Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Strongest Paldea Pokemon, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet introduces powerful new Pokemon like Pawmot, Quaquaval, and Archaludon with unique abilities and stats.
• Mythical, Legendary, and Paradox Pokemon like Chien-Pao and Walking Wake are significantly stronger with special abilities and high base stats.
• Pokemon like Meowscarada, Clodsire, and Fezandipiti showcase diverse typings, unique designs, and strong stats for battles in Scarlet & Violet.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have introduced a slew of new Pokemon for trainers to discover, battle, catch, and add to their teams. Unlike previous generations, many of the new Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have become instantly beloved among the fanbase. With these new, lovable creatures comes a variety of mighty Generation 9 Pokemon.

Naturally, the Mythical, Legendary, and Paradox Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet are much stronger than any regular Pokemon. These creatures include the four members of the Treasures Of Ruin: Chien-Pao, Chi-Yu, Ting-Lu, and Wo-Chien, as well as Miraidon and Koraidon. But there are also creatures outside these Mythical, Legendary, and Paradox Pokemon that can be extremely powerful assets for any team in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

Updated September 22, 2024 by Ben Painter: Pokemon fans worldwide await the release of the next entry into the franchise, Pokemon Legends: Z-A. But with that game not being brought to the Nintendo Switch until 2025, it may be time for fans to jump back into Pokemon Scarlet & Violet and explore the region of Paldea once more.

There are 120 Pokemon to capture and use in battle that were first introduced in Generation 9, including some strong entries that may go down as some of the strongest in the franchise altogether. This update adds five new Pokemon that can be considered the strongest Paldea Pokemon.

30 Pawmot

Electric/Fighting-type

• Strongest Move: Close Combat or Double Shock
• Best Ability: Iron Fist
• Best Stat: 115 Attack
• Location: Evolve from Pawmo
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Psychic (2x), Fairy (2x)

The latest Pikachu-clone in the franchise and for a long time, it is very usable in battle, being one of the best Electric types to use in the game. Complete with a Fighting secondary typing, it can make use of the powerful 120 base power Close Combat and Double Shock to do serious damage with its high attack.

It is easy to obtain early. Its first form, Pawmi, is found easily at the start of the game. It evolves at level 18 and then straight away it can be evolved once it walks 1000 steps outside its Pokeball, a cheat code for having a fully evolved Pokemon in the early game. Its stats aren’t too great in other areas, so it can’t receive that high of a ranking.

Pawmot’s Base Stats:

29 Quaquaval

Water/Fighting-type

• Strongest Move: Close Combat, Wave Crash, or Mega Kick
• Best Ability: Moxie
• Best Stat: 120 Attack
• Location: Evolve from Quaxwell
• Weaknesses: Flying (2x), Grass (2x), Electric (2x), Psychic (2x), Fairy (2x)

Out of the latest starting Pokemon in the franchise, Quaquaval is the weakest one, largely in part due to its five weaknesses in the game. It does make up for it with its 120 Attack stat. It can hit hard with powerful STAB (Same, Type, Attack Bonus) physical moves such as Close Combat and Wave Crash.

The flamboyant duck has been divisive among fans for its design, but in battle, it is one of the strongest of Generation 9. The final form of the Starter Pokemon is always a solid addition to a team. This Water option more than carries its way up until the Elite Four, Champion, and beyond.

Quaquaval’s Base Stats:

28 Archaludon

Steel/Dragon-type

• Strongest Move: Electro Shot
• Best Ability: Stalwart
• Best Stat: 130 Defense
• Location: Evolve from Duraludon with a Metal Alloy
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Ground (2x)

The pre-evolved form of Archaludon, Duraludon, was originally introduced in Pokemon Sword & Shield in Generation 8. He was also given a Gigantamax form in that game, so fans seemingly thought that it was with the Steel/Dragon-type.

However, in the DLC of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, The Indigo Disk, Archaludon was announced, which has evolved from Duraludon when exposed to a Metal Alloy. The easiest way for gamers to acquire this is to find it in Chargestone Cave in the Polar Biome. With a base stat total of 600, with the key stats being 130 Defense and 125 Sp. Atk, this ‘mon can pack serious damage with its signature move, Electro Shot. Dealing 130 damage but also raising its already high special attack.

