How many times has Ash seen the legendary pokemon?

[Srebak]

Now, it is no secret that Ash has seen his share of legendary Pokemon on his journey, but, half the time; it feels like the show is taking away any uniqueness there is to that by having other characters see and even own (or simply control) said legendary pokemon. What's more, they have Ash see the same legendary pokemon later and act like that was the first time he's ever seen them. Even if he says he seen them in the past, they act like it was no big deal.

But this thread is about listing all of the times Ash has seen the Pokemon of legend and the significance of those encounters

 

[marshiyanmisuta]

Legendary Pokémon - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

 

[Muur]

Now, it is no secret that Ash has seen his share of legendary Pokemon on his journey, but, half the time; it feels like the show is taking away any uniqueness there is to that by having other characters see and even own (or simply control) said legendary pokemon. What's more, they have Ash see the same legendary pokemon later and act like that was the first time he's ever seen them. Even if he says he seen them in the past, they act like it was no big deal.

But this thread is about listing all of the times Ash has seen the Pokemon of legend and the significance of those encounters

A lot of the movies are seen as non canon, meaning he hasn't seen the legend in question of the film.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Aside from the Victini movies, I'd consider all of the movies canon, so he has seen these Legendary Pokemon before. He gets excited about seeing them because it's still a big deal to see a Legendary Pokemon. Even if you've seen it once, seeing it again doesn't make it less amazing, especially for someone like Ash who loves Pokemon and gets excited to see pretty much any Pokemon already. They may also not want to explain that he saw Legendary Pokemon before since they don't often make references to movies in the show, most likely due to how they don't want to make the audience feel like they have to watch them in order to follow along with the current series. They've only done that once when Ash saw a Lugia back in Johto, although mentioning that he met Suicune could also count, so it's not something that they're particularly interested in doing anyway.

 

[Amante do Mikuri]

Problem of memory, maybe!

 

[Neo Blaze]

These are the movies/specials/episodes Ash saw Legendary Pokémon in. If it blatantly concerns the same one, the appearances are listed together. I hope I didn't forget any. Volcanion is currently the only Legend Ash has not seen.

Spoiler

Articuno
- The Power of One
- Freeze Frame
- Numero Uno Articuno & The Symbol Life
- The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (mirage version)

Zapdos
- The Power of One
- As Clear as Crystal
- The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (mirage version)

Moltres
- All Fired Up
- The Power of One
- Hoopa's Appear Plan (technically...)
- XY085

Mewtwo
- Mewtwo Strikes Back & Mewtwo Returns
- The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (mirage version)
- Genesect and the Legend Awakened

Mew
- Mewtwo Strikes Back
- The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (mirage version)
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Raikou
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Entei
- Spell of the Unown: Entei (illusion)
- Entei at Your Own Risk!
- The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon (mirage version)
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Suicune
- Don't Touch That 'dile & For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll!
- Celebi: Voice of the Forest
- Drifloon on the Wind!
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Lugia
- The Power of One
- Whirl Islands arc
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Ho-Oh
- Pokémon! I Choose You!, Gotta Catch Ya Later! & Battling the Enemy Within!

Celebi
- Celebi: Voice of the Forest
- The Green Guardian
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions

Regirock
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Brandon's Regirock

Regice
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Brandon's Regice

Registeel
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Brandon's Registeel

Latias
- Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Latios
- Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias
- The Semi-Final Frontier!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Kyogre
- Gaining Groudon & The Scuffle of Legends
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Groudon
- Jirachi: Wish Maker (fake)
- Gaining Groudon & The Scuffle of Legends
- Malice in Wonderland (illusion)
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Rayquaza
- Destiny Deoxys
- Malice in Wonderland (illusion)
- Where No Togepi has Gone Before!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Jirachi
- Jirachi: Wish Maker
- Searching for a Wish!

Deoxys
- Destiny Deoxys
- Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys Crisis! two-parter
- Cheers on Castaway Isle!

Uxie
- The Needs of the Three! & The Battle Finale of Legend!

Mesprit
- The Needs of the Three! & The Battle Finale of Legend!

Azelf
- Pruning a Passel of Pals!, The Needs of the Three! & The Battle Finale of Legend!

Dialga
- The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior & Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- The Battle Finale of Legend!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Palkia
- The Rise of Darkrai & Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- The Battle Finale of Legend!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Heatran
- Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue
- An Old Family Blend (he must have spotted it...)
- Hoopa's Appear Plan (technically...)

Regigigas
- Giratina and the Sky Warrior
- Pillars of Friendship!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages!

Giratina
- Giratina and the Sky Warrior & Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- Try for the Family Stone! (illusion)
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Cresselia
- Sleepless in Pre-Battle!

Phione (disputed)
- Hold the Phione!

Manaphy
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea

Darkrai
- The Rise of Darkrai
- Sleepless in Pre-Battle!
- Tobias's Darkrai

Shaymin
- Giratina and the Sky Warrior
- Keeping in Top Forme!

Arceus
- Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Victini
- White—Victini and Zekrom/Black—Victini and Reshiram

Cobalion
- Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice

Terrakion
- Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice

Virizion
- Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice

Tornadus
- Milos Island arc & Abyssal Ruins arc
- Hoopa's Appear Plan (technically...)

Thundurus
- Milos Island arc & Abyssal Ruins arc

Reshiram
- White—Victini and Zekrom/Black—Victini and Reshiram
- What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals!
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Zekrom
- In the Shadow of Zekrom!
- White—Victini and Zekrom/Black—Victini and Reshiram
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Landorus
- Milos Island arc & Abyssal Ruins arc

Kyurem
- Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Keldeo
- Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice

Meloetta
- Meloetta arc

Genesect
- Genesect and the Legend Awakened

Xerneas
- Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
- Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!

Yveltal
- Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction

Zygarde
- XY&Z anime
- M19

Diancie
Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction

Hoopa
Hoopa's Appear Plan (technically...)
Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

 

[CrystaI]

^ Wow. That is really a lot of legendaries Ash had ever saw, and even for multiple times. Who on the Poke-Earth can be luckier than him, when all the legendary pokemons are ultimately rare where a normal person may used one's entire life to chase down one single legendary yet only able to grasp its running silhouette on a countable number of times but not its actual figure, but he managed to encounter so many legendaries in actual figure not just for multiple times, but battles with them, interact with them super closely, befriend them, and for a few loved by them. How unrealistically DEMly awesome Ash Ketchum is. (spoke in monotone sarcastically)