For trainers aspiring to assemble an unbeatable team in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, there’s good news! Despite the absence of more than 600 Pokémon at launch, players have access to a diverse array of formidable Pokémon, many of which are fresh additions to this beloved franchise. While some of these powerhouses are exclusive to specific game versions, a majority can be found in both Scarlet and Violet.
As anticipated, the roster of the top contenders in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet mainly consists of Legendary and Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, with a strong emphasis on Dragon-types. Yet, trainers need not overlook a few exceptional non-Dragon-type Pokémon. This variety presents a great opportunity for players to construct a well-rounded team with excellent type coverage.
Updated February 7, 2025, by Tom Bowen: Trainers looking to capture the strongest Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet have a wealth of choices available. Numerous Legendary, Mythical, and Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon can be discovered across the Paldea, Kitakami, and Unova regions. This includes notable DLC Pokémon like Pecharunt and Terapagos, both of which rank high among the best Pokémon from Paldea and are excellent additions to any team.
They sinned.
Poison/Ghost-Type
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How to Acquire Pecharunt in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Players can find Pecharunt as part of the game’s epilogue, which can be accessed after completing the main story across both DLC expansions. To catch Pecharunt, trainers will need to progress through the epilogue until they confront this Mythical Pokémon in battle, giving them a chance to capture it afterwards.
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Pecharunt’s Base Stats
HP 88 Attack 88 Defense 160 Special Attack 88 Special Defense 88 Speed 88 Total 600 Best Nature for Sins
Bold, Docile, Impish, or Lax
Garchomp
Dragon/Ground-Type
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Accessing Garchomp in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Garchomp resides near the upper ring of the great crater within Paldea. To reach this area, players will need to upgrade their Koraidon or Miraidon for climbing. Additionally, a Tera Form Garchomp can be spotted in a cave located in West Province (Area Two), west of Asado Desert and Cascarrafa. Players can alternatively capture Gible or Gabite around Glaseado Mountain and evolve them into Garchomp; Gible evolves to Gabite at level 24 and Gabite to Garchomp at level 48.
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Garchomp’s Base Stats
HP 108 Attack 130 Defense 95 Special Attack 80 Special Defense 85 Speed 102 Total 600 Best Nature for Garchomp
Adamant
Goodra
Dragon-Type
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Obtaining Goodra in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
To evolve Sliggoo into Goodra, players need to reach level 50 during rainy or foggy weather. If these conditions are not present when Sliggoo levels up, it will instead evolve during the next opportunity when the weather aligns with its requirements. Sliggoo can be caught in areas surrounding Casseroya Lake, or evolved from Goomy by reaching level 40. Goomy can be located in various regions, largely in South Province.
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Goodra’s Base Stats
HP 90 Attack 100 Defense 70 Special Attack 110 Special Defense 150 Speed 80 Total 600 Best Nature for Goodra
Gentle
Salamence
Dragon/Flying-Type
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Capturing Salamence in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
To obtain Salamence, players must first evolve Shelgon by reaching level 50. Shelgon is discoverable in South Province (Area 6) or can be evolved from Bagon at level 30. Bagon is mainly found in caves—specifically in West Province (Area One)—and is exclusive to Pokémon Violet.
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Salamence’s Base Stats
HP 95 Attack 135 Defense 80 Special Attack 110 Special Defense 80 Speed 100 Total 600 Best Nature for Salamence
Lonely / Naughty
Dragapult
Dragon/Ghost-Type
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How to Obtain Dragapult in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Players can evolve Drakloak into Dragapult at level 60, with Drakloak itself evolving from Dreepy at level 50. Drakloak is generally located in northern Paldea, particularly around Casseroya Lake, while Dreepy can be found exclusively in swampy regions towards the south. Notably, the Dragon evolution line is exclusive to Pokémon Violet.
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Dragapult’s Base Stats
HP 88 Attack 120 Defense 75 Special Attack 100 Special Defense 75 Speed 142 Total 600 Best Nature for Dragapult
Hasty / Naive
Tyranitar
Rock/Dark-Type
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Capturing Tyranitar in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
To obtain the non-Paradox form of Tyranitar, trainers need to evolve Pupitar by leveling it up to 55. Pupitar can be located in South Province (Area 6) or evolved from Larvitar at level 30. Larvitar is more readily encountered in West Province (Area One) and various South Province localities. Notably, Tyranitar and its previous evolutions are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet.
