There are no beings more powerful or more important to the Pokemon mythos than the gods of the Pokemon world. These beings are responsible for all life in the Pokemon universe and maintain existence's various dimensions, making it all the more bizarre that mere children could capture and control the beings responsible for the existence of the universe.
While these are the most powerful beings in Pokemon lore, some gods are superior to others, whether that be in power or in the depth of their lore and capabilities. Most Pokemon gods are at least comparable in might, save for one supreme being that stands above the rest of Pokemon life.
Updated March 4th, 2023, by Andrew Scariati: More wonderful creatures continue to enter the world of Pokemon with every new game and DLC. While legendaries are not in short supply, it takes a special type of power to be considered a Pokemon god. The most powerful god Pokemon is not only mighty in name but in the content of their abilities. From the weather trio to the god of time and more, there are certain entities that surpass all others. Whether they are standalone deities or part of a godly group, there are some extraordinarily powerful Pokemon gods that rule over their particular domain. No matter how strong the god may be, remember that every great Pokemon comes from humble beginnings.
12 Egg
In Pokemon mythology, the first being to ever exist was born from a solitary egg that existed in a void of nothingness. The first Pokemon god, Arceus, hatched from this egg and created all life. No explanation is given for where this egg came from or who was responsible for its creation. Not even Arceus likely knows.
It is possible the creators want to keep this knowledge obscure so that fans can fill the void with their own ideas. A popular fan theory is that the egg's creator is Satoshi Tajiri, who is responsible for creating Pokemon in the real world. If this theory is made official, it will make him the most powerful Pokemon god.
11 Mesprit
Mesprit was created to provide the living beings of the world with emotion. The lore explains that this Pokemon currently sleeps at Lake Verity's bottom, but its astral form explores the surface. Although Mesprit is in the second hierarchy of the gods, they lack any major powers.
Resembling a mew with an extra tail, jewels, and a pink mop on its head, this Psychic-type Pokemon looks more like a fairy than a god. Granted, it is responsible for emotion, but it doesn't make for an intimidating Pokemon.
Mesprit first appeared in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl at Level 50. Its stats are well-balanced but surprisingly on the average side. Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense are 105. HP and Speed are a bit lower at 80.
10 Kyogre
Kyogre is in the lowest tier of the gods and is responsible for the oceans and can further expand them through massive rains. Resembling a whale with fingers on its fins, this Pokemon's signature ability, Drizzle, causes rain to appear on the battlefield.
Kyogre first made an appearance in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire at Level 50. It could only be obtained in Pokemon Sapphire. It has strong stats with Special Attack at 150 and Special Defense at 140, making it a special brawler. HP and Attack are average at 100, and its Defense and Speed are acceptable at 90 each.
9 Groudon
Groudon is the foil of Kyogre, being the ruler of the land. The lore states that it has the ability to utilize magma to evaporate water and expand its dominion, and, after battling Kyogre, has been sleeping in underground magma recovering. It's easily one of the more interesting-looking god Pokemon, resembling a rocky dragon, and is one of the more powerful in the games. Its shiny form is breathtaking and a must-have if you're a collector.
When Groudon first appeared in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, it could be caught in Ruby at Level 50. Where Kyogre is a special brawler, Groudon is a physical brawler. Its Attack is 150, and its Defense is 140. HP and Special Attack are at 100, with Special Defense and Speed at 90.
8 Rayquaza
Resembling a flying, metallic serpent, this fierce Dragon-type Pokemon is the ruler of the air and is rumored to be charged with protecting the Earth from meteors. This Pokemon is also extraordinarily powerful and stopped Groudon and Kyogre's fighting for dominion by itself. Its signature ability, Airlock, can remove any weather occurring on the battlefield and prevent new weather patterns from forming.
Rayquaza is the most powerful of the weather gods and can be caught at Level 50 in Pokemon Emerald. It's a fierce and powerful Pokemon that deserves its status as the Weather Trio gods' leader. Stat-wise, it's a strong attacker with decent resiliency. Its Attack and Special Attack are at a whopping 150 each. HP is 105, Speed is 95, and both Defense and Special Defense are 90.
7 Azelf
Azelf was created to provide humanity with willpower or the determination to tackle life's obstacles and succeed. This ability could arguably be responsible for every Pokemon and trainer's success, given that it is the source of their perseverance. It is also credited for bringing balance to the world.
It's a psychic Pokemon like Mesprit, resembling Mew, but with a blue hat this time. It's unclear how this Pokemon maintains balance, other than its existence might inspire both humanity and Pokemon to keep things in balance.
Azelf appeared first in the game Pokemon Diamond & Pearl at Level 50. Its stats make it a bit of glass cannon. Attack and Special Attack sit at 125 with Speed at 115. HP is a bit low at 75. Defense and Special Defense are low at 70 each.
