Draco: I'm not super-proud to say it, but I am going to ignore Meltan and Melmetal until such time as they are acquirable by those who play the core series games like civilized Trainers. That being said, the official poll that Nintendo ran in February classifies the Hex Nut Pokémon as Galarian (or at least Galarian-adjacent), so when that time comes, they'll end up on this chapter.

NEW EDIT: I now have a Melmetal. I don't want to talk about it. END NEW EDIT

So, Max Raid Battles that aren't centered on proper Gigantamax Pokémon provide a 100% catch rate. Yes, including Eternatus. I got all the Mystery Gift code Balls in early January, and I was sorely tempted to catch Eternatus in a Beast Ball. The only reason I decided against it?
There's another Ultra Beast hiding in the wings. The anime proclaimed as much. It might show up on the Isle of Armor or the Crown Tundra. And on the infinitesimal chance that the only other available Beast Balls are the singles that Ball Guy gives you when you clear a championship tournament, I want to be able to roll my dice on making the catch rather than on getting the Balls to catch with.

How paranoid can I get?

NEW EDIT: So, there ARE Ultra Beasts in the Crown Tundra, but no new ones. And the old ones all appear in Max Raid Battles during the Dynamax Adventure, so the Ball you use has no effect on whether you catch the frickers. And you CAN buy Beast Balls when the Ultra Beasts show up. Guess my paranoia was unfounded. END NEW EDIT

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo.


(note for non-Galarians: the Dynamax phenomenon encountered in Galar amounts to a Trainer utilizing the natural energy of select locations known as power spots to render their Pokémon about the size of a medieval fortress for a brief period of time. This is exactly as terrifying as it sounds. The Gigantamax phenomenon is a rarer version that causes bodily changes in the affected Pokémon, similar to Mega Evolution but less potent | ~Cynthia)
(Was that last part really necessary? Key Stones aren't exactly a pack for a pd. | ~Gloria)

Meltan | The Liquid Imp

Gloria: Meltan are adorable little cads that live in colonies deep underground. Their liquid form gives them much fluidity; the hex nuts they wear are not physically part of them, and can be removed without harm. They feed off of metal deposits in the earth, and can consume other metals as well; as such they are not particularly fond of more common meals, like curry. Despite their rarity, they are not particularly powerful in and of themselves, but they may well pose a threat in numbers - and all the moreso as they grow.

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Melmetal | The Liquid Titan

Gloria: In much the same way as several Magnemite or Beldum can conjoin to evolve into a Magneton or Metang, many Liquid Imps combine together to evolve into a Liquid Titan. Melmetal are much more fixed in their body; unlike their preevolved kin, a Melmetal's hex nuts are part of it, and it rarely deviates from its humanoid form. However, it is still a liquid metal, giving it much flexibility; this leads to a potency nigh unseen elsewhere. Furthermore, on rare occasions are Melmetal capable of Gigantamax, the sight of which is one of the most threatening Dynamax transformations ever seen in Galar.

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Zacian | The Fairy King's Sword
Zamazenta | The Fighting Master's Shield

Gloria: The heroes of Galarian myth were - despite denials by certain stuck-up individuals and their supporters - a pair of legendary Pokémon brandishing a revered sword and shield. Having fought a great many battles in the past, their bodies are scarred and battered; likewise, the sword and shield are old and rusted after having endured so many eras. Yet when united, both weapons and warriors are revitalized to their former glory. In such state, it is said that Zacian can split oceans with her blade, and Zamazenta crush mountains in his charge; thus it should be no surprise that they are capable of dealing calamitous damage to a Pokémon under Dynamax, making them invaluable allies in dangerous situations involving such Pokémon.

