Summary
Among the strongest Pokemon in Nintendo’s RPG franchise are Legendary Pokemon, who can only be caught once throughout a single game. There are several Pokemon found in the wild who are just as powerful, often referred to as “Pseudo Legendaries.” These Pokemon always have a base stat total of 600, come from three-stage evolutionary lines, and evolve in later levels.
However, there’s another subsection of Pokemon that fans classify as “Semi-Pseudo Legendaries.” These Pokemon, while extremely powerful, might fail to qualify as Pseudo Legendaries due to not meeting certain criteria. These examples are the best of the Semi-Pseudo bunch.
Base Stat Total
670
Slaking is a unique entry considering that it has a whopping base stat total of 670, which it shares with actual Legendary Pokemon like Kyogre and Miraidon. It’s also the third stage inits Normal-type evolutionary line, making it just barely qualify to be a Pseudo Legendary. However, it has one downside: its point of evolution.
In its introductory games,Ruby & Sapphire, Slaking’s pre-evolved form Slakoth could be found in Petalburg Woods, one of the earliest forests in the Hoenn region. Furthermore, Slakoth fully evolves into Slaking by level 36. Nevertheless, Slaking still boasts some of the highest base HP and Attack stats, with excellent Speed as well, though its ability Truant hinders its usability.
530, 630 (Mega Aggron)
The Steel/Rock-type Aggron is another Semi-Pseudo Legendary Pokemon from the third generation. It’s the third stage evolution of Aron and boasts a stat distribution that nearly reaches the 600 it needs to join the ranks of Pseudo Legendaries. However, Aggron is also a special entry, because in certain situations, it actually can reach over 600 in its base stat total.
InX & Y, Aggron was one of 28 Pokemon who were given Mega Evolutions. In its pure Steel-type state, Aggron has a BST of 630. Sadly, Aron and its evolution Lairon are also early catches inRuby & Sapphire, fully evolving into Aggron by the early level 40s. At the very least, ifPokemon Legends Z-Are-introduces Mega Evolution, Aggron will have some competitive power at its back.
Level 32 (Seadra), Trade w/ Dragon Scale (Kingdra)
540
Kingdra was a late addition to its evolutionary line, tacked on in Generation 2 after its pre-evolutions Horsea and Seadra were introduced in the first-gen games. This is partly why it doesn’t exactly qualify as a Pseudo Legendary,especially due to its evolution method, which requires Seadra to be traded while holding a Dragon Scale, meaning trainers can own one by level 32.
535
When Noivern was revealedprior to the release ofPokemon X & Y, it seemed like a shoo-in for the generation’s Pseudo Legendary. However, that honor instead went to the three-stage evolutionary line of Goodra, a pure Dragon-type. Noivern, on the other hand, is only part of a two-stage line, evolving from the Flying/Dragon-type Noibat at level 48.
Where Noivern nears Pseudo Legendary status is in its discovery, with Noibat only able to be caught in late-game areas of the Kalos region. Sadly, its base stat total is also lacking, with only 535, though it does have a decent move pool and useful Abilities. However, a future game can still boost this evolutionary line to Pseudo Legendary status by adding an evolution from Noivern.
Riolu > Lucario > Mega Lucario
Evolve Method
Level up with high friendship during the day (Lucario), Lucarionite (Mega Lucario)
525, 625 (Mega Lucario)
Lucario earns its spot for being quite a special Pokemon in the franchise’s canon. As one of the earliest Gen 4 Pokemon introduced, Lucario made his anime debut in the filmLucario and the Mystery of Mewand was added as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. However, catching one in the games is about as hard as nabbing a proper Pseudo Legendary.
However, a few things keep Lucario from Pseudo Legendary status, from only being a two-stage evolutionary line to its base stat total only being 525. Its Mega Evolution does boast a base stat total of 625, which still makes it a good option in competitive play, albeit Lucario doesn’t see much usage in generations where Mega Evolution is not possible.
520
Flygon seemingly has all the makings of a Pseudo Legendary Pokemon. Introduced in the third generation,it’s a Ground/Dragon-type Pokemonthat’s the final stage of a three-stage evolutionary line starting with Trapinch. While it’s fully evolved by level 45, it makes for a great competitive option due to its ability, Levitate, as well as its diverse range of moves to learn.
Sadly, Flygon fails to hit Pseudo Legendary status with its base stat total of 520, which it shares with other three-stage evolutions like Klinklang and Obstagoon. However, that hasn’t stopped manyPokemonfans from confusing it for a Pseudo Legendary, even without a Mega Evolution, though fans have been clamoring for one since Gen 6.
510
Like Lucario, Zoroark is another interesting Pokemon in the franchise’s history. As the first Pokemon introduced for Gen 5, Zoroark has become somewhat of a fan favorite, even sometimes assumed to be a Legendary or Mythical Pokemon by fans. However, as part of only a two-stage evolutionary line with Zorua, Zoroark doesn’t meet the criteria to even be Pseudo Legendary.
Zoroark doesn’t even measure up to the category of Pseudo Legendary with its base stat total. It also evolves from Zorua at level 30, but at least forPokemon Black & White, it was impossible to catch if players hadn’t transferred over Event Pokemon fromHeartGold & SoulSilver. At the very least,its Hisuian form’s Normal/Ghost-typinghas given it a bigger life in the competitive meta.
It wouldn’t be too far off to mistake Haxorus for a Pseudo Legendary Pokemon. As the fifth generation’s final evolution to Axew, Haxorus is a pure Dragon-type, fitting right in stylistically with other Pseudo Legendaries. It’s also a late evolution, with Axew evolving into Fraxure at level 38, and Fraxure into Haxorus at level 48, with Axew and Fraxure only caught in late-game areas.
Despite seeming like an obvious Pseudo Legendary, Haxorus’s downside is its base stat total of only 540. Compare this to the region’s actual Pseudo Legendary, the Dark/Dragon-type Hydreigon, which has a base stat total of 600 and fully evolves at level 64. At the very least, Haxorus has enough Attack stats and a good ability to make for a useful UU-tier Pokemon.
555
It wouldn’t be wrong to mistake Arcanine for a Pseudo Legendary, given it is classified as the “Legendary Pokemon” in the Pokedex. However, the Fire-type is actually fairly common in the franchise,debuting in the first generationas the evolution for version-exclusive Growlithe, who can be caught early on in routes 7 and 8 and only requires a Fire Stone to evolve.
550
Volcarona’s introduction inBlack & Whitewas unique for a Pokemon that’s not only not a Legendary, but not even a Pseudo Legendary. The Bug/Fire-type could originally be caught only once at Relic Castle after completing the main story. However, it’s only the second stage of an evolutionary line, evolving from Larvesta, who in later games can be caught in the wild.
Larvesta also evolves into Volcarona quite late at level 59, though where Volcarona fails to be a Pseudo Legendary, like many of the Pokemon already mentioned, is its base stat total. Nevertheless, it’s one of the strongest unbanned Pokemon in the competitive meta, as the only Pokemon here in the OU tieraccording to Smogon, thanks to its powerful moveset and versatility.
