40 best Legendary Pokemon of all time, ranked

❘ Updated: 2024-05-31T12:22:29

The Pokemon Company

Trainers have been asking for a long time which of the 71 Legendary Pokemon in the franchise is the best. To shine some light on that debate, here’s our ranking with the top 40 Legendaries of all time.

Pokemon has come a long way from Red & Blue on the Game Boy, including Mythicals, Ultra Beasts, Shadow Pokemon, and of course, those incredibly rare Shiny variants to their long list of creatures.

But arguably the most desirable addition to any trainer’s Pokedex remains Legendary Pokemon. With each new generation, a new set of Legendaries is introduced, and players are left wondering which is the ultimate best.

With a total of 71 of them so far in the franchise, here are the top 40 Legendary Pokemon, considering their total stats, typing, design, and story impact.

Best Legendary Pokemon of all time

The best Legendary Pokemon is, without a doubt, Mewtwo. The iconic Gen 1 Legendary remains a top choice in any of the mainline games or for those in the competitive scene due to its epic powers.

Mewtwo, the first Legendary Pokemon in the franchise, had a huge impact on the anime’s story thanks to how it was created out of the Mythical Mew’s DNA.

This, along with its powerful psychic abilities, strong stats, versatile move pool, Mega Evolutions, and cool design, make Mewtwo the ultimate Legendary Pokemon of all time.

40 best Legendary Pokemon ranked

We’ve gone through the entire list of Pokemon Legendaries to weed out the best of the best, coming up with a top 40 ranking which you can read below. Aside from power, lore, and appearance, we’ve also taken into account their overall popularity amongst fans.

We won’t be including the likes of Arceus and Mew, though, as they’re technically classed as Mythical Pokemon, not Legendary – although rest assured, they’d definitely be here if they were.

40. Chien-Pao

Chien-Pao in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokedex number: 1002
Debut: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Type: Dark/Ice
Weaknesses: Fighting / Rock / Bug / Steel / Fire / Fairy

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet introduced the Treasures of Ruin, a quartet of Legendaries which included Wo-Chien, Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu, and Chien-Pao.

Out of the four, Chien-Pao stood out because of its sleek design and for having a type combination that made it resistant to dominant types such as Ghost and Dark.

Its high Attack and Speed stats allow Chien-Pao to strike first, putting any opponent at risk of being knocked out due to its powerful punch.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
80	130	80	90	65	135	580

39. Articuno

Pokedex number: 0144
Debut: Pokemon Red & Blue
Type: Ice/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Steel / Fire / Electric

The Legendary Birds made up of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, are some of the most iconic Legendaries in the franchise, not only because they were the first, but also because they hold a significant place in the TV show and movies.

Articuno’s majestic and elegant icy look captures the essence of the Legendary status. But it’s not just about the looks. Articuno is one of the best Ice-type in the franchise with access to moves like Blizzard and Ice Beam. Plus, thanks to its high Defense and Sp. Defense stats, it can hold its ground during a long battle.

All three Legendary Birds got a Galar variant with new designs and type combinations. Galar Articuno is a Psychic/Flying-type Pokemon with less Defense, but a higher Sp. Attack and Speed.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	85	100	95	125	85	580

38. Moltres

Pokedex number: 0146
Debut: Pokemon Red & Blue
Type: Fire/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Water / Electric

The phoenix lookalike boasts a high Attack and Sp. Attack with a decent Speed, making it a fast and hard hitter that can outspeed most of its opponents, giving it an edge in battle.

As a dual Fire/Flying-type sweeper, Moltres can deal super effective damage to Grass, Bug, Ice, and Steel-type enemies using extremely powerful moves such as Overheat and Sky Attack, or inflict the Burn status with attacks like Will-O-Wisp.

Galarian Moltres is a Dark/Flying Legendary that changes its strong offensive for a more defensive approach.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	100	90	125	85	90	580

37. Zapdos

Pokedex number: 0145
Debut: Pokemon Red & Blue
Type: Electric/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Ice

Zapdos’ key feature is its versatility. With its regular stats, this bird can take any role in battle, from sweeper to wall breaker and even support. Plus, its diverse move pool and the possibility of learning attacks like Heat Wave or Hidden Power give it extra coverage in battle.

