Pokémon Legends Arceus: Best Team and Strongest Pokémon - Outsider Gaming (2023)

Everyone has their favourite Pokémon, but sometimes, you’ll have to make the tough decision to reel in a more powerful Pokémon to suit the task at hand – especially given the new playstyle of Pokémon: Legends Arceus.

As you know, the best team in Legends Arceus will need the strongest Pokémon. So here, we’ve listed all of the best non-starter, non-legendary, and non-mythical Pokémon in the game, as well as our picks for the strongest team below.

1. Hisuian Goodra (Base Stats Total: 600)

Type: Dragon-Steel
HP/Speed: 80/60
Attack/Sp.Atk: 100/110
Defence/Sp.Def: 100/150
Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground

Hisuian Goodra is the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus with a massive Base Stats Total of 600, boasting hefty numbers across the board: even its lowest stat, Speed, still has a fair 60 rating. Its Defence and Special Defence ratings of 100 and 150 more than compensate for the average 80 HP.

The Dragon-Steel Pokémon is immune to Poison and Grass-type attacks; Normal, Water, Electric, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, and Steel aren’t very effective against Hisuian Goodra. Thanks to its typing, the Pokémon has many great learned moves, including Hydro Pump, Dragon Pulse, Acid Spray, and Iron Head.

Appearing as one of the Alpha Pokémon along the main line of Missions, you’ll encounter Hisuian Goodra in the Ancient Quarry of Coronet Highlands.

2. Garchomp (Base Stats Total: 600)

Type: Dragon-Ground
HP/Speed: 108/102
Attack/Sp.Atk: 130/80
Defence/Sp.Def: 95/85
Weaknesses: Ice (x4), Dragon, Fairy

Garchomp is the joint-strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus, narrowly being placed second here due to the variety and balance offered by Hisuian Goodra. It’s very much a physical attack-centric Pokémon, with its 130 Attack and 102 Speed making Garchomp a menace with the right move set.

Immune to Electric attacks while only taking half damage from Fire, Poison, and Rock-type moves, Garchomp’s decent 95 Defence and 85 Special Defence make it surprisingly strong against most incoming strikes. On the offensive, the Dragon-Ground Pokémon’s Double-Edge, Bulldoze, and Outrage are all hefty physical attacks.

You can find the first form of Garchomp, Gible, in Coronet Highlands, up on the Clamberclaw Cliffs and in Wayward Cave. An Alpha Gabite can also be located on the Cliffs.

3. Gyarados (Base Stats Total: 540)

Type: Water-Flying
HP/Speed: 95/81
Attack/Sp.Atk: 125/60
Defence/Sp.Def: 79/100
Weaknesses: Electric (x4), Rock

A staple of the strongest Pokémon lists – featuring in those of and – Gyarados ranks highly among the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus, too. It’s a physical-set attacker that also boasts decent Speed at 81 and plenty of HP with a 95 rating.

One of Gyarados’ strengths is in its ability to sustain moves of several common types, with Fire, Water, Fighter, Bug, and Steel only hitting with half power, while Ground-type attacks don’t do anything to the Water-Flying Pokémon. With learned moves like Crunch and Aqua Tail by Level 29, Gyarados quickly becomes formidable.

Unlike in most Pokémon games, neither Magikarp nor Gyarados are easy to catch early in Legends Arceus. Instead, they’re in the more hidden areas of Obsidian Fieldlands (Obsidian Falls and Lake Verity), as well as Primeval Grotto of Coronet Highlands and Sand’s Reach in Cobalt Coastlands.

4. Magnezone (Base Stats Total: 535)

Type: Electric-Steel
HP/Speed: 70/60
Attack/Sp.Atk: 70/130
Defence/Sp.Def: 115/90
Weaknesses: Fire, Fighting, Ground (x4)

Magnezone may owe much of its hefty 535 Base Stats Total to its 115 Defence and 90 Special Defence, but the heavy-set Pokémon boasts one of the best Special Attack stats (130) in Legends Arceus. Better still, all of its best learned moves – Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Thunder, and Tri Attack – are special attacks.

