Pseudo-legendary Pokémon
Pseudo-legendary is a fan term commonly used to refer to any Pokémon that has a three-stage evolution line, two types, as well as a base stat total of 600. The term originates from the Greek prefix pseudo-, which means "false". Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are often more powerful than other non-legendary Pokémon, possibly due to their high base stats. All pseudo-legendary Pokémon have Attack or Special Attack as their highest stat.
List of pseudo-legendary Pokémon
There are six Pokémon considered to be pseudo-legendary. The following shows the pseudo-legendary Pokémon, their types, and the Pokémon they evolve from.
Characteristics
With the exception of the Garchomp and Sazando evolutionary lines, pseudo-legendary Pokémon are usually situated adjacent to the legendary trios in the Pokédexes of their respective Generations. In both the National Pokédex and Johto Pokédex, the evolutionary lines of Dragonite and Tyranitar are located just after the legendary trio of their respective Generation (they are located next to each other in the Johto Pokédex). Similarly, the Salamence and Metagross lines are located next to each other right before the legendary golems in both the National Pokédex and Hoenn Pokédex. Oddly, this tradition was not upheld in Generation IV, as the Garchomp evolution line is situated next to no notable Pokémon. In Generation V, the Sazando line is located next to the Urgamoth line, who are adjacent to the legendary Pokémon.
In the games
These Pokémon are used in-game often by the members of the Elite Four and Champions. Dragonite is used by Lance, the final Elite Four member in Generation I and FireRed and LeafGreen; it is used again by Lance as the Champion in Generation II and HeartGold and SoulSilver. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, Lance uses a Dragonite, but when he is battled again, he replaces two of his three Dragonite with the two other Template:Type2 pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Salamence and Garchomp. Tyranitar is also used by Lance in Pokémon Stadium 2 (both Round 1 and 2), as well as by Blue, the Champion, but only in the second round of the Elite Four in FireRed and LeafGreen. Salamence is used by Drake, the final Elite Four member in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Metagross is used by Steven Stone, the Champion in Ruby and Sapphire, and ex-Champion in Emerald. Garchomp is used by Cynthia, the Champion in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Sazando is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have not been used by a Champion.
Although pseudo-legendary Pokémon are used almost exclusively by the final members of the Elite Four and Champions, there are three minor exceptions in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Versions: Ace Trainer Felix on Route 229 uses Salamence, and Ace Trainer Jamie on Route 224 has Metagross, serving as cameo appearances for the movie characters Butler and Rebecca, who used these pseudo-legendary Pokémon in their respective movies. Dragon Tamer Darien, who is located outside of Stark Mountain, uses a Dragonite, but is not related to any movies.
Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are obtainable in the wild strictly in their first form for the first two games of their Generation. However, Dragonair is obtainable in the wild in most games where Dratini is (all but Red, Green, and Blue). Likewise, Pupitar is available in the wild in Crystal and HeartGold and SoulSilver. Gabite is also found in Victory Road in Platinum. Metang and Shelgon can also be found in the Safari Zone in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Pokémon Colosseum
In story mode, Shadow Metagross is used by Nascour and Shadow Tyranitar is used by Evice; it is notable that the two Cipher leaders have positions comparable to those of the final Elite Four member and Champion, respectively. Pokémon XD complemented the list of pseudo-legendaries as of Generation III by featuring Shadow Salamence (used by Eldes) and Shadow Dragonite (used by Miror B.). Another commonality is that all four pseudo-legendary Pokémon have Shadow Rush as one of their Shadow moves.
In the anime
All pseudo-legendary Pokémon except Sazando have appeared in the anime.
- Dragonite debuted as a silhouette in Mystery at the Lighthouse, but appeared physically in Mewtwo Strikes Back.
- Dragonite has also appeared belonging to Drake and to Lance, who are both regional champions.
- Dratini debuted in Legend of Dratini, along with Dragonair.
- Tyranitar debuted in Celebi: Voice of the Forest.
- Salamence debuted in Jirachi: Wish Maker.
- Metagross debuted in Destiny Deoxys.
- Garchomp debuted in Top-Down Training!, belonging to Cynthia.
- Cynthia's Garchomp also appeared in the opening of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, meaning that all pseudo-legendary Pokémon except Sazando have also appeared in a movie.
Trivia
- Generation III is the only Generation so far to have introduced more than one pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
- Metagross is so far the only genderless pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not appear to be based on a reptile; rather, it is a robotic life form.
- This is probably why Metagross is the only psuedo-legendary Pokémon not to be used by Lance in any game, as he prefers Template:Type2 and draconian Pokémon.
- Garchomp is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences.
- All pseudo-legendary Pokémon that existed at the time were available as Shadow Pokémon in either Pokémon Colosseum (Tyranitar and Metagross) or Pokémon XD (Dragonite and Salamence).
- Among Pokémon commonly mistaken for pseudo-legendaries are Slaking, Flygon, Aggron and Ononokus. For one reason or another, these Pokémon do not fit the criteria of those above and so are not pseudo-legendaries.
- Slaking, though not a pseudo-legendary, has the highest base stats of all non-legendary Pokémon and one immunity, to the Ghost-type. However, it lacks some factors: a base-stat total of 600 and a secondary type. Slaking is also hindered by its ability, Truant, which is likely the reason for its high stats.
- Tyranitar and Sazando are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that have a unique type combination.
- Ash is the first main character in the anime to own a member of a pseudo-legendary family.
- Gible is in fact his second if Larvitar is counted, although he only owned it temporarily.
- Beldum is the only pseudo-legendary first stage that cannot be caught from the wild in its debut generation. One is received from Steven Stone, instead.
- In Generation IV, the first stage of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon are available in the Johto Safari Zone.
- Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon unable to fly or levitate; however, only Dragonite and Salamence can learn the move Fly.
- Salamence is also one of only two Pokémon to learn Fly by level-up.
- Four of the six pseudo-legendary Pokémon are Template:Type2.
- All pseudo-legendary Pokémon have an immunity to one type.
- Dratini's evolution line actually appears in legends.
- Sazando is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a higher Special Attack stat than Attack.
- Sazando has the highest base Special Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
- Sazando has the lowest base Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
- Sazando is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with multiple elemental immunities.
- Metagross and Sazando are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that do not have any 4× weaknesses.
In other languages
- German: Pseudo-Legendäre
- Japanese: 擬似伝説
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