Archaludon’s Base Stats:

27 Meowscarada

Grass/Dark-type

• Strongest Move: Leaf Storm
• Best Ability: Protean
• Best Stat: 123 Speed
• Location: Evolve from Floragato
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Flying (2x), Poison (2x), Bug (4x), Fire (2x), Ice (2x), Fairy (2x)

To the dismay of many fans, the adorable Sprigatito evolved into the bipedal Meowscarada. Although the fanbase wanted to see this grass starter stay quadrupedal throughout its evolutionary line, it’s hard to say that Meowscarada isn’t a cool-looking and mysterious Pokemon.

Meowscarada isn’t just for show; it’s a hard-hitting and quick fighter that excels in both its Speed and Attack stats. The Grass/Dark-type evolution is rather lacking when it comes to the rest of its stats, including Special Defense, Special Attack, Defense, and HP. Not only that, but Meowscarada has the most weaknesses of the fully evolved starters, being weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, Fighting, Poison, Fairy, and Bug-type Pokemon.

Meowscarada’s Base Stats:

26 Wo-Chien

Dark-Grass-type

• Strongest Move: Leaf Storm
• Best Ability: Tablets of Ruin
• Best Stat: 135 Sp. Def
• Location: South Province: Grasswither Shrine (Only one)
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Flying (2x), Poison (2x), Bug (4x), Fire (2x), Ice (2x), Fairy (2x)

As one of the members of the Treasures of Ruin, Wo-Chien is one of the Paldean Legendary Pokemon. It can be caught toward the end of the game once gamers have found and removed all eight stakes in the South Province, and then the Ruinous Pokemon can be battled.

Once gamers have made this Pokemon their own, they have a solid ‘mon to use in the game, with high all-around stats but an emphasis on its Defense. However, the only downside to this Pokemon is it has seven weaknesses, including a 4x weakness to Bug. It does have some really strong STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves to hit back with, and thanks to its high Defense, it should be able to take some hits.

Wo-Chien’s Base Stats:

25 Ting-Lu

Dark/Ground-type

• Strongest Move: Thrash
• Best Ability: Vessel of Ruin
• Best Stat: 155 HP
• Location: North Province: Groundblight Shrine (Only one)
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Bug (2x), Water (2x), Grass (2x), Ice (2x), Fairy (2x)

As a member of the Treasures of Ruin, Ting-Lu is a Legendary Pokemon for Generation 9 and a strong one at that, with a base stat total of 570. Its stats are impressive, but what it excels in is its high HP and Defense. It will take a lot to rock this Pokemon in battle, and as a bonus, it has no 4x weaknesses.

Its Special Defense isn’t anything to write home about, but this is improved with its signature ability, Vessel of Ruin, which lowers the Special Attack of all Pokemon except itself. Once the trainer has located all eight stakes of the North Province, they can battle and catch Ting-Lu and add it to their party.

Ting-Lu’s Base Stats:

24 Clodsire

Poison/Ground-type

• Strongest Move: Megahorn
• Best Ability: Water Absorb
• Best Stat: 130 HP
• Location: Evolve from Paldean Wooper, South Province: Area Five, Area Six, East Province: Area Three, West Province: Area Three, North Province: Area One, Glaseado Mountain
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Water (2x), Psychic (2x), Ice (2x)

Along with Tauros, Wooper was the only Pokemon to receive a regional variant in Paldea and, following the trend set in Generation 8, Paldean Wooper evolved into the brand-new Pokemon, Clodsire. An awesome ‘mon to use in the game who excels at being a wall, with high HP and Special Defense.

It can take a lot of hits, complete with resisting Fighting, Poison, Rock, Bug, and Fairy types, and also being immune to Electric moves. Offensively, it is not great, but with 75 Attack, it is not too bad and will still do awesome damage with physical STAB moves such as Poison Jab or Earthquake. Complete with Amnesia and Toxic, Clodsire has a solid moveset.

