What are the best Mythical Pokémon? It’s a good question. These mysterious ‘mon are an enigma; you can’t help but feel entranced by the mystery that surrounds them, and the fact that there are all kinds of rumors about secrets ways to unlock them only adds fuel to the fire. Today, we’re here to discuss who the best mythical creatures are, looking at each and every generation to determine who truly stands tall above the rest.
For even more great Pokémon guides (and questionable picks), be sure to check out our guides covering the best starter Pokémon, snake Pokémon, monkey Pokémon, Bird Pokémon, spider Pokémon, and dog Pokémon. What can we say? We just love Pokémon!
Here are the best mythical Pokémon:
Mew
You can’t beat the original gen 1 Pokémon. Before there was Mewtwo, there was Mew. In fact, there are breadcrumbs alluding to the existence of Mew littered throughout research notes all over the region of Kanto. That’s some amazing world-building and exciting development of a Pokémon before we see them that the Pokémon games have rarely done since. Think about it, basing your legendary Pokémon all around another mythical Pokémon that you can’t even catch in the game. A stroke of genius.
Both Mew and Mewtwo gained even more notoriety in the incredibly successful (within my friendship group, at least) Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. Mew was shown to be a cat-like and endearingly innocent creation, almost ambivalent towards the humans of the world, but still a force for good. I’ll never forget the adorable little ‘mew’ noise the creature lets out, and I’ll also never forget the playground rumors of using strength to find a Mew hidden under a truck by the S.S. Anne.
An interesting thing to note about Mew is that it’s number 151 in the Pokédex, meaning it closes out the Kanto entries. For the longest time, experts believed Mew to be nothing more than a mirage due to how rare it is to see it. However, as the years rolled by, it became more apparent that this creature only presents itself to those who are pure of heart. Plus, it’s apparently the ancestor of all Pokémon, and that’s pretty cool if you ask me.
Celebi
Now I’ve got a real soft spot for Celebi, not least because I think the gen 2 Pokémon games, Gold and Silver (or more specifically Heart Gold and Soul Silver), are still the pinnacle of Pokémon games. The protector of the forest with the ability to travel through time, Celebi takes a more proactive approach than many Pokémon, concerned with the fate of the environment it lives in, and is visibly affected by its destruction.
Yes, it might look like a flying onion, but Celebi is still a charming choice and added that much-needed air of mystery to Pokémon Gold and Silver, a generation that already features the best legendaries of any generation. Argue with the wall, any generation with Lugia and Suicune is just automatically the best. Celebi also had its time to shine in the great Pokémon: 4Ever, and has a beautiful pink shiny that takes up pride of place in my Pokémon boxes.
As number 251, Celebi is the last entry in the Johto portion of the Pokédex. It’s known to wander across time, causing trees and grass to flourish wherever it goes. More than that, if Celebi visits a forest, it’s said that it leaves an egg there from the future. If you want to cast your eyes on this magnificent creature, you need to be in a peaceful place, as Celebi only appears when things are calm and serene.
Jirachi
I’m one of the seven people who bought Pokémon Channel on the Gamecube (three of which are on the Pocket Tactics team), played through whatever that game is, and watched loads of episodes of the Pokémon anime just to unlock the wish Pokémon for Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Jirachi just looks ethereal and mystical, fitting the mythical brand perfectly.
If you didn’t know, the gen 3 Pokémon is based on the Japanese ‘Tanabata festival’ an event where people make wishes on small strips of paper called tanzaku, place them on bamboo, and either let them drift off in water or set them alight in the hopes that the wishes come true. This is why I love Jirachi so much, it’s a cute Pokémon that has a very real origin, and one filled with hope and joy.
Though it’s number 385 in the Pokémon, Jirachi isn’t the one to close out the Hoenn section – that honor belongs to Deoxys (more on that ‘mon in a minute). Jirachi is very much a fight-or-fight creature, as even when it’s asleep, it still fights if it feels threatened. According to the legend, if you write a wish on the notes attached to its head, it will make that wish come true when it awakes. Others claim it can grant any wish for just one week every thousand years.
Deoxys
Who doesn’t love Deoxys? This mythical Pokémon is the closest we have to an alien in the franchise, and that’s just one of the many reasons why I love it. It even has one of the more unique origin stories – which is saying something – as it only exists because a space virus was exposed to a laser beam, forcing it to mutate, giving the universe Deoxys. It’s perhaps the most intelligent Pokémon out there, with psychokinetic abilities that make it a tough foe.
Given it’s basically an alien, it’s not all that surprising that Deoxys can transform into different forms, each one with its own strengths and weaknesses that can change the tide of battle. The stat that each one excels in is fairly obvious from the name, though if it’s a solid offense that you’re after, the normal form serves you well. Boasting 150 as its base stat for both attack and special attack, Deoxys hits hard in this form, and it also moves fast with 150 speed. Even legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza can’t keep up with that.
