Image: Nintendo, Game Freak via HGG
Summer has been an avid gamer ever since she was a young girl. She graduated from the University of California Davis in 2019, and completed an inte... Read more
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
A Pokémon game isn’t complete without its signature Legendaries. Every player looks forward to adding Legendary Pokémon from their team, whether for battling or just bragging rights. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cater to nostalgia by bringing back bring back many familiar Legendaries, as well as ushering in some new and overpowered Legendaries. In this article, we’ll be ranking all the Generation 9 Legendary Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet to help you know which new Legendaries to pick up for your team.
Let’s get started!
All Legendaries in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Ranked Weakest to Strongest
There are a total of six Generation 9 Legendaries in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and two rare Legendaries that were added to the game recently for a limited time. The four Generation 9 Legendaries in the games, otherwise known as the Ruinous Quartet, are all Dark Types and represent an evil king from the past. Below, we’ll highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each Pokémon and explain why they belong where they are on the list.
6/6
Wo-Chien
- Type: Dark/Grass
- Strong Against: Psychic, Ghost, Water, Ground, Rock
- Weak Against: Fighting, Bug, Fairy, Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying
Wo-Chien’s excellent Special Defense makes it tanky against special attacks, but its low HP, attack, and speed stats make it quite weak to physical attacks. Its many type weaknesses also make it incredibly vulnerable, so there aren’t many Pokémon that it performs exceedingly well against. Although it’s a good Pokémon to have against those annoyingly powerful Ghost, Ground, or Rock types, it’s still the weakest Legendary out of all the new options.
Its ability, Tablets of Ruin, lowers the attack of every Pokémon except itself, which does make it a bit more powerful against physical attackers. If you want to pick Wo-Chien for your team, you’ll find it in South Province (Area One), and Grasswither Shrine.
5/6
Chien-Pao
- Type: Dark/Ice
- Strong Against: Psychic, Ghost, Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon
- Weak Against: Bug, Rock, Steel, Fairy, Fire, Fighting
Chien-Pao, an icy and intimidating saber-tooth tiger, is an enormous glass cannon. Its huge attack and speed stats make it an extremely valuable asset when facing powerful and fast Flying and Dragon types. Its high attack stat, and decent special attack stat make it a balanced and reliable pick, and its extreme speed allows it to get its attacks off first almost every time. However, it does have many type weaknesses, and can’t take very many hits. It can easily wipe an entire team, but against the wrong team, it will faint very quickly.
Its Sword of Ruin ability lowers the defense of every Pokémon except itself, which makes its attacks even deadlier. It’s also arguably one of the best looking Generation 9 Legendaries in the games. If you’d like to add this cool cat to your team, head to West Providence (Area One), or the Icerend Shrine.
4/6
Chi-Yu
- Type: Dark/Fire
- Strong Against: Psychic, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
- Weak Against: Water, Fighting, Ground, Rock
This small, ember-like Pokémon may not look like much, but it can deal some massive damage. Although its HP is quite low, it has some incredible special defense and insane special attack. Its solid speed also allows you to get most attacks off first. It has very few type weaknesses, and can surprisingly absorb a few hits.
It can also learn a wide array of different moves, which makes it a very versatile and valuable Pokémon to have on your team. It’s quite tanky against special attacking Pokémon, but won’t last long against physical attackers.
Its Beads of Ruin ability, which lowers the special defense of every Pokémon except itself, makes it even stronger. To find Chi-Yu, go to the Fury Falls in North Province (Area Two), or the Fireblight Shrine.
3/6
Ting-Lu
- Type: Dark/Ground
- Strong Against: Psychic, Ghost, Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel
- Weak Against: Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Bug, Fairy
What makes this tanky, moose-like Pokémon so powerful is its high HP, and its defense. Although it is weak to quite a few types, it is also strong against many others. Its ability, Vessel of Ruin, lowers the special attack of every Pokémon except itself. As if its crazy high HP and defense weren’t enough, its special ability makes it even more difficult to knock out.
If you want to add this monstrous moose to your team, head to the Soccorat Trail, which is North of Casseroya Lake, or Groundblight Shrine.
2/6
Koraidon
- Type: Fighting/Dragon
- Strong Against: Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel, Dragon
- Weak Against: Fairy, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Dragon
This prehistoric Legendary is only available in Pokémon Scarlet, and it is definitely one of the most powerful Legendaries in the game. Its ability, Orichalcum Pulse, turns the sunlight harsh when the Pokémon enters a battle and boosts its attack in harsh sunlight. This ability makes it even more of a heavy-hitting physical attacker. Although it is strong against many types, it is weak against several types as well.
It has great defense, special defense, and speed. It almost always goes first in a fight, and it can take a few hits before it faints. Its unique typing makes it a valuable addition to any team. Even though it’s only available in Pokémon Scarlet, it’s possible to get it in a trade.
1/6
Miraidon
- Type: Electric/Dragon
- Strong Against: Water, Flying, Dragon
- Weak Against: Fairy, Ice, Ground, Dragon
This futuristic Legendary, which is only available in Pokémon Violet, squeaks ahead of its counterpart Koraidon because of its typing. Its Electric and Dragon typing makes it less vulnerable to other Pokémon types. Although it isn’t strong against as many types as its counterpart, it can learn some extremely valuable Psychic, Dark, Fire, Fairy, and even Grass moves. The wide variety of moves it can learn makes it stronger across the board.
Its ability, Hadron Engine, turns the ground to Electric Terrain, and its boosts special attack when Electric Terrain is active. This ability makes its special attacking moves even stronger. It has more special defense than Koraidon, but less physical defense. Like Koraidon, it has excellent speed and goes first almost every time in battle. It is also possible to get Miraidon in a trade.
Newest Legendaries
It is possible to get the two legendaries below in limited time events. Keep your eyes peeled for them.
Walking Wake
- Type: Water/Dragon
- Strong Against: Fire, Ground, Rock, Dragon
- Weak Against: Electric, Grass, Fairy, Dragon
This new Legendary Pokémon, which looks very similar to Suicune, can only be caught in Pokémon Scarlet. It has very few weaknesses, and incredible special attack. It’s a bit squishy, but its speed does help it get its moves off first.
Currently, you can only get it during a limited-time event in 5-Star Water Tera Raid Battles. The event was first available February 27 – March 12, 2023. This event will be brought back in the future, so be on the lookout for it!
Iron Leaves
- Type: Grass/Psychic
- Strong Against: Water, Ground, Rock, Fighting, Poison
- Weak Against: Bug, Poison, Ice, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Dark
This Legendary, which looks extremely similar to Virizion, can only be caught in Pokémon Violet. In contrast to Walking Wake, it has enormous physical attack instead of special attack. It also many many more weaknesses due to its typing. Despite its weaknesses, it has solid special defense and speed.
Like Walking Wake, you can only get it during a limited-time event in 5-Star Grass Tera Raid Battles. The event was first available February 27 – March 12, 2023. This event is coming back though, so you could still get it in the future!
Join the High Ground
That’s it for our ranking of all the Legendary Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet — thanks for reading! Every Pokémon game has its own unique set of breathtaking Legendaries that are at the center of the storyline, and the Legendaries in Generation 9 do not disappoint. Let us know your favorite Legendaries in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.
Happy gaming!
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