Its strong Electric-type attacks Zap Cannon and Thunder can help you deal plenty of damage to Water and other Flying Pokemon, while moves like Roost will restore your HP, giving it more battling time.

Its Galarian forme is a Fighting/Flying-type with a lower Sp. Attack, but a much higher Attack stat.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	90	85	125	90	100	580

36. Tapu Fini

Pokedex number: 0788
Debut: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Type: Water/Fairy
Weaknesses: Poison / Grass / Electric

The Water/Fairy-type Guardian Deity from Alola has one of the best type combinations in the game, as it resists very used types such as Fire, Water, and Dark, while also being immune to fan-favorite Dragon-type Pokemon.

Due to its tanky build with high Defense and Sp. Defense, Tapu-Fini can work as a support by using attacks like Calm Mind, Heal Pulse, and its signature move, Nature’s Madness. Plus, its special ability, Misty Terrain, can protect the rest of your team from Dragon-type moves.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
70	75	115	95	130	85	570

35. Terrakion

Pokedex number: 0639
Debut: Pokemon Black & White
Type: Rock/Fighting
Weaknesses: Fighting / Ground / Steel / Water / Grass / Psychic / Fairy

Despite having important weaknesses, the Unova bull is an extraordinary physical attacker to have on your team. Its high Attack and Speed stats allow Terrakion to outspeed its opponents, while also putting pressure by striking extra hard.

To increase this Legendary’s power even more, players can use Rock or Fighting physical moves that also benefit from STAB such as Close Combat or Stone Edge. More so, with access to moves like Swords Dance, it can increase its Attack by two stages.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
91	129	90	72	90	108	580

34. Regidrago

Pokedex number: 0895
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield: The Crown Tundra DLC
Type: Dragon
Weaknesses: Ice / Dragon / Fairy

The Galarian Dragon-type Regidrago is another incredible physical attacker, capable of breaking through any bulky Pokemon that challenges it.

Its signature move, Dragon Energy, is a very strong special Dragon-type attack that deals 150 at full HP, and it can be boosted even more with the ability Dragon’s Maw, which increases the Attack or Sp. Attack stats when a Dragon-type move is used.

To get more coverage against Pokemon that can resist Dragon-type moves, Regidrago can use attacks like Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, and Ice Fang depending on its enemies.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
200	100	50	100	50	80	580

33. Regieleki

Pokedex number: 0894
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield: The Crown Tundra DLC
Type: Electric
Weaknesses: Ground

Regieleki has an unmatched Speed stat, making it one of the fastest Pokemon in the franchise, which means is almost certain it will always strike first during battle.

This works perfectly with the move Electro Ball, as it inflicts more damage the faster the user is compared to the target. And, for even more power, players can take advantage of Regieleki’s Transistor ability, which boosts the damage dealt by all Electric-type attacks.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
80	100	50	100	50	200	580

32. Entei

Pokedex number: 0244
Debut: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Type: Fire
Weaknesses: Ground / Rock / Water

The Legendary Beast, Entei, is quite a strong Fire-type physical attacker thanks to its high Attack and Speed stats, and access to powerful moves like Eruption, Fire Blast, and Overheat.

Its move, Sacred Fire, has a base power of 100 as well as a 50% chance of dealing the burn status to enemies. More so, if the user is frozen, this move will thaw out the condition.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
115	115	85	90	75	100	580

31. Raikou

Pokedex number: 0243
Debut: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Type: Electric
Weaknesses: Ground

Its high Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense stats help Raikou deal significant damage with special moves like Discharge, Thunder, and Zap Cannon.

