People still get this wrong. I see it on forums and in Discord chats all the time. Someone brings up the "Legendary Dark Fox," and five people jump in to correct them.
No, Zoroark is not a Legendary Pokemon.
It’s a common mistake. Honestly, it’s an understandable one. Back when Zoroark: Master of Illusions dropped in 2010, the marketing treated this creature like the second coming of Lucario. It had its own movie. It had a "special" encounter method in Pokemon Black and White that felt like a Mythical event. But at the end of the day? It’s just a very cool, very rare Dark-type that happens to hang out with some of the biggest names in the Johto region.
The Crown City Disaster: Why Zoroark Fought the Beasts
If you haven't seen the movie in a decade, your memory is probably a blur of red fur and blue lightning. Basically, the whole plot of Zoroark and the Legendary Pokemon kicks off because of a massive corporate lie.
Grings Kodai—who is basically the worst CEO in the Pokemon world—kidnaps a Zoroark and her baby Zorua. He’s obsessed with the "Time Ripple" left behind by Celebi. To keep the public away from his search, he blackmails Zoroark into terrorizing Crown City.
How? By making her transform into the Legendary Beasts: Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
This is where the confusion starts. Zoroark isn't just "impersonating" them. Her illusions are so powerful they actually fool the city's cameras and the citizens. When people saw "Entei" breathing fire in the streets, they panicked. But these weren't the real deal. They were projections.
Enter the Shiny Guardians
Then the actual guardians showed up.
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In a weird twist, the real Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in this movie are all Shiny. You’ve got the grey-maned Entei and the yellow-caped Suicune charging into the city because they think a monster is trashing their home.
The fight is brutal. It’s a three-on-one. Zoroark is trying to find her kid while dodging legitimate legendary-tier attacks. It’s one of the few times in the anime where we see a non-legendary hold its own against a trio of powerhouses, which is probably why everyone thinks she’s a Legendary herself.
The "Master of Illusions" Identity Crisis
Let’s talk about that "Legendary" label for a second. In the gaming world, "Legendary" has a specific meaning. You can't breed them (usually). They have massive base stats. They sit at the end of the Pokedex.
Zoroark doesn't fit the bill:
- You can breed it. Put a Zoroark and a Ditto in a daycare, and you're getting a Zorua egg.
- Stats are... okay. It’s a "glass cannon." High Special Attack, but if a Geodude sneezes on it, it faints.
- No "Protective" Lore. Unlike Celebi or the Beasts, Zoroark doesn't guard time or nature. It just wants to be left alone in the forest.
So why the confusion? It’s the "Lucario Effect." Both Pokemon were the "face" of their respective generations (Gen 4 and Gen 5) before the games even launched. They both got dedicated movies where they protected the world.
If it walks like a Legendary and talks like a Legendary, most kids in 2010 were going to assume it was one.
What Most People Miss About the Time Ripple
The real MVP of the Zoroark and the Legendary Pokemon story isn't actually the fox. It’s Celebi.
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The whole reason Kodai wanted the Time Ripple was to see the future. He’d done it 20 years prior, and it caused all the plants in the city to die. It’s a dark plot for a kids' movie. When Zoroark finally stops him, she doesn't do it with a big "Hyper Beam" or some world-ending explosion.
She tricks him.
She uses an illusion to make Kodai think he won. He thinks he’s absorbed the power, he starts bragging about his crimes on camera, and then—poof—the illusion drops. He’s standing in the middle of a stadium, and the police are already there.
It’s a win for brains over brawn.
How to Actually Use Zoroark Like a "Legend"
If you’re playing the games—whether it’s the classic Black and White or the newer Scarlet and Violet—Zoroark is still a beast, even if it isn't "Legendary."
The Illusion ability is its best weapon. If you put a Fighting-type in the back of your party, Zoroark comes out looking like it. Your opponent thinks, "Oh, I'll use a Psychic move!" and then they hit your Dark-type Zoroark. It does zero damage.
It’s the ultimate troll move.
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Why the Hisuian Form Changed Everything
We can't talk about Zoroark without mentioning the Hisuian variant from Pokemon Legends: Arceus. This version is a Normal/Ghost type.
Lore-wise, it’s much darker. These are the spirits of Zoroark that were chased out of their lands and died in the cold. They’re fueled by spite.
In terms of the "Legendary" debate, the Hisuian form actually feels more like a myth. It’s rare, it’s spooky, and it has a unique typing that makes it a nightmare to fight.
Final Takeaways on the Crown City Mystery
Zoroark isn't a god. It isn't a guardian of the elements. It’s just a mother fox with really, really good projection skills.
When you see Zoroark and the Legendary Pokemon mentioned, remember that the "Legendary" part refers to the Shiny Beasts she was fighting, not her status in the Pokedex.
If you're looking to catch one yourself, don't wait for a "Mythical" event. Most modern games let you find Zorua in the wild now. Just look for a Pokemon that seems "off"—maybe it's a Sunkern that’s acting a bit too aggressive.
Give it a whack, watch the illusion break, and you've got yourself the Master of Illusions.
Next Steps for Trainers:
Check your current roster in Pokemon HOME to see if you have any of the 2010 event Zoroarks; they often carry special moves like "Snarl" that weren't common back then. If you're playing Scarlet or Violet, head to the Tagtree Thicket to hunt for a wild Zorua—it’ll be disguised as another Pokemon on the overworld.