Chien-Pao (Japanese: パオジアン, Hepburn: Paojian) (CHYEHN-pow[1]) is a Dark/Ice-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation IX. It is a part of the Ruinous Quartet.
Biology[]
Physiology[]
Chien-Pao is a feline Pokémon with an elongated frame. Its body is comprised of what appears to be snow, with ice-like crystals which run down its back and legs, then forming its eyes, whiskers, and claws. Two ice-tipped weapons, one resembling a sword's blade and the other its hilt, form large fangs, with the broken ends jutting through its upper jaw.
Like the other Treasures of Ruin, Chien-Pao's true form is that of the broken blade comprising its fangs, having been given life by the hatred of people killed by those who wielded it thousands of years ago, its body being a form it has constructed using its control over ice.
Behavior[]
Chien-Pao is described as being able to control 100 tons of fallen snow, causing avalanches and playing around in them innocently. It is known as the Sword of Ruin.
Natural abilities[]
Chien-Pao and the other Treasures of Ruin are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Ruination.
Evolution[]
Chien-Pao does not evolve.
Game info[]
Game locations[]
| Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Version(s) | Area(s) | Rarity |
Pokédex entries[]
- Scarlet
This Pokémon can control 100 tons of fallen snow. It plays around innocently by leaping in and out of avalanches it has caused.
- Violet
The hatred of those who perished by the sword long ago has clad itself in snow and become a Pokémon.
Stats[]
Version 1.0.0[]
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 580
|
Version 1.0.1+[]
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 570
|
Learnset[]
Leveling[]
| Generation IX | ||||||
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| 1 | Powder Snow | 
|
Special | 40 | 100% | 25 |
| 1 | Spite | 
|
Status | - | 100% | 10 |
| 1 | Mean Look | 
|
Status | - | -% | 5 |
| 5 | Icy Wind |
|
Special | 55 | 95% | 15 |
| 10 | Payback | 
|
Physical | 50 | 100% | 10 |
| 15 | Mist |
|
Status | - | -% | 30 |
| 15 | Haze |
|
Status | - | -% | 30 |
| 20 | Ice Shard |
|
Physical | 40 | 100% | 30 |
| 25 | Swords Dance |
|
Status | - | -% | 20 |
| 30 | Snowscape |
|
Status | - | -% | 10 |
| 35 | Night Slash |
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
| 40 | Dark Pulse |
|
Special | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| 45 | Icicle Crash |
|
Physical | 85 | 90% | 10 |
| 50 | Ruination |
|
Special | - | 90% | 10 |
| 55 | Sucker Punch |
|
Physical | 70 | 100% | 5 |
| 60 | Sacred Sword | 
|
Physical | 90 | 100% | 15 |
| 65 | Recover |
|
Status | - | -% | 5 |
| 70 | Throat Chop |
|
Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
| 75 | Sheer Cold |
|
Special | - | 30% | 5 |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
TM[]
Breeding[]
| Chien-Pao learns no moves via breeding. |
|---|
Tutoring[]
| Generation IX | ||||||
| Games | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
| Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | ||||||
Sprites[]
Trivia[]
Origin[]
Regarding its mythical symbolic qualities with the wicked king, Chien-Pao embodies the vengeance felt by the people under the king's tyranny. With the king using force and fear to bring about order onto the people, so would the act of using violence and wrath excessively would bring hatred and resentment to those who had lost loved ones to such callous brutality, and will come to bring about a violent end in turn to the king's reign.
In consideration of being associated with the Treasures of Ruin quartet, whom are based upon the Chinese beasts of Four Perils or the Si Xiong, Chien-Pao appears to correlate with the beast Qiongqi, which is said to represent the impropriety of deviousness; the beast is said to be the most vicious of the Si Xiong, said to torture and violently kill any it comes across for pleasure, with the exception of those who are just as evil and twisted.
Etymology[]
This Pokémon’s Japanese name, Paojian, refers to a bronze coin used in China that was shaped like a razor. Its English name, and possibly Japanese name, is a combination of jiàn (剑/劍), meaning "sword," and bào (豹), meaning leopard; the Chinese characters are romanized into English using the Wade–Giles romanization format.
Design[]
This Pokémon’s design and name suggest it may be based on a snow leopard. It may also be based on the Japanese mythological creature known as the Kamaitachi (Japanese: 鎌鼬, Hepburn: Kamaitachi), a weasel-like yōkai who rides on the wind and slashes anyone who it approaches. Its ruinous nature may come from the Japanese superstition that bad luck befalls anyone who kills a weasel. However, its primary inspiration seems to be the Qiongqi (窮奇) of the Four Perils, a monstrous creature which devours good people and rewards the wicked.
Its origins coming from a sword used to mercilessly kill even the innocent and uphold evil stems from warrior spirituality and beliefs, specifically from Japanese and samurai rooted beliefs, in how weapons, especially swords, bear souls themselves, and come to reflect their spiritual state by not just their maker, but their intent and use by its user.
Gallery[]
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| See also | |
| Generation IX | |
| Generation I | |
|---|---|
| Generation II | |
| Generation III | |
| Generation IV | |
| Generation V | |
| Generation VI | |
| Generation VII | |
| Generation VIII | |
| Generation IX | |
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- ^ Silvestri, Cris (2024). Pokémon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook [Book]. p. 97. Scholastic. ISBN 978-1-339-02801-9.