Mythical Pokémon (Japanese: 幻のポケモン Illusory Pokémon) are a group of Pokémon seen so rarely in the Pokémon world that some question their very existence. This category mostly consists of event Pokémon, with the exception of Deoxys. Mythical Pokémon are a related, but separate group of Pokémon from Legendary Pokémon, generally featured more prominently in the legends and myths of the Pokémon world.
No Mythical Pokémon is required to complete the Pokédex.
Prior to Generation V, in non-Japanese media, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon were both considered to be Legendary.
List of Mythical Pokémon
Of the 1025 Pokémon species, 15 (16 counting Phione) are considered to be Mythical (1.46%; 1.56% counting Phione).
Generation I
The only mythical Pokémon introduced in the first generation, was Mew, a part of the Mew Duo.
Mew
Generation II
The second Mythical Pokémon was introduced in Generation II, bringing the total to two.
Celebi
Although it has no relation to Mew that has been revealed, Celebi was dubbed the "New Mew" when it was introduced in Generation II because of their similar size and stats, as well as the status of being the last in the National Pokédex as of its generation and being unobtainable through normal gameplay. Unlike Mew, however, it was not believed to be the ancestor of all Pokémon, but merely the guardian of forests, traveling through time to make sure of their purity. Celebi was the second Mythical Pokémon to be released.
In the games, Celebi is available only by event, either directly (via trading or Mystery Gift), or, in Pokémon Crystal, through an event involving the GS Ball. This made it the first Mythical Pokémon that was able to be captured from the wild in the games after using an event-only item, something which would continue forward up until Generation V. Celebi also makes an appearance in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, but it is unobtainable.
In the anime, Celebi takes a central role in Celebi: Voice of the Forest and The Green Guardian. In the movie, one accidentally brings Sam to the future when attempting to escape from a poacher, and is later captured in a Team Rocket member's Dark Balls to be used to destroy the forest and rule the world. In the episode, another is attempting to heal after putting out a forest fire, and needs the help of Pokémon Ranger Solana, as well as the anime's protagonists, to do so. A Celebi also played an important role in Zoroark: Master of Illusions, in which Grings Kodai wanted to use the "ripple of time" created by Celebi's time travels to allow himself to get visions of the future.
Generation III
The third and fourth Mythical Pokémon were released in Generation III. While Legendary Pokémon began to have a greater role in the storyline of the games, Mythical Pokémon remained unrelated to the games' storylines.
Jirachi
The third Mythical Pokémon to be released and the first introduced in Generation III, Jirachi is known to grant wishes written on the tags on its head each time it awakens: once every millennium.
In the games, Jirachi has never had a concrete location tied to it, and it cannot be captured from the wild legitimately. However, several direct transfers have been present in the history of the franchise, most notably in the form of a bonus disc released as a preview of Pokémon Colosseum which fixes the Berry glitch present in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Jirachi starred in Jirachi: Wish Maker, in which it befriended Max as the group attempted to keep it away from Butler, a former Team Magma operative. Jirachi made its TV debut in Searching for a Wish!, during the Decolore Islands saga, when one emerged after a slumber of 1,000 years.
Deoxys
A virus from space which mutated when shot by a laser, Deoxys was the first Mythical Pokémon known to change form, taking different forms on in each of the Generation III games - Normal Forme in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Attack Forme in Pokémon FireRed, Defense Forme in Pokémon LeafGreen, and Speed Forme in Pokémon Emerald, and being able to change them at will starting from Generation IV games with special meteorites found in Veilstone City in Sinnoh, Route 3 in Kanto, Nacrene City in Unova, Ambrette Town in Kalos, and Fallarbor Town in Hoenn.
In the games, Deoxys was originally only available on Birth Island when the AuroraTicket is downloaded to FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald, though as with all Mythical Pokémon, it has also been available through direct download via Mystery Gift. As of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, however, Deoxys is now available without an event.
