Physiology
Lugia are very large creatures which bear a resemblance to something between a dragon, a plesiosaur, and a bird. They are primarily pale silver-white, but have blue undersides with slightly varying tones. They have a somewhat beak-like, ridged mouth, although they have teeth on their lower jaw. Their head has a point to the back, and Lugia’s eyes have pointed blue or black spikes on them. Lugia have long slender necks and their bodies are smooth and streamlined, with the exception of dark blue or black spike-like protrusions which run down the length of their back, and two smaller ones on the ends of their tails. It has large wings that resemble hands.
Gender differences
Lugia is a genderless species. However, unlike most legendary Pokémon, young Lugia have been observed (though only in the anime), suggesting that there is a breeding population of these creatures.
Special abilities
Lugia folding back its plates
Lugia is the leader of the legendary birds. When they fight over territory, Lugia is the only Pokémon that can quell their ceaseless fighting, as observed in the second Pokémon movie. Much like the birds, it possesses the ability to control the weather; most notably it can calm and give rise to storms. It is said that a light flutter of their wings is capable of causing winds powerful enough to tear down cliffs. If it were to flap its wings it could hypothetically spawn storms lasting as long as 40 days. It is highly intelligent, and because of the devastating power it could accidentally inflict, it isolates itself deep underwater and tends to sleep in solitude. It can shoot incredibly powerful beams from its mouth when in danger and is constantly protected from harm inside a deflective sphere of psychic energy. However, this Psychic Shield will collapse from repeated, or simultaneous, powerful attacks (as shown in the second Pokémon movie). Lugia is also shown to be able to use telepathy, as seen in The Power of One, while communicating with Ash. Lugia is able to fold back the plates on its back to increase its speed.
Lugia is the only known Pokémon that learns Aeroblast.
Behavior
Not very much is known about the behavior of Lugia, as they are fantastically rare and elusive Pokémon. Lugia have been on occasion observed with their offspring, suggesting that unlike other legendary Pokémon, they have a breeding population. However, this is only shown in the anime, and whether or not they can breed in the games is still unknown. They are generally known to be peaceful, protective, calm, modest and benevolent; it is believed the reason they tend to isolate themselves from civilization is to protect humans and other Pokémon from their great powers. However, like all creatures, they can become enraged if they feel threatened, particularly if they are protecting their young. Because of this, contact with Lugia is best done carefully, most attempts at capturing one of these magnificent creatures has ended poorly, and is ill-advised as their role in controlling world climate is still not well understood.
Habitat
Lugia usually live very deep on the ocean floor, not because they are natural sea-dwellers, but because they fear that they can accidentally cause untold devastation. Lugia are typically spotted near the Whirl Islands of Johto and, when disturbed, flying high in the sky. When captured they like to be next to water or listen to it.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
As deep sea dwellers, it is shown that this Pokémon feeds on seaweeds. However, since its appearance seems to be based on a sea dragon or a whale, it is possible that Lugia feeds on small aquatic Pokémon as well.
Major appearances
A Lugia was featured in The Power of One, central to the legend of Shamouti Island. Its psychic powers allow it to communicate with humans.
A parent Lugia and its child (nicknamed Silver by Oliver) lived near Silver Rock Isle in the Whirl Islands. Dr. Namba attempted to capture both the parent Lugia and Silver for Giovanni in The Mystery is History, A Parent Trapped!. and A Promise is a Promise. Ash and Misty (Brock was not along with them) act as if this was their first time seeing a Lugia, as if the second movie never took place. Meowth, as well, said that he'd "never seen a Pokémon like that before!" On the contrary, the dub pays mention of the Lugia that was seen in the Orange Islands, with both James and Ash stating that it was "like" the one they'd seen in the Orange Islands. In both versions, Ash first refers to the baby Lugia as a "mysterious Pokémon."
Minor appearances
Lugia saved Ash, Misty and Brock from being sucked into a whirlpool in Around the Whirlpool.
A Lugia also appeared in a Team Rocket fantasy in An Egg Scramble!.
Lugia made a brief cameo at the beginning of Jirachi: Wish Maker and Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
When released from a Poké Ball, Lugia will fly up and return in the background where it unleashes a powerful Aeroblast on the stage.
