Ranking Every Legendary Form Change in the Pokémon Series from Worst to Best

[@BepisQueen]

Xerneas, Marshadow, and Genesect all fall under what I’d call “flavor” imo

[@GoinGreninja]

Yep. Similar forms also exist for Solgaleo and Lunala as well when try and use their signature moves for example. It's a pretty cool detail, even if it doesn't make for a flashy design or a cool type change or what have you.

[@Compucles]

Xerneas and Marshadow, yes, but at least Genesect has a gameplay difference and isn't just a minor cosmetic change.

[@youtube-kit9450]

Genesect's is especially hilarious because in gen 6, aside from the water drive, Genesect just straight up learned better moves in flamethrower, thunderbolt and ice beam. Even later, the drive just clogging its item slot makes techno boost less desirable than just those things + choice item or something, especially since the drive colour also tells the opponent what move they should expect. God, this thing is a dumpsterfire.

[@mlpfanboy1701]

@@youtube-kit9450they should have put genisect in gen 9 and gave it a stellar drive.

[@EmeralBookwise]

@@youtube-kit9450: Genesect was like the OG budget rip-off of Arceus. An event exclusive mythical Pokémon which can change the properties of a signature move by equipping a special item. Except unlike Arceus, Genesect's own type never changes so it never gets STAB, nor do the drives provide any innate power boost either, and of course are only available in a meager four flavors.

[@k2basior]

I would actually give Koraidon and Miraidon option to battle with other forms with special abilities - Speed Boost for the Running forms, Swift Swim for Swimming Forms, Levitate for Flying forms. Maybe slow start for the Basic forms

[@emperorcubone]

You know, that would actually be pretty cool! It'd be like Zygarde having the big trade-offs for 10% or something, and then they could have let us use those other modes before the end of the game, saving the Complete one for the climax.

[@mattbridges4223]

I think there's a few too many inconsistencies for my liking in this list, but love when you look at these sorts of things

[@toumabyakuya]

Yeah, I mean, he keeps saying that being unplayable means that it gets a very low ranking (see Eternatus) yet he says that Shadow Lugia would manage to be top 10, even when he's also unplayable.

[@mattbridges4223]

@@toumabyakuya precisely. I won't lose any sleep over it but would be nice for future ranking vids

[@PansyPops]

@@toumabyakuya that’s the biggest example, but a similar scenario happened with Miraidon and Koraidon. Towards the start of the video, he said that form changes including changes to appearance, stats, type, etc, affects the ranking. Yet he ranked Koraidon towards the bottom, and Miraidon several spots later. It has the exact same changes as Koraidon, so why the duo is split up by Dialga and Palkia (which are playable and have stat changes) and Eternatus (which has a massive stat change and incredibly different design) is kinda confusing. I know that opinions are subjective and all, but it still seems a little baffling.

[@ninja_boy]

Yeah, it might've been better to just examine the form changes and talk about which ones are best, rather than try and make a ranked list.

[@Compucles]

@@PansyPops He said that Miraidon got that bump due to its forms looking a lot better. As you said, he did warn us that appearance would be a factor in these rankings.

[@cyndaquil8331]

I may be in the minority, but I love Palkia's new form. Let's face it - it never looks like a water type.

[@emperorcubone]

Well THAT part it true; Palkia is the most land-locked Water type I've ever seen!

[@peterrealar2.067]

I hate to break it you but while Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres were designed like their Kantonian counterparts they are canonically completely different Pokemon. They're more akin to the convergents. So no, I wouldn't have included them as "form changes or variants".

[@GoinGreninja]

Or like Paradox Pokémon without the shenanigans. They're definitely different species with similar looks, but to be fair, it's not well known if that's the actual case or is it just speculation. I do think them to be different species for now, at least.

[@emperorcubone]

I know people say that, but they literally are "variants." They share dex #'s unlike the paradox Pokemon. Maybe you'd say that's just because they hadn't thought of that yet, but when you can swap between them on the same page, the birds still count.

