Legendary Pokémon

*If you were looking for the Pokémon identified in the Pokédex with the "Legendary" category, see Arcanine (Pokémon).*

**Legendary Pokémon** are a group of incredibly rare and often very powerful Pokémon, generally featured prominently in the legends and myths of the Pokémon world.

Mythical Pokémon are a related but separate group of Pokémon.

No explicit criteria defines what makes a Pokémon a Legendary Pokémon. The only way to identify a Pokémon as belonging to this group is through statements from official media.

## Overview

### In the game

Legendary Pokémon are usually encountered as interactable Pokémon and can only be met once.

The gender of most Legendary Pokémon is unknown (though there are seven notable exceptions: Latios, Latias, Heatran, Cresselia, Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus). No Legendary Pokémon can breed or hatch from an Egg. With the exception of Type: Null and Cosmog and their respective evolutionary families, Legendary Pokémon cannot evolve, although many are able to change form and are part of a group.

Much like starter Pokémon appear at the beginning of each regional Pokédex and their generation's portion of the National Pokédex, Legendary Pokémon typically appear just before the end, with Mythical Pokémon immediately after them.

### Statistical average

High stats are shared by most Legendary Pokémon. Considering alternate forms as separate Pokémon.

### Multiple Legendary Pokémon

Many Legendary Pokémon can be obtained at most once per save file; in order to obtain multiple, a player would need to trade Pokémon between games. However, in some cases, there are multiple Legendary Pokémon of the same species either found or mentioned in-game, even though they may not be available to the player.

* In some cases, the Pokédex hints at multiple Legendary Pokémon of the same species.
	+ The Pokédex says about Entei: "*Born in the eruption of a volcano.*". The game, although, features an Entei that was resurrected by Ho-Oh many years ago.
* Ho-Oh is a rare spawn, allowing the player to encounter and catch multiple of it in a single save file.
* Because Type: Null and Silvally are synthetic species, it was possible for humans to create multiple individuals.
* The player meets different Cosmog throughout the exploration of Alola: one is nicknamed Nebby and is obtained after it became a Solgaleo, while the other two are obtained as they are.
	+ Since Lunala is also available to be caught, it can be assumed a fourth Cosmog existed as well.
* Sometimes, multiple Legendary Pokémon seem to be present, as they are used by multiple trainers. That happens independently from the ownership of same species by the player.
	+ For instance, Tobias has both a Darkrai and a Latios, while these Pokémon are also respectively encountered in Sinnoh and Hoenn by the player.

## List of Legendary Pokémon

Of the 32 Pokémon species, 49 are Legendary Pokémon (153.13%). Each region has introduced at least three Legendary Pokémon.

### Kanto

Four Legendary Pokémon are introduced in Kanto, with one trio and one standalone Legendary Pokémon.

#### Legendary birds

*Main article: Legendary birds*

The three Legendary birds, also known as the Winged Mirages, are the resident Legendary trio of the Kanto region. Each of them is based on a mythical bird, and each is associated with a season (though none of the three is associated with autumn).

Despite being Kanto residents, all three are available in the Orange Archipelago. Articuno takes up residence in the Ice Island, Zapdos in the Lightning Island and Moltres in the Fire Island.

#### Mewtwo

Mewtwo is a catlike Pokémon which is an enhanced clone of the Mythical Pokémon Mew, created by a group of scientists funded by Team Rocket boss Giovanni to create an enhanced clone of Mew for his own use. Mewtwo has two Mega Evolutions, which increase its base stat total to 780.

Mewtwo is met at the Viridian Gym, under Giovanni's orders, and is battled immediately before the Gym Battle with the Team Rocket.

### Johto

More Legendary Pokémon are introduced in Johto, adding five more Legendary Pokémon for a running total of 9. The Legendary Pokémon introduced in this region down can be separated into a trio and a duo.

#### Legendary beasts

*Main article: Legendary beasts*

Like the Legendary birds of the previous generation, a second trio of similar types is introduced in the neighboring Johto region. These Legendary beasts, so named because their features are based on many different creatures, both real and mythical, as well as mythological deities, were trapped in the Brass Tower when it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, resulting in their death. The trio was revived by the power of Ho-Oh and now roam across the land because of their great power. It is unknown whether the three were already a Suicune, Raikou and Entei when they died, or whether they were simply three non-Legendary Pokémon and Ho-Oh reincarnated them as the first Legendary beasts. In the case of the latter, it is possible that these three would be the original three beasts, who created multiple descendants. Entei is said to be born in the eruption of a volcano.