Its typing grants it immunity to the status condition paralysis, as well as resistance to Flying, Steel, and of course, Electric-type moves. It can even recover some HP if hit by an electric attack thanks to the Volt Absorb ability.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	85	75	115	200	115	580

30. Suicune

Pokedex number: 0245
Debut: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Type: Water
Weaknesses: Grass / Electric

Suicune is primarily known for its defensive capabilities thanks to its stats, recovery moves like Rest, its ability Water Absorb, and utility moves such as Scald or Roar for burning or scaring enemies, respectively.

As far as design goes, Suicune has got it in the bag. Its purple mane resembles the aurora borealis. It represents the downpour that occurred after the burning of the Brass Tower, a piece of lore that also rebirthed Raikou and Entei.

The Water-type Legendary has become a standout of the Pokemon franchise, having been granted plenty of beefy storylines across movies and anime episodes, as well as being the mascot of one of the best-rated games of all: Pokemon Crystal.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	75	115	90	115	85	580

29. Heatran

Pokedex number: 0485
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Fire/Steel
Weaknesses: Fighting / Ground / Water

The Sinnoh Legendary, Heatran, has one of the best defensive type combinations, as it grants it immunity to Poison, as well as 9 other resistances.

The many resistances along with the high Defense and Sp. Defense, and moves like Rest and Endure make it a tough opponent to beat.

As if that weren’t enough, it can double as an attacker thanks to its very high Sp. Attack and moves like Magma Storm and Heat Wave. Plus, its ability Flame Body, can inflict the burn status on enemies just by contact.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
91	90	106	130	106	77	600

28. Latias & Latios

Pokedex number: 0380 – 0381
Debut: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Type: Dragon/Psychic
Weaknesses: Bug / Ghost / Ice / Dragon / Dark / Fairy

Latias and Latios, the Eon Duo, are the Hoenn Legendaries, mostly remembered by fans due to their protagonism in the Pokemon Heroes movie 2002.

These two have decent HP and good Speed, outrunning most of their enemies, however, Latias is better used as a defensive Pokemon, while Latios works best on the offensive. Additionally, their Levitate ability grants them immunity to Ground types, which is a great plus for their already useful resistances.

They got Mega Evolutions in Pokemon X & Y, and despite not having a different typing, they got new designs, and their stats were highly boosted, taking their total from 600 to 700.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
80-80	80-90	90-80	110-130	130-110	110-110	600-600

27. Cresselia

Pokedex number: 0488
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Psychic
Weaknesses: Bug / Ghost / Dark

Cresselia’s high HP, Defense, and Sp. Defense stats make it one of the bulkiest Pokemon in the franchise, as it can take hits from both physical and special attackers.

The stats paired up with recovery moves like Rest and Moonlight and Lunar Blessing turn this Sinnoh Legendary into an unbreakable defensive wall that can even help protect its teammates with attacks like Reflect, Light Screen, and Safeguard.

In case Cresselia needs to take an offensive approach, it can do so with Future Sight or can extend its coverage by using Moonblast, Giga Impact, Solar Beam, and even Thunder.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
120	70	120	75	130	85	600

26. Regigigas

Pokedex number: 0486
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Normal
Weaknesses: Fighting

Regigigas has several key points that make it stand out, like being weak to only the Fighting type while having immunity to the elusive Ghost type.

More so, this mighty Legendary boasts an impressive Attack stat, as well as good Defense and HP, and decent Speed, making it an outstanding physical attacker and tank.

As a Normal-type Pokemon, it has access to nukes like Hyper Beam and Giga Impact, but also to moves like Focus Punch, High Horsepower, Thunder, Earthquake, and more.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
110	160	110	80	110	100	670

25. Koraidon

Koraidon and Miraidon are the key to knocking Pokemon out of trees in Scarlet & Violet.

Pokedex number: 1007
Debut: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Type: Fighting/Dragon
Weaknesses: Flying / Psychic / Ice / Dragon / Fairy

The latest Pokemon entries, Scarlet & Violet, introduced two new Legendary mascots, Koraidon and Miraidon. These two allude to ancient and futuristic creatures tied very closely to the game’s story.

