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Ho-Oh (JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Fire/Flying legendary Pokémon that made its first game appearance in the second generation games Gold and Silver. Ho-Oh's official debut is in Pokémon, I Choose You!, the first episode of Pokémon the Series. It is part of the Tower duo with Lugia and is the leader of the Legendary beasts.
It was the first Second Pokémon Generation Pokémon revealed, in the August 1996 issue of CoroCoro, less than six months after the release of Pokémon Red and Green, and more than three years before the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Physiology and Behavior[]
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, such as the Legendary beasts. 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 eternal happiness. Ho-Oh used to perch at the top of the various towers located across the Johto region: the Bell Tower until the Brass Tower was destroyed by fire and the Goldenrod Tower in ancient times. It now presumably flies through the world's skies in search of a Trainer with a pure heart.
According to the anime, Ho-Oh lived in the Bell Tower in ancient times. When a war broke out, burning both the Tin/Bell Tower and the Brass Tower down, it created Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, and all four disappeared. Later, a new Tin Tower was erected, but Ho-Oh since then has never come back for sure. A sacred flame from Ho-Oh burns in the Ho-Oh Shrine at Mt. Silver; it was obtained during the same war.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Ho-Oh first appeared as the mascot of Pokémon Gold for the Game Boy Color, while Lugia was the mascot of the game's counterpart Pokémon Silver. Ho-Oh could actually be obtained in Pokémon Silver through special means, though by doing so the Ho-Oh caught in Silver would not know its signature move Sacred Fire (this was not the case in the game's remake, SoulSilver). Ho-Oh would later appear as the mascot of the Nintendo DS remake of the game, Pokémon HeartGold. Ho-Oh could be caught in Pokémon SoulSilver by obtaining an event item through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Other Pokémon games[]
Ho-Oh has appeared in many different Pokémon side games including Pokémon Trozei! and two Pokémon Mystery Dungeon video games. Surprisingly, Ho-Oh appeared in the first episode of the Pokémon anime at the end. Despite this, Lugia became more popular due to its primary role in a Pokémon movie.
In Pokémon UNITE, Ho-Oh is playable through obtaining a Unite License. It is a ranged defender.
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Ho-Oh in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ho-Oh has appeared as a Poké Ball Pokémon in the GameCube video game Super Smash Bros. Melee and the Wii game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In both games Ho-Oh will use its signature move Sacred Fire on the summoner's opponents. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Ho-Oh appears as an occasional stage hazard in the Blazing Chamber of the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Rarely appearing, it makes the flames supporting the platforms flare up with higher intensity, likely KOing any characters unfortunate enough to be on the platforms at the time.
Trophy descriptions[]
Super Smash Bros. Melee
- "As it soars around the skies of the world, this Rainbow Pokemon leaves a trail of rainbows and myths in its wake. Its signature move is called Sacred Fire, and it is believed to appear only before trainers who are pure of heart. If you see a trainer with Ho-oh, you can assume that catching it took a lot of work."
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- "A Rainbow Pokémon. On sparking wings of seven colors, Ho-Oh leaves a rainbow behind as it flies. Legend says that Ho-Oh suppressed a war that scorched the land in ancient times. Its attack Sacred Fire can melt ice in an instant and also damage the target with burns. Ho-Oh will show its solemn figure only for the most righteous Trainers."
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
- "This Pokémon flies through the skies, trailing rainbows from its wings, and is said to promise eternal happiness to all who see it. Supposedly, it appears every once in a while in the Fire-type Elite Four Trainer's room in the Kalos Pokémon League stage. Its screams cause pillars of fire to rise all the way to the ceiling."
In the anime[]
Ho-oh's anime appearance
On occasion, Ho-Oh would only be seen by Ash, and always fleetingly. This trend began at the end of Pokémon, I Choose You!, the first episode of the anime, where Ash saw it flying alongside a rainbow across the sky after the thunderstorm. Ho-oh would encounter Ash multiple times throughout his journey. However, the Pokédex is unable to identify it. It would later play a major role in the 20th movie, Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!. Ho-Oh reappeared in two episodes of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, first, it flew over Ecruteak City, but this time, it was only seen by Jaye and later in This Could be the Start of Something Big!, flying with Lugia.
In Pokémon Generations, Ho-Oh appeared in Ecruteak City in The Reawakening, during a flashback about the creation of the Legendary beasts.
In the Pokémon Evolutions episode The Show, a Ho-Oh appeared in a fantasy alongside Lugia during the Kimono Girls' performance.
Origin and inspiration[]
Ho-oh is based on a phoenix.
Given its category, it may also be an embodiment of the rainbow, very likely inspired by the multicolored aspect of the Fenghuang or by the rainbow-feathered bird god Achiyalabopa. It could also be inspired by many other firebirds; some notable examples are the three-legged bird, Simurgh, and the Ember Bird.