[@GoinGreninja]

The people of Paldea thought of Wiglett to be a regional form too until much later. Either history will repeat and they'll be seen as different species later on or they'd just be regional forms as stated.

[@peterrealar2.067]

@@emperorcubone That's like saying they are the same animal only because they are called the same thing. It's a logical fallacy. Frankly the Galarian Birds should be renamed.

[@peterrealar2.067]

@@GoinGreninja They need to be renamed with the same naming scheme. The scientists of Galar have proven to be unreliable. Do we need to bring up Cara Liss?

[@Compucles]

When you essentially put a suit of armor on a Pokémon like with Necrozma, it's only natural that it loses some speed.

[@atgosh]

It's (possibly) interesting that the Kalos legendaries have 2, 1, and 3 (or 5) forms respectively, going alphabetically. If you add the cutscene tree and egg it gets even muddier

[@Luchabul]

All the Galarian birds should've replace flying with the new type. If you still want them to be immune to ground types, some new abilities that combine their given abilities and levitate.

[@kaitouluminous7114]

I'm happy Deoxys is number 1 Gen 3 rep rocks plus it's a Pokemon based on DNA normally basing a design around DNA would be really difficult to do or lean too much into the gore aspect but Deoxys does it perfectly

[@cultfollower814]

Emperor, you’re doing a great job with the videos. Keep up the great work!

[@jessicaclark6275]

You did a good job on this video 👍

[@emperorcubone]

Thanks! Tell your friends!

[@keylimepython641]

I would rank eternamax far higher, as even though the player can't use it, its still an awesome design, an epic concept for a boss fight, and it has the highest base stat total of anything in the entire series.

[@wispyfox6854]

6:40 i had trouble choosing what game to buy first between the two until i saw Miraidon turn into an actual motorcycle and i loved it ever since

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah... Koraidon's ridiculous galloping was infinitely less cool than a futuristic motorbike.

[@marinagaleotti]

True

[@ilngsisfh]

@@emperorcubonetoo bad miraidon’s the infinitely more expressive one

[@acetrainerleo483]

ZamAzenta recently became my favorite legendary. I feel its the least talked about box art legendary. And zygarde’s forms ive used alot online in usum

[@Connor_merkle]

Doesnt origin form giritina also change its ability from pressure to levitate?

[@TheSpecialPsycho]

Indeed it do

[@novamaster9645]

Fun Fact Mega Latios and Latias do have a difference, Latios had red eyes while Latias’s are yellow

[@bayleefboy]

I always really enjoy these videos, even if I disagree with your placements and reasoning. I think it's nice that the information is presented in a way that allows me to understand why you've placed them where they are.

[@emperorcubone]

Thank you! I do try to at least explain my reasoning, even if some might call it flawed.

[@tjrocker94]

I'd love to see the combined dragons from gen 5 down the line. Perhaps in a new legends game.

[@emperorcubone]

A legends game would almost certainly do that, given the first one provided forms to Dialga and Palkia AND introduced Enamorus, so it makes sense to me!

[@anavictorianormie]

I'm so glad that, unlike Hoops lists, I can always agree with Emperor's lists 😂

[@emperorcubone]

Hah, I'm glad somebody does, because others are not so happy with some of the placements...

[@topdog23100]

My favorite Legendary form change is definitely Primal Kyogre. Primal Groudon is awesome, but I prefer Primal Kyogre mainly because…idk, I just really like its design 😅 My least favorite Legendary form changes are Hisuian Palkia and Hisuian Dialga. Most of the Hisuian forms in Legends Arceus just look weird or bad in my opinion, and Hisuian Dialga and Palkia are certainly no exception

[@emperorcubone]

To be fair I'm not sure they're "Hisuian" specific forms, but they do look very odd. But I think Kyogre looks so cool because of the glowing inner parts, basically being MADE of water.