Deoxys featured heavily in the seventh Pokémon movie, Destiny Deoxys, in which its Attack and Defense Formes were first revealed. One of the two Deoxys featured befriends a boy named Tory Lund, who fears Pokémon otherwise and does not realize what Deoxys is, while the other seeks out the first, concerned for its safety. Another Deoxys featured in Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys Crisis!, in which Deoxys's Speed Forme debuted in the anime.
Generation IV
Four more Mythical Pokémon (five counting Phione) were added in Generation IV, the most of any generation so far, bringing the total to number of Mythical Pokémon to eight (nine counting Phione). Three of the new Mythical Pokémon (four counting Phione) are not in Sinnoh's regional Pokédex, appearing only in the National Pokédex.
Prior to Generation IV, 680 had been the limit on any Pokémon's base stat total: this limit was set by Mewtwo in Generation I and was only matched—never surpassed—in Generation II and Generation III. In Generation IV, however, the most powerful of all Pokémon in terms of base stats was no longer Mewtwo or any of its equals, but Arceus, the supposed creator of the Pokémon universe.
Lunar duo
Cresselia, a Legendary Pokémon, and Darkrai, a Mythical Pokémon, represent two phases of the moon with opposite connotations: Darkrai represents the new moon, the cause of the darkest nights and bringer of nightmares, while Cresselia represents the crescent moon, a sign of hope and good dreams.
Darkrai is found on Newmoon Island, accessible only with a Member Card, and can only be obtained through an event, while Cresselia is available in-game.
The lunar duo made their debuts separately, with a Darkrai appearing in The Rise of Darkrai, attempting to stop Dialga and Palkia's fight from destroying its home, Alamos Town, and protecting Alice, its friend. Cresselia first appeared in Sleepless in Pre-Battle!, in which she fought briefly against a Darkrai.
Sea guardians
The sea guardian Pokémon are a Mythical duo that, somewhat like Mewtwo and Mew, comprises a parent and child. Manaphy, a Mythical Pokémon that makes its home in colder seas south of the known regions, bears Phione when bred in captivity in the known regions.
In the games, Manaphy can only be found through an event: either it may be transferred in its Egg from one of the Ranger games after activating an event in those games, or it can be directly received via various Mystery Gift events. Like Jirachi, it cannot be legitimately found in the wild. Phione must be bred from a Manaphy and a Ditto.
In the anime, Manaphy debuted in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, in which, like in the games, it first appeared as an Egg, and befriended May, who it regarded as its mother. It was the only Pokémon able to find the mysterious Temple of the Sea, Samiya, and was regarded as the Prince of the Sea. For this, it was sought by the Phantom, a pirate who wished to take the jewels of the Sea Crown deep in Samiya. Phione debuted under different circumstances, being found in Chocovine Town in Hold the Phione!, in which they were revered as bringers of good luck.
Phione's status as a Mythical Pokémon is disputed, with several pieces of evidence and even official statements often contradicting each other. Further information can be found here.
Shaymin
Shaymin is a Mythical Pokémon that has the ability to purify areas instantly and bring plant life in abundance. Unlike previous Mythical Pokémon with its straight-100 base stats, however, Shaymin has the ability to change forms, between Land Forme and Sky Forme.
In the games, like Darkrai, Shaymin is catchable in the wild after an event item has been obtained: this time Oak's Letter, which requests the player's help on Route 224. After giving thanks to someone or something, Shaymin will appear, and will be available to be caught at the end of the Seabreak Path that appears, in the Flower Paradise.
Shaymin has a central role in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, when it, as well as its Sky Forme, were officially revealed. It also has a major role in Keeping In Top Forme! involving Marley.
Arceus
The final Pokémon of Generation IV, Arceus is, according to Sinnoh legend, the creator of the Pokémon universe. Born of an Egg in the chaos at the beginning, Arceus's powers were awakened immediately, and from itself it made time and space, matter and antimatter, and set Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina to guard them. It created spirit as well, setting Uxie in charge of knowledge, Mesprit in charge of emotion, and Azelf in charge of willpower, before falling into an eternal slumber. Arceus has the highest base stat total of any Mythical Pokémon.
