TL;DR
- Level 5 raids require 4+ level 40 trainers and feature monthly Legendary rotations
- Daily Adventure Incense offers 15-minute windows to encounter Galarian Legendary birds
- Region-locked Legendaries like Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf require global coordination
- Special event exclusives from October 2022 may return in standard raids during 2023
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Legendaries will become available through game integration
Pokemon GO transforms the classic Pokemon journey into a real-world adventure where trainers complete their Pokedex, battle in Gyms, and participate in cooperative raids. With over 1,000 creatures available, 66 carry the prestigious Legendary designation, though only 50 are currently accessible within the game. This comprehensive guide reveals the most effective strategies for obtaining every available Legendary Pokemon.
Legendary Pokemon maintain their elite status in Pokemon GO just as they do in main series titles. Each month features one specific Legendary as the level-five Raid Boss, presenting significant challenges even for experienced trainers. Successfully defeating these powerful opponents typically requires a coordinated team of at least four trainers who have reached level 40 or higher.
During special occasions, up to four different Legendary Pokemon may simultaneously appear as level-five Raid Bosses. Even with maximum monthly rotations, this system would allow capture of 48 out of the 50 available Legendaries through raid participation alone.
While raids represent the most reliable method for encountering these rare creatures, they’re not the exclusive pathway. Some Legendaries spawn in the wild with exceptionally low encounter rates below 0.005%, while others remain geographically restricted to specific countries. Completing your Legendary collection demands both patience and strategic planning.
How to get Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO
Level five Raid Battles serve as the most consistent method for obtaining Legendary Pokemon. These high-level encounters typically feature between one and four different Legendaries each month. Below are the Legendaries previously featured in raids that may return during 2023:
- Articuno
- Zapdos
- Moltres
- Mewtwo
- Raikou
- Entei
- Suicune
- Lugia
- Ho-Oh
- Regirock
- Regice
- Registeel
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Uxie
- Mesprit
- Azelf
- Dialga
- Palkia
- Heatran
- Regigigas
- Giratina (Altered)
- Giratina (Origin)
- Cresselia
- Cobalion
- Terrakion
- Virizion
- Tornadus
- Thundurus
- Landorus
- Therian Forme Thundurus
- Therian Forme Tornadus
- Therian Forme Landorus
- Reshiram
- Zekrom
- Kyurem
- Xerneas
- Yveltal
- Tapu Koko
- Tapu Lele
- Tapu Bulu
- Tapu Fini
- Zacian
- Zamazenta
Pro Tip: Coordinate with local Pokemon GO communities through Discord or Facebook groups to ensure you have enough high-level players for successful Legendary raids. Preparation with optimal counter Pokemon and sufficient healing items significantly increases your success rate.
Certain Legendary Pokemon appear in the wild when using Daily Adventure Incense. This mechanic provides trainers with precisely 15 minutes to cover as much ground as possible while the incense remains active:
- Galarian Articuno
- Galarian Zapdos
- Galarian Moltres
Other Legendaries spawn naturally in the wild but remain restricted to specific geographical regions:
- Uxie – Exclusive to Asia and Pacific regions
- Mesprit – Found throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India
- Azelf – Available across the Americas and Greenland
The rarest Legendaries were initially available only through a limited-time special event in October 2022. These elusive creatures may transition to standard raid rotations during 2023:
- Cosmog
- Cosmoem
- Solgaleo
- Lunala
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t waste your Daily Adventure Incense in areas with limited spawn points or poor GPS reception. Plan your route through parks or dense urban areas with multiple PokeStops to maximize encounter opportunities.
All Legendary Pokemon from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will become accessible in Pokemon GO once connectivity between the games establishes later in 2023. This integration follows the pattern previously seen with earlier generation connections.
Looking ahead, trainers should monitor official Niantic announcements for returning Legendary raids. Historical data suggests that popular Legendaries like Mewtwo and Rayquaza typically reappear multiple times throughout the year, often with their Shiny variants enabled.
Advanced Strategy: Build teams specifically countering common Legendary types before their anticipated return. Having optimized Fighting-type attackers for Dark Legendaries or Ice-types for Dragon Legendaries can dramatically improve your capture success rates.
Action Checklist
- Join local Pokemon GO communities to coordinate level 5 raid groups
- Level up to 40+ and prepare optimal counter Pokemon for upcoming Legendary raids
- Plan Daily Adventure Incense routes through high-spawn areas for Galarian bird encounters
- Coordinate with international friends for region-locked Legendary trades
- Monitor official announcements for special event Legendary returns
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » How to get Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO? Master the art of catching all 50 Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO with proven raid strategies and location tactics