Pokémon Legends: Arceus features many monsters to battle and catch in its many areas, but Alpha Pokémon are the most dangerous, and the Crimson Mirelands are home to plenty of them. The free-roaming title abandoned the series’ random encounters in tall grass and made every creature visible in the overworld. Alphas are generally easy to spot with red eyes and large sprites, but players shouldn’t approach them without a plan. The Crimson Mirelands is the second area players can access and is home to many powerful Alpha Pokémon throughout Legends: Arceus' marshlands and mountains.
[Warning - Spoilers follow for Pokémon Legends: Arceus.]
Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place in the Hisui region hundreds of years before the Diamond and Pearl games. Players join the Galaxy Expedition Team as a member of their Survey Corps and begin to chart the territory and catalog native species. However, exploration is far more dangerous than it usually is in Pokémon games, with the wildlife regularly attacking humans and knocking them out. The most hazardous specimens are Alpha Pokémon, which are much larger, more powerful, and more aggressive than standard members of their species.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is similar to Monster Hunter: Rise in that its world is separated into several free-roam areas to explore. The lack of a true open-world may be disappointing to some, but Legends: Arceus’ design helps players understand the habitats and behaviors of many monsters throughout the world. The separation between the different zones also helps players categorize different species throughout various locations and focus their efforts on specific Pokémon. Some of the most common targets players may pursue are Alpha Pokémon, and the Crimson Mirelands is home to some mighty creatures.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands - Alpha Tangrowth
One of the first Alpha Pokémon players encounter in Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands is likely the Alpha Tangrowth. Unlike many other Alphas, Tangrowth is a Grass-type with no dual typing to counteract its many weaknesses. Located on the west shore of the Scarlet Bog, the Tangrowth’s aggro range can force players to face the many hostile monsters lurking in the muddy waters. With an impressive level of 45, Tangrowth can defeat several Alpha Pokémon from Legends: Arceus' Obsidian Fieldlands and poses an extreme threat to underprepared players. Additionally, Tangrowth prefers Crunchy Salt as food and has a 20% chance of dropping a Mastery Seed when caught.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands - Alpha Hippowdon
Another early appearance in the Crimson Mirelands is the Alpha Hippowdon, which appears in the middle of the Scarlet Bog surrounded by Hippopotas in smaller pools. Thanks to its isolated position, it’s unlikely for players to mistakenly encounter this creature while hunting other Pokémon. Unfortunately, the mud in the bog slows players’ movement speed down and prevents a quick escape if they come too close. Wyrdeer can navigate through the area to avoid an unwanted confrontation. At level 58, the Alpha Hippowdon provides players with a significantly dangerous encounter but can be soothed with Hearty Grains and Plump Beans.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands - Alpha Torterra
Sinnoh’s original starters appear in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with players able to catch Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig as wild Pokémon instead of exclusive starters. Their primary forms and evolutions can spawn throughout various territories, but the Crimson Mirelands’ Alpha Torterra is the first Alpha variant of the starters’ final evolution that players can encounter. Legends: Arceus’ Alpha Torterra can be found northwest of the Holm of Trials area, patrolling the lakeshores directly east of the Alpha Toxicroak. At level 65, Torterra is a mighty foe that can only be accessed with Basculegion (or by using Wyrdeer to glitch across the river), meaning players should wait until they’re Rank 6 or above with the Survey Corps. Players can engage this powerful Torterra in battle or use Dazzling Honey, Plump Beans, or Hearty Grain to calm its rage and increase its likelihood of being captured in a ball without confrontation.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands - Alpha Ursaring
The Noble Pokémon in Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands is the Ursaluna guarded by the Pearl Clan’s Warden Calaba, but there are also 2 Alpha Usaring in the area. The first is located in Ursa’s Ring alongside a horde of Teddiursa and a hidden Wisp for players to absorb into the Keystone. The Ursa’s Ring Alpha spawns at level 41 and is one of the weakest Alphas in the region, but the Ursaring located in the Golden Lowlands is level 55 and much more challenging to defeat. Thankfully, players can calm both creatures using Hearty Grains or Plump Beans. Additionally, their base catch rate is 60, much higher than many other Alphas in the Crimson Mirelands.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands - Alpha Toxicroak
The Alpha Toxicroak appears in the Holm of Trials territory south of the Grapejaw Bog. Like many Alpha Pokémon in Legends: Arceus' Crimson Mirelands, Toxicroak is somewhat isolated from other wild Pokémon located around it. The area is locked behind the river, meaning players will need access to Basculegion or use Wyrdeer to glitch across. The Alpha Toxicroak spawns at level 47 and packs a punch with Poison-type and Fighting-type moves. As a dual-typed Pokémon with few weaknesses, Alpha Toxicroak has a significant advantage over its fellow monsters in the area. However, its strength in battle is counteracted with a catch rate of 75 that’s increased by eating Dazzling Honey, Plump Beans, and Heart Grains. Toxicroak is joined by over a dozen other static Alpha Pokémon in the territory:
- Carnivine
- Hippowdon
- Honchkrow
- Lickilicky
- Onix
- Pachirishu
- Raichu
- Rhyhorn
- Roserade
- Skuntank
- Sliggoo (Hisuian)
- Tangrowth
- Torterra
- Toxicroak
- Usaring
- Vespiquen
- Whiscash
- Yanmega
There are many research tasks in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that require players to catch Alpha variants of certain species, meaning players must likely seek out most (if not all) of the listed Alpha Pokémon. Their elevated levels, EVs, and unique movesets make them dangerous for unprepared Trainers, but there are many ways to capture them. Battling or catching Alpha Pokémon unawares with a well-placed Poké Ball throw are both viable methods of catching these powerful monsters and bolstering the player’s strength. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.