The most difficult battle in the Pokemon series

Key Takeaways

• Tough Pokémon battles increase the level of difficulty as they require specific strategies rather than simple type matchups.
• Endgame opponents like AI Turo and Ultra Necrozma boast high levels and powerful moves.
• Powerful trainers like Kieran, Cynthia, and Volo provide challenging battles with unique tactics.

Many enemies you will face pokemon The game is easy and you can beat it just by taking advantage of type matchups. But the same can't be said for many tough fights that require you to use specific strategies or use useful combat and healing items.

These enemies are certainly no joke, and if you take a wrong turn during the fight or use an unfavorable type, they can take down your entire team in seconds. This list ranks them all based on the problems they give you when you try to defeat them.

10 AI Touro

This section contains endgame spoilers for Pokémon Violet, so read at your own discretion if you have not yet cleared Area Zero in the game.

The battle against AI Turo is one of the most difficult. Because he brings out paradoxical Pokémon that you may not be prepared to deal with when you first encounter them. Even if you use a Ground-type Pokémon to exploit his weakness, his team has an iron bundle that can stop it.

As this is an endgame battle, the Pokémon AI Turo owns will be overleveled, so it will be much more difficult to defeat him if he is below level 70. His Pokémon use different types of moves, so he can be very effective against many Pokémon on his team.

9 stephen

• Game: Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire

After facing off against the tough Elite Four, Champion Steven will be waiting for you at the end, but by the time you face him, your team will be exhausted from the battle they have to go through before facing him. Even if you have a steel-type team, you cannot win just by exploiting his weaknesses.

Most of his team consists of Steel-type Pokémon, but he also possesses Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon. It makes the battle even more cumbersome because the Fire-type Pokémon you used to beat his Steel-types are vulnerable to his Armaldo, Cradily, and Aggron.

8 red

• Games: Pokemon HeartGold, Pokemon SoulSilver

The version of him confronting Red at Mount Silver at the end of the game is made more difficult in the remake, considering he can take advantage of new moves introduced in future generations.

His Snorlax is especially difficult to deal with, as Normal-type Pokémon don't have many weaknesses. You also know the Rest move, which can restore you to full health. Even if you manage to defeat Snorlax, be prepared for the wild card Pikachu, whose powerful electric attacks can quickly wipe out your team.

7 Kieran

• Game: Pokemon Scarlet, Pokemon Violet

Kieran may seem like a weak character in the Teal Mask DLC, but in the Indigo Disk DLC he becomes obsessed with completely destroying his opponents. He is known to be ruthless, and if you like the difficulty element of Pokemon games, a battle with him will not disappoint.

Kieran's weakness is clearly Ogerpon, the Pokémon he obsesses over throughout the main plot. Using Ogerpon will prepare you for battle, but it's not that cool since Kieran owns Incineroar, which is strong against Grass and Rock types. Using Ogerpon with the Rock Mask will quickly defeat him, making the rest of the fight much more difficult.

6 Ultra Necrozma

• Game: Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

The battle with Ultra Necrozma is the most difficult legendary battle in any Pokémon game. It caught many players off guard with its tremendous attack power. The Legendary Pokémon repeatedly uses Photon Geyser, which can quickly take down your team, especially if it's low level.

Ultra Necrozma's ability, Neuroforce, will instantly defeat any Pokémon as this highly effective move becomes more powerful. That's not all you have to deal with. He has a powerful Z move saved called “Light that Burns the Sky” so you can use it threateningly when you think you've got him.

5 moon

• Games: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, Pokemon Shining Pearl

Conquering the Pokemon League by dethroning Cynthia is one of the most difficult tasks in the fourth generation of games. She uses teams that utilize different types, so you can build your own team and fight her very hard.

Some of the Pokémon she uses, such as Spiritomb, have very few weaknesses that can be exploited, making her very difficult to beat if you don't have a Fairy-type Pokémon on your team. Her Garchomp is a tough nut to crack, and fighting her becomes even more difficult in the remake as she can now use Sword Dance, which greatly increases her attack.

4 Ghetsis

• Games: Pokemon Black and Pokemon White

There are a few fights that force you to stock up on some healing items like revive and max potions to tackle the fight you're stuck in. Ghetsis is one of the most fearsome team leaders in the game, and his team is just as menacing. Especially considering that Ghetsis has one of the most powerful pseudo-legendaries, Hydreigon.

Hydreigon has excellent speed statistics. This means that if there's a Dragon-type Pokémon on the field, it can take them down faster than it can attack them. The fact that you can't effectively use any legendary items you catch in this battle definitely increases the difficulty.

3 Giovanni

• Games: Pokemon Ultra Sun, Pokemon Ultra Moon

Mewtwo has always been a difficult Pokémon to beat as a Psychic type that knows the Recover move, but this battle with Giovanni is especially difficult because it giant-evolves during the battle. This makes Mewtwo much stronger than before and can kill weaker Pokémon in one hit.

Various healing items are readily available throughout this battle, and you may need to revive your Pokémon repeatedly until Mewtwo's recovery PP runs out. Not only do you need the right type of matchup, but your Pokemon must have good stats to stand up to Giovanni.

2 whitney

• Games: Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver

Whitney's Miltank left a huge mark on all Pokémon fans who played the past two generations of games. This was probably the most difficult challenge many young trainers had to face when they had no experience with the series. Additionally, Normal-type Pokémon are greatly underrated and many are completely unprepared.

Her milk drink move was a difficult threat to deal with as it could completely ruin your battle strategy. When you are about to finish it, Miltank will use it to restore health. If that's not enough, she uses Stomp to make the Pokémon flinch, preventing it from attacking when she wants it most.

1 Bolo

This entry contains endgame spoilers for Pokemon Legends Arceus, so do not read if you have not completed the second part of the game.

• Game: Pokemon Legends Arceus

Volo appears as a friendly neighborhood guy until he shows his true powers near the end of the game. His team of six Pokemon is quite powerful, but even after beating it he will summon the wild card Giratina, which you will need to beat twice with your current team and health.

Giratina will also dodge your attacks frequently, which will give Volo more opportunities to attack you. This is even more disappointing considering that Giratina has powerful moves that can one-shot Pokémon.