Ho-Oh

#250 Ho-Oh
Image from the Generation IV games
Category	Rainbow Pokémon
Original Region	Johto
National Dex Nr.	#250
Johto Dex Nr.	#253
Generation	2
Type(s)	Fire/Flying
Ability/ies	Pressure (Hidden: Regenerator)

Ho-Oh (Japanese: ホウオウ Houou) is a dual-type Fire/Flying Legendary Pokémon.

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

It is often considered to be closely related to Lugia as a duo, even sometimes as its polar opposite. Silver represents Lugia as "guardian of the seas", and Gold represents Ho-Oh as "guardian of the skies."

Ho-Oh is the version mascot of Pokémon Gold and its remake Pokémon HeartGold, appearing on the boxart of both.

Biology

Ho-Oh is an avian Pokémon resembling a phoenix and a peacock. Its feathers are predominantly gold and red, with yellow tail-feathers, a white underside, and green feathers at the tip of its wings. Ho-Oh has a green stripe on its neck, a yellow beak, black rings around its red eyes, and a feathered, yellow crest on its head. Ho-Oh's wings are prismatic, causing it to trail a rainbow behind it. It has darkly colored feet and legs with four toes and long talons.

Ho-Oh has a mythical power to resurrect the dead. Ho-Oh was the only known Pokémon to learn Sacred Fire, its former signature move. It is said that when it flies its huge wings create bright, colorful rainbows. The rare few who bear witness to Ho-Oh are promised an eternal happiness. Ho-Oh used to perch at the top of the Bell Tower (or Tin Tower) until the Brass Tower was destroyed by fire. It now presumably flies through the world's skies in search of a Trainer with a pure heart.

Stats

Moves

By level up

Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pow.	Acc.	Effect
Start	Whirlwind			-	90%	Forces the target to switch out. In the wild, the battle ends.
Start	Gust			40	100%	No effect.
Start	Natural Gift			-	100%	Power and type varies depending on what berry the user holds.
Start	Weather Ball			50	100%	Type and power vary depending on the weather.
8	Safeguard			-	-	Prevents all status problems for 5 turns.
15	Recover			-	-	Restores half the maximum of the user's HP.
22	Extrasensory			80	100%	10% chance of making the target flinch.
29	Sunny Day			-	-	Summons sunny weather for 5 turns.
36	Punishment			-	100%	Power varies depending on the target's stat changes.
43	Ancient Power			60	100%	10% chance of raising all of the user's stats.
50	Sacred Fire			100	95%	50% chance of burning the target.
57	Sky Drop			60	100%	Prepares the first turn and strikes the net turn. The captured target cannot move.
64	Fire Blast			120	85%	10% chance of burning the target.
71	Brave Bird			120	100%	User takes recoil damage.
78	Calm Mind			-	-	Raises the user's Special Attack and Special Defense stats one stage.
85	Sky Attack			140	90%	Prepares the first turn and strikes the next turn. High critical hit ratio and 20% chance of making the target flinch.
92	Future Sight			120	100%	Causes damage two turns after being used.
99	Burn Up			130	100%	Removes Fire type from user.

Trivia

• Ho-Oh is the first Generation II Pokémon to be shown in the anime, making it the first sign that the franchise would ever expand beyond 151 Pokémon. It is seen at the end of the very first episode of the anime. However, the Pokédex does not know what it is.
  • Aside from the opening theme song, which featured Mewtwo, Mew, and the Legendary birds of Kanto, Ho-Oh was also the first Legendary Pokémon ever seen in the anime.
• Ho-Oh's English name is a palindrome; it shares this distinction with Eevee, Girafarig and Alomomola.
• Ho-Oh has the highest Special Defense base stat of all Fire-type Pokémon and is tied with Lugia for the highest Special Defense base stat of all Flying-type Pokémon.
  • Ho-Oh is tied with Lugia, Rayquaza, and Yveltal for highest base stat total of all Flying-type Pokémon and is tied with Reshiram for the highest base stat total of all Fire-type Pokémon.
• Ho-Oh and Lugia are the only two Legendary version mascots with counterparts that have not had a conflict in the anime.
  • However, in the opening of The Johto Journeys, there is a brief scene of the two facing off in the sky, and the first preview for M13 featured the two fighting despite neither of them appearing in the movie.
• It is indirectly said in a myth in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver that Ho-Oh revived Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
• So far, Ho-Oh is the only Legendary Generation II Pokémon to have never appeared in any movie (only in introductions and as a disguise used by Mew).
• Ho-Oh's Hidden Ability Regenerator reflects a phoenix's ability to be reborn from its ashes.

Origin

Ho-Oh is based on the legend of the phoenix, specifically the Fenghuang, the immortal phoenix of China from which it derives its name. It is also based on the Huma bird, a legendary bird that is said to never rest, living its entire life flying continuously, and resurrects itself and others in its own ashes and flames. It is a symbol of fortune and friendship and will bestow happiness to anyone who simply glimpses it. Many cultures view the Phoenix and Huma as symbols of resurrection; this is seen in Ho-Oh, which was reborn rising from its own ashes and had a hand in resurrecting Suicune, Raikou and Entei. It may also be based on many other firebirds; some examples are the three-legged bird, Simurgh, and the Ember Bird. It also is similar to the rainbow-feathered bird god Achiyalabopa.

Name Origin

Ho-Oh and Houou are alternate transcriptions of 鳳凰 Hōō (phoenix), specifically the Chinese phoenix, Fènghuáng. The ou may also refer to 皇 ō (emperor) or 王 ō (king).

Names in other Languages

Gallery

Ho-Oh's Dream World artwork

Ho-Oh's artwork from Pokémon Gold

Ho-Oh from the Box Art of Pokémon Gold

Ho-Oh from the Box Art of Pokémon HeartGold

Ho-Oh in the Pokémon Stadium series

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National Pokédex
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