Pseudo-legendary Pokémon
Pseudo-legendary Pokémon is a fan term commonly used to refer to any Pokémon that has a three-stage evolution line, two types, 1,250,000 experience at level 100, and a base stat total of exactly 600. The term originates from the prefix pseudo-, which means "false". Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are often more powerful than other non-legendary Pokémon, possibly due to their high base stats.
List of pseudo-legendary Pokémon
There are six Pokémon considered to be pseudo-legendary Pokémon. 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 Hydreigon 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 Hydreigon line is located next to the Volcarona line, which is adjacent to the legendary Pokémon.
Pseudo-legendary Pokémon usually have Attack as their highest stat. This is not the case with Hydreigon, which has Special Attack as its highest stat. Their respective base evolutions' base stat total are 300, while their second stage' base stat total are 420, excluding Pupitar and Gabite, which have 410.
Statistical averages
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Individual characteristics
Dragonite
Aside from being the first pseudo-legendary Pokémon in National Pokédex order, Dragonite has the highest Special Defense tied with Tyranitar.
Tyranitar
Tyranitar 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
Physically, Salamence is the shortest pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Salamence has the lowest defenses of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon. However, it has the highest Attack (tied with Metagross).
Metagross
Metagross has a large number of characteristics which are different 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, as he prefers Dragon-type 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. It is also the heaviest Pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Garchomp
Garchomp 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. It is also the lightest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Hydreigon
Due to being the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a higher Special Attack stat than Attack, Hydreigon'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.
Hydreigon is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with multiple elemental immunities (however its immunity to Ground is due to its Ability, Levitate). Of the Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, it is the only one not to have a 4× weaknesses to Ice-type attacks.
Other
- Tyranitar and Hydreigon are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that have a unique type combination.
- Metagross and Hydreigon 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 Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Salamence and Garchomp. He also uses it in the Pokémon World Tournament in Black 2 and White 2.
- 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. Lance uses one in rematches in HeartGold and SoulSilver and in the Pokémon World Tournament in Black 2 and White 2.
- Metagross is used by Steven Stone, the Champion in Ruby and Sapphire, and ex-Champion in Emerald. It is also used by Caitlin during her rematch.
- Garchomp is used by Cynthia, the Champion in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum; she also uses it in the Pokémon World Tournament in Black 2 and White 2. Lance uses one in rematches in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- Hydreigon is used by Ghetsis, who serves as the final boss in Black and White, as well as Iris, the Champion in Black 2 and White 2. Lance uses one in the Pokémon World Tournament in Black 2 and White 2.
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 paired games of their generation. However, Dragonair can be found in the wild in most games where Dratini is (all but Red, Green, and Blue); Pupitar can be found in the wild in Crystal and HeartGold and SoulSilver; Gabite can be found in the wild on Victory Road in Platinum. Metang and Shelgon can can be found in the wild in the Safari Zone in HeartGold and SoulSilver. In Pokémon Black and White, Larvitar, Beldum, Shelgon, Salamence, the entire Garchomp line, Zweilous and Hydreigon 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.
As Shadow Pokémon
In story mode of Pokémon Colosseum, 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-legendarary Pokémon 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 have appeared in the anime.
- Dragonite debuted as a silhouette in Mystery at the Lighthouse, but appeared physically in Mewtwo Strikes Back.
- Tyranitar debuted in Celebi: Voice of the Forest and made its TV episode debut in Address Unown.
- Salamence debuted in Jirachi: Wish Maker and made its TV episode debut in Let Bagons be Bagons.
- Metagross debuted in Destiny Deoxys and made its TV episode debut in Like a Meowth to a Flame.
- Garchomp debuted in Top-Down Training!, belonging to Cynthia.
- Cynthia's Garchomp also appeared in the opening of Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
- Hydreigon debuted in White—Victini and Zekrom and Black—Victini and Reshiram; it was a Shiny Pokémon in the former. It made its TV episode debut in BW089.
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-legendary Pokémon are Slaking, Flygon, Aggron, Volcarona, and Haxorus. For one reason or another, these Pokémon do not fit the criteria of those above and so are not pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
- Slaking, though not pseudo-legendary, has the highest base stats of all non-legendary Pokémon. However, it lacks a base-stat total of 600 and a secondary type. Slaking's high stats are likely due to being hindered by its Ability, Truant.
- 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 cared for it temporarily.
- The first stage of the first five of six pseudo-legendary Pokémon are available in Generation IV's Johto Safari Zone.
- Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that is not the main Pokémon of a major boss at the end of the game it was introduced in: Dragonite is used by Lance, Salamence by Drake, Metagross by Steven Stone, Garchomp by Cynthia, and Hydreigon by Ghetsis and Iris.
- However, Tyranitar was used by Blue in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions, but only in the rematch.
- Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that doesn't share at least one type with another pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It is also the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that cannot learn any Dragon-type moves.
- Every pseudo-legendary Pokémon is immune to at least one type: Dragonite to Ground, Tyranitar to Psychic, Metagross to Poison, Salamence to Ground, Garchomp to Electric, and Hydreigon to Psychic and Ground.
- However, Hydreigon's immunity to Ground-type moves is due to its Ability, Levitate rather than due to its type.
- All pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared in a movie.
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