Shimmering Legendary Pokemon Ranking

Highlights

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet feature new critters with great color swaps in their shiny forms, such as Bellibolt and Kommo-o, making them more interesting.

Certain Mythical Pokemon, such as Mew and Arceus, exhibit substantial alterations in their shiny forms, boasting completely distinct base colors that elevate their visual appeal and infuse battles with a heightened level of spectacle.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet delighted fans with their well-designed new critters, showcasing captivating variations in both their base forms and shiny versions. The shiny Bellibolt stands out prominently in the game's overworld, even without the assistance of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' shiny sound. It serves as a brilliant exemplar of how certain species can become significantly more captivating in the world of Pokemon. Another noteworthy example is the striking transformation of Kommo-o's shiny in The Teal Mask DLC, which acquires a metallic texture on its arms and body.

However, some shiny variations fall short of expectations, such as Gengar's shiny form. Throughout the series, apart from its white Mega Evolution in Generation 7 and GMax form in Generation 8, Gengar has merely sported a slightly darker shade of purple compared to its non-shiny version. Unfortunately, this remains a prevailing trend in some Pokemon games, with even the highly sought-after and powerful Mythical Pokemon falling victim to this lackluster design. Obtaining shiny Mythical Pokemon is already an arduous task, and to have them appear uninspiring only adds salt to the wound.

S Tier

Mew

Celebi

Genesect

Arceus

Magearna

Volcanion

What Makes These Shiny Pokemon S-Tier

The base colors of some shiny Mythical Pokemon undergo a complete transformation, resulting in a dramatic alteration of their appearance - often for the better. A prime example of this phenomenon is Shiny Mew in Pokemon GO, which replaces its light pink hue with a captivating shade of blue, thereby enhancing its visibility. Another remarkable instance is Arceus, whose shift from predominantly white to predominantly golden effectively highlights its god-like status, making it a sight to behold in battle.

A Tier

Deoxys

Meloetta

Diancie

Zeraora

Hoopa

Shaymin

What Makes These Shiny Pokemon A-Tier

Among the series' abundance of captivating Mythical Pokemon, some stand out even more with their dazzling shiny variations. Take, for instance, Deoxys and Meloetta, whose alternate forms showcase an even greater level of brilliance. Shiny Hoopa, capable of transforming into a menacing giant with a powerful ring, takes its unique color palette to another level. Meanwhile, Zeraora and Diancie, lacking alternate forms except for Diancie's Mega Evolution, still boast impressive color swaps. On the other hand, Shaymin's shiny form may only feature a subtle shade change, but its transformation into the Sky Forme adds an extra layer of dynamism.

B Tier

Victini

Manaphy

Phione

Darkrai

Jirachi

Keldeo

Marshadow

What Makes These Shiny Pokemon B-Tier

Much like regular Pokemon that do not possess the Legendary or Mythical status, these critters can also have rather underwhelming shiny forms. In these cases, their base colors may undergo minimal changes or, at best, a slight shade variation. Such is the case with Pokemon like Manaphy, Phione, and Keldeo, whose shinies manifest as different shades of blue, resembling more of an aqua green hue, while not much else about their appearance alters. While Pokemon GO players still have the opportunity to acquire a shiny Darkrai, the alterations in its color scheme may not be as exhilarating to witness compared to the shiny Mythical counterpart; as its scarf transitions from red to fuchsia and its body transforms from black to dark purple.

C Tier

Meltan

Melmetal

Zarude

What Makes These Shiny Pokemon C-Tier

Not all shinies in the Pokemon games live up to the high standards set by others in the series. A prominent example of this can be seen in a few Mythical creatures, namely Meltan, Melmetal, and Zarude. Shiny Meltan and Melmetal display only a subtle variation in their bolt color, transitioning from a vibrant gold to a more subdued bronze or copper, depending on the viewing angle. Similarly, the shiny version of Zarude distinguishes itself primarily through a change in fur tone, as its outer coat turns translucent and its chest fur shifts from gray to a mustard hue. Although these Pokemon themselves may possess formidable power, their shiny variants overall prove to be quite underwhelming.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are the upcoming main series Pokemon games. These two versions will be the arrival of Generation IX.

Franchise: Pokémon

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Developer(s): Game Freak

Publisher(s): Nintendo, The Pokémon Company

Genre(s): RPG

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (Mild Fantasy Violence)

Estimated Gameplay Time: 32 Hours

Metascore: 72