#### Tower duo

*Main article: Tower duo*

Lugia and Ho-Oh are a pair of Legendary birds which formerly resided in Ecruteak City atop tall towers, leading to their designation. However, when the Brass Tower, the home of Lugia, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, they both flew away, Lugia resolving to make its new home in the Whirl Islands and Ho-Oh to search the world for a pure-hearted Trainer. The two are thought to be as closely related as they are polar opposites, being based on the eastern legends of the Fenghuang and Ryūjin.

Ho-Oh is notably the first Legendary Pokémon that appears, spawning in Route 1 as a rare wild Pokémon.

### Hoenn

Many more Legendary Pokémon are added to the roster in Hoenn, with the eight new Legendary Pokémon bringing the total to 17. Legendary Pokémon begin to have a greater role in the storyline, with the villainous teams plotting to reawaken the ancient Legendary Pokémon for their own use. Five of them also have new forms.

#### Legendary titans

*Main article: Legendary titans*

This third trio of Legendary Pokémon, based on the golems of Hebrew legend, is featured minimally in Hoenn legend. Long ago, an ancient Pokémon, Regigigas, was said to have moved the continents into their present positions by pulling them with ropes. After it was finished, it created in its image three Pokémon: Regirock, from clay, Regice, from ice, and Registeel, from magma. At the present day, the golems ended up in the care of Brandon. After the player defeats him in the Battle Pyramid, he entrusts them all to them, while Regigigas is received from him by the Snowpoint Temple after completing the exploration of Sinnoh.

#### Eon duo

*Main article: Eon duo*

Latias and Latios do not have a distinct legend behind them.

Both are encountered in Route 121, after exploring the Hoenn region. Latias and Latios have the ability to Mega Evolve.

#### Super-ancient Pokémon

*Main article: Super-ancient Pokémon*

This trio of Super-ancient Pokémon are also known by fans as the weather trio due to their weather-related Abilities. The trio represents the three major components of the Earth: the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the atmosphere. Said to have expanded the land and sea, Groudon and Kyogre are among the most powerful Legendary Pokémon, while Rayquaza prevents the two from quarreling.

Team Magma and Team Aqua seek out Groudon and Kyogre respectively, with the intention of awakening them to make more homes for Pokémon of the land or sea. Eventually, the player faces one of the teams (the other is defeated by Lance) and can then capture the Legendary Pokémon. Rayquaza is encountered in Sinnoh's Route 222.

The three members of the trio also possess new forms. Rayquaza is able to Mega Evolve, while Groudon and Kyogre can undergo Primal Reversion while holding their respective Orb. Primal Reversion is considered the opposite of Mega Evolution. The latter is the outcome of the connection between Pokémon and human, and the former is derived solely from the Pokémon itself.

Thousands of years ago, during the primal age, the world was overflowing with natural energy. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought over that energy in endless furious clashes. In the face of Primal Groudon and Kyogre's great power, people could do nothing. However, Rayquaza intervened, and its power overwhelmed that of the two Primal Pokémon, and peace returned to the world. A thousand years later, a meteoroid hit the earth, causing cracks in the ground that unleashed natural energy, causing Groudon and Kyogre to re-battle each other. Humans had a collective memory of how Rayquaza saved their race long ago, and that wish combined with the power of the Meteorite allowed Rayquaza to Mega Evolve for the first time and calm the two from quarreling.

### Sinnoh

Nine more Legendary Pokémon are introduced in Sinnoh, bringing the total to 26 Legendary Pokémon. Many of the Legendary Pokémon of this region have little connection to the plot of the game, instead being minor encounters.

#### Lake guardians

*Main article: Lake guardians*

The lake guardians, Sinnoh's resident Legendary trio, represent the spirit of all consciousness, with Uxie embodying knowledge, Mesprit embodying emotion and Azelf embodying willpower. According to legend, having been created by the Original One, the trio have the power to tame the powerful dragons it also created.

Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf are found in Lake Acuity, Lake Verity and Lake Valor, respectively.

