Legendary Pokémon are rare, powerful Pokémon that usually show up in a game's main story. Mythical Pokémon are even harder to find, and you normally get them from a special event, not just by playing. There are 71 Legendary Pokémon and 23 Mythical ones.
Both names are official. The games, the anime and The Pokémon Company all use them. What decides the group isn't a stat or a rule you can check. A Pokémon is Legendary or Mythical because the games say so.
The quick difference
| Legendary | Mythical | |
|---|---|---|
| How many | 71 | 23 |
| How you usually get one | In the main story, or after you finish it | Through a special event, gift or code |
| Famous examples | Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Koraidon | Mew, Celebi, Arceus |
| Average base stat total | 594 | 586 |
The average for every Pokémon is 428, so both groups are much stronger than a normal Pokémon on paper.
One fun pair shows how it works. Mew is Mythical. Mewtwo, which scientists made from Mew's DNA in the story, is Legendary. You could find Mewtwo in a cave in the first games. Mew was hidden away and handed out at events.
Why Mythical Pokémon are so hard to get
Most Mythical Pokémon are not in the game at all unless you get them another way. Over the years that has meant events in shops, codes, gifts over the internet, or linking a different game. The Pokémon Company still uses the word in its own news. When Zarude was revealed in 2020, the press release said "a new Mythical Pokémon has been discovered".
The way each one is handed out changes from game to game. The label stays the same, though.
All 23 Mythical Pokémon
| Gen | Mythical Pokémon | Type | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mew | Psychic | 600 |
| 2 | Celebi | Psychic/Grass | 600 |
| 3 | Jirachi | Steel/Psychic | 600 |
| 3 | Deoxys | Psychic | 600 |
| 4 | Phione | Water | 480 |
| 4 | Manaphy | Water | 600 |
| 4 | Darkrai | Dark | 600 |
| 4 | Shaymin | Grass | 600 |
| 4 | Arceus | Normal | 720 |
| 5 | Victini | Psychic/Fire | 600 |
| 5 | Keldeo | Water/Fighting | 580 |
| 5 | Meloetta | Normal/Psychic | 600 |
| 5 | Genesect | Bug/Steel | 600 |
| 6 | Diancie | Rock/Fairy | 600 |
| 6 | Hoopa | Psychic/Ghost | 600 |
| 6 | Volcanion | Fire/Water | 600 |
| 7 | Magearna | Steel/Fairy | 600 |
| 7 | Marshadow | Fighting/Ghost | 600 |
| 7 | Zeraora | Electric | 600 |
| 7 | Meltan | Steel | 300 |
| 7 | Melmetal | Steel | 600 |
| 8 | Zarude | Dark/Grass | 600 |
| 9 | Pecharunt | Poison/Ghost | 600 |
Three odd ones out are worth knowing:
- Meltan is the only Mythical Pokémon that evolves. It becomes Melmetal in Pokémon GO, after you feed it 400 Meltan Candy.
- Phione can hatch from an Egg laid by Manaphy, so some fans argue it shouldn't count. The official sources still list it as Mythical.
- Keldeo travels with three Legendary Pokémon, but it is Mythical itself.
All 71 Legendary Pokémon, by generation
- Generation 1: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo
- Generation 2: Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, Ho-Oh
- Generation 3: Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza
- Generation 4: Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Heatran, Regigigas, Giratina, Cresselia
- Generation 5: Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus, Thundurus, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus, Kyurem
- Generation 6: Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde
- Generation 7: Type: Null, Silvally, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, Cosmog, Cosmoem, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma
- Generation 8: Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus, Kubfu, Urshifu, Regieleki, Regidrago, Glastrier, Spectrier, Calyrex, Enamorus
- Generation 9: Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu, Koraidon, Miraidon, Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, Ogerpon, Terapagos
Not every Legendary is huge and scary. Cosmog has a base stat total of just 200, less than a Pikachu. It is Legendary because it grows up into Solgaleo or Lunala. The biggest totals belong to Eternatus (690), then Mewtwo and Lugia (680 each).
Legendary groups to know
Many Legendary Pokémon come in teams. Learning the teams is the easiest way to remember them:
| Group | Members | Region |
|---|---|---|
| The legendary birds | Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres | Kanto |
| The legendary beasts | Raikou, Entei, Suicune | Johto |
| The Regis | Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Regigigas, Regieleki, Regidrago | Hoenn, Sinnoh, Galar |
| The lake guardians | Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf | Sinnoh |
| The Swords of Justice | Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion | Unova |
| The guardian deities | Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini | Alola |
| The Treasures of Ruin | Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu | Paldea |
| The Loyal Three | Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti | Kitakami |
How many in each generation
| Generation | Legendary | Mythical |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | 8 | 2 |
| 4 | 9 | 5 |
| 5 | 9 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | 11 | 5 |
| 8 | 11 | 1 |
| 9 | 11 | 1 |
Pokémon that people mix up with Legendaries
| Group | Official? | Legendary? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Beasts | Yes | No. They come from another dimension and are their own group | Nihilego |
| Paradox Pokémon | Yes | Only Koraidon and Miraidon | Great Tusk |
| Pseudo-legendary | No, it's a fan term | No. They are strong Pokémon you raise from the first stage | Garchomp |
| "Sub-legendary" | No, it's a fan and wiki term | Used for the smaller Legendaries, like the three birds | Zapdos |
We don't use "sub-legendary" on pokee.si, because the games never do.
Want to see them all at once? The Pokédex can filter by Legendary or Mythical.