The Kalos region of Generation VI brought players to a new region, a new type, and a new dimension! Generation VI was the first mainline set of games that was completely 3D, a cool if not controversial decision at the time. It also has the fewest number of new Pokémon (outside of the Legends Arceus). According to recent leaks, this was mostly due to fan response to Generation V’s massive Pokédex and the exclusion of older Pokémon until the post game.

Although, it can be seen as a blessing since it freed up designers to create the big draw of the generation: Mega Evolutions. These powered up Pokémon got new designs, multiple stat buffs, and gave some overlooked Pokémon a chance to shine. These mostly consisted of Generation I and Generation III Pokémon.

The smaller Pokédex also means that players got a break from the onslaught of Legendary Pokémon. Unlike Generation IV and V, Gen VI has only six Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. This allowed the Legendaries to take center stage and have more of a fleshed-out storyline.

Aura Trio

The Aura Trio consists of Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde. Xerneas and Yveltal are the box mascots for X/Y. Boy, is there some lore here. They are the only three Kalos Legendary Pokémon.  The Aura Trio represents life, death, and the balance between the two. Xerneas represents life and Yveltal represents destruction. The duo will both essentially explode with power at the end of their lives, causing untold chaos. Zygarde, comprised of cells that are dispersed around the land, monitors the balance between the creatures. Once one of them dies, it goes to wherever it happens and unleashes its wrath.

There are respective legends for each of these Pokémon which we will get into more in their sections. However, the implications of these creatures are massive. They are literal gods of life and death. Seeing them in a weakened state would be horrifying to witness. You would know something big is about to go down at the cost of tons of life.

Xerneas | #716

Lore

Xerneas is said to bring life and energy to all it touches. It can revitalize forests when its horns are rainbow-colored. About 3,000 years ago, Xerneas appeared in Kalos during a great war. Using its powers, it rescued all the wounded Pokémon. 800 years before the events of the game, it appeared again, releasing all of its energy, creating a giant forest where it stood. Deep in that same forest, a dried-up tree waits for 1,000 years to become Xerneas again. 

In the games, Lysandre, the leader of Team Flare, captures the dried-up version of Xerneas in order to power the Ultimate Weapon. He wants to use it to destroy all life and rebirth the world in his image. During the war 3,000, a man named AZ used the Ultimate Weapon to gain immortality. Lysandre wants to do the same. Professor Sycamore believes that Xerneas, along with the power of the Ultimate Weapon from 3,000 years ago, powered up certain evolution stones to create Mega Stones.

Location

Xerneas can be found in Pokémon X by progressing through the story. It will be in Team Flare’s Secret HQ. The player is forced to battle it in order to shut down the Ultimate Weapon.

Stats

Xerneas is the first Fairy type legendary Pokémon. Fairy type was added in Generation VI so it makes sense that one of the box mascots would be Fairy. Its type gives it complete immunity to Dragon type moves, something that was sorely missing from the games.

As far as stats go, it’s a great attacker with a 131 base stat in Attack and Special Attack. It has a beefy HP sat (126) and pretty solid Defensive stats. Its ability, Fairy Aura, boosts Fairy type attacks by 33%, giving it even more powerful attacks. Overall, it’s a great addition to your team.

Yveltal | #717

Lore

Yveltal has the power to suck the life force out of any living being around it by spreading its wings. It does this in order to give itself power. Much like Xerneas, after it uses its powers, it falls into a deep sleep for 1,000 years, slumbering in a cocoon far into the mountains.

In the games, it serves the same purpose as Xerneas, essentially becoming a battery for the Ultimate Weapon. Once caught, Lysandre uses its leftover power to destroy the Team Flare HQ. Professor Sycamore believes that Yveltal’s power can also transform evolution stones into Mega Stones.

Location

Yveltal can be found in Pokémon Y by progressing through the story. It will be in Team Flare’s Secret HQ. The player is forced to battle it in order to shut down the Ultimate Weapon.

Stats

Yveltal, a Dark/Flying type, has the same stat spread as Xerneas. It has high Attack, Special Attack, and Defense stats. The dual type gives it immunity to Ground and Psychic attacks, but a weakness to Fairy types. Life conquering death yet again. Its ability, Dark Aura, powers up Dark type attacks by 33%.

