Legendary birds (M02)

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The legendary birds are a group of three Legendary Pokémon that appeared in The Power of One.

The legendary birds and Lugia

In the movies

Articuno

Articuno
フリーザー Freezer
 
Articuno
Debuts in The Power of One
Gender Unknown
Ability Unknown
Current location Ice Island
 
This Pokémon is fully evolved.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Articuno Yumi Touma

Articuno (Japanese: フリーザー Freezer) appeared in The Power of One.

History

Articuno, as depicted in an ancient legend, is the titan of ice. Lawrence III was trying to capture the three legendary birds to bring out Lugia. Articuno was the only bird he didn't capture, but after Moltres and Zapdos burst out of captivity with the help of Ash and his friends, the three legendary birds started a huge fight.

When Lugia came up from the sea, Articuno worked with the other birds to defeat Lugia. Later, Lugia rose again and none of the birds seemed to notice at first.

After that, Articuno kept fighting with the other birds but it returned to its island after Ash and Lugia silenced their fighting.

Moves used

 
Using Ice Beam
Move First Used In
Ice Beam The Power of One
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.


Zapdos

Zapdos
サンダー Thunder
 
Zapdos
Debuts in The Power of One
Gender Unknown
Ability Unknown
Current location Lightning Island
 
This Pokémon is fully evolved.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Zapdos Katsuyuki Konishi

Zapdos (Japanese: サンダー Thunder) appeared in The Power of One.

History

Zapdos, as depicted in an ancient legend, is the titan of lightning. Lawrence III was trying to capture the three legendary birds in order to lure out Lugia. After Moltres was captured, Zapdos claimed its island as its own territory (which implies that the weather disruptions, while started by Lawrence III, were mainly caused by the territorial disputes between the legendary birds). This was explained through the conversation that Pikachu and Zapdos have via electricity, which was translated through Meowth. Lawrence captured Zapdos along with Ash, Misty, Tracey, Melody, Jessie, James, and Meowth. Zapdos was freed by Moltres and the two birds burst out of the palace.

In their rage, the three legendary birds began to battle. When Lugia rose up from the sea, Zapdos worked with the other birds to return Lugia back into the sea. Later, Lugia rose again out of the water without any of the birds noticing.

Lugia, with the help of Ash, silenced the battle between the birds and Zapdos returned to its island.

Moves used

 
Using Thunderbolt
Move First Used In
Thunderbolt The Power of One
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.


Moltres

Moltres
ファイヤー Fire
 
Moltres
Debuts in The Power of One
Gender Unknown
Ability Unknown
Current location Fire Island
 
This Pokémon is fully evolved.
Voice actor Japanese English
As Moltres Rikako Aikawa

Moltres (Japanese: ファイヤー Fire) appeared in The Power of One.

History

Moltres, as depicted in an ancient legend, is the titan of fire. Lawrence III revealed that he was trying to capture the three legendary birds to bring out Lugia. Lawrence set out to get Moltres first. He bombed its island with ice bombs until Moltres got furious and flew away from its island to attack Lawrence. However, he captured Moltres and brought it aboard his flying ship.

Zapdos later claimed Moltres' territory as its own since Moltres was gone. This new territory ownership was short-lived, as Lawrence captured Zapdos along with Ash, Misty, Tracey, Melody, Jessie, James, and Meowth. Ash tried to free Moltres and succeeded eventually, allowing Moltres to free Zapdos and the two birds burst out of the palace.

Moltres, along with Zapdos, started a fight between themselves as well as Articuno, the other legendary bird. When Lugia came up from the sea, Moltres worked with the other birds to put Lugia back where it came from. Later, Lugia rose again and none of the birds seemed to notice at first.

After that, Moltres kept fighting with the other birds but it returned to its island after Ash and Lugia silenced their fighting.

Moves used

 
Using Flamethrower
Move First Used In
Flamethrower The Power of One
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the TCG

The legendary birds are featured in the TCG. The following is a list of cards featuring the legendary birds.

