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 mouths, 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 is the leader of the legendary birds. When the 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. Lugia is also shown to be able to use telepathy, as seen in The Power of One, while communicating with Ash.
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 occassion 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.They are known to like water a lot.
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 Pokemon 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. It is interesting to note that 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 had a very brief cameo in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
A Lugia also appeared in a Team Rocket fantasy in An Egg Scramble!.
Lugia saved Ash, Misty and Brock from being sucked into a whirlpool in Around the Whirlpool.
- Lugia is so far the only legendary Pokémon to appear in three consecutive normal episodes of the anime.
- Lugia and Latias are the only legendary Pokémon in the anime to be seen being able to produce offspring.
- 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 having several connections with water, Lugia is not a Template:Type2 Pokémon.
- Lugia was mentioned in the final episode of ER. A patient stated that "I am the Chosen One, I am Lugia."
- 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, and Darkrai, as seen in the movie The Rise of Darkrai.
- On a related note, certain episodes show parent Lugia and a younger Lugia, the 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 an enhanced clone of Mew.
- Lugia is tied with Ho-Oh for the highest base Special Defense of all Template:Type2s. This also ties them for the fourth highest Special Defense of all Pokémon.
- Lugia has the second highest Special Defense 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 HeartGold and SoulSilver versions, when the Kimono girls are summoning the legendary Pokémon, they dance clockwise for Ho-Oh and counter-clockwise for Lugia.
- In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Lugia can learn Sky Attack by leveling up but not from the move tutor.
- Lugia was introduced in a different generation than the legendary bird trio.
- Ho-oh, its opposite, was introduced in the same generation as its trio.
- Lugia is the only non-Template:Type2 to learn Dragon Rush by level-up.
Origin
Lugia is based on Ryūjin, a dragon who was the Shinto god of the sea, and lived on the ocean's floor. This can be further evidenced through its shiny form's colors, red and white, which were the colors of the coral in which the palace of Ryūgū-jō was made of. Appearance-wise, Lugia seems to be based on the Stegosaurus (back plates and tail spikes) and the Plesiosaur (long neck and swimming ability). Lugia may also be based on the Wyvern; a type of dragon that stands on two legs, has wings, a barbed or spiked tail, and usually has a long neck.
Name origin
Lugia's name may come from lutetium, a silverish element, which in turn is named after Lutetia, the Roman name for Paris, the city of light. Possibly also lugeo, meaning to lie dormant, alluding to the way Lugia lies at the bottom of the sea. The Lu- may come from luna, meaning moon. Lugia's name may be based on the Beluga whale, a white whale of the Arctic Ocean whose white coloration, marine habitat, and body shape are similar to Lugia.