Legendary Pokemon Pokemon Sun: Why Solgaleo and the Tapus Still Matter Years Later

Honestly, the jump to the Alola region back in 2016 felt like a fever dream for long-time fans. No gyms. No HMs. Just a tropical vibe and a massive glowing lion that basically ate the sun. If you’re looking back at legendary pokemon pokemon sun, you're probably trying to remember how the heck a tiny, useless "nebula" in a bag turned into a literal god.

It was a massive shift.

Before Gen 7, legendaries were usually just... there. You'd find them in a cave, throw fifty Ultra Balls, and call it a day. But Solgaleo and its counterpart Lunala changed the DNA of the franchise by making the legendary a core part of the story from the first ten minutes. It wasn't just a trophy. It was Nebby. And Nebby wouldn't stay in the damn bag.

The Solgaleo Problem (And Why It’s Actually Cool)

Solgaleo is a weird one. People see a giant white lion representing the sun and think, "Okay, Fire type." Wrong. It’s Psychic/Steel. This tripped up so many players in 2016. The logic, according to Junichi Masuda and the team at Game Freak, was rooted in alchemy. In old alchemical texts, the "lion devouring the sun" is a metaphor for the purification of metals—specifically gold.

That’s why it’s a Steel type.

It’s immune to poison, it resists almost everything, and its signature move, Sunsteel Strike, ignores the opponent's ability. Imagine hitting a Mimikyu and completely bypassing its Disguise. It felt like cheating. But in a good way. Solgaleo’s base stat total of 680 puts it in the big leagues with Mewtwo and Rayquaza, but it’s the distribution that makes it a tank. It doesn't just hit hard; it survives.

The Tapus: The Real Kings of the Competitive Meta

While Solgaleo was the face of the box, the Guardian Deities—Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini—were the ones actually ruining (or making) everyone’s lives in the VGC (Video Game Championships).

These aren't your typical roamers.

Each one represents an island: Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni. What made them legendary wasn't just their lore as protectors of Alola, but their "Surge" abilities. The moment they stepped onto the field, they changed the terrain. Tapu Koko dropped Electric Terrain, boosting electric moves and preventing sleep. Tapu Lele dropped Psychic Terrain, which literally blocked priority moves like Quick Attack or Sucker Punch.

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It changed how we played the game.

If you were a competitive player during the legendary pokemon pokemon sun era, you had to have a plan for the Tapus. You couldn't just ignore them. They were fast, they were aggressive, and they had specific Z-Moves that could cut an opponent's HP by 75% in a single turn. Nature’s Madness followed by Guardian of Alola was a terrifying combo that basically guaranteed a knockout if you timed it right.

The Cosmog Evolution Chain: A First for the Series

We have to talk about Cosmog. Before Pokemon Sun, legendary Pokemon didn't evolve. They were static entities. Then came this little purple cloud that literally couldn't do any damage. It only knew Splash and Teleport.

It was pathetic.

But it was a narrative masterstroke. Watching Lillie care for this creature, watching it evolve into Cosmoem (which, fun fact, is one of the heaviest Pokemon in existence despite being the size of a basketball), and finally seeing it become Solgaleo made the legendary feel earned. You weren't just catching a beast; you were finishing a journey with a friend.

Necrozma and the "Third Legendary" Mystery

If you played the base version of Pokemon Sun, Necrozma was kind of a post-game afterthought. You’d find it lurking in Ten Carat Hill after the main story ended. It looked like a pile of sentient black glass.

At the time, we didn't know much.

It wasn't until Ultra Sun that we realized Necrozma was actually a light-eating dragon from another dimension that could fuse with Solgaleo. But in the original Sun version, Necrozma stood as this eerie, crystalline enigma. It was a Pure Psychic type, which felt a bit underwhelming compared to the dual-typing of the box art legends, but its high Special Attack made it a sleeper hit in battles.

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Marshadow and the Mythical Tier

You couldn't just find Marshadow. It’s a Mythical, meaning it was event-only. But it’s easily one of the coolest designs from that generation. A Fighting/Ghost type that hides in shadows? Yes, please.

