Alpha Pokémon

An **alpha Pokémon** is a variety of Pokémon found in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. They are larger-than-normal Pokémon that appear in Hisui with increased combat capabilities. Alpha Pokémon can be identified with the  icon in the Pokémon's summary screen and on their health bar in the wild. Additionally, wild alpha Pokémon have glowing red eyes.

Shortly after the player joins the Survey Corps, an alpha Kricketune intrudes on Deertrack Heights. Mai, the Warden who oversees Wyrdeer, enlists Akari/Rei to help defeat the Kricketune, who in turn asks the player to aid Mai due to their skill in Pokémon battles.

While Ingo is leading the player through Wayward Cave, an alpha Crobat appears along the route. Ingo insists that the player not battle it due to the reduced visibility caused by the absence of the cave's torches, and leads them on a detour to avoid it. The player is unable to battle or catch this particular alpha Pokémon until Ingo reinstalls the torches in the cave.

During the three Trials of the Lake guardians, the player has to face an alpha Pokémon at each lake; Hiusian Goodra at Lake Verity, Overqwil at Lake Valor, and Hisuian Zoroark at Lake Acuity.

During the post-game, when the player goes to meet Volo at Grueling Grove, the two are ambushed by an alpha Vespiquen. After defeating the Pokémon, the player receives a Stone Plate from her.

It is later revealed that the existence of alpha Pokémon was the result of Giratina opening space-time rifts that affect them with lightning strikes.

There are two varieties of alpha Pokémon: fixed and random. Regardless of variety or their species' normal behavior, alpha Pokémon are always aggressive towards the player, and may have Egg Moves learned. Alpha Pokémon cannot be caught outside of battle if they are significantly higher level than the player's current Obedience level. They can however be caught regardless of level during a battle with them.

* Fixed alpha Pokémon will always be generated upon entering a given area of the Hisui region, and will often be of a higher level than any other Pokémon that spawn in the area; for instance, the alpha Rapidash in the Obsidian Fieldlands is always Level 40.
* Random alpha Pokémon appear in the same locations as normal members of their species after the player quells that area's respective Noble Pokémon, though at a higher level; for instance, an alpha Bidoof in the Obsidian Fieldlands may be Level 16, whereas ordinary Bidoof spawn at about Level 2. Random alpha Pokémon can also spawn in Mass Outbreaks, at the same rate as Pokémon in the overworld.

When entering battle, wild alpha Pokémon gain the **Wild Might** status. This status increases all of a Pokémon's stats, independently of in-battle stat boosts, and reduces damage from status conditions and the effects of moves such as Stealth Rock.

In addition, during the final battle against Volo, a message appears claiming Giratina has gained the **Terrible Might** status upon entering battle. This status appears to have the same effects as the Wild Might status.

## Fixed alpha Pokémon

Fixed alpha Pokémon are specimens that always appear in their alpha form in a specific location. Some of these specimens do not spawn until after parts of the main story are completed, usually needing the region's frenzied Noble to be tamed before appearing in the overworld.

Alpha Pokémon might be based on the concept of the same name found in biology. Amongst animal groups, an alpha is a member of the species that has a higher rank in the group's hierarchy, contrary to the Beta members who are the more submissive ones. Alpha animals often employ aggression tactics to assert dominance and leadership over their specific groups. This can be seen in gameplay where alpha Pokémon can display an aggressive disposition even when normal members of said species would not. They also serve as leaders of the pack, as alpha Pokémon are regularly found in places where unevolved members of their species gather, and even show signs of territorialism, as some alpha Pokémon tend to come to the aid of the lesser members when alerted. Their Japanese name "Boss" reinforces this idea of hierarchical leadership.