Content Warning: Spoilers For Pokémon Legends: Arceus Are Discussed In This Article
The popular Pokémon Legends: Arceus has given the nearly 26-year-old video game series a much-needed shakeup. The long-running formula in the games had become stale over the last few mainline games, and part of this revitalization is thanks to some genuinely tough boss fights throughout the story.
Blending action with turn-based combat mechanics helped inject this layer of challenge, as well as the clever addition of the Strong and Agile Style attack buffs. Legends: Arceus does a great job of easing the player into its refreshing new formula, but there are several Noble and Legendary Pokémon that can test players' skills.
Noble Kleavor
Intrusive hand-holding and tutorials that took up much of the playtime was one of the things that aged poorly in the Pokémon games. But while the first hour or so of Legends: Arceus is tutorials, it largely leaves the player to explore at will from then on. Likewise, it doesn't take long for the player to get to their first boss fight.
Kleavor is a new split evolution of Scyther that adds the Rock typing, and while it isn't the hardest overall, this battle can be both a great teacher for players and the easiest way to get caught off guard. Its strength in turn-based combat can hit hard this early on as well.
Noble Lilligant
After Kleavor, the next Noble is a Hisuian Lilligant. The same method of balms applies to all Nobles, but her moveset forces the player to time their dodges more than the last fight. Lilligant will jump and land on the ground sending shock waves the player must dodge, which requires them to roll into the attack at the right time to take advantage of invincibility frames.
As the battle continues, she starts to mix up her combinations but having a good Fire/Ice/Flying//Poison/Psychic-Type will hit Lilligant hard in turn-based combat. Hisuian Typhlosion is one of the best starter Pokémon in Legends and will make a great partner for this battle.
Noble Electrode
By the time players reach Noble Electrode, they'll have to up their game when it comes to environmental awareness. This Noble is also a Hisuian Form, with this version of Electrode being a dual Electric/Grass-Type.
The likes of Poison/Fire/Ice/Bug will deal heavy damage on it, but the issue will be dodging the lightning and energy balls it casts during the real-time action sequences. It demands the player to be constantly moving, especially since Electrode's projectiles don't stop until they connect or the Pokémon stuns itself.
Beni
Before the protagonist makes the climb to reach the summit of Mt. Coronet, the friendly Beni makes a surprise appearance and challenges them to a Pokémon battle. Beni's team consists of a Mismagius, Sneasler, Gardevoir, and Gallade that range from Level 59-60.
They're a high-level team, but a competent Ghost and Psychic-Type Pokémon should be enough to cover all of those bases. The trouble should only come if players don't pay attention to turn orders and let Beni's team use their Styles to gain additional moves too often.
Noble Arcanine
Though he comes before the Electrode boss fight, Noble Arcanine can potentially be more difficult. Like the former, part of the challenge comes from having to know the terrain in the real-time action segments on top of Arcanine's abilities.
The battle takes place in a tight arena surrounded by lava, making players' movements very limited. Arcanine will charge across the field to add to the complications. Late in the fight, he'll also set the center of the stage on fire to limit traversal further. As one of the best Hisuian Form Pokémon in Legends: Arceus, Arcanine can deal heavy damage, so hitting Arcanine fast and hard with Water or Ground Pokémon especially is crucial.
Commander Kamado
After defeating the surprise member of the Galaxy Expedition Team -- Beni -- Commander Kamado himself will challenge the protagonist for another test. This will be the last boss encounter before the main questline's final boss fight with Dialga/Palkia, and Kamado will have a well-rounded team.
His team consists of a Hisuian Braviary, Clefable, Snorlax, and Golem all ranging from Level 61-62. Preparing the necessary items and a team order that exploits Type advantages are important, as this team can easily hit hard from Physical and Special Attack areas.
Noble Avalugg
Perhaps the toughest of the Noble boss fights in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is with the Hisuian Avalugg. This version of Avalugg adds the Rock-Type to its established Ice, and it can make the arena difficult to navigate while trying to find windows for throwing balms.
Avalugg will send continuous balls of ice zigzagging across the field, summon icicles from the ground, fire fast-moving meteors, and an Ice Beam across the stage. All of these attacks force the player to have their timing right, as they'll once again need to know when to dodge inside of these hazards.
Dialga/Palkia
Depending on whether the player chose to side with the Pearl or Diamond Clan, the hero will battle either Dialga or Palkia first when reaching the summit of Mt. Coronet. The former is a Steel/Dragon dual-typing, while the latter is Water/Dragon. Both will appear at a hefty Level 65 and will make for an intense fight that requires preparation.
Players will have to battle them in their Origin Forms at some point, setting off some far-reaching area-of-effect (AoE) attacks in the process. The damage they can deal is daunting, so having Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Fighting-Type moves and/or Pokémon are essential.
Volo
In the postgame, the player will find a surprise boss encounter in a plot twist. One one the most likable character in Pokémon Legends: Arceus -- Volo -- turns out to have been the villain behind the entire narrative.
He was the cause of these space rifts all in an attempt to meet Arceus itself. Players will face an onslaught of Garchomp, Spiritomb, Lucario, Roserade, Togekiss, Arcanine, and Giratina twice (Altered and Origin Forms), all at Level 70. The player won't have time to heal in between these battles.
Arceus
In fitting fashion, should the player complete the Pokédex, a secret final boss will appear at the Temple of Sinnoh for a test of strength. After catching 240 species, Arceus will be available in one of the most grueling boss fights in the franchise.
In addition to its various AoE attacks in the real-time action portion, there are four phases to the Arceus battle. It's a Normal-Type Pokémon, but that's more to its advantage since it has no weaknesses. Should players win this last bout, they will automatically obtain Arceus at Level 75.