When most people think of Flying-types, their minds tend to jump to bird Pokemon like Pidgey, Taillow, and Starly. Thanks to the wonders of secondary typings though, the franchise actually boasts a massive pool of Flying-type Pokemon. Not all of them are available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but there are still some pretty strong candidates for those looking to add a powerful Flying-type to their team.

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A lot of the best Flying-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus can be found fairly on in the game, though a couple of them can only be caught after completing the main story. With this in mind, players may be better off choosing one of the slightly weaker options as a stop-gap and then later upgrading once they've gotten into the post-game content.

5 Crobat

As well as being one of the best Poison-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Crobat is also one of the best Flying-types. The Poison / Flying-type Pokemon is lightning fast, enabling it to get in a few good hits before the opposition has even had a chance to get its bearings. Its 80 Defense and Special Defense are nothing to write home about, but both are far from bad. It can also hit reasonably hard, more so if it has a Jolly nature.

How to Get Crobat in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Players can find an Alpha Crobat in the Wayward Cave area of the Coronet Highlands during nighttime hours. Alternatively, they can find its unevolved forms Zubat and Golbat in various locations throughout the Obsidian Fieldlands, Crimson Mirelands, and Coronet Highlands regions, though, again, only at night. Zubat evolves into Golbat at Level 22 and Golbat evolves into Crobat with a high Friendship stat. Players can improve their bond with Golbat by using it to battle other Pokemon, feeding it EXP candies, or having it harvest ores and berries out in the field.

4 Gyarados

Its crippling weakness to Electric-type attacks aside, Gyarados is an incredibly intimidating Pokemon and one that can dish out some real damage thanks to its impressively high 125 Attack stat. It also being one of the best Water-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus makes the Water / Flying-type a great choice for those who value versatility and improved type coverage, while its deep move pool also helps out in this regard. Gyarados is best with an Adamant nature.

How to Get Gyarados in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Players can catch Gyarados in the Obsidian Falls and Lake Verity areas of the Obsidian Fieldlands, the Sand's Reach area of the Cobalt Coastlands, and the Primeval Grotto area of the Coronet Highlands. Alternatively, they can find its unevolved form Magikarp in the same two areas of the Obisidian Fieldlands as well as in the Fabled Spring area of the Coronet Highlands. Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at Level 20.

3 Togekiss

Togekiss is an impressive special attacker with strong defenses, making it a solid choice for those looking for a good Flying-type Pokemon. Better still, as a Fairy / Flying-type, Togekiss also offers excellent Fairy-type coverage; something that isn't always easy to come by in a Pokemon game. Players should try to find a Togekiss with a Modest nature, which will increase its Special Attack stat at the expense of its Attack.

How to Get Togekiss in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Players can find Togekiss near Lake Verity in the Obsidian Fieldlands. Alternatively, it's possible to catch its unevolved forms Togepi and Togetic in the Cottonsedge Prairie area of the Crimson Mirelands as well as in the Tranquility Cove area of the Cobalt Coastlands. Togepi evolves into Togetic with a high Friendship stat and Togetic evolves into Togekiss when exposed to a Shiny Stone. Players can find Shiny Stones in space-time distortions or exchange them for Merit Points at the counter in Jubilife Village.

2 Shaymin (Sky Forme)

As well as being one of the best Grass-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Shaymin can also offer fantastic Flying-type coverage. Of course, the latter is only true while it's in its Sky Forme, at which point it's classed as a Grass / Flying-type Pokemon. As well as the change in type, this transformation sees Shaymin become much faster and also boosts its Special Attack stat by quite a bit. This does come at the expense of defensive rigidity, but this shouldn't matter too much if it's able to defeat the opposition in one hit. Though most tend to give Shaymin a Neutral nature, players planning to utilize its Sky Forme should try to find one with a Timid, Hasty, or Naive nature instead.

How to Get Shaymin in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Players can catch Shaymin as part of a special post-game request, but only if they have save data from either Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield on their Switch. Assuming they do, they'll need to trigger the quest by visiting the blackboard in Galaxy Hall and then make their way over to the Fieldlands Camp in the Obsidian Fieldlands. Once there, they should speak with Medi and then make their way to the Floaro Gardens area in the northwest part of the region to find and catch Shaymin. Medi will also give players the Gracidea key item, which can be used to switch between Shaymin's Land and Sky Formes.

1 Thundurus

It could be argued that all four of the Forces of Nature are among the best Flying-types in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but there's one that stands out above the rest. As an Electric / Flying-type Thundurus has no weakness to Electric-type attacks; something which cannot be said of most other Flying-type Pokemon. It also excels in the Spacial Attack department, particularly when it's in its Therian form. This, together with attacks like Thunder and Wildbolt Storm, makes it easy for Thundurus to tear through most of its Flying-type peers like wet tissue paper and also stand up well to powerful Ground-type Pokemon like Garchomp. Thundurus is best with a Mild nature.

How to Get Thundurus in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Before players can catch Thundurus, they'll first need to complete the main story and then work their way through the post-game content until they've caught Giratina. Speaking with Cogita again after doing so will unlock Request #94, which involves catching the four Forces of Nature. Thundurus can be found in the water near the Coastland Campsite in the Cobalt Coastlands region, though only when there's a storm taking place. Players may therefore need to rest multiple times until they get the weather pattern required. When Thundurus does show up, they should hit it with a Poke Ball to lower its shield and then quickly engage it in battle. To switch between the Pokemon's Incarnate and Therian forms, players will need the Reveal Glass, which is obtained by returning to Cogita after catching Enamorus and fully completing its Pokedex entry.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for the Nintendo Switch.

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