legend Pokémon are so rare that their existence is questioned, but Ash Ketchum caught the first large one. After 26 years of the hugely successful franchise, Ash has caught his first Mythical Pokémon, the rarest Pokémon out there. That’s why it shocked the crowd in the Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon Ultra Legends episode “Final Rivals!” when Ash revealed his first warrior was Melmetal.
For casual fans wondering if Melmetal is a Legendary Pokémon, the answer is no—it’s actually much rarer and there’s a clear difference between Legendary and Legendary Pokémon. Ash has had several encounters with Legendary Pokémon throughout the series, but has never caught one, despite forming close relationships with a few in the wild. Melmetal is something of a surprise to Ash; he had previously captured its lower form, Meltan, but did not expect that Meltan could evolve into something greater. Fans of Ash’s past adventures who are probably wondering what a Mythical Pokémon is and why Ash’s Melmetal is causing such a stir in the fan community can read on, as here it is. Need to know about Ash Ketchum’s first Mythical Pokémon.
Mythical Pokémon is even rarer than Legendary Pokémon
Basically, Legendary Pokémon are rare to catch, but they often have a lot of screen time and interaction with Ash, while Mythic is much more rare, adding to the mystery surrounding them with their minimal appearance. One of the most famous legendary Pokémon is Mewtwo, which first appeared in the 1996 game Pokémon Red and Blue. Since then, many species of Legendary Pokémon have hit the screen and there are many reasons why Ash never did. Now catch Legendary Pokémon. Some are too dangerous to train, while others prefer freedom to capture.
Interestingly, Ash didn’t bother to catch this mythical Pokémon. He had caught Meltan, who on the eve of the Alola League tournament had sent a signal to his teammate Meltan. They all perform a dance and chant, and when they merge, Meltan evolves into Melmetal. Meltan is the only mythical Pokémon that evolves and Ash can use him in tournament battle. Thankfully, Meltan’s personality doesn’t change too much as it evolves; Melmetal is less timid than before but remains loyal to her friends, including Ash and Rowlet. Ash still possesses Melmetal, however, he leaves it in the care of Professor Kukui in Alola.
Mythical Pokémon has been added in black and white
There is a lot of confusion surrounding Legendary Pokémon: where do they come from, what are they capable of, and how are they different from Legendary Pokémon. This is especially true for older and more casual Pokémon fans, which are filled with colorful, nostalgic franchises. The category of mythical Pokémon first appeared in the 2010 game Pokémon Black and White as a means to describe a class of naturally occurring “secret” Pokémon. Pokémon such as the “Ancestors of all Pokémon”, Mew, formerly considered Legendary, have been redefined as this Mythic class to emphasize their rarity. In the game, Mythical Pokémon are not available to catch and are distributed almost exclusively through occasional special events, making them highly coveted by collectors. For Ash, coming across an animal was an incredible blessing, and far more fortunate to have caught and evolved it.
The category of Mythical Pokémon has evolved over time and currently includes 21 species of Pokémon. Although they have become easier to find over the years, they are still among the hardest to find. Melmetal is still the only thing that has the ability to evolve, making it the perfect choice for Ash. Although Ash never caught a Legend, his ownership of Melmetal, coupled with his long-awaited World Champion win, still places him in the highest level of trainer seen in Pokémon cartoon.