Legendary Pokémon

"Legendary" and "Legend" redirect here. For other uses, see Legendary (disambiguation).

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Artwork depicting a variety of Legendary Pokémon

Legendary Pokémon (Japanese: 伝説のポケモン 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 with some even going so far as to view them as deities.

Special Pokémon is a subcategory of the Legendary Pokémon that are restricted or banned from certain official tournaments, battle facilities, and link battle formats. Most Special Pokémon are Legendary game mascots.

No explicit criteria defines what makes a Pokémon a Legendary Pokémon. Instead, the only way to identify a Pokémon as belonging to this group is through statements from official media, such as the games or anime.

Terminology

Main article: Terminology of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon

Mythical Pokémon are a related but separate group of Pokémon, which are usually event-exclusive. In Western language media, Mythical Pokémon were considered to be Legendary Pokémon prior to Generation V; in Japanese and Korean media, the two groups have always been considered distinct.

In some cases, the term "Legendary Pokémon" was still used referring to Mythical Pokémon even after the Generation V games. For instance, in a painting of Arceus in the Lilycove Museum from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, as well as Mew and Shaymin's trophies in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U.

Overview

In the core series

Ultra Necrozma battling various Legendary Pokémon by Kazuma Koda

Legendary Pokémon are usually encountered as interactable or roaming Pokémon. Starting in Platinum, Legendary Pokémon will reappear when the player defeats the Champion if the Pokémon fainted earlier.

The gender of most Legendary Pokémon is unknown (though there are 15 notable exceptions: Latios, Latias, Heatran, Cresselia, Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, Kubfu, Urshifu, Enamorus, Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, Ogerpon, and Terapagos). In the core series games, no Legendary Pokémon can breed or hatch from an Egg. With the exception of Type: Null, Cosmog, and Kubfu, and their respective evolutionary families, Legendary Pokémon cannot evolve, although many are able to change form and are part of a group, such as a duo, a trio, a quartet and even a quintet.

Much like first partner 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.

Stat
HP: 97.10
Attack: 112.73
Defense: 100.85
Sp.Atk: 115.76
Sp.Def: 105.46
Speed: 94.69
Total: 626.59

Multiple Legendary Pokémon

Many Legendary Pokémon can be obtained at most once per save file (excluding Pokémon events); 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.

• The existence of regional forms with the legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres implies that a trio separate from Kanto existed in an isolated peripheral population (in this case Galar) and hence formed a new species.
• In some cases, the Pokédex mentions multiple Legendary Pokémon of the same species.
  • The Pokédex says about Latias: "They make a small herd of only several members."
  • The Pokédex says about Entei: "It is said that one is born every time a new volcano appears."
  • The Pokédex says about Cobalion: "From the moment it's born, this Pokémon radiates the air of a leader." implying its birth is a repetitive occurrence.
  • The Pokédex says about Normal Forme Terapagos: "It’s thought that this Pokémon lived in ancient Paldea until it got caught in seismic shifts and went extinct."
• Heatran, Kubfu, Urshifu, and Terapagos are the only Legendary Pokémon that can be of either gender, which may imply the existence of at least two individuals of their species.
  • In The Isle of Armor, the player receives a Kubfu, while Mustard also has one. Mustard's Kubfu will evolve into an Urshifu of the form corresponding to the tower not chosen by the player.
  • In The Indigo Disk, the player finds a Terapagos in Area Zero Underdepths and even though Terapagos can be of either gender, the only obtainable one is a Hardy male and is said to be last of its kind, implying that in the past, female Terapagos existed, but are now extinct.
• In Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the player can see a wild Articuno at the Route 15 gate to Fuchsia City through a pair of binoculars at any time, even after catching Articuno at the Seafoam Islands.
• In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the legendary birds are rare spawns, which allows the player to encounter and catch multiple of each in a single save file.
• Because Type: Null and Silvally are synthetic species, it was possible for humans to create multiple individuals. Three were confirmed to have been created in Alola by the Aether Foundation: one is owned by Gladion, and another was given to Elio/Selene by Gladion. The whereabouts of the third Type: Null are unknown. A fourth individual was later created in Galar by Macro Cosmos using notes stolen from the Aether Foundation.
• Solgaleo and Lunala are capable of together creating a Cosmog supposedly as their unique way of breeding but it appears they're rarely seen in the same universe at the same time, making this a rare event. Three Cosmog were confirmed to exist, one stolen from Aether Paradise by Lillie, nicknamed Nebby, another one created by Nebby and a Lunala^S/Solgaleo^M found in another universe's Lake of the Moone^S/Lake of the Sunne^M and one found by an old lady in Freezington in the Crown Tundra, nicknamed Fwoofy.
• In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Professor Sada^S/Professor Turo^V built a "time machine" and used it to bring two Koraidon^S/Miraidon^V to Area Zero. The first one is quirky and friendly and the second one is modest and territorial, leading them to become rivals.
• Most Legendary Pokémon can be encountered multiple times in Dynamax Adventures in the Crown Tundra. However, the player can only catch one of each.
• Legendary Pokémon that are eligible to do so may appear in Battle facilities and may be used by multiple Trainers, including the facilities' leaders. This can occur regardless of whether or not the player possesses any of these Pokémon.
  • For instance, Palmer has Regigigas, Heatran, and Cresselia, which are also available to the player in the Sinnoh-based games.
• Sometimes, multiple Legendary Pokémon seem to be present by comparing multiple games in the timeline.
  • For instance, Brandon has the three legendary birds,^E while these birds are also found as wild Pokémon in Kanto.^FRLG Three years later, they are still found as wild Pokémon in Kanto^HGSS as well as Sinnoh^Pt.

In the spin-off games

Trading Card Game series

Main article: Legendary Cards

In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, there are four Legendary Cards, which are central to the plot: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Dragonite. The latter is a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

In the anime

Legendary Pokémon typically make their anime debut in a movie, rather than first appearing in a normal episode. Many are worshipped as gods by particular groups of people. In the anime, they are often only seen by special Trainers, usually Ash Ketchum and people who have a special connection to them. Ill-intentioned people often seek to possess them, due to their power and rarity. Sometimes, some Legendary Pokémon have stubborn behavior that they didn't trust humans like Raikou.

Trainers using Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that they have in Poké Balls, or even as a non-owned Pokémon, are not unheard of. Noland has befriended and fought official battles with an Articuno. Likewise, Brandon in the anime owned the three legendary giants in Poké Balls and trained them. Tobias was seen participating in the Lily of the Valley Conference with the Legendary Pokémon Latios. Another Trainer was seen entering the same tournament with a Heatran. A Nurse Joy who visited the Pewter Gym under assignment of the PIA kept a Latias in a Poké Ball. Gladion stole a Type: Null, which he managed to evolve into a Silvally. Goh has also succeeded in catching several Legendary Pokémon, including Eternatus, a Suicune, and a Regieleki. Project Mew members Quillon and Danika both own an Urshifu each, and the former has also caught the three original legendary giants for research purposes. Gary was seen catching a Regidrago as a part of a Project Mew mission, while Horace was later revealed to have caught a Virizion during his own simultaneous mission. The ancient adventurer Lucius used to travel with a Shiny Rayquaza and an Entei.

In the anime, there are some cases in which Legendary Pokémon are implied to breed in the wild, as seen with Lugia, Latios, and Latias.

List of Legendary Pokémon

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Of the 1026 Pokémon species, 71 are Legendary Pokémon (6.92%). Each released generation has introduced at least three Legendary Pokémon.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Generation I

Four Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation I, with one trio and one standalone Legendary Pokémon.

