---
title: "Legendary vs Mythical Pokémon: What's the Difference? (Full Lists) | pokee.si"
url: "https://pokee.si/articles/legendary-vs-mythical-pokemon"
description: "Legendary Pokémon turn up in the story. Mythical Pokémon usually come from special events. The difference, explained simply, with all 71 and all 23."
last_updated: "2026-10-21"
publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# Legendary vs Mythical Pokémon: What's the Difference? (Full Lists)

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](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mewtwo), [Rayquaza](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rayquaza), [Koraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/koraidon) | [Mew](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mew), [Celebi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/celebi), [Arceus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mew) is Mythical. [Mewtwo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mew) | [Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic) | 600 |
| 2 | [Celebi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/celebi) | [Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic)/[Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) | 600 |
| 3 | [Jirachi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/jirachi) | [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel)/[Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic) | 600 |
| 3 | [Deoxys](https://pokee.si/pokemon/deoxys) | [Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic) | 600 |
| 4 | [Phione](https://pokee.si/pokemon/phione) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) | 480 |
| 4 | [Manaphy](https://pokee.si/pokemon/manaphy) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) | 600 |
| 4 | [Darkrai](https://pokee.si/pokemon/darkrai) | [Dark](https://pokee.si/types/dark) | 600 |
| 4 | [Shaymin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shaymin) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) | 600 |
| 4 | [Arceus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/arceus) | [Normal](https://pokee.si/types/normal) | 720 |
| 5 | [Victini](https://pokee.si/pokemon/victini) | [Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic)/[Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire) | 600 |
| 5 | [Keldeo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/keldeo) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) | 580 |
| 5 | [Meloetta](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meloetta) | [Normal](https://pokee.si/types/normal)/[Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic) | 600 |
| 5 | [Genesect](https://pokee.si/pokemon/genesect) | [Bug](https://pokee.si/types/bug)/[Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) | 600 |
| 6 | [Diancie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/diancie) | [Rock](https://pokee.si/types/rock)/[Fairy](https://pokee.si/types/fairy) | 600 |
| 6 | [Hoopa](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hoopa) | [Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic)/[Ghost](https://pokee.si/types/ghost) | 600 |
| 6 | [Volcanion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/volcanion) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) | 600 |
| 7 | [Magearna](https://pokee.si/pokemon/magearna) | [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel)/[Fairy](https://pokee.si/types/fairy) | 600 |
| 7 | [Marshadow](https://pokee.si/pokemon/marshadow) | [Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting)/[Ghost](https://pokee.si/types/ghost) | 600 |
| 7 | [Zeraora](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zeraora) | [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric) | 600 |
| 7 | [Meltan](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meltan) | [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) | 300 |
| 7 | [Melmetal](https://pokee.si/pokemon/melmetal) | [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) | 600 |
| 8 | [Zarude](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zarude) | [Dark](https://pokee.si/types/dark)/[Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) | 600 |
| 9 | [Pecharunt](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pecharunt) | [Poison](https://pokee.si/types/poison)/[Ghost](https://pokee.si/types/ghost) | 600 |

Three odd ones out are worth knowing:

- [Meltan](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meltan) is the only Mythical Pokémon that evolves. It becomes [Melmetal](https://pokee.si/pokemon/melmetal) in Pokémon GO, after you feed it 400 Meltan Candy.
- [Phione](https://pokee.si/pokemon/phione) can hatch from an Egg laid by [Manaphy](https://pokee.si/pokemon/manaphy), so some fans argue it shouldn't count. The official sources still list it as Mythical.
- [Keldeo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/keldeo) travels with three Legendary Pokémon, but it is Mythical itself.

## All 71 Legendary Pokémon, by generation

- **Generation 1:** [Articuno](https://pokee.si/pokemon/articuno), [Zapdos](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zapdos), [Moltres](https://pokee.si/pokemon/moltres), [Mewtwo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mewtwo)
- **Generation 2:** [Raikou](https://pokee.si/pokemon/raikou), [Entei](https://pokee.si/pokemon/entei), [Suicune](https://pokee.si/pokemon/suicune), [Lugia](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lugia), [Ho-Oh](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ho-oh)
- **Generation 3:** [Regirock](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regirock), [Regice](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regice), [Registeel](https://pokee.si/pokemon/registeel), [Latias](https://pokee.si/pokemon/latias), [Latios](https://pokee.si/pokemon/latios), [Kyogre](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kyogre), [Groudon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/groudon), [Rayquaza](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rayquaza)
- **Generation 4:** [Uxie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/uxie), [Mesprit](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mesprit), [Azelf](https://pokee.si/pokemon/azelf), [Dialga](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dialga), [Palkia](https://pokee.si/pokemon/palkia), [Heatran](https://pokee.si/pokemon/heatran), [Regigigas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regigigas), [Giratina](https://pokee.si/pokemon/giratina), [Cresselia](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cresselia)
- **Generation 5:** [Cobalion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cobalion), [Terrakion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/terrakion), [Virizion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/virizion), [Tornadus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tornadus), [Thundurus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/thundurus), [Reshiram](https://pokee.si/pokemon/reshiram), [Zekrom](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zekrom), [Landorus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/landorus), [Kyurem](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kyurem)
- **Generation 6:** [Xerneas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/xerneas), [Yveltal](https://pokee.si/pokemon/yveltal), [Zygarde](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zygarde)
- **Generation 7:** [Type: Null](https://pokee.si/pokemon/type-null), [Silvally](https://pokee.si/pokemon/silvally), [Tapu Koko](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-koko), [Tapu Lele](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-lele), [Tapu Bulu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-bulu), [Tapu Fini](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-fini), [Cosmog](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cosmog), [Cosmoem](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cosmoem), [Solgaleo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/solgaleo), [Lunala](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lunala), [Necrozma](https://pokee.si/pokemon/necrozma)
- **Generation 8:** [Zacian](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zacian), [Zamazenta](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zamazenta), [Eternatus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/eternatus), [Kubfu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kubfu), [Urshifu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/urshifu), [Regieleki](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regieleki), [Regidrago](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regidrago), [Glastrier](https://pokee.si/pokemon/glastrier), [Spectrier](https://pokee.si/pokemon/spectrier), [Calyrex](https://pokee.si/pokemon/calyrex), [Enamorus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/enamorus)
- **Generation 9:** [Wo-Chien](https://pokee.si/pokemon/wo-chien), [Chien-Pao](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chien-pao), [Ting-Lu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ting-lu), [Chi-Yu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chi-yu), [Koraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/koraidon), [Miraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/miraidon), [Okidogi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/okidogi), [Munkidori](https://pokee.si/pokemon/munkidori), [Fezandipiti](https://pokee.si/pokemon/fezandipiti), [Ogerpon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ogerpon), [Terapagos](https://pokee.si/pokemon/terapagos)

