20 Best Legendary Pokemon How To Get Them Fast

I still remember the exact moment I realized I was addicted to Legendary Pokemon. I was ten years old, sitting in the back of my parents’ minivan, clutching my Game Boy Color like it was a gold bar. The screen was dim, the batteries were dying, and I had been throwing Ultra Balls at Mewtwo for forty-five minutes. My hands were sweating. My heart was hammering against my ribs. When that ball finally clicked shut, I didn’t just feel happy; I felt powerful. That rush? It never really goes away.

But let’s get real for a second. We aren’t ten years old anymore. We don’t have infinite free time to wander around digital grass hoping for a 1% spawn rate. You want the power of a god on your team, and you want it before you have to go to work on Monday.

This list isn’t just a ranking of stats. It’s a breakdown of the 20 absolute best Legendary Pokemon based on how much they dominate the current meta, how cool they look, and how much they matter to the lore. More importantly, I’m going to cut through the noise and tell you the fastest, cheesiest, most efficient ways to catch them in the modern games (Scarlet, Violet, Sword, Shield, and Legends: Arceus).

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Key Takeaways

• DLC is Your Best Friend: If you own The Crown Tundra for Sword/Shield or The Indigo Disk for Scarlet/Violet, you have a shortcut to almost every legendary in history.
• Multiplayer “Cheesing” Works: Don’t grind solo. Joining online groups for “Union Circle” quests in Scarlet/Violet speeds up legendary unlocks by about 400%.
• Dynamax Adventures = Guaranteed Catch: In Sword/Shield’s DLC, legendary bosses have a 100% catch rate. Stop wasting Master Balls on them; use a Premier Ball and look fancy.
• The Power Creep is Real: Newer legends like Zacian and Calyrex generally outclass older gods like Lugia in raw competitive damage.

1. Is Arceus Truly the Strongest of All?

If we are talking strictly lore, then yes, obviously. He is the “Original One.” He literally created the universe with his thousand arms. But for a long time, Arceus was kind of a joke in competitive play because he was just a “Jack of all trades, master of none.” That changed with Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Game Freak finally gave him the respect he deserves. His “Legend Plate” basically turns him into a cheat code. It changes his type before he attacks to ensure he always hits the opponent for super-effective damage. It’s absolutely broken, and I love it. It feels like you are actually controlling a deity who bends reality to win a fistfight.

How to Get Arceus Fast

You can’t trade for him easily because he’s mythical, so you have to earn him. The fastest route is Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but you can speedrun the requirements.

• The “Good Enough” Method: The game tells you to “seek out all Pokemon.” This sounds daunting, but you don’t need to reach Research Level 10 for every entry. You just need to catch one of each species.
• Skip the Battles: Don’t waste time battling wild Pokemon to weaken them. Buy tons of Sticky Globs and Ultra Balls. Stun the Alpha Pokemon with globs, run behind them, and back-strike catch them. It cuts the grind in half. Once your Pokedex count hits 237, head to the Temple of Sinnoh and show God who’s boss.

2. Why Is Mewtwo Still the King of Kanto?

Mewtwo is the O.G. He was the reason I traded my best holographic Charizard on the playground in 1999 (a terrible financial decision in hindsight, but totally worth it for the street cred). He exudes that “mad science experiment gone wrong” vibe that newer designs just can’t replicate.

In battle, he is still a monster. His signature move, Psystrike, is nasty because it uses his massive Special Attack stat but hits the opponent’s Physical Defense. This means he can blow right past special walls like Blissey that usually stop special attackers cold.

How to Catch Mewtwo Quickly

• Sword/Shield (Crown Tundra): Forget the old caves. Go to the Dynamax Adventures den.
• The Network Trick: The boss at the end of the adventure is random, which is annoying. However, if you find a friend (or a stranger on Discord) who already has the “Mewtwo Path” saved, you can enter their link code and go straight to him. It takes twenty minutes, tops.

3. Can Rayquaza Really Stop the Weather Trio?

Rayquaza is the cooler older brother who steps in to stop the twins from fighting. When Kyogre and Groudon are wrecking the world with rain and sun, Rayquaza descends from the ozone layer and just says “No.” His ability Air Lock cancels out all weather effects, which completely ruins teams that rely on rain or sun boosts.

Plus, let’s be honest: Mega Rayquaza (if they ever bring him back) was so powerful he got banned from the “Uber” tier—a tier specifically made for broken Pokemon. He created his own tier: “Anything Goes.” That is legendary status.