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Eternatus | The Bringer of the Darkest Day

Gloria: In an ancient past, Eternatus descended on Galar within a meteor. During the age of kings, it absorbed power from the region, and the outflow of its power resulted in the Dynamax phenomenon. Pokémon under forced Dynamax are driven berserk, thus forcing the hands of the heroes to end what became known as the Darkest Day. Ever since, Dynamax has been controllable via the use of Wishing Stars - fragments of Eternatus' ancient body. Due to this fracture, it has possessed a more limited form. If a sufficient number of fragments are presented to Eternatus, its can retake its ancient form, in a phenomenon tentatively dubbed 'Eternamax' - however, so doing will once again bring about the Darkest Day, from which nothing good can come.
(Was that emphasis out of terror, or in reprimand of someone? | ~Cynthia)
(Reprimand | ~Gloria)

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Kubfu | The Armor of Warriors

Gloria: Forgive the deceptive euphemism; Kubfu are a species of youthful legendary Pokémon found on the Isle of Armor. Although they seem like eager scrappers to those with whom they are familiar, their scrappitude vanishes rapidly in the presence of strangers, around whom they are quite shy. That said, they will happily fight alongside a Trainer they know they can trust - and it is only in so doing that they will be able to acquire their true potential.

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Urshifu | The Armor of Waters | The Armor of Darkness

Gloria: When a Kubfu trains in one of two sacred locations, it will evolve into the mighty Urshifu. The methods it uses upon evolution depends on the site of its experience; fighting at the sea's edge will lead it to practice in Rapid Strike Style, while fighting upon a dark mountain will teach it to utilize Single Strike Style. Visually, the differences between its two styles are minimal, but mistaking one for the other can easily lead to dire circumstances for its opponent. With some effort, Urshifu can become capable of Gigantamax, whereupon their style is more outwardly apparent - but fighting a legendary Pokémon under Dynamax is such a threat that if you need that to identify its form, you have already blacked out.

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Zarude | The Jungle Beast

Gloria: Zarude are violent. There is no beating around that bush. They will deliberately antagonize people and Pokémon alike in some effort to proclaim themselves superior to those around them, as though there's anything impressive about being a bully. There are the rare few who are willing to be peaceful (at least I hope there's a few, and not a single specimen), but even their pacifism seems like aggression, antagonizing others in order to bait them into a wholesome cause like averting disaster or saving a life.

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Calyrex | The King of Bountiful Harvests

Gloria: A figure of many fairy tales in the Crown Tundra, Calyrex is a Pokémon with a great deal of influence over the crops of the land. A wave of its hands can sprout vegetables or ripen fruit, and when it rides across the tundra, it leaves radiant blooms in its wake. That said, it places a great deal of value upon its reputation in the minds of the people living around it. Calyrex was once actively worshipped by the inhabitants of the tundra; when its powers waned in time with the diminishing faith of the people, it assumed the latter was responsible for the former. Even at its weakest, it has strength enough to command the body of a human if it needs communicate with others around it.
(That... kind of sounds like callous disregard for the humans, don't you think? | ~Red)
(Sounds like something the Mind Master would do at its worst | ~Serena)
(It doesn't hurt the humans any; it just feels like falling asleep | ~Gloria)

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Spectrier | The Grim Steed
Glastrier | The Chilling Steed

Gloria: Although they are the once- and again-loyal steeds of the King of Bountiful Harvests, Spectrier and Glastrier have their own reputations as bullies of the Crown Tundra. Fond of the carrots that grow so eagerly and so diversely in the land, they will trample all in their path, eat their fill, and then depart without a care for the devastation they have left in their wake. Spectrier, in its ghostly dark coat, is fondest of Shaderoot Carrots that grow near old cemeteries; Glastrier, in its chilly white coat, prefers Iceroot Carrots that sprout from beneath the snow. Both of them will refuse to face an enemy they know can fight back, but will eagerly charge through those who cannot resist their devastation. Amusingly enough, as there is only one king to ride at a time, the stories of the Crown Tundra argue with one another on the nature of the king's steed; it seems to have never occurred to the storytellers that Calyrex might have multiple steeds to ride as suits his current needs.

