Legendary Pokémon!

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Welcome to my first blog entry that will be focusing on the main series Pokémon lore instead of documenting my own Pokémon GO journey. The GO updates will return soon, but I want to use this space to share my own little projects on the main series as well. Today’s focus will be determining whether or not Legendary and Mythical Pokémon belong to a species or are truly unique specimens. I will do my best to take into account all facets of the main series Pokémon games, down to the most obscure dialogues and limited events. I decided to break this idea up into two parts, so today's entry will be focusing on the Legendary Pokémon of generations 1-4.

Rules:

  1. We will be taking into consideration every mainline Pokémon games shared continuity, and including Colo and XD story modes. 
  2. We won't be counting event distribution Pokémon that don't have any form of in game interaction. 
  3. If the Pokémon has to be caught to progress a game's story, or is used by an NPC trainer it will be assumed that they are not released unless otherwise stated.
  4. If a Pokémon appears due to Hoopa Rings or Ultra Wormholes (unless their existence is tied to these phenomena) they will be considered from different universes and therefore not counted as an appearance. 

Kanto

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Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres: Multiple appear and can be caught simultaneously in LGPE. Additionally, they appear on trainers' teams in multiple battle facilities. SPECIES

Mewtwo: We know it is the same Mewtwo in Kalos between XY and PLZA, but it is unclear if that is the same Mewtwo that appears in Kanto throughout RBY, FRLG, HGSS, and LGPE. However, Sabrina uses one on her team in B2W2, and since Mewtwo cannot be in the possession of Sabrina and exist in either Kanto/Kalos at the same time, this Pokémon is a species. SPECIES

Mew: Although it only had one encounterable appearance on Faraway Island, a Mew is said to have been obtained and brought to the Kanto region to create Mewtwo. This can be read from the journal entries in the Pokémon Mansion. Additionally there is a gift Mew in BDSP. It is hard to pin down whether or not these are all the same Mew, or different members of a species because the time between appearances is long enough and Mew does have the means of travel. Due to the nature of appearances it is likely Mew is a species but cannot be confirmed. UNCONFIRMED, LIKELY SPECIES

Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres: Only current appearance is in SWSH Crown Tundra. For now, it is implied that other sightings of them around the world are the same ones we see in the Crown Tundra. UNIQUE

Johto

Raikou, Entei, Suicune: Appear in GSC, FRLG, HGSS, BDSP, and SV, as wild Pokémon. But they also appear in Colo, and B2W2 on other trainers' teams. As they cannot exist in the wild and on multiple trainers teams at once, this group is a species. SPECIES

Lugia & Ho-Oh: Appear in the wild in GSC, FRLG, Emerald, HGSS, BDSP, SV. They also appear in the possession of other trainers, Ho-Oh in Colo, and Lugia in XD/B2W2. These Pokémon are known to Migrate and roost in multiple locations throughout the world. This makes it difficult to know if different appearances of them are actually unique instances or the same Pokémon appearing in different locations. However, the Ho-Oh and Lugia which appear in Orre must be independent of the others we see, due to Ho-Oh being in possession of Somek, and Lugia being in possession of Cipher and transformed into the truly unique Shadow Lugia. Additionally, Falkner having Lugia in B2W2 cements the fact that it is a species, as one cannot exist in the Orre region as Shadow Lugia, and on Falkner’s team at the same time. SPECIES

Celebi: Appears in Crystal, Colo, XD, and HGSS. It's unclear whether these are all the same Celebi, or different ones. It doesn't really matter though, since Celebi's ability to time travel allows it to distribute itself across time and space. This can allow for multiple Celebi to theoretically exist at once, even if they are all technically the same Celebi. That being said, there is actually kind of confirmation that multiple Celebi do exist at the same time. For the events at the Ilex Forest and Tohjo falls to occur in HGSS, Celebi must be in possession of the player, which would not allow it to also be summoned at Agate Village when needed. Now there's technically no way to confirm these Celebi are completely separate individuals, and not just the same Celebi at different points in its life. So I don't think it's fair to outright label Celebi as a species, but multiple instances of it definitely exist in the same universe at once. Verdict: Multiple exist, but unclear if it is a species just because of time travel. UNCONFIRMED, POSSIBLE SPECIES

Hoenn

Regirock, Regice, and Registeel: These guys are everywhere. They lay dormant in multiple regions at once, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Galar. Additionally, they appear on trainers teams in various battle facilities, Mt. Battle, and the Black Tower/White Treehollow. SPECIES

