Artwork of the Legendary Beasts in the Burned Tower for Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version
The Legendary Beasts (Japanese: 伝説の獣, Hepburn: Densetsu no Kemono) are a trio of Pokémon consisting of Raikou, Suicune, and Entei. They are native to the Johto region and were introduced in the Generation II games. Ho-Oh is their trio master, much like how Lugia is the trio master of the Legendary Birds.
Quick Answers
Who resurrected the Three Legendary Beasts in Johto folklore?
What event led to the death of Raikou, Suicune, and Entei?
Why are the Legendary Beasts often depicted as wanderers?
What are the names of the three Pokémon that make up the Legendary Beasts?
What is the common name for Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in the Pokémon universe?
Members[]
| Pokédex number | Image | Pokémon | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0243 | 
|
Raikou | Electric |
| 0244 | 
|
Entei | Fire |
| 0245 | 
|
Suicune | Water |
Description[]
Physical appearance[]
All three Legendary Beasts are based on a different type of large cat, with Raikou being based on a saber-toothed tiger, Entei on a lion, and Suicune on a leopard. The shape of the fur on the back of each Legendary Beast is based on their respective element: storm clouds on Raikou; smoke on Entei; and waves on Suicune. Raikou's body color is yellow like electricity and Suicune's is light-blue like water. Although Entei is associated with fire, its fur is brown, not red or orange, and Entei's brown fur is likely intended to represent the outer appearance of a volcano.
Abilities[]
According to legend, Raikou, Entei and Suicune represent the natural forces of lightning, fire, and water, respectively. All three of them have Pressure as their Ability and Inner Focus for a Hidden Ability.
Habitats[]
The Legendary Beasts generally do not have native habitats, since the roam around the Pokémon World on their own. In the Pokémon World, the Legendary Beasts are seen very rarely at certain areas, including Raikou from a flash of lightning, Entei at volcanic areas, and Suicune near fresh water areas.
Stats[]
All three Legendary Beasts have the same base stat total, but some of their stats are arranged differently.
| Pokémon | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raikou | 90 | 85 | 75 | 115 | 100 | 115 | 580 |
| Entei | 115 | 115 | 85 | 90 | 75 | 100 | 580 |
| Suicune | 100 | 75 | 115 | 90 | 115 | 85 | 580 |
Appearances[]
Core series[]
Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version[]
The Legendary Beasts encountered in the Burned Tower in Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version
In Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version, the three Legendary Beasts are first encountered in the Burned Tower. When they are encountered, the Legendary Beasts flee and start to roam around the Johto region. Each of the Legendary Beasts are at level 40.
In Johto folklore, the Legendary Beasts are said to have died when the Brass Tower burned down, being unable to escape. However, when Ho-Oh flew over the tower, it was able to resurrect them back to life. Upon revival, each of the Legendary Beasts acquired an attribute of the accident: Raikou symbolizes the lightning that had struck the tower; Entei symbolizes the flames that engulfed the tower; and Suicune symbolizes the rain that put out the blaze.
Pokémon Crystal Version[]
The Legendary Beasts in the Burned Tower in Pokémon Crystal Version
Suicune in the Tin Tower with Raikou and Entei, who appear if they have not been caught yet, in Pokémon Crystal Version
In Pokémon Crystal Version, the Legendary Beasts are encountered in the Burned Tower, like before, and their overworld sprites were changed to make them more identifiable. Morty and Eusine are investing the location to research the Legendary Beasts. Raikou and Entei have the same role of being wandering Pokémon like before. Suicune, being the version mascot, has a more specific role, where it appears at the Tin Tower if the player has the Clear Bell and the Fog Badge. Suicune appears in three locations beforehand: the north of Cianwood City, followed by Route 42, and lastly Route 36, but Suicune flees each time before the player can battle it, which they can only do in the Tin Tower. If Raikou and Entei have not been caught beforehand, they can be seen in the Tin Tower, fleeing when encountered similarly as in the Burned Tower.
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version[]
In Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version, only one of the Legendary Beasts becomes a roaming Pokémon after receiving the National Pokédex. The Legendary Beast that appears depends on the player's first partner Pokémon, which is always at a type disadvantage to the Legendary Beast: If the player chose Squirtle, then Raikou is the roaming Legendary Beast; if they chose Bulbasaur, it is Entei; and if they chose Charmander, it is Suicune.
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version[]
The Legendary Beasts in the Burned Tower in Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version
In Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version, the Legendary Beasts have a similar role as in Pokémon Crystal Version, but Suicune's route has been slightly changed: After being encountered at Cianwood City then Route 42, Suicune flees to the Kanto region, where the player can first find it in Vermilion City, then Route 14, and they can finally battle it in Route 25. If Suicune is not caught in Route 25, it can be fought in the Bell Tower.
Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version[]
In Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, if the player uses the Relocator to add a Shiny Legendary Beast from a Generation IV special event into their party, they can encounter Zoroark in Lostlorn Forest.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire[]
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, the Legendary Beasts appear in the Trackless Forest if the player soars while having Ho-Oh (in Pokémon Omega Ruby) or Lugia (in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire) in their party. The Legendary Beast that appears changes during the hour: Raikou appears during the first 20 minutes of an hour, followed by Entei during the next 20 minutes, and lastly Suicune during the last 20 minutes. All three Legendary Beasts are encountered at level 50.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon[]
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, the Legendary Beasts appear in the Ultra Space Wilds, but Raikou appears exclusively in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Entei only in Pokémon Ultra Moon. Suicune can be encountered in both games, but this requires the player to have both Legendary Beasts in their party. All three Legendary Beasts are encountered at level 60.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: The Crown Tundra[]
In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: The Crown Tundra, a level 70 Raikou, Entei, and Suicune can be encountered during a Dynamax Adventure.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond[]
In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, the three Legendary Beasts appear in the Johto Room of Ramanas Park. The player is required to have three Johto Slates to encounter each of the Legendary Beasts, and they must also have caught the Legendary Giants beforehand, since this unlocks the Johto Room. When the three Legendary Beasts are caught, the player obtains the Rainbow Slate, which is required to obtain Ho-Oh.
