The likes of Charizard and Pikachu may lead the way when it comes to the most popular creatures in the Pokemon franchise, but, when instead measuring for the most powerful Pokemon, they find themselves quite a way down the pecking order. It's one that's instead dominated by the series' many Legendary Pokemon, who more than live up to their title when it comes to sheer power.

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First introduced in the Gen 1 Pokemon games, Legendary Pokemon really are the cream of the crop. Granted, there are a handful of non-Legendary Pokemon who manage to get close, but, in a contest of pure stats, most Pokemon just can't quite compete. Mega Evolutions and other non-permanent transformations aside, the strongest and most powerful Pokemon all typically fall under the "Legendary" label.

Updated January 8, 2024, by Tom Bowen: The past few years have been great for Pokemon fans, with the Diamond & Pearl remakes, Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet & Violet having all been released across a relatively short amount of time. What's more, these games all featured their fair share of Legendary Pokemon, with the five titles boasting almost all of the series' most powerful Pokemon between them. There were even a few brand-new Legendary Pokemon introduced, as well as new forms for a couple of the existing ones; helping to make some of the strongest Pokemon in the series even better than they already were. Scarlet & Violet's The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero took things even further, with a ridiculous amount of new and returning Pokemon featuring across the two DLC expansions.

The 26 Most Powerful Pokemon

Pokemon: Mewtwo, Arceus and Rayquaza
  1. Arceus (720)
  2. Complete Forme Zygarde (708)
  3. Terapagos (700)
  4. Crowned Sword Zacian (700)
  5. Crowned Shield Zamazenta (700)
  6. Black / White Kyurem (700)
  7. Eternatus (690)
  8. Rayquaza (680)
  9. Mewtwo (680)
  10. Ho-Oh (680)
  11. Giratina (680)
  12. Lugia (680)
  13. Dialga (680)
  14. Palkia (680)
  15. Xerneas (680)
  16. Zekrom (680)
  17. Solgaleo (680)
  18. Reshiram (680)
  19. Yveltal (680)
  20. Ice / Shadow Rider Calyrex (680)
  21. Lunala (680)
  22. Regigigas (670)
  23. Miraidon (670)
  24. Koraidon (670)
  25. Groudon (670)
  26. Kyogre (670)

Kyogre

Base Stat Total: 670

pokemon-brilliant-diamond-shining-pearl-ramanas-park-kyogre

Due largely to its fantastic Drizzle ability, Kyogre is a solid choice for those looking for a powerful Water-type Pokemon to round out their team. Of course, its monstrous 670 base stat total also helps quite a bit in this regard, with its 150 Special Attack and 140 Special Defense stats making Kyogre an incredibly tough Pokemon to topple without exploiting weakness.

Sadly, players no longer have access to Kyogre's Primal form, which once saw its two special stats rising to 180 and 160 respectively and its physical Attack stat also getting a healthy boost from 100 to 150. Despite this, Kyogre remains one of the most powerful Pokemon in the series and one who is well worth seeking out in any game in which it can be caught.

Groudon

Base Stat Total: 670

Pokemon Groudon

Like its fellow Gen 3 Legendary, Groudon was nigh unstoppable while in its Primal form. However, this was as much the result of its incredible 770 base stat total as it was its signature ability, Desolate Land. This nullified all damage-dealing Water-type attacks while active, meaning that players only really had to worry about Ground-type attacks and thus making Primal Groudon a very difficult Pokemon to counter.

Even without its Primal form though, Groudon remains one of the strongest Legendary Pokemon in the series, due largely to its sky-high stats. Where Kyogre specializes in Special Attack and Defense, Groudon is the king of physical, with its 150 Attack and 140 Defense stats perfectly complimenting its expansive learn pool, which features the likes of Earthquake, Hammer Arm, and Giga Impact.