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres

Main article: Legendary birds

File:LGPE Legendary birds.png

Chase and Elaine battling Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres 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).

In the games, all three are available in the Kanto region in all of its appearances except for Generation II. Articuno takes up residence in the Seafoam Islands in the south, Zapdos in the Power Plant (next to it in Generation IV) in the east, and Moltres in a variety of places, Victory Road, Mt. Ember, or Mt. Silver Cave, depending on the generation. In Pokémon Platinum, they are also found roaming Sinnoh. One also appears in Generation VI roaming Kalos before heading to the Sea Spirit's Den, where it can be battled and caught.

In The Crown Tundra, each bird gains a Galarian form.

In the anime, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres appear together in The Power of One, in which they rule over the islands surrounding Shamouti Island. If they are disturbed and begin to fight, only Lugia can stop them, though it will fail without additional help from the Chosen One. Separately, Articuno appears in Moving Pictures, Spring Fever, Freeze Frame, Numero Uno Articuno, The Symbol Life, and Battling in the Freezing Raid!, while Zapdos appears in As Clear As Crystal, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, Doc Brock!, An Electrifying Rage!, and A Crakling Raid Battle!, and Moltres appears in All Fired Up!, The Search for the Legend, A Legendary Photo Op!, and Advice to Goh!.

Mewtwo

Art of Mewtwo from Pokémon UNITE

Mewtwo is a catlike Pokémon which is an enhanced clone of the Mythical Pokémon Mew. Mewtwo has two Mega Evolutions, which increase its base stat total to 780.

In the games, Mewtwo was too powerful for its creators and escaped from the Pokémon Mansion, wrecking it in the process. Mewtwo then made its home in Cerulean Cave, where all kinds of powerful Pokémon live.

In the anime, Mewtwo was featured prominently, appearing in several episodes of the original series, the first movie, and the first special episode and reappeared in Getting More Than You Battled For!. In the anime, Mewtwo was created by a group of scientists funded by Team Rocket boss Giovanni to create an enhanced clone of Mew for his own use. Although Mewtwo is initially a very angry Pokémon, viewing all humans as evil due to the acts of the scientists and Giovanni, after Ash Ketchum sacrifices himself to stop the fighting between Mew and Mewtwo, Mewtwo's heart softens, and it learns that some humans do care about their, and all, Pokémon. Meeting up with Ash again, Mewtwo is further shown that, despite being a genetically-enhanced clone of Mew, it and the other clones are no different to normal Pokémon, and because it erased Ash and his friends' memory at the end of their first meeting, realizes that Ash himself truly does care for others, even if he doesn't know them. It later appears on Cero Island where Ash and Goh, the later having mistaken it for Mew due to his obsession with catching it, challenge it to a battle, where it easily won.

In the anime, another Mewtwo appeared in Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, who also appeared as Mega Mewtwo Y.

Generation II

More Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation II, adding five more Legendary Pokémon for a running total of 9. The Legendary Pokémon introduced in this generation down can be separated into a trio and a duo.

Raikou, Entei, and Suicune

Main article: Legendary beasts

Eusine and Lyra discover Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in the basement of the Burned Tower, drawn by Kenkichi Toyama

Like Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres of the previous generation, a second trio of similar types was introduced in the neighboring Johto region in the form of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. 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. For example, a new Entei is said to be born whenever a new volcano is formed.

In Pokémon Scarlet, a sketch resembling the members of the Legendary Beasts can be found in the Scarlet Book, dubbed "An Imagined Pokémon". Later, in the game's The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, Paradox counterparts of Suicune, Entei and Raikou are discovered in the form of Walking Wake, Gouging Fire and Raging Bolt, that were all brought to Area Zero at some point by Professor Sada through her time machine.

In the games, more than one of each exists, with only the trio that roams Johto after being discovered in Brass Tower's basement during Generation II and Generation IV being that of the legend. Each was captured and changed into a Shadow Pokémon by Cipher in Pokémon Colosseum, while one of the three, depending on the player's first partner Pokémon choice, roams Kanto in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Entei for Bulbasaur, Raikou for Squirtle, and Suicune for Charmander.

In the anime, the Legendary beasts did not appear together until the thirteenth movie, despite being introduced in Generation II. It appears that an initial plan for the three Johto-era movies was to have each feature one of the Legendary beasts in a central role, with Entei taking a central role in Spell of the Unown: Entei and Suicune taking the stage in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest. This did not pan out, however, possibly due to the canning of Johto's Celebi plotline, and Raikou was relegated to a role in The Legend of Thunder!, featuring anime characters based on Ethan and Kris, rather than the fifth movie, which focused on Legendary Pokémon from the then-upcoming Generation III instead.

Each of the beasts has made an episodic appearance, as well, with Entei appearing in Entei at Your Own Risk, Raikou briefly appearing in Houndoom's Special Delivery, and Suicune having the most prominence (as in the games) through its appearance in Don't Touch That 'dile, For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!, Drifloon On the Wind!, Healing the Healer! and Big Brother to the Rescue!. In Healing the Healer!, a Suicune was caught by Goh, making him the first character in the anime to officially own a Legendary beast.

Lugia and Ho-Oh

Main article: Tower duo

Lugia and Ho-Oh flying over Ecruteak City

Shadow Lugia from Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

The first game mascots that were also Legendary Pokémon, 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.

In the games, Lugia does not play a central role in the Generation II storyline, instead being mentioned only as having lived in Ecruteak City before the Brass Tower burned. It is found in the Whirl Islands in the Generation II games and their remakes if the player holds a Silver Wing. It reaches prominence in the storyline of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, in which one is corrupted by Cipher to become the ultimate Shadow Pokémon, unable to be purified. It is also available on Navel Rock in Generation III, as an event-exclusive Legendary Pokémon.

In the anime, Lugia is featured in a central role in The Power of One, in which it is revealed that Ash is the Chosen One who must help it to quell the fighting of the legendary birds. Another pair of them appeared when Ash and his friends traveled to the Whirl Islands in Johto. Likewise, in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, Latios was stated to have a father. This implies that some Legendary Pokémon can breed in the wild. Lugia appeared again in The Power of Us.

Ho-Oh has a much greater focus during Generation II, being named as the creator of the Legendary beasts. It can be found, if the player has a Rainbow Wing, atop the Bell Tower in the Generation II games and their remakes. It makes an appearance in Pokémon Colosseum, as well, as a reward for purifying all Shadow Pokémon and clearing Mt. Battle's 100-battle challenge, and on Navel Rock like Lugia.

In the anime, Ho-Oh is notably the first Legendary Pokémon that appeared (outside of the opening animation, at least), flying over a rainbow as Ash Ketchum started his journey, at the end of Pokémon - I Choose You!. Ash has subsequently seen it several times over the course of his journey, but has never come face-to-face with it. Ho-Oh featured in I Choose You! in a prominent role.

Generation III

Many more Legendary Pokémon were added to the roster in Generation III, with the eight new Legendary Pokémon bringing the total to 17. At this point in the series, Legendary Pokémon began to have a greater role in the storyline of the core series games, with the villainous teams plotting to reawaken the ancient Legendary Pokémon for their own use.

Many of the stories regarding the legendaries were slightly changed, or given a new perspective in the remakes of the first Generation III core series games, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Five of them also received new forms.

Regirock, Regice, and Registeel

Main article: Legendary giants

Regice, Registeel, and Regirock in Pokémon Adventures

Regirock, Regice, and Registeel based on the golems of Hebrew legend, is featured minimally in Hoenn legend. This Legendary trio, as well as its leader, Regigigas, is commonly considered to have the most complicated method of in-game availability, with puzzles made of braille in the Hoenn region being the keys to unlocking their mystery.

