Sun & Moon included new non-Legendary creatures and Legendaries alike, but the addition of the mysterious alien Pokémon dubbed Ultra Beasts made battles even more interesting. Between defensive specialists like the Poison/Water-Type Toxapex and the ruthless offense of the otherworldly Grass/Steel-Type Kartana, Gen VII had plenty of powerful variety to offer.

Updated on January 23, 2025, by Michael Colwander: As Pokémon moves ahead to Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the inevitable Gen X games for the Switch 2, it’s worth reminiscing about the final generation on a dedicated Nintendo handheld. The Alola region was full of fantastic Pokémon designs with strength that greatly influenced the competitive meta at the time. More strong Gen VII Pokémon have been added.

20

Magearna Has Powerful Special Attacks Along With a Deep Movepool

Type: Steel/Fairy

There’s a lot that could be said about the Mystical Pokémon Magearna from a strength or competitive standpoint. The short of it is Magearna’s fantastic typing and movepool. Its Steel and Fairy Typing leave it immune to Poison and Dragon types while resistant to Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dark, and Fairy. It’s only weak to Fire and Ground. On top of this, Magearna has really good Defense and Special Defense stats, both at 115.

For its movepool, Magearna is the only Pokémon with access to Fleur Cannon, a powerful Fairy-type STAB (same-type attack bonus) move that can devastate numerous competitive Pokémon thanks to its high Special Attack (130). If that’s not enough, Magearna has access to moves like Ice Beam, Energy Ball, Iron Head, and Focus Blast to handle a wide range of different types. Magearna’s Soul-Heart Ability is very similar to Ultra Beasts’ Beast Boost but is specific to Special Attack. The more Pokémon Magearna knocks out, the more powerful it becomes.

19

Salazzle Is Quick and Deadly

Type: Poison/Fire

The first interesting thing about Salazzle is that they are always female. Salazzle evolves from a female Salandit, while the males don’t evolve into anything. This lizard Pokémon is a Fire and Poison-Type, which fits it perfectly.

Salazzle might be on the squishier side of Pokémon with its base health (68), but it can make up for this in more ways than one. Salazzle is rather quick (117) with a hard-hitting Special Attack (111). Salazzle will take a hefty beating from any Ground-type Pokémon, but its poison and speed can be deadly and dish out a healthy amount of damage.

18

Mimikyu Makes Up for Its Low Attack With Its Supportive Abilities

Type: Ghost/Fairy

The adorable Pichu lookalike might not appear to be the strongest Pokémon around, but it’s all about planning and positioning. Mimikyu is a Ghost/Fairy-Type which is already great in the sense that a lot of team compositions are not prepared to take on Fairy-type moves. Mimikyu doesn’t have any fancy stats, its highest being Special Defense (105), but it’s all about how players choose to use this Pokémon.

Mimikyu is great at wasting opponents’ Dynamax turns, which can turn the tide of any match. If there’s a powerful attack coming in and players are worried about losing one of their best Pokémon, it’s time to switch in Mimikyu. That way, Mimikyu’s disguise will break instead of players losing any of their teammates. Mimikyu isn’t the strongest Pokémon when it comes to offense, but they’re a formidable defensive/support Pokémon.

17

Celesteela Boasts an Impressive Defensive Range

Type: Steel/Flying

Celesteela is among the many Ultra Beasts introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, and it argues for being one of the most powerful. It’s tough to go wrong with a Steel and Flying dual-typing. It limits its weaknesses to Fire and Electric but also grants immunities to Poison and Ground on top of a variety of resistances to Normal, Flying, Bug, Steel, Grass, Psychic, Dragon, and Fairy. Its defensive stats are also solid with a Defense of 103 and a Special Defense of 101.

These defenses are complemented by near-equal Attack (101) and Special Attack (107). This is certainly helpful with considering the Ultra Beasts’ Beast Boost Ability, which increases an Ultra Beasts’ highest base stat whenever it knocks out an opposing Pokémon. For Celesteela, this could be built around Special Defense. This does require knocking out Pokémon, but Heavy Slam can do the trick.

16

Pheromosa Is a High-Risk/High-Reward Ultra Beast

Type: Bug/Fighting

Pheromosa is another Ultra Beast and with it, another Pokémon with the Beast Boost Ability. Unlike Celesteela, Pheromosa has strong attack stats with a base Attack and a Special Attack both at 137. Then add in the high Speed (151) along with Beast Boost, and that’s a recipe for an extremely strong offensive Pokémon.