Koraidon, a dual Fighting/Dragon-type beast, has incredible stats, with very high Attack and Speed, making it a hard hitter that can certainly outspeed most of its enemies.

This ancient Pokemon might suffer from important weaknesses, but it is also resistant to fan-favorite Fire and Dark creatures, which can be key during encounters. Plus, it has access to strong physical moves like Outrage and Close Combat, as well as Giga Impact and Flare Bitz for coverage.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	135	115	85	100	135	670

24. Miraidon

A trainer riding Miraidon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokedex number: 1008
Debut: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Type: Electric/Dragon
Weaknesses: Ground / Ice / Dragon / Fairy

Koraidon’s counterpart is Miraidon, a futuristic Electric/Dragon-type Legendary with a focus on special attacks.

This Legendary can resist important types such as Steel, Fire, and Water, which are very used in competitive mode, but must be careful when fighting Ground, Dragon, or Fairy ‘mon.

Its arsenal of special attacks is very versatile, with nukes such as Thunder and Outrage, as well as coverage attacks like Overheat, Hyper Beam, and Solar Beam.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	85	100	135	115	135	670

23. Yveltal

Pokedex number: 0717
Debut: Pokemon X & Y
Type: Dark/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Electric / Ice / Fairy

Yveltal is part of the Aura Trio, along with Xerneas and Zygarde. It was introduced in Gen 6’s Kalos region and it’s a dual Dark/Flying Legendary known for its strong offensive, both physical and special.

Its type combination grants it immunity to Ground and Psychic-type moves and makes it resistant to Ghost, Grass, and Dark, giving it great overall coverage. It has great Dark and Flying attacks like Foul Play and Sky Attack, but can also wield nukes such as Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, and Dragon Rush.

Design-wise, Yveltal is modeled after the letter ‘Y’ due to it being Pokemon Y’s mascot. Plus, it has a very dark and scary approach, to play to the Pokemon’s own Dark typing.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
126	131	95	131	98	99	680

22. Xerneas

Pokedex number: 0716
Debut: Pokemon X & Y
Type: Fairy
Weaknesses: Poison / Steel

Introduced in Pokemon X & Y, the stag-like Xerneas has the power to grant eternal life, which is arguably the most sought-after and powerful ability in the world. Unfortunately, when it uses too much life energy, it turns into a tree and sleeps for 1,000 years.

Xerneas was the first Fairy-type Legendary in the franchise, making it a favorite among players. Fairy-types are strong both offensively and defensively against Dragon-types, which are often some of the most powerful Pokemon in the games, so it’s a great addition to your team.

Its stats are the same as Yveltal, making it a great physical and special attacker, with an impressive stat-boosting signature move called Geomancy, which increases its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed by two stages.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
126	131	95	131	98	99	680

21. Lunala

Pokedex number: 0792
Debut: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Type: Psychic/Ghost
Weaknesses: Ghost / Dark

Lunala, the Alolan Psychic/Ghost-type Legendary, is a powerful Pokemon that conforms the Light Trio along with Solgaleo and Necrozma.

As a special attacker, Lunala has an incredibly versatile move pool with attacks that cover many types, including Meteor Beam, Solar Beam, Thunder, Moonblast, Focus Blast, and Blizzard.

However, to exploit its STAB, you can use Dream Eater or its signature move, Moongeist Beam, which has very strong power and can also bypass any abilities in play that might disable the attack. More so, it can use Cosmic Power to raise its lacking Defense stat to be even bulkier.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
137	113	89	137	107	97	680

20. Lugia

Pokedex number: 0249
Debut: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Type: Psychic/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Ghost / Electric / Ice / Dark

While the original Legendary trio Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres hold a special place in fans’ hearts thanks to the nostalgia factor, they’ve all been one-uped by Lugia, who serves as their master.

Referred to as the ‘guardian of the seas’, Lugia is the only one who can control the Legendary Birds and is capable of creating and calming storms with its wings. It’s also received plenty more attention than its counterpart Legendary, Ho-Oh, beating it out in terms of popularity.