It’s tough to understate how strong Magnezone is defensively, both in terms of stats and types that aren’t very effective against it in battles. All Normal, Electric, Grass, Ice, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Fairy, and especially Flying and Steel attacks aren’t very effective, and Magnezone is immune to Poison-type moves.

You can spot Magnezone flying around high in the sky in the Coronet Highlands, west of Clamberclaw Cliffs; you’ll need a predictive aim and some Feather, Jet, or Wing Balls to catch the Electric-Steel Pokémon. It can also be spotted around Fabled Spring and Celestica Trail.

5. Empoleon (Base Stats Total: 530)

Type: Water-Steel
HP/Speed: 84/60
Attack/Sp.Atk: 86/111
Defence/Sp.Def: 88/101
Weaknesses: Electric, Fighting, Ground

One of the three Generation IV starters that can be found in the Hisuian Region, Empoleon’s well-rounded stats and hefty 530 Base Stats Total rank it among the strongest Pokémon to find in Legends Arceus. Particularly appealing is Empoleon’s Special Attack (111) and Special Defence (101).

The power of Empoleon greatly comes from how difficult it is to land a clean hit on the Water-Steel Pokémon. It’s immune to Poison-type attacks, but Normal, Water, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Fairy, and especially Steel and Ice-type moves aren’t very effective against Empoleon. With great special attacks like Hydro Pump and Brine, Empoleon can give as good as it gets.

You can find an Alpha Empoleon on the beach of Islespy Shore, but you can also get its first form, Piplup, by the pond further inland, in a place called Spring Path.

6. Walrein (Base Stats Total: 530)

Type: Ice-Water
HP/Speed: 110/65
Attack/Sp.Atk: 80/95
Defence/Sp.Def: 90/90
Weaknesses: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock

Walrein is about as well-rounded as they come on this list of the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus, featuring 90-plus stats in HP, Defence, Special Attack, and Special Defence. While it lacks a bit in Speed (65), tactical use of the Agile Style manoeuvre can give the Ice-Water Pokémon more of an edge.

With its strong stat lines, a lack of strengths in the type-matching department isn’t too much of a pitfall. That said, with only Fire, Water, and Ice being not very effective, Walrein does have more weaknesses than strengths. In attack, Liquidation, Ice Beam, and the strategic use of Rest can make this Pokémon very tough to get past.

The initial form of Walrein, Spheal, can be found on the first beach that you can see in Cobalt Coastlands, Ginkgo Landing, as can an Alpha Walrein. For a regular Walrein, venture over to Islespy Shore.

7. Hippowdon (Base Stats Total: 525)

Type: Ground
HP/Speed: 108/47
Attack/Sp.Atk: 112/68
Defence/Sp.Def: 118/72
Weaknesses: Water, Grass, Ice

Hippowdon is one of the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus when it comes to physical traits, absorbing hits, and bludgeoning foes. Its 108 HP, 112 Attack, and 118 Defence enable you to throw Hippowdon into battle against almost any fellow physical attacker to slow them down.

Unlike many others on this list of the best Pokémon, Hippowdon has a pure typing of Ground, exposing it to Water, Grass, and Ice moves but keeping it immune to Electric and strong against Poison and Rock. Supporting its physical-heavy build, Hippowdon learns hard-hitting moves like High Horsepower and Crunch.

Strolling deep into the Crimson Mirelands, you’ll find Hippowdon and its pre-evolution form, Hippopotas, in abundance around Sludge Mound and Scarlet Bog.