The downside to Pheromosa is that it’s a glass cannon. Pheromosa has little HP and Defense stats. Not to mention its Bug and Fighting typings give it more weaknesses than compared to other Ultra Beasts like Celesteela. Meaning when Pheromosa is out there, it needs to rely on one or two-hit KOs. With the right moves, support, and strategy, Pheromosa can be an absolute force to be reckoned with.

15

Nihilego Is a Terrifying Poison Dealer

Type: Rock/Poison

This Pokémon is a Rock/Poison-Type Ultra Beast. Nihilego may look like a pretty jellyfish from the depths of the ocean, but it’s much more intimidating looking than its fellow jellyfish Pokémon and is classified as a Parasite Pokémon. This alien creature has no expression and no face, making it a little hard to relate to.

Nihilego has some decent Speed (103), but its best stats are its Special Attack (127) and Special Defense (131). While players using Nihilego should, of course, be wary because of Nihilego’s 4x weakness to Ground damage, they can still set Nihilego up to do some heavy hits. Due to Nihilego’s high Special Attack stat, players can take advantage of those movesets and abuse Nihilego’s potential. Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes can be lethal to opposing teams.

14

Buzzwole Is the Bulky Bug-Type of Every Player’s Dreams

Type: Bug/Fighting

Buzzwole is the beefy insect Bug/Fighting-Type Ultra Beast. Buzzwole’s Speed (79) is lacking, but this Pokémon packs a strong punch with its Attack (139) and a tanky Defense (139). Its Special Attack (53) and Special Defense (53) aren’t great, but Buzzwole can make up for that.

Buzzwole is best used against other Physical Attack Pokémon because of its stats. The creature is exceptional at moving other Pokémon around and when the odds are even just slightly stacked in Buzzwole’s favor, it means it’ll easily win. There are many counters to this alien bug, so it’s not unbeatable. however, when Buzzwole is used in the right situation, it is nearly impossible to beat.

13

Blacephalon Is Fragile But Powerful

Type: Fire/Ghost

Most Ultra Beast Pokémon have very interesting designs and Blacephalon is like a walking celebration. This fireworks Pokémon is a dual-type Fire/Ghost Ultra Beast. Blacephalon has a decently frail build with its Health (53) and Defense (53), but it more than makes up for how quickly it can go down.

Blacephalon’s offensive stats are strong. Pair this Pokémon’s Attack (127) and Special Attack (151) with its Speed (107), and players will have a hard-hitting and fast team member. Due to Blacephalon’s attack stats, players should prioritize maximizing their damage output to make sure that Blacephalon can do brutal damage to enemy Pokémon before falling.

12

Toxapex Is a Defensive Wall

Type: Poison/Water

After nine generations of mainline games, Toxapex still stands out as one of the most unique Poison-Type Pokémon in its niche. The Poison typing isn’t usually known for its raw offensive prowess, which is likely why this sea urchin creature takes the opposite approach. Toxapex is a dual Poison/Water-Type Pokémon.

While that’s not unique considering the likes of Tentacruel share the typing, the former’s stat spread, Ability, and movepool are special. It has mediocre-to-subpar stats in almost everything, but Physical Defense (152) and Special Defense (142) are astounding. Combined with moves like Toxic Spikes and Baneful Bunker for setting stage hazards and defensive maneuvers and Recover for longevity, Toxapex is a great choice for intense battles of attrition.

11

Kommo-o is an Offensively Versatile Psuedo-Legendary

Type: Dragon/Fighting

Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon are a fan-named class of species with a massive 600 stat total without being literal Legendaries, and each generation has at least one. For Gen VII’s Alola region, the unique dragon Kommo-o fills this niche and can more than hold its own in a fight. While Dragon-Type creatures have become more accessible since Gen I’s Dragonite line, the dual Dragon/Fighting Kommo-o lives up to its status by being an overall staunch offensive presence.

Kommo-o’s Physical and Special stats are impressive across the board — with a lean toward the former. This lets it be aggressively versatile with hazard-setting moves like Stealth Rock and heavy-hitting attacks like Close Combat and its signature Clanging Scales. That’s on top of moves outside its typings like the Electric-Type Thunder Punch and Fire-Type Flamethrower.