Koraidon

Base Stat Total: 670

Koraidon In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Koraidon is the box Legendary for Pokemon Scarlet and, as well as being a version exclusive Pokemon, is the strongest Pokemon that players can catch in the game at launch. Unusually, Scarlet players are actually given Koraidon right at the very beginning of the game, though they won't actually be able to do battle with it until after they have completed the main story.

Koraidon is a Fighting/Dragon-type with blistering speed and a high physical attack stat. Its defensive stats are pretty decent too, making it a solid addition to any team. This bodes well really, as Scarlet players will actually be able to catch themselves a second Koraidon by returning to the Great Crater of Paldea after completing the main story.

Miraidon

Base Stat Total: 670

most-powerful-legendary-pokemon-miraidon

While Pokemon Scarlet players will have to ride around Paldea on Koraidon, Violet players are instead given access to Miraidon when they first begin their adventure. Unsurprisingly, when it comes to base stat totals, the two mascot Pokemon are incredibly similar, though Miraidon excels in the Special Attack department rather than physical and is an Electric/Dragon-type as opposed to Fighting/Dragon.

As with Koraidon, players gain access to Miraidon very early on and will be able to upgrade the Legendary Pokemon to improve its usefulness as a mount. It's not until the very end of the game that they'll unlock its battle form, at which point, players will be able to catch themselves a second Miraidon by heading back down into the Great Crater of Paldea.

Regigigas

Base Stat Total: 670

pokemon-legends-arceus-every-mythical-legendary-05-regigigas

First introduced in the Gen 4 Pokemon games, Regigigas is the creator of the Legendary Titans. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise to learn that it is stronger than all of the other Regis, each of which boasts a base stat total of 580 as opposed to Regigigas' impressive 670 total.

Despite its great size, Regigigas is actually a fairly fast Pokemon with a base Speed stat of 100. Its 110 Physical and Special defenses allow it to withstand a decent amount of punishment, as too does its 110 HP stat. Where Regigigas really shines, however, is through its Physical Attack stat, which stands at a mighty 160 and helps make Regigigas one of the most powerful Pokemon around.

Lunala

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon VGC Walls Lunala

Like its fellow Sun & Moon mascot Solgaleo, Lunala is a somewhat unusual Legendary Pokemon in that it is obtained through evolution. Though this idea has been played around with a little since the Gen 7 games, it came as something of a surprise back in 2016, with players needing to evolve first Cosmog and then Cosmoem in order to get their hands on the box Legendary.

As one might expect from a mascot, Lunala is one of the strongest Pokemon in the series, boasting a base stat total of 680. A good chunk of this comes courtesy of its HP and Special Attack, both of which sit at 137, with the rest of its stats all sitting somewhere around the 100 mark. This makes Lunala one of the more well-balanced Legendary Pokemon and a solid pick for those looking for a powerful Ghost-type Pokemon.

Calyrex

Base Stat Total: 680

Calyrex riding a Spectrier in Pokemon Sword & Shield

Whether in its Ice Rider or Shadow Rider form, Calyrex is one of the strongest Pokemon introduced in the series to date thanks to its monstrous 680 base stat total. It's one of the more recent Legendary Pokemon too, having first made its debut in the Gen 8 games, reintroducing the fusion mechanic that was first explored during Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 back in 2012.

Interestingly, when not fused with Glastrier or Spectrier, Calyrex is actually one of the weakest Legendary Pokemon due to its 500 base stat total. Though both fusions offer the same 680 total, Shadow Rider Calyrex arguably has the edge over its Ice Rider counterpart due to its 150 Speed and 165 Special Attack. That said, Ice Rider Calyrex is quite a bit bulkier and can hit pretty hard with physical attacks.

Yveltal

Base Stat Total: 680

Prior to the introduction of Galarian Moltres in Gen 8, Yveltal was the only dark-type Legendary in the series, making it incredibly useful in certain situations. It's still an exceptional Pokemon even with this extra competition though, as despite both Pokemon being Dark / Flying-types, Yveltal's base stat total is 100 higher.

