Every new generation of Pokemon games has introduced at least one line of monsters referred to as "pseudo-legendary." The immediate implication, of course, is that they're fake legendaries. This isn't true, but it gets the point across. The term is used by fans to describe a Pokemon that has a three-stage evolution line and whose final form has a base stat total of exactly 600 (not including Mega Evolutions). With a stat total like that, they're a very powerful Pokemon by default and a boon to every team.
Now, with so many Pokemon fans around the world, it's inevitable that every entry on this list is going to be someone's favorite fantasy critter ever. Don't let our ranking dissuade you; it's all in good fun. From a strength perspective, none of these are pushovers, and more importantly, they're all worth our love.
Updated February 19th, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: With Pokemon Legends: Arceus just a few weeks behind us and Pokemon Day a week or so ahead, we thought now would be a nice time to reacquaint readers with the pseudo-legendary lines. We're eight generations in and counting, and in all likelihood, folks will still be reading this list (albeit more majorly updated) well into the ninth and even tenth. Pokemon is forever.
9 Goodra
Goodra is a bit of a lackluster design for a dragon Pokemon. It doesn't really look like a dragon, and it also loses a lot of the weird and fun slug aesthetic it had in its previous two evolutions. Averaging those two designs out, unfortunately, results in a slightly bland purple biped with a few token goo drips. Then there's the matter of Goodra being the only mono-type pseudo-legendary Pokemon, meaning it has less versatility with regard to its offensive capabilities.
Now for some positives. Goodra's hidden Ability, Gooey, lowers the Speed stat of any Pokemon that make physical contact with it by one stage. Furthermore, its base Special Defense of 150 makes it a surprisingly effective special-based wall. Its Hisuian form tosses in Steel for a Dragon/Steel dual-type, which is nice, though it still won't win many awards for offensive capabilities.
Last but not least? Goodra's arc in the Pokemon X & Y anime is whew. We won't spoil it for you, but prepare to shed a few tears.
8 Salamence
Salamence is one of two pseudo-legendary lines introduced in Generation 3, the first and only time the series has added more than one at a time. Even back when it was first released, fans critiqued its design, specifically the odd blade-shape of its wings. It's supposedly based on a kind of salamander, supported by the prominent fins sprouting from its head like external gills.
We ܫsuppose it had to make do with what it got. It has a monstrous Attack stat, as well as a Mega Evolution that gives it a great Speed boost, but it also repeats the typing of a previous pseudo, Dragonite, making it overall one of the less intere🍃sting options.
7 Dragonite
We just want to come out of the gate and say nothing is really wrong with Dragonite on its own merits. It was the signature Pokemon of the first champion, Lance, and holds a special place in many players' hearts. Dragonites are large, round, friendly dragons that will, according to the Pokedex, rescue drowning sailors from the merciless sea.
So Dragonite's a pal, obviously. The only downside is that it looks almost nothing like its pre-evolutions, Dratini and Dragonair. As early as Red & Blue, some fans griped that the elegance of those two (especially Dragonair) is lost in favor of something straight out of the educational children's program, Dragon Tales. Fan art of "real" Dragonair evolutions has existed for just as many years. Harsh.
6 Tyranitar
Tyranitar is easily one of the most popular pseudo-legendaries. It was the second pseudo line introduced and seemed to imply that these powerful monsters wouldn't just be limited to the Dragon-type. It has a great design that pulls from real-life dinosaurs as well as kaiju like Godzilla and has an interesting middle evolution that seems to be a cocoon stage form stage formed entirely from rock and metal.
Unfortunately, after Tyranitar's introduction, nearly every other pseudo added to the game has been Dragon-type and, as Dragon is one of the most powerful kinds of Pokémon, poor Tyranitar's been left in the dust. Its unique Rock/Dark combination leaves it with a whole host of weaknesses to exploit, especially its 4x weakness to Fighting.
5 Hydreigon
Hydreigon is another of the more traditionally draconic pseudos, hearkening back to hydras of Greek myth as well as the legendary Japanese dragon Orochi. They are known to be particularly brutal, with especially high Attack and Special Attack stats to ba💛ck the lore from a more mechanical perspective. According to its Pokedex entries, Hydreigon will attack anything it sees without hesitation, destroying or devouring everything in its path.
Fun fact: this line was originally supposed to feature cyborg dragons based on military tanks. There are several discernible remnants of the design, most notably the tread-like markings on Hydreigon's belly.
4 Dragapult
Dragapult is the newest addition to the family of pseudo-legendary Pokemon. The line has an interesting type combination, Dragon/Ghost, only seen elsewhere in the legendary Pokémon Giratina. According to the Pokedex, Dreepy a🃏re spirits of prehistoric sea creatures reborn as Ghost Pokemon. They star🅘t out weak, but through cooperation with other members of its species, they can grow up into the powerful Dragapult.
This cooperation is evidenced in their models, where Dreepy can be seen resting on top of Drakloak and nestled like torpedoes in the holes on Dragapult's head. Apparently, they're more than happy to help their elder in battle, eagerly anticipating being fired like supersonic missiles. You do you, Dreepy. You do you.
3 Kommo-o
Kommo-o and its previous form Hakamo-o have a unique Dragon/Fighting-type combination that makes for an excellent offensive addition to your team. The design of their scales seems at once practical and ornamental; they function as armor, but they sure are pretty. Coupled with their tendency to form reclusive colonies high in abandoned mountains, Kommo-o almost calls up images of warrior monks training day and night to perfect their abilities. Jangmo-o's Pokedex entry even says they only grow larger by facing each other in battle.
Com🎐petitively speaking, Kommo-o has a 110 Attack and 100 Special Attack, making it just about equally capable of dishing out de▨cent damage. Neither of these are quite as high as some other pseudo-legendaries, but coupled with 125 Defense and 105 Special Defense, you get a nice all-rounder here.
2 Metagross
Metagross is the second and last (so far) pseudo-legendary not to be Dragon-type but, unlike Tyranitar, its Steel and Psychic combination make for a much more powerful foe. It has only four weaknesses and a whopping ten resistances or iಌmmunities. Their design is cool, too; a Metagross is the result of two Metangs fusing together, themselves composed of two fused Beldums. So Metagross is said to have a total of four brains and the intelligence of a supercomputer.
Metagross makes us want more pseudo-legendaries with unique type combinations. Plus, it's the signature Pokemon of one of the coolest champions, Steven. Then again, there's an even more popular champion, with an even more popular Pokemon to boot...
1 Garchomp
Cynthia, of course. And if you've been keeping tabs, the only pseudo-legendary left on the list is, indeed, her chompy friend.
Garchomp is all about physical strikes, with an incredible 130 Attack stat at the cost of a mere 80 Special Attack. This spiky land shark has a very intimidating design that's backed up by its great offensive type combination. That, in addition to its high Speed and respectable HP pool, makes it a highly desirably competitive battler. Plus it just looks really cool. Its arms are just blades, what a champion.