Legendary Pokémon

Legendary Pokémon, in general, are Pokémon that have extremely powerful stats. In the games, you typically have one chance to catch them, and even then, catching them is a major challenge!

In the anime, Legendaries are considered "gods" in the Pokémon universe, appearing only to special trainers.

In the Japanese version, there are two distinct terms used to refer to those pokemon which are called "Legendary" in English. One, 伝説のポケモン (densetsu no pokemon, literally "legendary pokemon"), refers to those which feature prominently in legend, such as Groudon and Kyogre. The other, 幻のポケモン (maboroshi no pokemon, literally "illusory pokemon"), refers to those so rarely seen that some question their very existence, such as Mew and Lugia.

These Pokémon are considered Legendaries:

Generation I

The Legendary Pokémon of Generation I can be broken into two groups: the Legendary Birds or Avians, and the Mew-based Legendary Pokémon, here classified as "other" Legendary Pokémon.

Legendary Birds

• Articuno is the Legendary Bird of Ice, found on Seafoam Island in the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Articuno is also Featured in the second movie.
• Zapdos is the Legendary Bird of Thunder found at the Power Plant in the Generation I games and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Zapdos is also featured in the second movie.
• Moltres is the Legendary Bird of Fire found in Victory Road in the Generation I games and in the Sevii Islands in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Moltres, like the other Legendary Birds, is featured in the second movie.

Other Legendary Pokémon

• Mewtwo is a genetically altered clone of Mew. It is found in the Unknown Dungeon in Pokémon Red and Blue, Pokémon Green, Pokémon Yellow, and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. It is also the main character of the first movie.

• Mew is said to have the DNA of all Pokémon, and can learn any TM. It is not obtainable by normal means in any game; however, a glitch allows you to obtain Mew in Generation I. Mew is also featured in the first movie and the eighth movie.

Generation II

Generation II featured the advent of two new groups of legends, plus a third, dubbed the "New Mew"; the Legendary Beasts have variously been referred to as Legendary Dogs or Cats, but Beasts is the accepted neutral title.

Legendary Beasts

• Suicune was encountered by Ash at the beginning of the Johto story arc, and made a brief appearance in the 4th movie. It is the Pokémon sought by Eusine in Pokémon Crystal, and is released upon the completion of the Burned Tower storyline in the games. Suicune is the God of the North Wind, and a Water-type Pokémon.
• Entei is the main character in the third movie. It is one of the three beasts resurrected by Ho-Oh, and is the God of Volcanoes, being a Fire-type Pokémon.
• Raikou is one of the legendary beasts resurrected by Ho-Oh. Raikou is an Electric-type Pokémon, and the God of Thunder.

Entei, Suicune and Raikou can also be found roaming Kanto in Pokémon FireRed and in Pokémon LeafGreen depending upon the Pokémon trainers started with.

Lugia and Ho-Oh

• Ho-Oh has appeared to Ash to guide him on his journey in the anime. Ho-Oh has also resurrected Entei, Suicune and Raikou in Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Crystal. Ho-Oh is at the top of the Tin Tower in the Generation II games, at Lv40 in Gold and Lv70 in Silver.
• Lugia is the Guardian of the Sea in the Second movie. Lugia can be found in Whirl Islands in the Generation II games, at Lv40 in Silver and Lv70 in Gold.

In Pokémon Crystal, both are at Lv60.

Celebi

• Celebi is the star of the fourth movie and was obtainable in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal via the now-discontinued Mobile System GB service. Celebi, when obtainable, is found at the Forest Shrine in Ilex Forest by bringing the GS Ball to the shrine.

Generation III

The Generation III games feature the most new Legendaries of any generation, adding the Legendary Golem-like beasts (or "Regis"), the Legendary Dragons Latios and Latias (Lati@s), and the Weather-related legendary Pokémon, which play a major role in the storyline of the Hoenn-based Generation III games.

The Regis

• Regirock is found in the Desert Ruins in the Generation III games when the required puzzle is solved.
• Regice is found in the Island Cave in the Generation III games after solving a puzzle.
• Registeel is found in the Ancient Tomb in the Generation III games, and, like the other two Regis, a puzzle must be solved before you reach it.

Latias and Latios

• Latias is found in the wild after defeating the Elite Four in Pokémon Sapphire. It changes routes whenever you do, and is considered as rare as the Legendary Beasts in Generation II.It can also be obtained in Pokémon Ruby by using the Eon Ticket obtained from Nintendo Power.
• Latios is found in the wild after defeating the Elite Four in Pokémon Ruby. It is considered as rare as the Legendary Beasts in Generation II. It can also be obtained in Pokémon Sapphire by using the Eon Ticket obtained from Nintendo Power.

Weather-Related Legendary Pokémon

• Kyogre is the beast who has the power to expand the sea. It is found in the Cave of Origin in Pokémon Sapphire, and is the object of Team Aqua's reverence.
• Groudon is the beast who has the expand the land. Is found in Pokémon Ruby, at the Cave of Origin. Team Magma reveres this Pokémon.
• Rayquaza is the legendary dragon found in the Sky Pillar in the Generation III games.

Other Legendary Pokémon

• Jirachi is the Legendary, Wish-granting Pokémon who was availible from Pokémon Colosseum's bonus disk in North America and available within Pokémon Channel in the UK, Europe and Australia. (PAL Encoded Regions)
• Deoxys is featured in the seventh movie, and changes its form depending on the game version it exists in. The Aurora Ticket used to obtain Deoxys has been given out in North America at the New York Pokémon Center and 2004's Pokémon Rocks America events.