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Tyranitar’s Base Stats
HP 100 Attack 134 Defense 110 Special Attack 95 Special Defense 100 Speed 61 Total 600 Best Nature for Tyranitar
Brave
Dragonite
Dragon/Flying-Type
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Acquiring Dragonite in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Dragonite can be spotted flying above the light brown area in North Province (Area 2).It also evolves from Dragonair at level 55, which, along with its pre-evolution Dratini, can be found near Casseroya Lake. Note that Dratini and Dragonair are rare spawns and will quickly dive underwater if players get too close.
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Dragonite’s Base Stats
HP 91 Attack 134 Defense 95 Special Attack 100 Special Defense 100 Speed 80 Total 600 Best Nature for Dragonite
Brave
Hydreigon
Dark/Dragon-Type
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Obtaining Hydreigon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Players can obtain Hydreigon by evolving Zweilous at level 64. Zweilous is commonly found in areas one and two of North Province or in the northeast Glaseado Mountain range. Players can also find Deino in caves around South Province (Area 6) or the Glaseado Mountain, evolving into Zweilous at level 50. Both Hydreigon and its earlier forms are exclusive to Pokémon Scarlet.
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Hydreigon’s Base Stats
HP 92 Attack 105 Defense 90 Special Attack 125 Special Defense 90 Speed 98 Total 600 Best Nature for Hydreigon
Mild / Rash
Bahcalibur
Dragon/Ice-Type
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Capturing Baxcalibur in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
To acquire Baxcalibur, players must evolve Arctibax to level 54. Arctibax can be encountered in North Province (Area One) or evolved from Frigibax by reaching level 35. Players can find Frigibax scattered across the Glaseado mountain, though it tends to be a rare spawn.
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Baxcalibur’s Base Stats
HP 115 Attack 145 Defense 92 Special Attack 75 Special Defense 86 Speed 87 Total 600 Best Nature for Baxcalibur
Adamant
Palafin (Hero Form)
Water-Type
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How to Capture Palafin in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
To obtain Palafin, players need to level up a Finizen to level 38 or higher while in co-op mode. Finizen can be located throughout the Paldean sea surrounding the island of Paldea, but players must first unlock their Legendary Pokémon’s Swim ability by defeating the Open Sky Titan. To access Palafin’s Hero Form, players must pull it out of battle and swap it back in.
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Palafin’s Base Stats
HP 100 Attack 160 Defense 97 Special Attack 106 Special Defense 87 Speed 100 Total 650 Best Nature for Palafin
Naughty
Slaking
Normal-Type
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How to Capture Slaking in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Slaking can occasionally be found in the northern section of Casseroya Lake or be evolved from Vigoroth at level 36. Vigoroth is commonly seen in South Province (Area Five) or within the land between the crater and Glaseado Mountain’s base. Interestingly, Slakoth evolves into Vigoroth at level 18, and can be located in trees in Areas Three and Five of South Province, which players can access after defeating the Stony Cliff Titan.
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Slaking’s Base Stats
HP 150 Attack 160 Defense 100 Special Attack 95 Special Defense 65 Speed 100 Total 670 Best Nature for Slaking
Naughty
Koraidon
Fighting/Dragon-Type
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How to Acquire Koraidon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Koraidon appears exclusively in Pokémon Scarlet and aids players throughout their adventures in the Paldea region. After completing all three main story arcs and the concluding quest, The Way Home, Koraidon will transform, allowing it to join the player’s team in battles. Players can also return to the crater’s bottom afterward to find and capture a second Koraidon.
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Koraidon’s Base Stats
HP 100 Attack 135 Defense 115 Special Attack 85 Special Defense 100 Speed 135 Total 670 Best Nature for Koraidon
Adamant / Jolly
Miraidon
Electric/Dragon-Type
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How to Acquire Miraidon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Miraidon only appears in Pokémon Violet and accompanies trainers on their journey through Paldea. After finishing all main storylines and the final quest, players can alter Miraidon’s form, which allows it to participate in battles. Players can also return to the bottom of the crater later to catch an additional Miraidon.
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Miraidon’s Base Stats
HP 100 Attack 85 Defense 100 Special Attack 135 Special Defense 115 Speed 135 Total 670 Best Nature for Miraidon
Timid / Modest
Terapagos
Normal-Type
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How to Capture Terapagos in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Terapagos is a unique find exclusive to the Indigo Disk DLC, automatically caught at the conclusion of the expansion’s storyline. With three different forms, its most powerful variant boasts an impressive 700 base stat total, making it one of the greatest Pokémon ever introduced in the series.
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Terapagos’ Base Stats (Stellar Form)
HP 160 Attack 105 Defense 110 Special Attack 130 Special Defense 110 Speed 85 Total 700 Best Nature for Terapagos
Quiet
For an in-depth exploration of the finest Pokémon in both Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, including their locations, strategies, and tips for capturing them, refer to the detailed guide linked here.
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