Its great bulk allows Lugia to bear physical and special damage exceptionally well, and can even take less while having full HP thanks to its Multiscale ability. Its move pool includes recovery moves that will assure survivability, making it difficult to defeat.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
106	90	130	90	154	110	680

19. Ho-Oh

Pokedex number: 0250
Debut: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Type: Fire/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Water / Electric

Ho-Oh is the guardian of the skies and is able to resurrect the dead, which is how the three Legendary Beasts from Gen 2 came to be – something that’s more than enough to earn it a place on our list.

As for the anime series, Ho-Oh was actually the first Legendary that viewers laid eyes on. It appeared flying through the skies above Ash at the end of the very first episode, meaning it still has a special place in the hearts of fans to this day.

This Fire/Flying-type beast has a good set of resistances, solid stats, and key attacks like its signature move Sacred Fire, which deals great physical damage while also causing burn occasionally. Plus, Ho-Oh can recover HP every time it is withdrawn from battle due to its Regenerator ability.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
106	130	90	110	154	90	680

18. Solgaleo

Pokedex number: 0791
Debut: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Type: Psychic/Steel
Weaknesses: Ground / Ghost / Fire / Dark

Alongside Lunala and Necrozma, Solgaleo is part of the Light Trio which first appeared in the Alola region from Pokemon Sun & Moon. It’s one of the most elaborately designed Legendaries, and benefits from the elegance of its lion/sun inspiration.

Solgaleo has very impressive stats, with high HP and Attack, which can’t be lowered by enemies thanks to its ability Full Metal Body. It also has one of the best type combinations that gives it 10 resistances.

It’s got a very wide and versatile move pool, and its signature attack, Sunsteel Strike, deals damage regardless of any defensive abilities, making it a good offensive addition to any team.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
137	137	107	113	89	97	680

17. Reshiram

Pokedex number: 0643
Debut: Pokemon Black & White
Type: Dragon/Fire
Weaknesses: Ground / Rock / Dragon

The Legendary white dragon from the Unova region has very balanced stats, though its Sp. Attack stands out, making the use of special moves like Dragon Pulse or Fire Blast a must.

Reshiram has two signature moves that set it aside from other Legendaries. One is Fusion Flare, in which a giant flame is thrown at enemies, and the other one is Blue Flare, an even more powerful flame that can leave opponents with a burn status.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	120	100	150	120	90	680

16. Zekrom

Pokedex number: 0644
Debut: Pokemon Black & White
Type: Dragon/Electric
Weaknesses: Ground / Ice / Dragon / Fairy

Zekrom and Reshiram are counterpart Legendaries from Gen 5’s Black & White, based on the concept of yin and yang. While according to the myth, both are equally powerful and can’t defeat each other, Zekrom is without a doubt the coolest of the two, with a sleek black design and Dragon/Electric-typing that make it very popular.

While Reshiram focuses on special attacks, Zekrom uses physical ones, with its signature moves Fusion Bolt and Bolt Strike being the strongest of its move pool.

Aside from its Electric-type attacks, Zekrom has outstanding Dragon moves like Outrage and can access other types for more coverage, including Normal, Flying, Fighting, Ground, and Psychic.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	150	120	120	100	90	680

15. Calyrex

Pokedex number: 0898
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield: The Crown Tundra DLC
Type: Psychic/Grass
Weaknesses: Flying / Poison / Bug / Ghost / Fire / Ice / Dark

One of the most recent additions to the Legendary scene in Pokemon is Calyrex, the ancient ruler of the Galar region that made its debut in the Sword & Shield expansion pack The Crown Tundra. It has great lore behind it and is one of the strongest Legendary Pokemon thanks to its two extra forms.

Shadow Rider Calyrex is the obvious standout, with the signature move Astral Barrage dealing plenty of damage and the ability Grim Neigh boosting its already ridiculous Sp. Attack stat. Ice Rider Calyrex might suffer from slow Speed, but an incredibly high Attack means it can also be a formidable force.

