How many legendary Pokemon are there across all games?

By Melany Moncada

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Dec 18, 2022

Reading time: 5 min

Legendary Pokemon are the most powerful and rare Pokemon in existence. Often part of fables and tales, these Pokemon are a fundamental part of the folklore. In the games, legendary Pokemon are the end game, and often the main reward for completing the game. After nine generations, it is easy to forget how many legendary Pokemon there are.

In total, there are 66 legendary Pokemon distributed in nine regions. Some legendaries can be found in multiple regions since they’re constantly roaming the world. A legendary Pokemon can be either the final boss of the game or a Pokemon that is only available through a side quest.

Generation 1

The first generation of legendary Pokemon is originally from the Kanto region. The Legendary birds are Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. These are also the symbols for the teams in Pokemon Go. The Legendary birds can be found in multiple games, and a Galarian Form was introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

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Mewtwo could be considered a Legendary Pokemon, although it technically isn’t.

Generation 2

In Johto, players will encounter the legendary beasts who were revived by Ho-Oh. Suicune, Raikou, and Entei are the legendary beasts that roam Johto.

Ho-Oh and Lugia are the first legendary Pokemon to be used on a game’s cover. The pair started the tradition of featuring legendary Pokemon as game mascots.

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Generation 3

The third generation introduced a total of eight legendary Pokemon. Starting with this generation, the game’s storylines started to revolve around the legendary Pokemon. The legendary titans, Regice, Registeel, and Regirock are at the center of this generation and are some of the most difficult legendary Pokemon to find.

Latias and Latios are not part of a specific piece of lore but are still rare. This duo is part of several games and can be found roaming through Hoenn.

The Super-ancient Pokemon Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza are three of the strongest Pokemon ever. It is the first trio to have its own game cover. In Pokemon Go, these Pokemon are only available through special events.

Generation 4

Sinnoh is home to nine legendary Pokemon. Most of the legendaries in this generation are not directly connected to the game’s story and instead can be found in side quests. The Creation trio are Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, created by Arceus.

Arceus in Pokemon BDSP.

Uxie, Merprit, and Azelf are the Lake Guardians and can be found in lake caverns. Cresselia, Heatran, and Regigigas are also roaming in Sinnoh.

Generation 5

Nine more legendary Pokemon joined the game in this generation. For the first time, catching the mascot Pokemon of the game became mandatory to be able to advance in the game.

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Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion are known as the Swords of Justice, based on the protagonists of The Three Musketeers. Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus are the Forces of Nature and were inspired by Japanese deities. Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem are the Tao Trio and represent balance.

Generation 6

The sixth generation is the first to have fewer legendary than the previous generation. In Kalos, only three legendary can be found. Xerneas and Yveltal are game mascots, players can choose one version or the other. They represent life and destruction. The third legendary is Zygarde, completing the Aura trio from Kalos.

Generation 7

The seventh generation introduced a total of eleven legendary Pokemon, the largest number to date. It also introduced evolutions for these Pokemon.

Type: Null is a Pokemon created by the Aether Foundation in an attempt to replicate Arceus. Type: Null evolves into Silvally.

The Guardian deities protect the islands in Alola, each island has its own guardian. Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini are the four deities.

Cosmog and Comoem are the pre-evolutions of Solgaleo and Lunala, the legendaries on Pokemon Sun and Moon’s covers.

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Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma are the Light trio. The stories say that Solgaleo and Lunala found their way to our dimensions from an Ultra Wormhole. Necrozma also came from an alternate dimension but at a different time.

Generation 8

11 more Pokemon were added to the legendary list in this generation. Three were part of Pokemon Sword and Shield, and the rest were introduced in the following expansions and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Zacian and Zamazenta protected Galar from Eternatus during the Darkest Day. The story in Pokemon Sword and Shield revolves around that duo.

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Kubfu is a legendary that players can unlock by completing the three trials of the Master Dojo. Urshifu, Kubfu’s evolution has two different forms, it will evolve into one of the other depending on where the player trains it.

Regieleki and Regidrago are part of the legendary titans. In the game, players will get the chance to catch one of them, the one they don’t choose will become unavailable for the rest of the game.

The legendary birds from Kanto returned in the eighth generation, but this time in Galarian form. The Galarian legendary birds are some of the rarest Pokemon in Pokemon Go.

Calyrex, also known as the King of Bountiful Harvests, is a legendary who lost his power when people stopped believing in it. Calyrex has a steed that could be Glastier or Spectier. The player must plant a Carrot Seed, and depending on the chosen location, they will get one of the two.

Enamorus is part of the Forces of Nature. It becomes available after players find the other three Forces of Nature.

Generation 9

Koraidon and Miraidon are two of the most recent additions to the list. The Paradox due represents the past and future of Cyclizar, a Pokemon originally from Paldea. In the game, players encounter two versions of Koraidon and Miraidon. The first is when they’re used as a transportation mode, and the second is the final challenge in the game.

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Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu are hidden in secret locations across Paldea. They can be found only when players find the eight stakes that unlock each Pokemon.

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