[@minmin8580]

They're origin forms... "hisuian" forms LOL

[@Watch-0w1]

In defense of koraidon, which i think he cooler than miraidon. His air sack tire canhelp serve a purpose. Cycle mode : maybe it help him stabilize or like car airbag, help him sprint recklessly.they couldnt really give him actual tire to living creature Swimming: their floater Gliding: that one i got issue.their are lizard that glide but his head "wing" no way can hold his whole body

[@gabrielortiz3811]

Crazy that we got Ultra Necrozma which was Necrozma back then. Now I am waiting for the gen 5 original dragon and to see how busted it will be.

[@Shadow-Joop-157]

Ogerpon is one of the cutest legendary pokemon ever and one of the strongest, the fire form has already been banned and the water form is also super strong and the rock form is a good sandstorm pokemon

[@emperorcubone]

I've been saying for a while that we needed another Grass/Rock type besides the fossils so I can't complain!

[@641mamaluigi]

11:27 you don’t get the work rewarded for gigantamaxing melmetal because it’s the ONLY Pokémon you can’t use max soup on. The only time you can gigantamax melmetal is with the special gift one from home mobile

[@madpsycho6]

I'm hoping GO has Pokémon not added to the game, it'd be fitting given that a evolving MYTHICAL Pokémon hasn't been distributed to none GO players outside the Gigantamax gift but that requires you to play GO so there's no actual way of obtaining them.

[@lurkingbanette]

Genuinely forgot that Xerneas had a second form lol

[@emperorcubone]

Because there's no point to it...

[@ysmni7274]

Feels like the comments are overly negative on this video, at the end of the day its all opinion. Despite all these being forme changes in one way or another, gamefreak have changed what that means so many times that ranking all these in any consistent way becomes extremely tricky. People also seem to be forgetting that you're ranking the forme changes, not the pokemon itself so peoples biases towards certain pokemon are showing hard (I love origin giritina but even I have to admit the forme change doesnt do much beside make it look cool lol, so I understand its lower placement) Keep up the good work EC, don't let people get you down :)

[@emperorcubone]

You got it, friend!

[@rhodrage]

Shiny Black and White Kyurem takes on the shiny aspects of Reshiram and Zekrom too. Which I found neat. When I discovered this years ago I told my friend, and he called me an idiot, because he self admits that knows more about Pokemon than me (he doesn't), and he didn't know that, so I must be making it up. Wasn't the only thing he was wrong about but treated others like crap for actually knowing.

[@TheCrazyhusky]

I want to see Kyurem's original form. Let us restore Kyurem to it's original state by fusing it with both Zekrom and Reshiriam at the same time. I think everyone wants to see the true form of Kyurem, or that original Dragon pokemon. if it is another Pokemon.

[@lucindamarx5098]

it's hard to take the list seriously when koraidon and miraidon (which are effectively the same) are 5 spaces apart (out of 39) purely because he likes the way miraidon looks

[@lipika2841]

Based on the design & Volo battle alone, I'd put Girantina numerous spots higher.

[@jasonwu1847]

disagree on the Galar Birds. The Pokedex doesnt even sound sure they're a form of the Kanto birds

[@mlpfanboy1701]

The Pokédex makes the scientist of Galar sound like idiots, they probably are too.

[@drewbernert7050]

Honestly, I feel like Shaymin should be much higher up. It’s ability also changes to serene grace. That matters a lot with air slash and seed flare. The higher speed and special attack also synergizes well with its ability and moveset. Air slash, seed flare, substitute, and leech seed are truly a pain to deal with

[@toumabyakuya]

Thing is that, unlike most other forms, Shaymin's can be undone by the opponent via freezing. It also cannot access it at night. Those are heavy limitations it has.

[@drewbernert7050]

@@toumabyakuya and are you suggesting that you want to have that thing be hit by an ice type? The only way to have it be frozen is by getting hit by an ice type attack. By that point, it has most likely fainted

[@toumabyakuya]

@@drewbernert7050 Even then, the point is that said forms has weaknesses no other form has.

[@drewbernert7050]

@toumabyakuya And it has also has strengths that other forms don’t have. Reminder, this is a Pokémon with 120 base power special stab move that, with serene grace, has an 80% chance to drop the opponent’s special defense by 2 stages.

