10 Hardest Pokemon to Catch, Ranked

Pokémon GO Constantly undergoing evolutions much like the beloved Pokemon creatures it represents, with new pocket monsters being added to the game constantly, and changing game mechanics. In a game where players are encouraged to catch them all, it can be frustrating at times to discover that some Pokemon are not that easy to get, and even then it can be frustratingly difficult to catch some of them. For the most part, the majority of Pokemon in the game will come and go with seasons, events, and even times of day.But there are a few that have even more difficult requirements to find.

Home to a massive variety of Pokemon from all past regions, Pokémon GO Players run into one particular need, whether they are new to the game or long-time fans, which is catching certain Pokemon. Although the most powerful of the bunch can often be difficult to capture, Others, like Sigilif, earn their rarity by being region-locked to specific countries. Unless someone is willing to buy several plane tickets simply to try to catch a Pokemon, or engage in cheating behaviors that could get them banned from the game, collecting them all simply isn’t likely to happen.

10

Mewtwo is an iconic face in Pokémon, but hard to find in Pokémon GO

Limited to five-star rides on rotation

With a 6% catch rate, insanely powerful stats, and the fast Psystrike attack, it’s no wonder Mewtwo is one of the most sought-after Pokemon in Pokémon GO. Even with one of the best new ones Pokémon GO The Legendary Trading Cards is perfect for fighting in the Master League, due to its great match-up capabilities. Unfortunately, it’s also difficult to track down, as Mewtwo isn’t one to spawn in the wild, but is Limited to 5-star raid battles and only when on the raid rotations.

While a regular Mewtwo is already difficult to catch, Encountering and catching a Shadow Mewtwo is even worse. The Shadow Mewtwo can only be obtained after battling and winning against Team GO Rocket in a 5-star Shadow Raid. With a 20% damage bonus for being a Shadow Pokemon, it is one of the strongest creatures in the entire game so far.

9

Mew Canonically is a mythical Pokemon with only one in existence

Obtained through a long special research quest

Just like Mewtwo, Mew is another rare find Pokémon GOSince it cannot be captured in the wild, and many players still do not have one to this day. The original mythical Pokemon, Mew is meant to be incredibly rare in any version of ​​the Pokemon Universe, including in Go. Canonically, there’s only one, and therefore, it’s limited to a reward at the end of a questline, although there are incredibly rare events in the game that also provide Mew encounters.

In order to provide the sure-fire way to capture it, Players must complete the tedious “A Mystical Discovery” special research tasks that have 8 different partsEach part with 3 field research tasks. Fortunately, once the Mythical Mew is earned through the questline, it can be captured with a unique Poké Ball and will not escape.

8

Rotom has several forms, many of which are exclusive to events

It was introduced with the ghost in the car search in February 2024

The Electric and Fire-type Pokemon of the Sinnoh region, Rotom comes in several varieties and is only introduced to Pokémon GO Most recently, in February 2024. Catching the basic rotom form was tied to a part of a special research work“Ghost in the Machine” where many players are then able to get Rotom with a special code to unlock it.

Several of​​​​Rotom’s forms have been added to the game at different times, usually as part of Pokémon GO Fest Events. Meanwhile, The only other way to get a rotom in Pokémon GO Is by getting one through a trade with a person who has extra to spareOr waiting with the hopes that they will be included in future events.

7

Lugia does not like to be captured and is only seen in raids

May take more than one raid to stay in a pokeball

As one of the most powerful legendary in Pokémon GOLugia must be brought down by a group of no less than six players in a 5-star raid for a slim chance of capturing it. The Psychic/Flying Pokemon will do anything it can to avoid being caught. With a base capture rate of 2%, Lugia has players biting their nails When they start to reach their last premier balls. Fortunately, it’s weak to Dark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, and Rock-types, so it’s just a smidge (if that) easier to get than some other legendary Pokemon in the game.

As well as its normal form, Lugia is also occasionally available to catch as a Shadow Pokemon from Team Rocket Raids, usually during in-game events. Other than the shadow form, Lugia can be traded between players, but requires a considerable amount of Stardust due to its legendary status. For an even bigger challenge, There is also a 1 in 20 chance of encountering a shiny Lugia Another offensive battle.

6

Palkia can take several Pokemon GO raids before being caught

It’s also hard to find rides for, making it even harder

Only obtainable by winning 5-star raid battles from Palkia, and an exceptionally formidable enemy due to its only weaknesses being fairy and other dragon types, most players who can actually beat the powerhouse usually know that It will take defeating it in multiple separate raids just to capture a single onee.

Although its competitor Dialga is almost as powerful and has a capture rate of 2% just like Palkia, it is still more common to find in raids, which makes Palkia take the place on the list. Count on the Legendary to never stay in a Poké Ball after one shot, whether it’s an excellent throw or not. Typically, the player will run out of Premier Balls before Palkia submits, fleeing the scene immediately after.

5

Larvesta is only hatched from eggs, if players are lucky

Hat eggs sometimes have a chance to provide a larva

Getting Pokemon to hatch from incubated eggs is always a bit of a gamble, as they are often mixed with others that may come from the egg, or only available from certain eggs, certain regions, or set to specific events or seasons in the Game. At the time of writing, Larvesta is one of the choices available in the 5km and 10km eggs, but this may change with regular rotations.

This bug type is hopefully going to be more commonly available at some point, but currently it’s not something that can be found in the wild. Likewise, the evolved form of Volcarona is not found at all, and must be evolved from a Larvesta using 400 Larvesta candiesWhich is certainly not an easy task when it is difficult to get even one Larvesta.

4

Salandit and Salazzle take some work to collect

Salandit is only found in 12km eggs from Team GO Rocket leader

Catching a Salandite in the wild is not possible in Pokémon GOAnd the odds of getting one are frustratingly low. Currently, the only way to get a Salandit is through a 12km egg, and even then, it’s one of eight possible Pokemon to hatch from there. Not only are the odds low to begin with, but 12km eggs are also the most difficult to obtain and hatch. Clearly, it requires walking 12 km while the egg is in an incubator, however The eggs are also only obtained from defeating Giovanni or a Team GO Rocket LeaderAnd only three can be kept at a time.

Salandit’s evolved form, Salazzle, is also difficult to complete Salazzle can only come from a female Salandite, and the gender ratio for catching Salandite’s is skewed at a 7 to 1 ratio, in favor of males. This means that it will likely take many eggs before you find a female salandite to be able to evolve it into a salazzle.

3

The Legendary Lake Trio: Azelf, Uxie and Mespirit are locked in every area

Getting all three may require travel

Azlf, Uxie, and Mespirit are already each harder to come by, with them being Some 5-star rides only at certain timesSuch as during the Sinnoh GO Tour global event in February 2024. The Lake Guardian Legendary Pokemon Occasionally can be seen spawning in the wild. However, they are very rare spawns and generally don’t like to stay in a pokeball when found.

What makes the trio more difficult is that they are each region specific in different areas:

It was an event where all three were available globallyAnd hopefully the event will repeat, but officially they are relegated to the regions. Therefore, eager collectors who want to complete their Pokédex, hopefully without using cheating methods that could cause them to be banned from Pokémon GOWill need to get creative. Players may need to wait and hope for a future event where all three are available, find friends to trade with, or consider traveling to various regions during the times the Lake Guardians are available to be caught.

2

Galarian variants of Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos are best found with Adventure Incense

The Galarian Bird Trio are rare finds

The big three gen 1 legendaries each got complete makeovers for their gallery forms in gen 8s sword and shieldWhich are included in Pokémon GO A couple of years ago. Since then, they have been some of the most wanted Pokemon to catch, but disappointment is a guarantee when you try to catch one of them.

Don’t just do They have a catch rate of only 0.3% and a 90% chance to escape after the first Poke Ball is thrownThen broke out of, but they can generally only be encountered when using Daily Adventure Incense. Although there are some reports of players finding them in the wild, this is extremely rare and unconfirmed. Using the Daily Adventure Incense is a special item that can only be used for 15 minutes per day, and there is no promise of finding even one of the trio. The amount of luck and skill needed to catch them cannot be understated, but the euphoria that washes over the player once they are achieved makes it worth the effort.

1

Sigilif is region restricted to Greece, Israel and Egypt

And hard to find, even there

For most of the population of Pokémon GO Players, getting a sigilif is probably not going to happen. Since it was introduced to the game in 2020, it has been a regional exclusive find. as in Pokemon black and whiteSigil is only to be found in the desert, which in Pokémon GO Means that It is restricted to the areas around Egypt, Greece and Israel.

Although it can be included in eggs, it is only occasionally in a 10 km egg of the regions, and eggs sent by gifts to friends are only 7 km, which would not include them. Players can trade a Sigil if a friend is in range for trading and has one to offer, but it would be considered a special trade and require a substantial amount of Stardust from both players. Perhaps in the future the sigilif will be included in an event, but currently it is incredibly difficult for players to fill the space for a sigilif in their Pokédex for Pokémon GO.

Created by Niantic, Pokémon GO is an augmented reality RPG where players can wander around and catch Pokémon as they pass by various landmarks in real life. Players can engage in a traditional Pokemon experience by battling other trainers, catching Pokemon to breed new ones, and even trading them with other trainers they meet.

Systems

platforms

iOS, Android

Released

July 6, 2016

developer(s)

Niantic, The Pokemon Company

Publisher(s)

Niantic

Multiplayer

Online multiplayer

ESRB

e

platforms

iOS, Android

X|S optimized

n/a

Steam deck compatibility

n/a

cross save

Yes

Cross-platform game

iOS, Android