From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Lugia (Japanese: ルギア Lugia) is a dual-type Psychic/Flying Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

It is often considered to be part of the Tower duo with Ho-Oh, even sometimes as Ho-Oh's polar opposite. Silver represents Lugia as "guardian of the seas", and Gold represents Ho-Oh as "guardian of the skies." Lugia is also the trio master of the Legendary birds.

Lugia is the game mascot of Pokémon Silver, its remake Pokémon SoulSilver, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (as Shadow Lugia), appearing on the boxart of them all.

In Pokémon XD, Shadow Lugia, codenamed XD001, is a main part of the storyline, and Cipher's ultimate Shadow Pokémon.

Biology

Lugia folding back its plates

Lugia is a large Pokémon that resembles a dragon, a plesiosaur, and a bird. It is primarily pale silver-white, but it has blue undersides with slightly varying tones. It has a ridged mouth similar to a beak, although it has pointed teeth on its lower jaw. Its head has a point to the back, and Lugia's eyes have pointed blue or black spikes on them. Lugia has a long, slender neck and a smooth, streamlined body. Dark blue or black plate-like protrusions run down the length of its back, and there are two smaller, more pointed ones on the end of its tail. It can fold back these plates to increase its speed. Lugia is covered in many scales that protect it from attacks. It has large wings that resemble hands. Though it is genderless, a young Lugia has been observed, suggesting there is a breeding population. Lugia has been shown to be fiercely protective of its young.

Lugia leads the legendary birds. When they fight over territory, Lugia is the only Pokémon that can quell their ceaseless fighting, as observed in the second Pokémon movie. Much like the birds, it possesses the ability to control the weather; most notably, it can calm and give rise to storms. It is said that a light flutter of its wings is capable of causing winds powerful enough to tear down cliffs. If it were to flap its wings, it could hypothetically spawn storms lasting as long as 40 days. It is highly intelligent, and because of the devastating power it could accidentally inflict, it isolates itself deep underwater and tends to sleep in solitude. Lugia is the only known Pokémon that learns Aeroblast. It is extremely rare and is hardly ever seen.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

In The Power of One, a Lugia was central to the legend of Shamouti Island. Its Psychic powers allow it to communicate with humans through telepathy.

In Around the Whirlpool, a silhouetted Lugia saved Ash, Misty, and Brock from being sucked into a whirlpool. It later turned out to be the mother of Silver in The Mystery is History.

A young Lugia, nicknamed Silver by Oliver, lived near Ogi Isle in the Whirl Islands. Dr. Namba attempted to capture both the parent Lugia and Silver for Giovanni in The Mystery is History, A Parent Trapped!, and A Promise is a Promise.

Other

In Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, a Lugia was the first Legendary Pokémon summoned by Hoopa to protect it and Ash from the shadow Hoopa Unbound. After a brief battle, the shadow Hoopa eventually portaled it back to its home in the sea.

In The Power of Us, a Lugia had a significant role in Fula City's history.

In Legend? Go! Friends? Go!, a group of Trainers challenged a Lugia to a Raid Battle but were all easily defeated. Lugia later befriended Ash and Goh.

Minor appearances

In An Egg Scramble!, Team Rocket's fantasy featured a Lugia as one of the Pokémon they hoped the Egg that they stole from Dawn would hatch into.

In the opening sequence of Jirachi: Wish Maker, a Lugia rose out of the ocean during a full moon.

A Lugia appeared in the opening sequence of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.

In the opening sequence of The Rise of Darkrai, a Lugia was flying across the sky.

A Lugia appeared in the opening sequence of Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

A Lugia appeared in the opening sequence of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

A Lugia appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

In Pokémon Generations

In The Adventure, a wild Lugia flew by after a group of wild Wooper sent Red's Pikachu flying with Mud Shot.



In the manga

In the Ash & Pikachu manga

In Let's Save The Lugia!, two Lugia fulfilled the same roles as Silver and its parent in the anime.

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Lugia appeared at the end of Epilogue: Wild Type.

In the movie adaptations

Lugia appeared in the the manga adaptation of The Power of One.

Lugia also appeared in the graphic novel adaptation of the same movie.

In the Pocket Monsters manga

A Lugia appeared in JNM01.

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

A Lugia appeared in PMDP29.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS manga

A Lugia appeared in PMHGSS01.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The Masked Man apparently caught Lugia twice, given that its plucked feather item Silver Wing is shown under his possession several years ago, only to be stolen by Green. However, both times, it went back to the wild along with Ho-Oh.

In The Might of... Metapod?!, the Kanto Elite Four tried to exterminate humans using Lugia, which appeared as a spirit. It was encountered as a being of shimmering light, when Lance summoned it to aid his schemes. After they were defeated, it flew to the west. In Sandslash Surprise, it was properly identified as Lugia. In Lively Lugia I, II, and III, the Johto dexholders battled it before it was captured by The Masked Man just before Crystal's attempt to do so.

Besides the two, it was also controlled for some time by Will and Karen while they were under the Masked Man's jurisdiction.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

A Lugia appeared in The Truth About The Mysterious Whirl Islands!! and A Serious Crisis!! The Battle With The Lugia. It reappeared in Let's Fight For The Future!!.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

In GDZ868, Shu encountered and caught a Lugia. He then released it so it could continue protecting the ocean.