8. Gardevoir (Base Stats Total: 518)

Type: Psychic-Fairy
HP/Speed: 68/80
Attack/Sp.Atk: 65/125
Defence/Sp.Def: 65/115
Weaknesses: Poison, Ghost, Steel

Its relatively low HP, Attack, Defence, and Speed stats may make you think that Gardevoir doesn’t belong among the best Pokémon in Legends Arceus. Still, its moves, Psychic-Fairy typing, 125 Special Attack, and 115 Special Defence more than compensate for this.

Importantly – due to the strength and popularity of the type’s Pokémon – Gardevoir is immune to Dragon attacks, and Fighting and Psychic moves aren’t very effective against it. Then, making full use of its mighty Special Attack stat, Aura Sphere, Psychic, and Moonblast prove even more potent when used by Gardevoir, while Draining Kiss deals damage and heals the user.

Ralts, the first form of Gardevoir, can be found a few puzzles into Snowpoint Temple in Alabaster Icelands, as well as out in the open in Gapejaw Bog and Shrouded Ruins of the Crimson Mirelands.

9. Hisuian Zoroark (Base Stats Total: 510)

Type: Normal-Ghost
HP/Speed: 55/110
Attack/Sp.Atk: 100/125
Defence/Sp.Def: 60/60
Weaknesses: Dark

One of several new forms in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Hisuian Zoroark’s position as a main Mission Alpha opponent would already suggest that it’s one of the strongest Pokémon in the game. Backing this up, however, are its novel Normal-Ghost typing and superb Attack (100), Special Attack (125), and Speed (110) stats.

Zoroark is immune to Normal, Fighting, and Ghost-type attacks, with Poison and Bug moves not being very effective. The only type of attack that’s super effective is Dark. This, coupled with its Speed, enables the Baneful Fox Pokémon to capitalise on menacing moves like Bitter Malice, Nasty Plot, and Extrasensory.

You’ll meet this tricky Pokémon during the story of Legends Arceus, encountering it in Bonechill Wastes of Alabaster Icelands. Hisuian Zoroark is encountered as an Alpha Pokémon, so be sure to bring some heavy-set Pokémon that are good against Psychic and strong against Ghost.

10. Sneasler (Base Stats Total: 510)

Type: Poison-Fighting
HP/Speed: 80/120
Attack/Sp.Atk: 130/40
Defence/Sp.Def: 60/80
Weaknesses: Ground, Flying, Psychic (x4)

Sneasler ranks as one of the strongest Pokémon for quick-hit tactics, particularly if you can make use of Agile Style to gain long successions of move turns. Its 80 HP is decent, but your tactics for utilising Sneasler should revolve around its 130 Attack and 120 Speed.

While not immune to any type, Grass, Fighting, Poison, Rock, Dark, and Bug-type moves are weak against Sneasler, with its only weaknesses being to Psychic, Flying, and Ground attacks. When setting up its move set, stick to physical attacks like Poison Jab, Close Combat, and Dire Claw.

To get Sneasler in your team in Legends Arceus, you’ll need to evolve a Hisuian Sneasel. Found in Celestica Trail and Primeval Grotto of Coronet Highlands – or Alabaster Icelands’ Avalugg’s Legacy and Glacier Terrace – you’ll then need to give it a Razor Claw during the daytime to trigger Sneasel’s evolution into Sneasler. Razor Claw can be purchased from Simona’s Item Exchange stall for 1,400 MP or dropped by a wild Sneasel.

11. Steelix (Base Stats Total: 510)

Type: Steel-Ground
HP/Speed: 75/30
Attack/Sp.Atk: 85/55
Defence/Sp.Def: 200/65
Weaknesses: Fire, Water, Fighting, Ground

Thanks to its massive 200 Defence, fair 75 HP, 85 Attack, and 65 Defence, and ability to quell ten of the 18 types in Pokémon, Steelix more than deserves its spot among the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus.

Electric and Poison don’t do any damage to Steelix, while Normal, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Steel, Fairy, and especially Rock aren’t very effective against the Iron Snake Pokémon. Even though four types are super effective against it, Steelix’s 200 Defence helps to dampen the damage done by physical attacks. Against Steelix, opponents will fear the use of High Horsepower, Rock Slide, and Iron Tail.