It’s got one of the coolest designs alongside the other Pokemon on this list, and its versatility makes it a definite standout.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	80	80	80	80	80	500

14. Eternatus

Pokedex number: 0890
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Type: Poison/Dragon
Weaknesses: Ground / Psychic / Ice / Dragon

The Poison/Dragon Eternatus was introduced in Pokemon Sword & Shield and took long-time fans by surprise due to its particularly scary design and backstory.

Its type combination gives it many useful resistances and its high Speed ensures it will outspeed enemies and attack first. Its signature move, Dynamax Cannon, deals double damage if its opponent is Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed, which is a huge plus in combat.

Aside from its many qualities, Eternatus can access a different form called Eternamax Eternatus, in which its stats are extremely boosted, reaching an overall total of 1125 with incredibly high HP, Defense, and Sp. Defense. However, this form is unobtainable, as it appears only during the game’s storyline.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
140	85	95	145	95	130	690

13. Crowned Shield Zamazenta

Pokedex number: 0889
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Type: Fighting/Steel
Weaknesses: Fighting / Ground / Fire

Both Pokemon Sword & Shield mascots have a regular and a Crowned version, with the latter one giving the Fighting dogs a secondary typing.

The boosted form of Zamazenta becomes a Fighting/Steel-type Legendary with a strong Defense, as it is supposed to represent a shield. But that’s not all. This stat gets higher once the Pokemon is called to battle thanks to its special ability Dauntless Shield.

As a result, Crowned Shield Zamazenta can hold its ground against special, but mostly physical attackers. Plus its typing makes it resistant to key types used in the competitive scene such as Steel, Dragon, and Dark.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
92	130	145	80	145	128	720

12. Kyurem

Pokedex number: 0646
Debut: Pokemon Black & White
Type: Dragon/Ice
Weaknesses: Fighting / Rock / Steel / Dragon / Fairy

Pokemon lore dictates that Kyurem is the empty shell that remained when Reshiram and Zekrom were split apart, but it’s still considered to be a Pokemon. While the former two Pokemon represent yin and yang, Kyurem represents the concept of wuji – the absence of yin and yang.

While its normal form may be weaker than both Zekrom and Reshiram, it outshines them both because it can fuse with either one of them using its DNA Splicers to become one of two ultimate forms: White Kyurem or Black Kyurem.

Despite the form, the Pokemon remains a Dragon/Ice-type creature with boosted stats. However, White Kyurem excels as a special attacker, while Black Kyurem is more physical.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
125	130	90	130	90	95	660

11. Crowned Sword Zacian

Pokedex number: 0888
Debut: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Type: Fairy/Steel
Weaknesses: Ground / Fire

The franchise’s Fairy-type Legendary, Zacian, appeared as the mascot of Pokemon Sword in Gen 8. It has one of the most interesting Legendary designs, even holding a sword in its mouth – which was a little strange at first, but it’s gone on to become a defining feature and made it a fan favorite.

As Crowned Sword Zacian it becomes one of the most powerful Fairy types to ever grace the series, with a whopping 720 base stat that includes an earth-shattering Attack stat that can be boosted even more with its special ability Intrepid Sword. Plus, similar to Zamazenta, it gains Steel-typing, giving it a huge amount of type resistances.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
92	170	115	80	115	148	720

10. Terapagos

Pokedex number: 1024
Debut: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Indigo Disk expansion
Type: Normal
Weaknesses: Fighting

Cute-looking Terapagos is the latest Legendary introduced to the franchise, which debuted in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet The Indigo Disk expansion along with two extra forms.

This Normal-type Legendary’s form changes from regular to Terastal as soon as it enters the battlefield and then takes the Stellar form upon Terastalizing, with each form having its own special ability.

Even though its regular stats are quite low, they get boosted every time it changes forms, with the Terastal form having a bigger push on both Defense and Sp. Defense stats, and the Stellar form on HP and Sp. Attack.

