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Ultimately, it is each trainer’s own decision what their final team should look like. While players will of course be expanding the Pokedex as they make their way through the game, there are some Pokemon that are definite Must-Haves for the team for making Missions and Requests a bit easier.

Updated on May 31, 2022 by Renri Seong: With over 230 Pokemon to catch in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it can be difficult deciding which Pokemon should stay in the party, and which ones should remain in the pastures. Pokemon Legends: Arceus doesn’t have gym challenges, but a strong, balanced team will be required in order to complete the story missions. Some Pokemon are recommended for earlier story missions and sidequests, but they should be swapped out for stronger Pokemon as more of Hisui becomes accessible. The following list has been updated to include five more recommended Pokemon. These are some of the best Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus that players can have on their team.

15 Starly

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (Aspiration Hill, Horseshoe Plains, Windswept Run, Tidewater Dam) Cobalt Coastlands (Ginkgo Landing, Deadwood Haunt)

This is one of the first Pokemon trainers will need to catch as part of Mission 2: The Galaxy Team’s Entry Trial. While players can eventually replace Starly, it’s a good Pokemon to have on a beginning team. It evolves into Staravia fairly early (level 14), and Staraptor is a good Normal/Flying-type. There are also many Grass or Bug-type in the Obsidian Fieldlands, which is something the Starly-line are strong against.

14 Ponyta

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains)

For players who didn’t choose Cyndaquil, Ponyta makes a solid beginning Fire-type. For Shiny Pokemon hunters, there’s a Request in Pokemon Legends: Arceus that practically gift wraps players a free Shiny Ponyta.

Ponyta takes a while to level up, but once it becomes Rapidash, it has access to moves like Poison Jab and High Horsepower. Poison Jab grants great coverage against Fairy-type Pokemon, while High Horsepower, a Ground-type Move, can take care of Rock-type Pokemon, one of Ponyta/Rapidash’s weaknesses.

13 Pikachu

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (Nature’s Pantry) Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands) Cobalt Coastlands (Windbreak Stand)

Players will get access to Pikachu’s first habitat, Nature’s Pantry, after they’ve beaten Mai of the Diamond Clan. However, for those who want to evolve Pichu into Pikachu, they can catch a Pichu that roams to the far south of Aspiration Hill.

Stat-wise, Pikachu may not be too impressive, but it can evolve into Raichu when it’s given a Thunderstone. Have Zisu teach it Iron Tail to give it some Ice-type, Rock-type, and Fairy-type coverage. Trainers can eventually swap out Pikachu for a stronger Electric-type, but in the beginning, it’s a fast Pokemon and very useful against Water-type Pokemon.

12 Eevee

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains) Cobalt Coastlands (Crossing Slope) Alabaster Icelands (Avalugg’s Legacy, Avalanche Slopes)

Eevee is a rare spawn in the wild, but if players are lucky, they can catch one as early as the Horseshoe Plains in the starting area of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Fans of the Pokemon series will recognize Eevee for its potential to evolve into 8 different Pokemon. Catching one early in the game can be beneficial since trainers can choose between 8 different Types of Pokemon to evolve it into.

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There’s a high chance players won’t have evolutionary stones until after they’ve cleared the Kleavor Mission, but if Eevee’s Friendship is raised high enough, it can potentially evolve into Espeon (day), Umbreon (night), or Sylveon (Eevee must have one Fairy-type move in its moveset).

11 Magikarp/Gyarados

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (Obsidian Falls, Lake Verity) Coronet Highlands (Fabled Spring)

There isn’t an easy way to catch Magikarp until players have unlocked the Ride Basculegion in the Cobalt Coastlands. However, players can get an early Magikarp and evolve it into Gyarados by going to a cliff outlooking Oreburrow Tunnel.

From Nature’s Pantry, go to the far right to the river. On the map, this is between Tidewater Dam and Oreburrow Tunnel. There will be a ledge that players can jump down on, and two “steps” in the water. A couple of Magikarp will be swimming in the water, and they can be caught by luring them close with Oran Berries and then throwing a Poke Ball. Go as far to the edge as possible, but not too close.

Get Magikarp to level 20 and it will evolve into the powerful Gyarados. Despite its dual Water/Flying-type, Gyarados is a good Pokemon to battle against the Noble Kleavor. It has tons of HP and has access to Water Pulse and Aqua Tail, both of which are super effective against the Bug/Rock-type Kleavor.

10 Ralts

Location:

Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog, Shrouded Ruins) Alabaster Icelands (Heart’s Crag, Snowpoint Temple)

This is one of many Pokemon that aren’t available in the Obsidian Fieldlands, but is still a Pokemon worth getting. Ralts is well-known for evolving into Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy-type) or Gallade (Psychic/Fighting-type). Once players are tasked with quelling the Noble Liligant of the Crimson Mirelands, they’ll be able to find and catch Ralts in the Shrouded Ruins or the Gapejaw Bog. Additionally, wild Kirlia can be spotted at the Shrouded Ruins too.

