Over the years, a ton of Legendary Pokémon have been introduced. These powerful creatures are typically known to exist one-of-a-kind, incredibly strong, and famous among the population for their power, part in the cosmos of the world, or other legendary lore. There is no official definition for a Legendary Pokémon, just they're typically understood to be well-known unique beings that are of import in the legends of the in-game universe.

This has led to some defoliation over what constitutes a Mythical Pokémon, equally they were formerly considered office of the same group, but are now separate. There are also some Pokémon that seem like they should be Legendary Pokémon for diverse reasons. Here are some of the Pokémon that seem Legendary, just actually aren't, and why.

Updated February March 1, 2021, past Thomas Bowen: The release of Pokemon Sword & Shield brought the total number of Pokemon in the series agonizingly close to the one g mark. Of these Pokemon, 81 hold the elusive 'legendary' status, which is actually quite a lot considering that in that location were just five of them in the original games. Despite this high number though, there are plenty of Pokemon who boast many of the same stats and attributes and are oftentimes compared with their legendary counterparts equally a result.

15 Dragonite

dragonite pokeon anime

Not simply is Dragonite one of the most powerful Pokemon in the first generation Pokemon games, but it's as well one of the series' very first dragon-type Pokemon and definitely has that Legendary Pokemon look well-nigh it. What's more, its placement in the Pokedex is also a piddling suggestive.

Together with its earlier evolutionary forms, Dragonite is sandwiched between the three legendary birds and Mewtwo and Mew; the first five of the series' Legendary Pokemon. This has led some to speculate that Game Freak had originally planned for the Pokemon to be legendary equally well, although there'due south very piffling prove to back this upward other than its Pokedex position.

14 Tyranitar

I of the strongest Pokemon in the Monster egg group, Tyranitar boasts some incredible base stats. Together, they add upwards to 600 and brand the armor Pokemon stronger than many of the serial' earlier Legendary Pokemon. For comparison, the three legendary birds' stats only total 580.

I of the other things that makes the Pokemon stand out is its unique type combination; with no other Pokemon possessing the rock and dark-type pairing. It also has some of the series' most powerful moves in its learnset, evolves at a very high level and has one of the coolest looking Mega Evolutions then far.

The Metagross Pokemon species

Much like Tyranitar, Metagross is an incredibly powerful Pokemon with stats that are on par with most of the series' legendary creatures. Where it sets itself autonomously though is through its solid physical attack and defense force stats, which few others tin can rival.

It takes an awful lot to bring down a Metagross and information technology'due south this kind of durability that people often associate with Legendary Pokemon. What'southward more, at just i.6%, it has the verbal same take hold of charge per unit as some of those with legendary status similar Articuno and Mewtwo.

12 Garchomp

Pokemon Anime Mega Garchomp Standing Tall

Sometimes a Pokemon just looks similar the should be legendary; and that's definitely the instance with Garchomp. The gold star emblazoned on the forepart of its head suggests at that place's something special about it while the intricacies of its blueprint are far more ornate than the average Pokemon.

As with most of the other pseudo-legendary Pokemon, it has very high base stats and excels when information technology comes to physical attacks also. Information technology also has access to some solid moves, has a decent blazon combination and is up at that place with some of the very best Pokemon in the series when it comes to competitive play.

11 Goodra

From its high base stats to its loftier level evolutionary requirements, in that location are enough of reasons why some confuse Goodra for a Legendary Pokemon. The main one though is that, like many of the monsters institute throughout the series, Goodra is seemingly based on a existent globe legend.

The Pokemon shares many similarities with a animal called the Lou Carcolh from French folklore; near notably its retractable tentacles and elongated torso. There's also a legendary Japanese creature called the Shussebora which is non too different to Goodra.

10 Darkrai

pokemon go darkrai counters

Many Legendary Pokémon come in pairs or trios, and Generation IV introduced a few of these groups. 1 of them consists of Cresselia, which represents the crescent moon, hopes, and pleasant dreams, and Darkrai, which is associated with the new moon and gives people nightmares. Together, they're known as the Lunar Duo.

Withal, Cresselia is a Legendary Pokémon and Darkrai is Mythical. This is near probable because Legendary Pokémon are known to exist while Mythicals are not, and Darkrai operates in the darkness under the cover of shade and night. However, it throws the pairing off a bit having them fit different Legendary statuses.

9 Fossils

game freak dracozolt arctozolt dracovish arctovish

Fossil Pokémon are a bit foreign when you think most it. They went extinct long ago but their fossils are used to resurrect them entirely, and actually no i bats an centre at this. Various trainers use Fossil Pokémon on their team like it's no large deal, even though information technology's a miracle of scientific achievement.

Since they come in limited amounts and are pretty famous in the in-game earth, one could brand the argument for Fossil Pokémon to take Legendary condition. However, they're treated as whatever other Pokémon for the most part. Apparently, the power to revive long-extinct life forms within seconds is not really that interesting to the people of the Pokémon world.

