Apex Build Koraidon is a large reptilian Pokémon. Most of its body is scarlet in color, with white accents on its cheeks, abdomen, legs, and tail. Its head features a large plume and a pair of long, thin, twisted antennae; its rear has a similar, much larger plume. These plumes and antennae are white in color, and blue-purple at the base. It has yellow eyes with brown pupils, webbed feet, and blue features on its elbows and shoulders, as well as blue frills running down its neck. On its chest is a large circular protrusion which resembles a rubber tire. Its texture and black coloration is similar to the base of its tail, and it can inflate or deflate as needed.
Limited Build Koraidon walks on all fours. The head and rear plumes are closed and folded. The chest throat is pulled in, leaving out the rubber tire-like protrusion. The membrane on all four legs is not visible as the central fingers and toes are kept in close contact with each other. Koraidon assumes this form either when weakened or not battling.
Koraidon has the ability to change its form in order to facilitate travel. Sprinting Build Koraidon tucks in its tail and runs on all fours, moving at very fast speeds using its powerful legs. This form also allows Koraidon to climb cliffs. Swimming Build Koraidon can float in the water by turning its throat into a flotation device and using the membrane between its feet to swim. Gliding Build Koraidon can fly by unravelling its twisted tendrils into wings, allowing it to glide through the sky.[1]
Koraidon was brought to the current era through a time machine created by Professor Sada but it is different from the other Paradox Pokémon. She was capable of only bringing two of them, and is also the one who coined Koraidon's name. According to the Scarlet Book, Koraidon is known as the Winged King and said to be a burlier and more ferocious ancestor of Cyclizar. It is powerful enough to break the land with just its bare fists.
Koraidon is aware of its own impressive strength and derives confidence from this fact, never feeling threatened by its opponents. It is capricious and curious enough to sometimes play with humans, despite usually being cautious of them. While fighting in its Apex Build, Koraidon dominates its opponents using its immense strength and the many natural weapons available to it, including its tough jaws and fangs, sharp claws, and thick, powerful tail. Its legs are strong enough that Koraidon can leap over 65 feet into the air, using both its own body weight and the momentum of falling from such a height to unleash crushing kicks and brutal body slams.[2]
Koraidon is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Collision Course.
- Koraidon and Miraidon are the only Paradox Pokémon whose names follow regular Pokémon naming conventions.
- Additionally, they are the only Paradox Pokémon to each have their own unique Abilities.
- Of all Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon have the highest number of forms that are obtainable in some capacity yet unusable in battle, as they each use three forms solely for travel and are obtained in their fourth ‘low-power’ forms, yet can only battle in their ‘high-power’ forms.
- Rotom has five forms that are unusable in battle (Pokédex, Phone, Bike, Rotomi, Drone), but Rotomi and Rotom Drone are completely unobtainable.
- The builds of Koraidon in Japanese and Korean use the native words from their respective language, showing tradition and the past, while the modes of Miraidon in the same languages use borrowed words from English, showing modernity.
Origin
Koraidon may be based on lizards, most notably the anole and the genera Sitana and Sarada — the latter two are collectively known as fan-throated lizards. It also has traits from other lizard species, namely the frills of the iguana, the feet of the gecko, and the prehensile tail of the chameleon. It also has traits of dinosaurs; its feathers may be a reference to feathered dinosaurs, while its bipedal stance in its Apex Build is reminiscent of theropod dinosaurs. Furthermore, its signature move of Collision Course alludes to the asteroid that caused the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which eliminated most dinosaur species on Earth. As they're displayed mostly on the head and in the waist area, the colorful feathers might be reference to ancient cultures in general, as opposed to Miraidon's futuristic look. Ancient civilizations (notably Central and South American) and tribes often used bird feathers as ornaments and symbol of status. Some elements of its design may be based on parts of a motorcycle: its antennae and shoulders are similar to handlebars, and the protrusion on its chest together with its tail resemble rubber tires, the latter especially when curled.
Name origin
Koraidon may be a combination of 古来 korai (ancient), ライド raido (ride), dragon, don (Spanish for lord), and -don (common suffix in dinosaur names derived from the Ancient Greek word for tooth).
Its alternate name, Winged King, is literally winged king.
Tsubasano'ou, its alternate name in Japanese, can be taken literally as 翼の王 tsubasa no ō (winged king).
