Another thing that separates Legends: Arceus from other Pokemon games is its proximity to the mainline series before this, aside from its gameplay. This adventure is not only about revisiting older characters and their history, it is also about integrating mainline mechanics into a kind of spin-off setting, tying both aspects of the franchise together. While Pokemon Legends: Arceus remains a spin-off at its very core, when compared to most mainline entries, it aims to familiarize itself for people used to the traditional Pokemon format. The presence of a Pokedex is one of the ways the game commits itself to that kind of strategy, although the game does limit how big a net it casts.
RELATED: Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ Pokemon Emotes Are a Great Touch
The Absence of Most Pokemon
Legends: Arceus has a Pokedex, but its Pokedex is small even for the standards of mainline regional Pokedexes. The game has a smaller roster of Pokemon than the original Gold and Silver. As a result, it excludes most of the eponymous monsters that current games in the series offer. Due to Legends: Arceus’ connections with Sinnoh, players can encounter most Pokemon that are found in the original Sinnoh regional Pokedex, including all of its Legendary Pokemon. Due to the game’s small roster, said Pokemon in the Sinnoh Pokedex make up most of what Legends: Arceus has to offer.
Kanto Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Bulbasaur Ivysaur Venusaur Charmander Charmeleon Charizard Squirtle Wartortle Blastoise Caterpie Metapod Butterfree Weedle Kakuna Beedrill Pidgey Pidgeotto Pidgeot Rattata Raticate Spearow Fearow Ekans Arbok Sandshrew Sandslash Nidoran♀ Nidorina Nidoqueen Nidoran♂ Nidorino Nidoking Jigglypuff Wigglytuff Oddish Gloom Vileplume Venonat Venomoth Diglett Dugtrio Meowth Persian Mankey Primeape Poliwag Poliwhirl Poliwrath Bellsprout Weepinbell Victreebel Slowpoke Slowbro Farfetch’d Doduo Dodrio Seel Dewgong Grimer Muk Shellder Cloyster Drowzee Hypno Krabby Kingler Exeggcute Exeggutor Cubone Marowak Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Koffing Weezing Kangaskhan Horsea Seadra Goldeen Seaking Staryu Starmie Jynx Pinsir Tauros Lapras Ditto Omanyte Omastar Kabuto Kabutops Aerodactyl Articuno Zapdos Moltres Dratini Dragonair Dragonite Mewtwo Mew
Johto Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Chikorita Bayleef Meganium Totodile Croconaw Feraligatr Sentret Furret Hoothoot Noctowl Ledyba Ledian Spinarak Ariados Chinchou Lanturn Igglybuff Natu Xatu Mareep Flaaffy Ampharos Bellossom Marill Azumarill Politoed Hoppip Skiploom Jumpluff Sunkern Sunflora Wooper Quagsire Slowking Wobbuffet Girafarig Pineco Forretress Dunsparce Snubbull Granbull Shuckle Slugma Magcargo Corsola Delibird Skarmory Houndour Houndoom Kingdra Phanpy Donphan Smeargle Tyrogue Hitmontop Smoochum Miltank Raikou Entei Suicune Larvitar Pupitar Tyranitar Lugia Ho-Oh Celebi
Hoenn Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Treecko Grovyle Sceptile Torchic Combusken Blaziken Mudkip Marshtomp Swampert Poochyena Mightyena Zigzagoon Linoone Lotad Lombre Ludicolo Seedot Nuzleaf Shiftry Taillow Swellow Wingull Pelipper Surskit Masquerain Shroomish Breloom Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking Nincada Ninjask Shedinja Whismur Loudred Exploud Makuhita Hariyama Azurill Nosepass Skitty Delcatty Sableye Mawile Aron Lairon Aggron Meditite Medicham Electrike Manectric Plusle Minun Volbeat Illumise Gulpin Swalot Carvanha Sharpedo Wailmer Wailord Numel Camerupt Torkoal Spoink Grumpig Spinda Trapinch Vibrava Flygon Cacnea Cacturne Swablu Altaria Zangoose Seviper Lunatone Solrock Corphish Crawdaunt Baltoy Claydol Lileep Cradily Anorith Armaldo Feebas Milotic Castform Kecleon Shuppet Banette Tropius Absol Wynaut Clamperl Huntail Gorebyss Relicanth Luvdisc Bagon Shelgon Salamence Beldum Metang Metagross Regirock Regice Registeel Latias Latios Kyogre Groudon Rayquaza Jirachi Deoxys
RELATED: Japanese Pokemon Cafes Introduce 141 Hoenn Pokemon Lattes
