We’ve had so many dragons in the Pokémon world but few sound as impressive as a warrior dragon! That’s the entire schtick of the Kommo-o family, the Pseudo Legendary line from the Alola region.
Kommo-o and its pre-evolution, Hakamo-o, are the pioneering Dragon/Fighting types in the franchise. Naturally, they’re tough but many fans disliked Kommo-o for its over-the-top look with the scales and all. But guess what? This Pseudo Legendary’s lore is stellar and boasts many interesting elements, some of which can surprise you.
At this juncture, know that the Alola region is based off Oceania with special emphasis on Hawaiian islands.
With that said, let’s break down the lore and origins of the proud and relentless Kommo-o!
Mo’o are mythological lizard/dragon spirits in Hawaiian culture (what Alola is based on) and they are shape-shifting entities, deities even. They are held in high regard among the Hawaiian inhabitants and these entities appeared in various forms, including trees, geckos, draconic beasts, and beautiful women.
And, you’ll be surprised that Game Freak introduced not one, not two, but three Pokémon based on Mo’o in the Alola region: Salazzle (the most prominent), Alolan Exeggutor, and Kommo-o (the least).
Yes, you read that right… “the least.”
Sure, Kommo-o is based on the Mo’o but only in concept. In fact, it’s only Kommo-o’s English name that references Mo’o and all other languages call it based on the ‘clanging scales dragon’ notion.
But still, the fact that a big, powerful dragon in a Hawaii-inspired region stems from Mo’o at the grassroot level, earns Mo’o a section in its lore.
The gray skin and a part of its Fighting type gimmick comes from the Komodo Dragon, the largest known lizard in the world.
Komodo Dragons are only found in a few Indonesian islands, particularly the Komodo Island and the Rinca Island. Kommo-o is also found only in the Poni Island of the Alola region.
Also, have you noticed that Kommo-o is usually on all fours but during battle, it adopts a bipedal stance.
Komodo Dragons are also quadrupedal but when fighting with each other (for dominance), they also stand up!
Coming back to its all-fours walking behavior, it’s technically knuckle-walking like this:
This is similar to how certain apes, particularly gorillas walk. Gorillas are strong and dominant forces in the jungle, and they’re ready for a fight if provoked. This aspect also gets reflected in the Fighting type of Kommo-o.
Many Dragon Pokémon have dino origins and Kommo-o is no different. Their scaly armor, tail, and walk are all reminiscent of the Ankylosaurus.
Kommo-o has a signature Z-Move called Clangorous Soulblaze that looks like this:
If the video doesn’t ring a bell, Kommo-o is doing a haka dance, a ceremonial/war dance that the Māori tribe from New Zealand is known for. However, while the Māori are most popularly associated with the haka, it also appears across Polynesia, including Hawaii.
The dance is done to display the warrior’s fighting spirit, their resolve, and to intimidate the opponent to give in by lowering their willpower. It’s a powerful and glorious display, and in Kommo-o’s case, this dance (Clangorous Soulblaze) increases all its stats by one stage, making it stronger in battle.
The New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, famously perform the haka before their matches. And guess what? Their rendition is called ka mate, a haka that serves as an ode to the 19th century Ngāti Toa chieftain Te Rauparaha.
Ka mate… Kommo-o… you see the similarity.
The Khakkhara is a staff with an ornate head that originated in India and was used by monks across East Asia. The staff jingles and makes an intimidating sound on being moved, and monks use this to warn others to stay away. Needless to say, being hit by it does some brutal damage.
This Khakkara is literally Dragon Tail for Kommo-o:
See the uncanny resemblance? Furthermore, Kommo-o’s behavior is akin to that of a monk, as evident from its data from Bulbapedia:
Kommo-o, having completed its harsh training, returns to its birthplace to protect Jangmo-o. However, it only watches over them from a distance.
This is monk behavior, serving as a learned, tough, and worthy guide to the next generation.
An extension to the monk lore, these people believe that the sound emitted from a Tibetan Bowl (using a mallet or a striker) drives away evil. These bowls are made of special, high-quality alloys and are used at certain frequencies to ward away darkness… exactly what Kommo-o does with its clanging scales.
According to legend, Kommo-o’s glittering scales are meant to drive away a great darkness. The reason it seeks strong opponents is also said to be a quest for power to defeat the darkness. Its scales function as both offensive weapons and defensive shields.
You thought Haxorus was the only Dragon with an axe? Think Pseudo Legendary as Kommo-o has a wonderful hatchet-shaped snout!
What a warrior!
That’s all about the lore and origins of the spectacular Kommo-o! If you want to read more articles like this, here are some popular Pokémon to check out:
Dragapult | Darkrai | Cresselia | Applin | Mega Salamence | Dialga & Palkia Origin | Garchomp | Baxcalibur | Hydreigon | Zygarde| Tinkaton | Druddigon | Naganadel | Drampa | Enamorus | Wooloo & Dubwool | Hatterene | Skeledirge | Morpeko |
Dracarys.