Ho-Oh and Houou may be derived from 鳳凰 Hōō, Japanese reading of the Fènghuáng (Chinese phoenix). It may also be derived from 皇 ō (emperor) or 王 ō (king).
In-game information[]
Pokédex entries[]
| Title | Entry |
|---|---|
| Second Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Gold | Legends claim this Pokémon flies the world's skies continuously on its magnificent seven-colored wings. |
| Pokémon Silver | A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. |
| Pokémon Crystal | It will reveal itself before a pure-hearted trainer by shining its bright rainbow-colored wings. |
| Third Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Ruby | Ho-Oh’s feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow. |
| Pokémon Sapphire | Ho-Oh’s feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow. |
| Pokémon Emerald | Its feathers--which glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light--are thought to bring joy. It is said to live at the foot of a rainbow. |
| Pokémon FireRed | A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. |
| Pokémon LeafGreen | Legends claim this Pokémon flies the world’s skies continuously on its magnificent seven-colored wings. |
| Fourth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Diamond | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon Pearl | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon Platinum | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon HeartGold | Legends claim this Pokémon flies the world’s skies continuously on its magnificent, seven-colored wings. |
| Pokémon SoulSilver | A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. |
| Fifth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Black | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon White | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon Black 2 | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon White 2 | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Sixth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon X | A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies. |
| Pokémon Y | It will reveal itself before a pure-hearted Trainer by shining its bright, rainbow-colored wings. |
| Pokémon Omega Ruby | Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow. |
| Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Ho-Oh's feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This Pokémon is said to live at the foot of a rainbow. |
| Eighth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
| Pokémon Shining Pearl | Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness. |
Game locations[]
| Title | Location(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Silver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Crystal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Emerald | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon FireRed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon LeafGreen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Platinum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon HeartGold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon SoulSilver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sixth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Omega Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seventh Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Ultra Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eighth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Sword | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Shield | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ninth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Scarlet | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pokémon Violet | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Base Stats[]
| HP | 106 |
| Attack | 130 |
| Defense | 90 |
| Sp. Attack | 110 |
| Sp. Defense | 154 |
| Speed | 90 |
| Total | 680 |
Moveset[]
Gallery[]
| Main article: Ho-Oh/gallery |
Sprites[]
Trivia[]
- Ho-Oh and Lugia are the first Legendary Pokémon to be game mascots.
- Ho-Oh was first revealed in the August 1996 issue of Corocoro, along with Pokémon Gold and Silver, thus making it the first sign that the Pokémon franchise would ever expand beyond 151 Pokémon.
- Ho-Oh is the first Legendary Pokémon and Generation II Pokémon to appear in the anime.
- Ho-Oh's name is a palindrome.
- Ho-Oh has the highest base Special Defense stat of all Fire-type Pokémon and is tied with Lugia for the highest base Special Defense stat of all Flying-type Pokémon.
- As of the Sixth Pokémon generation, Ho-Oh is the only game mascot with a former signature move, since Sacred Fire can now also be learned by Entei.
- From the Sixth Pokémon generation onward, Ho-Oh is the heaviest Pokémon that can be taken to the sky by using Sky Drop.
- In the Pokémon Gold and Silver SpaceWorld '97 demo, Ho-Oh was a pure Flying-type legendary Pokémon.
External links[]
- Ho-Oh (Pokémon) at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
- Ho-Oh at Pokémon Wiki, the Fandom wiki on Pokémon.
| Legendary Pokémon | |
|---|---|
| Generation I | Articuno • Zapdos • Moltres • Mewtwo |
| Generation II | Raikou • Entei • Suicune • Lugia • Ho-Oh |
| Generation III | Regirock • Regice • Registeel • Latias • Latios • Kyogre • Groudon • Rayquaza |
| Generation IV | Uxie • Mesprit • Azelf • Dialga • Palkia • Heatran • Regigigas • Giratina • Cresselia |
| Generation V | Cobalion • Terrakion • Virizion • Tornadus • Thundurus • Reshiram • Zekrom • Landorus • Kyurem |
| Generation VI | Xerneas • Yveltal • Zygarde |
| Generation VII | Type: Null • Silvally • Tapu Koko • Tapu Lele • Tapu Bulu • Tapu Fini • Cosmog • Cosmoem • Solgaleo • Lunala • Necrozma |
| Generation VIII | Zacian • Zamazenta • Eternatus • Kubfu • Urshifu • Regieleki • Regidrago • Glastrier • Spectrier • Calyrex • Enamorus |
| Generation IX | Wo-Chien • Chien-Pao • Ting-Lu • Chi-Yu • Koraidon • Miraidon • Okidogi • Munkidori • Fezandipiti • Ogerpon • Terapagos |