Zygarde | #718

Lore

Zygarde is responsible for keeping the balance between life and death within Kalos. It can reverse the effects of both Xerneas and Yveltal’s abilities. Zygarde played a really important role in the anime, but, in the games, it was shoved to the side. There isn’t a whole lot of lore on Zygarde outside of secondary material.

Zygarde has three different formes which represent a different level of completeness. Zygarde is made up of cells which, when combined with a Zygarde Core, makes a more complete version. The 10% Forme looks like a dog, the 50% Forme looks like a snake, and the Complete Forme looks like a Gundam. Each Forme has different specialties: 10% is best at close range, Complete is the most powerful, and 50% is the Forme that is most common as it is the one that monitors Kalos’ ecosystem. The Pokédex has some really choice things to say about Zygarde such as “It wipes out all those who oppose it, showing not a shred of mercy” and “it uses force to neutralize those who harm the ecosystem”.

Interestingly, only the 50% Forme was introduced in X/Y, with the 10% and Complete Formes shown in Sun and Moon. This is most likely due to X/Y not having a third installment like in previous generations. The lack of a third game also contributes a lot to the small amount of lore we got.

Location

In both Kalos games, players can find a 50% Forme in Terminus Cave after defeating the Elite Four and entering the Hall of Fame. In Sun and Moon, a 50% or 10% Forme can be caught on the Alola Route 16 Aether Base. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, a 50% Forme is in Resolution Cave.

Stats

Zygarde’s stats change depending on the Forme. The 50% Forme, being the most common, has the most balanced stats. It’s a strong physical attacker and good defender. It’s also very fast, which is something that carries through all the Formes. The 10% Forme is the weakest, but also the fastest with a 115 Speed. The Complete Forme, as expected, is the bulkiest. It has a staggering 216 HP stat and a very high 121 Defense. 

Zygarde has a unique typing with Dragon/Ground. This gives it a quadruple weakness against Ice, but immunity to Electric. Its ability is Aura Break, fitting in with the Aura theme. This reverses the effect of any of the Aura abilities. 

Kalos Mythical Pokémon

Kalos is unique because it has just as many Mythical Pokémon as Legendary. These three, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion, don’t have anything linking them together, but they each had their own movie diving into their lore. We are only focusing on game lore here, so those won’t be covered.

Diancie | #719

Lore

Diancie is a relative of the Pokémon Carbink. It’s said that a Carbink became Diancie after mutating in some way. It became a shiny pink rock that creates diamonds to defend itself. It’s also the only Mythical Pokémon that can Mega Evolve.

Location

Diancie is a Mythical. Most Mythical Pokémon are only available through time specific event distributions.

Stats

With Diancie being a literal rock, it makes sense that it would be very defensive. Both the Defense and Special Defense are 150, with Attack and Special Attack being 100. However when Diancie Mega Evolves, those stats increase by 10 and switch places.

Diancie is a Rock/Fairy type with Clear Body as its ability. That means it cancels out any stat changes. Honestly, it's a good addition to any team.

Hoopa | #720

Lore

Hoopa’s super cool. It has the ability to warp space using its rings. It’s a little imp that can summon all sorts of Pokémon and items through these rings. It has two forms: Confined (Left) and Unbound (Right). The Unbound form is considered its true form and is substantially stronger than Confined Hoopa. It’s so powerful that legend says it summoned a castle from across the country in order to steal its treasures. 

Location

Another Mythical, another event distribution only Pokémon. 

Stats

Hoopa Confined is a Psychic/Ghost type, making it one of the few Pokémon that has a quadruple weakness to its own type. Its Confined form is a Special Attacker and Defender (150, 130). When it is Hoopa Unbound, its Attack stat rockets to 160 from 110 and the Special Attack stat grows to 170. It also changes its type to Psychic/Dark.

Volcanion | #721

Lore

Volcanion is a bit of a nothingburger of a Mythical. The only notable lore piece on this Pokémon is that it may have been responsible for destroying the mountain range where Kalos resides. All Volcanion have an organ that can superheat any water, turning it into steam. It's also very antisocial, living in the mountains without any humans.

Location

Like most Mythicals, it’s only available through event distributions. 

Stats

Volcanion has a fun typing of Fire/Water. Given its lore, it makes sense. Other than that, Volcanion has a very high Special Attack at 130 and a high Attack at 110. Despite the high offensive stats, it’s very slow (70) and quite weak to Special attacks (Special Defense stat is 90).