A male Kirlia can evolve into Gallade if he’s given a Dawn Stone, while a male or female Kirlia can evolve into Gardevoir once they reach level 30. With the move tutor, Gardevoir and Gallade can be taught powerful moves that give them much-needed coverage against enemy Pokemon.

9 Cherubi

Location:

Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood) Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog) Coronet Highlands (Lonely Spring, Fabled Spring Primeval Grotto)

Cherubi and its evolution Cherrim have quickly gained a reputation among the Pokemon fanbase for being a frustrating Pokemon to catch in the wild. Cherrim is also needed to complete the Request To Bloom or Not to Bloom.

Since Cherubi and Cherrim’s stats aren’t that impressive, it’s very likely some players will ignore them. However, catching one early on in the Obsidian Fieldlands is highly recommended. Cherubi and Cherrim both need to be caught if players want to get Arceus in the postgame. Even if Cherubi/Cherrim spends the remainder of its days in the Pasture, it is a rare spawn in the wild and only appears on shaking Berry/Apricorn Trees.

8 Mantyke, Qwilfish/Overqwil, Buizel

Location:

Buizel: Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains, Windswept Run, Worn Bridge) Cobalt Coastlands (Aipom Hill, Bathers’ Lagoon) Mantyke Cobalt Coastlands (Ginkgo Landing, Tranquility Cove) Qwilfish and Overqwil Qwilfish: Obsidian Fieldlands (Ramanas Island), Cobalt Coastlands (Tranquility Cove, Lunker’s Lair, Isespy Shore) Overqwil: Alpha Overqwil can be caught during Azelf’s Trial .

These three Pokemon are needed to complete The Sea’s Legend Request. This Request will allow players to catch Phione and Manaphy, so it’s required to catch these three Pokemon if players want the Water-type Mythical Pokemon.

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Buizel can be caught at the start of the game in the Horseshoe Plains, but players will need to surf with Basculegion to get Qwilfish and Mantyke. Qwilfish will evolve into Overqwil once it has used the Strong-style Barb Barrage 20 times in battle. Alternatively, players can catch an Overqwil during Azelf’s Trial at the end of the game.

7 Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup

Location:

Turtwig: Crimson Mirelands (Droning Meadow) Chimchar: Obsidian Fieldlands (Ramanas Island) Piplup: Cobalt Coastlands (Islespy Shore)

The Sinnoh starters may not be part of the Hisui starters, but they can be caught in the wild. These three are worth getting because of their final evolutions: Torterra, Infernape, and Empoleon. The Sinnoh starters are solid Grass, Fire, and Water-type Pokemon that will no doubt help players in the later story of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Players won’t be able to get them without the Ride Basculegion, but there’s a guaranteed Chimchar for completing Request: The Mysterious Will-o-the-Wisp.

6 Gible or Goomy

Location:

Gible: Coronet Highlands (Wayward Cave, Clamberclaw Cliffs) Alabaster Icelands (Avalanche Slopes) Goomy Crimson Mirelands (Holm of Trials) Coronet Highlands (Ancient Quarry)

Gible and Goomy can evolve into Garchomp and Goodra respectively, both of which are the only pseudo-legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Players may also find their second evolution, Gabite and Sliggoo. Since most legendary Pokemon are locked off from the main game, it’s never a bad idea to add a pseudo-legendary to the team.

Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground-type with powerful Attack and Speed, while the Hisuian Goodra is a bulky Dragon/Steel-type with high Defense and Attack. Garchomp has more Type weaknesses, but its Speed will prove extremely useful in battle. On the other hand, Goodra’s dual Dragon/Steel-typing makes it impervious to the Dragon-type’s common weaknesses: Dragon, Ice, and Fairy. Goodra being part Steel-type also means it gains coverage against Fairy-type and Ice-type Pokemon.

5 Teddiursa

Location:

Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands, left of Gapejaw Bog, Ursa’s Ring, south of Droning Meadow, to the right of Bogbound Camp) Coronet Highlands (Sonorous Path)

At first glance, Teddiursa may seem like a harmless Pokemon, but once it reaches level 30, it evolves into Ursaring. For what Ursaring lacks in Speed, it makes up for in brute Attack. In Hisui, Ursaring is capable of evolving into Ursaluna when it’s given a Peat Block during nights of a full moon. Ursaluna’s HP, Attack, and Defense all have a base stat of over 100, making it a sturdy battler despite its slow speed. Of course, if players have a high enough Star Rank, they can skip catching Teddiursa and catch Ursaring instead.

Teddiursa and Ursaring are both Normal-type Pokemon, but Ursaluna is a Normal/Ground-type. Although it gains a weakness to Water and Grass-type moves, Ursaluna can learn moves like Ice Punch and Thunder Punch from Zisu at the Training Grounds. This will give it coverage against most Grass and Water-type Pokemon. Some of Ursaluna’s strongest moves that give STAB are Headlong Rush and Double-Edge. Master these moves, and it will be able to use the Agile and Strong Style.

