Pseudo-legendary Pokémon

Get it? Because the name is unknown. 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 is a fan term referring to a group of Pokémon that meet the following criteria:

Artwork from the Late Bloomers collection, depicting several pseudo-legendary Pokémon and their pre-evolutions

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are often more powerful than most other non-Legendary or Mythical Pokémon due to their high base stats. Due to their slow leveling rates and their relatively high evolution levels, they also tend to be difficult to raise.

The pseudo-legendary Pokémon were featured in the "Late Bloomers" (Japanese: 大器晩成 Taiki-Bansei) collection of Pokémon Center merchandise.

In Japanese fan communities, especially in the competitive scene, the term 600(ぞく) 600 club refers to a very similar group of Pokémon that share a base stat total of 600. This classification includes Archaludon, the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 600 that is not a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, or Mega Evolution.

List of pseudo-legendary Pokémon

There are ten Pokémon considered to be pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with every generation introducing at least one. The following shows the pseudo-legendary Pokémon by the generation of their introduction, as well as their types and the Pokémon they evolve from.

In the games

Statistical averages

Stat
HP: 92.2
Attack: 122.5
Defense: 96.5
Sp.Atk: 100
Sp.Def: 101
Speed: 87.7
Total: 0


Base stat comparison

Pokémon  
Dragonite
 
Tyranitar
 
Salamence
 
Metagross
 
Garchomp
 
Hydreigon
 
Goodra
 
Goodra
 
Kommo-o
 
Dragapult
 
Baxcalibur
HP
91
100
95
80
108
92
90
80
75
88
115
Attack
134
134
135
135
130
105
100
100
110
120
145
Defense
95
110
80
130
95
90
70
100
125
75
92
Sp. Attack
100
95
110
95
80
125
110
110
100
100
75
Sp. Defense
100
100
80
90
85
90
150
150
105
75
86
Speed
80
61
100
70
102
98
80
60
85
142
87
Total 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600

Base stat comparison when Mega Evolved

Pokémon  
Tyranitar
 
Salamence
 
Metagross
 
Garchomp
HP
100
95
80
108
Attack
164
145
145
170
Defense
150
130
150
115
Sp. Attack
95
120
105
120
Sp. Defense
120
90
110
95
Speed
71
120
110
92
Total 700 700 700 700


Individual characteristics

Dragonite

Being the first pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Dragonite has straightforward and well-rounded stats. It has a traditionally high Attack and above average stats otherwise.

Tyranitar

With a focus on power and durability, Tyranitar sacrifices Speed in exchange for tremendous bulk and attack power. It has the Sand Stream Ability to always create a sandstorm, which takes advantage of its Rock type to further increase its high Special Defense.

  • Mega Tyranitar has the highest base Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 150.
  • During a sandstorm, Mega Tyranitar's Special Defense becomes the highest of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
  • Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that has a unique type combination.

Salamence

Although it is the same type as Dragonite, Salamence differentiates itself by being entirely focused on offensive prowess. Its Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stats are high, while its Defense and Special Defense are comparatively low.

  • Salamence is the shortest pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at 4'11" (1.5 m).

Metagross

Like Tyranitar, Metagross focuses on power and durability, utilizing the most defensive type, Steel, to complement its very high Attack and Defense and relatively low Speed.

  • Metagross is the heaviest pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at 1212.5 lbs. (550.0 kg).
  • Metagross has the highest base Defense of all non-Mega Evolved pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at 130.
  • Metagross is the only gender unknown pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
  • Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon whose first evolutionary stage, Beldum, cannot be caught in the wild in its debut generation (one is received from Steven Stone instead).
  • Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon whose English and Japanese names are the same.
  • Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that cannot learn any Dragon-type moves.

Garchomp

Focusing on versatility, Garchomp has high HP, Attack, and Speed with a versatile selection of moves to use. It complements these attributes with its Ground type, which is among the best offensive types.

  • Mega Garchomp has the highest base Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 170.
  • Garchomp is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences.

Hydreigon

Hydreigon's well-rounded stats mirror those of Dragonite (albeit with lower defensive stats and higher Speed), with it having a high Special Attack stat as well, and its other stats being above average.

