One of the main goals in Pokémon Go is collecting rare Pokémon and completing the Pokédex.
Finding rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go is not as easy as in the mainline Pokémon games. In this mobile game, the rarity of Pokémon can be influenced by real-world locations or in-game events.
We have made a list of rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go, which includes creatures from Gen 1 to Gen 9. This list will help you know which Pokémon to search for, whether they appear in the wild, during events, or as part of research quests.
Rare Pokémon list: What are the rarest creatures in Pokémon Go?
This list doesn’t include every rare Pokémon, but it covers most of the creatures currently hard to find in Pokémon Go.
When searching for rare Pokémon, remember that factors like your location can determine which Pokémon are considered rare for you. Living by the sea increases your chances of finding rare water-type Pokémon compared to living in a city.
Playing Pokémon Go regularly can increase your chances of finding rare Pokémon. It is because regular players tend to have a higher Trainer Level, which increases their likelihood of encountering rarer Pokémon. Your Trainer Level determines which Pokemon you can find in the wild. The higher your level, the more species you can discover.
Remember, in-game events like Community Day can change which Pokémon you encounter in raids, eggs, and the wild. These events often boost specific types or certain Pokémon. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for them!
We have updated our list of rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go for December 2023, including the new Ultra Beasts and Daily Adventure Incense.
Armored Mewtwo
Armored Mewtwo is a very rare Pokémon in the game. Currently, the only way to get it is through trading.
Armored Mewtwo is a special version of the Gen 1 legendary. It was available in raids from July 10th to July 31st, 2019. It returned once after that date, during the Pokémon Day 2020 celebrations in February. Armored Mewtwo hasn’t been seen recently, and there’s no indication of its comeback.
Armored Mewtwo is unique among costume Pokémon because it has different stats and moves compared to its regular form.
Clone Pokémon
Clone Pokémon are a group of four Costume Pokémon: Clone Venusaur, Clone Charizard, Clone Blastoise, and Clone Pikachu. They were only available in Pokémon Go from February 25th to March 2nd, 2020. You can only trade for one to get a Clone Pokémon since they have a minimal release.
The Clone Pokémon were introduced for Pokémon Day 2020 and the release of Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution in Pokémon Go. The Clone Pokémon pays tribute to the films by having the same design as Mewtwo’s clones. For example, Clone Charizard has brown stripes.
There are no signs of Clone Pokémon making a comeback in Pokémon Go. It means that Pokémon like Ninetails or Vaporeon, part of the Clone Pokémon group, have not been released yet. You can’t recreate the famous Clone Pikachu slap, either.
Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres
Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres can only be encountered using Daily Adventure Incense. You have 15 minutes each day to explore and try to find one of these legendary birds.
Catching Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres is challenging due to their low catch rate of 0.3% and high flee rate of 90%. It’s reminiscent of hunting roaming Pokémon in the mainline games – you have that wonderful moment of finally finding them in the wild, only to have them vanish as they escape the Poké Ball before disappearing. If you have an extra Master Ball, you can use it for a guaranteed catch.
Remember to use your Daily Adventure Incense every day. It will help you add these Pokémon to your collection over time.
Rotom
Rotom has six forms, but only three are available in Pokémon Go. If you missed their limited release, trading with another player is the only way to get Rotom.
To get Wash Rotom, players needed a Go Fest 2020 ticket and had to take a Go Snapshot picture where it photobombed. It became available to all players during the sixth-anniversary event in July 2022. It was the final reward for completing the event’s timed research quest.
Mow Rotom is the second form released. It is only available to players who attended Go Fest 2022 Berlin. You can find it again by making it photobomb Go Snapshot pictures.
Frost Rotom is the third form that was released. It was only available to players who attended Go Fest 2023 events in London, Osaka, or New York in August. Frost Rotom, like other Rotom forms, can be found by photobombing Go Snapshot pictures.
I hope Wash, Frost, and Mow Rotom return, along with the other forms – Regular, Heat, and Fan!
The Lake Guardians – Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf
Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are the Lake Guardians of Sinnoh. They are the only legendary Pokémon that can be found in the wild, but they are extremely rare.
There are two main reasons for this – they are very rare and can only be found in specific regions.
The Lake Guardians are found in these regions:
Uxie – Asia and Pacific regions
Mesprit – Europe, Middle East, Africa and India
Azelf – Americas and Greenland
You might come across a Lake Guardian in the wild if you’re lucky. But remember, you’ll only find the one that lives in your region.
Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf can be found in five-star raids. With Remote Raid passes and apps like Poke Genie, you can battle them from anywhere.
Unown
To find Unown easily, look for it in the wild or raids during special events like Go Fest. They are extremely rare spawns outside of events – really rare. If you’re lucky enough to come across an Unown blessed by Arceus, we suggest using Golden Razz Berries to increase your chances of catching it!