#### Creation trio

*Main article: Creation trio*

The Legendary creators of the Pokémon universe, the creation trio consists of Dialga of time, Palkia of space and Giratina of antimatter.

Dialga and Palkia are sought by Cyrus to destroy and then remake the universe without spirit, a feature he hates about humanity. Dialga and Palkia can be caught at Route 222, while Giratina may be encountered after exploring the whole region, in Mt. Coronet.

#### Cresselia

Cresselia is a Psychic-type Pokémon who represents the crescent moon, a sign of hope and good dreams.

Cresselia can be found at Canalave City.

#### Heatran

Heatran is the embodiment of the planet's boiling core, appearing in Route 222 after the player has explored the rest of the region.

#### Regigigas

Regigigas is the master of the Legendary titans, having created them in ancient times and is said to have moved the continents in place, pulling them by rope.

Regigigas is entrusted to the player by the Snowpoint Temple.

### Unova

Nine additional Legendary Pokémon are introduced in Unova, totaling 35 Legendary Pokémon. Reshiram play a larger role in the storyline of Unova, being hunted down by Team Plasma.

#### Swords of Justice

*Main article: Swords of Justice*

Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion are a trio of Legendary Pokémon based on the titular characters of the 1844 French novel *The Three Musketeers* and partially on hooved mammals such as deer, antelopes, oxen, goats and horses. According to legend, they protect Pokémon from having their habitats destroyed by humans and have been known to have attacked human castles during the Middle Ages. Like the Three Musketeers, they are considered a trio but have a fourth, younger member in the form of Keldeo, a Mythical Pokémon, whom the other three rescued and raised after its home was destroyed by fire. All four of them can use their horns like swords and learn Sacred Sword, at level 31 (43 for Keldeo, most likely a reference to it becoming part of the group later and therefore requiring more training to hone its sword skills).

#### Forces of Nature

*Main article: Forces of Nature*

Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus are a trio of Pokémon based on kami: Fūjin, god of wind, Raijin, god of thunder and lightning, and Inari, a fertility deity. Together the three represent the heavens and the nourishing effect the sky has upon the earth. According to a folktale retold by children at the Abundant Shrine, Landorus punished Tornadus and Thundurus for destroying the land with gales and thunderstorms and a shrine was built in honor of him. They have an alternate Form, the Therian Form, with their old Form known as the Incarnate Form.

#### Tao trio

*Main article: Tao trio*

Zekrom and Reshiram represent balance through the aspects of Yin and Yang, respectively. Originally, they were a single dragon that helped found the Unova region's nation, but fighting between the two brothers who founded the nation split them into two halves. Despite this, the two Pokémon do not willingly fight each other.

Team Plasma hunts Reshiram in order to use it to liberate all Pokémon from their owners, while Zekrom is encountered as soon as the player arrives in the region.

Kyurem is related to Reshiram and Zekrom and represents wuji, which is the absence of yin and yang. Using the DNA Splicers, Kyurem can be fused with Reshiram or Zekrom into White Kyurem or Black Kyurem, respectively; with the same item, the fusion can be undone.

### Kalos

Three additional Legendary Pokémon are introduced in Kalos, totaling 38 Legendary Pokémon. This is the first region to introduce fewer Legendary Pokémon than the region before it.

#### Aura trio

*Main article: Aura trio*

The Legendary Pokémon of Kalos are Xerneas and Yveltal, and they form the aura trio along with Zygarde. Xerneas and Yveltal represent life and destruction, respectively, while Zygarde is said to monitor the balance of the ecosystem and reveal its power when the ecosystem is disrupted. Xerneas has the power to share eternal life, while Yveltal absorbs the life force of everything around it. Xerneas sleeps in the form of a tree, while Yveltal sleeps in the form of a cocoon. Xerneas and Yveltal have the Abilities Fairy Aura and Dark Aura, respectively, while Zygarde's Aura Break reverses the effects of these Abilities.

Xerneas has two Forms, appearing in Active Mode in battle and Neutral Mode otherwise. Yveltal has no form differences. Zygarde appears only as Zygarde 50% Form, but has two other Forms and two further components. Zygarde's other Forms are Zygarde 10% Form, a dog-like Form that includes 10% of Zygarde's full power, and Zygarde Complete Form, whose power is said to exceed that of Xerneas and Yveltal. Its further components are Zygarde Cells, tiny cell-like creatures that make up Zygarde's body, and Zygarde Cores, cell-like creatures said to be its mind.