4 Togepi

Location:

Crimson Mirelands (Cottonsedge Prairie) Cobalt Coastlands (Bathers’ Lagoon, Tranquility Cove)

Before Generation 6, Togepi and its evolutions were Normal-type Pokemon. With the introduction of Fairy-type, Togepi’s Normal-typing was swapped out for Fairy-typing instead. As a rare Pokemon, Togepi will spawn in only a few places around Hisui. Furthermore, it’s rare to find more than one Togepi at a time outside of mass outbreaks. When its friendship is raised high enough, it will evolve into Togetic. To get Togekiss, the final evolution, give Togetic a Shiny Stone. If players want to avoid evolving Togepi, they can catch Togetic or Togekiss flying around in the Crimson Mirelands and Obsidian Fieldlands respectively.

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While the Togepi-line loses its immunity to Ghost-type moves, its new Fairy-typing makes it strong against Fighting, Dark, and Dragon-type Pokemon. Togekiss is a Pokemon worth having on the team thanks to its high Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense. Its Speed and HP are also average, making it somewhat tanky against opponents. Togekiss’ lowest stat is Attack (base: 50), but all of Togekiss’ offense-moves are Special Moves, taking full advantage of its powerful Special Attack. To combat Togekiss’ Steel-type weakness, it can be taught Flamethrower or Mystical Fire at the Training Grounds.

3 Hisuian Growlithe

Location:

Cobalt Coastlands (Windbreak Stand, Veilstone Cape)

It’s likely players will first miss Hisuian Growlithe on their first trip to the Cobalt Coastlands. This Fire/Rock-type only spawns in two areas in the Cobalt Coastlands, and one of these areas can’t be reached until players can call Sneasler. Since it’s impossible to find Hisuian Arcanine outside mass outbreaks, players will need to catch Growlithe and use a Fire Stone to evolve it if they want Arcanine. If lucky, it’s possible to run into an Alpha Hisuian Growlithe. In the case Growlithe isn’t spawning, return to Jubilife Village, then go back to the Cobalt Coastlands.

The Fire/Rock-type gives Growlithe and Arcanine a 4x weakness to Water and Ground-type moves. However, Hisuian Arcanine has a base stat total of 555 with great HP, Attack, Special Attack, and Speed. Given Legends: Arceus’ new combat system, it’s always good to have a Pokemon that can attack first, and with Arcanine’s base Speed of 90, it’s likely that it’ll be able to get the first hit. Arcanine can combat its Water-type weakness by learning Thunder Fang or Wild Charge.

2 Porygon

Location:

Space-time distortions (Crimson Mirelands)

Once space-time distortions start appearing, players can find rare Pokemon that don’t normally exist in Hisui. After unlocking the Crimson Mirelands, players will have a chance of finding a Porygon and its evolutions within the space-time distortions. The Porygon-line are Normal-type Pokemon, but they can learn a variety of moves that give them coverage such as Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Shadow Ball. To evolve Porygon, players need to give it an Upgrade to make it into Porygon2, and then a Dubious Disc to get Porygon-Z.

The ideal thing players will want to do is evolve Porygon2 into Porygon-Z. However, Porygon2 has better Defense and Special Defense than Porygon-Z. On the other hand, Porygon-Z’s 135 base Special Attack and 90 base Speed means it’s likely to move before the opponent and 1HKO if it has the right moves. Players should decide whether they want a tanky Pokemon (Porygon2) or a somewhat-fast attacker (Porygon-Z).

1 Manaphy

Location:

Cobalt Coastlands (Seaside Hollow)

If players have Overqwil, Buizel, and Mantyke, they’ll be able to complete the Request: The Sea’s Legend. With those three Pokemon in the party, players need to swim between the two pillars (during the evening) by Sand’s Reach in order to unlock the Seaside Hollow. The Seaside Hollow is on the north side of Veilstone Cape and is marked by a “white cave icon” on the map. Upon entering Seaside Hollow, players will have to face off against Manaphy and three Phione. The best way to catch Manaphy is by taking care of the Phione first. Stun them with Sticky Globs and throw Ultra Balls to catch them. Once Manaphy is alone, players can either battle it or, again, use Sticky Globs. What makes Manaphy worth catching is that it’s one of the few legendary/mythical Pokemon that can be caught before the postgame.

As a Mythical Pokemon, Manaphy has a base stat of 100 in all of its stats, totaling a base stat total of 600. Manaphy’s moveset in Pokemon Legends: Arceus consist of Special Moves, so having a Modest Nature Manaphy (+Sp.Attk, -Attk) can give it the boost it needs offensively. If players want to give Manaphy coverage against Grass-type Pokemon, they can teach it Ice Beam or Icy Wind via tutoring. While Manaphy doesn’t learn the move Heart Swap in Legends: Arceus, it learns Take Heart instead. This move cures Manaphy of any status ailments while simultaneously boosting its Attack and Defense.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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