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 diamond-shaped ice-crystals running down its back and legs. Its eyes, whiskers, and claws are also comprised of ice. Two ice-tipped sharp 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. Therefore, it does not appear to be malevolent in nature, but vicious and dangerous as a wild Pokémon. 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[]
- This Pokémon shares the title of “Ruinous Pokémon” with 3 other Pokémon:
- Regarding its mythical symbolic qualities with the ancient, wicked king of Paldea, 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.
Origin[]
Design[]
This Pokémon’s design and name suggest that it is heavily based on a snow leopard, as well as saber-toothed cats such as the prehistoric Smilodon. It also appears to be a literal depiction of a saber-toothed tiger, being a big cat with swords as teeth.
It may also have elements of 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.
Its primary inspiration when it comes to its legendary nature seems to be the 窮奇 / 穷奇 Qióngqí of the Four Perils, a vicious tiger-like creature that is related in Chinese legends to the Kamaitachi.
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.
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.
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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| Characters · Locations (Paldea · Kitakami · Terarium) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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- ^ Silvestri, Cris (2024). Pokémon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook [Book]. p. 97. Scholastic. ISBN 978-1-339-02801-9.