Xerneas and Yveltal are captured by the player at the Reflection Cave and at the Frost Cavern, respectively. Zygarde 50% Form can be found in Terminus Cave after the player explored the whole region.

### Alola

Alola introduces eleven Legendary Pokémon, totaling 49 Legendary Pokémon. For the first time, Legendary Pokémon capable of evolution are introduced—six of these Pokémon are part of evolutionary chains.

#### Beast Killers

Type: Null and its evolution Silvally are man-made Pokémon originally created by the Aether Foundation for Faba's "Beast Killer" project, which aimed to create a Pokémon with similarity to Arceus through data collected from Sinnoh's Canalave Library.

Although the project was deemed a failure and the resulting three models of Type: Null were put into cryogenic stasis, Gladion managed to evolve the stolen Type: Null that became his partner. He named the evolution Silvally.

The player can obtain two different Type: Null throughout the gameplay, the first at the Aether Paradise and the second at the Vast Poni Canyon.

#### Guardian deities

*Main article: Guardian deities*

The guardian deities are Pokémon who protect the islands of the Alola region. Each of the four main islands in Alola has a guardian deity: Tapu Koko on Melemele Island, Tapu Lele on Akala Island, Tapu Bulu on Ula'ula Island and Tapu Fini on Poni Island. The island kahunas are each chosen by their island's guardian deity.

#### Cosmog and Cosmoem

Cosmog and Cosmoem are Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon and they are the pre-evolutions of Solgaleo and Lunala. Cosmog has a role in the game as a Pokémon being studied by the Aether Foundation. The Cosmog the students meet is nicknamed Nebby. Over the course of the game, Nebby evolves into Cosmoem and eventually the Psychic/Steel-type Solgaleo, who will eventually join the player's team. Other two Cosmog can be obtained by the player, as well as a Lunala.

#### Light trio

*Main article: Light trio*

The Light trio is a group consisting of Solgaleo, Lunala and Necrozma who resemble the Ultra Beasts and has given light to the Alola region when it was first created. According to legends, Solgaleo and Lunala appeared from an Ultra Wormhole, the ancient kings of Alola bowing down to them and worshiped them. The Guardian Deities battled them and lost, gifting them the Tapunium Z after their defeat.

Necrozma was believed to have come from an alternate dimension long ago. As the "Blinding One", it once shared light across Alola and Ultra Space before an unknown injury caused Necrozma to lose its true form. This resulted in Necrozma becoming extremely vicious and constantly in pain, which made it steal light from other worlds or the Solgaleo and Lunala in order to sustain itself and regain the form it once had.

Solgaleo and Lunala have form like-transformations known as Radiant Sun phase and Full Moon phase respectively when using their powers. Necrozma has three additional forms. It transforms into the first two, called Dusk Mane Necrozma and Dawn Wings Necrozma, when it has absorbed Solgaleo and Lunala, respectively. Either of these two forms can further transform into the third, Ultra Necrozma, after absorbing enough light to restore its true form.

## Trivia

* There have been Legendary Pokémon of every type except Bug and Poison type (excluding Silvally holding a Bug Memory or a Poison Memory).
* Heatran is the only Legendary Pokémon that can be either gender.
* In an interview, Junichi Masuda stated that Legendary Pokémon are the most difficult to design names for because Game Freak strives to make sure that the names of Legendary Pokémon are universal across the different translations, so extra work must be put into their names to make sure that they work universally in all languages. This is consistent with the relatively small number of Legendary Pokémon that have had their names changed significantly outside of Japan (currently 15: the Legendary birds, the lake guardians, the Forces of Nature, Type: Null and Silvally, the guardian deities and—in Chinese only—the Mew duo).
* Every Legendary Pokémon has slow leveling rate.
* The Legendary Pokémon are directly or indirectly related to the "power-up" phenomenon introduced in their respective regions:
	+ The Aura trio (specifically Yveltal and Xerneas) are theorized to be indirectly responsible for creating Mega Evolution.
	+ The Light trio and Guardian Deities are directly related to Z-Moves.