A towering, very easy to spot Pokémon, you can see an Alpha Steelix guarding a corner of Celestica Trail in Coronet Highlands. For a more traditional approach to getting Steelix, though, catch an Onix in Scarlet Bog, Bolderoll Slope, or Lake Valor in Crimson Mirelands – or nearby the Alpha Steelix – and give it the item Metal Coat, which costs 1,000 MP from Simona’s Item Exchange stall.

12. Bastiodon (Base Stats Total: 495)

Type: Rock-Steel
HP/Speed: 60/30
Attack/Sp.Atk: 52/47
Defence/Sp.Def: 168/138
Weaknesses: Water, Fighting (x4), Ground (x4)

Provided that it’s not thrown out against Pokémon with Fighting, Ground, or Water-type attacks, Bastiodon is one of the best Pokémon for sponging damage to get time to heal others or wait for a status to take effect. Its 168 Defence and 138 Special Defence make Bastiodon a useful tool to have at your disposal.

Empowering its huge Defence and Special Defence is the range of types that do very little to Bastiodon. Normal, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, and Fairy attacks aren’t very effective, while Poison-type attacks don’t do any damage.

You’ll need some damage sponges of your own to enable yourself to catch a Bastiodon or its first form, Shieldon, in Legends Arceus. Bastiodon and Shieldon only spawn in the Space-Time Distortions of Coronet Highlands. So, if you have a strong team, be sure to venture into the shimmering bubbles when they appear in the area.

How to build the best team in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Drawing from the selection of the strongest Pokémon above, this is the best team in Pokémon Legends Arceus:

1. Hisuian Goodra
2. Garchomp
3. Magnezone
4. Gardevoir
5. Hisuian Zoroark
6. Steelix

While there isn’t a tremendous range of diversity in the Pokémon types above, their collection of defensive strengths, immunities, and favourable stat lines make this a formidable team in Legends Arceus. They’re all tough to beat and boast plenty of powerful moves.

Still, it’s always best for you to build around Pokémon that you like to use, including the legendary, mythical, and starter Pokémon. When building your team, some top tips to keep in mind are:

• Most of the strongest Pokémon here do appear as Alphas and are fairly easy to catch with Ultra Balls in battle once they have a red bar of HP;
• Using Grit to raise effort levels can give you a greater edge;
• Your best starter can still be the core piece of your best team;
• Try to get a good spread of strong Pokémon in attack and defence as well as a mix of move types.

So, consider all of the Pokémon above, and the honourable mentions below, as the pieces that you should consider adding to your preferred Pokémon to create what would be your best team in Legends Arceus.

Honourable mentions for strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus

These Pokémon didn’t quite make it into our list of the strongest Pokémon in Legends Arceus, but are well worth catching and working into many team builds:

• Infernape (Fire-Fighting, Base Stats Total: 534)
• Blissey (Normal, Base Stats Total: 540)
• Tangrowth (Grass, Base Stats Total: 535)
• Ursaluna (Normal-Ground, Base Stats Total: 550)
• Rhyperior (Ground-Rock, Base Stats Total: 535)
• Torterra (Grass-Ground, Base Stats Total: 525)
• Hisuian Arcanine (Fire-Rock, Base Stats Total: 555)
• Magmortar (Fire, Base Stats Total: 540)
• Electivire (Electric, Base Stats Total: 540)
• Luxray (Electric, Base Stats Total: 523) – one of the best Pokémon to catch early
• Hisuian Avalugg (Ice-Rock, Base Stats Total: 514)
• Lucario (Fighting-Steel, Base Stats Total: 525)

Now that you know the strongest Pokémon and the best team in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, based on those picks, you can build up your team to prepare for the Alpha and legendary battles to come.