Arceus can be awoken from its sleep using an Azure Flute at the Spear Pillar, which will open a staircase to its home, the Hall of Origin, where it can be captured. Despite being coded into Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Azure Flute was never released, so it is not possible to go to the Hall of Origin.
In the anime, Arceus starred in Arceus and the Jewel of Life, in which it set out to destroy Michina Town and its people for their betrayal in ancient times. After changing history with the help of Dialga, Ash and his friends revealed to Arceus the true nature of human beings, and it left Michina Town in peace.
Generation V
Four additional Mythical Pokémon were added in Generation V, 12 Mythical Pokémon (13, counting Generation IV's Phione).
Victini
Victini is found at the beginning of Unova's Pokédex, being #000. Much like Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Manaphy and Shaymin before it, each of its base stats are 100. It is the first Generation V Mythical Pokémon revealed and allowed to be obtained. Victini is considered the embodiment of victory. It is said that a Trainer with a Victini will win anything no matter what.
In Pokémon Black and White, if the player possesses the Liberty Ticket, the player can take a boat to Liberty Garden, where Team Plasma is attempting to obtain Victini for the energy it radiates. It is later revealed that Victini was sealed in the basement of the lighthouse by a wealthy person in order to protect it from people with bad intentions.
Victini is a star of White—Victini and Zekrom and Black—Victini and Reshiram.
Meloetta
Meloetta, the third Mythical Pokémon of Generation V, represents music (Aria Forme) and dance (Pirouette Forme). Legend says that it once sang and danced joyfully. However, when sorrow darkened the world, it lost the melody and its red shoes. Using Relic Song changes its form.
Meloetta made its anime debut in PK23. It made its TV debut in An Epic Defense Force! (in Aria Forme) and Expedition to Onix Island! (in Pirouette Forme).
Genesect
Genesect is an ancient insect Pokémon who was feared as the strongest of hunters more than 300 million years ago. Team Plasma revived it from a Fossil and altered it with cybernetic upgrades in an attempt to create the strongest Pokémon in existence. It uses special Drives to make variations to its signature move, Techno Blast. It is the final Mythical Pokémon of Generation V.
Genesect had its anime debut in a group called the Genesect Army that had escaped from Team Plasma's P2 Laboratory. They were first seen in N visions in The Name's N!, and later on starred in the sixteenth Pokémon movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened, in which they battled Mewtwo in New Tork City.
Generation VI
An additional three Mythical Pokémon were added in Generation VI, 15 Mythical Pokémon (16 when including Generation IV's Phione).
Diancie
Diancie, the Jewel Pokémon, is the first Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation VI. It is a Rock/Fairy type, and can create diamonds to protect itself.
Diancie appeared in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, where it is the princess of the Diamond Domain. It is given the objective to create a new Heart Diamond for the domain, as the current one is faltering, and seeks Xerneas and its Fairy Aura to gain the power to do so. It is sought after by multiple thieves who desire its diamonds, and ultimately gains the power to make a Heart Diamond in an attempt to protect its friends from Yveltal. It appears with three Carbink servants and an elder Carbink named Dace.
It has the ability to Mega Evolve into Mega Diancie.
Hoopa
Hoopa is the second Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation VI. It has two formes. Hoopa Confined, the Mischief Pokémon, is a Psychic/Ghost type, whilst Hoopa Unbound, the Djinn Pokémon, is a Psychic/Dark type. It is said to be able to be able to warp space in order to take things it likes and carry them away into alternate dimensions. It is also said to have carried away an entire castle in an attempt to steal all of its treasure according to some legends.
Hoopa appeared in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages in both its Confined and Unbound forms.
Volcanion
Volcanion, the Steam Pokémon, is the third and final Mythical Pokémon introduced in Generation VI. It is a Fire/Water type Pokémon that uses steam from arms on its back to disappear in fog and blow away mountains. It lives in mountains uninhabited by humans.
It is currently unavailable in the Pokémon games, and thus has not yet been featured in the anime, although it will act as one of the main stars of M19.
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