In the Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic manga

A Lugia appeared in Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

A Lugia appeared in Clefairy Rangers to the Rescue!!.

A Lugia appeared in Take me to the Dragon Palace!.

In the TCG

In the TFG

One Lugia figure has been released.

Other appearances

When released from a Poké Ball, Lugia will fly up out of the stage and return in the background, where it unleashes a powerful Aeroblast on a section of the stage.

Melee trophy information

The waters of the Whirl Islands are home to this legendary Pokémon, whom very few have seen. Lugia live quietly in the deepest ocean trenches for one very good reason: its combined aerial and psychic powers are so strong as to be extremely dangerous. The special moves of this gargantuan creature include the destructive wind assault known as Aeroblast.

Brawl trophy information

"A Diving Pokémon. A legendary Pokémon often referred to as 'guardian of the seas,' it has the impressive ability to control the wind. Lugia typically spends its time quietly at the bottom of the ocean. Highly powerful in all areas, Lugia's Aeroblast move is especially powerful. It uses strong flapping of its wings to target damage on a foe's weak spot."

3DS/Wii U trophy information

NA: Despite being a Psychic/Flying-type Pokémon, Lugia sleeps on the ocean floor. Legend says the flapping of Lugia's wings can create storms that last up to 40 days. It's impossible to know for sure, but in Smash Bros., Lugia definitely brings a storm with its Aeroblast attack.

PAL: Despite being a Psychic- and Flying-type, Lugia sleeps on the ocean floor. It's said that if it were to flap its wings on waking up, it could cause a storm lasting 40 days. No one can say whether that's true or not, but Lugia's attacks certainly make it seem so. It flies behind the stage and creates a mighty gust of wind with its Aeroblast attack.

Lugia appears as a Spirit.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation II Johto

#247 Gold It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong. Silver It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm. Crystal It has an incredible ability to calm raging storms. It is said that Lugia appears when storms start. Stadium 2 It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong. Generation III Hoenn

#— Kanto

#— Ruby Lugia's wings pack devastating power - a light fluttering of its wings can blow apart regular houses. As a result, this Pokémon chooses to live out of sight deep under the sea. Sapphire Emerald Lugia is so powerful even a light fluttering of its wings can blow apart houses. As a result, it chooses to live out of sight deep under the sea. FireRed It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm. LeafGreen It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong. Generation IV Sinnoh

#— Johto

#252 Diamond It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm. Pearl Platinum HeartGold It is said that it quietly spends its time deep at the bottom of the sea because its powers are too strong. SoulSilver It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm. Generation V Unova

#— Black It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm. White Black 2 It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm. White 2 Generation VI Kalos

#— Hoenn

#— X It sleeps in a deep-sea trench. If it flaps its wings, it is said to cause a 40-day storm. Y It is said to be the guardian of the seas. It is rumored to have been seen on the night of a storm. Omega Ruby Lugia's wings pack devastating power — a light fluttering of its wings can blow apart regular houses. As a result, this Pokémon chooses to live out of sight deep under the sea. Alpha Sapphire Generation VII Alola

#— Kanto

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VII. Generation VIII Galar

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VIII.

Game locations

In side games

In events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII.

Click on the generation numbers above to see Lugia's learnsets from other generations.





Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

Origin

Lugia's aquatic tendencies could relate it to plesiosaurs. It is also possible that Lugia may be based on Ryūjin, a dragon who lived on the ocean floor and was the Shinto god of the sea. The two have similarities in mythology, and Lugia's Shiny colors (red and white) are the same colors as the coral Ryujin's palace was made of. In addition, it is worth noting that dragon (yang, male, water) and phoenix (yin, female, fire) duality is prevalent in Eastern mythology, and Ho-Oh clearly resembles a phoenix. In keeping with this, Lugia resembles a wyvern, a variety of dragons with a single set of forelimbs that serve as wings. Lugia may also be an embodiment of storms. Lugia's avian body, coloration, and face-markings suggest that it may be somewhat based on the grey heron. The beluga whale, a white whale with similar body shape and coloration to Lugia, may also be a basis for Lugia's design and name. Lugia's back fins and tail spikes are reminiscent of the Stegosaurus.

Name origin

Lugia may be derived from lutetium (a silverish element), which in turn is named after Lutetia (the Roman name for Paris, the city of light). It may also involve Lugeo (Latin for to lie dormant, alluding to the way Lugia lies at the bottom of the sea) and luna (Latin for moon). Alternatively, it may come from beluga whale. It may also incorporate deluge.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ルギア Lugia From lutetium, Lutetia, lugeo , luna , and beluga whale French Lugia Same as Japanese name Spanish Lugia Same as Japanese name German Lugia Same as Japanese name Italian Lugia Same as Japanese name Korean 루기아 Rugia Transliteration of its Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 利基亞 Leihgēi'a Transliteration of its Japanese name Mandarin Chinese 洛奇亞 / 洛奇亚

Luòqíyǎ / Luòqíyà Transliteration of its Japanese name More languages Hebrew לוגיה Lugia Transcription of English name Hindi लूगिया Lugia Transcription of English name Russian Лугиа Lugia Transcription of English name Thai ลูเกีย Lugia Transcription of trademarked Japanese name





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References



