The Strongest Pokémon from Scarlet & Violet (2024)

The Generation IX Pokémon games Scarlet and Violet are a milestone for the franchise, bringing the species count to over 1,000 and introducing new powerful creatures. As with every generation of the mainline games, a handful of these unique species make the power rankings fluctuate in canon and the competitive meta.

That's especially true with some of these games' more unique additions to the Pokémon roster, like the multiversal Paradox species. From the more "usual" creatures found within the region of Paldea like Ceruledge to prehistoric ones from other timelines like Raging Bolt, Gen IX has some uniquely powerful Pokémon.

Updated on July 20, 2024, by Antonio Samson: Scarlet and Violet are the most recent entries in the Pokémon series and introduced a ton of new Pokémon that have changed the competitive scene. This article was updated to include more Pokémon and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

15 Iron Valiant is a Versatile Mixed Attacker

Master of Both Physical and Special Offense

Iron Valiant, a powerful Paradox Pokémon exclusive to Pokémon Violet, showcases a unique and effective dual typing of Fairy and Fighting. This combination provides both offensive and defensive advantages, allowing Iron Valiant to take on a variety of opponents with ease. Its balanced offensive stats, with 130 Attack and 120 Special Attack, make it a potent mixed attacker, capable of using physical and special moves to great effect.

Iron Valiant's movepool is diverse and versatile, featuring powerful physical moves like Close Combat, which deals massive damage at the cost of lowering its defenses, and Spirit Break, which lowers the opponent's Special Attack. On the special side, Moonblast offers a strong Fairy-Type attack, and Thunderbolt provides excellent coverage against Water and Flying Types.

14 Iron Bundle Excels as a Speedy Special Attacker

Outspeeding Foes with Precision and Power

Iron Bundle, another futuristic Paradox Pokémon from Pokémon Violet, combines interesting Ice/Water typing with impressive Speed (136) and Special Attack (124) stats. This Pokémon excels in fast-paced battles, able to outspeed many opponents and deliver powerful special attacks with precision. Its Speed stat allows it to take the initiative in most encounters, making it difficult for opponents to counter its moves effectively.

Freeze-Dry is a standout move for Iron Bundle, being particularly useful against Water-Type foes due to its unique ability to deal super-effective damage. Hydro Pump and Ice Beam offer strong STAB options that can devastate opponents with their high base power. Iron Bundle's ability to pivot with Flip Turn adds to its tactical versatility, allowing it to switch out while dealing damage, keeping up offensive pressure, or preserving its health. Drill Peck provides a reliable physical move for situations where a special move might not be ideal.

13 Chien-Pao is a Swift, Physical Attacker

Striking Quickly with Devastating Force

Chien-Pao, part of the Treasures of Ruin quartet, stands out with its dual Dark/Ice typing and high Speed (135) and Attack (120) stats. This combination makes Chien-Pao a lethal force in battle, able to strike quickly and powerfully. Its ability, Sword of Ruin, lowers the Defense of all other Pokémon on the field, amplifying Chien-Pao's offensive potential significantly.

This Pokémon's movepool includes hard-hitting physical moves like Icicle Crash, which has a chance to flinch the opponent, and Throat Chop, which can prevent the opponent from using sound-based moves. Swords Dance is crucial for boosting Chien-Pao's Attack to even more dangerous levels, allowing it to sweep through teams easily. Sacred Sword provides coverage against Steel and Rock Types, which would otherwise resist its STAB moves.

12 Iron Treads is a Sturdy Physical Tank

Withstanding Hits and Setting Up Hazards

Iron Treads, a Paradox Pokémon found in Pokémon Violet, brings a robust Ground/Steel typing to the battlefield.This typing provides excellent resistances and immunities, making Iron Treads a reliable choice for withstanding physical attacks. Its high Defense (120) and balanced overall stats make it a formidable physical tank, capable of absorbing hits and retaliating effectively.

Iron Treads' movepool includes strong STAB options like Earthquake and Iron Head, which can deal significant damage while taking advantage of its impressive Attack stat. Stealth Rock is vital for setting up entry hazards that can chip away at the opponent's team, while Rapid Spin allows Iron Treads to remove hazards on its side of the field, maintaining a clear battlefield for its teammates.