The Fastest Way to Get Rayquaza

• Scarlet/Violet (Indigo Disk): This is the current easiest method, but there is a catch. You need to unlock “Gold” quests from an NPC named Snacksworth.
• The “Union Circle” Hack: Unlocking Gold quests solo takes an eternity. Don’t do it. Jump on a Reddit thread or Discord server and join a Union Circle group. When four players do quests together, the Gold meter fills up almost instantly. You can unlock the Rayquaza treat in about 45 minutes of group play versus 10 hours of solo grinding.

4. What Makes Zacian the “Crowned” Champion?

I have a love-hate relationship with Zacian. I love using him, and I hate fighting him. Introduced in Generation 8, this wolf with a sword in its mouth completely shattered the competitive scene.

Zacian gets an automatic Attack boost just for entering the battle (Intrepid Sword). He is faster than almost everything, hits harder than almost everything, and his typing (Fairy/Steel) is arguably the best defensive typing in the game. It’s almost unfair. I remember sweeping the entire Battle Tower while eating a sandwich with one hand, just spamming Behemoth Blade.

How to Get Zacian Fast

• Sword/Shield: You catch the box legendary at the end of the post-game story.
• Don’t Be a Hero: Use the Master Ball. The game gives you one freebie during the story. Zacian has a catch rate that will make you want to pull your hair out. You do not want to be the guy resetting his game for two hours because a dog keeps breaking out of Dusk Balls. Just throw the Master Ball and move on with your life.

5. Is Calyrex Shadow Rider the Best Sweeper?

Imagine a ghost riding a horse. Now imagine that every time that ghost knocks out a Pokemon, it screams and gets stronger. That is Calyrex Shadow Rider.

His ability Grim Neigh boosts his Special Attack after every KO. Once he gets one kill, he snowballs. It becomes impossible to stop him. His signature move Astral Barrage hits both opponents in double battles and has 120 base power with no drawbacks. It’s absurd.

How to Obtain Calyrex Quickly

• Crown Tundra DLC: The questline is pretty straightforward, but you can shave off time.
• The Carrot Choice: You will be asked to plant a carrot in the snow or in a graveyard. Choose the graveyard. This spawns Spectrier (the Ghost horse) instead of Glastrier (the Ice horse). The Ghost path is generally faster to clear because the wild Pokemon in that area are less annoying to fight than the bulky Ice-types on the mountain. Plus, Shadow Rider is infinitely better than Ice Rider in competitive play.

6. How Does Koraidon Dominate Physical Offense?

I’ll admit, when I first saw Koraidon, I thought he looked goofy. A lizard bike with wheels that don’t spin? Come on. But after riding him around Paldea for 40 hours, he won me over. He acts like a loyal dog, begging for sandwiches.

In battle, he is terrifying. He sets up the sun automatically, which boosts his Fire moves and activates his ability to boost his Attack. Pair him with “Protosynthesis” Pokemon like Flutter Mane or Walking Wake, and you have a team that hits like a freight truck.

How to Get Koraidon Fast

• Pokemon Scarlet: You get the rideable one automatically, but you can’t use him in battle properly until the endgame.
• The Second Koraidon: After the credits roll, go back to Area Zero. Go to the very bottom, behind the research lab. There is a second Koraidon just standing there on a ramp. You can catch this one immediately. Pro Tip: Use a Repeat Ball. Since you technically “own” the ride form, the Repeat Ball has a massive catch rate multiplier on the wild one.

7. Why Is Miraidon the Ultimate Special Attacker?

If Koraidon is the brawn, Miraidon is the brain. This futuristic serpent sets up Electric Terrain, which prevents sleep (RIP Spore users) and boosts Electric moves. His signature move, Electro Drift, hits insanely hard.

I actually prefer Miraidon for traversing the map in Violet because his animations are smoother than the bouncy Koraidon, but that’s just personal preference. In raids, Miraidon is arguably better because Special Attackers don’t get punished by “Intimidate” raid bosses.

The Quickest Route to Miraidon

• Pokemon Violet: Finish the main story.
• Nature Hunting: Go to the bottom of Area Zero for the second copy. If you care about competitive stats, bring a Pokemon with the “Synchronize” ability (with Modest nature) to lead your party. Wait, did they remove that mechanic in Gen 9? They did. Never mind. Just catch him and use a Modest Mint. It’s faster than resetting for the right nature.

8. Can Giratina Still Control the Distortion World?

Giratina is the goth kid of the Pokemon world. While his siblings Dialga and Palkia are busy managing time and space, Giratina was banished to a shadow dimension for being too violent. That is some serious street cred.

In his Origin Forme, he is a massive, levitating centipede-dragon that is immune to Ground moves and hits like a truck. He is incredibly bulky, making him a staple on “stall” teams—you know, those annoying teams that toxic you and wait for you to die.

