Latias

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Latias
Image:Latias.png
National
Registeel - Latias (#380) - Latios

Hoenn
Registeel - Latias (#196) - Latios
Japanese name ラティアス Ratiasu
Stage Basic
Evolves from None
Evolves to None
Generation Third
Species Eon Pokémon
Type Dragon / Psychic
Height 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m)
Weight 88.2 lb (40 kg)
Ability Levitate

Latias (ラティアス Ratiasu?) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Latias in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.[2]. Latias is one of the two Legendary Pokémon to be found at the end of the players adventure in Pokémon Sapphire (and possible Emerald) and she is the one of the only four Legendary Pokémon to have a gender. The other three are her brother, Latios, and the Sinnoh Legendaries, Hydoran and Crescelia.

Latias' name might have been derived from the Latin word" 'latere' (as in latent), which means 'to lie hidden', 'to be invisible'. The "a" in her name may also be a nod to her gender, just as "a" is often used in the feminine versions of some Spanish language terms.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

Latias is a red-and-white dragon/bird like creature with small arms and feet, and spiky wings on its back. Though it appears to have white flesh underneath the red carapace, it is actually covered with loads of very small feathers made to look smooth by a glass-like coat of shiny down. It has a triangle-shaped blue marking on its belly that is similar of a Togepi/Togetic/Togekiss marking. It is able to alter its appearance with this coat by enfolding its body with its down and refracting light in unique ways. With this it can seemingly transform into a human, or render itself invisible like a chameleon (compare with Kecleon).

Latias is highly sensitive to the emotions of people and can telepathically communicate with people. If it senses any hostility, this Pokémon ruffles the feathers all over its body and cries shrilly to intimidate the foe. It therefore rarely makes contact with people or other Pokémon. They often disappear if they sense enemies or people with the hostilities as described above.

Latias, though rare, is not a one-of-a-kind Pokémon like most other Legendary Pokémon. They have been occasionally sighted in small herds of several members.

Likewise, it is not excluded from competitive play like the Battle Frontier (Same applies to Regirock, Regice, and Registeel).

[edit] In the video games

Southern Island
Enlarge
Southern Island

In Pokémon Sapphire, after the player has beaten the Elite Four, he or she will return to the house. When the player walks downstairs, the TV will flash, announcing that a red Pokémon has been spotted soaring the skies. Latias will then appear anywhere in Hoenn except caves. She runs away after every encounter, similar to Entei, Suicune, and Raikou of Pokémon Gold and Silver. She moves in a pattern around Hoenn, and can be tracked on the Pokedex. Using any HM except Surf causes Latias to move far from her point at that moment.

In Pokémon Ruby, Latias does not appear during normal gameplay. However, if the player uses the Eon Ticket, he or she can travel to Southern Island, where a Latias holding a Soul Dew will appear. She will not run away.

In Pokémon Emerald, after beating the Elite Four, the television mentions a flying Pokémon, but the color is masked by a burst of static. The color is not heard, so the mother asks the player what color it was. If the player says red, Latias will be the Pokémon wandering around Hoenn. If the player says blue, Latios will be the Pokémon wandering around Hoenn.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Latias and its brother Latios will join your rescue team after you rescue it from the Pitfall Valley dungeon.

In "Pokémon Channel" Latias can be found at Cobalt Coast under certain time and weather conditions.

Latias is a highly capable Dragon/Psychic-type Pokémon with hefty statistics and a wide movepool (including the trademark Mist Ball Psychic attack). However, compared to Latios, Latias eschews offense for defense. It depends on the player to decide whether this is an improvement. As a Legendary Pokémon, it is banned from competitive play and is widely used where accepted, such as the tournaments in Pokémon Colosseum.

Latias is the first female "Legendary" in the series.

[edit] In the anime

Latias and her brother Latios appeared in the fifth Pokémon Movie, Pokémon Heroes, as guardians of the Venice-like city of Altomare. At the end of the movie, a Latias and two Latios (with no confirmed connection to any seen or mentioned earlier in the movie) are seen flying toward Altomare. She also has a crush on Ash Ketchum.

[edit] In the trading card game

Latias has made the following appearances in the card , in each case as a Basic Pokémon with her partner Latios.

  • EX Dragon, as Latias ex, a Colorless-type Pokémon-ex
  • EX Deoxys, as Latias-*, a Colorless-type Pokémon-*
  • EX Delta Species, as Latias, a Steel/Lightning Dual-type Delta Species Pokémon
  • EX Holon Phantoms (twice), both as Latias, both Fire-type Delta Species Pokémon

In addition, packed within the DVD release of the fifth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Heroes, both a Latias or a Latios card come with it.

The released Latias cards do not have the potential to do as much damage as the Latios cards. Instead, they are equipped with interesting effects such as healing powers that benefit your Pokémon rather than focusing fire on your opponent's.

Latias will star as a Pokémon-ex in the final third-generation set, EX Dragon Frontiers, alongside other Pokémon-ex dragons including Latios.

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Pokemon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold. PR Newswire. Retrieved on 2006-02-28.
  2. ^ Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire Review (page 1) Ign.com. URL Accessed June 1, 2006.
Publications
  • Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
  • Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
  • Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
  • Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

[edit] External links