10

Zeraora Is a Speedy Attacker

Type: Electric

Though there are Pokémon with even more fearsome offenses, the Mythical creature Zeraora is nothing to take lightly. This one-of-a-kind species was introduced in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon (the successors of the 2016 games) for the Nintendo 3DS. Zeraora has straightforward Electric typing, but this Type alone is great for making offensive plays.

This Pokémon’s highlights are its blistering Speed stat (143) combined with a hard-hitting Physical Attack stat (112). Its defensive stats are admittedly lackluster, which includes its HP, meaning it’s best suited to the “glass cannon” role. But between high-damage attacks like the signature Plasma Fists, coverage moves like the Fighting-Type attack Close Combat, and Bulk Up to raise its Attack and Defense, Zeraora is more than capable of sweeping the opposition.

9

Kartana Offers All-Out Offense Tactics

Type: Grass/Steel

One of the most potent fighters in the Ultra Beast family of Pokémon is the offense-focused Kartana. This creature’s dual typing and character design do justice to the inherently otherworldly nature of the Ultra Beasts, and it excels for two fundamental reasons.

A dual Grass/Steel-Type — a combination only seen again in the Ferrothorn line — Kartana’s frightening Physical Attack (181) combined with its high Speed (109) make it extremely difficult to contain. So long as it avoids Special Attack-focused opponents, this Ultra Beast can be relentlessly offensive with attacks like Leaf Blade, Sacred Sword, Smart Strike, and Giga Impact. What’s more, Kartana can become nearly impossible to beat if it boosts its Attack stat further with Swords Dance.

8

Tapu Koko is Among Gen VII’s Fastest Attackers

Type: Electric/Fairy

Taking cues from Pokémon Sun and Moon‘s Hawaiian-inspired setting, the Tapu quartet of island deities are some of the strongest Legendary Pokémon from Gen VII. The four Tapus each offer something worthwhile to battle that’s at least worth an honorable mention, but Tapu Koko is its fastest attacking-oriented member.

Tapu Koko is a dual Electric/Fairy-Type, and while it’s not as fast as Pokémon like Zeraora, its similarly impressive Speed stat (130) and Attack (115) rank it among Gen VII’s most potent offensive species. Its Special Attack is also respectable (95), meaning it can use non-physical Electric- and Fairy-Type attacks like Thunderbolt and Dazzling Gleam to great effect. Meanwhile, Tapu Koko can use non-damaging moves like Light Screen and Reflect to neutralize opponents’ power and Roost to survive drawn-out battles.

7

Tapu Lele Can Combat Aggressive Opponents

Type: Psychic/Fairy

Tapu Lele is another one of the four guardian deities in the Pokémon Sun and Moon‘s Alolan region. Tapu Lele is among the strongest of the four with its high Special Attack (135) and Special Defense (115). Its Psychic and Fairy typing gives it an impressive range of moves such as Moonblast and Shadow Ball. Tapu Lele comes equipped with the Psychic Surge ability, which is only otherwise found as a Hidden Ability for Indeedee in the following generation.

Psychic Surge has a similar effect to the Psychic Terrain move, which creates a variety of effects including strengthening Psychic-type moves and forming an immunity from high-priority moves such as Sucker Punch. This in conjunction with Pokémon like Mewtwo can be a deadly combination, especially for highly offensive opponents who rely on high-priority moves.

6

Tapu Fini’s Typing Gives It Plenty of Resistance

Type: Water/Fairy

Tapu Fini is another guardian deity in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Much like the other guardian deities, Tapu Fini comes with the Fairy-typing, giving it an instant advantage over popular Dragon-types. Its Water secondary typing gives Tapu Fini a wide defensive range full of resistance to typings like Fire, Ice, Dark, Bug, Water, and Fighting.

These resistances mesh well with Tapu Fini’s high Defense (115) and Special Defense (130) stats. Tapu Fini can also learn the move Defog, a Flying-type move that clears away hazards such as Toxic Spikes. On top of that, Tapu Fini also has access to the Dark-type move Taunt, which can be annoying for any opposing defensive Pokémon. Tapu Fini’s Ability, Misty Surge, creates a Misty Terrain which debilitates Dragon-type moves and prevents Pokémon afflicted by status ailments from being affected by that ailment.

