History
The two Legendary Pokémon are believed to have been born from a place far beyond the Slumbering Weald. Some believe Zacian and Zamazenta are siblings, others believe that the two are rivals. For eons, the Legendary heroes have lived in the Galar region, protecting it from outside threats, but while the region is safe, both reside in an ancient altar deep within the Slumbering Weald in the form of statues in the middle of a lake.
3000 years ago, as the Legendary Pokémon Eternatus awakened and caused the cataclysmic Darkest Day, Zacian and Zamazenta awakened as well to protect the region with the help of two young humans. In the end of the battle, the four succeeded in taking down the Gigantic Pokémon, forcing it into another slumber and causing pieces of its body imbued with its power to rain down throughout Galar in the form of Wishing Pieces and Wishing Stars.
After the end of the Darkest Day, the two youths were crowned as the region's new kings, however, as time went on, Zacian and Zamazenta were forgotten by history, causing other alternate stories to arise: like one where a single hero with a sword and shield defeat all gigantic Pokémon and one where two youths find a sword and a shield and use it to undo the Darkest Day, being then crowned as kings.
Similar movesetsSimilar base stats
Generation VIII
Hero of Many Battles
Crowned
Generation IX
Hero of Many Battles
Crowned
In the core series games
Pokémon Sword and Shield
During the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, the truth behind the legend was discovered by Sonia, with the help of the player and their friend and rival, Hop. The truth of the legend was eventually published in a book, and became a point of contention from two brothers, Sordward and Shielbert, who claim to be descendants of the old kings.
They are encountered by the player for the first time in the Slumbering Weald. Eventually, one will be obtainable during the post-game segment after Sordward and Shielbert are thwarted atop the Energy Plant. In Pokémon Sword, the player will obtain Zacian and Hop will obtain Zamazenta, and in Pokémon Shield, the player will obtain Zamazenta and Hop will obtain Zacian.
In the spin-off gamesIn animationIn the manga
The legendary heroes in their Crowned forms in Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
The legendary heroes debuted in Ooh Shiny!! Legendary Equipment. Henry and Casey encountered them in the Slumbering Weald as they attempted to find the legendary Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield. Though they attempted to fight the two Pokémon off, they're revealed to be merely illusions as Casey's Pokémon's attacks simply went through their bodies. After promising he wasn't going to steal anything, they were able to simply walk through the illusions and reach the forest's altar as the illusions disappeared.
Following Eternatus's awakening and the recovery of the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, Zacian and Zamazenta appeared atop Hammerlocke in GRRR!! The Irrepairable Gears. Zamazenta saves Leon while Zacian attacks Eternamax Eternatus. As they attacked Eternatus again, with a Giga Impact in Oh My!! The Disappearance of Henry, a bright burst of light ensued, following which all three Legendary Pokémon had disappeared, along with Henry and the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield he was holding. It's later revealed they were teleported somewhere else.
In PASS41, Zacian and Zamazenta reappear and Zamazenta rescues Casey from a high fall before making their way to Hammerlocke, the two wolves soon recovered their weapons from Henry and used them to transform into their Crowned forms, bringing tears to Henry's eyes. In PASS42, it's revealed that Eternatus is being protected by three nobles and their Gigantamaxed Pokémon, making Zacian and Zamazenta hesitant to charge in and take too much damage before even reaching Eternatus. With the help of Henry, Casey, and Marvin however, they were able to resumed their battle against Eternatus at the tower summit. Thanks to Henry's advice, they successfully defeated their opponent by attacking it from its blind point in the following chapter, ending the Darkest Day and forcing Eternatus back to its weaker form. They subsequently left, with people like Casey and Piers agreeing to name them as the true heroes instead of any human to avoid more people like Sordward and Shielbert from coming about.
TriviaReferencesSee also