Latios and Latias: Appear in RSE, HGSS, B2W2, ORAS, and BDSP. They always exist as a species, but interestingly this is one of the few cases where their proof of being a species is different between the Non Mega and Mega timelines. For the Non Mega games (RSE, HGSS, B2W2), they appear in multiple regions and definitely have the means to travel. But in Unova, Benga battles with Latios in B2 and Latias in W2, and the player can encounter the same legendary, respective to each game, as well. As for the Mega Timeline, we will assume the events of other games that don't have Mega Timeline equivalents still occur the same. And in ORAS one of the Eon Duo must join your party to progress the story. That makes these Pokémon a species either way you slice it, as one can't exist in the possession of Brendan/May in ORAS, and Benga in B2W2 at the same time. SPECIES

Groudon and Kyogre: Appear in RSE, HGSS, ORAS, BDSP and SV. These Pokémon are never actually required to be captured by the player. Additionally, Groudon and Kyogre have the supernatural ability to appear and disappear, along with the Terra and Marine cave, seemingly at will/at random in Emerald. Given that they both have the means of transportation, and are never required to be caught, it is unclear whether or not their appearances are all independent of each other or the same ones recurring in different regions. Other instances exist due to multiverse. UNCONFIRMED

Rayquaza: Is encounterable in RSE, HGSS, ORAS, BDSP and SV, but makes an appearance on Winona’s team in B2W2. Due to the fact Winona is in possession of one in B2W2 which takes place before its appearance in SV, Rayquaza must be a species. SPECIES 

Jirachi: Only in game appearance is in Floroma Town in BDSP. UNIQUE

Deoxys: Does have two in game appearances, FRLG/Emerald, and ORAS. But both are confirmed to take place in separate universes from each other. Making Deoxys truly unique within each of its respective universes. UNIQUE

 

Sinnoh

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf: The same group appears in Sinnoh/Hisui throughout DPP/BDSP/PLA, but a trio also appears in B2W2 in the Cave of Being before being able to be captured in different locations in the Unova Region. Even though it is said that the Cave of Being connects to the caves of the Sinnoh region, it is never outright confirmed. It is very possible that the Lake Trio are Truly Unique, but unclear due to the lack of confirmation between Sinnoh and Unova. Other instances exist due to multiverse. UNCONFIRMED, POSSIBLE SPECIES

Dialga, Palkia, Giratina: The Pokémon of Myth appears in the Sinnoh/Hisui region throughout DPP/BDSP/PLA. We also witness Arceus give birth to entirely new, separate from the original, Pokémon of Myth in the Sinjoh Ruins in HGSS. SPECIES

Heatran: Encounterable in DPP, B2W2, BDSP, and PLA. However it does appear on trainers' teams in the Platinum Battle Froniter and the Black Tower. This makes this Pokémon a species, as it is obtainable by the player and on other trainers teams within the same game. SPECIES

Regigigas: Multiple Regigigas lay dormant throughout the Pokémon world. Sinnoh, Unova, and Galar. Additionally, it appears on trainer's teams in the Platinum Battle Froniter. SPECIES

Cresselia: Basically the same exact situation as Heatran. Encounterable in DPP, B2W2, BDSP, and PLA. However it does appear on trainers' teams in in the Platinum Battle Froniter and the White Treehollow. This makes this Pokémon a species, as it is obtainable by the player and on other trainers teams within the same game. SPECIES

Manaphy and Phione: Multiple of these Pokémon are hatched or caught throughout the series. DPP, HGSS, BDSP, PLA. SPECIES

Darkrai: Appears only in Sinnoh/Hisui, but is implied to have appeared in Unova at some point as well due to the events in the Strange House in B2W2. Lack of information makes it unclear whether or not the same Darkrai can live long enough to make appearances centuries apart, or if it has the means to travel regions apart in the modern day. UNCONFIRMED, POSSIBLE SPECIES

Shaymin: Appears exclusively in Sinnoh/Hisui, but lack of information makes it unclear whether or not the same Shaymin can live long enough to make appearances centuries apart. UNCONFIRMED, POSSIBLE SPECIES

Arceus: Arceus is a little interesting. Appears in PLA and BDSP, and the Pokémon Arceus is just an avatar for the deity itself that is bestowed upon the player. Due to the special circumstances in which Arceus exists, multiple could exist at once, and this does actually happen. In PLA after the player obtains Arceus in the Hall of Origin, you can fight a second Arceus, with your Arceus. SPECIES (when it wants to be)