The Best Signature Moves Of Legendary Pokemon

Key Takeaways

Legendary Pokemon often have signature moves, giving them advantages in battles.
Some Box Art Legendary Pokemon, like Zekrom and Reshiram, have paired signature moves.
Yveltal’s signature move, Oblivion Wing, is unique because it restores HP with its draining effect.

As a seasoned trainer with over two decades of Pokémon battles under my belt, I must say that these signature moves have left quite an indelible mark on the competitive landscape of our beloved franchise.

Distinctive traits separate legendary Pokemon from common ones: they tend to be more powerful, often connected to the game’s mythology, and typically possess special moves, referred to as distinctive abilities, that no other creature can master.

After nine generations, Game Freak has developed more than 70 distinct Legendaries, each boasting a unique signature move that significantly boosts their combat effectiveness in battles. However, what stands out as the finest among all Legendary Pokémon in the entire series? Remember that this ranking focuses solely on Legendary Pokémon and does not include Mythicals.

10 Psystrike

Mewtwo’s Signature Move

The Best Signature Moves Of Legendary Pokemon

Base Power: 100
Type: Psychic
Category: Special

In the world of Pokemon, it’s a newer custom to grant Legendary Pokemon distinctive moves. As a result, many original Legendaries don’t have exclusive moves. Mewtwo was one such example, lacking its own signature move until Generation Five, when Game Freak bestowed upon it the long-awaited move they felt fit it perfectly – Psystrike.

Essentially, Psystrike is a more powerful variant of Psyshock, first introduced in the same game. Instead of dealing consistent damage, it takes into account the target’s defense to determine the total harm inflicted. What sets Psystrike apart is its strong performance that showcases Mewtwo’s abilities, and an unexpected twist that adds a surprising element to any battle it’s used in.

9 Sacred Fire

Ho-oh’s Signature Move

Base Power: 100
Type: Fire
Category: Physical

In Generation Four, the way moves functioned within the Pokémon series was significantly revamped, as the category of a move no longer relied on its type. This change favored Ho-oh significantly, as this Legendary Pokemon had consistently higher physical Attack stats. Now, it could fully utilize the power of Sacred Fire.

As a long-time enthusiast of Pokémon games and a seasoned trainer, I must say that Ho-oh’s signature move, Sacred Fire, is truly exceptional. This powerful and accurate Fire-type attack stands out due to its unique ability to burn opponents with a 50% chance. While this may not seem like much, the long-term implications of such a status condition are quite significant. You see, whenever an opponent gets burned, their Attack stat is halved, giving Ho-oh an undeniable advantage in battle.

8 Bolt Strike / Blue Flare

Zekrom And Reshiram’s Signature Moves

Base Power: 130
Type: Electric / Fire
Category: Physical / Special

Often times, duos of Legendary Pokémon from the Box Art series like Pokémon Black and White share unique signature moves that are twists on each other. In this case, Zekrom and Reshiram don’t buck the trend, as they can master powerful and awe-inspiring moves: Bolt Strike for Zekrom and Blue Flare for Reshiram.

In simpler terms, Zekrom, being both Dragon and Electric, has a greater physical attack power, while Reshiram, being Dragon and Fire, excels in special attacks. Consequently, their signature moves are tailored to these strengths, making them exceptionally potent Pokemon. However, they have an accuracy of 85%, which is somewhat less reliable compared to other Pokemon.

7 Electro Drift

Miraidon’s Signature Move

Base Power: 100
Type: Electric
Category: Special

In the game Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the Box Art Legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon each have unique characteristics, with personal preference largely determining which is best. However, when it comes to their signature moves, Miraidon clearly outshines its prehistoric counterpart.

Electro Drift inflicts substantial damage that becomes more potent when it’s super effective against its target. However, it outshines Collision Course in a significant way: it leverages its user’s unique ability, Hadron Engine, to establish an Electric Terrain. This terrain amplifies the move’s power even more. Conversely, Collision Course doesn’t get influenced by the sunlight generated by Koraidon’s Orichalcum Pulse.

6 Oblivion Wing

Yveltal’s Signature Move

Base Power: 80
Type: Flying
Category: Physical

Although Yveltal’s Oblivion Wing might sound formidable, it turns out to be rather misleading. At first sight, it may seem unusual that it’s classified as a Flying Type move instead of a Dark Type move. However, its base power of 80 is relatively low when considering other signature moves from Legendary Pokemon.