Should you be after a tank, you want the defense form of Deoxys, which has 160 defense, though it also boasts 180 in both special and normal attacks. If you want unrivaled speed, the speed form is where it’s at, as Deoxys has a base speed stat of 180 – what a beast. What a boss. Deoxys, I love you.
Darkrai
Alright, I know I’m flipping the script here, but Darkrai just rules. It’s not often we get mythical or legendary Pokémon that are actually scary, but the gen 4 Pokémon has an otherworldly and truly sinister look to its design that just exudes darkness.
Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Darkrai is its tendency to not only induce nightmares in people but also appear in those horrific dreams itself. It’s known as the Shadow Pokémon for a reason, even if it apparently doesn’t mean any harm and only gives people nightmares as a way to protect itself. This is why Darkrai is the only Pokémon who has the ability bad dreams, which drains the HP of sleeping ‘mon in the opposite party.
It also has one of the best Pokémon movies, with Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai showcasing some of the most thrilling and awesome battles between legendary Pokémon we’ve ever seen. Unlike many bulky legendary or mythical Pokémon, Darkrai has a creepy lithe physique, and the fact it can disappear back into the shadows at any point only makes it that much scarier.
Arceus
Arceus is said to have created the entire region known as Sinnoh, and considering no other mythical Pokémon on this list can boast such a feat, we consider this lad to be quite a big deal. Going one step further, Arceus might even be responsible for the entire Pokémon universe – basically, this thing is a god.
It’s interesting to note that players didn’t get to actually see Arceus until its movie debut in 2009, going on to make a prominent appearance in the 2022 Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Shaymin
Shaymin isn’t as cool as Deoxys or Darkrai, but it’s arguably one of the cutest mythical Pokémon, giving Mew a real run for its money. Just look at Shaymin. In its land form, it resembles an adorable hedgehog with a rather fetching pink flower in its fur. Those stunning green eyes and happy smile are just the cherry on top of this very sweet sundae.
There is a second variant for Shaymin with its sky form, but while I think it makes the mythical ‘mon look more like it’s ready for a fight, I wouldn’t say it’s cute. That’s not to say I don’t like the design, mind you. Shaymin can do no wrong in my eyes, to be honest, and I really want to be its friend.
It’s a stark contrast to fellow gen four pal Darkrai; while that one is dark and gritty, Shaymin is light and joyful. Plus, Shaymin is good for the environment; how can it not be among the greatest mythical Pokémon when it can repair a ruined bit of land by simply standing on it? Plus, if you give this little hog a cuddle, flowers burst from all over its body. This is a creature that senses love and gratitude and returns it in kind.
Victini
Known as the victory Pokémon, Victini is a psychic and fire Pokémon that Game Freak introduced in the gen 5 Pokémon games Black and White. Perhaps the most obvious reason for its popularity is that Victini is believed to ensure the victory of its owner (hence the name), though some would use that power for evil, with many humans seeking Victini out to use in wars. Victini itself is just a cute little guy with a great design, and I always like the more simple or elegant Pokémon creations.
Victini also has a starring role in the dual pokémon movies Pokémon: Victini and Reshiram and Pokémon: Victini and Zekrom, two movies released at the same time when Pokémon was really trying to hype up the dichotomy of black and white as well as the differences between the games. Sadly, neither of these movies is amazing, but Victini remains a highlight thanks to its adorable nature and love for biscuits.
Genesect
The idea of villainous Pokémon thieves digging up an ancient fossil of a legendary Pokémon and then strapping a massive gun on it is, frankly, incredible. Genesect is meant to resemble the giant bugs that once roamed the earth millennia ago but have since grown smaller in attempts to avoid being eaten. Genesect themselves also just look awesome and, for some reason, can transform into a sort of spacecraft that can hover through the air. Pokémon doesn’t always make sense, and I think that rules.
Like other mythical Pokémon, such as Shaymin and Deoxys, Genesect has multiple different forms – five of them, to be exact. There’s the normal form you see, but also Douse Drive, Shock Drive, Burn Drive, and Chill Drive. To activate these forms, you need to insert a drive into the cannon on its back, and depending on which one you use, it turns techno blast into a water-, electric-, fire-, or ice-type move, which is unbelievably cool.
Hoopa/Hoopa Unbound
With Hoopa we’re touching on something of an ongoing tradition for mythical Pokémon. A while back with Shaymin, mythical Pokémon started taking on smaller and more innocent forms, only to later reveal a more intimidating version of themselves, like with Sky Shaymin. Hoopa starts as the mischievous jin Pokémon, with the ability to create portals between dimensions, and then grows into one of the most ridiculous but intimidating Pokémon we’ve ever seen.
