Best Pokémon of every type in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

CREATING a diverse and useful team is paramount to success in any Pokémon game, and these are the best picks for Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Although Pokémon Legends: Arceus doesn’t put you through as many gruelling battles as other games, you will need a diverse set of Pokémon to chip away at the creatures that are particularly difficult to catch.

Whatever type you like to use, you want the best of the best, so we’ve gone through the entire Pokédex and found the top-tier choice for each of the 18 types. 

Some are obvious strong contenders, while others are ones you might not have considered.

Oh, and Legendary Pokémon are banned because picking them is cheating.

Flying – Staraptor

If you’re looking for a bird, then you can’t go wrong with Staraptor. 

You can catch a Starly almost immediately in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and it has a brilliant, diverse move pool. 

It can blast a hole in anything with Brave Bird, or take it down with Close Combat.

Ice – Weavile

You may not have even realised you could get Weavile in this game, as Hisuian Sneasel evolves into the new Pokémon, Sneasler. 

However, in time-space distortions, you can find a regular Sneasel to evolve into this powerhouse of an Ice-type. 

Granted, it can’t take many hits, but it deals more than enough damage to make up for it.

Dragon – Garchomp

Don’t get in the way of this terrifying land shark.

Rock – Hisuian Arcanine

You have regular Arcanine, a Pokémon simultaneously terrifying and adorable. 

So what do you do to make the Hisuian form even better? That’s right, you make it fluffier. 

Why more fluff makes it a Rock-type is unclear, but we’ll overlook that since it successfully transferred all of its fire power (not firepower…although, come to think of it, that too) into rock power.

Ground – Garchomp

No, it wasn’t a mistake that we’ve used Garchomp twice. Garchomp is just that good. If you have any complaints I suggest you take that up with its gigantic teeth and spiky knees.

Steel – Empoleon

Penguin. Biiiiig Penguin. Good.

Fairy – Clefable

Hisui is full of great options for Fairy-types, and in any other region, a Pokémon like Gardevoir or Togekiss might have taken this spot.

But with the unique battle mechanics of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Clefable has become an impenetrable wall for all but the strongest of Steel-types.

Poison – Crobat

Imagine a regular bat. Now imagine someone gave it an extra set of wings and strapped poison-tipped knives to all of them. That’s why Crobat is great. Plus, it only evolves when you have enough friendship with it, meaning it knows what it’s worth and forces you to earn its power.

Bug – Scizor

It’s very tempting to evolve a Scyther into the new Pokémon, Kleavor, but don’t lose sight of what we already have. 

Scizor is fast, powerful, and surprisingly bulky as long as you don’t put it in the way of fire. 

Normal – Hisuian Zoroark

This Hisuian form takes the cool black and red design of Zoroark and somehow turns it into an even cooler white and red combo. 

Plus, Normal/Ghost is a brilliant type that gives three immunities and just one weakness. It will wreak havoc on any battlefield.

Fighting – Lucario

It’s a big dog with spikes on its hands, what more do you want?

Dark – Umbreon

In truth, most of this list could be filled with Eevee and its Eeveelutions, but we’ve only picked one out of fairness, and it had to be Umbreon. 

Despite its small and sleek stature, it will shock you with how well it can take a hit. 

It’s not the biggest damage dealer, but it has access to a wide range of stalling moves to keep you in the fight for ages.

Ghost – Gengar

Mismagius was a close contender for this slot, but Gengar is a classic Pokémon and we can’t deny its brilliance. It might be a bit of a glass cannon, but what’s the point in a Pokémon as powerful as Gengar if you can’t have some fun?

Psychic – Alakazam

The Lake Guardians wish they could be this powerful. With Special Attack through the roof, speed to match, and access to loads of support moves, no other Psychic Pokémon comes close. 

Plus, if it gives you one of its spoons, it’ll make everything you eat with it taste delicious, so why would you want any other Pokémon ever?

Electric – Magnezone

Luxray may have it beat in the looks department, but Luxray can’t wall out 12 different types as Magnezone can. 

It’s not just a tank either, with moves like Thunder and Flash Cannon under its belt nothing will stand in its way for long.

Grass – Roserade

Aside from Rowlet as a starter, there aren’t many options for grass fans in Hisui, but ol’ faithful Roserade is there to pick up the slack. 

It has a great Special Attack stat to help with moves like Sludge Bomb and Petal Dance, plus its bouquet hands are hiding poisonous vines, which is neat.

Fire – Infernape

Insanely powerful moves? Check. Fire instead of hair? Check. Monkey? Check.

Water – Gyarados

If Gyarados is in a Pokémon game, then it’s one of the best Pokémon you can catch in that game. It’s as simple as that. 

It looks awesome, it has incredible power, and everyone always forgets that it’s a Flying-type, so you get to smugly correct them. There are no downsides.

Written by Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.