8 Pokemon That Deserved Legendary Status: Mysteries and Near-Misses
Introduction
The world of Pokémon contains fascinating creatures that blur the line between Legendary and regular status. While official Legendaries like Mewtwo and Rayquaza dominate discussions, several other Pokémon exhibit traits worthy of Legendary classification.
Game Freak has established clear criteria for Legendary Pokémon: unique lore, limited availability, and exceptional stats. However, our analysis reveals eight special cases that meet most criteria yet remain excluded from this elite group. From mysterious glitches to anime stars, these Pokémon challenge our understanding of what makes a creature truly Legendary.
Pro Tip: When evaluating potential Legendaries, consider three factors: narrative significance, availability restrictions, and battle prowess. Many Pokémon on this list excel in two of these areas while falling just short in the third.
1. MissingNo.
The infamous MissingNo. represents gaming history’s most fascinating glitch. Discovered in 1996, this corrupted data entity appears as a scrambled Bird/Normal-type when players surf Cinnabar Island’s coast after specific in-game actions. Its very existence sparked wild theories about cut content and secret Pokémon.
Why It Feels Legendary: The extreme rarity and mysterious nature parallel actual Legendaries. Unlike regular Pokémon, MissingNo. can’t be obtained through normal gameplay and has unique graphical anomalies. Nintendo’s official dismissal as a “programming quirk” only added to its mystique.
Collector’s Note: Modern players can recreate the glitch in Virtual Console releases, but it may cause save file corruption—back up your data first!
2. Arcanine
Arcanine’s case proves how close some Pokémon came to Legendary status. The Fire-type’s Pokédex explicitly calls it “the Legendary Pokémon” in multiple entries, and early anime episodes grouped it with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres on ancient tablets.
Design Clues: Arcanine’s majestic appearance and 555 BST (base stat total) suggest it was originally designed as a Legendary. Its Chinese-inspired design and lore about being worshipped in ancient times further support this theory.
Battle Tip: While not officially Legendary, Arcanine remains a competitive threat with access to Intimidate, Extreme Speed, and Flare Blitz. Consider it for sun teams or as a physical wallbreaker.
3. Volcarona
Volcarona’s debut in Black and White shocked players with its Legendary-style encounter. The Bug/Fire-type waits at the end of Relic Castle’s labyrinth, surrounded by ancient ruins and requiring puzzle-solving to reach—a treatment typically reserved for Legendaries.
Mythical Parallels: Volcarona’s lore suggests it replaced the sun during ancient disasters, mirroring Legendaries’ world-shaping roles. Its 550 BST and unique typing further distinguish it from regular Pokémon.
Team Building Tip: As a special attacker, Volcarona benefits from Quiver Dance boosts. Pair it with Sticky Web support to mitigate its speed issues against faster threats.
4. Lucario
Lucario’s prominence in Pokémon media rivals actual Legendaries. The Fighting/Steel-type starred in its own movie alongside Mew, communicates telepathically, and senses auras—abilities typically reserved for Mythical Pokémon.
Cultural Impact: Lucario remains one of the franchise’s most popular Pokémon, appearing in Smash Bros. and getting Mega Evolution before many Legendaries. Its 525 BST is lower than typical Legendaries but still formidable.
Competitive Edge: Lucario’s Adaptability ability makes it a potent revenge killer. Try a Choice Scarf set with Close Combat and Meteor Mash for surprise sweeps.
5. Zorua/Zoroark
The Zorua line broke conventions as event-exclusive non-Mythicals. Black and White required a special Celebi to obtain Zorua—an unprecedented restriction for regular Pokémon. Zoroark’s illusion abilities and movie appearance further blurred the line.
Unique Mechanics: Zoroark’s Illusion ability creates mind games unseen in other Pokémon. When combined with its 510 BST and signature move Night Daze, it can outplay opponents like a true Legendary.
Strategy Tip: Disguise Zoroark as a Fighting-type to bait Psychic attacks, then counter with Dark pulses. This advanced tactic mimics Legendary-level strategy.
6. Dragonite
As the original pseudo-Legendary, Dragonite set the standard for powerful non-Legendaries. With 600 BST matching some Legendaries, marine rarity, and human-level intelligence, it checks multiple Legendary boxes.
Anime Legacy: Dragonite’s mysterious lighthouse appearance in the anime created an aura of Legendary status. Its ability to circle the globe in 16 hours and gentle nature with humans adds to its mythical qualities.
Competitive Note: Dragonite remains viable with Multiscale and Dragon Dance. Consider Heavy-Duty Boots to negate Stealth Rock damage and preserve its bulk.
7. Rotom
Rotom remains the only non-Legendary to trigger the Legendary battle theme. Its Diamond/Pearl encounter in Old Chateau—complete with jump scare and special music—fooled countless players into thinking they’d found a secret Legendary.
Unique Traits: Rotom’s form-changing ability and Ghost/Electric typing were unprecedented in Gen 4. While its 440 BST is modest, its appliance forms gain significant type coverage and stat boosts.
Team Building: Rotom-Wash remains a premier pivot in competitive play. Its typing and Will-O-Wisp make it excellent for defensive cores.
8. Unown
Unown’s connection to the Pokémon universe’s ancient language and the Spell of the Unown movie gave it Legendary-level mystique. The fact that Pokédex entries state “nothing is known” about these symbols only deepened the mystery.
Ruins of Alph: The elaborate puzzle-solving required to encounter Unown in Gold/Silver mirrored Legendary hunt mechanics. While collecting all forms doesn’t unlock secrets, it remains a completionist challenge.
Collection Tip: In later games, Unown’s Hidden Power type varies by letter. This makes certain forms more valuable for competitive breeding projects.
Conclusion & Checklist
These eight Pokémon demonstrate how Game Freak plays with Legendary conventions. While they didn’t make the official cut, their unique traits continue fascinating fans. As the franchise evolves, we may see more boundary-pushing Pokémon that challenge our definitions.
For competitive trainers: Many of these near-Legendaries remain viable in battle. Their unique mechanics can give you an edge against opponents expecting conventional teams.
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