Mythical Pokémon

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Mew's Pokédex entry from Red and Green

Mythical Pokémon (Japanese: 幻のポケモン Illusory Pokémon) are a special group of Legendary Pokémon not available during normal play of the games. These Pokémon are considered so rare, some question their existence.

Overview

Mythical Pokémon are regarded as among the rarest in Pokémon World mythology. Some are seemingly unknown to most people, while others are thought of as stuff of legends. They typically receive minimum exposure during normal gameplay, usually being revealed to players months or years after the debut of their respective generation. Upon being revealed, they are celebrated across the numerous media, often starring in movies and being featured prominently in merchandise. They are distributed to players in special occasions such as screenings of Pokémon movies, events in retail stores, online distributions, or spin-off games that feature special connectivity.

Listing

Generation I

Mew's artwork from Red and Green

Mew

Mew (Japanese: ミュウ Mew) is a Psychic-type Pokémon known as the New Species Pokémon. It is believed to contain the genetic codes of all Pokémon in its DNA. Initially thought to be extinct, a scientific team has reported sightings of it in Guyana. Mewtwo was created after a series of experiments based on Mew.

Mew became the Pokémon to establish the convention with the release of Red and Green. Designed by Shigeki Morimoto, it was initially unavailable and unknown to players, before being revealed by Satoshi Tajiri in the spring of 1996 on an issue of CoroCoro Comic. Initially, a lottery was held to distribute the Pokémon experimentally to a limited number of players, while a promotional card was given for included in the January issue of CoroCoro Comic. Mew contributed to making the series popular because of its mirage nature, with rumors about ways to obtain it being passed on through word-of-mouth. Its success was mirrored in the west with the eventual release of Red and Blue, making Mew a prominent character of the first generation, co-starring in the first animated movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Generation II

Celebi

Celebi (Japanese: セレビィ Celebi) is a Psychic and Grass-type Pokémon known as the Time Travel Pokémon. It is referred to as the guardian of forests, protecting and nourishing them as it travels through time. It shares a special connection with Ilex Forest and the GS Ball, which is referred to as a gift that transcends time.

Introduced in Gold and Silver, Celebi was the second Mythical Pokémon to be released. Created by Ken Sugimori, it was dubbed the "New Mew" soon after being revealed because of its similar size and stats with Mew, as well as the status of being the last in the National Pokédex as of its generation and being unobtainable through normal gameplay. It first became available in Nintendo Space World 2000 in Japan, with numerous other events coming in the following years worldwide. Celebi was the first Mythical Pokémon to obtain an in-game event in Crystal, through the GS Ball key item, which was distributed over Pokémon Mobile System GB. It starred in the fourth Pokémon movie, Celebi: Voice of the Forest and much like Mew before it attained a cultural phenomenon status within the Pokémon communities.

Generation III

May and Wally encounter Jirachi

Jirachi

Jirachi (Japanese: ジラーチ Jirachi) is a Steel and Psychic-type Pokémon known as the Wish Pokémon. It is said to able to grant any wishes written on the tags on its head once awake. It only wakes up for seven days once every thousand years. If in danger, it will fight without waking up.

Jirachi was introduced in Ruby and Sapphire and succeeded Mew and Celebi as the cute Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon. It was revealed in 2003 in the context of the sixth movie, Jirachi: Wish Maker, on which it starred. It first became available in Japan to players who pre-ordered tickets to the movie, with other limited distribution events following throughout the year. Its distribution in the west was altered, as it was included in the Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disc in USA and Pokémon Channel in Europe and Australia. Unlike its predecessors, Jirachi doesn't have an extensive story or event in the core games, with its lore limited to a few indirect references.

Deoxys

File:386Deoxys formes.png
Deoxys in its four Formes: Attack, Normal, Defense, Speed

Deoxys (Japanese: デオキシス Deoxys) is a Psychic-type Pokémon known as the DNA Pokémon. It mutated from a space virus when exposed to a laser beam. It is able to change its form, altering its appearance and traits. The crystal on its chests acts as its brain, as well as a defense mechanism.

In spite of being included in the preceding games, Deoxys was first made available in FireRed and LeafGreen. Officially revealed in late 2003 as part of Destiny Deoxys, players gained access to Birth Island, where it appears, via downloading the Aurora Ticket, first available in the movie's theater release. Deoxys has been made available in numerous ways ever since, most notably in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where it became the first Mythical Pokémon readily available in a game, without need to attend an event or use a download code. Deoxys also introduced form differences not limited to simply aesthetic alterations. It was featured heavily in the seventh Pokémon movie and across all Pokémon media during that time. It has a strong association with the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza.

In other languages

Language Title
Japan Flag.png Japanese 幻のポケモン Maborashi no Pokemon
England Flag.png English Mythical Pokémon
The Netherlands Flag.png Dutch Mythische Pokémon
France Flag.png French Pokémon fabuleux
Germany Flag.png German Mysteriöse Pokémon
Greece Flag.png Greek Μυθικό Pokémon Mythiko Pokémon
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokémon misterioso
South Korea Flag.png Korean 환상의 포켓몬 Hwansang-ui Pokemon
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Pokémon Mítico
Spain Flag.png Spanish Pokémon singular