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Regieleki | The Golem of Volts
Regidrago | The Golem of Drakes

Gloria: If the Colossus is the rightful king among legendary golems, these two are the unworthy princes who war over the empty throne in its absence. Like Regigigas, they can only be found by one accompanied by the three Hoennian golems; in this case, their presence opens the temple in which they lay. Said temple is in many ways similar to ruins in which Regirock, Regice, and Registeel may be found, with a generic statue opposite the entrance and panels upon the floor; however, it is split down the middle, each contrasting against the other, and the panels are a composite of the two Galarian golems' faces. If activated in the semblance of one, the same adventurer is incapable of finding the other.
(You sure those are golems? Because they look like Jumpluff had Eggs with Ultra Beasts | ~May)
(That's not how Pokémon Eggs work | ~Gold)
(Fat lot of good that's gonna do to help the mental images! | ~Nate)

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Articuno | The Graceful Warbird
Zapdos | The Brutal Warbird
Moltres | The Cruel Warbird

Gloria: Astonishingly enough, the legendary birds of Kanto are among those Pokémon to have regional forms - and like so many such Pokémon, the variant species are possessed of a wildly different temperament than the contemporary sort. Whereas the Kantonian varieties find themselves peaceful nests, only going on the offensive if affronted, the Galarian varieties roam the region as a whole, and make to bring harm to those they face. Articuno moves gracefully, and strikes with immense psychic power; Zapdos is brutal, making up for its grounded nature with the most ferocious of martial strikes; Moltres acts cruelly, mocking foes with the darkness of its feathers.
(The Galarian Warbirds are a far cry from the legendary birds of Kanto, don't you think? | ~Dawn)
(Yes, I find the Kantonian names rather unfitting | ~Gloria)
(I mean, Alolan Vulpix are called 'Keokeo' by old folks, so... | ~Selene)


Draco: I'm gonna mark the story as Complete once this chapter is up, but I'll be back to update it as new legendary Pokémon show up where I can get access to them.

NEW EDIT Okay, updated Galarian ramble.

Generation VIII: Sword version happened, by Gloria's hands. But for a plethora of stupid reasons, I'm Cheri-picking from each version. She fought Bea in Stow-on-Side (because the claws in Allister's version of the pinball machine irk me), she fought Melony in Circhester (likewise for Gordie's stone-based pitfalls in the dowsing floor), and Milo had an Appletun in the Champion Cup (because the big bulky guy should have the big bulky dragon). Gloria took the Rusty Sword on the Darkest Day, which means she allied with Zacian when those pompheads caused trouble after she was Champion.

On the Isle of Armor, Avery was the opponent at the Master Dojo, because I picked both of the females for major-league Gym Leaders so let's not keep that up. Plus his attitude towards the trials is much more "trying to be clever, it's not cheating if you don't get caught"; Klara composes herself more along the lines of "I don't want to do the hard work, so give it to me on a platter". And he raised a Slowking instead of a Slowbro. I do not pretend to understand why they separated the Galarian Slowpoke evolutions, but it was questionable and led to the Psychic-type specialist using a Poison-type-focused Pokémon. Mustard raises the other style of Urshifu, so... Gloria trained her Kubfu in the Tower of Darkness.

In the Crown Tundra, Calyrex grew Iceroot Carrots first, because with the King's powers being weak, they couldn't just get one of each. But after his Majesty had his majesty back, they grew some Shaderoot Carrots just so he could pick the steed for the deed. And... let's say Gloria encountered Regieleki in the Split-Decision Ruins, because that means she doesn't have the type advantage courtesy of Glastrier. I'd like to imagine that she decided to get Peonia involved after the misunderstanding post-Adventour, so Peonia encountered Regidrago (and maybe fought Spectrier).

Zarude appeared on the Isle of Armor one day after Gloria had wrapped up on the Crown Tundra. Or rather, a pack of Zarude appeared on the Isle of Armor one day, and started terrorizing the students of the Master Dojo. A rogue pacifist (now doesn't that look like a weird phrase) approached Gloria and Master Mustard when she came out for some training, and led her on what seemed to be a wild Ducklett chase that led to her saving her mates in study. They ended up fighting off the aggressive ones, chasing them off and making clear they were NOT welcome to run rampant on the Isle.
Yes, that is my imagined in-game Mythical Pokémon event scenario. I'm thinking the peaceful one would offer to join your party after fighting off the other five or so. And if you refused, it would hang out in a grove in the Forest of Focus and be willing to join whenever you had the time.
Also, I'll be honest with you, I don't see why Dada is a separate form of Zarude in the games. There's no stat differences, no different learnset. It feels needless.

Whew, that was a bit more information than I intended. END NEW EDIT