All Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Go: How to catch Legendaries
Niantic/The Pokemon CompanyLegendary Pokemon are the biggest challenge for any Pokemon game and are usually very difficult to capture. However, getting them in Pokemon Go is a whole different story, so here’s everything you need to know about Legendaries and how to catch ’em all in Pokemon Go.
Since the beginning of the Pokemon franchise, Legendary Pokemon have been one of the most exciting challenges for players to tackle. The arrival of Pokemon Go changed that by allowing players to have many of the same Legendary Pokemon, but that didn’t make them easier to get.
Although there are still many Legendary Pokemon that haven’t made their way into the mobile game, here’s the full list of available Legendaries in Pokemon Go and how to get them.
- All Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Go
- How to catch Legendaries in Pokemon Go
- Legendary Pokemon currently available
All Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Go
Below is the full list of Legendary Pokemon that arrived in Pokemon Go:
| Legendary Pokemon | Image | Release date | Can it be shiny? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articuno |  | July 2017 | Yes |
| Zapdos |  | August 2017 | Yes |
| Moltres |  | July 2017 | Yes |
| Mewtwo |  | August 2017 | Yes |
| Raikou |  | August 2017 | Yes |
| Entei |  | August 2017 | Yes |
| Suicune |  | September 2017 | Yes |
| Lugia |  | July 2017 | Yes |
| Ho-Oh |  | November 2017 | Yes |
| Regirock |  | August 2018 | Yes |
| Regice |  | June 2018 | Yes |
| Registeel |  | July 2018 | Yes |
| Kyogre |  | January 2018 | Yes |
| Groudon |  | December 2017 | Yes |
| Rayquaza |  | February 2018 | Yes |
| Latios |  | April 2018 | Yes |
| Latias |  | April 2018 | Yes |
| Uxie |  | April 2019 | Yes |
| Mesprit |  | April 2019 | Yes |
| Azelf |  | April 2019 | Yes |
| Dialga |  | March 2019 | Yes |
| Palkia |  | January 2019 | Yes |
| Heatran |  | December 2018 | Yes |
| Regigigas |  | November 2019 | Yes |
| Giratina |  | October 2018 | Yes |
| Cresselia |  | November 2018 | Yes |
| Cobalion |  | November 2019 | Yes |
| Terrakion |  | November 2018 | Yes |
| Virizion |  | December 2019 | Yes |
| Tornadus |  | February 2020 | Yes |
| Thundurus |  | March 2020 | Yes |
| Landorus |  | March 2020 | Yes |
| Reshiram |  | May 2020 | Yes |
| Zekrom |  | June 2020 | Yes |
| Kyurem |  | July 2020 | Yes |
| Xerneas |  | May 2021 | Yes |
| Yveltal |  | May 2021 | Yes |
| Tapu Koko |  | March 2022 | No |
| Tapu Lele |  | March 2022 | No |
| Tapu Bulu |  | April 2022 | No |
| Tapu Fini |  | May 2022 | No |
| Cosmog |  | September 2022 | No |
| Cosmoem |  | October 2022 | No |
| Solgaleo |  | November 2022 | No |
| Lunala |  | November 2022 | No |
| Zacian |  | August 2021 | No |
| Zamazenta |  | August 2021 | No |
| Galarian Articuno |  | July 2022 | No |
| Galarian Zapdos |  | July 2022 | No |
| Galarian Moltres |  | July 2022 | No |
| Regidrago |  | March 2023 | No |
| Regieleki |  | April 2023 | No |
| Zygarde |  | July 2023 | No |
Keep in mind that the list doesn’t include Mythical Pokemon, usually obtained through Special or Ticketed Research, or Ultra Beasts, sometimes considered similar to Legendary Pokemon.
How to catch Legendaries in Pokemon Go
The main method to get Legendaries in Pokemon Go is by beating them in 5-Star Raids. These are some of the toughest Raids in the game, and they require groups of 3 to 5 high-level trainers to be completed.
Once players defeat the Legendary Pokemon in a Raid, they have the chance to catch it with a limited number of Premier Balls. Catch rates for Legendaries are very low, so it’s recommended players use Razz berries and make Great or Excellent Throws to maximize their chances. Do note that shiny legendaries are a guaranteed catch, so you should use Pinap or Silver Pinap Berries to get more Candy.
The Galarian Birds, however, can only be encountered in the wild by using the Daily Adventure Incense. While the chance of encountering one of these Legendaries is very low, the chance of catching one is even lower, so you’ll need to have Golden Razz berries and Ultra Balls ready.
Cosmog is another exception to 5-Star Raids. The only way to get one is by completing different Special Research stories. The Cosmic Companion Special Research story is also how you’ll be able to evolve it into either Solgaleo or Lunala. On the other hand, the Starry Skies Special Research story granted players a Cosmog encounter during the Hidden Gems season.
Legendary Pokemon were once part of the Research Breakthrough rewards, but that changed with the introduction of Raids into the game. It is unknown if there will be another way to get them in the future.
Legendary Pokemon currently available in Pokemon Go (September 2023)
During September 2023, players can get Legendary Pokemon Entei, Suicune, Raikou, and Shadow Zapdos. Additionally, players can face Ultra Beasts Celesteela and Kartana. Be sure to check our Raid schedule for any changes and upcoming debuts. Zygarde also made its debut with Pokemon Go Routes, and players can get it through the From A to Zygarde Special Research.
There’s usually one Legendary Pokemon available at a time, but special events might change that to give players more chances to fill their Pokedex with powerful creatures.
For more Pokemon content, check out our other guides:
How to connect Pokemon Go to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Pokemon Go Spotlight Hour schedule | How to heal Pokemon in Pokemon Go | How many Pokemon are there? | Best Pokemon for PvP battles in Pokemon Go | How to get revives in Pokemon Go | Pokemon Go best attackers ranked | How to get Master Ball in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Every new Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet DLC: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero