Legendary birds: Difference between revisions

[[File:Legendary birds.png|thumb|250px|Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres]]

[[File:Galarian Legendary birds.png |thumb|250px|Galarian Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres]]

'''Legendary birds''' (Japanese: '''{{ruby|伝説|でんせつ}}の{{ruby|鳥|とり}}ポケモン''' ''Legendary bird Pokémon'') is a collective term used to refer to the [[Legendary trio|trio]] of {{p|Articuno}}, {{p|Zapdos}}, and {{p|Moltres}}. They are also known as the '''winged mirages''' (Japanese: '''{{ruby|幻|まぼろし}}の{{ruby|翼|つばさ}}''' ''phantom wings''). In the [[Crown Tundra]], their Galarian versions have been referred to as '''Legendary wings'''.

Being the first Legendary trio, they set the standards for future trios; that is, they all share similar attributes and—in the case of most of the future trios—are considered equal among themselves. Like the other trios later would, the Legendary birds share a [[trio master|master]] in {{p|Lugia}} ([[Legendary birds (M02)|in the anime]] and [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team|some games]], at least), as well as two common traits: their {{type|Flying}} and their [[Ability]], {{a|Pressure}}.  

In [[The Crown Tundra]], each of the Legendary birds received a [[Galarian form]]. They all still share the {{t|Flying}} type, but they each now have different Abilities and their respective primary types have changed.

In the English version of all [[core series]] games prior to [[Generation IX]], there are [[Pokédex]] entries referring to either {{p|Articuno}}, {{p|Zapdos}}, or {{p|Moltres}} as a (lowercase) '''legendary bird Pokémon'''.

For instance, here are some Pokédex excerpts from {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}:

* ''"Articuno is a '''legendary bird Pokémon''' that can control ice."''

* ''"Zapdos is a '''legendary bird Pokémon''' that has the ability to control electricity."''

* ''"Moltres is a '''legendary bird Pokémon''' that has the ability to control fire."''

There is a single Pokédex entry in English specifically using the wording "'''legendary bird'''" (without "Pokémon") referring to Moltres in {{game|Red and Blue|s}}. However, when this Pokédex entry was [[Pokédex entry recycling|reused]] in later games, this was changed to "'''legendary bird Pokémon'''" as well:

 

* ''"Known as the '''legendary bird''' of fire. Every flap of its wings creates a dazzling flash of flames."''{{sup/1|RB}}

* ''"It is said to be the '''legendary bird Pokémon''' of fire. Every flap of its wings creates a dazzling flare of flames."''{{sup/3|LG}}{{sup/6|X}}

 

In ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex]]'' (page 82), this is written as '''Legendary Birds''' in {{wp|title case}}:

 

* ''"Many more Pokémon are unavailable in {{game|Gold and Silver|s}}, including the one-of-a-kind '''Legendary Birds''' {{p|Articuno}}, {{p|Zapdos}}, and {{p|Moltres}}."''

In Japanese, several core series Pokédex entries refer to them as '''{{ruby|伝説|でんせつ}}の{{ruby|鳥|とり}}ポケモン''' (''Legendary bird Pokémon'').

Similarly, those Japanese variations were also translated as '''legendary bird Pokémon''' in English:

* '''ひのとりでんせつ''' (''Fire Bird of Legend'') refers to Moltres in [[Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|Pokémon Blue]], [[Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|Pokémon LeafGreen]], and [[Pokémon X and Y|X]].

In the anime, [[Professor Oak]] states that Articuno's and Moltres' combined powers of ice and fire are the source and cradle of the oceans, and that Zapdos' electric energy creates the currents and streams, which is why the three ancient creatures are closely bound to the guardian of the ocean, {{p|Lugia}}.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; width:auto; text-align:center; background: #A890F0; border: 5px solid #CEBFFB"

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|1}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|5}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|10}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|15}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|20}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|25}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|30}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|35}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|40}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|45}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|50}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|55}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|60}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|65}}

| style="text-align:right; background:#{{flying color dark}}" | {{color|CEBFFB|70}}

| colspan="7" style="background:#{{flying color dark}}; color: #{{flying color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}"| <small>Moves in '''bold''' are {{color2|CEBFFB|Same-type attack bonus|STAB}}. Moves in ''italics'' do no damage.</small>

In Generation I, the Legendary birds are scattered around the [[Kanto]] region in different locations according to their [[type]]. Articuno is deep within the [[Seafoam Islands]], Zapdos is in [[Kanto Power Plant|the abandoned Power Plant]] on {{rt|10|Kanto}}, and Moltres is in {{ka|Victory Road}}.

In {{2v2|FireRed|LeafGreen}}, the Legendary birds retain their placement from Generation I, with the exception of Moltres, which has been moved to [[Mt. Ember]] in the [[Sevii Islands]] from Victory Road.