[@toumabyakuya]

@@drewbernert7050 Thing is that I am analysing the form without taking the Pokemon itself into account. Does the form has a major limitation or two? Yeah? Then it shouldn't be as good as forms that don't require a time of day to be activated or that have no way to be neutralized by the opponent.

[@johanstenfelt1206]

Hm, fair and valid points and opinions, i wonder what we get next? By the way, what if those Legendaries and Mythicals, that doesn’t have Form Changes, had different forms?

[@emperorcubone]

Hmm, for some reason I'm thinking Darkrai could have a really awesome Nightmare mode or something...

[@johanstenfelt1206]

@@emperorcubone hm, I can see that.

[@huntermengel2683]

They did do the X and Y legendaries a little dirty in game. That trailer that showed them had me spellbound as a kid, like the rainbow deer looking thing in the middle of the woods what the heck is that. Only in game its not as colorful for really no reason. Feels like both boxart legendaries should have been oozing light and dark colors, especially for what they symbolize. Also it would have looked great with the DS graphics

[@Boltofbrilliance122]

X and y disappointed me as a kid dimon and pearl were harder for me to beat

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah, I mean I think Xerneas being a brand new type would've been enough of a gimmick, but I guess not!

[@zopilote7]

Origin form Giratina completely changes how it's used, it's far from close to being purely aesthetic like you claim

[@Mojavekight17]

You should have made a tier list

[@emperorcubone]

Well, I did but now it's even better because you don't to guess how I'd rank them!

[@Mojavekight17]

I was confused without the tier list box...@@emperorcubone

[@phoenixblade8315]

Technically Solgaleo and Lunala have another form when using their signature moves

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah, but they were even less publicized than Marshadow's so if they did count it might be even worse than Xerneas.

[@phoenixblade8315]

@@emperorcubone agreed

[@Compucles]

@@emperorcubone Level of publication should have nothing to do with actual list eligibility. You can put them at the bottom for that lack of publication, but either put them all on the list or make the entire group of four ineligible.

[@Qaos]

ngl, shaymin and moltres being so low was a huge miss, same with mewtwo being so high

[@kevandre]

😭 More Silvally slander I love this mf and really don't get why people don't like him

[@macwelch8599]

Urshifu is one of my favorite Legendary Pokémon I also love the Galarian Legendary Birds, despite them not having the correct types

[@emperorcubone]

I have to ask; what ARE the correct types?

[@GoinGreninja]

Did you expect them to have Fire, Ice and Electric respectively? Because they were never meant to in any way. It's always supposed to be a fakeout, showing that not all Pokémon that have certain types have to look like them to a tee. Edit: Typo.

[@macwelch8599]

@@emperorcubone Fire/Dark Ice/Psychic Electric/Fighting

[@GoinGreninja]

​@@macwelch8599Those typings aren't bad. But they don't fit them at all. The whole point is that they only look similar but have different ways of using their power. For example, Galarian Zapdos uses its bioelectricity to power its Fighting type moves for example and other stuff. Them being The Legendary Birds, it makes sense that they'd keep the Flying type and honestly, the combinations they do have is already pretty good.

[@macwelch8599]

@@GoinGreninja I do agree with the fact that their current types are good

[@regretgames5580]

Could've sworn Ninjask was faster than Deoxys Speed, meaning that Regieleki is the second mon to be faster

[@matthewkuscienko4616]

In terms of base stats, Ninjask is indeed not as fast as Deoxys Speed or Regieleki. But it will become faster than either of them after just one turn thanks to it's speed boost ability

[@Inazuma2386]

I feel like dialga and palkia should’ve became serpentine to match origin giratina as well

[@silliest-astro]

nah cuz dialga and palkia are meant to look like arceus while giratina is opposite of arceus

[@masonjar213_]

The Galatians birds being so low is a disgrace

[@emperorcubone]

But wait until the 2 Corinthians birds get a crack at it!

[@Atomicallyawesome.]

Do a quick vid on which legendry's have the best shiny's, I think its safe to safe shiny primal groudon takes the cake.

[@emperorcubone]

I love all the shiny versions of the Weather Trio!

[@Whale-Shark-Katie]

Ima be honest, the top 10 was so freaking good until you mentioned Calyrex lmao, I get that in terms of battle prowess, it is an insane form change, but in terms of design, it literally just sits on a horse lmao, they literally did the bare minimum with that design and that brings it down so much for me lol, I get it from a battling perspective tho

[@emperorcubone]

I mean it's cape expands a bit... But there's a reason Calyrex isn't number one.

[@Whale-Shark-Katie]

@@emperorcubone fair lmao

[@IAMOness369]

I really wish they would make glacier in Spectre there own usable forms

[@emperorcubone]

I mean, they are their own Pokemon, I trained mine to Level 100, they're just not as powerful solo...

[@mlpfanboy1701]

There the only things making calrex worth anything.

[@Compucles]

I don't think Xerneas counts as having a Forme change in the first place. It's a tiny cosmetic change outside of battle, effectively no different from having a visual gender difference. Why does the same thing disqualify Zarude but not Xerneas? Meanwhile, Marshadow does the *exact* same thing by having a better looking cosmetic change only during battle, yet it gets a minor pass?

[@emperorcubone]

The Dex says Xerneas has another form so that's what I'm going off of, even if you can't usually see it, so yes Marshadow is higher because you can potentially see it. As for Zarude, at least half of people don't one at all, let alone the special event one...

[@Compucles]

@@emperorcubone Don't you see Xerneas's just as often as Marshadow's? Like you said in the video, they both look a little better whenever they enter battle.

[@phoenixblade8315]

Have you even used Galarian moltres? It’s OP and the design is sick. Meloetta is meh Zamazenta looks cooler imo but prefer Zacian’s stat White Kyurem>Black Kyurem

[@rossjones8656]

I feel like moltres shouldn't be on the list because it was stated to be similar to him and everything on the list is a transformation. This goes for the other birds.

[@mlpfanboy1701]

Every problem meloetta has with its form can be solved with a few modifications: 2 additional move slots and 756 max Evs. Or they could solve it by letting you use relic song outside of battle. As for zamazenta if they just increased his defenses to just below shuckle defenses with a better move set and more hp it would solve everything.

[@VodkaBlood-jo7vf]

Kyogre>Groudon

[@emperorcubone]

Perhaps, but as far us utilizing their new forms Kyogre is just more of the same (which is still good) but if it got a new ability that made it immune to Grass types or something it could be higher.

[@VodkaBlood-jo7vf]

@@emperorcubone My big whale boi needs nothing new but more cuddles

[@opera4591]

Ditto missing in the list... Hes the most legendary of all because he can be all

[@SJrad]

yeah if you could use eternamax eternatus, say only for 3 turns just like dynamax and gigantamax forms, then it might be a top 5 entry. it has the highest base stat total of all pokemon and it's not even close. 255 hp, 115 atk, 250 def, 125 sp atk, 250 sp def, and 130 speed for a total of 1125. it was made to be overpowered for 1 boss fight i would personally swap shaymin and melloetta because serene grace and higher sp atk & speed makes shaymin sky BUSTED due to 60% flinch from air slash and 80% to lower target's sp def by 2 from seed flare. zacian should be higher because of how much better it is than zamazenta esp in it's debut generation. for 1, the design is better. two, fairy steel is one of if not the best types in the franchise. it has good coverage. zamazenta on the other hand doesnt have recovery moves to make use of its bulk and ability. it didnt get body press in gen 8 and when it did in gen 9 it got nerfed because zacian got nerfed. terapagos lower because we don't know much about it still rayquaza is my no 1 pick

[@madpsycho6]

I don't think Meltan and Melmetal will ever be made available in the main games, they are Pokémon I think should be ignored in the Pokédex on home and not be required to complete the dex.

