Each and every single Pokemon has its own set of unique stats, and, as of the time of writing, there are a total of 893 Pokemon officially available for catching and training. Their stats are distributed among six key categories: Attack, Defense, HP, Special Defense, Speed, and Special Attack.

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As the name of the stat might suggest, Special Attack dictates how much damage a Pokemon inflicts when using a special move. In most situations, special attacks involve dealing damage from a distance, without making physical contact with the other Pokemon. These moves can be incredibly powerful, particularly when used by a Pokemon with a high Special Attack.

Updated on August 16, 2021 by Tom Bowen: When it comes to building a strong team of attacking Pokemon, players really are spoiled for choice these days. There's never been a wider selection of competitively viable Pokemon available to them, many of which excel in the Special Attack category. Excluding Mega Evolutions and Ultra and Gigantamax forms, these upcoming Pokemon are the very best special attackers in Game Freak's franchise. This makes them some of the most desirable options for those looking to exploit their opponents' defensive frailties in battle, and they should be among the first to be considered for any team. Which are the best Special Attack Pokemon ever?

12 Aegislash (150)

First introduced in the sixth generation of Pokemon games, Aegislash is the final form of Honedge. As one might expect, it's considerably more powerful than its first evolutionary form, boasting Attack and Special Attack stats of a mighty 150 when it's in its Blade Forme.

It's worth mentioning that Aegislash was nerfed in the Generation 8 games, with both stats falling by 10 in Sword & Shield. Even with the reduction though, there aren't too many Pokemon who can get the better of Aegislash, nor are there many who offer quite as much versatility in battle.

11 Rayquaza (150)

According to Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen, Rayquaza has lived for hundreds of millions of years and looks like a meteor when flying. This is one meteor that Pokemon really do not want to be on the receiving end of, because Rayquaza boasts a base Special Attack of 150.

When it comes to Dragon-type and Flying-type Pokemon, Rayquaza is one of the best around. It looks a lot like a traditional Chinese dragon and also shares some physical similarities with the Lindworm, an ancient Swedish dragon snake. The name is likely a combination of "ray" and "quasar" (a celestial object).

10 Kyogre (150)

According to Pokemon Ruby, Kyogre has the power to create massive rain clouds that cover the entire sky and bring about torrential downpours. These torrential downpours are no joke, and players really do not want to get caught in one because Kyogre has a base Special Attack stat of 150.

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This is Water-type Pokemon to be feared, as it is one of the very best when it comes to dishing out damage. Kyogre is a whale, clearly, but is possibly also influenced by the mighty and mythical Leviathan. The name is a combination of "kai" (which means "ocean" in Japanese) and "orca."

9 Reshiram (150)

According to Pokemon Shield, if people ignore the truth and let themselves become consumed by greed, Reshiram will arrive to burn their kingdoms down. Move aside, Daenerys Targaryen, because Reshiram has a base Special Attack stat of 150 and so is perfectly equipped to do so.

Besides representing the "yang" half of yin and yang (while its fellow gen 5 mascot and Legendary Pokemon Zekrom represents the "yin"), Reshiram kind of resembles a wyvern and its name is derived from the Japanese word "shiro," which means "white" when translated into English.

8 Palkia (150)

According to Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, Palkia's total control over the boundaries of space enable it to transport itself to faraway places or even other dimensions. If Palkia happens to arrive in one's dimension,  the best advice would be to run, as it holds a base Special Attack of 150.

When it comes to both Dragon and Water-type Pokemon, Palkia is one of the best Special Attackers in the game. Origin-wise, it is probably based on a European dragon or an aquatic dinosaur with a hint of pearl. Palkia's name is "paru" (Japanese for "pearl") and perhaps "alkali" (water).

7 Dialga (150)

According to Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, Dialga completely controls the flow of time and uses this power to travel at will through the past and future. Whether Dialga is in the past, present, or future, it's not to be messed with, because it boasts a base Special Attack stat of 150.

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For Steel-type Pokemon, Dialga is the strongest special attacker and one of the very best Dragon-type Pokemon as well. Design-wise, it looks like a dinosaur covered in metal and mixed with diamonds. The name itself though either comes from "diamond" or "dial" (as in "sundial" because of time).

6 Blacephalon (151)

According to Pokemon Ultra Sun, Blacephalon slithers toward people. Then, without warning, it triggers the explosion of its own head. This explosion can be deadly and is massively reinforced by the fact that Blacephalon has a hugely impressive base Special Attack stat of 151.

Blacephalon is, therefore, the leader among all Fire-type Pokemon when it comes to Special Attack and, despite what its appearance might suggest, is not to be trifled with. Blacephalon is obviously based on a clown, but its name is a combination of "blast" and "cephalo," which relates to the head or skull.

5 Mewtwo (154)

According to Pokemon Sword, Mewtwo was created from the DNA of Mew and boasts a dangerous combination of overwhelming power and a savage heart. Thanks in large to the infusion of Mew's DNA, Mewtwo is able to achieve a base Special Attack stat of 154.

The origin of Mewtwo's design comes from a variety of places, including felines, aliens, and salamanders. Mewtwo's name is as simple as it gets, combining Mew and "two," making it instantly clear that the powerful Psychic-type is a genetic replica of its fellow Legendary Pokemon.

4 Calyrex (165)

According to Pokemon Shield, legend says that by using its power to see all events from past to future, Calyrex saved the creatures of a forest from a meteorite strike. This power that Shadow Rider Calyrex possesses also makes its base Special Attack stat go all the way up to 165, which none but a few Pokemon can match.

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Origin-wise, Calyrex is based on an arctic hare mixed with a crown; whereas Spectrier is a ghost horse. The name for Calyrex is a combination of "calyx" (Latin for "bud") and "rex" (Latin for "king); whereas Spectrier is a combination of "specter" and "destrier" (a medieval warhorse).

3 Hoopa (170)

Even in its confined form, Hoopa boasts an impressive Special Attack stat of 150. Once unbound, however, that shoots up to an impressive 170. Its stats aren't the only thing to shoot up either, with Hoopa's unbound form being the largest of all gen 6 Pokemon at over 20 feet tall.

Stats alone do not make a great Pokemon though, with a Pokemon's learnset also playing an important role in determining its viability in battle. With attacks like Psychic, Hyperspace Hole, and Dark Pulse in its locker though, this isn't something that Hoopa owners need worry about as it's able to hold its own in most situations.

2 Xurkitree (173)

According to Pokemon Sun, astonishing electric shocks emanate from Xurkitree's entire body, according to witnesses, anyway. These electric shocks boost Xurkitree's base Special Attack stat all the way up to 173, making it the second-highest in the series when only regular forms are included.

Xurkitree is the absolute leader of all Electric-type Pokemon when it comes to Special Attack and a solid pick for any team. Design-wise, it is a tree with its branches and leaves swapped out for electrical wires and power lines. The name is a combination of "circuit" and "tree."

1 Deoxys (180)

Going by Pokemon FireRed, Deoxys can fool its enemies by altering its appearance. Indeed, Deoxys, while in its Attack Forme, is incredibly aggressive. So aggressive, in fact, that it has a base Special Attack stat of 180, which is the highest of not just the series many Psychic-types, but all Pokemon to date.

Obviously, Deoxys's design and origins are inspired by aliens and the nucleic acid double helix as well as a chromosome package. Its name is actually a literal abbreviation of deoxyribonucleic acid, which is more commonly referred to as DNA.

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