Clodsire’s Base Stats:

23 Chien-Pao

Dark/Ice-type

• Strongest Move: Sacred Sword
• Best Ability: Sword of Ruin
• Best Stat: 135 Speed
• Location: West Province: Icerend Shrine (Only one)
• Weaknesses: Fighting (4x), Rock (2x), Bug (2x), Steel (2x), Fire (2x), Fairy (2x)

One of the four Treasures of Ruin, Chien-Pao is the only Pokemon to have the ability Swords of Ruin. The power of its ruinous sword teeth lowers the Defense stats of all Pokemon except itself by 25%, which benefits its high Attack base state.

What this Pokemon lacks in Defense and Special Defense is made up for by its sheer power and speed. Even though Chien-Pao has a low Special Attack stack compared to its Physical Attack, it can still benefit from using the unique move “Ruination,” which cuts the opponent’s remaining HP in half. This Dark/Ice-type is certainly one of the strongest Paldea Pokemon.

Chien-Pao’s Base Stats:

22 Skeledirge

Fire/Ghost-type

• Strongest Move: Overheat
• Best Ability: Unaware
• Best Stat: 110 Special Attack
• Location: Evolve from Crocalor
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Rock (2x), Ghost (2x), Water (2x), Dark (2x)

When Crocalor reaches level 36, it evolves into the prehistoric-looking Fire/Ghost-type Skeledirge. Although Skeledirge is the slowest of the three starters, with below-average Speed, it’s a powerful and sturdy asset to any team. The fire gator is a Ghost-type, making it immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves.

Skeledirge excels in its Special Attack stat but also has high Defense and HP. It may be slow, but it can certainly withstand an enemy’s attack and hit them back with a special Fire-type move.

Skeledirge’s Base Stats:

21 Tinkaton

Fairy/Steel-type

• Strongest Move: Gigaton Hammer
• Best Ability: Pickpocket
• Best Stat: 104 Special Defense
• Location: Evolve from Tinkatuff
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Fire (2x)

With no question about it, the combination of Fairy and Steel is the best defensive type in the game. Only weak to two types, it is completely immune to Poison and Dragon and resists nine types. There is not much that can do serious damage to Tinkaton, especially with its 104 Special Defense.

The small sprite with a giant hammer also has well-rounded stats across the board with no real weak areas. It has no standouts offensively, so it loses marks there. It does make up for this with its Gigaton Hammer. This deals 160 damage and it has 100% accuracy, although it cannot be used twice in a row.

Tinkaton’s Base Stats:

20 Annihilape

Fighting/Ghost-typ

• Strongest Move: Close Combat
• Best Ability: Defiant
• Best Stat: 115 Attack
• Location: Evolve from Primeape
• Weaknesses: Flying (2x), Ghost (2x), Psychic (2x), Fairy (2x)

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet introduced many new evolutions for pre-existing Pokemon, including Primeape. Annihilape, the new evolution for Primeape, is an all-around destructive and intense-looking Pokemon. This creature looks like it’s on the prowl, ready to destroy all things that stand in its way.

Annihilape is like many other Fighting-types, excelling in Attack and HP. It falls short with its Special Defense, Speed, Defense, and Special Attack stats, but its high Attack stat and primary use of Physical Attacks make its low Special Attack not much of a loss. Like other Ghost-types, Annihilape is immune to normal and Fighting-type Pokemon.

Annihilape’s Base Stats:

19 Chi-Yu

Dark/Fire-type

• Strongest Move: Overheat
• Best Ability: Beads of Ruin
• Best Stat: 135 Special Attack
• Location: North Province: Firescourge Shrine (Only one)
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Ground (2x), Rock (2x), Water (2x)

Another member of the Treasures of Ruin, Chi-Yu shines in Special Attack and Special Defense. Despite being vulnerable to Physical Attacks and having low HP, this flaming goldfish can cover its bases by delivering powerful Special Attack moves to get rid of its foes in one hit.

