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 by the Generation of their introduction, as well as their types, and the Pokémon they evolve from.
Characteristics
With the exception of the Garchomp and Sazandora 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 Sazandora line is located next to the Ulgamoth line, who are adjacent to the legendary Pokémon.
Individual Characteristics
Dragonite
Aside from being the first, Dragonite has the highest Special Defense tied with Tyranitar.
Tyranitar
It is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that can neither fly nor levitate, as well as the slowest of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon. When a sandstorm is raging, Tyranitar's Special Defense becomes the highest of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Salamence
It has the lowest defenses of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon. However, it has the highest Attack (tied with Metagross).
Metagross
Metagross shares a large number of different characteristics from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. This is likely due to how it is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not appear to be based on a reptile; rather, it is a robotic life form. This is likely why Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon not to be used by Lance in any game (aside from Sazandora, as Lance has not yet appeared in a game since its introduction), as he prefers Template:Type2 and draconic Pokémon.
Metagross is the only genderless pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon whose first stage of evolution, Beldum, cannot be caught in the wild in its debut generation (one is received from Steven Stone instead). Metagross and its pre-evolutions have a catch rate of 3 (all the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon families have a catch rate of 45), and it has the highest base Defense of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Garchomp
It is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences, as well as having the fewest resistances. It is the fastest with a base Speed stat of 102 and has the highest base HP, with 108.
Sazandora
Due to being the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a higher Special Attack stat than Attack, Sazandora's stats give it a number of unique characteristics from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Consequently, it has the highest base Special Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and likewise, the lowest base Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Similarly, it is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not have a base stat over 125, but it is also the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not have a base stat under 90. It is also the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Dragon type for which Dragon is its secondary type rather than it's primary type.
Sazandora is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with multiple elemental immunities (however its immunity to Ground is due to its ability, Levitate). Of the Template:Type2 pseudo-legendary Pokémon, it is the only one not to have a 4× weaknesses to Template:Type2 attacks and as of Black and White, the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have never been used by a Champion. However, it is used by Ghetsis, the last trainer the player battles in the main storyline in Pokémon Black and White.
Other
- Tyranitar and Sazandora are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that have a unique type combination.
- Metagross and Sazandora are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that do not have any 4× weaknesses.
- Salamence and Metagross have the highest Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base 135 stat.
- Tyranitar and Metagross are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that are not Dragon-type.
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. Sazandora is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have not been used by a Champion; however, it is used by Ghetsis, who serves as the final boss in the Unova games.
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. In Pokémon Black and White, Larvitar, Beldum, Shelgon, Salamence, the entire Garchomp line, Jiheddo and Sazandora are the only stages that cannot be caught in the wild. For the first time, final stages of pseudo-legendary Pokémon can be caught in the wild.
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 Sazandora 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 Sazandora have also appeared in a movie.
Trivia
- Generation III is the only generation so far to have introduced more than one pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
- 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, Ulgamoth, and Haxorus. 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.
- Ash is the first main character in the anime to own a member of a pseudo-legendary family; however, it could be considered his second if Larvitar is counted, but he only owned it temporarily.
- In Generation IV, the first stage of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon are available in the Johto Safari Zone.
- Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that cannot learn any Dragon-type moves.
In other languages
- German: Pseudo-Legendäre
- Japanese: 擬似伝説
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