As complex as the method in which they are obtained is the legend of the giants, which is told in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and finally completed in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. 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. Ancient people, seeing that the Pokémon was so powerful, sealed it away in the Snowpoint Temple, while those it had created were separated from it and taken to the Hoenn region, sealed in three chambers, and left in the hopes that one day, someone would unlock the chambers and be able to tame the three so as to tame Regigigas. They are available in the Desert Ruins, Island Cave, and Ancient Tomb in Hoenn; as well as the Rock Peak Ruins, Iceberg Ruins, and Iron Ruins in Sinnoh with an event Regigigas; the Underground Ruins in Unova. In Galar's Crown Tundra, they are found in the similarly named Rock Peak, Iceberg, and Iron Ruins.

In the anime, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel starred together guarding the Tree of Beginning in Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, as well as members of Brandon's team in the Battle Frontier saga.

In The Crown Tundra of Generation VIII, the trio becomes a quintet with two more introduced members: Regieleki and Regidrago.

Latios and Latias

Main article: Eon duo

Latias and Latios flying around Brendan and May

While Latias and Latios do not have a distinct legend behind them, they are incredibly rare, with only one of the two available in normal gameplay and the other available through an event.

Latios and Latias take on counterpart availability in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald as well as Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, with Latios being a roaming Pokémon in Ruby and SoulSilver, and Latias doing the same in Sapphire and HeartGold. In Emerald, after the player has defeated Wallace, their mother will ask if the Pokémon mentioned on TV was red or blue, and depending on that, one of the two will be roaming Hoenn. The other member of the duo will be found on Southern Island, accessible by Eon Ticket, in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and in Pewter City, through the Enigma Stone event, in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In Generation VI, Latias and Latios gained the ability to Mega Evolve. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Eon duo plays a much larger role in the main game's plot. They sense the grave danger Hoenn is about to face from the actions of Team Magma^OR/Aqua^AS, and while the player is talking to Steven on the east side of Route 118, Latias^OR/Latios^AS appears before the two, asking for their help. The player and Steven ride the Eon Pokémon to protect its counterpart from Courtney^OR/Matt^AS and their subordinate. After the fight Latios^OR/Latias^AS joins the player's party, holding its respective Mega Stone. Noticing the Mega Stone, Steven also gives the player a Mega Bracelet. After defeating Groudon^OR/Kyogre^AS, the player receives an item called the Eon Flute from Steven, highlighting the special bond between the two. The items enables the player to summon the Eon Pokémon and use it to soar through the skies of Hoenn.

In the anime, Latios and Latias were the stars of Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, in which the two guarded the city of Alto Mare. With a strong connection to the Soul Dew, the two were responsible for protecting it from Annie and Oakley, who wished to steal it. In the main series, Tobias used a Latios against Ash, as his second Pokémon in the first semi-final battle of the Lily of the Valley Conference. A Nurse Joy had a Latias when testing the Pewter Gym in DPS02. Both Latios and Latias appeared in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages; in this film, both of them were capable of Mega Evolution. In The Road Most Traveled!, a Latias started following Ash and Pikachu after she was found and rescued by them. A Latios also appears in Rocket Revengers! as well, although he is stubborn Pokémon and distrustful towards humans.

Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza

Main article: Super-ancient Pokémon

A cataclysmic battle between Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza, drawn by Ken Sugimori

Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza serve as the game mascots of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Versions, and are the first Legendary trio to all be game mascots. 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.

During the course of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Team Magma or Team Aqua, depending on the version, seeks out Groudon or Kyogre respectively, with the intention of awakening them to make more homes for Pokémon of the land or sea. Eventually, the plan goes wrong, and the player is forced to defeat or capture the Legendary Pokémon to stop a global disaster. In Pokémon Emerald, instead, both teams are on the loose, intending to awaken their respective Legendary Pokémon, and only by interference from the player and Rayquaza does the fight end up resolved.

Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza receives new forms in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Rayquaza is now able to Mega Evolve, and 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. While Groudon^OR/Kyogre^AS are again sought by Team Magma^OR/Aqua^AS, Rayquaza is the target of a mysterious girl named Zinnia during the post game plot called Delta Episode.

In the game, their history is revealed: 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.

In the anime, Groudon and Kyogre appeared in the two-part episode consisting of Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends. In these episodes, Team Magma and Team Aqua finally succeed in awakening the two, as in the games, though their conflict is resolved very quickly. Rayquaza appeared in Destiny Deoxys, where it fought against the pair of Deoxys. The super-ancient Pokémon all made a starring appearance in their Primal/Mega Forms in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, engaging in a violent clash with many other legendaries.

Generation IV

Nine more Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation IV, bringing the total to 26 Legendary Pokémon. Many of the Legendary Pokémon of this generation have little connection to the plot of the games, instead being minor, post-Hall of Fame sidequests for the player to go on. Three of the newly introduced Legendary Pokémon (four prior to the Pokémon Platinum expansion of the Pokédex) are not in the Sinnoh regional Pokédex, appearing only in the National Pokédex.

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf

Main article: Lake guardians

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in Pokémon Legends Arceus

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf serves as the Sinnoh region's resident Legendary trio. All three 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.

In the games, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are found in the caverns of Lake Acuity, Lake Verity, and Lake Valor, though Mesprit will roam Sinnoh after the player has encountered it, rather than battle immediately as the other two will. The trio are captured by Team Galactic's Commanders, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, and subjected to the experiments of Charon to draw out the Red Chain from the gems in their bodies. Cyrus summons Dialga and Palkia, and alone, the lake guardians' power is not enough to stop them. Giratina interferes and draws Cyrus into the Distortion World, where the lake guardians assist the player in navigation through Giratina's lair.

In the anime, the lake guardians appeared, first in spirit form, in Following a Maiden's Voyage!, Pruning a Passel of Pals, and Uncrushing Defeat!, to Dawn, Ash, and Brock. They were captured by J, who had been hired by Team Galactic, in The Needs of the Three!, and were freed by Ash, Dawn, and Brock to stop the power of Dialga and Palkia in The Battle Finale of Legend!.

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina

Main article: Pokémon of Myth

Dialga and Palkia confronting Giratina at Spear Pillar

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina are creators of the Pokémon universe. Each member represents an aspect of universe, Dialga of time, Palkia of space, and Giratina of antimatter. Like Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza before them, they each serve as the mascots of Sinnoh's trio of games, Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.

In the games, Dialga and Palkia are sought by Cyrus to destroy and then remake the universe without spirit, a feature he hates about humanity. In Diamond and Pearl, Dialga or Palkia can be caught at Spear Pillar, while Giratina may be obtained after the Pokémon League has been conquered. In Platinum, however, Giratina interferes with Cyrus's planned destruction of the universe and may be captured in its home, the Distortion World, while Dialga and Palkia cannot be found until Cynthia has been defeated.

In the anime, Dialga and Palkia appeared together, fighting in The Rise of Darkrai, while Dialga and Giratina appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. The three appeared together in Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Hoopa and the Clash of Ages. Dialga and Palkia were also summoned at the Spear Pillar and chained by Cyrus in The Battle Finale of Legend!, but were freed when he escaped into another universe and the Red Chain was shattered by Ash, Dawn, Brock, and their Pokémon.

In the Sinnoh-based games only, Dialga and Palkia were referenced as "mythical Pokémon" (Japanese: 神話のポケモン mythical Pokémon); however, this pre-dates the term Mythical Pokémon (Japanese: 幻のポケモン Illusory Pokémon) and has a different Japanese name.

