Pseudo-legendary Pokémon, from Dragonite to Baxcalibur

They are not legendary, but they come close: pseudo-legendaries are the strongest Pokémon among those you can breed and evolve. Almost every generation has one, and many have long, similar names. Here is how to recognise them in the crossword.

What pseudo-legendary means

“Pseudo-legendary” is a name invented by players, not a term used in the games. It describes a group of Pokémon with three things in common:

• they have an evolution line of three stages;
• the final form has base stats that add up to 600;
• the base form is rare and grows slowly.

Many are Dragon types, but not all. Unlike legendaries, covered in the guide to legendary and mythical Pokémon, you can have more than one.

From Kanto to Sinnoh

• Dragonite (9 letters), Dragon and Flying: Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite;
• Tyranitar (9), Rock and Dark: Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar;
• Salamence (9), Dragon and Flying: Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence;
• Metagross (9), Steel and Psychic: Beldum, Metang, Metagross;
• Garchomp (8), Dragon and Ground: Gible, Gabite, Garchomp.

Tyranitar and Metagross are the only two without the Dragon type: Rock and Dark for the first, Steel and Psychic for the second.

From Unova to Paldea

• Hydreigon (9), Dark and Dragon: Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon;
• Goodra (6), Dragon: Goomy, Sliggoo, Goodra;
• Kommo-o, Dragon and Fighting: Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Kommo-o;
• Dragapult (9), Dragon and Ghost: Dreepy, Drakloak, Dragapult;
• Baxcalibur (10), Dragon and Ice: Frigibax, Arctibax, Baxcalibur.

Goodra is the only pure Dragon type, and also the shortest: six letters.

The nine-letter trick

Six pseudo-legendaries out of ten have exactly nine letters: Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamence, Metagross, Hydreigon and Dragapult. If a nine-square answer makes you think of a strong Dragon-type Pokémon, the list is short.

To tell them apart, look at the second type in the clue:

1. Flying: Dragonite or Salamence. The first letter (D or S) decides.
2. Dark: Tyranitar (with Rock) or Hydreigon (with Dragon).
3. Ghost: Dragapult.
4. Steel: Metagross.

Base and middle forms

The stages before the final form can end up in the grid too, and they are shorter names: Gible (5), Bagon (5), Deino (5), Goomy (5), Beldum (6), Metang (6), Dratini (7), Larvitar (8). A clue like “its final evolution is very strong” or “evolves into Garchomp” leads you straight there. For the rules on evolution lines there is the evolutions guide.

Ten names to keep in mind

Pseudo-legendaries are few, easy to spot and almost all Dragon types: once you have learnt them, a long answer at the bottom of the grid becomes far less mysterious. Put them to the test in today’s crossword.