The challenge of collecting Unown forms depends on how much of a completionist you are. There are 28 forms to collect! Collecting all the different types of Unowns can be a long and challenging task. Only a few Unowns are available in limited events each year, so it may take several years to complete your collection.
Larvesta and Volcarona
Currently, Larvesta and Volcarona are among the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon Go. Larvesta is a rare Pokémon found in 2km, 5km and 10km eggs. Hatching a Larvesta can take a long time.
Once you catch a Larvesta, your journey to adding Volcarona to your Pokédex will begin. You’ll need 400 Larvesta Candy for this evolution. To collect 400 Larvesta Candy, you can use Rare Candy and set Larvesta as your buddy Pokémon. However, gathering this amount of candy will still take a while.
Just keep hatching eggs, and you’ll eventually get a Larvesta. Remember, adding Volcarona to your Pokédex takes time and effort!
Salandit and Salazzle
Salandit and Salazzle are among the most uncommon Pokémon in the game.
To add Salandit to your Pokédex, hatch it from a 12-km egg. It is currently the only way to obtain one. You must defeat a Team Go Rocket Leader to get these unique eggs. So, start collecting Mysterious Components.
We suggest collecting several 12km eggs. Salandit is now in Tier 2 with Larvitar and Scraggy. However, it would help if you still had some luck to get them.
Female Salandits can evolve into Salazzle using 50 Salandit candies. If you have a male Salandit, you must hatch 12km eggs instead. You’ll have Salandit candy when you hatch a female one.
Kecleon
In January 2023, after almost four years without a new Gen 3 Pokémon release, Kecleon finally arrived in Pokémon Go. To catch Kecleon, find a PokéStop with a mostly invisible Kecleon clinging to it. To see a PokéStop like this, tap on the Kecleon. It will jump off the Photo Disc and appear on the map near the stop. Just catch the Kecleon now!
Finding a PokéStop with a Kecleon might be challenging. It took me a few weeks to see my first one. Luckily, some in-game events have made more Kecleon appear. Hopefully, this bonus will happen again in the future.
Frigibax, Arctibax and Baxcalibur
Frigibax is a very rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go. It belongs to the Dragon and Ice types. To add it to your collection, you have two options: find it in the wild or hatch it from a 10km egg at Tier 4.
In my experience, Frigibax is a rare wild spawn. I’ve only noticed Frigibax twice since it came out. One time, it was during a special event in September 2023. I tried to catch it both times, but it disappeared before I could get there. Keepg your radar and hatching any 10km eggs you find.
To evolve your Frigibax into Arctibax and then into Baxcalibur, you’ll need 125 Frigibax Candy. It would help if you got more candy for Frigibax because Baxcalibur is a helpful Pokémon to have on your team.
Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o and Kommo-o
Jangmo-o is a rare dragon-type Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 of Pokémon Go.
Gen 7 Pokémon can be found in the wild or through Daily Adventure Incense, but they are very rare. If you come across one, use Pinap Berries to double your catch candy. Jangmo-o can hatch from 10km eggs. It is currently found in Tier 3 raids and is also a reward for completing research breakthroughs during the Season of Timeless Travels.
To evolve Jangmo-o into Kommo-o, you’ll need 125 candy.
Noibat and Noivern
Noibat is rare in the wild right now.
Getting this Pokémon is just the first step. To evolve it into Noivern, you’ll need 400 Noibat candy. To find Noibat, you’ll either need luck and a lot of Rare Candy or be prepared to have it as your buddy Pokémon for a while.
Noibat had a Community Day in February 2023. Finding Noibat and collecting enough candy for its evolution might be challenging if you missed it.
Sandile, Krokorok and Krookodile
Sandile and Salandit have the same curse – they can only be found in 12km eggs. Both male and female Sandiles can evolve, but it requires 125 candy to evolve this Pokémon fully. You have three options to get this: hatch many Sandiles, use Rare Candies, or make it your buddy and walk with it.
Hatching Sandile has become easier because it appears in the first 12km egg pool tier. However, this tier is crowded with Pawniard, Vullaby, and Pancham.
Meltan and Melmetal
You can get a Meltan in the Let’s Go, Meltan special research quest. However, evolving it into Melmetal is easier if you have Pokémon Home and Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee.
To open the Mystery Box and make Meltan appear, transfer a Pokémon from Pokémon Go to one of these three games. The Mystery Box lasts for one hour when opened. It spawns one Meltan per minute. After using it, you have to wait three days to use it again.
To evolve Meltan into Melmetal, you’ll need 400 candies. Even with Pinap Berries, you’ll have to use the Mystery Box multiple times.
If you don’t have the Mystery Box, you’ll need to use a lot of Rare Candy and keep Meltan as your buddy for a long time.