While it is impossible to capture the Legendary birds in {{2v2|Diamond|Pearl}}, they can be found [[Roaming Pokémon|roaming]] the Sinnoh region in {{game|Platinum}}. The player may encounter them after visiting Pal Park and then speaking to Professor Oak in Eterna City.

The Legendary birds appear once more in {{2v2|HeartGold|SoulSilver}}, and much as before, are in the same locations as before except for Moltres, who has moved once again, to [[Mt. Silver]]. Also due to the Power Plant no longer being abandoned, Zapdos is found outside the Power Plant and will only appear once all 16 Badges are acquired.

In {{g|X and Y}}, one bird roams around Kalos while the rest are absent. The bird that appears depends on what [[starter Pokémon]] is chosen at the beginning of the game: Articuno will roam if players choose {{p|Chespin}}, Zapdos will roam if {{p|Fennekin}} is chosen, and Moltres will roam if {{p|Froakie}} is chosen. It appears on random routes after the player beats the [[Pokémon League]] and cannot be battled, but once it is found ten times, it retreats to the [[Sea Spirit's Den]] where it can be battled.

In [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]], the three Legendary birds appear in the same capacity they do in the Generation I games. Unlike most Pokémon in the game, the player must defeat them in a timed {{pkmn|battle}} before getting the chance to catch them.

In [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]], the three Legendary birds found in the [[Crown Tundra]] all have Regional Forms with different types and different {{Abilities}}. Articuno is a {{type|Psychic}} instead of an {{type|Ice}} with the Ability {{a|Competitive}}, Zapdos is a {{type|Fighting}} instead of an {{type|Electric}} with the Ability {{a|Defiant}}, and Moltres is a {{type|Dark}} instead of a {{type|Fire}} with the Ability {{a|Berserk}}. Unlike their Kantonian equivalents, each one also has a [[signature move]], and each of these signature moves has an effect that evokes their original type.

The Kantonian counterparts of the Legendary Birds can also be encountered and captured in [[Dynamax Adventure]]s. The Galarian Legendary Birds can be encountered at [[Dyna Tree Hill]]. After a cutscene occurs and '' A Legendary Tree of a Legendary Three!'' starts, the birds will [[Roaming Pokémon|scatter]] all across [[Galar]]. Galarian Articuno can be encountered in [[Crown Tundra]] and will battle the player after testing them with an illusion. Galarian Zapdos can be found in the [[Wild Area]] where the player must catch up the Zapdos. Finally, Galarian Moltres can be found in [[Isle of Armor]] where the player need to stand in front of Moltres while it circles around the area in order to battle it.

The {{Shiny}} forms of all three have the same coloring as the normal coloring of their Kantonian forms.

144Articuno-Galar.png|Galarian Articuno

145Zapdos-Galar.png|Galarian Zapdos

146Moltres-Galar.png|Galarian Moltres

===Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl===

In [[Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl|Pokémon Shining Pearl]], the Legendary birds can be encountered at [[Ramanas Park]]. They are located in the Kanto Room which is unlocked after capturing the [[Legendary giants]]. 3 Kanto Slates are needed to unlock them as only one Legendary bird can be encountered at a time.

The Legendary birds are unobtainable in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond.

==In spin-off games==

In [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team|Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team]] and their remake, [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Rescue Team DX]], each of them guard a dungeon: Zapdos has [[Mt. Thunder]], Moltres has [[Mt. Blaze]], and Articuno has [[Frosty Forest]]. Each appear on the last floor of their respective upper dungeon sections as bosses, and cannot be recruited until the credits roll. Once the {{DL|Starter Pokémon|Pokémon World|player}} recruits all three, and [[Pitfall Valley]] and [[Stormy Sea]] have been cleared, they can talk to {{p|Alakazam}} and go to their [[Friend Area]], [[Legendary Island]], which will unlock access to [[Silver Trench]], the domain of their [[trio master]], {{p|Lugia}}.

In [[Pokémon Rumble]], each bird serves as the S-rank boss of a specific stage in Normal Mode: Articuno has [[Rocky Cave]], Moltres has [[Fiery Furnace]], and Zapdos has [[Eternal Tower]].

The Legendary birds can be obtained after reaching [[Rank (Mystery Dungeon)#Expedition Rank|Platinum Rank]] in [[Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon|Super Mystery Dungeon]], and are challenged consecutively--once one dungeon is beat and the player has connected with the Legendary, they get access to the next, and so on. Articuno is encountered at [[Blue Point]] on the [[Grass Continent]], while Moltres is battled at [[Red Point]] and Zapdos at [[Yellow Point]], both on the [[Air Continent]]. Their trio master, Lugia, is again fought after the Legendary birds, in [[Sea Shrine]].

[[File:Legendary birds anime.png|thumb|250px|The Legendary birds in the {{pkmn|anime}}]]

The Legendary birds appeared in ''[[M02|The Power of One]]'', where they were central to the movie's plot. In it, they were described as the titans of {{t|fire}}, {{t|ice}}, and {{t|electric|lightning}}, guardians over [[Shamouti Island|Fire, Ice, and Lightning Islands]]. They were sought after by a collector, [[Lawrence III]], who intended to use them to draw out {{OBP|Lugia|M02}}.