Terapagos’ key feature is its ability to hold the power of every type, allowing it to change its typing up to three times per battle.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	65	85	65	85	60	450

9. Giratina

Pokedex number: 0487
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Ghost/Dragon
Weaknesses: Ghost / Ice / Dragon / Dark / Fairy

Giratina might be one of the most terrifying Pokemon in the history of the franchise. While its fellow Sinnoh Creation Trio Legendaries Dialga and Palkia represent time and space respectively, Giratina is the embodiment of antimatter and is able to travel through dimensions at will.

The draconic Pokemon has control over an alternate dimension known as the Distortion World and has two separate Formes, one for offense (Origin) and one for defense (Altered), each with its own ability. Its signature move, the Ghost-type Shadow Force, is a powerful addition that can wreak havoc in almost any battle.

Being a mix of both Dragon-type and Ghost-type also makes it one of the most desirable Legendaries in the games, as only a select few Pokemon boast that combination.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
150-150	120-100	100-120	120-100	100-120	90-90	680-680

8. Necrozma

Pokedex number: 0800
Debut: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Type: Psychic
Weaknesses: Bug / Ghost / Dark

The Psychic-type Necrozma is part of the Light Trio along with Solgaleo and Lunala, but unlike them, Necrozma has three different forms, each with special designs, typings, stats, abilities, and moves.

When Necrozma is fused with Solgaleo, it gains the secondary Steel typing and becomes the physical attacker, Dusk Mane Necrozma. If you fuse it with Lunala, it gains the Ghost typing and becomes the special attacker, Dawn Wings Necrozma.

However, if any of these two happen to be holding the Ultranecrozium Z and uses Ultra Burst, they will become the Psychic/Dragon Ultra Necrozma, with equally high Attack and Sp. Attack stats.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
97	107	101	127	89	79	600

7. Groudon

Pokedex number: 0383
Debut: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Type: Ground
Weaknesses: Water / Grass / Ice

Since making their debut in Gen 3’s Hoenn region, the insanely powerful Weather Trio Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza have gone on to become three of the most desirable Legendaries in the Pokemon universe.

Groudon rules over the land, and as such is a rare Ground-type Legendary. It excels in both Attack and Defense stats and has a brilliant ability known as Drought that summons harsh sunlight, powering up Fire-type moves and weakening Water types – like its fellow Legendary, Kyogre.

Throw the ability of Primal Reversion into the mix, which turns it into Primal Groudon and gives it a whopping 770 total base stat, and it’s an absolute beast on the battlefield.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	150	140	100	90	90	670

6. Kyogre

Pokedex number: 0382
Debut: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Type: Water
Weaknesses: Grass / Electric

The rivalry between land-based Groudon and water-based Kyogre has raged since ancient times, so deciding which of the two primordial beasts would place higher on this list was a difficult one. But the Water-type Legendary won in the end for a few reasons.

Kyogre is arguably the strongest Water-type Pokemon you’ll find, which makes sense considering it’s described as the personification of the sea itself. Despite its type and size, it also has the ability to fly, and unlike Groudon, it’s focused on special attacks.

The Gen 3 ‘mon also has a type advantage over its Legendary counterpart, so a battle between the two would likely go in Kyogre’s favor. As a result, it earned a higher spot on this list.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	100	90	150	140	90	670

5. Palkia

Pokedex number: 0484
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Water/Dragon
Weaknesses: Dragon / Fairy

Palkia and Dialga, the Gen 4 mascots, are known for being part of the Creation Trio – with Giratina – and for controlling space and time, respectively.

This dual Water/Dragon Legendary has key resistances to Steel, Fire, and Water, and its move pool is one of the most versatile players can find, as it includes almost every typing available.

Its outstanding Sp. Attack makes Palkia one of the strongest special attackers in the franchise, and its signature move, Spacial Rend, deals huge damage and has an increased critical hit ratio.

With the help of the Lustrous Globe and the Adamant Crystal, both Palkia and Dialga can change into their Origin Formes, which are said to be their actual true forms.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
90	120	100	150	120	100	680

4. Dialga

Pokedex number: 0483
Debut: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Type: Steel/Dragon
Weaknesses: Fighting / Ground

Dialga is a huge dinosaur lookalike covered in metal armor with the ability to control time itself thanks to the diamond on its chest. It doesn’t get much cooler than that and beats out its space-controlling counterpart Palkia in terms of design alone.

