For a similar group of powerful Pokémon not exclusive to events, see Legendary Pokémon.

Mythical Pokémon (Japanese: 幻のポケモン, Hepburn: Maboroshi no Pokémon) or event-exclusive Pokémon, less commonly known as mirage Pokémon, are a group of Pokémon introduced in Generation I, with the introduction of Mew.

Quick Answers

What differentiates a Mythical Pokémon from a Legendary Pokémon?

Mythical Pokémon, once considered part of Legendary Pokémon until Generation V, are so rare that their existence is often questioned, prompting scientific research. They are seldom obtainable outside of special events. Legendary Pokémon, however, are associated with creation or destruction legends in their endemic regions and are sought after by villainous groups due to their power.

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What is the rarest Mythical Pokémon?

Mew, a Mythical Pokémon, is regarded as the rarest. Its rarity is so great that it's frequently referred to as a mirage, with very few global sightings. Mew possesses the genetic codes of all Pokémon, enabling it to learn any technique. It's believed to reveal itself solely to individuals with pure hearts and a strong yearning to encounter it.

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What is the first Mythical Pokémon ever introduced?

Arceus, the first Mythical Pokémon, is revered as the creator of the Pokémon universe. Emerging from an egg, Arceus shaped the world before the universe's existence. It's often likened to a Creator deity, a concept prevalent in various world mythologies and religions. Arceus also has equal base stats, a characteristic shared with a few other Pokémon.

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Are there any grass-type Mythical Pokémon?

Indeed, the Mythical Pokémon roster includes grass types. Celebi, with its psychic/grass type, and Shaymin, a pure grass type that also possesses a grass/flying variant, are examples.

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Description[]

There is a thin line between Mythical Pokémon and Legendary Pokémon. While both groups of Pokémon are uncommon and often powerful to a similar extent, Mythical Pokémon are better known for their rarity. Mythical Pokémon are seen so rarely in the Pokémon World that some characters have questioned whether they exist, spurring scientists to do research.

The two groups have always been differentiated in Japanese, but this did not occur in other localized releases until Generation V, but Mythical Pokémon were considered a subgroup of Legendary Pokémon. From this, there was originally controversy over whether Mythical Pokémon were a separate group from Legendary Pokémon, since The Pokémon Company International classified them differently. According to the programming code of various games before Generation IX, Mythical Pokémon were classified as a subgroup of Legendary Pokémon. In the Generation VII games, Mythical Pokémon are colored with a yellow background in the Rotom Pokédex, and in their box background is bright in Pokémon Bank. It was not until Generation IX when Mythical Pokémon would be separately classified consistently.

Mythical Pokémon share some consistencies, like how all of them have neither a Hidden Ability nor gender. Most Mythical Pokémon are not part of any group, unlike Legendary Pokémon. Mythical Pokémon cannot be used in battle arenas, online competitions, or video game championships. Besides Victini, all Mythical Pokémon are always the last to be listed numerically in the National Pokédex of the generation in which they had been introduced. Mythical Pokémon could not be exchanged through the GTS due to their unique ribbon. Most Mythical Pokémon also have a base stat total of 600 in their main forms, with the exception of Phione, Arceus, Keldeo, and Meltan.

None of the Mythical Pokémon can evolve, except for Meltan, which evolves into Melmetal, and Diancie, which has a Mega Evolution. A few Mythical Pokémon have alternate forms that it can switch into, with Deoxys being the first to have this ability. Both Magearna and Zarude each have an alternate form that they cannot switch from after taking on that form. Melmetal is the only Mythical Pokémon that can Gigantamax.

In the core series, Mythical Pokémon rarely have a relevant role in the story, and only vague references would be made to them at times since the Mythical Pokémon would later be revealed in an event that occurred some time after the games' release. Contrarily, Mythical Pokémon often have a major role in a Pokémon film, much like Legendary Pokémon.

In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Mythical Pokémon are referred to as rare Pokémon.

Types[]

Most Mythical Pokémon are at least a Psychic type in part. None of them are a Ice type, Ground type, or Dragon type. Zeraora, an Electric type, is the only Mythical Pokémon to not share a type with another Mythical Pokémon.