This results in all six of Yveltal's key stats being above Galarian Moltres', with the most impressive being its 131 Attack and Special Attack. The Mythical Pokemon Darkrai can at times be more effective due to it being a pure Dark-type and much faster to boot, but, more often than not, Yveltal is the best option for those in need of a Dark-type Pokemon.

Reshiram

Base Stat Total: 680

Reshiram In The Pokemon Anime

There are an awful lot of Dragon-type Legendary Pokemon these days, but when Reshiram was first introduced in gen 5, there wasn't nearly as much competition. Despite more than a decade having passed though, Reshiram still boasts one of the coolest designs in the Pokemon series and remains the only Dragon / Fire-type Legendary to date.

Reshiram's 150 Special Attack stat is by far its most impressive attribute, but it's also strong in just about every other department as well. It becomes even more powerful when fused together with Kyurem, but, even on its own, it should be more than a match for the majority of other Pokemon.

Solgaleo

Base Stat Total: 680

Solgaleo

First introduced in the Gen 7 games, Solgaleo is a Psychic / Steel-type Legendary with high Attack and Special attack stats. Though it's able to fuse with Necrozma, the resulting Dusk Mane Necrozma boasts the same 680 base stat total as Solgaleo's unfused form, showing just how strong it and its fellow Gen 7 mascot Lunala really are.

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Though some may prefer Necrozma for its extra versatility or Lunala for its Special Attack-centric stats, many consider Solgaleo to be the best of the trio thanks to its excellent move set and its many resistances and immunities. Ultimately though, which one of them is truly the best will depend on which type best compliments the player's team.

Zekrom

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon Zekrom

Like Reshiram, Zekrom boasts one of the series' more distinctive designs, with its all-black appearance making it an incredibly difficult Pokemon to forget. It's also immensely strong, with a base stat total of 680; 150 of which goes into its Attack stat. When fused together with Kyurem, this rises to a monstrous 170.

With both of Zekrom's regular form's defensive stats sitting at 100 or higher though, it's able to withstand an awful lot of punishment, while simultaneously dishing out some real damage with moves like Outrage. As such, it earns its place among the strongest Pokemon of all time even while remaining in its unfused form.

Xerneas

Base Stat Total: 680

pokemon anime xerneas

Being a more recent addition to the franchise, there aren't nearly as many Fairy-type Pokemon as there are some of the other 17 types. This holds true for Legendary Pokemon as well, with only a handful having been introduced across the first eight generations of Pokemon. The very first of these was Xerneas.

Xerneas was one of the mascots for Pokemon X & Y and also played a leading role in 2021's New Pokemon Snap. Like most other Legendary Pokemon, it specializes in attacking rather than defending, with both its Attack and Special Attack stats sitting at 131. The fact that it's a pure Fairy-type means that it's completely immune to Dragon-type attacks, which, given just how many strong Dragon-type Pokemon there are these days, can make it an invaluable member of any trainer's team.

Palkia

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon Palkia

Palkia's dual-typing can at times be a bit of a double-edged sword, though it ranks among the very best in both the water and dragon-type categories. Its 680 stats are distributed fairly evenly, but it does lean a little more towards special attacks than it does physical ones. This is especially true when Palkia is in its Origin Forme.

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This bodes well for Palkia owners, as it has access to some ridiculously powerful special attack-based moves. The pick of the bunch are probably Draco Meteor and Hydro Pump, but it can also dish out some decent rock and ground-type damage with moves like Power Gem and Earth Power too.

Dialga

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon Dialga

Much like its fellow gen 4 legendary, Dialga has been blessed with two types. As well as being a dragon-type Pokemon, it also has access to Steel-type moves and is once again among the very best in class for both types. If ever the Pokemon gets a Mega Evolution or a primal form like it did in Mystery Dungeon, it would be right up there with the very strongest Pokemon in the series.

As with Palkia, Dialga favors special attack-based moves and has quite a few devastating ones in its locker. In particular, Roar of Time can be deadly when attacking weakness, as too can some of its learnable steel-type moves like Flash Cannon. The Origin Forme that it gains access to in Pokemon Legends: Arceus only makes it better.