Cresselia

Cresselia art from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

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

In the games, Cresselia can be found on Fullmoon Island as part of a post-League quest to rid Sailor Eldritch's son of a nightmare. She will flee immediately, roaming Sinnoh and leaving behind a Lunar Feather, which will heal the boy. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Cresselia can be found on Marvelous Bridge after visiting the Strange House.

Cresselia made her debut appearance in the anime in Sleepless in Pre-Battle!, in which she fought briefly against a Darkrai.

Heatran

Ben and Summer battling Heatran, drawn by Kouki Saitou

Heatran is the embodiment of the planet's boiling core, appearing in Stark Mountain in Sinnoh, Reversal Mountain in Unova, and Scorched Slab^ORAS in Hoenn, where it was said to have been born at the same time Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina created Sinnoh at the Spear Pillar and created the Battle Zone.

Heatran first appeared in the anime in Arceus and the Jewel of Life, under the control of Marcus, and later appeared in Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue! as part of a Pokémon Ranger rescue mission.

Regigigas

Regigigas from Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

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

In the games, Regigigas is found at the Snowpoint Temple^DPPt, Twist Mountain^B2W2, and the Island Cave^ORAS, though it will not awaken unless the first three members of the legendary giants are in the player's party. It is found in the Cave World of the Ultra Space Wilds^UM with no prerequisites. It is also found in a certain Pokémon Den in Giant's Bed^SwSh, but will only awaken if all legendary giants (now including Regieleki and Regidrago) are in the party. Since the player can choose to capture only one of the two new giants, they must obtain the other through trading.

Regigigas appeared in the anime in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, in which it attempted to stop a glacier from destroying Ten'i Village. Another appeared in Pillars of Friendship!, in which it was hunted by J and defended by Brandon.

Generation V

Nine additional Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation V, totaling 35 Legendary Pokémon. Reshiram and Zekrom played a large role in the storyline of Pokémon Black and White, with the respective mascot Pokémon being a necessary and unavoidable capture to progress to the end of the game.

Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion

Main article: Swords of Justice

Artwork of Virizion, Terrakion, and Cobalion from a 2011 UNIQLO collaboration

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 their former signature move, Sacred Sword, at level 42 (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).

In Pokémon Violet, a sketch resembling the members of the Swords of Justice can be found in the Violet Book, dubbed "An Imagined Pokémon". Later, in the game's The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, Paradox counterparts of Virizion, Terrakion and Cobalion are discovered in the form of Iron Leaves, Iron Boulder and Iron Crown, that were all brought to Area Zero at some point by Professor Turo through his time machine.

They made their anime debut together, in the fifteenth Pokémon film Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice, where Keldeo was responsible for the freezing of the other three during a battle against Kyurem, and sought help from Ash and his friends. In the movie, Cobalion acts as the leader of the Swords of Justice, protecting Pokémon and humans alike through the world.

Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus

Main article: Forces of Nature

Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus in the anime

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. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 they receive a new Forme, the Therian Forme, with their old form known as the Incarnate Forme; the forms can be switched between with the Reveal Glass.

In the anime, the Forces of Nature were sought by Team Rocket in Unova from The Lonely Deino! until they were able to awaken them on Milos Island in Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 1 and Part 2. Tornadus and Thundurus fought on the island, while Ash and his friends awakened Landorus to put a stop to the fight (they all appeared in Incarnate Forme during these episodes). They debuted in Therian Forme in Unova's Survival Crisis!, when Team Rocket once again attempted to capture them as the final goal of Operation Tempest. Together, they are said to have the power to control nature, which can be harnessed by one who possesses both Meloetta and the Reveal Glass.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus of Generation VIII, the trio becomes a quartet with the introduction of Enamorus.

Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem

Main article: Tao trio

Reshiram and Zekrom confronting Kyurem

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.

In the games, Team Plasma hunt either Reshiram or Zekrom in Pokémon Black and White in order to use them to liberate all Pokémon from their owners. N captures one of them and defeats Alder. The other dragon emerges from the Dragon Stone the player possesses, and the player must capture it and use it to defeat N. After his defeat, N rides off on his dragon to a far-off region. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which take place two years later, Ghetsis revives Team Plasma and captures Kyurem in order to freeze and take control of the Unova region. N confronts him with Zekrom^B2/Reshiram^W2, but Ghetsis seizes the opportunity to fuse the Tao dragon with Kyurem using the DNA Splicers to create Black Kyurem^B2/White Kyurem^W2. The player defeats Kyurem and Ghetsis, restoring balance to the region.

Reshiram and Zekrom are the stars of Pokémon The Movie: White—Victini and Zekrom and Pokémon The Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram along with Victini. Zekrom debuted in In The Shadow of Zekrom! causing Ash's Pikachu's electric crisis, and appeared in numerous flashbacks and fantasies afterward. Reshiram also debuted in a cameo at the beginning of In The Shadow of Zekrom! and had a large role in the "Episode N" arc, as Team Plasma's target, appearing in What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!. Reshiram and Zekrom make a cameo appearance in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.

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.

Kyurem is the star of Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice along with Keldeo, where it seems like a ferocious Pokémon and can change forms without the DNA Splicers. It is also capable of this when it appears in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.

Generation VI

Three additional Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation VI, totaling 38 Legendary Pokémon. This is the first generation to introduce fewer Legendary Pokémon than the generation before it.

Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde

Main article: Aura trio

Xerneas healing a forest, drawn by Yusuke Ohmura^{[citation needed]}

Encountering Zygarde 50% Forme in Pokémon X and Y

Zygarde Complete Forme in the anime

Yveltal destroying a city, drawn by Yusuke Ohmura^{[citation needed]}

The Legendary game mascots of Pokémon X and Y 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 appeared only as Zygarde 50% Forme in Pokémon X and Y, but had two other forms and two further components introduced in the anime and in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Zygarde's other forms are Zygarde 10% Forme, a dog-like form that includes 10% of Zygarde's full power, and Zygarde Complete Forme, 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.

In Pokémon X and Y, Lysandre captures Xerneas or Yveltal to use their power in the ultimate weapon to create a "beautiful world" in his image. Either Xerneas or Yveltal are captured by the player at the Team Flare Secret HQ upon awakening from their dormant forms. Zygarde 50% Forme can be found in Terminus Cave after the player enters the Hall of Fame.

In the anime, Xerneas and Yveltal starred in the movie Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, along with Diancie, where Xerneas and Yveltal are shown to be residents of the Allearth Forest. Xerneas made a minor appearance in Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!, being responsible for causing Ash and his friends to get lost in fog during the orienteering activity.

In the anime, Zygarde debuted in Mega Evolution Special IV in its 50% Forme alongside a Zygarde Core. A Zygarde Core has traveled alongside Ash and his friends, nicknamed Squishy by Bonnie, since the beginning of the XYZ arc, and another Zygarde Core referred to as Z2 was captured by Team Flare. Both of these Cores have appeared in all three forms of Zygarde.

Generation VII

Generation VII introduced 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.

Type: Null and Silvally

Main article: Beast killer project

Gladion's Type: Null in the anime

Gladion's Silvally having its typing changed, by Hitoshi Ariga

Type: Null and its evolution Silvally are artificial Pokémon originally created by the Aether Foundation for the beast killer project (BKP) under the direction of Aether President Lusamine, which aimed to create a Pokémon as an Anti-UB Fighting life-form, Pokémon created to fight against the Ultra Beasts. Originally dubbed as beast killer (shortened as BK), Type: Full (Japanese: タイプ：フル Type: Full) was created with data collected from Sinnoh's Canalave Library, allowing the Pokémon to change their type to any of the 18, similar to that of Arceus, with usage of their RKS System. Three models of Type: Full were created by the Aether Foundation in Generation VII. The research on the Pokémon were then stolen by an unknown source and more was created in the Galar region, being distributed by Macro Cosmos.