Uniquely from Mythical Pokémon, let alone Pokémon in general, Arceus can change from its usual Normal type to any other type through the use of Plates.

Obtaining[]

In earlier generations, Mythical Pokémon can only be obtained through special events in real life or through some other esoteric method. Obtaining a Mythical Pokémon is typically not required to complete the National Pokédex, except for Deoxys in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire as well as Phione, Manaphy, and Arceus in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Mythical Pokémon can be stored in Pokémon HOME.

Since Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, it is possible to encounter Mythical Pokémon outside of an event, since one can meet and catch Deoxys at the end of the Delta Episode.

List[]

There are 23 species of Mythical Pokémon, of which there are fewer than Legendary Pokémon.

Pokédex no.	Image	Name	Type	Generation
0151		Mew	Psychic	Generation I
0251		Celebi	Psychic/Grass	Generation II
0385		Jirachi	Normal/Psychic	Generation III
0386		Deoxys	Psychic	Generation III
0489		Phione	Water	Generation IV
0490		Manaphy	Water	Generation IV
0491		Darkrai	Dark	Generation IV
0492		Shaymin	Grass	Generation IV
0493		Arceus	Normal	Generation IV
0494		Victini	Psychic/Fire	Generation V
0647		Keldeo	Water/Fighting	Generation V
0648		Meloetta	Normal/Psychic	Generation V
0649		Genesect	Bug/Steel	Generation V
0719		Diancie	Rock/Fairy	Generation VI
0720		Hoopa	Psychic/Ghost	Generation VI
0721		Volcanion	Fire/Water	Generation VI
0801		Magearna	Steel/Fairy	Generation VII
0802		Marshadow	Fighting/Ghost	Generation VII
0807		Zeraora	Electric	Generation VII
0808		Meltan	Steel	Generation VII
0809		Melmetal	Steel	Generation VII
0893		Zarude	Dark/Grass	Generation VIII
1025		Pecharunt	Poison/Ghost	Generation IX

Alternate forms[]

General[]

Pokédex no.	Image	Name	Type	Generation
0386A		Deoxys (Attack Forme)	Psychic	Generation III
0386B		Deoxys (Defense Forme)	Psychic	Generation III
0386C		Deoxys (Speed Forme)	Psychic	Generation III
0492A		Shaymin (Sky Forme)	Grass/Flying	Generation IV
0647A		Keldeo (Resolute Form)	Water/Fighting	Generation V
0720A		Hoopa Unbound	Psychic/Dark	Generation VI

Battle[]

A few Mythical Pokémon have alternate forms in battle only.

Pokédex no.	Image	Name	Type	Generation
0648A		Meloetta (Pirouette Forme)	Normal/Fighting	Generation V
0719M		Mega-Diancie	Rock/Fairy	Generation VI
0809G		Gigantamax Melmetal	Steel	Generation VII

Appearances[]

Anime[]

In earlier seasons, Mythical Pokémon have typically not appeared in regular episodes, with their featured appearances being reserved typically for the films instead. However, since "Got Meltan?", Ash does own one Mythical Pokémon of his own, Melmetal, formerly a Meltan, which had been discovered on Melemele Island.

Besides Ash, there have been other Pokémon Trainers who own a Mythical Pokémon, such as Tobias, who owns a Darkrai. Similarly, there has been a Zeraora who befriended Dia and helped him fight Guzzlord.

Many films have only one Mythical Pokémon, but the only one that has more than two species of Mythical Pokémon is Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, where Volcanion and Magearna appear. Several Genesects appear in Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, but not any other Mythical Pokémon.

Trivia[]

• Pecharunt is the only Mythical Pokémon to have a different English name than a Japanese name.
• Deoxys, Shaymin, Keldeo, Meloetta and Hoopa are the only Mythical Pokémon that can change into a different form.
• Mew and Marshadow are the only Mythical Pokémon to have an exclusive Z-Move.
• Generation IV and Generation VII are tied for introducing the most Mythical Pokémon, having five each.