11 Tatsugiri is a Unique Strategic Option

Enhancing Allies in Double Battles

Tatsugiri introduces an intriguing Dragon/Water typing with a unique ability, Commander, which pairs it with Dondozo in double battles for significant boosts. This ability makes Tatsugiri a highly strategic choice, especially in double battles where it can dramatically enhance its partner's performance. Outside of this synergy, Tatsugiri is a formidable special attacker with a diverse movepool that allows it to handle various threats.

Muddy Water is a strong STAB move that can hit both opponents in a double battle, with a chance to lower their accuracy. While reducing Tatsugiri's Special Attack after use, Draco Meteor offers immense power to take down even the toughest foes. Dragon Pulse provides a more reliable Dragon-Type move without the drawback of Draco Meteor. Tatsugiri and Dondozo's special synergy makes them exciting Pokémon for competitive battling.

10 Ceruledge is a Potent Physical Attacker

Utilizing Ghostly and Fiery Offense Effectively

On top of having one of the most stylish creature designs in Generation IX, Ceruledge is one of Scarlet and Violet's top physical attackers. It's one of two branching evolutions for the Fire-Type Charcadet and functions as a counterpart to Armarouge in design and stat distribution.

Ceruldege is a dual Fire/Ghost-Type. It's something not often seen across the franchise's 1,000+ species and makes great offensive use of this dual typing. With its highlights being its Physical Attack (125) and Special Defense (100), this Pokémon makes the most of its offensive arsenal — including its signature Fire-Type move, Bitter Blade, and devastating Ghost attacks like Poltergeist. It can even bolster its impressive Attack with the stat-buffing move Swords Dance.

9 Baxcalibur is Gen IX's Powerful New Pseudo-Legendary

Combining Strength and Bulk for a Fearsome Presence

The fan-dubbed "Pseudo-Legendary" Pokémon species are a beloved tradition of the mainline games, introducing powerful new creatures with near-Legendary status. For Generation IX, Baxcalibur continues this trend with aplomb, featuring stats and a movepool to live up to that reputation.

Baxcalibur is a dual Dragon/Ice-Type, giving the infamously fragile latter typing extra offensive firepower. Much of this is thanks to its monstrous stats, particularly its defensive bulk (115 HP, 92 Physical Defense) and overwhelming raw power (145 Attack). With these strengths, Baxcalibur can sweep opponents with its signature Glaive Rush, the multi-hit Icicle Spear, and the ever-reliable Earthquake for coverage.

8 Gholdengo is Bizarre Yet Robust in Offense and Defense

Leveraging Unique Typing for Versatile Roles

Undoubtedly one of the strangest Pokémon designs in Scarlet and Violet is Gholdengo, and perhaps just as surprising is its power. This species evolves from Gimmighoul and greatly benefits from its unique typing.

Gholdengo is a dual Ghost/Steel-Type Pokémon — another rarity otherwise seen only in the Honedge evolutionary line from Gen VI. It's a defensively and offensively robust creature more so due to its typing rather than stats. Steel-Type is already the best defensive typing in Pokémon, and adding Ghost grants it two more Type immunities. Combined with its astonishing offense (133 Special Attack), Gholdengo can fill various roles within a team.

7 Walking Wake is a Ferociously Quick and Hard-Hitting Paradox Beast

Blending Ancient Power with Modern Speed

Paradox Pokémon were some of Gen IX's most exciting new features, with Scarlet's prehistoric species being the most memorable. These creatures are ancient or futuristic analogs of Pokémon from the main timeline, with Walking Wake putting a dinosaur spin on Suicune.

Walking Wake is easily among the strongest Paradox Pokémon, taking on the dual Water/Dragon to impressive attacking effect. This creature has a well-rounded stat distribution, but its most fearsome qualities are its Special Attack (125) and Speed (109), letting it break down Scarlet and Violet's sturdiest Pokémon. Being a Water/Dragon-Type covers plenty of offensive ground between attacks like Draco Meteor and its signature Hydro Steam, with others like the Fire-Type Flamethrower for coverage.

6 Raging Bolt Strikes With Relentless Power

A Thunderous Threat with Exceptional Special Attack

A more recent addition to Scarlet's thanks to the DLC expansion, Raging Bolt is another interesting and powerful Paradox Pokémon. Continuing with the theme of giving Johto's Legendary Beast Pokémon trio multiversal analogs, this creature gives Raikou's design a dinosaur inspiration.

