Pokémon Diamond & Pearl brought tons of big changes and additions to the series. Alongside new battle mechanics and evolutions, Sinnoh also brought more legendary Pokémon than any game before it. While it was criticized at the time for its large number, this variety of powerful creatures helped define this region a uniquely magical place.
There were 14 mythical species introduced in this generation, with some given out through events while others were met throughout the games’ stories. While many are long-time favorites, there are some definite flops in this massive list. Here’s every legendary Pokémon from the Sinnoh games, ranked by their design and prowess in battle.
13 Heatran
While Heatran is a competitive powerhouse with an aggressive Fire and Steel-type combination, it certainly doesn’t shine as much as other Legendaries. While others are themed around deep concepts of space and science, Heatran is much simpler by being a literal pile of lava and metal.
This species is way too dissimilar to any typical Legendary Pokémon, having no unique Ability to match its one-of-a-kind body. It does have some remarkably high stats, but as a Legendary Pokémon it falls quite flat.
12 Dialga
Dialga was the face of Pokémon Diamond, and is described in the game as having the power to control the flow of time. It’s a complex subject to have power over, but one that fits quite nicely beside Pokémon Pearl’s Palkia, who has control over the forces of space.
What makes it somewhat disappointing is that the concept of time already has a representative from earlier in the Pokémon series, Celebi. Dialga might differ by controlling time rather than traveling through it, but it steps on territory that we’ve visited before.
11 Mesprit
Mesprit is one of the three Lake Guardians, who each show up through the stories of the Sinnoh games. Each is connected to the origin of humanity and represents different traits of personality, with the pink-haired Mesprit being most associated with emotion.
While Mesprit is the worst, all three of these Pokémon are lovely, feeling like a trio of Mews with their long tails and Psychic-type nature. Mesprit’s downside, though, is that its stats are oddly even across the board, and lack the flavor that its siblings Uxie and Azlef. Its color is lovely, but besides appearance it's quite unexciting.
10 Shaymin
Shaymin has a similar issue to Heatran, having an association with nature rather than something intergalactic or psychological. Its white body and floral back make it far more recognizable and lovable than Heatran, but far less iconic than the other species of Sinnoh.
What saves it is a secondary form introduced in Pokémon Platinum, with longer legs and a more brave expression than the adorable hedgehog form. Its duality makes it fun and interesting compared to other Legendary and Grass-type Pokémon, even if most people will likely prefer one form over the other.
9 Azlef
Azlef is the second Lake Guardian, this time representing the concept of willpower. While Mesprit lacked any mechanical traits that represented this, though, Azlef illustrates its theme by having massive offensive stats and speed, to show it as the aggressor of the three traits.
Having stats represent the lore of a Pokémon is vital to a memorable species. After all, if a Pokémon that’s treated as being strong or powerful, like Mewtwo, was one of the weakest Pokémon in a given game, it would be extremely confusing and forgettable. Azlef succeeds in a way that Mesprit fails.
8 Manaphy & Phione
These might not be the flashiest Legendary Pokémon in Sinnoh, but they’re still utterly unique to other Legendary Pokémon. For one, this is one of the only Legendary Pokémon in the entire series that can breed, as a Manaphy can work with a Ditto to create its technical lower evolution of Phione.
Besides that cool quirk is are some smooth looks, which are exceptionally simple with an aquatic blue palette and pleasing round shapes. Both are greatly reminiscent of the iconic Mew, and their bodies stand out from the extravagant armors and colors of their peers.
7 Uxie
Uxie is the final Lake Guardian, who sees over the trait of knowledge. To represent this, it has massive defensive stats, alongside a long list of moves that lean on the trickier side. It acts as a support tank, rather than pumping out raw damage like most Legendary Pokémon.
While it’s already better than Mesprit, it beats out Azlef by being a better example of a Psychic-type Pokémon. Azlef’s stats represent its trait, but having a secondary type might have helped it be slightly more memorable. With Uxie, you can tell everything from its typing to its theme from a quick look.
6 Giratina
Up until Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, there were very few villainous-looking Legendary Pokémon. Most were either cute-yet-powerful creatures, or titans that the world sees as controllers of nature. As a result, Giratina sticks out as the first Ghost-type Legendary Pokémon, and as something far more monstrous.
Giratina also appeared as the face of Pokémon Platinum, replacing Dialga and Palkia and adding to the game’s story further. The journey through the Distortion World to capture it is one of the most unforgettable locations in the Pokémon series.
5 Regigigas
Regigigas is one of the few late continuations to a prior cycle of Legendary Pokémon, being the creator of the three Regis from Pokémon: Ruby & Sapphire. Regigigas is also utterly unique to other Pokémon, having an ability that hinders its massive stats.
While it’s another outlier in this list by being nature-themed, it feels epic enough in scale that it still fits in perfectly with the other titans of this game. Between it's unique ability and large stature, it's far more than just a powerful version of a single element like Heatran and Shaymin.
4 Palkia
While Dialga takes up space that past Legendary Pokémon have already done, Palkia acts as more of a twist on previously explored concepts. Deoxys of Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire already existed as the first space-centered Pokémon, but as more of an alien than a manipulator of it.
Palkia doesn’t just live in space, but can distort it as well, and can also use its powers to travel to other dimensions. Palkia’s looks and power make it significantly more unique from Dialga, and make for a greatly thematic character for the cosmic tone of this generation of Pokémon games.
3 Cresselia
To cap off the space-themed Pokémon of this generation is Cresselia, a Pokémon who quite literally is meant to represent the moon. Besides its appearance, this comparison is continued in its Pokédex entries by being described as a giver of good dreams, watching over humans and Pokémon as they sleep.
Its curves and floating body give it a lunar quality that makes this theme incredibly clear. It also is benefited by having gorgeous pink coloring, connecting it to Palkia with the intergalactic theme they share.
2 Darkrai
This is another evil-looking Pokémon, but Darkrai is far more horrific by Giratina, being themed around nightmares. Its Pokédex entries describe it as not being malicious, but it exists as the source of all bad dreams, and is greatly feared in the world of Pokémon.
Mechanically, this powerful Dark-type Pokémon fits that theme perfectly. Its ability Bad Dreams damages sleeping opponents, and the moves it learns like Dark Void and Dream Eater mostly revolve around this status condition as well. Darkrai is quite literally a thing of nightmares.
1 Arceus
Arceus is an undoubted favorite Legendary Pokémon for many, having existed since the creation of the universe according to the Pokédex. With its powerful lore comes many unique powers, from massive stats to a unique ability to change its typing with different elemental plates.
This Pokémon is treated like a true deity, and while others are powerful this one has a much more divine nature. With its elegant gold circlet around its center, it looks as powerful as its described and is a fitting creature to hold such a reputation.