Melee trophy information
The waters of the Whirl Islands are home to this legendary Pokémon, whom very few have seen. Lugia live quietly in the deepest ocean trenches for one very good reason: its combined aerial and psychic powers are so strong as to be extremely dangerous. The special moves of this gargantuan creature include the destructive wind assault known as Aeroblast.
Brawl trophy information
"A Diving Pokémon. A legendary Pokémon often referred to as "guardian of the seas," it has the impressive ability to control the wind. Lugia typically spends its time quietly at the bottom of the ocean. Highly powerful in all areas, Lugia's Aeroblast move is especially powerful. It uses strong flapping of its wings to target damage on a foe's weak spot."
- Lugia is first legendary Pokémon to appear in three consecutive normal episodes of the anime, with Meloetta being the second.
- Lugia is the only legendary Pokémon to be part of the Pokémon All-Stars DVD series.
- Lugia has been the mascot of three games, namely: Pokémon Silver, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, and Pokémon SoulSilver, making it the record holder of most number of times used as a game mascot.
- Before the introduction of Pokémon Gold and Silver, Lugia was known as "Pokémon X." In the anime, Dr. Namba also refers to Lugia as "Pokémon X."
- In Gold and Silver, Lugia, like Ho-Oh, has the same encounter music as normal wild Pokémon. The same was true for the legendary beasts before they received unique encounter music in Crystal. However, Lugia and Ho-Oh got their own unique battle themes in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- Despite not being a Water type, Lugia has occasionally been depicted as a Water-type in the TCG.
- Lugia is one of two Pokémon that has defenses over 100 at Level 100 in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team if not given any vitamins or gummis, the other being Deoxys.
- Though Lugia is officially genderless like most other legendary Pokémon, it has an unmistakably masculine voice when it speaks through telepathy to Ash in the second movie. It shares this trait with Mewtwo, as seen primarily in the first movie, Darkrai, as seen in the movie The Rise of Darkrai, and Arceus, as seen in Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
- Incidentally, certain episodes show parent Lugia and a younger Lugia child. This shows that there is likely a breeding population of Lugia. The only other attempt to have another of a legendary Pokémon was in the case of Mewtwo, as it was created as an enhanced clone of Mew.
- Lugia and Latias are the only legendary Pokémon in the anime to be seen being able to produce offspring.
- Lugia is tied with Ho-Oh for the highest base Special Defense of all Flying types. This also ties them for the fourth highest Special Defense base stat of all Pokémon.
- Lugia has the second highest Special Defense base stat of all Psychic types, only being beaten by Deoxys in Defense forme.
- Lugia is tied with Ho-Oh and Rayquaza for highest base stat total of all Flying types. Together with Mewtwo it has the highest base stat total of all Psychic types.
- In the book adaptation of The Power of One, Lugia is mistakenly referred to as a Water/Flying type Pokémon.
- Lugia's Generation IV and V Pokédex entries that mention it being able to cause a 40-day storm may be a biblical reference.
- When Lugia's Shiny form is shown in Pokémon Stadium 2, it is green rather than pink.
- Lugia is the tallest Psychic-type Pokémon.
- Lugia's head spikes, back and tail plates were incorrectly colored black in Generation III, this was fixed in Generation IV
Origin
Lugia's origin is unclear. While it is regarded a legendary bird Pokémon, it also has elements of dragons, dinosaurs, and sea creatures. It is suggested that Ryūjin, a dragon who lived on the ocean floor and was the Shinto god of the sea, is a possible basis for Lugia. The two have similarities in mythology, and further evidence lies in Lugia's Shiny coloration: red and white are also the colors of the coral of which the Ryūgū-jō's palace was made. The beluga whale, a white whale with a similar body shape and coloration to Lugia, is also cited as a design source: at the very least, it may also form part of Lugia's name origin.
Name origin
Lugia may be derived from lutetium (a silverish element), which in turn is named after Lutetia (the Roman name for Paris, the city of light). It may also involve Lugeo (Latin for to lie dormant, alluding to the way Lugia lies at the bottom of the sea) and luna (Latin for moon). Alternatively, it may come from beluga whale.
For other sprites and images, please see Lugia images on Bulbagarden Archives.
