The introduction to the DS, a ton of new features and an entire new roster of powerful Pokémon. Generation 4 had a lot of things going for it, including some of the toughest Pokémon to wrangle in the franchise. The harder they are to catch, the better the Pokémon will be for any given trainer.
Most of the Pokémon that have such a low catch rate are legendaries, with the occasional exception of a top tier rare. The lowest a catch rate would go in this generation is 3%, meaning trainers would have to pull out all the stops, from ultra balls to the rare master ball.
10 Giratina - 3%
Being the subjectively strongest Pokémon in creation trio, it shouldn’t be a big surprise that it’s a real challenge to catch. Giratina is said to live in an entirely different world than the one we know, a reverse dimension.
With an HP stat that dwarves most of the Pokémon roster in any generation, Giratina isn’t a slouch in any department. Speed is its lowest stat with a rating of 90, quickly followed by both attack stats. Catching him is a save first, battle later requirement seeing as there’s only one shot to do it.
9 Darkrai - 3%
Being considered a Mythical-type Pokémon is a rarity even among the Legendary types. With the first being introduced in the form of Mew, Darkrai continues this legacy albeit in a much darker manner. Being a Dark-type with a strong emphasis on sleep attacks, Darkrai is unique in its approach to battle.
Even with the relatively low HP score of 70, Darkrai easily makes up for this with incredible stats in both speed and special attack. Once you put the opponent to sleep its array of attacks and the invaluable ability to strike first puts trainers at a big advantage.
8 Arceus - 3%
Long considered the most powerful of all Pokémon, Arceus is the creator of the universe trainers reside. It also has the distinct title of the oldest Pokémon to ever exist, putting him above all others when players talk about legacy.
With one of the highest overall stats when referring to non-mega evolutions, Arceus has the best-rounded stats of any Pokémon. With 120 ratings across the board and a heavy emphasis on Psychic-type moves it’s hard to pick against it in any match up.
7 Manaphy - 3%
The benefits of capturing this loveable Mystical Pokémon stretch far beyond its battle capabilities. Being able to mate with any Pokémon puts it in the leaderboards for usefulness outside of winning battles. The only other Pokémon to do this is Ditto and let’s be honest, Who wants a pink flubber in their party?
Despite its skills outside of the battlefield, Manaphy has a well-rounded stat base with perfect 100’s across the board. That combined with its high powered Water style makes it a threat in any battle as well.
6 Regigigas - 3%
Just looking at the powerful form of this Pokémon is a hint at the power it possesses. If there are trainers that were around in the Hoenn region then Regigigas will start to look familiar. Creating the three legendaries in generation 3 in its own image, it puts itself in a category only the most powerful Pokémon exist in.
With an incredible 160 attack rating, the colossus is a major threat to any enemy brave enough to stand against it. Even if they are capable of withstanding a couple of blows, Regigigas’s defense is also up to par. It’s going to take a serious powerhouse to even come close.
5 Cresselia - 3%
The light to Darkrai’s gloomy presence, Cresselia has the honour of being a legendary in its own right. Instead of lulling opponents into an ominous sleep, she attacks with strong psychic and ice type moves that will keep the opponent guessing.
A little wavier in the stats section, the highs are very high and the lows are comparable to normal Pokémon. With her HP, special defense and defense coming in at 120 and above, trainers will find little that can faze the lunar legendary.
4 Uxie/Mesprit/Azelf - 3%
Though they are 3 individual Pokémon, the lake guardians make up important pieces to the powerful whole. It’s even rumoured that the 3 came from the same egg and were created by Arceus. If there was anyone you’d to be your Pokéfather, it’s Arceus.
All 3 exhibit high stats in different departments. Uxie with high defensive abilities, Mesprit has an equally high offensive and defensive stats with lowered HP and speed, while Azelf’s attack and speed are higher than the rest. Individually they are great, together they make an amazing psychic trio.
3 Heatran - 3%
Most trainers could tell Heatran is a tank solely on it’s aesthetic. It also happens to be the only Pokémon on the list without a mythical or legendary standing, making it great in its own right. A unique type combination of Fire/Steel makes it a tough puzzle that enemies will have to solve quickly to stand a chance.
Everything but speed is going to be in Heatran’s favour, with a whopping 130 special attack rating. Luckily, most of its non-physical moves carry devastating power that counteracts the speed deficit. With a 3% catch rate, trainers will have to devise a plan before taking on the volcanic Pokémon.
2 Dialga - 3%
One of the cover Pokémon for the main games of the generation, the lord of time has nothing to prove in the way of power. If controlling the time dimension wasn’t enough, it’s one of the only Pokémon that has an exclusive move that no others can learn.
With 5/6 of its stats coming at 100 or over, in every aspect of battle Dialga is a big asset. Especially when it comes to its special attack, coming in at 150. Anything offensive is going to be hard to beat and its defense hits the 120 mark as well.
1 Palkia - 3%
Dialga’s counterpart Palkia controls the space dimension. Its lack of limitations when it comes to distance is one of the most useful on the roster. Palkia’s pressure ability is one that holds significant weight too, decreasing the number of times the opponent can use their moves.
The already wide array of moves it can learn being a Dragon/Water-type are increased even more, with heavy rock, ground and fighting attacks thrown into its arsenal. Its large toolset is backed by a 120 attack followed by a parallel with Dialga in its 150 special attack.
NEXT: The Best Pokémon Abilities, Ranked
