Here’s my answer: my favorite legendary is Giratina (specifically Origin Forme.)
While I didn’t have Platinum as a kid, commercials with the Distortion World fascinated me. Finally playing the game in 2025 was amazing. Giratina is easily in my top 6 Pokémon in general.
I also particuarly love the shiny. I think it’s one of the best in the entire series, it’s so drastically different and makes the design really pop.
And my Mythical answer is obvious for those who know me.
The Darkrai movie altered my brain chemistry forever. I think about it quite often! I also think both these Pokémon are really early 2000s Hot Topic in a cool way and that’s why I love them so much.
I’d love to hear your answers!
Just in case somebody who comes across this post and doesn’t know the difference between a Legendary and a Mythical… a Legendary can be obtained normally through game upon its introduction and Mythical was a timed event upon its introduction. Think Mewtwo vs. Mew in RBY.
My favorite vintage legendary Pokémon is probably Rayquaza. Emerald is just a goated game. Giratina might be close second. Favorite modern is ogerpon. Say what you want about SV, the teal mask was a near masterpiece narratively.
For a long time my favorite mythicals were darkrai and shaymin, but I’ve settled on jirachi instead
This has changed, as of 2016 (ORAS). In the delta episode deoxys can be obtained without a time bound event. Then in Sword and Shield you can obtain mythical Pokémon such as keldeo in the DLC. Pecharunt is also a mythical Pokémon found in the SV DLC. And Z-A is packed with both, and you can obtain mythicals in bdsp and PLA with certain save datas. In general legendary Pokémon tend to be “Pokémon known to the universe but rarely seen and having some story contribution” and mythicals tend to be more along the lines of an actual myth (at least until PLZA).
Thank you for the clarification for anyone who wants more info! I tried to point towards this but I should have specified “upon its initial introduction” to the series.
For Legendaries, I’m not sure. I like Mewtwo, Suicune, Lugia, Latios, and Rayquaza.
I would probably go with Suicune.
I wish we had Dark Legendary Pokemon in the earlier generations. The first appearance of a Dark Legendary is Yvetal in Gen 6 which is crazy since Dark was a thing since gen 2.
If we got a Dark Legendary in Gen 2, I feel like that would probably been my favorite.
