Raikou

File:RaikouArt.png

#243

Raikou (ライコウ, Raikō) is a fictional creature in the Pokémon media franchise.

Creature description

Raikou is a large canine-or-feline specie with yellow tiger-striped fur and a purple "cape" of hair billowing like thunderclouds, and is one of a trio of legendary canine species that race across the land. According to the Pokédex, the purple attachment is said to be rain clouds, which lets Raikou fire thunderbolts at will. After storing energy in its body, it races across the land while barking cries that sound like crashing thunder and letting loose cracks of electricity. Its roars send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down. It is said to have descended to the ground with lightning.

Raikou is one of a trio of legendary Pokémon introduced in the Second Generation of the franchise in Pokémon Gold & Pokémon Silver, fan-named the Legendary Beasts. Raikou is a powerful beast with strong electric ability. In the RPGs, when it appears it randomly roams the game world, and a trainer wanting to catch it must encounter it by chance and try to catch it before it runs away.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Raikou makes a noteworthy appearance in Melee.

File:Raikou copy.jpg

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

Raikou is treated as a "legendary" Poké Ball Pokémon; its chance of appearing is much rarer than most of the others, and in return its effect is more powerful. Raikou uses Thunder as its attack. A current of electricity will form around Raikou. Any character (other than the summoner) that makes contact with the ground within the current of electricity will take damage and be thrown a short distance up into the air, similar to Venusaur's Frustration, though more powerful and in a much larger area. It's attack animation is the same as from Pokemon Colosseum.

As a trophy

Raikou features as a collectible trophy, unlocked as one of the 100+ trophies that can be collected randomly during normal play, such as in the Trophy Lottery and throughout the various Single-player Regular Matches. It reads as follows:

Raikou:

These Thunder Pokemon 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. (Pokemon Gold & Silver 10/00)

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

It is worth noting that Raikou is the only one of the 3 "Legendary Dogs" to not reappear as a Poké Ball Pokémon in Brawl. This may be due to the game producers deciding to spotlight Pikachu more, and cutting all electric Poké Ball Pokemon (Raikou, Zapdos).