Lugia

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon Lugia

Though not quite as popular as its fellow gen 2 mascot, Ho-Oh, Lugia is still an incredibly useful Pokemon to have on one's team; assuming, that is, that players can find one. It has access to some great psychic and flying-type moves and can also cover water and ice-type attacks if push really comes to shove.

Where Lugia really shines, however, is through its excellent defensive stats, with a significant proportion of the Pokemon's 680 base stat total being dedicated to physical and special defense. This pairs well with Lugia's hidden ability, Multiscale, which reduces the damage it takes by 50% when the Pokemon is attacked while at full health.

Giratina

Base Stat Total: 680

Whether in its Origin or Altered form, Giratina boasts an impressive base stat total of 680. It's actually one of 16 Legendary Pokemon that does so, although it is arguably one of the more useful of the bunch thanks to its impressive versatility in battle.

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While in its base form, the Pokemon specializes in defense and has a 120 stat for both the physical and special defense categories. When given a Griseous Orb to hold or while in the Distortion World, however, its attack and defensive stats are switched; with the latter dropping down to 100 in exchange for some additional firepower.

Ho-Oh

Base Stat Total: 680

pokemon go johto celebration event research

Like many of the series' earlier Legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh rocks a base stat total of 680. It excels in the special defense department, although also has decent numbers in the attack and special attack categories as well. It shares its design with a real-world mythical creature too, which is a pretty cool – albeit, somewhat irrelevant – touch.

Ho-Oh holds the distinction of being the very first Legendary Pokemon to appear in the anime and is said to be the guardian of the skies and the master of the three Legendary Beasts. Many consider it to be the polar opposite of Lugia; which also boasts a base stat total of 680 but is instead the guardian of the seas and the master of the three Legendary Birds.

Mewtwo

Base Stat Total: 680

Pokemon Mewtwo

Together with Rayquaza, Mewtwo is considered to be the most powerful Pokemon obtainable in the series, at least when it comes to Mega Evolutions, anyway. By default, they each have base stat totals of 680, but in their powered-up forms, this rises to an impressive 780.

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Although many other Pokemon have the ability to Mega Evolve and also benefit from the same 100 stat point bonus after doing so, Mewtwo and Rayquaza are tied when it comes to the strongest Pokemon that have access to Mega Evolution. The former is also one of only two Pokemon with two distinct Mega Evolution forms; the other one being Charizard.

Rayquaza

Base Stat Total: 680

pokemon go rayquaza

Rayquaza might not be the fastest Pokemon out there, but its 150 physical and special attack stats are right up there with the very best. They account for almost half of the Pokemon's 680 base stat total; which rises to an eye-watering 780 when the Pokemon Mega Evolves.

Rayquaza is somewhat special in this regard as it is the only Pokemon to date that is able to Mega Evolve without the use of an item. Instead, the Pokemon need only use the move Dragon Ascent to transform into its Mega form. This is because Rayquaza is said to have eaten numerous meteorites and it is from these that it is able to draw the power needed for the transformation.

Eternatus

Base Stat Total: 690

Pokemon Sword and Sheild

First introduced in Pokemon Sword & Shield, Eternatus is an incredibly powerful Pokemon with a base stat total of 690. It may not be the strongest in this regard, but it's perhaps worth noting that there is only one other Pokemon that can reach a higher total without the use of an item or a fusion technique. Besides, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

At the games' climax, players square off against Eternamax Eternatus, which is by far the strongest Pokemon to have ever appeared in the series. Its base stat total of 1,125 makes it almost twice as powerful as the nearest contender, although, sadly, there is no legitimate way for players to gain access to this form. At least not yet, anyway.

Kyurem

Base Stat Total: 700

sword shield calyrex tag-team feature

The innovative fusion mechanic introduced in the fifth generation of Pokemon games is one that has not been utilized nearly as much as it should have been in subsequent games. It did, however, lead to the introduction of Black Kyurem and White Kyurem.