I love the lore behind Hoopa and the ring aesthetic and think with its great stats and fun anime appearances, it’s worthy of an entry on its own, but I can’t convey enough how much I love Hoopa Unbound. Unlike the relatively gentile Shaymin and its underwhelming Sky Form, Hoopa goes absolutely goblin mode, transforming into the monstrous Hoopa Unbound, a being that truly looks capable of ripping apart the fabric of space-time with its demonic face and many limbs. Just, what a beast.
If you come across the gen 6 Pokémon in battle, consult our ghost Pokémon weakness guide to learn how to combat it and other ghost Pokémon.
Zeraora
Though a gen 7 Pokémon, Zeraora isn’t actually part of the original Sun and Moon lineup, with Game Reak introducing the mythical Pokémon in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, making it the final entry in the Alolan Pokédex. Zeraora looks like it pounced right out of a 90s PlayStation platforming videogame, and I say that with love. Just look at it: the blue electric bolts, striking yellow fur, and cat-like features help to make this ‘mon look like an actual animal. It’s a shame that in the Pokémon world, they were poached to near extinction.
The origin of Zeraora is quite an interesting one, as it was born from a bolt of lightning striking an erupting volcano, which explains the Pokémon’s affinity with electricity and why it moves so quickly. In fact, Zeraora’s speed stat is its highest, with a base of 143 and the potential to reach 423 at level 100. It’s only just trailing behind the normal form of Deoxys.
As Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced so many otherworldly creatures with the Ultra Beasts (I love them, no hate here), it was nice to see a mythical added that continued the trend of creatures that look like they complement the region they are based on. Zeraora fits right in with the Alola region and also has a great appearance in the fantastic movie Pokémon: The Power of Us. If you haven’t watched Pokémon: I Choose You or The Power of Us, I highly recommend it to any dedicated Pokémon fan out there.
As one of the most dangerous electric Pokémon out there, we suggest you learn the electric Pokémon weakness to stand a chance of beating the event generation ‘mon.
Meltan
Meltan earns a spot on this list for two important reasons. The first is that it’s an adorable blob of a steel Pokémon that can turn into different shapes. Plus, the little nut for a head with that single pupil is unbelievably adorable. Better still, when it evolves into Melmetal, it ends up with a kickass appearance, which then becomes bizarre in the best way possible with its Gigantimax form. These are mythical Pokémon done right.
The second reason we love Meltan is the way it was revealed. Niantic actually introduced the Pokémon in Pokémon Go ahead of its official reveal. It was unprecedented, and some simply couldn’t believe that the wobbly blob was a Pokémon; they actually thought the little guy was nothing more than a placeholder for the real Pokémon. Then, before they knew it, these trainers were seeing Meltan out in the wild.
Eventually, the mystery was revealed, and players learned they had to transfer Pokémon between Pokémon Go and Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee to unlock the little treasure, and it remains one of the most interesting, if obtuse, methods of both catching and evolving a Pokémon to date.
Should to stumble across Meltan, make sure you read our steel Pokémon weakness guide to learn how to beat it.
Pecharunt
The most recent mythical Pokémon on this list, Pecharunt, debuted in the gen nine DLC, The Indigo Disk, though you couldn’t actually catch it until the release of Mochi Mayhem. Following in the footsteps of Pokémon such as Gengar, Pecharunt is dual poison- and ghost-type. Much like the legendary Pokémon Lugia, this creature is the lead of a trio of legendary creatures known as the Loyal Three. It’s hard to belief that such an adorable ‘mon is essentially in charge of some all-powerful beings.
In a fight, Pecharunt is a fairly solid all-arounder, with 88 in all but one stat – its defense sits at 160, meaning this creature is great for defensive play, absorbing damage like it’s nobody’s business. While small, you shouldn’t let its size fool you, as Pecharunt is known to feed toxic mochi to others, which puts them under its control. If you ask me, that’s pretty malevolent.
How many mythical Pokémon are there?
There are currently 23 mythical Pokémon in the first nine generations of the franchise, but that number will go up with subsequent generations, though we can’t be sure how many new mythical Pokémon there will be in generation X. History tells us that the number will be anywhere between one and five – but it could be a series first with six or more. We can’t imagine that any generation would skip out on a mythical ‘mon entirely.
Which generation has the most mythical Pokémon?
The fourth and seventh generations are tied for the most mythical Pokémon, with five each. Generation one and gen nine, meanwhile, are tied for the least with just one apiece.
Now that you know what we consider to be the best mythical Pokémon, why not learn more about evolutions? We can tell you all about Ralts’ evolution, Scyther’s evolution, Gloom’s evolution, Misdreavus’ evolution, Bisharp’s evolution, Rockruff’s evolution, and more.