raikou
LegendaryGeneration II · #0243 — Thunder Pokémon
Raikou, known as the Thunder Pokémon, is National Pokédex #243 and one of the three legendary beasts of the Johto region introduced in Generation II. As a pure Electric-type legendary Pokémon, Raikou stands apart with its genderless status and its profound connection to the lore of the Brass Tower incident. According to Pokédex legend, Raikou was resurrected by Ho-Oh alongside Entei and Suicune, said to represent the lightning strike that ignited the catastrophic fire. With a base stat total of 580 distributed across its formidable Special Attack and Speed attributes (both at 115), Raikou embodies the swift, destructive nature of lightning itself. Its combination of high offensive and defensive capabilities, paired with the rare Pressure ability, makes it a legendary Pokémon worthy of its mythological status despite not being classified as mythical in game mechanics.
Base Stats
Height
1.9m
Weight
178.0kg
Category
Thunder Pokémon
Gender
Genderless
Color
yellow
Shape
quadruped
Habitat
grassland
Abilities
Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
Prevents flinching.
Raikou Biology & Physical Characteristics
Raikou is a quadrupedal, tiger-like Pokémon characterized by a striking yellow body adorned with distinctive black stripes and a crisp white underside. Standing at 1.9 meters tall and weighing 178 kilograms, this legendary beast presents an imposing physical form that reflects its power and majesty. Its most recognizable features include thick white fur dominating its facial region, sharp red eyes that gleam with intelligence, and a curious light blue X-shaped marking across its muzzle. The creature's face is further distinguished by a prominent black faceplate with two distinctive bumps covering its forehead, nose, and ears, creating an almost mechanical appearance that contrasts with its organic, feline body structure. Raikou possesses two elongated fangs reminiscent of saber-toothed cats, adding to its predatory appearance, while its large claws converge to single points and remain perpetually extended. Perhaps most notably, Raikou carries a thin, angular light blue tail that terminates in a spark-shaped formation, serving as a visual representation of its electrical nature and electrical discharge capabilities.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Raikou Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Raikou is genderless, classified within the Undiscovered egg group, meaning it cannot breed under any circumstances despite the presence of both male and female Pokémon in other legendary categories. This genderless status reflects Raikou's nature as a divine entity resurrected through Ho-Oh's legendary intervention rather than a naturally occurring Pokémon species that reproduces. The lack of breeding capability is reinforced by its extremely low base happiness of 35, which further emphasizes its wild, untamed nature and resistance to human bonding. Unlike some legendary Pokémon that possess gender dimorphism or breed-specific characteristics, Raikou presents as a singular, unified entity across all encounters and appearances. This biological impossibility of reproduction further solidifies Raikou's status as a unique, irreplaceable legendary Pokémon—a creature that cannot be duplicated or naturally replenished through breeding mechanics.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm03
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm04
emerald
tm04
firered leafgreen
tm04
ruby sapphire
tm04
diamond pearl
tm04
xd
tm04
heartgold soulsilver
tm04
black white
tm04
colosseum
tm04
platinum
tm04
sun moon
tm04
ultra sun ultra moon
tm04
x y
tm04
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm04
black 2 white 2
+732 more TMs/HMs
Raikou Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Raikou does not evolve into or from any other Pokémon, standing as a complete, singular entity in the evolutionary chain. As a legendary Pokémon resurrected by Ho-Oh rather than developed through natural evolutionary processes, Raikou exists outside the traditional framework of Pokémon development and transformation. The creature has maintained the exact same form and capabilities across all generations since its introduction in Generation II, with no Mega Evolution, regional variant, or alternative form ever being introduced. Interestingly, modern Pokémon lore introduces Raging Bolt, a Paradox Pokémon from Scarlet and Violet, which is theorized to be either an ancient relative of Raikou or possibly a version of the legendary beast from an alternate timeline or parallel dimension. This contemporary connection suggests Raikou's significance extends beyond simple legendary classification into broader themes of temporal and dimensional mythology within the Pokémon universe.
Where to Find
roaming johto
johto
+2 more
roaming kanto
kanto
trackless forest
hoenn
ultra space wilds
alola
ultra space
alola
Raikou Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Raikou embodies the speed of lightning in both appearance and behavior, racing across the land with extraordinary velocity while releasing thunderous roars that shake the very earth. Pokédex entries describe its cry as sounding like crashing thunder, with its roars sending shock waves shuddering through both air and ground as if lightning bolts were constantly striking around it. This Pokémon is described as rough and aggressive, actively storing electrical energy within its body before sweeping across vast territories and unleashing thunderous attacks seemingly at will. The rain clouds it perpetually carries serve as both a defining characteristic and a functional asset, allowing Raikou to fire thunderbolts with complete autonomy regardless of weather conditions. Despite its legendary status, Raikou maintains relatively low base happiness at 35, suggesting a wild, untamed nature resistant to bonding with trainers. The Pokémon's restless, nomadic behavior—constantly moving across the landscape—indicates it is a solitary wanderer rather than a creature confined to any particular habitat, though it is most prominently encountered in the Johto region where it was resurrected.
Pokedex Entries
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
A POKéMON that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
This rough POKéMON stores energy inside its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity.
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.
RAIKOU embodies the speed of lightning. Its roars send shock waves shuddering through the air and ground as if lightning bolts were crashing down.
This POKéMON races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
A Pokémon that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
This rough Pokémon stores energy inside its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity.
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.
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.
