Here's how to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO
It’s important to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO since they tend to be of huge importance for winning raids and trainer battles. Getting these powerful Pokemon isn’t easy, however.
While legendaries were once obtainable by simply completing field research, things have become significantly more difficult with time. Now they are gated behind a variety of other features in Pokemon GO, making it generally difficult to catch them and especially tough to catch a specific one.
So what can players do? Here’s how to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO.
Battle in raids to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO
The primary way to get legendary and mythical Pokemon in Pokemon GO is battling in raids.
Raids in Pokemon GO are time-based events that happen near gyms. An enormous egg will appear on top of a gym, will hatch after some time, and a very powerful Pokemon will then appear. Players will typically need to team up with others in order to defeat these Pokemon, which can have CP approaching 60,000 in some cases.
While the Pokemon is still in its egg before a raid, players can see whether the egg will contain legendaries or mythicals. A five-star egg will almost always contain one of these Pokemon.
Which Pokemon are in eggs in Pokemon GO raids?
Niantic rotates the Pokemon available in raids. In most cases, anywhere from one to three different legendaries will appear as the five-star raid boss. A specific Pokemon will appear in raids for anywhere from hours to weeks at a time. The schedule for raids is often
announced in advance, allowing players to plan their attack and raise up counters.
Complete certain special research missions to get legendary Pokemon
Raids are by far the best way to get legendaries, but players can occasionally find some elsewhere. Certain special research missions have included a legendary or mythical prize.
Pokemon GO Fest traditionally includes a mythical Pokemon that can be obtained during the event for a price or later in the year for free. 2022 included Shaymin, 2021 offered Hoopa, and so on. Alongside this are other missions that can yield shadow versions of legendaries including the
likes of Mewtwo
and Lugia.
These events don’t happen often and are sometimes missable. Regardless, battling in raids is the fastest and best way to get legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
News
Nintendo Direct June 2026: Zelda, Fire Emblem, Pokémon DLC, and more announced
Zachary Roberts
After months of waiting, a real Nintendo Direct was announced for June 9, accompanied by a Treehouse Live afterward. There hasn't been one since August, which left the Nintendo Switch 2 pretty barren in terms of first-party titles. That changed with this stream. Here's everything that was announced. First up, the initial reveal at the June Nintendo Direct was Rhythm Heaven Groove. This was not a new revelation, as it ...
Pokemon
Pokémon TCG announces 30th anniversary set
Zachary Roberts
Pokémon TCG, as well as the wider franchise, debuted in 1996. That means that this year is the 30th anniversary. Earlier in the year, the Pokémon Company announced several big things for the 30th, including the port of Fire Red and Leaf Green as well as the first look at Generation 10. Part of that livestream included a brief tease about something special for the 30th anniversary, specifically of Pokémon ...
Pokemon
All shiny Pokémon available in Pokémon GO in 2026
Zachary Roberts
Getting a shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO is an absolute treat. It's not as easy to hunt certain things on that game as it is on something like Legends: Z-A or Scarlet and Violet, but you can endlessly play by walking around. The shiny odds are much higher, too. At 1/512 base odds, it's much more likely than in a mainline game, where the odds are 1/4096. If you're interested ...
Pokemon
Recent Pokémon sales prove nostalgia is still king
Zachary Roberts
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen were brought to the Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2) library. This came a little over a week before Pokémon Pokopia dropped. The former is a decades-old game, and the latter is a brand-new title unlike anything in the franchise. Additionally, it's a real Game of the Year contender. Yet, early sales reports indicate that the two are selling very similarly. FireRed ...
Pokemon
All Pokémon Glazed Cheat Codes: Full List & How to Use Them
William Davis
Pokémon Glazed is one of the most popular fan-made Pokémon games. Pokémon Glazed is a reimagined version of Pokemon Emerald, available for Game Boy Advance. Unlike regular Pokémon games, there are plenty of cheat codes that can be used in Pokémon Glazed. This version of the game works with emulators and changes some elements of the base game, Pokémon Emerald. Some of the features include gym leaders with weaker Pokémon, ...
Pokemon
Pokémon Legends Arceus: Adaman or Irida Choice – What You Need to Know
Steven Rondina
After a certain point in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus story, you are faced with the difficult decision of choosing between Adaman and Irida. The trouble comes after defeating and quelling the five frenzied nobles. You are expelled from Jubilife Village and forced to survive on their own, with the quests and services of the village no longer accessible. During this time, the final boss of the main story is looming ...
Pokemon
Here’s the difference between mythical and legendary Pokémon
Steven Rondina
Fans of Pokémon are obsessed with rarity, and no other categories of Pokémon are rarer than Mythicals and Legendaries. But what’s the difference between a Mythical and a Legendary Pokémon, and how many are there? Pokémon are loosely categorized in several ways, with one of the most awkward distinctions being between Mythical and Legendary Pokémon. Both are strong, and both are rare, but for casual players and TCG fans, there ...