It is not known to evolve
into or from any other Pokémon.
It was the first Generation
II Pokémon revealed, in the August 1996 issue of CoroCoro,[1] 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.
Ho-Oh is the game mascot of
Pokémon Gold and its remake Pokémon HeartGold, appearing on the boxart of both.
Along with Lugia, it is
considered part of the tower duo by fans. It is often viewed as the leader of
the Legendary beasts. In the anime, it is associated with Marshadow.
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 is considered the
guardian of the skies and has a mythical power to resurrect the dead. Prior to
Generation VI, Ho-Oh was the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move
Sacred Fire. 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. Ho-Oh loves Ho-Oh
Treats made by Snacksworth, who once witnessed it flying over him in the past.
In the anime
Main series
According to the anime,
Ho-Oh lived in the Tin Tower in ancient times. When a war broke out, burning
both the Tin 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.
Major appearances
Ho-Oh (anime)
On occasion, Ho-Oh would
only be seen by Ash, and always fleetingly. This trend began at the end of
Pokémon - I Choose You!, where Ash saw it flying alongside a rainbow across the
sky after the thunderstorm. In I Choose You!, which is set in a continuity different
from the main series, Ho-Oh played a major role.
Minor appearances
A Ho-Oh appeared in the
opening sequence of Jirachi: Wish Maker.
In Lucario and the Mystery
of Mew, a Ho-Oh appeared in the intro, and then as a transformation of Mew.
In the opening sequence of
The Rise of Darkrai, a Ho-Oh was flying through space.
A Ho-Oh appeared in the
opening sequence of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
A Ho-Oh appeared in the
opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Pokémon Generations
A wild Ho-Oh appeared in
Ecruteak City in The Reawakening, during a flashback about the creation of the
legendary beasts.
GOTCHA!
A Ho-Oh briefly appeared as
a silhouette in GOTCHA!.
Pokémon Evolutions
In The Show, a Ho-Oh
appeared in a fantasy alongside Lugia during the Kimono Girls' performance.
In the manga
Movie adaptations
Main article: Ho-Oh (anime)
Ho-Oh appeared in a
flashback in ICYR1. It reappeared in ICYR3.
Pocket Monsters HGSS
A Ho-Oh appeared in
PMHGSS02.
Pokémon Adventures
Main article: Ho-Oh
(Adventures)
Ho-Oh first appeared as a silhouette in a flashback in Just a Spearow Carrier. It was used by the Masked Man to kidnap children showing remarkable talent in his scheme to capture Celebi, including Green and Silver, six years prior to the start of the entire manga.
Prior to the events of the
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc, the Masked Man had lost control over Ho-Oh, and
thus attacked the Tin Tower using Neo Team Rocket to prompt Ho-Oh to return to
Ecruteak City. Ho-Oh was later seen at Indigo Plateau under the Masked Man's
control, alongside Lugia, wreaking havoc and destruction. It was then lent to
Karen and Will to fight Green with alongside Lugia, and nearly defeated her
legendary birds, but both of them were eventually brought back to their senses
and freed.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Ho-Oh debuted in a fantasy
in Farewell To Pikachu?!. It physically debuted in Let's Fight For The
Future!!, at the very end of the manga.
Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
Ho-Oh appeared in GDZ65.
Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic
A Ho-Oh appeared in Pokémon
HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
A Ho-Oh appeared in The
Legendary Ho-oh!!.
In the TCG
Main article: Ho-Oh (TCG)
In the TFG
One Ho-Oh figure has been
released.
Next Quest: Ho-Oh
Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Melee/Brawl
When released from a Poké
Ball, Ho-Oh unleashes a spiral of Sacred Fire that deals massive amounts of
damage to any opponent caught in it. However, it appears very rarely.
Melee trophy information
As it soars around the skies
of the world, this Rainbow Pokémon 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.
Brawl trophy information
"A Rainbow Pokémon. On
sparkling 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 Wii U/Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ho-Oh returns 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 Information
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.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ho-Oh appears as a Spirit.
Trivia
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.
In addition, Ho-Oh is the
first Generation II Pokémon to be shown in the anime. It is seen at the end of
the very first episode of the anime. However, the Pokédex is unable to identify
it.
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 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.
It is directly implied in a
myth in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver that Ho-Oh revived
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune upon their original deaths.
As of Generation VI, Ho-Oh
is the only game mascot with a former signature move, since Sacred Fire can now
also be learned by Entei.
From Generation VI onward,
Ho-Oh is the heaviest Pokémon that can be taken to the sky by using Sky Drop.
Ho-Oh appears in Pokémon
Battle Chess. Alongside Lugia, the player must lose a specific number of pieces
(three in Ho-Oh's case) to use it, and it takes four spaces on the board.
In the Pokémon Gold and
Silver Spaceworld '97 demo, Ho-Oh was a pure Flying-type legendary Pokémon.
Ho-Oh and Lugia are the only
Legendary Pokémon that are game mascots that are not version-exclusives in
their representative games.
Origin
Ho-Oh may be based on the
legend of the phoenix, specifically the Fenghuang, the immortal phoenix of
China from which it derives its name. It may also be 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 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 ashes and had a hand in
resurrecting Suicune, Raikou and Entei; additionally, this is also reflected by
its Hidden Ability Regenerator.
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.
Name origin
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).
Look it up on Bulbapedia
Photo: Pixabay/GDJ
