Pokemon - What Exactly Are the Legendary Birds?

[Deleted]

Yeah, yeah, they're birds. There, beat you to the sarcasm.

So, yeah, legendaries! Pokemon has a weird, confusing mythology, but it does at least have a pretty intricate story of how everything relates to everything else - the Reshiram / Zekrom / Kyurem trio, the two trios that branch off of Arceus, Mew and Mewtwo (even if Mew's existence seems to contradict Arceus's), Ho-oh and Lugia are counterparts where Ho-oh brought the dogs / cats / gerbils / whatever you want to call them back to life after Lugia ran off while they were dying, all of that.

So... Where do Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres fit in? Like, what are they? Even the ones that don't really have anything to do with other legendaries - like Shaymin, Jirachi, Meloetta, and Heatran - at least give you an idea of what they are and what they represent. But what are the birds? Are they just really strong Pokemon of their given type or something? Because all three are outclassed in each of their stats by something else of their type, in particular Moltres by Ho-oh.

Yeah, really minor thing, but something I just found myself wondering. What's the deal with the birds?

Yes, yes, I know it's because they've never backed up and given them a reason to be around since it'd be kind of backtracking and the only legendaries who mattered in the first generation were Mew and Mewtwo. Still.

[Mozenrath]

From what I understand, Moltres was originallly going to have its spot taken by Arcanine, so Moltres not being super fleshed out makes sense.

Articuno, lives in the mountain tops and appears to hikers who are in danger.

Zapdos, I think just makes storms.

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2013 5:00:42 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

From what I understand, Moltres was originallly going to have its spot taken by Arcanine, so Moltres not being super fleshed out makes sense.

Articuno, lives in the mountain tops and appears to hikers who are in danger.

Zapdos, I think just makes storms.

Forgot about that Articuno thing, but yeah, can see it with Arcanine. Wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that Moltres is apparently a terrible renter given the thing is constantly having to find new places to live.

[Talent Name]

Zapdos- Version of the American Thunderbird
Moltress- Phoenix
Articuno- I guess would be a Nue'mon

[Yami Daimao]

If I remember correctly, the trio are what creates the oceans and keeps them current. It makes sense since Lugia, who is the guardian of the seas, is their master.

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Feb 1, 2013 14:08:35 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

If I remember correctly, the trio are what creates the oceans and keeps them current. It makes sense since Lugia, who is the guardian of the seas, is their master.

That's what it is in the anime, but in the games, they don't really have anything to do with Lugia. Except from what I hear in the Mystery Dungeon games, but debatable how much those count.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Elemental spirits?

[mjolnir]

Well, considering in the original Japanese Pokemon games they're not called Legendary, they're called Gods...

Yeah, they're basically the representatives of their respected elements, maintaining order in the world.

And, like someone else said, Arcanine was initially supposed to be one of them. Why he's so OP in G1 and why his PokeDex entry still talks as if he is one.