At the moment, "only" 893 Pokemon exist. In the games, all of the Pokemon have their own set of stats. These combine Attack, Special Attack, HP, Special Defense, Speed, and Defense.
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Defense is a stat that decides how much damage a Pokemon takes when hit with a physical move. And physical moves themselves are (typically) determined by Attack. Usually, Attacks make physical contact with the Pokemon, and so the highest Defense Pokemon endure or reflect these moves as much as possible.
Updated August 17, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: Having a high Defense stat is key to reducing damage taken and keeping your Pokemon alive. Many Legendary Pokemon throughout the series have huge Defense stats thanks to their canonical strength, but it's surprising how meek some of the top-ranked Pokemon are. The Legendary Titans, for example, rank highly thanks to their incredibly tough outer shells, but being beaten out by a Fairy-type Pokemon or a Clam has to sting. While all of the Pokemon with the highest Defense are worth catching, there are other ways to improve a Pokemon's stats without relying on powerful evolutions, like EVs.
13 Carbink
- According to Pokemon Ultra Sun, "some say that deep beneath the surface of the world, a pack of Carbink live with their queen in a kingdom of jewels."
- Base Defense Stat: 150
Carbink is a Pokemon first introduced in Pokemon X and Y versions that looks like a small rabbit-like head atop a crystalline, floating body. It's one of the few Rock-Fairy dual-type Pokemon in the series, and its base Defense stat of 150 makes it a formidable fae indeed.
Its described as living in small communes and regularly grooming one another with their soft manes. They're not to be messed with, though, thanks to their ability to shoot lasers from the gems embedded in their body.
12 Registeel
- According to Pokemon Sword, "Registeel's body is made of a strange material that is flexible enough to stretch and shrink but also more durable than any metal."
- Base Defense Stat: 150
Registeel premiered in Generation III, being the trio of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald versions. It's a Legendary Steel-type Pokemon with a Defense stat of 150 thanks to its incredibly hard outer shell – Registeel's extreme durability actually comes from thousands of years spent under intense pressure underneath the earth's surface.
The Legendary Titans from Generation III (as well as Generation VII) tend to be Pokemon with high defense, but it's not the focus for all of them. They are shrouded in mystery and difficult to catch, making them all the more enigmatic.
11 Toxapex
- According to Pokemon Ultra Moon, "with its 12 legs, it creates a dome to shelter within. The flow of the tides doesn’t affect Toxapex in there, so it’s very comfortable."
- Base Defense Stat: 152
Toxapex was introduced in Generation VII – Pokemon Sun and Moon versions. Toxapex is a Poison and Water dual-type Pokemon that evolves from Mariane, and its nickname is the "Brutal Star" Pokemon – with a base Defense stat of 152, it's a brutal tank indeed.
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It's a great Pokemon to add to the party because it can endure a beating while letting Poison damage tick by on its foe. Its poison sac is described as being so toxic that even a Wailord has a hard time recovering.
10 Deoxys
- According to Pokemon LeafGreen, "When it changes form, an aurora appears. It absorbs attacks by altering its cellular structure."
- Base Defense Stat: 160
Thanks to the change in cellular structure, Deoxys (in Defense Forme) gets a base Defense stat of 160. While not in terms of Defense particularly, it does have the highest Special Defense among all the Psychic-type Pokemon.
Clearly, Deoxys's design originates from aliens as well as the nucleic acid double helix or a chromosome package. The name itself is literally an abbreviation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
9 Onix
- According to Pokemon Sword, "As it digs through the ground, it absorbs many hard objects. This is what makes its body so solid."
- Base Defense Stat: 160
One can only wonder how many hard objects Onix absorbed to bolster its body enough for a base Defense stat of 160. In fact, of all unevolved Pokemon, it has the highest amount. (Additionally, Onix is the heaviest!)
Unsurprisingly, Onix is a rock snake, possibly even inspired by the Mongolian death worm. Its name is merely a corruption of "onyx" (the mineral).
8 Bastiodon
- According to Pokemon Ultra Moon, "This Pokémon is from roughly 100 million years ago. Its terrifyingly tough face is harder than steel."
- Base Defense Stat: 168
Whatever material it is made of, Bastiodon and its face get it to a base Defense stat of 168. Put together, Bastiodon has the highest base Defense and Special Defense!
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Since it is a Fossil Pokemon, it draws inspiration from a dinosaur but also a fortress. Bastiodon's name is a combination of "bastion" and "don," a suffix used in many dinosaur names.
7 Aggron
- According to Pokemon X, "It claims an entire mountain as its own. The more wounds it has, the more it has battled, so don't take it lightly."
- Base Defense Stat: 180
It is no wonder Aggron can endure battle after battle, wound after wound because it has a base Defense stat of 180.
Literally, it is a dinosaur, more specifically a Triceratops, but decked out in armor like a knight. Aggron's name is a combination of "aggressive" and "iron."
6 Cloyster
- According to Pokemon Sword, "Its shell is extremely hard. It cannot be shattered, even with a bomb. The shell opens only when it is attacking."
- Base Defense Stat: 180
That is one tough shell indeed as Cloyster has a base Defense stat of 180. In fact, of all the Water-type Pokemon, it reigns supreme here.
Origin-wise, Cloyster is a bivalve with a black pearl attached. The name itself is just a combination of "clam" and "oyster," which is pretty self-explanatory!"
5 Avalugg
- According to Pokemon Omega Ruby, "Its ice-covered body is as hard as steel. Its cumbersome frame crushes anything that stands in its way."
- Base Defense Stat: 184
When ice feels as hard as steel, that might be an Avalugg which has a base Defense stat of 184. When it comes to Ice-type Pokemon, this is the highest amount.
It is quite actually only an iceberg. Avalugg's name is just a combination of "avalanche" and lug" (meaning, dragging something that is heavy).
4 Regirock
- According to Pokemon Sword, "Every bit of Regirock's body is made of stone. As parts of its body erode, this Pokémon sticks rocks to itself to repair what's been lost."
- Base Defense Stat: 200
While Regirock is made up of mere stones, it has a base Defense stat of 200, making it the most defensive Legendary Pokémon in the entire franchise.
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Obviously, Regirock is a golem…a rock golem, that is. Regarding its name, that is a combination of "regis" (Latin for "royal") and…well…rock, of course! When it comes to the Legendary Titans, this is the highest defense Pokemon of the group.
3 Steelix
- According to Pokemon X, "Tempered underground under high pressure and heat, its body is harder than any metal."
- Base Defense Stat: 200
Yes, no metal out there is tougher than Steelix, which has a base Defense stat of 200. And no Ground-type Pokemon compares, as it boasts the highest amount in that regard.
Steelix is a steel snake, possibly drawing influence from a wyrm (dragon worm). The name itself, in case it was not obvious already, is a combination of "steel" and its pre-evolution Onix. Perhaps the word "helix" counts too here, considering Steelix's body.
2 Stakataka
- According to Pokemon Ultra Sun, "It appeared from an Ultra Wormhole. Each one appears to be made up of many life-forms stacked one on top of each other."
- Base Defense Stat: 211
Who knows how many life-forms are stacked on top of each other but there are enough for Stakataka to have a base Defense stat of 211. Of all the Rock-type and Steel-type Pokemon, it has the highest amount. (Also, Stakataka is the heaviest Rock-type Pokemon!)
Design-wise, it looks like a castle. And regarding Stakataka's name, it is a combination of "stack" and "attack." Its high stat makes it one of the best defensive Pokemon in a party.
1 Shuckle
- According to Pokemon Alpha Sapphire, "Shuckle quietly hides itself under rocks, keeping its body concealed inside its hard shell while eating berries it has stored away…"
- Base Defense Stat: 230
While eating berries Shuckle is chilling, because thanks to its hard shell it gets a Defense stat of 230. It's the Pokemon with the highest defense, and also the highest Special Defense, out of all the hundreds currently obtainable.
When it comes to origin, Shuckle is an endolith. The name itself, on the other hand, is a combination of "shuck" (meaning a husk or pod) and "turtle."
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