Type: Steel

The Mythical Melmetal is strangely positioned in the games, as it first appeared in the mobile title Pokémon GO rather than in the debut Gen VII games Sun and Moon. The Steel creature formally debuted in the mainline games in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! for the Nintendo Switch. Melmetal is an absolute defensive stalwart thanks to its 135 HP and 143 Defense.

The Pokémon is undoubtedly vulnerable to Special Attacks but against foes that must make physical contact with their moves, it can soak up plenty of damage before fainting. Steel-Type Pokémon are already well-known for being defensively sound. Still, Melmetal can more than return the favor on offense with its 143 Attack. Double Iron Bash, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, and more can cover its bases in attack.

4

Marshadow Is Far More Powerful Than It Looks

Type: Ghost/Fighting

The Mythical Pokémon Marshadow was the final species in the Alolan Pokédex in Sun and Moon before Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon introduced the new Ultra Beast species and Zeraora. Both in creature design and typing, the Gloomdweller was one of the most interesting Pokémon in Gen VII’s Mythical class.

Marshadow is a dual Ghost/Fighting-Type and was the only Pokémon with that typing until Annihilape from Gen IX’s Scarlet and Violet. Marshadow uses both typings to complement its fast and physically offensive build. With 125 in Attack and Speed, Marshadow can break down defensive walls and sweep up opposing teams struggling to hang on. The Mythical’s signature move Spectral Thief and the all-out offensive Close Combat threaten any Pokémon without sufficient Physical Defense.

3

Lunala Focuses On Special Attack

Type: Psychic/Ghost

As is tradition with the mainline Pokémon games, Sun and Moon introduced a pair of powerful mascot Legendary species. The latter featured Lunala as the endgame of its main story, and it’s certainly worthy of being considered a powerhouse of Gen VII. Like other flagship Legendary Pokémon, including Diamond and Pearl‘s Dialga and Palkia, Lunala focuses on Special Attack while its counterpart takes the opposite approach.

As a dual Psychic/Ghost-Type with few Type weaknesses and an immensely powerful Special Attack (137), Lunala can tear through many of this generation’s most stubborn defenses. Even stronger when boosted by Calm Mind (raises Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense +1), it can make quick work of opponents with attacks like Moongeist Beam, Moonblast, Psyshock, and even the Fighting-Type move Focus Blast.

2

Solgaleo Leans Toward Physical Attack

Type: Psychic/Steel

Pokémon Sun‘s mascot Solgaleo is opposite the moon-inspired Legendary, acting as Lunala’s thematic and gameplay counterpart. These Pokémon have clear strengths in competitive settings, with their respective benefits being situational. Solgaleo shares the Psychic typing with its lunar opposite but is instead a dual Psychic-Steel-Type, which suits its more Physical Attack-focused build.

The Legendary creature’s Physical Attack and Special Attack are reversed (137 and 113, respectively). This allows it to hit for devastating damage with attacks like Sunsteel Strike and Psychic Fangs and moves outside its typing like the Fire-Type Flare Blitz. Thanks to its solid defensive bulk (137 HP and 107 Phys. Defense), Solgaleo can also afford to use powerful multi-turn attacks like Future Sight and Morning Sun to heal itself.

1

Necrozma’s Alternate Forms Make It Famously Strong

Type: Psychic (Base Form), Psychic/Ghost (Dawn Wings), Psychic/Steel (Dusk Mane), Psychic/Dragon (Ultra)

Completing Gen VII’s Light Trio is Necrozma, serving as Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon‘s mascot in its Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings forms, respectively. With four total forms including its base form, the Prism Pokémon is one of the most unique Legendary creatures.

Necrozma is already powerful in its base form, with the pure Psychic-Type having a high Special Attack (127) and solid physically defensive bulk (97 HP, 101 Defense). However, it shines in its alternate forms. Dusk Mane takes on a Solgaleo-inspired form and amplifies its usual strengths (Physical Attack) and Dawn Wings does the same with a Lunala-like twist. Even more formidable is Ultra Necrozma, which turns it into a dual Psychic/Dragon-Type with equally ferocious Attack and Sp. Attack (167) and nearly unparalleled Speed (129).