How to Get Giratina Fast

• Legends: Arceus: This is the most consistent way to get him without trading.
• The Volo Fight: You have to beat Volo first. I won’t spoil it, but it is one of the hardest fights in Pokemon history. Bring a Togekiss or a Sylveon. Fairy types are immune to Dragon moves. You can cheese the entire fight by just spamming Moonblast. Once Volo is down, the Giratina catch mission unlocks immediately.

9. Is Groudon Essential for Sun Teams?

Primal Groudon might be gone (rest in peace, you broken monster), but regular Groudon is still essential. He is the only Legendary that sets up Sun effectively while having the bulk to survive hits from Water types.

He is the anchor for any team that wants to use Fire types. Without Groudon, your Fire team is just a glass cannon waiting to be shattered by a specialized Water move.

Getting Groudon Quickly

• Scarlet/Violet: Another Snacksworth unlock.
• The Version Trap: Groudon is usually exclusive to Scarlet players if you are playing solo. If you own Violet, you might feel stuck. Here is the fix: Join a Union Circle with a Scarlet player. As long as you are in their game, you can get the Groudon treat from Snacksworth. Do not restart your game or buy the other version; just borrow a friend’s world.

10. Why Do Players Fear Kyogre?

Two words: Water Spout.

Kyogre is simple. He sets up the rain, which boosts Water damage by 50%. Then he uses Water Spout, a move that has 150 base power when he is at full health. Combine those, and you are dealing nuclear levels of damage. I have won online matches on turn one because my opponent realized they didn’t have a Water-resist Pokemon and just forfeited immediately.

How to Catch Kyogre Fast

• Sword/Shield: Dynamax Adventures.
• The Ore Trick: If you are hunting for a Shiny Kyogre (which is pink—it’s awesome), it can take forever. The trick is to farm 999 Dynite Ore first. Run the adventure, catch Kyogre. Check if it’s shiny. If not, reset the game. You pay a penalty in ore for quitting, but it saves you the 20 minutes of running the dungeon again because you can keep the exact same “path” and teammates.

11. Is Ogerpon the Best New Legendary?

Ogerpon is adorable. She’s a little ogre girl holding a mask. But do not let the cuteness fool you; she is a cold-blooded killer.

Her mechanic allows her to switch types by changing masks. The Hearthflame Mask (Fire/Grass) is the standout. It gives her the ability Mold Breaker, which lets her hit Pokemon through their protective abilities. Her signature move has a high critical hit ratio. She is fast, hits hard, and fits on almost any team.

How to Get Ogerpon Fast

• Scarlet/Violet (Teal Mask): She is the star of the first DLC.
• Speed Strategy: You can actually access the Teal Mask DLC very early in the game. If you start a fresh save file, transfer a level 100 Pokemon from Pokemon Home. It will disobey you sometimes, but it will one-shot everything in the DLC story. You can rush to Ogerpon in a couple of hours.

12. Does Zamazenta Hold Up Defensively?

Poor Zamazenta. He always gets overshadowed by his sword-wielding sister. But recently, Zamazenta has seen a resurgence. He is an absolute wall. His ability Dauntless Shield boosts his defense instantly.

Body Press builds (where damage is calculated based on Defense, not Attack) make him a serious threat. He can tank a hit from almost anything and hit back hard.

Fast Track to Zamazenta

• Pokemon Shield: End of game.
• Pokemon GO Transfer: Honestly? The absolute fastest way right now is Pokemon GO. Zamazenta is in raids fairly often. If you catch one on your phone, you can transfer it to Pokemon Home and then straight into your Switch game. This skips the entire 20-hour story mode of Shield.

13. Is Eternatus the Best Poison Type?

Eternatus looks like a jagged alien skeleton, and he plays like one. He has massive stats and his signature move, Dynamax Cannon, deals double damage to Dynamaxed opponents. This makes him the ultimate tool for farming Max Raids in Sword and Shield.

How to Get Eternatus Fast

• Sword/Shield: You catch him automatically at the climax of the main story. It is a guaranteed catch, so use a fun ball like a Premier Ball or a Luxury Ball.
• Raid Farmer: As soon as you get him, max out his Special Attack and Speed EVs. He makes farming for other legendaries infinitely faster because his attack animation is quick and he hits everything hard.

14. Why Is Xerneas Called the “Geomancy” God?

Xerneas is a one-trick pony, but it is a really, really good trick. The move is called Geomancy. It takes two turns to charge, but if you give him a Power Herb, it activates instantly.

It doubles his Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. After one turn of setup, Xerneas basically wins the game. I have swept entire teams of six with just Xerneas. It’s not honorable, but it is effective.