The beast killer project was deemed a failure as the subjects of the project were known to go berserk and resisted their RKS System programming. The three Type: Full were given helmets to restrict the RKS System's effects, renamed to Type: Null, and then were put into cryogenic stasis. Aether Branch Chief Faba was involved with the creation of the helmet used to suppress the RKS System and was created without the permission of Lusamine. Gladion managed to evolve a stolen Type: Null that became his partner. He named the evolution Silvally.

In the anime, Type: Null debuted in Rising from the Ruins! under the nickname "Silvally" and owned by Gladion. It later evolved into Silvally in Mission: Total Recall!.

Tapu Koko,Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini

Main article: Guardian deities

The guardian deities at the Altar of the Sunne in the anime

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. According the Light of Alola, a book owned by Acerola's family found in Malie Library, the tapu fought off against a beast from another dimension and lost. They were rewarded with the Tapunium Z, their signature Z-Crystal. The beast then created multiple Cosmog for the tapu to take care of and protect as they grow up before returning to Ultra Space. The Tapu are known to be very kind in certain situations, lending gifts, but they can also be very cruel, destroying certain locations or harming others when feeling angered. Grand trials are often done in favor and praise of the Tapu. Multiple statues can be found throughout the region resembling the tapu, including in front of Alola's Pokémon League at Mount Lanakila. Many Strange Souvenirs in the shape of the guardians are given out to tourists and can be bought in the Thrifty Megamart.

In the story of Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Lillie is tasked with researching Alola's ruins, as Nebby, her Cosmog, finds interest in exploring them. On her way to the Ruins of Conflict, Nebby gets trapped on an unsteady plank bridge being attacked by wild Pokémon, the player swings in to save Nebby. With both falling in danger, Tapu Koko saves them and gifts the player with a Sparkling Stone. All four of the guardian tapu are seen coming to aid the island in assistance with the island kahuna to fend off a swarm of Ultra Beasts that were summoned by Lusamine on Aether Paradise. Through the events that the player comes across at Poni Island, Hapu is granted the title of kahuna of Poni by Tapu Fini, after her grandfather had passed away. At the end of Sun and Moon only, Lillie and the player return to Tapu Koko's shrine to give it their thanks, there, Tapu Koko initiates a battle with the player where they can defeat, catch, run or lose to the deity and will be rewarded with their own Tapunium Z.

In the anime, Tapu Koko first appeared in Alola to New Adventure! and gave Ash a Z-Ring. Tapu Lele debuted in Partner Promises!, in which it healed Ash. Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini both debuted in A Dream Encounter!, in which all four tapu sensed Nebby's birth. All four later appeared in Family Determination! and Revealing the Stuff of Legend!, in which they helped Nebby evolve into Solgaleo.

Cosmog and Cosmoem

Main article: Light trio

Main article: Nebby

Nebby the Cosmog with Lillie, drawn by Megumi Mizutani

Nebby the Cosmoem in Lillie's hands in Pokémon Evolutions

Cosmog and Cosmoem are Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, they are the pre-evolutions of Solgaleo and Lunala. Cosmog has a major role in the game as a Pokémon being studied by the Aether Foundation. As a part of the research on Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Beasts by Professor Mohn, the Aether Report in Secret Lab B suggests that Cosmog is a type of Ultra Beast that can create Ultra Wormholes when put in life-taking stress. Cosmog and its evolution line are hypothesized to have come from another dimension known as Ultra Space. The Aether Foundation plans to create a device to manipulate Ultra Wormholes using Cosmog. Ultra Wormholes can be created using gasses extracted by Cosmog, however, more can be created in heavier doses using the Pokémon as a whole. In Alola legend, Cosmog were given to the Guardian deities by Solgaleo and Lunala as heirs of the region, with the guardian tapu watching over the Cosmog until it can grow up and evolve. Cosmog evolves into Cosmoem under extreme stress, causing the Pokémon to condense into a smaller immobile form resembling a cocoon. With the help of the Sun and Moon Flutes being played during certain times of the day, Cosmoem will evolve into either Solgaleo or Lunala when brought to the Altar of the Sunne^SUS or the Altar of the Moone^MUM.

In the story of Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Lillie, the daughter of the Aether Foundation's president, Lusamine, spirits a Cosmog away and nicknames it Nebby, hiding it in her bag as she tries to learn more about it by visiting the guardian deities and their ruins. Throughout the game, Nebby evolves into a Cosmoem and eventually the version mascot of the game: the Psychic/Steel-type Solgaleo in Pokémon Sun and the Psychic/Ghost-type Lunala in Pokémon Moon. Another Cosmog can be obtained by the player at the Lake of the Sunne^MUM or the Lake of the Moone^SUS.

In the anime, both Solgaleo and Lunala debuted in A Dream Encounter, in which they emerged from an Ultra Wormhole at Altar of the Sunne to create a Cosmog, which Ash found and cared for. Lillie named this Cosmog Nebby. It evolved into Cosmoem in Faba's Revenge! and then into Solgaleo in Revealing the Stuff of Legend!.

Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma

Main article: Light trio

Main article: Nebby

Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma

The Light trio is a fan-made term used to describe the group consisting of Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma who resemble the Ultra Beasts. The Pokémon are written about in a book found in the Malie Library known as the Light of Alola. Like their prevolutions, Cosmog and Cosmoem, Solgaleo and Lunala are said to have come from another world, Ultra Space. In The Light of Alola, it's written that they were known for giving light to the Alola region when it was first created. According to legends, when Solgaleo and Lunala appeared from an Ultra Wormhole, the ancient kings of Alola bowed down to them and worshiped them. The Guardian Deities battled them and lost, gifting them the Tapunium Z after their defeat. According to Hapu, an ancient ceremony was given to the legendary Pokémon, by climbing to Poni's altar found at the end of the Vast Poni Canyon. The Sun and Moon Flutes, are then played to summon them. One flute found in Ula'ula's Lake, and the other found on Exeggutor Island. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Solgaleo and Lunala play an important role in the story, after Lillie's Cosmog, Nebby, evolves into Cosmoem, she brings it the altar, along with the player character, in order to summon the legendary, who turns out to be Nebby. Nebby takes the two to the Ultra Deep Sea so Lillie can confront her mother. The Legendary Pokémon is then caught by the protagonist under Lillie's direction. Necrozma was believed to have come from an alternate dimension long ago. It has a major role in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, where 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. In the story of the games, Lusamine and the Aether Foundation, with help from the Ultra Recon Squad, have done research on Necrozma, swearing that she would protect Alola from Necrozma or any involved Ultra Beasts. At Poni's altar, Necrozma comes out from an Ultra Wormhole, along with Lusamine, who begs the player and Lillie to get away. Necrozma takes over the body of Nebby, who had just evolved into either Solgaleo^US or Lunala^UM and flees back to Ultra Megalopolis, where the player must defeat it and return light back to the Alola Region. In the original Sun and Moon, Necrozma can be found in the post game, it's described as being similar to an Ultra Beast, however the International Police did not see it as such. Z-Power is known to have come from light produced by Necrozma, while Z-Crystals and Sparkling Stones (and Z-Ring/Z-Power Rings by extension) are pieces of Necrozma that channel the Z-Power in order to produce a Z-Move.

