Pseudo-legendary Pokémon: Difference between revisions

The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information.

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon (Japanese: 擬似伝説 Pseudo-legendary) is a fan term commonly used to refer to any Pokémon that has a three-stage evolution line, 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 due to their high base stats.

Other variations of the definition omit the need to have 1,250,000 experience at level 100.

List of pseudo-legendary Pokémon

There are seven 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.

Dragonite Dragon Flying Dragonair Dragon Dratini Dragon

Tyranitar Rock Dark Pupitar Rock Ground Larvitar Rock Ground

Salamence Metagross Dragon Flying Steel Psychic Shelgon Metang Dragon Steel Psychic Bagon Beldum Dragon Steel Psychic

Garchomp Dragon Ground Gabite Dragon Ground Gible Dragon Ground

Hydreigon Dark Dragon Zweilous Dark Dragon Deino Dark Dragon

Goodra Dragon Sliggoo Dragon Goomy Dragon

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 and Goodra, which have Special Attack and Special Defense as their highest stats, respectively. 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.

In the games

Statistical averages

Individual characteristics

Dragonite

Being the first pseudo-legendary, Dragonite has straightforward and well-rounded stats. It has a traditionally high Attack and above average stats otherwise. Dragonite also is unique in that while other pseudo-legendaries are commonly depicted as aggressive, and sometimes malicious, Dragonite is mostly depicted as kind and friendly.

Tyranitar

With a focus on power and durability, Tyranitar sacrifices Speed to have tremendous bulk and skill. It has the Sand Stream Ability to always conjure up a Sandstorm, which takes advantage of its Rock typing to further increase its high Special Defense.

• Slowest of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• When a sandstorm is raging, Mega Tyranitar's Special Defense becomes the highest of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that is not the main Pokémon of a major boss at the end of the game it was introduced in. However, Tyranitar was used by Blue in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions, but only in his rematch.

Salamence

Due to having the same typing as Dragonite, Salamence differs itself by being entirely focused on attacking prowess. Its stats are high in Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, while comparatively low in both Defense stats.

• Shortest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Lowest defenses of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Metagross

Metagross has a large number of characteristics which are different from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. This is possibly 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. In fact, it is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that cannot learn any Dragon-type moves.

Stats wise, like Tyranitar, Metagross focuses on power and durability, utilizing the most defensive type, Steel, to complement its very high attack, high defenses, and relatively low speed.

• Only genderless pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• 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).
• Has the highest base Defense of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Heaviest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that doesn't share at least one type with another pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to not have a weaknesses to Fairy-type moves.
• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon whose English name is the same as its Japanese name.
• Metagross and its pre-evolutions have a catch rate of 3 whereas all the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon families have a catch rate of 45.

Garchomp

Focusing on versatility, Garchomp has high speed, high HP, and high attack with a versatile selection of moves to use. It complements these attributes with its Ground typing, which is among the best offensive types in the game.

• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences.
• Has the fewest resistances.
• Fastest with a base Speed stat of 102.
• Highest base HP, with 108.
• Lightest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Garchomp and its evolutionary relatives are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon line that do not have a base happiness of 35.

Hydreigon

Hydreigon's stats give it a number of unique characteristics from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It has the highest base Special 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.

Its well rounded stats mirror Dragonite with Hydreigon also having a high attacking stat (Special Attack in this case), and above average stats in other categories.

• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with multiple elemental immunities (however its immunity to Ground is due to its Ability, Levitate).
• Hydreigon and its evolutionary relatives are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon line that do not have a Hidden Ability in any of their forms.

Goodra

Unlike the other psuedo-legendary Pokémon, Goodra is mainly defensive, and its Attack and Special Attack are very similar. It has the lowest base Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a single type.
• Only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not always have a type immunity.

Other

• Dragonite and Tyranitar have the highest Special Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base 100 stat.
• Tyranitar and Metagross are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that are not Dragon-type.
• Tyranitar and Hydreigon are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that have a unique type combination.
• Salamence and Metagross have the highest Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base 135 stat.

Users

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.
• Goodra is used by Diantha, the Champion in Pokémon X and Y. Shauna also uses one in the second battle with her in X and Y.

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.
• In Black 2 and White 2, two veterans on Route 18 use a Tyranitar and Salamence.

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-legendary 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

Cynthia's Garchomp in the anime

All pseudo-legendary Pokémon (except the newly introduced Goodra) 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.
  • Iris caught a Dragonite in Iris and the Rogue Dragonite!, making it the first fully-evolved pseudo-legendary Pokémon to be owned by a main character in the anime.
• 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 Iris and the Rogue Dragonite!.

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 stat total of all non-legendary Pokémon. However, as its base stat total is not exactly 600, it cannot be considered pseudo-legendary.
• The first stage of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon (that existed at the time) are available in the Johto Safari Zone.

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