[@emperorcubone]

Not being "required" is a trait of many mythicals, so I don't think that's a problem, but I could also see Meltan being included in a game in a few Gens like Deoxys or Keldeo...

[@madpsycho6]

@@emperorcubone highly doubt it'll ever be available, they have had years to have a event and they haven't even considered it, the Gigantamax Melmetal is the most pointless as it's unobtainable if you don't play GO, I was hoping that Magearna wasn't added to GO as it'd make GO players play the Alola games.

[@PHiLLy2c]

Bruhh are u serious galarian moltres is soo much better than og

[@PK_HH]

Terapagos getting special anime legendery

[@Lagi42800]

Hope Yveltal and Xerneas get new forms like Primal/Origin ... Especially Xerneas, could become ... Fairy/Ground ... But I fear this might be an OP typing ...

[@GoinGreninja]

It should be Fairy/Grass instead. It's a much more balanced type combination and makes much more sense for it to begin with since Grass types are well known for life and such connotations.

[@emperorcubone]

I doubt Xerneas would be Ground considering Zygarde is too, but giving Yveltal a fighting chance would be nice!

[@Lagi42800]

My logic, and I talked about that with people before is Ground/Fairy because of the whole geomancy thing and If any legendary should get this type it's most likely Xerneas

[@Lagi42800]

But seriously we need a ground/fairy mon even if this typing might be OP

[@GoinGreninja]

@@Lagi42800 We absolutely do need a new one. But we'd likely get them at the next generation at the absolute earliest.

[@chiefgitsu]

you should have made this list not based on whether the pokemon could be used anymore or not.. you can't get Deoxys anyway so why snub Necrozma

[@emperorcubone]

But qhat do we mean when we say we "can't" get Deoxys? Because anyone who played ORAS has one, and those games sold better than the Ultra ones, so more people have gotten their hands on Deoxys than Ultra Necrozma, and that's not even counting any events that gave it out...

[@chiefgitsu]

@@emperorcubone in the current games.

[@Compucles]

@@chiefgitsu Yes, you can, as you can transfer from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon Home.

[@chiefgitsu]

@@Compucles that has nothing to do with it

[@zachpro5475]

Why didn’t you upload yesterday

[@emperorcubone]

Cause I went to sleep with it rendering like usual but when I checked it after waking up the whole first minute of me talking was just not there, so I had to fix it, and at that point it was so late I just thought it'd be better to wait...

[@Dan55888]

Really? Maraidon is several spots above koriadon? Hard disagree

[@emperorcubone]

Maybe it should've been closer, but you have to admit the actual rolling of wheels is far cooler than the awkward galloping with an inflatable in the way...

[@attilaszanto2275]

Why does Origin forme Palkia lose its arms? So stupid.

[@Moray2023]

It's sorta supposed to look like ancient drawings of Monsters and heavenly creatures. Pulling from the weirdest designs.

[@mlpfanboy1701]

Do you really need arms when you can command the flow of space with your being? The reason most creatures with arms keep arms is to manipulate and hold things in place, not such a problem for palkia.

[@futureDreamer4]

I hope we get two more female forces of nature.

[@emperorcubone]

Hmm, what typings should they be? I'd go for a Poison one personally since we haven't had any after the Zubat line.

[@Compucles]

But that would ruin the theme that Enamorous finally completed.

[@rossjones8656]

​@@Compuclesindeed, knowing the inspiration of them helps alot.

[@andrewhou5479]

I would say first but I’m not stupid

[@1RealDAL]

your 2nd

[@happy.time.boredom]

Still the same sentiment.

[@Boltofbrilliance122]

You would be smarter if you didn't type that at all

[@jaspertrocio6350]

This is so Trash from top to bottom. Rayquaza IS Top

[@emperorcubone]

I put Rayquaza right near the top... so the Rayquaza fans are upset?

[@toumabyakuya]

@@emperorcubone I mean, I do say that this ranking was weird. And the bias shows with the overrated clone (Mewtwo) and Dragon (Rayquaza) placements.