Pseudo-legendary Pokémon

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 also mention having two types or having at least one type immunity, or omit the need to have 1,250,000 experience at level 100.

List of pseudo-legendary Pokémon

There are six 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

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, which has Special Attack as its highest stat. 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.

Statistical averages

Stat
HP: 94.33
Attack: 128.83
Defense: 100
Sp.Atk: 100.83
Sp.Def: 90.83
Speed: 85.17
Total: 0


Individual characteristics

Dragonite

Aside from being the first pseudo-legendary Pokémon in National Pokédex order, Dragonite has the highest Special Defense tied with Tyranitar.

Tyranitar

Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that can neither fly nor levitate, as well as the slowest of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon. When a sandstorm is raging, Tyranitar's Special Defense becomes the highest of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Salamence

Physically, Salamence is the shortest pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Salamence has the lowest defenses of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon. However, it has the highest Attack (tied with Metagross).

Metagross

Metagross has a large number of characteristics which are different from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. This is likely 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.

Metagross is the only genderless pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and the 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). Metagross and its pre-evolutions have a catch rate of 3 (all the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon families have a catch rate of 45), and it has the highest base Defense of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It is also the heaviest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Garchomp

Garchomp is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have gender differences, as well as having the fewest resistances. It is the fastest with a base Speed stat of 102 and has the highest base HP, with 108. It is also the lightest pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Hydreigon

Due to being the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon to have a higher Special Attack stat than Attack, Hydreigon's stats give it a number of unique characteristics from the other pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Consequently, it has the highest base Special Attack of all the pseudo-legendary Pokémon, and likewise, the lowest base 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.

Hydreigon is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon with multiple elemental immunities (however its immunity to Ground is due to its Ability, Levitate). Of the Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, it is the only one not to have a 4× weaknesses to Ice-type attacks.

Other

  • Tyranitar and Hydreigon are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that have a unique type combination.
  • Metagross and Hydreigon are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that do not have any 4× weaknesses.
  • Salamence and Metagross have the highest Attack of all pseudo-legendary Pokémon with a base 135 stat.
  • Tyranitar and Metagross are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that are not Dragon-type.

In the games

These Pokémon are used in-game often by the members of the Elite Four and Champions.

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.

Pseudo-legendary Pokémon are obtainable in the wild strictly in their first form for the first paired games of their generation. However, all pseudo-legendary Pokémon have since become available in the wild in their second evolutionary stage. Starting in Generation V, several pseudo-legendary Pokémon are available in the wild in their final stage.

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 have appeared in the anime.

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 stats of all non-legendary Pokémon. However, it lacks a base-stat total of 600 and a secondary type. Slaking's high stats are likely due to being hindered by its Ability, Truant.
  • Ash is the first main character in the anime to own a member of a pseudo-legendary family; however, it could be considered his second if Larvitar is counted, but he only cared for it temporarily.
  • The first stage of the first five of six pseudo-legendary Pokémon are available in Generation IV's Johto Safari Zone.
  • Tyranitar is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that is not the main Pokémon of a major boss at the end of the game it was introduced in: Dragonite is used by Lance, Salamence by Drake, Metagross by Steven Stone, Garchomp by Cynthia, and Hydreigon by Ghetsis and Iris.
  • Metagross is the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that doesn't share at least one type with another pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It is also the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon that cannot learn any Dragon-type moves.
  • Every pseudo-legendary Pokémon is immune to at least one type: Dragonite to Ground, Tyranitar to Psychic, Metagross to Poison, Salamence to Ground, Garchomp to Electric, and Hydreigon to Psychic and Ground.
    • However, Hydreigon's immunity to Ground-type moves is due to its Ability, Levitate, rather than due to its type.
  • Garchomp and its evolutionary relatives are the only psuedo-legendary Pokémon line that do not have a base happiness of 35.
  • Hydreigon and its evolutionary relatives are the only pseudo-legendary Pokémon line that do not have a Hidden Ability whatsoever.
  • All pseudo-legendary Pokémon have appeared in a movie.


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