How Did Cynthia Get Rayquaza in Pokémon?

As one of the most powerful Pokémon Champions in history, Cynthia is reputed to have some incredibly rare and strong Pokémon on her side. But when it comes to the mighty Legendary Rayquaza, the truth may surprise you!

The Short Answer:
Cynthia has never officially captured or obtained a Rayquaza in the Pokémon anime series. In the “Malice in Wonderland!” episode, she briefly appeared to have a Shiny Rayquaza under her command. But this was quickly revealed to simply be an illusion conjured by her Mismagius.

So while many fans wish to see the formidable Cynthia with a Legendary powerhouse like Rayquaza, she strategically relies on her prodigious bond with non-Legendary Pokémon like Garchomp instead. But could the skilled Champion one day add the Sky High serpent to her ranks? Let’s analyze this topic more deeply!

Examining Cynthia’s Powerful Team

Cynthia undeniably has one of the most balanced and dangerous teams among Pokémon trainers. Her ace Garchomp deals devastating Dragon and Ground type damage, while veterans like Milotic and Lucario provide versatile support. And we can’t forget her Spiritomb – a mysterious Pokémon gifted with astonishing 108 different techniques!

According to an exclusive interview with Cynthia in Pokémon Adventures volume 43, she does not actively pursue Legendary or Mythical creatures. Instead, her strategy relies on nurturing an unshakable bond of respect and trust with her 6 main Pokémon built through endless training and battles.

But with Cynthia participating more actively in global tournaments like the Pokémon World Championships, could we see her break this tradition and capture an ultra-rare Pokémon to temporarily expand her roster?

Cynthia‘s Current Pokémon Line-Up

The Illusory Shiny Rayquaza

So how exactly did Cynthia appear to have a Rayquaza under her control? Well in the Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl episode “Malice in Wonderland!”, an enraged Mismagius fused with Rayquaza to become a terrifying “Rayquamagius”. This granted it Rayquaza’s devastating powers combined with Mismagius’s potent illusory abilities.

Interestingly, whenever Mismagius merges with another Pokémon, it turns shiny black – hence the Rayquaza appeared to be an ultra rare Shiny variant! But make no mistake – this was not an actual Rayquaza that Cynthia had captured. Once Mismagius separated from Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon fled back into the clouds where it came from.

Rayquamagius Battle Statistics

So in summary, while the combination of Cynthia and Rayquaza would be a force to be reckoned with, this has not happened outside of Mismagius’s powerful illusions. But Rayquaza was still instrumental in helping Cynthia quell Mismagius’s rampage by weakening it enough for capture, showcasing positive teamwork.
Perhaps this small alliance could inspire Cynthia to pursue the real Rayquaza in future for tournament battles?

Who Actually Owns Rayquaza in Pokémon Anime?

Rayquaza has always preferred to remain solitary in the ozone layer, only descending to earth on rare occasions. But it has formed several momentary bonds with trainers in the past before retreating back to skies:

• Brendan flew on Mega Rayquaza’s back into space in Pokémon Generations using a specialized suit. It’s unclear if he captured it or simply befriended it.
• Princess Salvia owned a Rayquaza in the Zoroark Movie Event but it’s unknown if she retains it.
• Tobias used a Rayquaza during the Pokémon League but he is infamous for befriending Legendaries.
• Team Rocket unsuccessfully tried capturing a Shiny Rayquaza at Terracotta Town.

So ownership of Rayquaza tends to be fleeting due to its solitary nature. But out of all trainers so far, Cynthia has come the closest to containing its tremendous power with Mismagius’s fusion illusion!

How Could Cynthia Obtain Rayquaza?

If Cynthia desired to truly capture a Rayquaza for competitive battles, she has several options:

Befriend in the Wild: Cynthia could venture out the Giant Rock regions and find a roosting Rayquaza. With her excellent rapport with Pokémon, she may convince it to join her squad!

Trade from Previous Owner: If any of the past Rayquaza handlers like Brendan still possess it, she could attempt negotiating a trade. Heratial milotic would be very tempting!

Pokémon Event Distribution: Cynthia’s role as Champion gives her access to special Pokémon distributions like trainer Red. She could receive a Rayquaza as a prize for winning a tournament!

Track Shiny Variants: Given her experience seeing Mismagius fuse into a shiny Rayquaza, Cynthia may be inspired to hunt for this rare color variant herself!

I personally think Cynthia forming an mutual alliance with a wild Rayquaza is the most likely option. Their strong battle synergy shown against Mismagius could convince Rayquaza to join forces long term and dominate the tournaments! She just needs to locate its nesting grounds first.

Cynthia‘s Best Strategy For Using Rayquaza

Should Cynthia acquire a genuine Rayquaza one day, it would dramatically bolster her team’s power and cover key weakness like Ice, Rock and Fairy types.

Her strategic wisdom would doubtless unlock Rayquaza’s full potential in battle instead of relying on raw force alone. Once Mega Evolved, Rayquaza’s enhanced Flying attacks like Hurricane could overwhelm most opponents. And Cyanthia has raised many speedy Pokémon making her adept at optimizing Rayquaza’s Extreme Speed.

In Double Battles, Rayquaza and Mega Garchomp could combine to meteour devastating Dragon, Ground and Flying type damage in tandem. And with Miloticweakening threats with Mirror Coat beforehand, Cynthia could sweep entire tournaments with her new Legendary hyper-offense!

Rayquaza x Garchomp Combo Move Analysis

Ultimately, acquiring an astral serpent like Rayquaza would make Cynthia’s team virtually unstoppable! Its unrivaled power combined with her masterful tactics would dominate any competitive scene. And if a Shiny variant is found, her squad’s intimidation and rarity factors dramatically increases too!

So while Cynthia catching a Rayquaza is still hypothetical, all signs point to this being a legendary combination destined to form one day. No Champion deserves to wield this magnificent powerhouse more than her!

The Takeaway on Cynthia Getting Rayquaza

Despite the incredible illusion of Cynthia commanding Rayquaza into battle, she has yet to officially obtain ownership over this Legendary creature or any other Mythical Pokémon. Her strategic preference is nurturing an unbreakable bond with her 6 trusted partners like Garchomp.

But as Cynthia continues participating more actively in global tournaments, the lure of expanding her roster with Legendary powerhouses like Rayquaza grows. And if any human possesses the strategic wisdom and willpower to earn Rayquaza’s full loyalty, it would undoubtedly be Sinnoh’s formidable Champion!

So while the Rayquaza remains elusive for now, the potential of these two apex Pokémon masters joining forces grows ever more plausible. When that fateful day arrives, woe to any trainer who finds themselves facing down Garchomp, Lucario and Rayquaza side by side!