In its base form, Kyurem is slightly weaker than some of the series' other Legendary Pokemon owing to its base stat total of 660. When fused together with either Zekrom or Reshiram though, this total rises to 700, making Black and White Kyurem the strongest Pokemon ever at the time of their inception. Being able to choose between a physical and special attacker is also a nice touch and something that players would see again in future generations.

Zamazenta

Base Stat Total: 700

pokemon shield zamazenta

Much like Zacian, Zamazenta started life with a base stat total of 670 which could then be increased to 720 with the aid of a held item. Unfortunately, it too ended up getting nerfed shortly after the release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, which seems a little unfair given that it was Zacian that was overpowered, rather than its sibling.

Unlike its fellow Sword & Shield mascot, the stat bonuses gained from Zamazenta's Crowned Shield transformation are a bit more balanced. Both its Defense and Special Defense stats each increase by 25, although this does come at a cost. Rather than increasing by ten like Zacian's, its speed stat instead decreases; dropping from 138 to 128 while it's holding the Rusted Shield.

Zacian

Base Stat Total: 700

In its Hero of Many Battles form, Zacian is actually a little weaker than quite a few of its Legendary peers, more so after Zacian and Zamazenta got nerfed in Scarlet & Violet. While holding a Rusted Sword though, its base stat total is boosted by 40 points, bringing it up to a still impressive 700. In this form, it finds itself challenging some of the series' most powerful Pokemon.

The bulk of this boost goes into its physical attack stat, which jumps from an already impressive 120 to a monstrous 150. Its speed also rises to 148, making it one of the fastest Pokemon around as well as one of the most powerful. Its defensive stats aren't too bad either, although its HP remains a little on the low side at just 92.

Terapagos

Base Stat Total: 700

pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-finds-secret-area-zero-caves-indigo-disk-dec-2023

The base versions of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet feature fewer Mythical and Legendary Pokemon than any other generation of Pokemon games. However, that all changed with the games' two DLC expansions, which, between them, added nine new Legendary Pokemon to the mix. The pick of the bunch was definitely Terapagos though, thanks to its monstrous base stat total.

While in its normal form, Terapagos is actually one of the weakest Legendary Pokemon in the series, but this quickly changes once it's thrown into battle. Its Terastal Form has a base stat total of 600, which rises to 700 whenever the Pokemon changes into its Stellar Form. This makes it one of the strongest Legendary Pokemon around and a solid choice for those in need of a special attacking Normal-type.

Zygarde

Base Stat Total: 708

Pokemon Zygarde

Upon its introduction in Pokemon X & Y, Zygarde was really wasn't anything to write home about. With Sun & Moon came the addition of the Pokemon's Complete form, however, and it was catapulted up the pecking order of the series' most powerful Pokemon of all time.

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Only three Pokemon can better its 708 base stat total, although its high numbers are perhaps a little misleading. Complete Forme Zygarde is actually slower than the 50% Forme and has only a plus ten increase to its special attack stat to show for it. Well, that and a huge increase to its HP, which accounts for the entirety of its stat boost across forms.

Arceus

Base Stat Total: 720

Pokemon Arceus

Not only is Arceus the most powerful Pokemon when it comes to regular forms, but the genderless Deity also has the beating of all but six of the Mega Evolutions introduced to the series thus far. Given that Game Freak now seems to have done away with Mega Evolutions in the mainline games, however, it seems safe to say that Arceus is now the strongest Pokemon around.

Arceus is a somewhat unique Pokemon in that it is able to change its elemental type through the use of special plates and this makes it incredibly versatile in battle. Its 720 base stat total is also perfectly distributed between the six stat categories, so the Pokemon has no major weaknesses either. This does mean that it can sometimes lack the firepower needed to break down tankier foes though. Nonetheless, when it comes to raw stats, no Pokemon is more powerful than Arceus.

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