Legends: Arceus’ Best Alpha Pokémon, Ranked

Legends: Arceus' Best Alpha Pokémon, Ranked

Pokémon Legends: Arceus features Alpha Pokémon, a form of mini-boss, that can be encountered in the wild, but players should catch some before others.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus features powerful monsters known as Alphas throughout each explorable territory, but some are more useful than others. In previous Pokémon games, players had to breed for perfect EVs or IVs and purchase items to increase a monster’s base stats, but Alphas spawn with elevated stats. However, they’re much more challenging to catch than other Pokémon roaming the wilds and can use special abilities to make themselves more powerful in battle. There are dozens of Alpha Pokémon available throughout the regions, but some are far more valuable than others.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus features two types of Alpha Pokémon throughout its world: static spawns and random spawns. Each Alpha Pokémon is restricted to spawning in an environment unique to their species, with the only thing differing their appearance is their height. Players can also spot these creatures by determining whether or not it has red eyes. Alpha Pokémon can deal immense damage to both a Trainer and their party, and capturing or battling them is far more dangerous than the average encounter. Thankfully, these endeavors are worth the effort when players encounter some of the best Alpha Pokémon Legends: Arceus has to offer.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Related: Legends: Arceus – Every Location That’s A Reference To Pokémon BDSP

Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus are static and randomly spawning mini-bosses throughout the game’s five explorable areas. These creatures are much more powerful than fellow members of their species and should be approached with a strong team or extreme stealth. It’s possible to capture all these creatures without engaging in battle, and some players prefer to utilize Legends: Arceus’ new catching mechanics rather than battle them the traditional way. Unfortunately, some monsters won’t be available until players unlock certain territories throughout Hisui. However, those brave enough can catch some of the best Pokémon available in-game.

#6 – Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Torterra

Pokémon Legends: Arceus - How To Find (& Catch) Alpha Torterra

As one of Sinnoh’s original starters but not a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is Turtwig, and its final evolution Torterra maintains a powerful presence in the prequel. Once players unlock Basulegion and can cross deep rivers and oceans, players can explore the rest of the Crimson Mirelands and encounter Torterra in the Holm of the Trials. It’s accompanied by other Alphas like Toxicroak and Sliggoo but becomes extremely useful against enemies in later areas. Torterra is especially useful in the Cobalt Coastlands, where its Grass- and Ground-type attacks can keep its Trainer safe from wild monsters in the area. Its usefulness extends to the Coronet Highlands, but it unfortunately suffers significant weaknesses in the Alabaster Icelands. Nonetheless, Alpha Torterra is an excellent Grass-Ground dual-type addition to any party.

#5 – Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Gyarados

Gyarados is an excellent Water-type in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, providing Water- and Flying-type attacks to its team. However, Gyrados is also capable of learning Dragon-type moves that make the creature extremely powerful. As one of the most popular Pokémon from the Kanto region, Gyarados provides players with power and speed. Unlike Water-type Pokémon previously encountered, Gyarados can only be accessed once players obtain Basulegion and explore Sands Reach in the Cobalt Coastlands and Lake Verity in the Obsidian Fieldlands. Unlike other Alphas on this list, players must be clever with their approach to gain an advantage in this fight. Battling this Alpha is inevitable, as the area features little cover to mask their approach. Gyarados is an excellent addition to any party, providing coverage for Ground-, Grass-, Fighting-, Bug-Types, and more.

#4 Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Drapion

Alpha Drapion

While Drapion’s design and power aren’t as flashy as other Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus, this creature is helpful to most teams. Unfortunately, Drapion doesn’t get the attention it deserves in the Pokémon franchise, and its Alpha form can pass unnoticed by most. Its Poison-Dark dual-typing provides players with an insanely powerful addition to their team early on.

Related: Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Ending Shouldn’t Require A Complete Pokédex

Drapion’s only weaknesses are Ground-type Pokémon and attacks, and it enjoys a complete immunity to Psychic-types alongside a handful of helpful resistances to other powerful attacks. This Alpha spawns in the Ginko Landing Area in the Cobalt Coastlands and is a monster worth catching for Trainers that don’t have a Dark or Poison-type in their party.

#3 Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Lucario

Alpha Lucario can be caught in the Alabaster Icelands area of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

In the 2020 Pokémon Popularity Poll, Lucario placed second overall in the ratings and has consistently maintained its presence in the franchise’s movies and anime. This monster is exceptionally effective in Pokémon Legends: Arceus teams, especially when players catch it with high EVs. Its Fighting-Steel dual typing makes this monster super effective against Normal-, Ice-, Rock-, and Steel-types (assuming players have properly equipped their Alpha). Additionally, Alpha Lucarios can spawn with various unique moves usually not present among other Lucario and Riolu specimens located throughout the world. Alpha Lucario spawns in the Alabaster Icelands by the J-shaped mountain range in Icebound Falls.

#2 Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Zoroark

Alpha Zoroark battles trainers at Lake Acuity in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Many Hisuian variants appeared in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but Zorua and Zoroark appeared in a unique trailer to introduce the two regional forms. Zoroark sports the first Normal-Ghost dual-typing in the Pokémon franchise and resists Poison-, Bug-, Normal-, and Fighting-type attacks from all opponents. While it’s unfortunately weak to Dark-type Pokémon, Hisuian Zoroark is a revolutionary addition to the Pokédex. However, unlike most Alphas on the list, Alpha Zoroark is far more difficult to track down and requires significant searching throughout Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alabaster Icelands. Lake Acuity’s area has the greatest chance of spawning an Alpha Zoroark, but players have also reported it spawning in an ice ditch near the Ice Arena. It can also be obtained through the story after the credits.

#1 Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Garchomp Is Best

Alpha Garchomp is the highest level Alpha Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Cynthia’s Garchomp is legendary in Pokémon games, so it’s unsurprising that Alpha Garchomp provides players with a distinct advantage in most battles. Unfortunately, this powerful creature can’t be caught until players access the final territory of the game. As an Alpha Pokémon in the Alabaster Icelands, navigating through a territory with little cover can be extremely difficult. Thankfully, by catching this Pokémon, players can give themselves a distinct advantage in future battles. Its Dragon-type attacks combined with impressive speed stats make this Alpha a hard-hitting addition to any party. Alpha Garchomp spawns in Avalanche Slopes and comes at a high enough level that players can incorporate it immediately into their party without needing to train it.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Pokémon provided a unique change to the standard method of hunting for powerful creatures and forced players to adapt to new challenges. While it’s rarer to find some Alphas than others, these creatures provide an excellent way for players to build an unbeatable team for the game’s battles. Pokémon Legends: Arceus doesn’t offer as many Trainer battles as traditional games, but Alphas are still helpful in fending off wild monsters and legendaries.

Next: Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Biggest Story Spoilers

Genshin Impact Resinless Behavior: Best Ways To Pass Time While Waiting

About The Author

Natalie Lindner
(469 Articles Published)

Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped college students improve their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to continue that journey with Screen Rant.

Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn’t writing about games outside; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can be found striving for action on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.

More From Natalie Lindner

Author: Deann Hawkins