Unova Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Victini Snivy Servine Serperior Tepig Pignite Emboar Patrat Watchog Lillipup Herdier Stoutland Purrloin Liepard Pansage Simisage Pansear Simisear Panpour Simipour Munna Musharna Pidove Tranquill Unfezant Blitzle Zebstrika Roggenrola Boldore Gigalith Woobat Swoobat Drilbur Excadrill Audino Timburr Gurdurr Conkeldurr Tympole Palpitoad Seismitoad Throh Sawk Sewaddle Swadloon Leavanny Venipede Whirlipede Scolipede Cottonee Whimsicott Basculin Sandile Krokorok Krookodile Darumaka Darmanitan Maractus Dwebble Crustle Scraggy Scrafty Sigilyph Yamask Cofagrigus Tirtouga Carracosta Archen Archeops Trubbish Garbodor Minccino Cinccino Gothita Gothorita Gothitelle Solosis Duosion Reuniclus Ducklett Swanna Vanillite Vanillish Vanilluxe Deerling Sawsbuck Emolga Karrablast Escavalier Foongus Amoonguss Frillish Jellicent Alomomola Joltik Galvantula Ferroseed Ferrothorn Klink Klang Klinklang Tynamo Eelektrik Eelektross Elgyem Beheeyem Litwick Lampent Chandelure Axew Fraxure Haxorus Cubchoo Beartic Cryogonal Shelmet Accelgor Stunfisk Mienfoo Mienshao Druddigon Golett Golurk Pawniard Bisharp Bouffalant Vullaby Mandibuzz Heatmor Durant Deino Zweilous Hydreigon Larvesta Volcarona Cobalion Terrakion Virizion Reshiram Zekrom Kyurem Keldeo Meloetta Genesect
Kalos Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Chespin Quilladin Chesnaught Fennekin Braixen Delphox Froakie Frogadier Greninja Bunnelby Diggersby Fletchling Fletchinder Talonflame Scatterbug Spewpa Vivillon Litleo Pyroar Flabébé Floette Florges Skiddo Gogoat Pancham Pangoro Furfrou Espurr Meowstic Honedge Doublade Aegislash Spritzee Aromatisse Swirlix Slurpuff Inkay Malamar Binacle Barbaracle Skrelp Dragalge Clauncher Clawitzer Helioptile Heliolisk Tyrunt Tyrantrum Amaura Aurorus Hawlucha Dedenne Carbink Klefki Phantump Trevenant Pumpkaboo Gourgeist Bergmite Avalugg Noibat Noivern Xerneas Yveltal Zygarde Diancie Hoopa Volcanion
Alola Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Litten Torracat Incineroar Popplio Brionne Primarina Pikipek Trumbeak Toucannon Yungoos Gumshoos Grubbin Charjabug Vikavolt Crabrawler Crabominable Oricorio Cutiefly Ribombee Rockruff Lycanroc Wishiwashi Mareanie Toxapex Mudbray Mudsdale Dewpider Araquanid Fomantis Lurantis Morelull Shiinotic Salandit Salazzle Stufful Bewear Bounsweet Steenee Tsareena Comfey Oranguru Passimian Wimpod Golisopod Sandygast Palossand Pyukumuku Type: Null Silvally Minior Komala Turtonator Togedemaru Mimikyu Bruxish Drampa Dhelmise Jangmo-o Hakamo-o Kommo-o Tapu Koko Tapu Lele Tapu Bulu Tapu Fini Cosmog Cosmoem Solgaleo Lunala Nihilego Buzzwole Pheromosa Xurkitree Celesteela Kartana Guzzlord Necrozma Magearna Marshadow Poipole Naganadel Stakataka Blacephalon Zeraora Meltan Melmetal
Galar Region Pokemon Not Available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Grookey Thwackey Rillaboom Scorbunny Raboot Cinderace Sobble Drizzile Inteleon Skwovet Greedent Rookidee Corvisquire Corviknight Blipbug Dottler Orbeetle Nickit Thievul Gossifleur Eldegoss Wooloo Dubwool Chewtle Drednaw Yamper Boltund Rolycoly Carkol Coalossal Applin Flapple Appletun Silicobra Sandaconda Cramorant Arrokuda Barraskewda Toxel Toxtricity Sizzlipede Centiskorch Clobbopus Grapploct Sinistea Polteageist Hatenna Hattrem Hatterene Impidimp Morgrem Grimmsnarl Obstagoon Perrserker Cursola Sirfetch’d Mr. Rime Runerigus Milcery Alcremie Falinks Pincurchin Snom Frosmoth Stonjourner Eiscue Indeedee Morpeko Cufant Copperajah Dracozolt Arctozolt Dracovish Arctovish Duraludon Dreepy Drakloak Dragapult Zacian Zamazenta Eternatus Kubfu Urshifu Zarude Regieleki Regidrago Glastrier Spectrier Calyrex
While the sheer amount of missing Pokemon in this collection may be disappointing to a lot of fans, especially given how Legends: Arceus innovates in so many areas, this leaves plenty of room for future “Legends” games to expand. Pokemon Legends: Arceus has been a massive sales success thus far, so Game Freak would be smart to give fans bigger and better titles going forward.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for Nintendo Switch.
MORE: Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ Time Travel Explained