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 introduced in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. 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. All three have their own unique Z-Crystals, the Solganium Z, the Lunalium Z and the Ultranecrozium Z. Necrozma, while transformed into either Dusk Mane or Dawn Wings, can make use of the other two's Z-Crystals.

In the anime, Solgaleo and Lunala both debuted in A Dream Encounter!, where the pair emerged from two Ultra Wormhole at Altar of the Sunne to create a Cosmog, which it then gave to the guardian deities to be placed in a location when it will be found by Ash. Ultra Necrozma debuted in Tough Guy Trials! in a book mentioned by Acerola, which revealed how Ultra Necrozma, Solgaleo and Lunala brought light to Alola and how Ultra Necrozma earned the title of the "Blinding One".

• 

  Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings Necrozma

• 

  Ultra Necrozma

Generation VIII

In Generation VIII, 11 Legendary Pokémon were introduced, bringing the total to 60. Of these, three were introduced in the base game of Pokémon Sword and Shield, two were introduced in The Isle of Armor, five were introduced in The Crown Tundra, and one was introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Additionally, The Crown Tundra introduced regional forms of three Legendary Pokémon from Generation I.

Zacian and Zamazenta

Main article: Legendary heroes

Zacian and Zamazenta in the Slumbering Weald

Zacian and Zamazenta in their Crowned Forms

Zacian and Zamazenta are Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Zacian and Zamazenta work together to protect the Galar region from any great calamity. 3000 years ago, a cataclysmic event known as the Darkest Day was caused by Eternatus's awakening, Zacian and Zamazenta awakened as well to defend the region with the help of two human heroes. Together, they managed to take Eternatus down, forcing it back into another slumber, with Eternatus's defeat and the Darkest Day stopped, the two wolves retreated to the Slumbering Weald to return to their slumber, turning into statues while the two human heroes became Galar's new kings.

As the years passed, the two Pokémon were nearly forgotten by history, fake stories were made overtime; at the hall of the Budew Drop Inn, a statue of a single young hero, bearing a sword and a shield was built, said to be the one who defeated all gigantic Pokémon and saving the region, but in Hammerlocke Vault, four tapestries were made, depicting two young men using a sword and a shield to reverse the storm above them and afterwards, being crowned as kings. In the present day though, the truth behind the legend was finally discovered by Sonia, after Bede destroyed a colorful ancient mural, revealing the stone statues of Zacian, Zamazenta and the two ancient kings of Galar. Sonia eventually published the truth of the legend in a book, and became a point of contention from two brothers, Sordward and Shielbert, who claimed to be the descendants for the old kings.

Eternatus

Eternatus in Pokémon Evolutions

Eternamax Eternatus uncurling its body atop Hammerlocke Stadium

Eternatus is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Eternatus is an extraterrestrial Pokémon that crash-landed 20,000 years ago. 3000 years ago, it awakened for the very first time, threatening to destroy the whole region with its power, in the event known as the Darkest Day, but it was stopped by Zacian, Zamazenta, and the two Galarian kings. In the present day, president Rose tried to reawaken this Pokémon and bring about the Darkest Day once again, hoping it can fill the region for more years to come, Eternatus escaped though and thanks to Leon, Hop and the player, Eternatus was stopped once again in its Eternamaxed form with the help of the legendary heroes as the player catch the Legendary dragon once and for all, so it causes no more harm to the Galar region.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Casey implies that it could be possible to coexist with Eternatus, in which Oleana claims she'll try to find a way to. In the anime, this is proven to be possible when Eternatus is unsealed and Sonia, Professor Magnolia, and Leon work together to teach it to coexist with humans. This ultimately results in Eternatus returning to the wild to act as Galar's guardian.

Kubfu and Urshifu

Kubfu and two Urshifu in their Rapid and Single Strike Styles, drawn by HYOGONOSUKE

Kubfu is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in The Isle of Armor that is given to the player by Mustard after completing three trials of the Master Dojo. It is referred to as the "sacred armor" of the Master Dojo. Once the player trains with Kubfu at either the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters in the Towers of Two Fists challenge, it will evolve into Urshifu. Urshifu has two different forms depending on the tower it trained in: Single Strike Style for the Tower of Darkness, and Rapid Strike Style for the Tower of Waters.

It has been confirmed that there exists multiple instances of Kubfu, as both the player and Mustard own one, as seen at the end of the Towers of Two Fists challenge.

Regieleki and Regidrago

Regieleki and Regidrago in the Crown Tundra

Regieleki and Regidrago are two Legendary Pokémon and the new members of the legendary giants that were introduced in The Crown Tundra. Both were said to be created by Regigigas as well, using pure Electric energy and crystallized Dragon energy, they're seen as the most powerful of all giants, with Regieleki being capable of creating the electricity of a whole Region while Regidrago possess the power of every Dragon Pokemon. Like their "siblings" and creator, they were sealed away as well by ancient people in the Split-Decision Ruins due to how dangerous they were. They can be encountered in the ruins they were sealed in after bringing and capturing the original three legendary giants. However, only one of the giants can be captured, while the other one becomes unavailable to the player, in the anime though, Goh and Gary managed to catch both of them in the same ruins.

Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres

Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in a Pokémon HOME sticker

In The Crown Tundra, the regional forms of the legendary birds are introduced. These variants migrate every several decades to the Dyna Tree at Dyna Tree Hill in the Crown Tundra. The trio fight each other over it every time they meet, but they don't appear to have such a strong rivalry like their Kantonian counterparts have. For a time, the Galarian legendary birds were believed be the same as the Kantonian legendary birds due to them possessing similar characteristics to Ice, Electric, and Fire, respectively. The trio shares the same secondary type, Flying, as their Kantonian counterparts, but they have a different primary type and Ability each.

It's still unknown what their true origins are, but it's confirmed that their names don't come from their first-discovered counterparts, but were thought due to their characteristics that possess similarities to the ice, electric and fire Types, making the true connection between both bird trios, mysterious. The Trio can be encountered at Dyna Tree Hill which triggers a cutscene which all three flee to the three different spots in Galar. Articuno can be found in the Crown Tundra, Zapdos in the Wild Area, and Moltres in the Isle of Armor.

Calyrex, Glastrier, and Spectrier

The Calyrex wallpaper in Pokémon HOME

Calyrex is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in The Crown Tundra. It once ruled over a part of Galar known as The Crown Tundra. It is characterized by its graceful and regal movements. Known as the King of Bountiful Harvests, it helped spread vegetation and harvest every year with the loyal steed it tamed, Glastrier/Spectrier. However, in time, people began to forget about Calyrex and it slowly lost most of its powers, and Glastrier/Spectrier abandon it as a result. Calyrex remains alone and forgotten until encountered by the player. Only one of the two steeds are available; the location at which the player plants the Carrot Seeds determines which one. The steed once ruled over the Crown Tundra. It regularly attacked the humans and Pokémon living there who invaded its territory. The Pokémon determined by the carrot is chosen to serve as the steed of Calyrex, helping it spread green across Galar. However, when Calyrex begins to lose its power from lack of faith, its steed abandoned it and was forgotten as well.

After fixing its statue in Freezington, it shows up to the player and uses Peony to communicate with them. After accepting it has been completely forgotten by the residents of the town, it decided to try and tame its steed once again using the Reins of Unity to regain most of its old power. After succeeding, Calyrex thanks the player and battles them in its Ice/Shadow Ride form, allowing itself to be caught afterwards.