In Pokémon Shining Pearl, the Legendary Beasts can be obtained only through trading, since the game has the Kanto Room with the Legendary Birds instead.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet[]
In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, the Legendary Beasts were each give a Paradox Pokémon counterpart, with Raikou having Raging Bolt, Entei having Gouging Fire, and Suicune having Walking Wake.
The Legendary Beasts have a role in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (The Indigo Disk). The player can make each one appear by obtaining the respective Raikou, Entei, and Suicune Treats from Snacksworth.
Spinoffs[]
Pokémon Colosseum[]
All three Legendary Beasts appear in Pokémon Colosseum as Shadow Pokémon belonging to one of the three Cipher Admins: Dakim, Venus, and Ein.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs[]
The Legendary Beasts have a large role in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, where each one is the guardian of a certain island of the Oblivia region: Raikou is the guardian of Renbow Island, Entei is the guardian of Mitonga Island, and Suicune is the guardian of Sophian Island. All three of the Legendary Beasts are also depicted on the game cover art.
Each Legendary Beast has an associated Ranger Sign, which the player can use to summon and ride the Legendary Beast. Each of the Legendary Beasts have an ability allowing the player to explore more of the overworld, with Raikou being able to jump over large gaps, Entei being able to destroy boulders obstructing paths by dashing into them, and Suicune being able to run across water.
Anime[]
Pokémon the Series[]
In Pokémon the Series, the Legendary Beasts appear mostly in films, but they have rarely appeared together. The Legendary Beasts appear in some episodes, having either a small cameo or a major appearance.
Being Pokémon introduced in Generation II, all three Legendary Beasts were introduced in Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver. Suicune is the first Legendary Beast to appear, debuting in "Don't Touch That 'dile", but it is seen only for a few seconds in front of Ash, Misty, and Brock. Raikou is the second Legendary Beast to appear, debuting in "Houndoom's Special Delivery", where it appears briefly while Houndoom and Togepi advance through an area covered in fog. Lastly, Entei first appears in "Entei at Your Own Risk", where it has a major role of saving a hot spring area that Team Rocket trio had been destroying with their machine. As a group, the Legendary Beasts were first mentioned by Eusine in "For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!".
Pokémon Horizons: the Series[]
Lucius owned one of the Legendary Beasts, Entei. Its whereabouts is currently unknown.
Films[]
The Shiny Legendary Beasts in Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions
All of the Legendary Beasts have appeared in the films, but unlike the Legendary Birds, they do not all debut in the same films. Entei debuts in Pokémon 3: The Movie, Suicune debuts in Pokémon 4Ever, and Raikou in the intro of Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
The Entei and Suicune from the respective films appear in the intro of Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, which is a tribute to previous films of Pokémon the Series.
The Legendary Beasts appear in Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, but only during the introduction.
In Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions, the three Legendary Beasts are Shiny, and they have a major role of being the guardians of Crown City. Raikou, Entei, and Suicune attack Zoroark, believing him to be an enemy.
All three Legendary Beasts appear in Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, where they are wandering Pokémon. Suicune appears in front of Verity at night in the forest, near a small river. Raikou appears in front of Ash, Verity, and Sorrel on top of a rock. Entei is sighted in a forest by the three characters.
Pokémon Generations[]
In "The Reawakening," all three Legendary Beasts are shown in a flashback as Eusine talks about their origin.
Manga[]
The Legendary Beasts appear in the Crystal Chapter of Pokémon Adventures, where they are guardians of the Johto region. When the Legendary Beasts sense a problem, they choose a trainer each to see if they are worthy of fighting by their side. It is revealed that they were freed by Yellow due to Ho-Oh's feather.
Suicine debuts in "Querulous Qwilfish", being the first Legendary Beast to appear in Pokémon Adventures, where it chooses Misty as its trainer, but some chapters later, Suicune would partner with Crystal. Both Raikou and Entei debut in "Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1)", choose Lt. Surge and Blaine on the search for a trainer, respectively, after the first fight against the Masked Man. While Raikou joins with Gold, Entei ends up partnering with Silver.
Trivia[]
- Suicune is only Legendary Beast to be the version mascot of a game.
- Two of them share the same types as the Legendary Birds. The exception is Suicune, which is a Water type instead of an Ice type.
Origin[]
There is a possibility that the three Pokémon are related to the three celestial guardians of feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice that seeks to harmonize energy in the environment. The guardians in feng shui are three mythical beings that represent protection against negative energies, including the Pixiu, a winged lion that relates to Raikou from the storm cloud in its mane; the Chinese Guardian Lion, a muscular and fearsome lion that relates to Entei from having a robust and strong body; and the Qilin, which has a lion's body, fish skin, and deer antlers; it relates to Suicune from having water-blue fur with details such as scales and its horn that gives the impression of being made of crystal.
Gallery[]
