Together with Fire and Grass-type Pokemon, Water-types are one of the three central pillars of the Pokemon series. Like almost every other mainline installment before it, Pokemon Legends: Arceus offers players a strong Water-type at the very beginning of the game, but that doesn't mean that players can't go out and catch one of their own once their Hisuian adventure gets underway.
While choosing a Pokemon with high stats is certainly important, players should also take some time to consider how those stats are actually distributed as well as each candidate's second type (assuming that they even have one). Determining which is the best Water-type Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is therefore far from easy, though the following five Pokemon are all strong candidates for the crown.
5 Basculegion
|
Basculegion's Base Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
HP |
120 |
|
Attack |
112 |
|
Defense |
65 |
|
Special Attack |
80 |
|
Special Defense |
75 |
|
Speed |
78 |
|
Total |
530 |
Like many of the new evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Basculegion specializes in physical attacks. The Water / Ghost-type is a little on the slow side and its defensive stats are nothing to write home about, but it more than makes up for this with resistance to six different elements and complete immunity to both Normal and Fighting-type attacks. Basculegion's best with a Lonely nature, though Adamant isn't too far behind.
How to Get Basculegion in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Players cannot catch Basculegion out in the wild, meaning the only way to get one without trading is to evolve a Hisuian Basculin. To do so, players will need to take 300 recoil damage from the Agile Wave Crash attack; using either the Strong style if the Basculin is male or the Agile style if it's female.
4 Hisuian Samurott
|
Hisuian Samurott's Base Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
HP |
90 |
|
Attack |
108 |
|
Defense |
80 |
|
Special Attack |
100 |
|
Special Defense |
65 |
|
Speed |
85 |
|
Total |
528 |
When it comes to total stats, Hisuian Samurott is the weakest of the game's starter evolutions and doesn't really specialize in one type of attack. It's Speed stat is pretty low as well, though is actually fairly good for a Water-type. With immunity to Psychic-type attacks, Hisuian Samurott can be useful in the post-game as well as in the early stages. The Water / Dark-type is most effective with a Naughty or Adamant Nature.
How to Get Hisuian Samurott in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Hisuian Samurott is the final form of Oshawott; evolving from Dewott at Level 34. Players can choose Oshawott as their starter Pokemon at the beginning of the game or get one by speaking to the professor after beating the final main story boss. Doing so will also cause Oshawott and its evolutions to begin appearing in space-time distortions, though only in the Alabaster Icelands area.
3 Empoleon
|
Empoleon's Base Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
HP |
84 |
|
Attack |
86 |
|
Defense |
88 |
|
Special Attack |
111 |
|
Special Defense |
101 |
|
Speed |
60 |
|
Total |
530 |
Being a Water / Steel-type Pokemon, Empoleon is a lot more bulky than most of the other Water-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. It's also an excellent special attacker, allowing it to utilize powerful moves like Liquidation and Wave Crash. Those looking for the perfect Empoleon should look for one with a Quiet nature, as this will increase its Special Attack stat at the expense of a little speed.
How to Get Empoleon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Players can catch an Alpha Empoleon in the Islespy Shore area of the Cobalt Coastlands. Alternatively, they can find its unevolved forms Piplup and Prinplup in the Spring Path area of the same region. Piplup evolves into Prinplup at Level 16 and Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at Level 36.
2 Gyarados
|
Gyarados' Base Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
HP |
95 |
|
Attack |
125 |
|
Defense |
79 |
|
Special Attack |
60 |
|
Special Defense |
100 |
|
Speed |
81 |
|
Total |
540 |
Gyarados boasts the highest base-stat total of all non-Legendary / Mythical Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus as well as one of the highest Attack stats. Thanks to it being a Water / Flying-type, it's completely immune to Ground-type attacks, which can be the Achilles' heel of many of its peers. A Gyarados with an Adamant nature is even better, owing to it sacrificing a little Special Attack for an even higher Attack stat.
How to Get Gyarados in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Players can catch Gyarados in the Obsidian Falls and Lake Verity areas of the Obsidian Fieldlands, the Sand's Reach area of the Cobalt Coastlands, and in the Primeval Grotto area of the Coronet Highlands. Alternatively, they can evolve a Magikarp by leveling it up to Level 20.
1 Palkia
|
Palkia's Base Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
HP |
90 |
|
Attack |
120 / 100 |
|
Defense |
100 |
|
Special Attack |
150 |
|
Special Defense |
120 |
|
Speed |
100 / 120 |
|
Total |
680 |
When it comes to stats, no Water-type Pokemon even comes close to Palkia. Whether in its regular or Origin Forme, the Water / Dragon-type Legendary boasts a base stat total of 680, with five of its six stats being over 100. Prior to the introduction of its Origin Forme, Mild was probably its best nature, but these days many will prefer a Modest nature instead on account of its Attack stat having already fallen by 20 following the transformation.
How to Get Palkia in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Players will catch Palkia as part of the main story. In order to transform Palkia into its Origin Forme, they'll need the Lustrous Globe key item, which can be obtained by beating Irida at the Pearl Settlement after completing the main story.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for the Nintendo Switch.