Being the only Dragon/Steel-type Legendary in the game gives Dialga a huge advantage as it’s resistant to ten types, making it a powerhouse on the battlefield.

Just like Palkia, Dialga is a special attacker, and even though its signature move Roar of Time may require missing a turn, it’s an incredibly powerful attack you’ll want in your arsenal.

Its Origin Forme changes Dialga’s design from a sauropod-like look to a dragon and centaur hybrid that resembles its creator, Arceus, a little bit.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
100	120	120	150	100	90	680

3. Rayquaza

Pokedex number: 0384
Debut: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Type: Dragon/Flying
Weaknesses: Rock / Ice / Dragon / Fairy

Pokemon has introduced a ton of dragon Legendaries over its lifetime, with many of them like Zekrom and Giratina becoming some of the most popular creatures in the franchise. But Rayquaza is the top Dragon type for us.

It was the first Pokemon to have the ability to Mega Evolve, as discovered in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and was powerful enough to save humanity by ending the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre, its fellow Weather Trio Legendaries from the Hoenn region, proving that it reigns supreme.

Rayquaza’s stats are already impressive, but they get boosted once it turns into Mega Rayquaza, taking its Attack and Sp. Attack up to 180. As both a physical and special attacker, Rayquaza can take advantage of attacks like Outrage, Hurricane, Draco Meteor, or its signature move Dragon Ascent.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
105	150	90	150	90	95	650

2. Zygarde Complete Forme

Pokedex number: 0718
Debut: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Type: Dragon/Ground
Weaknesses: Ice / Dragon / Fairy

Even though Zygarde was introduced as part of the Aura Trio back in Pokemon X & Y, its mighty Complete Forme debuted later, in Sun & Moon.

This Dragon/Ground-type Legendary has some of the highest stats in the game and has proven to be a powerful opponent to beat as it boasts outstanding HP and Defense.

Complete Forme Zygarde is better as a physical attacker, and luckily for players, it has plenty of outstanding physical moves to try out such as Thousand Arrows, Thousand Waves, Earthquake, and Outrage.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
216	100	121	91	95	85	708

1. Mewtwo

Mewtwo from the Pokemon Awakening prologue anime.

Pokedex number: 0150
Debut: Pokemon Red & Blue
Type: Psychic
Weaknesses: Bug / Ghost / Dark

Could we really have chosen any other Pokemon to top this list? Whether you’re a newcomer to the fandom or you’ve been around since the very beginning, most gamers will agree that the iconic Mewtwo is the ultimate Legendary.

Aside from having epic powers like telekinesis and mind control, Mewtwo has the coolest backstory of any Pokemon: It’s a clone of Mew that was created by scientists following a series of “horrific gene splicing and DNA engineering experiments”. This left it with a vicious nature, and care only for defeating its foes.

Mewtwo remains a favorite on the competitive scene as it is a great special attacker with moves like its signature move Psystrike and Future Sight. Plus, it has not one, but two Mega Evolutions – Mewtwo X and Mewtwo Y – with the first one giving it a dual Psychic/Fighting typing.

Aside from being the first Legendary to appear as a fighter in the Smash Bros. series and having two amiibo, it also delivered the most memorable quote in Pokemon history during the 1998 movie Mewtwo Strikes Back: “I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”

There’s truly no question that Mewtwo is the definitive Legendary Pokemon.

HP	ATTACK	DEFENSE	SP. ATTACK	SP. DEFENSE	SPEED	TOTAL
106	110	90	154	90	130	680

That’s our ranking of the Top 40 Legendary Pokemon of all time. For more Pokemon content, check out our other rankings, including the 40 best Fire-type Pokemon, as well as the Creepiest but also the Cutest ‘mon in the franchise.

If you’re an animal lover, you can check out our lists with all the cat Pokemon or dog Pokemon too.