With the release of the Crown Tundra DLC, Pokemon Sword and Shield now has all Legendary Pokemon accessible and playable along with the newly added Calyrex, Spectrier, and Glastrier.

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Said Legendaries, along with the other returning Pokemon, have shaken up the competitive scene as they've become more popular to use. Their innate uniqueness gives them certain competitive niches that can't be found anywhere else, thus giving them immense value in the current metagame. Here is a look at the best of the best, each having great use in different roles for competitive Pokemon teams in Generation VIII.

Note: This list was made from a Singles perspective and the Pokemon listed are not necessarily as viable in Doubles or VGC. This list does not include Mythical Pokemon or Ultra Beasts, nor does it include Legendary Pokemon that have been banned to Smogon's Uber tier as of 8/18/2021.

Updated August 19, 2021 by Kyle Laurel: Pokemon's competitive scene is ever-changing, being redefined every month thanks to Smogon's tiering system. This list has been updated to keep up with the current Sword & Shield meta prior to the release of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

10 Latios

Latios Flying, Pokemon Heroes Movie Anime

Both Latios and Latias have had their niches in competitive battling since their introduction in Generation III. They are almost identical in that they have the Dragon-Psychic dual typing, as well as Levitate.

Latios takes this spot over its red sibling for its more focused stat spread. Both have the same HP, Attack, Defense, and Speed, but Latios has 130 Special Attack and 110 Special Defense. Latias' is vice versa which gives Latios more use as a special attacker. STAB Draco Meteor and Psychic work great for it, along with either a Life Orb or Choice Specs to maximize its offensive potential further.

9 Tornadus-Therian

Tornadus Therian Forme Creating Wind, Pokemon Anime

The excellent Regenerator ability is typically reserved for slower walls, such as Slowbro, Slowking, and Toxapex. Other Pokemon such as Mienshao have bucked that trend before, but Tornadus in its Therian forme does that best in Generation VIII.

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It's a threat thanks to its incredible 121 Speed, and it's surprisingly versatile with the tools necessary to play a pivot role (Defog, U-Turn, Knock Off), a special wallbreaker (Nasty Plot, Hurricane, Heat Wave, Focus Blast), or something in between. Defensively, its unique pure Flying-typing means only Electric-types, Ice-types, or stray Rock-type moves can truly stop it, and that's compounded by its ability to heal upon switching out.

8 Tapu Lele

Tapu Lele In Night Sky, Pokemon Sun And Moon Anime

The Psychic-Fairy typing is a very good one, and Tapu Lele puts it to great use with its ability Psychic Surge. Instant set up of Psychic Terrain gives it extra power on Psychic-type attacks with the added bonus of walling priority moves and most Prankster utility Pokemon on opposing teams.

That, along with its great Special stats and wide array of STAB and coverage moves, makes Tapu Lele a force to be reckoned with. Its Speed is merely decent, but stick a Choice Scarf on it and it's nearly unstoppable.

7 Kyurem

Kyurem, Pokemon Movie Anime

While its other forms are banned, base form Kyurem is one of the OverUsed tier's premier offensive Pokemon, having an unusually high 660 base stat total and 130 in both attacking stats.

It's morely commonly used on the special side, with its signature set of Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam, Focus Blast, and Earth Power, as well as the Choice Specs held item. You can also mix it up with a Substitute + Roost + Heavy Duty Boots set, or even go to the physical side with Dragon Dance and Icicle Spear. Regardless of how you use it, Kyurem is a potent offensive weapon; just be wary of opposing Pokemon that can out-Speed it and kill it.

6 Tapu Fini

Tapu Fini At Night, Pokemon Sun And Moon Anime

The Water-type member of the Tapu quartet is the best defensively with the stats to back it up with 100+ in both defenses and a solid defensive typing.

Its most popular build is as a utility Pokemon, with moves like STAB Scald that could burn opponents. There is also Taunt that could cripple other utility Pokemon or hazard setters or Defog to clear said hazards or Knock Off to cripple item-reliant Pokemon. That's not to say it has no offensive power though, as, with a bit of setting up with Calm Mind or given Choice Specs to hold, it can provide much-needed Water-type offense.

5 Zapdos

Zapdos In Sky, Pokemon Go

The Electric-type of the Legendary bird blows away Articuno and edges out Moltres as the best of the trio. Its typing allows for very few weaknesses while also sporting one of the strongest types offensively, especially for special attackers, in Electric. It has great use as a special wallbreaker with its best STAB moves being Hurricane and Discharge to go along with a coverage move like Heat Wave or a Water-type Weather Ball.

It perhaps has even more use as a pivot, with moves like Defog and Volt Switch providing nice utility. The Galarian regional variant also deserves a mention being an excellent physical, Fighting-type alternative.

4 Rapid-Strike Style Urshifu

Urshifu using Surging Strikes in Pokemon Sword & Shield

The Isle of Armor mascot has held its place as one of the most interesting Fighting-type Pokemon. Its ability, Unseen Fist, allows Urshifu to attack through Protect and other such moves as long as they make contact. Its signature move is different depending on the form with the Single-Strike form's being the Dark-type Wicked Blow and the Rapid-Strike form's being the Water-type Surging Strikes. However, both of these moves are guaranteed critical hits.

While Single-Strike is banned, Rapid-Strike is one of the most threatening offensive Pokemon out there, with multiple tools in its arsenal, including Aqua Jet, Close Combat, and the aforementioned Surging Strikes.

3 Tapu Koko

Tapu Koko In Sky, Pokemon Sun And Moon Anime

Tapu Koko isn't quite as speedy as fellow Electric-type Regieleki, but it provides better utility with its much more balanced stat spread. It's got great attacking power on both the physical and special ends to go along with its 130 Speed. The secondary Fairy-typing gives it an extra STAB and immunity to the powerful Dragon-type.

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Its learnset is quite deep, too, with STAB attacking moves like Thunderbolt and Dazzling Gleam, pivoting moves like U-Turn and STAB Volt Switch, and other utility moves like Roost and Defog. Tapu Koko proves to be arguably the best of all the Alolan Guardians competitively.

2 Heatran

Heatran And Bronzong, Pokemon Anime

All the weird properties Heatran has make it both hard to kill and very potent offensively. Its main niche is the combination of its typing, Fire/Steel, and its ability, Flash Fire. Opponents have to be very careful as they put themselves at the risk of Heatran pivoting into their Fire-type attack and gaining a Flash Fire boost.

Offensively, it's arguably just as annoying and it can end up ruining your team if you're not careful. It has its choice of either Magma Storm which traps its target until the user switches out or Lava Plume which is likely to burn its target. Combined with its 130 Special Attack, that makes it dangerous and well-rounded.

1 Landorus-Therian

Landorus in its Therian Form in the Pokemon anime

While Landorus in its regular form is banned, its Therian form is incredibly prominent in the metagame and has been since its introduction in Generation V. It's become arguably the premier pivot with its great defensive typing of Ground-Flying and its Intimidate ability.

Lando-T can play virtually any role on a team. It can be an attacker with a high Attack stat and great STAB and coverage moves. It can be a great utility Pokemon as it is able to put up hazards with Stealth Rock or scout with U-Turn. It can even play a combination of those roles and his fairly even stat spread will allow it to do so.

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