Unlike the other Treasures of Ruin, Chi-Yu benefits the most from their signature move, “Ruination,” as it is boosted further by Chi-Yu’s Special Attack capabilities. That, coupled with its ability, Beads of Ruin, which decreases the Special Defense of all Pokemon by 25%, makes Chi-Yu a Pokemon not to be messed with.

Chi-Yu’s Base Stats:

18 Kingambit

Steel/Dark-type

• Strongest Move: Close Combat
• Best Ability: Defiant
• Best Stat: 135 Attack
• Location: Evolve Bisharp, Timeless Woods
• Weaknesses: Fighting (4x), Ground (2x), Fire (2x)

Kingambit is another evolution to a pre-existing Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. The Generation V Pokemon, Bisharp, now evolves into Kingambit after equipping the Leader’s Crest and defeating three Bisharp also holding the evolutionary item. Aside from looking insanely sleek in its design, Kingambit is a powerful asset for trainers to add to their teams later on in the game.

Kingambit is relatively balanced in its stats, excelling in Attack, Defense, and HP but falling short with Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense. It’s the general stat distribution for any Steel-type, so this is to be expected. However, Kingambit only has three weaknesses, unlike many others who have upwards of four or five, being weak to Fire, Ground, and Fighting-type Pokemon. Since it’s a Steel/Dark-type, it’s immune to Poison and Psychic-type moves.

Kingambit’s Base Stats:

17 Armarouge

Fire/Psychic-type

• Strongest Move: Armor Cannon
• Best Ability: Flash Fire
• Best Stat: 135 Special Attack
• Location: Evolve Charcadet, South Province: Area Two, Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★) (Scarlet only)
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Rock (2x), Ghost (2x), Water (2x), Dark (2x)

Along with another entry on this list, Armarouge is an evolved form of Charcadet when exposed to the Auspicious Armor, which is exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet. This version of the evolution is a Fire/Psychic-type, and it is a Special Attacker. This comes in handy as its signature move, Armor Cannon, is a 120-base power special move. It causes devastation.

Its move pool is fairly varied, capable of learning Fire, Psychic, Fighting, Steel, Ground, Grass, and Normal-type attacks. When it comes to battling, its only real weak point is its Physical Attack, which doesn’t pose too many problems as most of the moves it can learn are Special.

Armarouge’s Base Stats:

16 Ceruledge

Fire/Ghost-type

• Strongest Move: Solar Blade
• Best Ability: Flash Fire
• Best Stat: 125 Attack
• Location: Evolve from Charcadet, Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Rock (2x), Ghost (2x), Water (2x), Dark (2x)

Exclusive to Pokemon Violet, Ceruledge evolves from Charcadet when exposed to the Malicious Armor. The Fire/Ghost Pokemon is a solid Physical Attacker, unlike its counterpart in Pokemon Scarlet Armarouge, which has a high Special Attack stat. Ceruledge is a bit faster, too, lending to its sleeker design.

While Ceruledge is vulnerable to Physical Attack, it has a high Special Defense to protect from incoming damage. Its signature move, “Bitter Blade,” is boosted by its high Attack stat. Coupled with its Speed, it can make for a perfect STAB move – especially if players have a Ceruledge with the Sharpness ability, as this move will increase its power by 50%. All this power makes Ceruledge one of the best Pokemon in Violet for players to have on their team.

Ceruledge Base Stats:

15 Gholdengo

Steel/Ghost-type

• Strongest Move: Make It Rain
• Best Ability: Good As Gold
• Best Stat: 133 Special Attack
• Location: Evolve from Gimmighoul
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Ghost (2x), Fire (2x), Dark (2x)

Pokemon fans had many expectations for the franchise’s 1000th Pokemon, but no one expected that it would be as goofy-looking as Gholdengo. This “surfer dude” Pokemon evolves from Gimmighoul by an unconventional evolution method. To evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo, players must obtain 999 coins in the “Let’s Go” Mode.

