Best Paldea Pokemon 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.

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By  Janine Engelbrecht

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 Pokemon Scarlet & Violet team.

Updated January 17, 2025 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 later this year, 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.

35 Hydrapple

Grass/Dragon-type

• Strongest Move: Power Whip
• Best Ability: Regenerator
• Best Stat: 120 Special Attack
• Location: Evolve from Dipplin when leveled up while known as Dragon Cheer
• Weaknesses: Flying (2x), Poison (2x), Bug (2x), Ice (4x), Dragon (2x), Fairy (2x)

A surprise for Pokemon fans when the Teal Mask DLC came around for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet was a new evolution for Applin, Dipplin. An even bigger surprise was that in the second DLC, The Indigo Disk, there was a further evolution in Hydrapple.

This is a great Pokemon with fantastic HP, Defense, and Special Attack, and it can learn a wide variety of moves from different types, which is helpful for all the double battles in the Blueberry Academy. As a Special Attacker, its strongest move is Power Whip, a Physical move, so gamers may want to opt for Energy Ball or teach it Leaf Storm by TM.

Hydrapple's Base Stats:

34 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 use 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 can be evolved straight away 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:

33 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.

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By  Christian Buckley

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:

32 Iron Thorns

Rock/Electric-type

• Strongest Move: Giga Impact
• Best Ability: Quark Drive
• Best Stat: 134 Attack
• Location: Area Zero (Violet only)
• Weaknesses: Fighting (2x), Ground (4x), Water (2x), Grass (2x)

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet brought out a brand-new category of Pokemon, Paradox Pokemon. In Violet, these Paradoxes come in the form of Future Pokemon. Iron Thorns is a particularly strong one, no surprise as it is based on the Pseduo-Legendary Pokemon Tyranitar.

The ability Quark Drive works beautifully here as it boosts the Pokemon's highest stat when an Electric Terrain is present. With Iron Thorns being an Electric-type, this match was made in heaven. Combining this with a powerful moveset and insane Attack, this 'mon is definitely one of the strongest Paldea Pokemon.

Iron Thorns' Base Stats:

31 Iron Jugulis

Dark/Flying-type

• Strongest Move: Hyper Beam
• Best Ability: Quark Drive
• Best Stat: 122 Special Attack
• Location: Area Zero (Violet only)
• Weaknesses: Rock (2x), Electric (2x), Ice (2x), Fairy (2x)

Another pseudo that was given the Paradox treatment was Iron Jugulis, who, of course, is a Future version of the Generation 5 Pokemon Hydreigon. This Pokemon is one to use in Pokemon Violet, with an impressive Special Attack stat, which uses moves like Hyper Beam, Hurricane, and Dark Pulse to full effect.

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It is also pretty quick and takes hits too, with decent Defense and HP. This Pokemon is great all around and also has a fantastic design to make it even more desirable for players on the Nintendo Switch.

Iron Jugulis' Base Stats:

30 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, the key stats being 130 Defense and 125 Sp. At the moment, 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:

29 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.

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By  Drew Swanson

Meowscarada isn't just for show; it's a hard-hitting and quick fighter who excels in its Speed and Attack stats. The Grass/Dark-type evolution is rather lacking regarding the rest of its stats, including Special Defense, Special Attack, Defense, and HP. Also, 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:

28 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 powerful 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:

27 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.

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By  Julián Jorge Fernández Loyarte

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:

26 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: