Lugia vs Yveltal: Which Pokemon will rule the skies?

Lugia vs Yveltal isn't a Pokemon matchup that fans see all that often, and it has only played out so far within the game series. But what if the potential showdown between these two Legendary creatures included not only their in-game capabilities but also their lore in the franchise? Would the results remain the same as they would during an ordinary battle within the confines of the games?

There's a lot to love about both Lugia and Yveltal in the Pokemon series. Sure, the former has been around for quite some time compared to the latter, but they both have their fans and detractors.

There's no doubt that either of these powerful Legendaries could win countless battles, but which would win in a hypothetical battle where in-game metrics and world lore were both considered?

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer

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Examining a hypothetical Lugia vs Yveltal matchup via Pokemon game stats and series canon

Lugia analysis

Lugia is considered a guardian of the seas in the Johto region (Image via The Pokemon Company)

A Flying/Psychic-type Legendary species, Lugia was introduced in Generation II as a guardian of the seas in Johto. It has base stat totals of 106 HP, 90 Attack, 130 Defense, 90 Special Attack, 154 Special Defense, and 110 Speed, making it a bit more defensive in nature than some early Legendary creatures. It has five weaknesses, including Rock-, Ghost-, Electric-, Ice-, and Dark-type moves.

According to the Pokedex, Lugia sleeps within deep sea trenches and has wingbeats powerful enough to blow apart buildings and cause storms that last up to 40 days. It has been shown in the second Pokemon movie to be capable of calming the storms it causes. It also shows dominion over the three Legendary Birds of Kanto, settling their disputes when they turn on each other.

Lugia is highly intelligent and can learn a vast plethora of different moves of various types. However, due to the devastation its presence often causes, this Legendary is incredibly secluded and spends most of its time deep under the sea, avoiding people and other Pokemon as it slumbers.

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Yveltal analysis

Yveltal is known as a terror throughout the Kalos region (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Making its debut in the Kalos region of Pokemon X/Y, Yveltal is a Dark/Flying-type Legendary with a base stat spread of 126 HP, 131 Attack, 95 Defense, 131 Special Attack, 98 Special Defense, and 99 Speed. It also possesses weaknesses to Rock-, Electric-, Ice-, and Fairy-type moves. It has a propensity for offense based on this information but can be EV-trained to suit a player's needs.

According to the Pokedex, Yveltal possesses the power to drain the life energy from Pokemon and other living beings, including humans. Toward the end of its life cycle, Yveltal absorbs the life force of every living thing around it and transforms into a cocoon to rest. It is considered a balance keeper between life and death alongside its counterpart, Xerneas.

Yveltal attacks with its signature Oblivion Wing move in Pokemon X and Y (Image via Game Freak)

Based on the anime, Yveltal can completely drain an entity's life and turn it into stone, which can only be cured by Xerneas' life-giving energy. Alongside its counterpart, Yveltal's aura can also transform evolution stones into Mega Stones, and its power has been used to energize weapons, including the Ultimate Weapon in the XY games.

It's unclear as to whether Yveltal drains life energy instinctively or intentionally, but the Legendary creature is known to appear during times of conflict to collect energy to build its power.

Yveltal may have been present during the war in the Kalos region, but its life-draining transformation into a cocoon took place 2,200 years after the conflict, making it feared across the region regardless.

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Verdict - Yveltal wins

Yveltal may simply be too deadly for Lugia to overcome (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Although the battle could go differently based on various factors, Yveltal beats Lugia in the elemental type matchup, has a higher natural damage output, and lore that devastates entire regions. Its Dark-type attacks can deal severe damage to Lugia, and its life-draining powers may make the fight uneven from the very start.

Lugia's best hope in this hypothetical Pokemon battle would likely require a blitz of attacks to defeat Yveltal quickly, as the latter's ability to drain vitality would ultimately sap the former of its power otherwise. Even with its intelligence and learnable moves that could counter Yveltal, Lugia's battling on borrowed time against Kalos' life-sapping monster of legend.

If trainers were worked into this battle, things might be different, but as two wild Legendaries going toe-to-toe, Yveltal's deadly abilities would likely lead to the guardian of the seas fleeing or falling from the sky as a stone statue.