Raikou Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Raikou derives from Japanese elements combining 'rai' (雷), meaning lightning or thunder, with 'kou' (皇), meaning emperor or ruler—literally translating to 'Lightning Emperor' or 'Thunder Ruler.' This nomenclature perfectly encapsulates the Pokémon's role as a supreme embodiment of electrical power and authority. The design itself draws heavily from East Asian mythology, particularly the tiger as a symbol of power, ferocity, and divine authority. The creature's saber-toothed appearance evokes prehistoric power while its mechanical-looking faceplate and spark-tipped tail ground its design in electrical aesthetics. The light blue coloring of its tail and facial markings provides visual contrast to its yellow body while clearly associating these features with electrical discharge and energy. The X-shaped marking on Raikou's muzzle may represent crossed lightning bolts or the meeting point of electrical forces, emphasizing its status as a conductor and wielder of vast electrical energy. Its quadrupedal, streamlined body structure conveys speed and agility, visually reinforcing the Pokédex description of it embodying the speed of lightning itself.
Learnable Moves
Raikou can learn 86 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| aura sphere | fighting | Special | 80 | — | 20 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| calm mind | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| charge | electric | Status | — | — | 20 |
| charge beam | electric | Special | 50 | 90 | 10 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| cut | normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| detect | fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| discharge | electric | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| eerie impulse | electric | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| electric terrain | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| electro ball | electric | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| electroweb | electric | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| extrasensory | psychic | Special | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| extreme speed | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 5 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| howl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| iron head | steel | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| laser focus | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| light screen | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| magnet rise | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psych up | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| quash | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| quick attack | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| rising voltage | electric | Special | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock climb | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| sandstorm | rock | Status | — | — | 10 |
| scald | water | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| shadow ball | ghost | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| shock wave | electric | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| signal beam | bug | Special | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snarl | dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| spark | electric | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| supercell slam | electric | Physical | 100 | 95 | 15 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| throat chop | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| thunder | electric | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
| thunder fang | electric | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| thunder shock | electric | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| thunder wave | electric | Status | — | 90 | 20 |
| thunderbolt | electric | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| volt switch | electric | Special | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| weather ball | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| wild charge | electric | Physical | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| zap cannon | electric | Special | 120 | 50 | 5 |
Raikou Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive play, Raikou functions as a versatile special attacker and speed threat with respectable defensive capabilities. Its base Special Attack of 115 and Speed of 115 provide excellent offensive potential, allowing it to outspeed many threats and deliver significant damage through moves like Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, and Hidden Power variants. The Pressure ability serves as a defensive utility tool, increasing the PP cost of attacks targeting Raikou by one, which can force opponents into strategic decisions about move usage over extended battles. Its Hidden Ability, Inner Focus, prevents flinching, providing additional defensive utility against priority moves and flinch-inducing attacks. With a respectable base Special Defense of 100 and HP of 90, Raikou can tank certain special attacks when properly invested in defensive statistics. Competitive sets typically emphasize Special Attack and Speed investment with a focus on outspeeding and eliminating threats quickly, though defensive variants with Calm Mind or Nasty Plot sweeps are viable in slower formats. Its relatively modest Attack stat of 85 limits physical move options, making it primarily reliant on its special move pool.
Commonly Asked Questions About Raikou
What type is Raikou?
Raikou is a electric type Pokemon.
What does Raikou evolve from?
Raikou does not evolve.
What are Raikou's weaknesses?
Raikou is weak to ground type moves.
Where can I find Raikou?
Raikou can be found in roaming johto (johto), roaming kanto (kanto) and trackless forest (hoenn) and 2 other locations.
Raikou Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Raikou holds significant cultural prominence within Pokémon lore and fan consciousness as one of the three legendary beasts central to the Johto region's mythology. Its appearance in 'The Legend of Thunder!' anime special provided substantial exposure and established its character within the broader Pokémon narrative, inspiring decades of fan interest and speculation. The legendary beast trio—Raikou, Entei, and Suicune—represent elements of the Brass Tower tragedy, embedding Raikou within the franchise's most mythologically significant events. Throughout the anime series, Raikou has made numerous appearances including in movie appearances and special episodes, solidifying its status as a recognizable and beloved legendary Pokémon among long-time fans. The creature's design has influenced countless artistic interpretations, cosplays, and fan works, cementing its place in Pokémon visual culture. Its representation in competitive gaming communities and trading card game formats has maintained its relevance across different Pokémon media beyond video games.
Where to Find Raikou in Every Pokémon Game
Raikou's availability varies significantly across generations and game versions, typically confined to post-game legendary encounters in Johto-based games. In Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Raikou appears as a roaming legendary Pokémon that can be encountered across the Johto and Kanto regions after being released from the Burned Tower (formerly Brass Tower). In HeartGold and SoulSilver remakes, Raikou maintains this roaming encounter status with updated mechanics reflecting modern game design. The extremely low catch rate of 3 (approximately 0.4% with a standard Poké Ball at full health) makes Raikou one of the most difficult legendary Pokémon to capture, requiring substantial preparation and often multiple encounters. Its availability in subsequent generations including Diamond and Pearl, Black 2 and White 2, and later titles depends on event distributions and game-specific legendary encounter locations. Modern entries in the Pokédex such as Sword and Shield or Pokémon Legends: Arceus may feature Raikou through different encounter mechanics or storyline integrations. The Pressure ability with its base stats of 90 HP, 85 Attack, 75 Defense, 115 Special Attack, 100 Special Defense, and 115 Speed makes it accessible across competitive play formats through event distributions and legacy game transfers.