According to legend, one of the steeds had been terrorizing Freezington for ages until Calyrex, after being nursed back to health by Freezington's citizens, defeated it and gained its loyalty, then becoming the king's servant and steed.

In the Sword & Shield arc of Pokémon Adventures, Calyrex mentions that it met Eternatus during the Darkest Day 3,000 years ago.

Enamorus

Enamorus in the TCG

Enamorus is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It is the fourth member of the Forces of Nature. It was worshiped in Hisui along with Landorus as the gods of both field and spring who brought life to the region and signaling the end of winter, hence its title as the Herald of Spring. While known to be kind with its love, it will not hesitate to punish those who disrespect life. It can be encountered in the Crimson Mirelands after capturing and filling the Pokédex entries of the other Forces of Nature.

Generation IX

In Generation IX, 11 Legendary Pokémon so far were introduced, bringing the total to 71. Of these, six were introduced in the base game of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, four were introduced in The Teal Mask, and one was introduced in The Indigo Disk.

Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu

Treasures of ruin wallpaper from Pokémon HOME

Main article: Treasures of ruin

Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu are a quartet of Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. All of them are part Dark type.

They have been referred to as cursed treasures and Pokémon of Ruin. These four Legendary Pokémon were once four ancient treasures that had been corrupted by negative human emotions, which came into the possession of an ancient king of Paldea. Eventually, the king's greed awakened them and unleashed disasters, resulting in these berserk Pokémon destroying the kingdom. All four were later sealed away in shrines by ancient Pokémon wielders after a fierce battle. These shrines can be unlocked by collecting 32 stakes scattered across Paldea in order to face them.

Wo-Chien is located at the Grasswither Shrine inside of the South Province (Area One), Chien-Pao is located at the Icerend Shrine inside of the West Province (Area One), Ting-Lu is located at the Groundblight Shrine inside of the Socarrat Trail, and Chi-Yu is located at the Firescourge Shrine inside of the North Province (Area Two).

Koraidon and Miraidon

Main article: Paradox duo

Apex Build Koraidon and Ultimate Mode Miraidon in a Pokémon HOME sticker

Koraidon and Miraidon are Legendary Pokémon first introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. They are Paradox Pokémon, being past and future relatives of Cyclizar, respectively. Both are far more aggressive and powerful than their contemporary counterpart. Two specimens of Koraidon^S/Miraidon^V were brought into the present by Professor Sada^S/Professor Turo^V.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the player meets their version's corresponding Legendary early in the story, where it serves as their main mode of transportation throughout the game, changing into various forms for traveling the Paldea region: Sprinting Build, Swimming Build, and Gliding Build for Koraidon, and Drive Mode, Aquatic Mode, and Glide Mode for Miraidon. While low in power, Koraidon and Miraidon assume the Limited Build and Low-Power Mode, respectively, while at their full strength, they battle in Apex Build and Ultimate Mode, respectively.

In the game, the player encounters two of the respective Legendary Pokémon in their respective versions. The first Koraidon/Miraidon can be used for riding along Paldea and battling, while the second Koraidon/Miraidon serves as the final boss of the main story before becoming able to be caught during the post-game.

Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti

Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti alongside their leader, Pecharunt

Main article: Loyal Three

The Loyal Three was first introduced in The Teal Mask. They were believed to have protected Kitakami from Ogerpon, whose appearance frightened the villagers. In doing so, they were worshiped as heroes. After the truth about them was revealed, Carmine renamed them the Lousy Three or "Loyal" Three.

In truth, the Loyal Three were among many ruffians who traveled to Kitakami after hearing of Ogerpon and its partner's masks. They snuck into the cave they settled in and stole the Wellspring, Hearthflame, and Cornerstone Masks, leaving only the Teal Mask behind. Upon returning to its cave, an enraged Ogerpon donned the mask and went out to the village, cudgel in hand, to search for its friend. Upon meeting the Loyal Three, gloating over their stolen masks, Ogerpon attacked and defeated them, before leaving. The villagers, misunderstanding the situation, believed that the Loyal Three were protecting the village, creating a shrine and festival to celebrate their perceived heroism.

The player encounters the trio after they are revived, following Kieran punching the shrine in a rage. Later on, the player faces off against each member alongside Carmine as Titan Pokémon. When they are defeated, each member drops a stolen mask, allowing Ogerpon to recover it. They can be caught after clearing The Teal Mask storyline.

Ogerpon

Teal Mask Ogerpon and its cudgel

Ogerpon is a Legendary Pokémon first introduced in The Teal Mask. It has four forms, Teal Mask, Wellspring Mask, Hearthflame Mask, and Cornerstone Mask, each form possessing a unique Terastallized state. It is said to have terrorized the land of Kitakami before being stopped by the Loyal Three, Okidogi, Munkidori and Fezandipiti. However, it was later revealed to be only a misunderstanding, as it defeated the trio for stealing three of its mask and hurting its human companion, however, the villagers watching it, assumed it had come to attack the village, now seeing it as a terrible ogre, meant to be avoided. Only one knew the true story though, that being the mask maker who made Ogerpon's masks to begin with, telling the real story to his descendants ever since.

Florian/Juliana and Carmine encounters Ogerpon during the events during Kitakami's Festival of Masks, it loses its Teal Mask during the Festival and as the duo fixes it up, the Loyal Three are somehow revived and go to take revenge on Ogerpon with the three masks they had still. Eventually the three are beaten and Ogerpon's remaining masks are retrieved, as Ogerpon's true identity was revealed up by Kieran, allowing the villagers to apologize for their mistakes and declare it as the true hero of Kitakami instead of the Loyal Three. Florian/Juliana can then capture it at the Dreaded Den after fighting Kieran who couldn't just let them have it instead of him.

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  Wellspring Ogerpon

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  Hearthflame Ogerpon

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  Cornerstone Ogerpon

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  Ogerpon fully unmasked

Terapagos

Terastal Form Terapagos Championships 2024 Artwork

Terapagos is a Legendary Pokémon first introduced in The Indigo Disk. It is the origin of the Terastal phenomenon and was seen as only fiction by many in the Scarlet Book^S/Violet Book^V, the only ones knowing about its existence being Heath and Professor Sada^S/Professor Turo^V. Terapagos has three forms: Normal Form, Terastal Form, and Stellar Form. Around two million years ago, Terapagos lived on the surface of Paldea during ancient times until seismic shifts caused it to fall underground. There it remained asleep for many years as the Great Crater of Paldea is formed along with Area Zero and Area Zero Underdepths.

200 years ago, Terapagos was firstly discovered and then named by a man named Heath, a member of the Area Zero Expedition survey team, a group sponsored by one of the past directors of the Naranja Academy^S/Uva Academy^V, the team entered the great crater and found the first ever Paradox Pokémon in Area Zero in same area along with Terapagos. These were a Great Tusk^S/Iron Treads^V, that mortally wounded one of the team's members, and a Winged King^S/Iron Serpent^V that became the cover of Heath's Scarlet Book^S/Violet Book^V. At some point, Heath ended up straying from the rest of the team and somehow got into the Area Zero Underdepths, also meeting Terapagos for the very first time, while it was in its Stellar Form.

After the player manages to beat all of the BB League's Elite Four members and its Champion, Kieran, they are, along with Kieran, Carmine and Drayton called to Briar's classroom for something. There, Briar, Geeta and Rika explain explains the dangers of the depths of Area Zero, requesting the students to follow Briar there to uncover its mysteries and most importantly, so Briar can find Terapagos and prove that her ancestor, Heath, was not a liar. Drayton denies the request but the rest agreed to go, descending together with the Indigo Disk, which allows the group to access the Area Zero Underdepths, where they start to walk deeper and deeper into the caverns, eventually finding Terapagos in its slumbering state. Kieran, frustrated at his inability to overcome the player, frees Terapagos from its resting place, causing it to reawaken. It attempts to walk towards the player, right before being caught by Kieran in a Master Ball. Determined to win, Kieran sends out Terapagos to battle the player. After losing the battle once again, Kieran is told by Briar to Terastallize Terapagos into its Stellar Form. However, this causes Terapagos to not only lose control but destroy the Master Ball as well. The player along with Carmine and later Kieran, proceeds to battle Terapagos until it is defeated. The player then proceeded to capture it.

Trivia

• There have been Legendary Pokémon of every type except Bug type (excluding Silvally holding a Bug Memory).
• Every Special and Mythical Pokémon in the Alola Pokédex is marked by a special golden background in its Pokédex page instead of a regular blue one; other Legendary Pokémon and Ultra Beasts are marked by a special green one.
• Heatran, Kubfu, Urshifu, and Terapagos are the only Legendary Pokémon that can be either gender.
  • Heatran and Terapagos have an equal chance of being either gender, while Kubfu and Urshifu both have a 7:1 chance of being male.
    • While Terapagos is coded to have an equal chance of being either gender, the Terapagos caught in The Indigo Disk will always be male.
• In an interview promoting the launch of Pokémon Black and White, 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 21: the legendary birds, the lake guardians, the Forces of Nature, Type: Null, Silvally, the guardian deities, Eternatus, Kubfu, Urshifu, Glastrier, Spectrier, Calyrex, and—in Chinese only—the Mew duo).
• Each member of the Legendary beasts and the Tao trio has its own remix of each trio's designated battle theme:
  • In HeartGold and SoulSilver, Suicune's theme uses bells, Entei's theme uses an electric guitar, and Raikou's theme is synthesized.
  • Reshiram's theme employs a burning fire effect, Zekrom's theme employs a crackling thunder effect, and normal Kyurem's theme features an extra slapped bass part playing in the background.
• The Generation I games and their later remakes are the only core series games where:
  • The main plot does not involve any Legendary Pokémon.
• Prior to Generation VI, the core series games which serve as region debuts did not have any Legendary Pokémon from previous generations available without trades, transfers, or events.
  • From Generation III onwards, all upper versions, sequels, and remakes in the core series have Legendary Pokémon from multiple generations available without trades, transfers, or events.
• The legendary birds are the Legendary Pokémon that have been available in the wild in the greatest number of core series games, each being able to be caught in twenty core series games (Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, X, Y, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword, Shield, Shining Pearl, Scarlet, and Violet).
• Every Legendary Pokémon has slow leveling rate.
• In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, the Adventure Log lists recruiting Unown as an accomplishment. The Adventure Log otherwise only lists Mythical and Legendary Pokémon recruits, with the exception of Rotom.
• Rotom happens to be the only non-Legendary Pokémon to have the battle music of a Legendary Pokémon during at least one of its encounters, this encounter being in the Old Chateau in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl.
  • In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, Rotom has only one exclusive item that is found behind a locked door in a specific dungeon. It and Spiritomb are the only Pokémon that are neither Legendary nor Mythical that do this.
• So far, there is at least one Legendary Pokémon directly or indirectly related to each "battle gimmick" introduced in their respective regions:
  • The Aura trio (specifically Xerneas and Yveltal) are theorized to be indirectly responsible for creating Mega Evolution in the Kalos region, while Rayquaza is believed to be responsible for Mega Evolution occurring in the Hoenn region.
  • The Light trio and Guardian deities are directly related to Z-Moves.
  • Eternatus is directly responsible for Dynamax and Gigantamax.
  • Terapagos is directly responsible for the Terastal phenomenon.

In other languages

Language Title Japanese 伝説のポケモン Legendary Pokémon Chinese Cantonese 傳說的寶可夢 Chyùhnsyut-dīk Pokémon * 傳說中的寶可夢 Chyùhnsyut-jūng dīk Pokémon * 傳說寶可夢 Chyùhnsyut Pokémon * 傳說中的小精靈 Chyùhnsyut-jūng dīk Síujīnglìhng * 傳說中的寵物小精靈 Chyùhnsyut-jūng dīk Chúngmaht-Síujīnglìhng * 傳說小精靈 Chyùhnsyut Síujīnglìhng * 傳說的小精靈 Chyùhnsyut dīk Síujīnglìhng * 傳說的寵物小精靈 Chyùhnsyut-dīk Chúngmaht-Síujīnglìhng * 傳說寵物精靈 Chyùhnsyut Chúngmaht-Jīnglìhng * Mandarin 傳說的寶可夢 / 传说的宝可梦 Chuánshuō-de Pokémon * 傳說中的寶可夢 Chuánshuō-zhōng de Pokémon * 传说中的精灵宝可梦 Chuánshuō-zhōng de Jīnglíng Pokémon * 傳說中的神奇寶貝 Chuánshuō-zhōng de Shénqíbǎobèi * 傳說的神奇寶貝 Chuánshuō-de Shénqíbǎobèi * 傳說神奇寶貝 Chuánshuō Shénqíbǎobèi * 傳說中神奇寶貝 Chuánshuō-zhōng Shénqíbǎobèi * 令人遐想的小精灵 Lìngrén Xiáxiǎng-de Xiǎojīnglíng * Czech Legendární Pokémon Danish Legendarisk Pokémon Dutch Legendarische Pokémon Finnish Legendaarinen Pokémon Tarupokémon* French Pokémon légendaire German Legendäre Pokémon Greek Θρυλικό Pokémon Thrilikó Pokémon Hebrew האגדיים hagdiim Hindi लीजेंडरी पोकेमोन Legendary Pokémon * प्रसिद्ध पोकेमोन Prasidh Pokémon * मशहूर पोकेमोन Mashoor Pokémon * लीजेंडरी पोकेमोन Legendary Pokémon * Hungarian Legendás Pokémon Icelandic Þjóðsagnakenndum Pokémon Indonesian Pokémon legendaris Italian Pokémon leggendari Korean 전설의 포켓몬 Jeonseol-ui Pokémon Malaysian Pokémon legenda Norwegian Legendarisk Pokémon Polish Legendarny Pokémon Portuguese Pokémon Lendário Romanian Pokémon legendar Russian Легендарный Покемон Legendarnyy Pokémon Spanish Pokémon legendario Swedish Legendarisk Pokémon Thai โปเกมอนในตำนาน Pokémon naitamnan Turkish Efsanevi Pokémon Vietnamese Pokémon huyền thoại

See also

Mythical Pokémon Event Pokémon Special Pokémon Pseudo-legendary Pokémon Ultra Beast Paradox Pokémon

Myths and legends involving Legendary and Mythical Pokémon Terminology of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon Sinnoh myths History of the Pokémon world Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears Trainers with Legendary Pokémon Legendary group

Legendary Pokémon

Generation I

Generation II

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VII

Generation VIII

Generation IX

See also: Mythical Pokémon

Groups of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon

Duos

Mew duo

Tower duo

Eon duo

Lunar duo

Sea guardians

Legendary heroes

Paradox duo

Trios

Legendary birds

Legendary beasts

Super-ancient Pokémon

Lake guardians

Pokémon of Myth

Tao trio

Aura trio

Light trio

Loyal Three

Quartets

Swords of Justice

Forces of nature

Guardian deities

Treasures of ruin

Quintets

Legendary giants