Raging Bolt is a dual Electric/Dragon-Type, giving it a natural lean toward offense. However, its offensive power is even better than Walking Wake's (137 Sp. Attack) and even more defensive bulk (125 HP). This makes Raging Bolt a menace with attacks like its signature Thunderclap — which often takes priority in battle — and Draco Meteor. With its bulk, it could take a turn to set up with Calm Mind to boost its Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense to make its attacks truly relentless.

5 Koraidon Has a Capable and Physically-Offensive Typing

Dominating with a Balanced Physical Approach

As players expect from Pokémon Scarlet's flagship creature, the Legendary Koraidon is a strong partner. The ancient counterpart to Violet's futuristic mascot, this Pokémon is an immensely physical force in battle. Koraidon is a dual Fighting/Dragon-Type species, complementing its robust physical offense and defense.

With every stat reaching 100 or higher — except Sp. Attack (85) — this Pokémon can survive drawn-out battles on top of hitting hard and fast. It's supported by a ruthless movepool including Close Combat, Outrage, Flare Blitz, and the potential to buff its Attack further with Swords Dance and its signature Ability, Koraidon slots into almost anyone's team.

4 Miraidon is the Special-Offensive Counterpart

Breaking Defenses with Electrifying Special Moves

The mascot Legendary species for Pokémon Violet is also powerful, as Miraidon's stat spread and movepool offer something different. Like other Legendary mascot pairings in the mainline games, this dual Electric/Dragon-Type focuses on Sp. Attack to stand apart from Koraidon.

This gives Miraidon a different role in a battle, but its attacks are still potent. All but one of this Pokémon's stats reach 100 or higher — except Attack (85) — making it best suited to breaking down staunch defense with Special moves. Miraidon's signature Electro Drift is its go-to Electric-Type attack, while Draco Meteor lets it take a scorched-earth approach with its Dragon typing.

3 Ting-Lu Balances Offense With Defense

Surviving and Striking with Impressive Bulk

Gen IX paved the way for several new Legendary Pokémon, which included the Treasures of Ruin quartet. All four of these creatures are notably powerful in their own right, and Ting-Lu stands out as the best to balance offense with defense.

Ting-Lu is a dual Dark/Ground-Type, with the former typing being the staple among this quartet. This Pokémon's best assets lean toward the physical side, with its HP (155) and Physical Defense (125) making it more than capable of surviving battles of attrition. This impressive bulk gives Ting-Lu plenty of opportunities to set up stage hazards like Spikes and Stealth Rock. Meanwhile, its similarly strong Attack (110) complements moves like Earthquake and Ruination.

2 Chi-Yu is a Formidable Special Attacker

Delivering Powerful Special Attacks with Speed

While every member of the Ruinous Legends can hold their own in battle, with Ting-Lu being the best defensively, Chi-Yu is the strongest offensively. The dual Dark/Fire-Type Legendary Pokémon makes a good case for being among the best special attackers in Gen IX.

Chi-Yu's dual typing makes this creature stand out, as it's a combination of some of the best Special Attack-focused Types in the games. Naturally, its Special Attack stat (135) bolsters this typing further and makes up for its low HP and physical stats. Along with its 100 Speed, Chi-Yu can perform clean sweeps of the opposition with attacks like Overheat, Fire Blast, and Dark Pulse.

1 Ogerpon Shakes Up Power Rankings With Its Versatility

Adapting to Battle with Multiple Typing Options

Another fresh addition to the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet roster after The Teal Mask expansion, the Legendary Ogerpon has mixed up the in-game power rankings in interesting ways. This new creature's typing depends on what mask it's holding, giving it four typings when including its base form.

Ogerpon is a pure Grass-Type in its default Teal Mask form, Grass/Water-Type in Wellspring Mask form, Grass/Fire-Type in Hearthflame Mask form, and Grass/Rock-Type in Cornerstone Mask form. These options give Ogerpon tremendous versatility in battle, but its Hearthflame and Wellspring forms are the strongest. Those Type combinations with moves like Ivy Cudgel, Power Whip, Horn Leech, and Swords Dance for an additional Attack buff are constant threats for opponents.

11 Images

11 Images

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

RPG

Franchise

Pokemon

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

November 18, 2022

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo , The Pokemon Company

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

32 Hours

Metascore

72