Lawrence III succeeded in capturing Moltres first, using strange, electrified rings to contain it, rather than a [[Poké Ball]]. He then subsequently kept it on his ship as he hunted out Zapdos, who used Moltres's absence from Fire Island as a signal that it would be able to expand its territory. Shortly after, {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} discovered this to be the case. Lawrence III captures Zapdos as well, drawing the group in as well, due to their boat's similar size to the birds. The group escaped, and, using their Pokémon, managed to free Zapdos and Moltres. The Legendary birds have been infuriated, however, and began fighting, destroying Lawrence III's airship just as he attempted to capture Articuno. The three continued their fight outside, and finally, Lugia revealed itself.

The three birds teamed up to take Lugia down, but it recovered and retured to the surface. As Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres continued to fight, Ash was tasked to bring the treasures from their respective islands to Shamouti Island's shrine in order to help Lugia to quell the fighting and prevent the destruction of the world. Though he almost didn't make it, Ash managed to do so, and the birds made peace, returning to their islands.

Another set of Legendary birds appeared in ''[[XY110|An Electrifying Rage!]]'' in a fantasy.

The Legendary birds appeared in ''[[PO04|File 4: Charizard]]'', where {{OBP|Red|Origins}} caught them with [[Ultra Ball]]s.

The Legendary birds appeared in {{ma|Mirage Pokémon Lugia's Explosive Birth}}.

{{main|Legendary birds (Adventures)}}

[[File:Green Legendary birds.png|thumb|200px|The Legendary birds in [[Pokémon Adventures]]]]

===={{chap|Red, Green & Blue}}====

The Legendary birds were sought by [[Team Rocket]], following their failure to control {{adv|Mewtwo}}. Articuno was caught at [[Seafoam Islands]], Zapdos was caught at the [[Kanto Power Plant|Power Plant]], and Moltres was caught at [[Indigo Plateau]]. They were then placed under the control of Team Rocket's three Commanders; [[Koga]], [[Lt. Surge]], and [[Sabrina]], respectively, who used them against {{adv|Red}}, {{adv|Blue}}, and {{adv|Green}} at [[Silph Co.]], using the power of their respective [[Badge|Gym Badges]] to force them to do their bidding. During the battle, they were accidentally fused together into a single being called the {{DL|Legendary birds (Adventures)|Thu-Fi-Zer}}. The combination Pokémon was defeated by the [[Pokédex holder]]s' [[starter Pokémon]], causing it to split up again and freeing the Legendary birds.

===={{chap|Gold, Silver & Crystal}}====

During the years following their escape, Green caught the Legendary birds in order to help her overcome her {{wp|ornithophobia|fear of birds}}. She used them during the climax of the chapter to fight against {{DL|Tower duo (Adventures)|Lugia and Ho-Oh}} at [[Ilex Forest]] while they were under the [[Masked Man]]'s control. Following this chapter, it's unknown whether she {{pkmn2|released}} them or put them in her [[Pokémon Storage System|Box]].

===={{chap|FireRed & LeafGreen}}====

In this chapter, Green revealed that she had first visited the [[Sevii Islands]] years before Red and Blue in order to catch Moltres on [[Mt. Ember]].

===={{chap|Sword & Shield}}====

[[Kanto Nankai]] used the Legendary birds during his match against [[Ryū Tendō]] in [[ABM01]].

All of the Legendary birds appeared in ''[[PM058|Get Lugia!]]''.

All of the Legendary birds appeared as a silhouette in ''[[PZ07|Saffron City]]''.

* In [[Generation I]], the Legendary birds all had different base [[stats|stat]] totals—Articuno's was 485, Zapdos's was 490, and Moltres's was 495. Since [[Generation II]], when the {{stat|Special}} split occurred, all three Legendary birds have had an equal base stat total of 580.

* Since there were only four tracks of battle music in the Generation I games (wild, Trainer, Gym Leader/Elite Four, and Champion), normal wild battle music is played when the Legendary birds and {{p|Mewtwo}} are encountered. In {{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}}, a special remix of the normal wild battle theme is used for the Legendary birds, Mewtwo, and the [[Legendary beasts]] when encountered. However, the Legendary birds have never had a battle theme composed specifically for them, unlike other Legendary trios.

* The {{shiny|Shiny Colorations}} of the Legendary birds in their regional forms are colored to match the normal coloration of the Kantonian ones.

* All of the Legendary birds are capable of learning {{m|Agility}} naturally; however, from {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}} to {{g|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon}}, they were able to learn this move at different levels.

* The Legendary birds can be caught in the most games of all Legendary Pokémon, as they can be caught in thirteen [[core series]] games in Japan (twelve internationally, seven in Korea).

* The Legendary birds are the only [[Legendary Pokémon]] group to have [[regional form]]s.

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{{Legendary trios}}