How to Get Xerneas Fast

• Sword/Shield: Dynamax Adventures (Sword exclusive path).
• Discord Hunting: Don’t rely on RNG to find his path. Go to a Pokemon Discord server and ask “Does anyone have a Xerneas path?” Someone will say yes. Join their lobby. You get the catch in 15 minutes. Community is the ultimate speedrun strat.

15. Can Yveltal Drain the Life Out of You?

Yveltal is the bird of death. His ability Dark Aura boosts all Dark-type moves on the field. His signature move, Oblivion Wing, does damage and heals him for 75% of the damage dealt.

He is incredibly frustrating to fight against because just when you think you have beaten him, he nukes you and heals back to full health.

How to Catch Yveltal Quickly

• Scarlet/Violet: Snacksworth (Violet exclusive for solo).
• Travel Hack: He spawns high up in the snowy mountains of Paldea. If you have finished The Indigo Disk DLC, you unlock the ability for Koraidon/Miraidon to fly permanently. Use this. Climbing that mountain manually is a glitchy nightmare. Flying there takes 30 seconds.

16. What Makes Terapagos Unique?

Terapagos is the newest kid on the block, introduced in the Indigo Disk DLC. It is a cute turtle that turns into a disc.

Its “Stellar Form” is a fascinating mechanic. It clears all weather and terrain effects when it enters the battle. It basically hits the reset button on the field. This is amazing for disrupting opponents who rely on setup strategies.

How to Get Terapagos Fast

• Scarlet/Violet (Indigo Disk): Complete the main story of the second DLC.
• Boss Fight Prep: The final fight against Terapagos is a raid-style battle. Bring a Fighting-type like Iron Hands or Koraidon. Terapagos has a massive health bar, but he is weak to Fighting moves because of his Normal typing in the shell phase. Drain Punch will keep you alive forever.

17. Is Dialga the King of Time?

Steel/Dragon is arguably the best defensive type combination in the game. You resist almost everything. Dialga is a tank. He sits there, takes hits, and fires back with Roar of Time.

In Legends: Arceus, he gets a weird “Origin Forme” that looks like he swallowed a washing machine, but his stats are incredible.

Fast Dialga Acquisition

• Legends: Arceus: Early in the game, you have to choose between the Diamond Clan leader (Adaman) and the Pearl Clan leader (Irida). Choose Adaman. This ensures you face Dialga first in the finale, letting you catch him slightly earlier than Palkia.

18. Why Is Palkia a Space-Bending Threat?

Palkia is often seen as the “lesser” of the two compared to Dialga, but that’s unfair. Palkia is faster. In competitive Pokemon, Speed is everything. If you move first, you win. Palkia’s Water/Dragon typing only has one weakness: Fairy.

How to Get Palkia Fast

• Legends: Arceus: Choose Irida (Pearl Clan) as your partner.
• Shining Pearl Reset: If you are playing the remakes (Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl), the fastest way to get a good Palkia is to turn off autosave before the fight. Catch him, check his stats. If they suck, restart. It’s old school, but it works.

19. Are Solgaleo and Lunala Still Viable?

The Alola legends are fantastic. Solgaleo is a steel lion that refuses to have his stats lowered. Lunala is a cosmic bat with Shadow Shield, which halves all damage taken when at full health.

Lunala in particular is great because it effectively guarantees you survive at least one hit, allowing you to set up a strategy.

How to Catch Them Fast

• Sword/Shield: Dynamax Adventures.
• Cross-Version Play: These are version exclusives (Solgaleo in Sword, Lunala in Shield). However, if you join a raid hosted by a player of the opposite version, you can catch their legendary. This is the fastest way to complete your Pokedex without buying the other game.

20. Who is Urshifu and Why is He Everywhere?

If you play competitive Pokemon, you hate Urshifu. Specifically, the Rapid Strike (Water) form. His signature move, Surging Strikes, hits three times and results in a critical hit every single time.

This ignores the opponent’s defensive stat boosts. It ignores “Reflect” screens. It basically ignores the rules of the game. He is a button-mashing machine.

How to Get Urshifu Fast

• Sword/Shield (Isle of Armor):
• The Infinite Farm: Here is a secret. Create a new profile on your Switch. Start a new game. Play for 40 minutes until you reach the Wild Area. Go straight to the Isle of Armor station. You can catch Kubfu immediately. Transfer him to Pokemon Home, then to your main game. Feed him XP candies to level 100. Evolve him. Put him back in Home. Delete the save file on the second profile. Repeat. You can get an army of Urshifus in an afternoon.

Getting these legends doesn’t have to be a slog. Use the tools the modern games give you—DLC shortcuts, online raiding, and Pokemon Home transfers. Stop grinding and start battling. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a Shiny Rayquaza to hunt.

FAQs – Legendary Pokemon