Once considered Legendary Pokémon in the west, Mythicals have been granted their own distinct status in recent years. The early generations liked to introduce a couple of Mythicals, but more recent generations have piled them on with abandon.
Not all Mythicals are created equal. Some are fleshed out characters with neat backstories, while others seem lazy. Here are all of the Mythicals across all eight generations, ranked. Note: Phione’s status as a Mythical Pokémon is hotly debated, and it has been excluded from this list.
19 Manaphy
Speaking of Phione, it’s evolutionary relative (maybe? It’s unclear) Manaphy is one of the most universally-disliked Pokémon ever created. It’s no secret that people hate this poor Water-type. Together with Phione, the two are referred to as the Sea Guardians.
Manaphy has a unique status as the only Mythical to breed. However, it produces Phione, which doesn’t evolve into Manaphy. It’s a confusing relationship that frustrates many and doesn’t really provide anything new to the series. Both are semi-useless in battle and have very similar designs.
18 Zarude
Zarude is the newest Mythical Pokémon to be introduced, being added to Sword & Shield alongside the DLC expansions. The Dark/Grass-type is a savage-looking monkey with big claws and a mean face.
Considering one of the main mascots of this generation, the Grookey line, is also a Grass monkey, it seems a bit lazy. Fan reaction to Zarude’s announcement has been tepid at best.
17 Meltan and Melmetal
The makers of Pokémon love to create Mythicals that are difficult to obtain or confusing in nature, it seems. Meltan and Melmetal fall into this category. It’s unclear if they’re a Generation VII Pokémon or from Generation VIII. Additionally, one can only evolve Meltan into Melmetal in Pokémon GO, and they’re otherwise unobtainable.
Their design is okay, but it just doesn’t inspire any love the way other Mythicals can.
16 Zeraora
Zeraora takes an interesting title as the only Electric-type Mythical Pokémon, but it doesn’t have much else going for it. It’s an okay design, but elemental tiger-dogs have been done countless times before.
Add in the fact that Zeraora’s overly-large hands look like a fursuit, and it’s hard to appreciate its boring design. At least it has a cool origin story, being born from lightning striking the mouth of a volcano.
15 Magearna
Magearna is somewhat of a forgotten Mythical, released as part of Generation VII at the end of Gen VI without much fanfare. It has an interesting design with steampunk vibes, especially the unavailable “Original Color Magearna,” which has a swapped color palette.
It’s said in the Pokédex that Magearna is an artificial soul housed in a steel mechanized body.
14 Victini
Frustratingly for people who like organization and neat, tidy lists, Victini takes spot #000 in the Unova Pokédex, placing it right before the Grass-starter Snivy. This is the only time the Grass-type starter is not the first in the regional ‘dex.
Victini is based on rabbits and the Greek goddess of victory, Nike. It’s a cute and pretty fun design.
13 Shaymin
One of the cutest Mythical-Pokémon and cutest Grass-types in general, Shaymin is a hedgehog-like Mythical introduces in Generation IV.
It has two forms, Land Form (the hedgehog-like one) and its sky Forme, which looks more like a small dog or a deer.
12 Diancie
Diancie is a very pretty Mythical introduced in Generation VI, being Fairy/Rock-type.
It has a few unique titles to boast: It’s the only Rock-type Mythical, it’s the only Generation VI or Mythical Pokémon to Mega Evolve, and it was once another Pokémon — having been born as a mutated Carbink.
11 Hoopa
With two forms that are both equally terrifying and creepy, Hoopa is a rightfully intimidating Pokémon, based on a mischievous genie.
This troublemaker and mischief-loving Pokémon was introduced in Generation VI and featured in the film Hoopa and the Clash of Ages. It’s a pretty interesting design.
10 Genesect
Genesect is a great design for a Pokémon, but the most interesting thing about it is that there’s a conspiracy it’s a revived Kabutops.
The Pokédex entries for both say they were around 300 million years ago, with Genesect’s stating that it was modified by Team Plasma. This, plus their similar designs, have led many to believe they are the same Pokémon.
9 Celebi
One of the most mysterious Mythicals is Celebi, the Grass/Psychic-type woodland sprite from Generation II.
Celebi is able to travel through time and generate plant life with its powers. It is a symbol of prosperity because many believe it only appears in times of peace.
8 Jirachi
Jirachi is a Pokémon that is widely-beloved by fans. Representing wishes, Jirachi is a star-shaped Pokémon with wish tags hanging from the points on its head. It’s able to grant wishes, which is pretty cool.
Jirachi is a very cute Pokémon, but it has a third eye on its stomach that it keeps closed. If it were shown with that open, it might not be as cute.
7 Keldeo
Despite fans constantly comparing it to My Little Pony, Keldeo is a pretty great Pokémon design. It’s the additional member of the Swords of Justice, which are based on the Three Musketeers. This makes Keldeo d’Artagnan, the latest and youngest addition to the Musketeers.
Keldeo is also somewhat based on the kelpie, mythical horse-like beings that live underwater.
6 Marshadow
One of the more recent additions to the franchise is Marshadow, a Ghost/Fighting-type introduced in Generation VII. Marshadow perfectly blends adorable with terrifying.
Interestingly, it’s the only type combination in the games that can deliver effective STAB-damage against every other type without being resisted.
5 Darkrai
As a true terror, Darkrai is a fan-favorite Pokémon with a scary bit of lore surrounding it. Its better half, Cresselia, gives people pleasant dreams and represents the crescent moon. Darkrai represents the full moon and gives people nightmares.
They somewhat represent dark and light, with Darkrai being a fantastic design that reflects exactly that.
4 Meloetta
It’s tough to decide which of Meloetta’s two distinct forms is better. As the Melody Pokémon, being themed around music, its Aria form represents a singer with a headset and music notation in its hair.
Its Pirouette form changes the Psychic-typing to Fighting and has a more Flamenco-like design. Both are terrific designs.
3 Mew
The original Mythical and arguably the most famous, Mew truly embodies what it means to be “Mythical,” only being rumored to exist and being unsuccessfully tracked by many groups and people.
Mew is said to be the ancestor of all Pokémon, which allows it to use basically any move, including Transform. Despite this, it’s unclear if it or Arceus was the first Pokémon to exist. Regardless, Mew is a cute cat-like Pokémon with design motifs that represent embryos, speaking to its role as the progenitor of all other species.
2 Deoxys
It’s fascinating to think of a Pokémon changing forms and, as a result, becoming the best Pokémon for different stats. This is what occurs with the alien Pokémon, Deoxys. When in Speed Form, it has the highest base speed of any Pokémon. In Attack and Defense forms, it places near the tops of the lists.
It’s a cool idea for a Pokémon and adds to Deoxys’ already-fantastic design.
1 Arceus
How could anything place higher than a literal god? Arceus is said to be the god of the Pokémon world, born from an egg before creating the universe and everything in it. It’s also able to become any type through the use of plates that change its body color as well.
Regardless of its status as “The Original One” and creator of everything, Arceus is just a cool Pokémon. Its design evokes feelings of power and intimidation, and its mysterious and quiet nature is fascinating.
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