which pokemon game has the most legendary pokemon

The pursuit of legendary Pokémon is a cornerstone of the franchise's appeal. These rare, powerful beings are often central to a game's narrative and represent the pinnacle of a trainer's collection. A common question arises among enthusiasts and completionists alike: which Pokémon game has the most legendary Pokémon? The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem, as it depends heavily on definitions, accessibility, and the evolving scope of the games themselves. This analysis will delve into the contenders, examining core series titles, expanded content, and the modern approach to legendary distribution to crown the definitive champion.

Defining the Parameters: What Counts as a Legendary?

Before identifying the game with the most legendaries, we must establish criteria. The term "legendary Pokémon" typically includes Mythical Pokémon, though they are often distributed via limited-time events. For this comparison, we consider all legendary and mythical Pokémon that are obtainable within a single game cartridge through normal gameplay, including post-game content, but excluding those only accessible via events or impossible trades. This includes version exclusives, as the question pertains to the game's code and potential roster. The focus is on the maximum number one player can legally acquire on one save file without external events.

The Early Contenders: A Gradual Accumulation

The earlier generations offered a modest number of legendaries. Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow featured only the legendary bird trio and Mewtwo. Gold, Silver, and Crystal expanded this to include the legendary beasts, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Celebi (via an event). Ruby and Sapphire introduced the weather trio, the Regis, and the Eon duo. The trend was clear: each new generation added more legendary Pokémon to the universe, but the count within a single game remained relatively contained, usually between five to seven obtainable without trading.

The first significant jump occurred with the third-generation remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. These games not only included the original Kanto legendaries but also provided access to the Sevii Islands, where players could catch the legendary beasts from Johto. This cross-generational access set a precedent, allowing a game to host legendaries from outside its native region.

The Modern Powerhouses: Platinum, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Pokémon Platinum marked a turning point. It dramatically expanded the Sinnoh Pokédex and, crucially, in the post-game area known as the Spear Pillar, allowed players to encounter numerous legendary Pokémon from previous generations, including the legendary birds, the weather trio, and the Eon duo. This "legendary hunt" feature became a staple in subsequent titles, significantly inflating the number of available legendaries in a single game.

This concept was pushed to its zenith in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. These games are often cited as the correct answer. Through the main story and the extensive post-game "Ultra Wormhole" minigame, a player can capture an astonishing array of legendary Pokémon. The roster includes all the legendary Pokémon from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's own story—Solgaleo/Lunala, Necrozma, the Tapus, the Ultra Beasts—plus a vast selection from past games. By journeying through the Ultra Wormholes, players can find almost every non-event legendary from Generations 1 through 6, including cover legendaries like Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, and many more. The total count comfortably exceeds 30 unique legendary and mythical Pokémon (with Magearna available via a QR code scan).

The Open-World Challenger: Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus presents a unique case. Its entire narrative is built around the legendary Pokémon Arceus and the ancient Sinnoh region's deities. The game features a high density of legendary and mythical Pokémon integral to the plot and gameplay. Players can directly catch powerful beings like Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, the lake guardians, the forces of nature, and several mythical Pokémon such as Darkrai and Shaymin (with save data from other games). While the total raw number is lower than Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's wormhole bounty, the ratio of legendaries to regular Pokémon is arguably the highest in the series. Every major story beat involves a legendary, making them feel less like rare post-game trophies and more like core components of the world.

The Definitive Answer and the DLC Factor

When adhering to the strict definition of "most obtainable in one cartridge," Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon remain the uncontested champions. The Ultra Wormhole mechanic was a deliberate effort by Game Freak to create a definitive legendary-catching experience within the main series. No other game offers such a comprehensive, self-contained legendary safari.

However, the era of downloadable content (DLC) has introduced a new dynamic. Pokémon Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra DLC, specifically through the "Dynamax Adventures," allows players to catch a wide variety of legendary Pokémon from past generations. When combined with the base game and the DLC, the total number is substantial and rivals the Ultra Wormhole selection. This model suggests future games may not hold the record within their base version but can achieve it through expansion, changing how we define a "game's" content.

Conclusion: A Crown for the Alolan Twilight

The quest to determine which Pokémon game has the most legendary Pokémon highlights the franchise's evolution. From the singular Mewtwo to the interdimensional bounty of the Ultra Wormholes, the availability of these rare creatures has expanded dramatically. Based on a self-contained, in-game experience without mandatory external events or additional purchases, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon hold the title. They represent the peak of an era where catching legendaries was a dedicated post-game pursuit. While newer titles like Pokémon Legends: Arceus integrate them more deeply into the narrative, and DLC like The Crown Tundra offers comparable numbers, the Alolan duo stands as the definitive package for trainers seeking the ultimate legendary collection challenge within a single, complete adventure.

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