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Articuno   Wizards Black Star Promos   22 Pokémon Web   045/048
Supreme Victors   148/147 Beat of the Frontier   099/100
Zapdos   Wizards Black Star Promos   23 Pokémon Web   046/048
Supreme Victors   150/147 Beat of the Frontier   100/100
Moltres   Wizards Black Star Promos   21 Pokémon Web   043/048
Supreme Victors   149/147 Beat of the Frontier   098/100
Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos   Miscellaneous Promotional cards     Unnumbered Promotional cards    
 



In the manga

 
Articuno in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Movie adaptations

The legendary birds appear in Mirage Pokémon Lugia's Explosive Birth, where they played the same role as they did in the movie.

 
Zapdos in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

 
Moltres in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

The legendary birds only appear in Get Lugia!. Professor Oak assigns a mission to Red, Green, and Blue to go to the islands in order to summon Lugia but first, they have to go through Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. The three Trainers take a boat ride with Red going on a separate boat as Blue and Green went on another.

As they arrived on the island, it was starting to become freezing. Articuno appeared from behind Red. It easily froze Clefairy and Clefairy used a blender to thaw himself but sliced him into millions of pieces. The sight of Clefairy caused Articuno to fall down and left out the first orb. On the other side of the island, it was full of volcanoes and Moltres was summoned from one of them. Moltres's firepower was very strong. However, Clefairy rode on Moltres and sucked away its strength which made Clefairy completely stuffed. With Articuno and Moltres beaten, the sky became dark and a loud clap of lightning came down which almost hit Red. The last member of the legendary birds, Zapdos, showed itself. Zapdos attacked the group and Pikachu protected them with his own electricity. Clefairy connected Zapdos to a power generator box and knocked out Zapdos, obtaining the last orb to summon Lugia.

Moves used

Articuno
 
Using Ice Beam
Move First Used In
Ice Beam Get Lugia!
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Related articles

For more information on these Pokémon’s species, see Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.


Movie characters
Human protagonists
AliceAsh Ketchum (M20)AudreyBarazBiancaCallahanCarlitaCoreyDamosDianaDianeEricFergusHarrietJack WalkerJuanita
KarlKathrynKidd SummersKimiaKokoLisaLizabethLorenzoMannesMarenMargoMelodyMerayNeeshaNewton Graceland
Professor LundRafeRaleighRebeccaRisaRowenaSamSheenaSidSir AaronSorrelTonioTorenTory LundTowaVerityYuko
Human antagonists
AlvaAnnieArgus SteelButlerCherieCrossDamonDoctor ZedGalenGooneGrings KodaiIron-Masked MarauderLawrence IIILeviMarcus
MerilynMillis SteelMolly HaleOakleyPokémon huntersPokémon poacherRiotThe PhantomZero
Pokémon
ArceusArticunoCarbinkCelebi (M04)Celebi (M13)CobalionDadaDarkraiDeoxysDialgaDiancieEntei (M03)Entei (M13)GenesectGiratina
Ho-OhHoopaJirachiKeldeoKyuremLatiasLatiosLucarioLugiaMagearnaManaphyMarshadowMew (M01)Mew (M08)Mewtwo (M01)
Mewtwo (M16)MoltresPalkiaPikachu (M20)PikachutwoRaikouRayquazaRegiceRegirockRegisteelReshiramShayminSlowking
Spiky-eared PichuSuicune (M04)Suicune (M13)TerrakionUnownVictiniVirizionVolcanionXerneasYveltalZapdosZekrom
ZeraoraZoroarkZorua
Others
AliciaAllegraAstridBanksBaron AlbertoBlock BotBogieBonjiCarolChrom MolybdenumCTV news crewDabuDavidDionaDonuke
Dr. FujiDundeeFlamelFreddyGabuGhrisGlacineGodeyGurūHeroes of Truth and IdealsHoytInfiJasonJennyJoeJudy
KaiKakoKanataKatoKellieKevinKikoKing of the People of the ValeKyleLaylaLeekuLucianneLuisLuisaMakoMalin
ManukeMarcus's soldiersMauryMayor OliverMeredithMeta GroudonMewtwo's creatorsMiaMilesMimiMirandaMisakiMoose
Mother and daughterMr. WhiteNevaNikolaOld Man DomŌyamaPegPeople of the WaterPhossa MolybdenumPokémon Baccer teams
Queen IleneQueen RinRavineRaymondRickRossSchuylerSharonShepShunSpencer HaleSylvanTakaTammyTanner
TappTatsukiThe Marina GroupTobiasTownesUschiZabu


  This movie article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.