Yet, much like a tricky Pokemon it is, Yveltal possesses a hidden advantage: Oblivion Wing restores its health when used against an opponent, and it’s the most potent HP-draining move across the entire franchise. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Yveltal’s primary adversary, Xerneas, is resistant to Dark Type attacks but takes neutral damage from Flying Type moves.

5 Sunsteel Strike / Moongeist Beam

Solgaleo And Lunala’s Signature Moves

Base Power: 100
Type: Steel / Ghost
Category: Physical / Special

More recently, Game Freak has been making Legendary Pokemon more enticing to use in battle by equipping them with stronger signature moves. Consequently, the emblematic characters on the boxes for Pokemon Sun and Moon, Solgaleo and Lunala, can learn the intriguing and useful attacks known as Sunsteel Strike and Moongeist Beam. These moves are particularly noteworthy in the Generation Seven games.

A base power of 100 is certainly strong, but it doesn’t compare to the signature moves of other Legendaries in terms of raw power. However, their unique secondary effects compensate for this, as they can bypass their target’s abilities entirely. As a result, Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma are quite effective in regular playthroughs, but they truly shine in competitive Pokémon play.

4 Aeroblast / Spacial Rend

Lugia And Palkia’s Signature Moves

Base Power: 100
Type: Flying / Dragon
Category: Special

It’s quite unusual for two Legendary Pokemon from different generations to share moves that are variations of each other as their signature abilities. However, surprisingly, this is the case with Lugia from Johto and Palkia from Sinnoh, who can learn Aeroblast and Spatial Rend respectively.

These two moves aren’t just potent, they also boost their chance to deal critical damage, making them all the more lethal. However, it’s reasonable to assume that each would come with a drawback to maintain balance. Apart from a 95% accuracy rate (which is negligible), Aeroblast and Spacial Rend are reliable signature moves that Lugia and Palkia should consistently rely on.

3 Glacial Lance / Astral Barrage

Calyrex’s Signature Moves

Base Power: 120
Type: Ice / Ghost
Category: Special

Since its debut in the DLC expansion pack known as “The Crown Tundra”, Calyrex has left a significant mark on the competitive Pokemon world. While its standard form may not appear particularly remarkable, it transforms into Ice Rider and Shadow Rider forms, significantly enhancing its stats and providing valuable secondary types. However, the most striking benefits of these two forms lie in their signature moves.

Ice Rider Calyrex has the ability to wield Glacial Lance, whereas Shadow Rider Calyrex can employ Astral Barrage. These two moves share many similarities beyond their categories and types. They stand out due to their substantial base power, but their real advantage lies in their ability to inflict damage on all opponents positioned across the battlefield. This trait is particularly significant in competitive formats, especially those that favor Double Battles.

2 Geomancy

Xerneas’ Signature Move

Base Power: –
Type: Fairy
Category: Status

As a gamer, I’ve come to appreciate that among all Box Art Legendary Pokemon, only Xernean possesses a unique signature move, Geomancy, which doesn’t inflict any damage. However, this isn’t a letdown at all, as Geomancy has proven to be one of the most impactful moves across the entire franchise. This powerful ability made Xerneas a significant threat among competitive players, demonstrating its strategic value and unique gameplay dynamics.

Geomancy enhances a user’s Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed by two levels, turning a Life Pokemon into a formidable special attacker. However, it requires two turns to perform this move, which could initially appear as a drawback. Clever trainers often equip Xerneas with a Power Herb, an item that nullifies this effect. The widespread use of Geomancy suggests that Game Freak should consider creating more status moves for future Legendary Pokemon.

1 Dragon Ascent

Rayquaza’s Signature Move

Base Power: 120
Type: Flying
Category: Physical

Similar to Groudon and Kyogre, Rayquaza initially lacked a unique move in Generation Three. However, in the remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, it gained a signature move – Dragon Ascent. This is arguably the best signature move a Legendary Pokemon could have, as it boasts immense power. Although using this attack temporarily lowers both of Rayquaza’s defensive stats, its speed and strength make the drawback insignificant.

One way to rephrase the sentence: What makes Dragon Ascent exceptional is that it enables Rayquaza to Mega Evolve without requiring a Mega Stone. For years, Mega Rayquaza has been notorious as the most powerful Pokemon in the series, and it effectively utilizes Dragon Ascent. However, even when Mega Evolution isn’t an option in newer Pokemon games, Rayquaza’s standard form continues to intimidate players, primarily because of its potent signature move.

2024-09-16 03:35