From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Raikou (Japanese: ライコウ Raikou) is an Electric-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

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

Along with Entei and Suicune, it is one of the Legendary beasts resurrected by Ho-Oh 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.

Biology

Raikou is a quadruped, yellow, tiger-like Pokémon 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 saber-toothed cat. 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 lighting.

As seen in the anime, Raikou is able to fly by creating storm clouds. It 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 races across grasslands while barking cries that sound like thunder.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

In The Legend of Thunder!, Team Rocket members Attila and Hun attempted to capture a Raikou but failed.

A Shiny 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

In Houndoom's Special Delivery, Togepi and a Houndoom spotted a Raikou 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's dream featured a Raikou.

In I Choose You!, Ash, Verity, and Sorrel saw a Raikou as they approached Mount Tensei, but it disappeared before they could get a better look.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry The Legend of Thunder! Raikou Jimmy's Pokédex Raikou, the Thunder Pokémon. It's said to have descended to earth on a bolt of lightning.

In Pokémon Generations

A wild Raikou appeared in Ecruteak City in The Reawakening, during a flashback about the creation of the legendary beasts.



In the manga

In the movie adaptations

Raikou appeared in the manga adaptation of the fourth and final Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl movie, Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS manga

A Raikou appeared in PMHGSS04 and PMHGSS05.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga

A Raikou appeared in JBA3.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Raikou appeared as a beam of light in Slugging It Out With Slugma. Its first real appearance was in Really Raikou & Entirely Entei I, where it along with Entei tests Falkner and were joined by Suicune in Really Raikou & Entirely Entei I, talking about Ho-Oh. It was revealed in a flashback in Hello, Lickitung, where it was awakened by Yellow along with its two counterparts, and the three raced around Kanto and Johto looking for Trainers to help them defeat the Masked Man to free Ho-Oh and repay the debt of the latter for saving its life. Nearing the end of the chapter, Raikou eventually pairs up with Lt. Surge after encountering and escaping Falkner, and later Gold. Once Ho-Oh is freed and Pryce, the true identity of the Masked Man, is defeated, it once again roams the lands of Johto with Suicune and Entei. Anabel later catches Raikou in the Battle Frontier saga.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

A Raikou appeared in Gold and Black VS Team Rocket and The Legendary Pokémon.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

A Raikou first appeared in GDZ58.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

A Raikou appeared in Find the Legendary Pokémon!!.

In the TCG

Other appearances

When released from a Poké Ball, Raikou releases a powerful Spark 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.

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.

Raikou appears as a Spirit alongside Entei and Suicune.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

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

#238 Gold The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning. Silver A Pokémon that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder. Crystal This rough Pokémon stores energy in its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity. Stadium 2 The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning. Generation III Hoenn

#— Kanto

#— Ruby Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. The roars of this Pokémon send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down. Sapphire Emerald Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. Its roars send shock waves shuddering through the air and ground as if lightning bolts were crashing down. FireRed This Pokémon races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder. LeafGreen The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning. Generation IV Sinnoh

#— Johto

#243 Diamond It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back. Pearl Platinum HeartGold The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning. SoulSilver A Pokémon that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder. Generation V Unova

#— Black It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back. White Black 2 It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back. White 2 Generation VI Kalos

#— Hoenn

#— X The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning. Y This rough Pokémon stores energy inside its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity. Omega Ruby Raikou embodies the speed of lightning. The roars of this Pokémon send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down. 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

Under normal battle conditions in Generation VIII, this Pokémon is: Damaged

normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying ½× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric ½× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× Fairy 1× None

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 Raikou's learnsets from other generations.





Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

Origin

Raikou may be particularly based on the thunder and lightning gods of most cultures surrounding the world, mostly the 雷獣 raijū (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 a tiger, monkey, blue wolf wrapped in lightning, and many other animals. Raikou is specifically based on its tiger form, while the Pokémon Manectric is based on its wolf form. Raikou is also based on dogs.

In terms of physical build, Raikou may be based on the Smilodon, a well-known but extinct species of wildcat often referred to as a saber-toothed tiger. Its color and pattern scheme are reminiscent of that of a Bengal tiger. The stripes that decorate Raikou's body also can be compared to zigzagging thunderbolts and perhaps even scars from claws. The white ruff around Raikou's face is akin to the Siberian tiger's thick fur around its neck. In the anime, Raikou is shown to be very agile, swift, stealthy, and a powerful attacker, just like a tiger. The gray "plate" on its forehead may be similar to Entei's head ornament, being either a helmet or crown that signifies courage and power. The flowing purple cloud on its back is likely meant to invoke the image of a cumulonimbus cloud, the cloud type most often associated with thunderstorms.

Name origin

Raikou could be taken to mean 雷光 raikou (lightning), which is also the inspiration for the name of raijū, or it may be a combination of 雷 rai (thunder) and 皇 kō (emperor). It may also derive from 雷公 raikō (thunder duke), the on'yomi reading of Lei Gong, a Taoist/Daoist deity.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese ライコウ Raikou From 雷公 raikō , 雷 rai , 雷光 raikou , and 皇 kō French Raikou Same as Japanese name Spanish Raikou Same as Japanese name German Raikou Same as Japanese name Italian Raikou Same as Japanese name Korean 라이코 Raikou Transliteration of its Japanese name Cantonese Chinese Mandarin Chinese 雷公 Léigōng From 雷公 Raikou . Also a reference to the ancient Chinese god of thunder, Lei Gong. More languages Hindi रायकू Raikou Transcription of English name Russian Райку Rayku Transcription of English name Thai ไรโค Raikou Transcription of Japanese name





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