Ho-Oh

Ho-Oh, romanized as Houou (ホウオウ Hō'ō) in Japan, is a mythical character in the Pokémon series, similar to a phoenix, that can see into the future. In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it is caught at the Tin Tower in Ecruteak City.

Name origin

Another romanization of this Pokémon's Japanese name, Houou, happens to be the name of the Japanese version of a legendary Chinese bird, the Fenghuang.

History of Ho-Oh

Long ago in Ecruteak, there were two towers, the Bronze Tower and Tin Tower. Lugia and Ho-Oh resided there for a long time. But the Bronze Tower burned down and both fled, never to be seen again. Three Pokemon became trapped in the flames of the Bronze Tower and perished. Ho-Oh returned to the tower, resurrected the three Pokemon (who were renamed Suicune, Raikou, and Entei), and put them to guarding the ruins of the Burned Tower.

Anime Appearances

In the very first episode of the series, Ash Ketchum sees a large, shining bird flying above the plain. When he consults his Pokedex, it responds that it has no data on the gorgeous creature, emphasizing that there are many Pokémon that have not yet been identified. Ash later discovers it was Ho-Oh by learning from Morty, Ecruteak City's gym leader, and Eusine, a Suicune fanatic and legendary Pokemon expert. Ash would see Ho-oh again when he leaves for Hoenn.

Although it is somewhat rare, Ho-oh can appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee out of a Poké Ball. Once it appears, it will fly up and into the background, and procede to use a devastating fire attack (probably Sacred Fire), spread across the area of the playing field where its Poké Ball had been.