Gholdengo may look a bit silly, but it’s a beast when it comes to battling. This Ghost/Steel-type is the strongest non-legendary Ghost-type introduced in Generation IX. It has beefy Defense and Special Defense stats, as well as a threateningly high Special Attack stat. Gholdengo can certainly stand its ground in a battle against other Pokemon.

Gholdengo’s Base Stats:

14 Walking Wake

Water/Dragon-type

• Strongest Move: Outrage
• Best Ability: Protosynthesis
• Best Stat: 125 Special Attack
• Location: Poke Portal News
• Weaknesses: Dragon (2x), Fairy (2x)

A prehistoric version of Suicune, Walking Wake is a powerful Water/Dragon-type Pokemon that players were introduced to through a special Tera Raid. With only weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy, Walking Wake has a high Special Attack and Speed stat, which are utilized best with moves like Draco Meteor and Hydro Steam.

As a Paradox Pokemon from Pokemon Scarlet, Walking Wake’s Protosynthesis ability will boost its highest stat if Harsh Sunlight affects the field. It can also be triggered by the Pokemon holding the Booster Energy item. And while its design doesn’t have any effect on its performance in battle, Walking Wake is certainly one of the best Pokemon in Scarlet.

Walking Wake’s Base Stats:

13 Gouging Fire & Raging Bolt

Fire/Dragon-type & Electric/Dragon-type

• Strongest Move: Raging Fury & Zap Cannon
• Best Ability: Protosythesis
• Best Stat: 121 Defense & 137 Special Attack
• Location: Area Zero (after starting Perrin’s questline in The Indigo Disk; only one)
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Rock (2x), Dragon (2x) & Ground (2x), Ice (2x), Dragon (2x), Fairy (2x)

Unlike their counterpart, Walking Wake, Gouging Fire, and Raging Bolt can be acquired in open gameplay, but that does not mean it is an easy task. Only available in Scarlet, gamers must first add 200 Pokemon into the Blueberry Academy Pokedex and then talk to Perrin at the entrance to the Terrarium to enable the Paradox Legendary Beasts to be caught.

Both ‘mons are great to use in the game, with the Entei clone being the better Physically and the Raikou ancestor being the stronger Special Attacker. With 590 base stat total each, both Pokemon will be handy to use in battle against the strong trainers and Pokemon the DLC has in store.

Gouging Fire & Raging Bolt’s Base Stats:

12 Munkidori

Poison/Psychic-type

• Strongest Move: Sludge Wave
• Best Ability: Toxic Chain
• Best Stat: 130 Special Attack
• Location: Wistful Fields (after completing the main story of The Teal Mask; only one)
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Ghost (2x), Dark (2x)

The first of the Loyal Three, the new Legendary Pokemon introduced in the Teal Mask DLC, Mukidori is a Poison/Psychic Pokemon with only three weaknesses: Ground, Ghost, and Dark. It also resists Fighting, Poison, Grass, and Fairy, meaning it can do some real damage in battle.

With a staggering 130 Special Attack stat, this Pokemon can hit hard with powerful moves such as Gunk Shot and Psychic. Its Toxic Chain ability has a 30% chance to poison an opponent when it uses a move, which is a very high percentage. Munkidori also has a great design, as the black and blue work well together.

Munkidori’s Base Stats:

11 Fezandipiti

Poison/Fairy-type

• Strongest Move: Moonblast
• Best Ability: Toxic Chain
• Best Stat: 125 Special Defense
• Location: Oni Mountain (after completing the main story of The Teal Mask; only one)
• Weaknesses: Ground (2x), Steel (2x), Psychic (2x)

The second member of the Loyal Three is the bird-Pokemon Fezandipiti, which is not actually Flying-type but Poison/Fairy, which is a very solid type combination that is weak to just three types, Ground, Steel, and Psychic. It is immune to the Dragon typing completely and is resistant to Fighting, Bug, Grass, Dark, and Fairy. Very little can hurt the Retainer Pokemon.

Design-wise, Fezandipiti is amazing, with the signature ‘Toxic Chain‘ on its body that each of the Loyal Three possesses. It has a black-and-white design with brown accents, and the colors work for it.

Fezandipiti’s Base Stats: