.
A Raikou appeared in HZ078, gathering with the other Legendary beasts to celebrate the birth of an island.
====Pokédex entries====
===Pokémon Generations===
A Raikou appeared in Ecruteak City in The Reawakening, during a flashback about the creation of the legendary beasts.
===GOTCHA!===
A Raikou briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.
==In the manga==
===Movie adaptations===
Raikou appeared in the of the fourth and final , Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
===Pocket Monsters HGSS===
A Raikou appeared in PMHGSS04 and PMHGSS05.
===Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure===
A Raikou appeared in JBA3.
===Pokémon Adventures===
Raikou first appeared as a beam of light in Slugging It Out With Slugma. Its first proper appearance was in Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1). It was revealed in Hello, Lickitung that had unintentionally freed the Legendary beasts from their imprisonment at the Burned Tower, from which they then left to Johto and Kanto in search for a to team up with in the battle against the Masked Man. Raikou eventually chose Lt. Surge as its Trainer. After the Masked Man was defeated, Raikou returned to the .
In Never Spritz a Knotty Sudowoodo, Anabel was revealed to have Raikou in Johto for use at the .
===Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys===
A Raikou appeared in Gold and Black VS Team Rocket and The Legendary Pokémon.
===Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!===
A Raikou first appeared in GDZ58.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
A Raikou appeared in Find the Legendary Pokémon!!.
==In the TCG==
==Other appearances==
===Super Smash Bros. Melee===
When released from a , Raikou releases a powerful attack that electrocutes any opponents that get caught in it. Raikou is the only Legendary beast that does not return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
====Trophy information====
These Thunder Pokémon travel near and far, blasting out electrified whirlwinds. They carry storm clouds on their backs, so they can produce lightning regardless of the local weather; it's even said that they descended to the earth with via lightning bolts. Their extreme quickness lends itself to flight, so they're very hard to capture.
===Super Smash Bros. for Wii U===
Raikou appears as a trophy.
====Trophy information====
NA: Was that a bolt of lightning flashing by, on the ground instead of the air? Then it could have been Raikou. A rumble of thunder in the distance, but not a cloud in the sky? Sounds like Raikou's roar to us. It is said that this wild Pokémon perished in the Johto region once, but Ho-Oh was so filled with sorrow at the loss that Raikou was resurrected.
PAL: If you see a bolt of lightning flash across the ground instead of from the sky, you may have just caught a glimpse of Raikou. And if you hear a peal of thunder that lasts longer than it should, that may be Raikou's roar. It's said that this wild yet majestic Pokémon once perished in the Johto region, but Ho-Oh, filled with sorrow, resurrected it.
===Super Smash Bros. Ultimate===
Raikou appears as a alongside and .
==Music==
Games 	Location 	Song name 	Composition 	Arrangement
Pokémon Sleep 	??? 	Raikou Research Event[Confirmation of the Pokémon Sleep song name https://archive.is/zJRwT] 	Junichi Masuda Go Ichinose 	Shota KageyamaKageyama confirming he handled the music for Pokémon Sleep yas nakajimaNakajima confirming he was the guitarist for the Ecruteak City theme in Pokémon Sleep
Song names marked with an asterisk are unofficial, as they have not received a soundtrack release.	Song names marked with an asterisk are unofficial, as they have not received a soundtrack release.	Song names marked with an asterisk are unofficial, as they have not received a soundtrack release.	Song names marked with an asterisk are unofficial, as they have not received a soundtrack release.	Song names marked with an asterisk are unofficial, as they have not received a soundtrack release.
==Trivia==
* Raikou is the only in the whose image on the Pokédex was of stylized art rather than the standard art by the series character designer.
* Raikou's effort value yield of 1 Special Attack and 2 Speed is unique.
* Raikou's numbers in the National Pokédex and the Johto Pokédex are identical: 0243 and 243, respectively.
===Concept and development===
Raikou, along with and , was designed by Muneo Saitō.Yoshida, Yuuya (May 1, 2014). 伝説ポケモンのイラストを手がける斉藤むねお、キャラデザ講座開講！ Kai-You.(January 3, 2012). Ken Sugimori (@SUPER_32X) on Twitter. (archive)
When asked about the basis behind Raikou's design, Muneo Saitō described the process to be difficult, as "Raikou took many twists and turns; there was even a blue thunder version with a drum on its back", but it eventually fell into a tiger-like design.(January 3, 2012). Muneo Saitō (@muneondo) on Twitter. (archive)
In the Nintendo Space World '97 demo of Pokémon Gold and Silver, Raikou is seen with a design resembling a jackal or qilin, whereas in the final game, it's seen with an orange mane, more subdued faceplate, and lacking its blue "whiskers". It isn't until Pokémon Crystal where Raikou would be seen with a finalized design.
Spr 2d 243.png|Space World '97 demo sprite
Spr 2g 243.png| sprite
Spr 2c 243.png| sprite
===Origin===
Raikou may be partially based on a . Its long upper fangs bear a resemblance to those of the , commonly known as the saber-toothed tiger. It may have also been inspired by thunder and lightning gods of most cultures surrounding the world, mostly the 雷獣 (lit. thunder beast), a thunder demon of Japanese lore and is said to be Raijin's companion. It is said to be a creature that could take the form of various animals. Similarly, it may also draw inspiration from the , a legendary creature that is depicted with the legs or body of a tiger and a snake for a tail that can shape-shift into a black cloud. The flowing purple cloud on its back seems to be based on a , which is most often associated with thunderstorms.
 Raikou corresponds to the lightning that struck the Brass Tower according to its legend; at the same time, represents the fire that burned it, and represents the rain that put it out.
====Name origin====
Raikou may be derived from 雷 rai (thunder) or 雷光 raikō (lightning) and 公 kō (lord) or 皇 kō (emperor), where the former forms a reference to 雷公 (god of thunder in Chinese mythology).
==In other languages==
==See also==
* Legendary beasts
* Raikou (The Legend of Thunder!)
* Legendary beasts (M13)
* Raikou (Adventures)
* Legendary beasts (Super Mystery Dungeon)
* Legendary Pokémon
* Myths and legends involving Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon Colosseum
Category:Legendary Pokémon
Category:Legendary trio Pokémon
Category:Kanto Legendary Pokémon
Category:Johto Legendary Pokémon
Category:Orre Legendary Pokémon
Category:Roaming Pokémon
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ja:ライコウ
zh:雷公