Not every Legendary is huge and scary. [Cosmog](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cosmog) has a base stat total of just 200, less than a [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu). It is Legendary because it grows up into [Solgaleo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/solgaleo) or [Lunala](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lunala). The biggest totals belong to [Eternatus](https://pokee.si/pokemon/eternatus) (690), then [Mewtwo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mewtwo) and [Lugia](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/pokemon/articuno), [Zapdos](https://pokee.si/pokemon/zapdos), [Moltres](https://pokee.si/pokemon/moltres) | Kanto |
| The legendary beasts | [Raikou](https://pokee.si/pokemon/raikou), [Entei](https://pokee.si/pokemon/entei), [Suicune](https://pokee.si/pokemon/suicune) | Johto |
| The Regis | [Regirock](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regirock), [Regice](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regice), [Registeel](https://pokee.si/pokemon/registeel), [Regigigas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regigigas), [Regieleki](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regieleki), [Regidrago](https://pokee.si/pokemon/regidrago) | Hoenn, Sinnoh, Galar |
| The lake guardians | [Uxie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/uxie), [Mesprit](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mesprit), [Azelf](https://pokee.si/pokemon/azelf) | Sinnoh |
| The Swords of Justice | [Cobalion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cobalion), [Terrakion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/terrakion), [Virizion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/virizion) | Unova |
| The guardian deities | [Tapu Koko](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-koko), [Tapu Lele](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-lele), [Tapu Bulu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-bulu), [Tapu Fini](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tapu-fini) | Alola |
| The Treasures of Ruin | [Wo-Chien](https://pokee.si/pokemon/wo-chien), [Chien-Pao](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chien-pao), [Ting-Lu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ting-lu), [Chi-Yu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chi-yu) | Paldea |
| The Loyal Three | [Okidogi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/okidogi), [Munkidori](https://pokee.si/pokemon/munkidori), [Fezandipiti](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/articles/ultra-beasts-list) | Yes | No. They come from another dimension and are their own group | [Nihilego](https://pokee.si/pokemon/nihilego) |
| [Paradox Pokémon](https://pokee.si/articles/paradox-pokemon-list) | Yes | Only [Koraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/koraidon) and [Miraidon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/miraidon) | [Great Tusk](https://pokee.si/pokemon/great-tusk) |
| [Pseudo-legendary](https://pokee.si/articles/what-is-a-pseudo-legendary-pokemon) | No, it's a fan term | No. They are strong Pokémon you raise from the first stage | [Garchomp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/garchomp) |
| "Sub-legendary" | No, it's a fan and wiki term | Used for the smaller Legendaries, like the three birds | [Zapdos](https://pokee.si/pokemon/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](https://pokee.si/pokedex?tag=legendary) or [Mythical](https://pokee.si/pokedex?tag=mythical).

## Questions people ask

### What is the difference between Legendary and Mythical Pokémon?

You usually meet Legendary Pokémon during a game's story. Mythical Pokémon usually need a special event or gift to get. Both groups are official, and the games simply decide which group each one goes in.

### How many Legendary Pokémon are there?

71, from Articuno in Generation 1 to Terapagos in Generation 9.

### How many Mythical Pokémon are there?

23, from Mew to Pecharunt.

### Is Mew Legendary or Mythical?

Mythical. Mewtwo, which scientists made from Mew in the story, is Legendary.

### Are Mythical Pokémon stronger than Legendary ones?

Not as a rule. The highest base stat total of all, 720, belongs to Arceus, which is Mythical. Most Mythical Pokémon sit at 600, while Legendaries like Eternatus (690), Mewtwo and Lugia (680 each) go higher.

## Sources

- [Bulbapedia: Legendary Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Legendary_Pok%C3%A9mon)
- [Bulbapedia: Mythical Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mythical_Pok%C3%A9mon)
- [The Pokémon Company press release: a new Mythical Pokémon has been discovered (Zarude, 27 February 2020)](https://press.pokemon.com/en/NEW-MYTHICAL-POKEMON-DISCOVERED)
- [Pokémon.com: Mythical Pokémon distribution round-up, part 1](https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/mythical-pokemon-distribution-round-up-part-1)
- [Serebii: Legendary and Mythical Pokémon](https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/legendary.shtml)

---

Source: https://pokee.si/articles/legendary-vs-mythical-pokemon (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.