  • Hydreigon has the highest base Special Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 125.
  • Hydreigon is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that does not have a base stat lower than 90.
  • Hydreigon and its evolutionary relatives are the only pseudo-legendary family that do not have a Hidden Ability in any of their forms.
  • Hydreigon evolves from its pre-evolved form starting at the highest level of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at level 64.

Goodra

Unlike the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Goodra focuses mainly on Special Defense. Its Attack and Special Attack are very similar to each other.

  • Goodra is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that is not dual-type.
  • Tied with its regional form, Goodra has both the highest base Special Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 150, and the lowest base Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 100.
  • Goodra has the lowest base Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 70.
  • Goodra and its Hisuian form are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have an evolution method requiring more than just leveling up.
Hisuian Goodra

Goodra has a Hisuian form, making it the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a regional form. It focuses on balanced defensive stats, at the cost of Speed.

  • Tied with its original form, Hisuian Goodra has both the highest base Special Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 150, and the lowest base Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 100.
  • Hisuian Goodra has the lowest base Speed of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 60.

Kommo-o

Kommo-o has mostly well-rounded stats but is slightly more defensive than offensive.

Dragapult

Dragapult focuses on Speed, and is more offensive than defensive. In addition to its extremely high Speed, it has high Attack and Special Attack, but at the expense of its defensive stats.

  • Dragapult is the tallest pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at 9'10" (3.0 m).
  • Dragapult is the lightest pseudo-legendary Pokémon, at 110.2 lbs. (50.0 kg).
  • Dragapult has the lowest base Special Defense of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 75.
  • Dragapult has the highest base Speed of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 142.

Baxcalibur

Baxcalibur's stats focus on its extreme physical prowess, emphasizing its HP and Attack while leaving its other stats average or slightly above average.

  • Baxcalibur has the highest base HP of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 115.
  • Baxcalibur has the highest base Attack of all non-Mega Evolved pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 145.
  • Baxcalibur has the lowest base Special Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with 75.
  • Baxcalibur is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon whose evolutionary family has different catch rates for each Pokémon (excluding Dragonite in Pokémon Yellow).
  • As of Generation IX, Baxcalibur is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a signature Ability, namely Thermal Exchange. However, Sand Stream and Gooey were formerly the signature Abilities of Tyranitar and Goodra respectively.

Other characteristics

  • Metagross and Hisuian Goodra resist the most types of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with nine.
  • Garchomp and Baxcalibur resist the fewest types of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon, with only three.
  • Goodra (in its original form), Kommo-o, and Baxcalibur are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that do not have a type immunity by default. However, these three all have some immunities via other means:
  • Metagross and Baxcalibur are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to not have a catch rate of 45, instead having catch rates of 3 and 10 respectively.

Users

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are used by several in-game Trainers, though they are most often used by Elite Four members and Champions.

As Shadow Pokémon

All pseudo-legendary Pokémon that existed in Generation III are available as Shadow Pokémon in either Pokémon Colosseum (Tyranitar and Metagross) or Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (Dragonite and Salamence).

In the story mode of Pokémon Colosseum, Shadow Metagross is used by Nascour and Shadow Tyranitar is used by Evice. In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Shadow Salamence is used by Eldes and Shadow Dragonite is used by Miror B.. All four pseudo-legendary Pokémon have Shadow Rush as one of their Shadow moves.

In the anime

Main series

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared many times in the anime.

Pokémon Origins

Pokémon Generations

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared multiple times in Pokémon Generations.

Gallery

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

Gallery

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer

Gallery

Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Multiple pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer.

Gallery

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared multiple times in Pokémon: Twilight Wings.

  • Goodra has appeared in Sky under the ownership of Raihan.
  • Dragapult has appeared in Sky under the ownership of Leon.

Pokémon Evolutions

Some pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared in Pokémon Evolutions.

  • Dragonite has appeared in The Rival under the ownership of Palmer.
  • Tyranitar briefly appeared in The Show overlooking Ecruteak City.
  • Salamence has appeared in The Wish under the ownership of Zinnia. It was capable of Mega Evolving into Mega Salamence.

Pokémon: Hisuian Snow

In Two Hues, an Alpha Garchomp attacked Alec and the Galaxy Team, but it was driven away by a Hisuian Zoroark that Alec had befriended in his youth as a Zorua.

GOTCHA!

Multiple pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared in the GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Trivia

References


  This article is a part of Project Fandom, a Bulbapedia Project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every aspect of the Pokémon Fandom.