Legendary Pokémon: Truely godlike or exaggerated by myth?

[Pink Parka Girl]

Legendary Pokémon: Truely godlike or exaggerated by myth?

An interesting question I had...what are your ideas?

Just how "legendary" are legendary pokémon? Do they deserve their god-like reputation? Or has their true nature been buried under generations of myths and stories?

Me, I personally believe the latter. They are powerful creatures, and their power led early humans to see them as gods; but it does not make truely make them so. This ancient awe of these pokemon did not die with the generations, and the myths became firmly entrenched in the cultures of the world.

The ability of mew to learn any ability whatsoever led early man to label it "the father of all pokémon," when all they really are are powerful creatures with a remarkable ability. Groudon and kyogre can somehow locally effect weather; they certainly could have caused flooding/drout in Hoenn, but neither would have put the whole world in turmoil - it reeks of mythic exaggeration (then again, I also picture legendaies as gendered creatures with populations, while those who see them as "one offs" would obviously be more inclined to believe they really are Godlike, and it's not just myth ^_^; ). Other non legendary pokemon also seem to be burdened by myth - such as kadabra and ninetales, both of whom the pokedex claims had their beginnings as transformed humans.

So what's your opinion? Mostly myth, based on some grains of truth, or is every word how it really was? I'm interested to hear what others think.

-Pink Parka Girl ;025;

 

[vzilberman]

I think the myth thing makes them like ancient legenderies. while others are god like ex: Kyrogre. Ancient ex: Mew, or Registeel

 

[Evanji Axu]

The trios are not gods, but they provide a tough fight for, say, a well-trained Salamence.

The uber-special legends (i.e. the ones on the boxes) are godlike.

The Latis are somewhere in between.

They are gendered species, but the population would never top a hundred.

 

[BasiltheDragon]

They're pathetic excuses whose abilities have been exaggerated by myth.

 

[AJ Flibble]

None are godlike, just some (the ubers) are very powerful with special abilities. It's mostly myth exaggeration for the rest though.

 

[JohtoBlaziken]

In the games, if they were too strong, it wouldn't be fair. That's why they HAVE to tone them down, to make them acceptable for teams and such. In the anime, they really are what they seem: God-like beings with incredible power.

In the manga, it is somewhat in-between the other two.

I seem to believe a cross between the former and the latter.

But, meh. That's just my opinion put short and sweet.

 

[◘Ins0mnIac◘]

Ones that there are meant to be one of and that have some power over nature deserve it. I'd say Mew, Lugia, Ho-oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Celebi, and Rayquaza(maybe I'm not sure about him) do. The others are just mystical I guess...

 

[Kikas123]

Hmmmmm, yea those legendarys may not have that power now, but think how long they may have aged?

 

[Ridi]

They share the same weaknesses as other Pokemon with the same types, and they CAN be captured, so nah, I wouldn't say they're all that amazing.

 

[Praetor]

my profile says it all

 

[Trooper Guy]

Mostly exaggurated by myth. Like they're unbeatable or something, lol. Some like Mew, Lugia, Ho-oh, Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza are exaggurated to be Godlike, however.

 

[chosen_one386]

They're exaggerated. I imagine the ones like Mew and Rayquaza, though, were looked on as gods.

 

[Pikachu1125]

As generations expand, they get more exaggerated .

 

[Mewtwo_God]

What I don't understand is why all 'rare' pokemon have to be 'strong' (or at least thought to be strong). Most 'legendary' pokemon are strong in the anime but pushovers in the game.
I don't consider Mewtwo a legend since few have heard of it (in the Pokemon world anyways). Mewtwo does have godlike powers though.

 

[chrombot]

I remember there being only 5-6 legendary pokemon. 3 birds, mew, mewtwo and ho-oh. Mewtwo, not really being legendary, but he was the 'final' pokemon in red/blue and ho-oh was this really mysterious pokemon from the anime. The only pokemon that seemed powerful was mewtwo, who was lv 70, the highest wild pokemon. Nothing really exaggerated there. Now there's how many legendaries? After this many games we have 21? That's so many, it kinda lessens which are legendary and all powerful, when there's so many that are.

I like stories of them being poweful, they're for fun. I dont think the stories are exagerated, it's just, like people said, if the pokemon were all powerful the game would be imbalanced.

It's fun to hear stuff like, celebi can time travel, but it's ok that it cant do it for you in the game, It's good story filler.

 

[BasiltheDragon]

I think that Mewtwo is strong, as its powers were genectically modified, but with the other Legends, it's a fair game.

 

[kyogre king]

I say god like and myth

 

[Kikas123]

I would have to say some of them (Kyorge, Rayaquaza, Groudon, Regis) Are exaggerated by thier Myths, but Mewtwo's Creation stopry (Cinnabar Lab, Scattered) Is totally Plausable, so I beleive him, Ho-Oh and the legendary Beasts/Birds are described on check.

 

[Rayn]

I think they have great power, but not god-like. I think Groudon and Kyroge have immense power, but not enough to do the things that were said in the story of the old man on Mt. Pyre could do. More like the things that TM and TA wanted them to do. Expand the land or expand the sea.

 

[Aquarelle]

I don't think legendaries are godlike creatures. In the anime, they portray them as these over powered super beings that very few people have seen and have all these amazing abilities. While in the games, the legendaries (usually) just stay in a cavern somewhere, waiting for somebody to come battle them or something.

People in the anime/games often tell myths that legends have godlike powers and are capable of destroying everything and the like. But they really aren't THAT powerful, as in the games, legendaries can be easily countered by any old regular pokemon. Though Rayquaza/Groudon/Kyogre, ect. can be really destructive, and cause a lot of havoc, like seen in the anime/manga and emerald version.

But overall, legendaries do posses strong powers, but they aren't nearly as strong as some believe.