6 Uxie
Uxie was created to grant mankind knowledge and, as a result, possesses an incredible wealth of wisdom and is one of the few Pokemon gods to achieve near-omniscient status. Pokemon lore also suggests that this Pokemon keeps its eyes forever closed, as opening them would cause any to see it to lose their memories.
Memory loss is a powerful ability in combat. Possessing all knowledge makes it very powerful, as it can anticipate all possible threats and resolve them. Like Mesprit and Azelf, Uxie too is a Psychic-type with fairy features that resemble Mew wearing a yellow helmet and two tails.
Uxie is the final Guardian found in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl at Level 50. Its stats make this Pokemon a bit of a weak tank. Special Defense and Defense are solid at 130 each. Unfortunately, it has a below-average Health, Attack, and Special Attack at 75. Its Speed is alright at 95.
5 Palkia
Palkia is likely the weakest member of the upper hierarchy of Pokemon Gods, called the Creation Trio. Created by Arceus to control space, it used this power to assist in the creation of the universe. This Water and Dragon-type has the ability to create a pocket dimension it lives in and uses to travel between worlds. Lore says its very breath can stabilize and balance space. This is a very powerful Pokemon with a mechanic dragon-like appearance that can strike fear into enemies.
Palkia was originally only obtained in Pokemon Pearl with a strange starting level of 47. It has superb stats overall, with a powerful Special Attack of 150. Attack and Special Defense are at a respectable 120. It has an average Speed of 100, along with Defense. HP is below average at 90.
4 Dialga
With the ability to control time itself, this Steel and Dragon-type can experience the past and the future at will, and its very heartbeat is what keeps time flowing forward. It's a little frightening to think that life itself would freeze in time if its heart were ever to stop. In addition to this frightening connection to time itself, this four-legged dragon bears an intimidating figure and resides in a dimension of time that ebbs and flows according to the Pokemon's whims.
Dialga first appeared in Pokemon Diamond and could be caught at Level 47. Its stats make it a strong Special Attack fighter, thanks to a 150 Special Attack. Attack and Defense are at a solid 120. Health and Special Defense are average at 100. Strangely the god of time is a bit slow, with a Speed of 90.
3 Giratina
Arguably the most powerful god of the Creation Trio, Giratina is the antithesis of Arceus, the creator of all life, making Giratina the closest thing the Pokemon mythos has to a devil. This ferociously powerful Ghost Pokemon strikes a frightening image with its six legs, bat-like wings, and insect-like mandibles on its face and throat.
Giratina was created to control antimatter, but Arceus feared its dark and destructive nature so much that it banished Giratina to a chaotic dimension called the Distortion World. The fact that the god of the Pokemon universe itself felt the need to banish this creature personally says enough about its power and the level of danger it poses to existence. It is said even now that Giratina is silently watching the Pokemon world, plotting.
Giratina – considered the demon of the Pokemon world – first appeared in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl. It could be caught at a powerful Level 70. Its Health is really high at 150, which combined with Defense and Special Defense at 120, make it a solid tank. Surprisingly the god of antimatter has an average Attack and Special Attack at 100, and it has a below-average Speed at 90.
2 Mew
Many theories have Mew quite high up in the Pokemon pantheon and state that it is responsible for the creation of life as we know it. Through Mew's DNA, a completely different Pokemon was created, and its inherent ability to use the Transform adds credence to the theory that all life evolved from Mew. In addition to that, Mew can learn every move in existence - or, at least, every TM and HM created by humans.
Mew's exclusive Z-Move, Genesis Supernova, is also a signifier that it may be the progenitor of life. Genesis means "beginning," so it's a notable nod to the theories that Mew has the DNA of every single Pokemon within it and is responsible for the Pokemon world that we know and love so much.
Mew first appeared in the first generation of games and only as an Event Pokemon. The very first event that gifted you a Mew was a magazine promotion where players had to enter a competition to get one. Only 20 winners were selected, and they had to send their game cartridges to have the Pokemon inserted.
1 Arceus
It's no contest that Arceus is the most powerful Pokemon god in the mythos, considering it's responsible for not only the creation of existence itself but the other gods as well. Resembling a four-legged dear stuck in a strange wheel, this Pokemon is amusingly a Normal-type, though one of its powers is Multitype which is the ability to change its type to another. Arceus is even capable of speaking the human language and communicates with trainers on a number of occasions.
Apart from its constructive abilities and ability to change its very type, this Pokemon single-handedly banished Giratina to another realm of existence from which it couldn't escape. That alone speaks volumes to Arceus's power and easily earns its spot as the most powerful Pokemon god. Being able to switch types and gain resistance to its foe is powerful enough, but Arceus has no limits to its strength.
Arceus could first be obtained in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl via Nintendo events that ceased in 2010. The only way to get one legitimately is through trades, thus, for many, cheating is the only option. It appeared at Level 80. The god of creation has perfectly distributed stats with everything at 120.