8 Genesect

Genesect in the anime

Some other Mythical that should have its status inverse to Legendary is Genesect. While Mythicals are Pokémon that are so rare their very existence is cast into question, Genesect is pretty well-known to exist, equally its a human being creation. Pokémon similar Celebi and Mew are considered Mythical because their existence is a rumor and they are the bailiwick of old stories and tales.

Genesect, however, was created by Team Plasma and given cyber upgrades. It was revived from a fossil (many recollect a Kabutops fossil) and enhanced with modernistic tech in an attempt to create the globe's strongest Pokémon. The anime even shows several Genesect in a group created by Squad Plasma. It'south pretty clear these things be and they're pretty ubiquitous.

7 Zoroark

Zorua and Zoroark

Zoroark shouldn't necessarily be a Legendary, but in that location is confusion over whether or not it is one. A few things have led fans to believe this Pokémon is Legendary when information technology isn't, and it's entirely understandable.

Zoroark was the main character of a motion-picture show, which is a role typically held for Legendaries and Mythicals, and it has been distributed prominently through events in-game, which, once more, is typically reserved for Mythicals. Its shady in-game lore, rarity, and hushful status also lend to the idea that information technology'due south pretty unique and legendary in the literal sense. Only, Zoroark is just a regular Pokémon like many others.

six Absol

Pokemon Absol Official Card Art

At that place's some other pure Dark-blazon that many have confused for a Legendary Pokémon, long earlier the existence of Zoroark. That is Absol, the Night-type introduced in Generation Iii. Many, many people have questioned online whether Absol is a Legendary, then the misconception is pretty pop.

Nonetheless, Absol is just a regular old Pokémon. Office of why people think it's Legendary is probably because of its rarity and the fact that information technology's rarely seen by human optics. Absol is as well obviously considered a bad omen, as natural disasters seem to occur later on people encounter it. This shroud of mystery contributes to its rarified image.

5 Unown

Unown

There are some Pokémon that really are headscratchers when it comes to why they're non Legendary Pokémon. This is definitely the case with Unown. Everything said in the games and anime almost these Pokémon points to them existence Legendary, only for some reason, they only aren't.

Like many other Legendaries, these Pokémon are shrouded in mystery and are studied by scientists and researchers. They're said to be ancient beings with some role in helping found human language. They as well have odd, unexplained powers and they featured prominently in a moving-picture show, where they were actually considered Legendary by the characters and a special book belonging to the character Molly.

four Volcarona

Evolve Larvesta to Volcarona

Joining Zoroark and Absol in the category of Pokémon that fans error for a Legendary is Volcarona. This Fire/Bug-blazon from Generation V is often considered to be Legendary for a few reasons. In the Gen V games, one tin can exist caught by approaching its sprite on the overworld at the bottom of a fancy dungeon, where it's level 70. Typically, this outgoing sprite organisation is reserved for Legendaries.

Information technology's also incredibly powerful and very rare, plus it evolves at an insanely-loftier level. Despite all of this, it's not Legendary, and many of them can be obtained if yous accept the patience to grab and evolve some Larvesta.

3 Rotom

Rotom in the anime

Rotom is an incredibly foreign Pokémon. It's capable of inhabiting or possessing various electronic devices, nearly notably the household appliances that it takes over to make its various obtainable forms: a fan, a lawnmower, a washing machine, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven. Even so, it'south also been shown to possess a Pokédex to make the Rotom Dex from Gen 7 and a bicycle to make the Rotom Bike in Gen Viii.

In the Generation Iv games, when Rotom was introduced, the histrion could only obtain i — and only through an event. This also contributed to the defoliation over its Legendary status.

two Arcanine

Arcanine with the Legendary Birds

1 of the nearly commonly dislocated Pokémon in terms of Legendary status is Arcanine. There are a few very understandable reasons for this, most of them centered around the fact that it seems Game Freak originally planned to make it a Legendary before something changed their minds.

Arcanine's official title is quite literally the "Legendary Pokémon," and its Pokédex entries and other in-game lore all bespeak to its Legendary status. Some Pokédex entries telephone call it Legendary and say it's been "described in Chinese legends."

A famous screenshot of an early anime episode also shows a tablet containing the Legendary Birds alongside an Arcanine, which really doesn't help.

i Spiritomb

Spiritomb in the anime

Spiritomb definitely seems like it should be a Legendary. I-of-a-kind in the game information technology was introduced? Bank check. Incredibly detailed in-game lore nigh its ancient history? Bank check. Requires a special particular to obtain information technology? Check. Doesn't evolve? Check. But, it isn't.

Spiritomb is said to take been a wicked existence fabricated upwardly of 108 spirits that was chained to the Odd Keystone for its savage misdeeds 500 years ago. The player can typically but obtain one through a series of specific events, too. However, despite all of this, it'due south not a Legendary Pokémon.

NEXT: Pokémon Gilded & Silver: 5 Early Pokémon To Invest In (& 5 To Avoid)