Its signature move, Spectral Thief, is genuinely broken. It steals the opponent's stat boosts before dealing damage. If your opponent spent five turns setting up Dragon Dances, Marshadow just takes all that power and hits them with it. It’s the ultimate "uno reverse" card of the Pokemon world.

Why People Still Search for Alolan Legendaries

There’s a specific nostalgia for the 3DS era. Alola was the first time Pokemon felt like it was trying to be a modern RPG with a heavy emphasis on world-building. The legendaries weren't just monsters; they were part of the Alolan religion. People worshipped the Tapus. They feared the Ultra Beasts (which are technically legendaries in their own right, depending on who you ask at a tournament).

The Ultra Beasts—creatures like Nihilego, Pheromosa, and Buzzwole—weren't from our world. They had high, skewed stats and the Beast Boost ability. Every time they knocked out one of your Pokemon, their highest stat went up. It created this snowball effect where if you didn't stop them early, you were done.

Hidden Mechanics You Probably Missed

Most players know about the main evolution, but did you know that the version of the game you own determines the "alternate" world?

In Pokemon Sun, the clock is tied to your 3DS system time. However, there’s a rift at the Altar of the Sunne that allows you to travel to a world where the time is inverted. It doesn't change much for the gameplay, but it allows you to obtain a second Cosmog.

1. Go to the Altar of the Sunne with Solgaleo in your party.
2. Enter the portal during the day (in-game).
3. Travel to the Lake of the Moone.
4. Watch the cutscene where Solgaleo and Lunala (yes, both appear) create a new Cosmog for you.

This was a huge deal for collectors because it meant you could actually trade for the other version's legendary without giving up your original starter legendary.

The Reality of Catching Them

Catching legendary pokemon pokemon sun isn't as hard as the older games, but it still requires some prep. Solgaleo has a relatively high catch rate because the game wants you to have it for the final battle. The Tapus, however? They are stubborn.

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Tapu Fini, in particular, is a nightmare. It uses Aqua Ring to heal itself every turn, meaning if you don't have a way to shut that down, you'll be there for an hour.

Pro tip: Use a Smeargle with False Swipe and Soak. Or just use the Master Ball on the one you find most annoying. Honestly, no one will judge you for using the Master Ball on Tapu Koko after it wipes your team for the fifth time.

Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough

If you’re dusting off your 3DS or starting a new save, here is how you should handle the legendary hunt.

First, don't rush the encounter with Solgaleo. It’s a guaranteed catch in terms of story progression, but you want to make sure you have the right Nature. Syncronize is your best friend here. If you have a Pokemon with an Adamant nature and the Synchronize ability in the first slot of your party, there’s a 50% chance Solgaleo will also be Adamant. This makes a huge difference in how hard it hits.

Second, save your Master Ball. Do not use it on Solgaleo. You’ll want it for the Tapus or a potential Shiny hunt in the Ultra Wormholes (if you're playing the Ultra versions).

Third, pay attention to the Type: Null you receive from Gladion. While it’s technically a "Sub-Legendary," its evolution, Silvally, can change types based on the memory disk it holds. It’s basically a budget Arceus and incredibly versatile for the post-game Battle Tree.

Lastly, make sure you actually explore the ruins. Each island has a ruin dedicated to its deity. You can't catch the Tapus until after you become the Champion, but once you do, they are waiting for you. They don't roam. They stay put.

Alola's legends changed the way we look at the lore of the Pokemon world. They moved away from "forces of nature" and toward "characters with agency." Whether you love Solgaleo for its design or hate Tapu Lele for its dominance in the meta, there's no denying that the legendary pokemon pokemon sun roster is one of the most impactful in the series' thirty-year history.

Go get that second Cosmog. It’s worth the trip through the portal.

Next Steps for Players:

• Check your PC boxes: Many players forget they can get a second Cosmog at the Lake of the Moone/Sunne after the credits roll.
• Farm the Battle Tree: Use Solgaleo’s Steel typing to wall the many Fairy types you'll encounter in the post-game challenges.
• Sync your Natures: Always use a Synchronize Pokemon (like Abra or Espeon) when initiating a legendary encounter to ensure the best competitive stats.
• Collect the Z-Crystals: Ensure you’ve visited all four ruins to unlock the specific Z-Moves for the Guardian Deities, as these are essential for maximizing their power.