Yamask, Cofagrigus, Galarian Yamask and Runerigus
Yamask is on this list because it can only be found during the Halloween event each year. Should I avoid playing games on Halloween? Sorry, no Yamask is available for you.
Yamask can be found in different ways, like in the wild or through special research tasks.
Galarian Yamask can be found in raids as a reward for field research and unique research quests. It was also available in 7km eggs during the 2021 Halloween event.
Yamask and Galarian Yamask evolve into different Pokémon. Traditional Yamask evolves into Cofagrigus, while Galarian Yamask evolves into Runerigus. Both evolutions require 50 candy but need a Runerigus for the Galar variant.
Spiritomb
Spiritomb has become easier to find over the years, but it can only be caught during Halloween.
In the past, you could only get it by finishing a special research quest called “A Spooky Message” in 2018 and 2019 and “A Spooky Message Unmasked” in 2020. But in 2021, it was also included in the Halloween event field research tasks.
In 2022, Spiritomb was only available through a pay-to-play Halloween-timed research quest. In 2023, the free-to-play Spiritomb Limited Research returned during Halloween events. Hopefully, it will continue to appear in the future.
Zygarde
Getting Zygarde is actually quite simple. You just need to complete Step 3 of the From A to Zygarde special research quest. I want to discuss Zygarde reaching its Complete Forme.
To change Zygarde’s form, start by collecting Zygarde Cells using Routes. First, collect enough cells to change it to 50% forme. Then, continue collecting cells to eventually change it to its Complete forme. The ease of achieving this depends on the number of Routes in your area and your luck with Zygarde Cells spawning.
Based on my experience, Zygarde Cells tend to appear towards the end of a Route. However, it is expected to overlook them while engaging in a Pokémon encounter or focusing on other aspects of the game. I’ve had trouble collecting Zygarde Cells because they sometimes time out. To avoid this, keeping an eye on the map screen as you approach the end of a Route is a good idea.
To fully transform Zygarde, you’ll need 250 Zygarde Cells. It includes 50 cells for its 50% Forme and an additional 200 cells to achieve its Complete Forme. Good luck with your routes!
Ultra Beasts
Ultra Beasts are special Pokémon from another dimension called Ultra Space. They were introduced in Generation 7. There are a total of 11 Ultra Beasts. Seven of them have appeared in Pokémon Go through five-star raids and one particular research quest.
The Ultra Beasts are rare because they are part of the rotating five-star raid pool. You must wait for it to return to the raids if you miss one. Celesteela and Kartana are only found in specific regions. Celesteela can be found in raids in the southern hemisphere, while Kartana can be found in raids in the northern hemisphere.
Nihilego, the first Ultra Beast in Pokémon Go, showed up in five-star raids and as a reward for the A Radiant World particular research quest during Go Fest 2022 on June 5th. In the coming months, Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Xurkitree were released at Go Fest Berlin, Seattle, and Sapporo. All three were released globally during the Go Fest 2022: Finale event.
In September 2022, the Test Your Mettle event introduced two new Ultra Beasts: Celesteela and Kartana. Then, in November 2022, Guzzlord was released.
We’re unsure when the eighth Ultra Beast will come to Pokémon Go, but hopefully, we won’t encounter Blacephalon anytime soon. I wouldn’t say I like Blacephalon.
Regionally exclusive Pokémon
Regarding Pokémon that can only be found in specific regions, how rare they are can be a matter of personal opinion. European players often wish they could catch Corsola or Tauros instead of being constantly bothered by Mr. Mime. On the other hand, American trainers want to get their hands on the creepy Gen 1 Pokémon, Mime Jr., and its small version. Oricorio and Flabébé are also part of this group, and their various forms can be found worldwide.
You can find regionally exclusive Pokémon in the wild wherever you live.
The special Ultra Beasts, Celesteela and Kartana, can only be found in specific regions. They will appear in five-star raids when they are available.
Certain Pokémon, such as Solrock and Lunatone, change their locations during special events and stay there until the next year’s event happens. It allows players who haven’t caught these Pokémon to add them to their Pokédex.
During special events like Go Fest, certain regionally exclusive Pokémon can be found in the wild or raids. Please note that you may need to buy a ticket for the event to see these Pokémon.
The regional factor of Pokémon Go affects collecting all the Vivillon forms. You can find more information about this in Vivillon’s dedicated section.
Shiny Pokémon
Shiny Pokémon are rare and have different colors than usual. Not all Pokémon in Pokémon have shiny forms, but collectors highly seek after the ones that do.
Finding shiny Pokémon is about having the odds in your favor during the encounter. Community Days and catching Pokémon of the same type can boost your chances of finding shiny Pokémon.
Hisuian Pokémon
Hisuian Pokémon are unique versions of Pokémon from the Hisui region. They have a new look and type compared to their original versions.
Like Galarian Pokémon, some Hisuian Pokémon, like Sneasler, can only be obtained by evolving another Hisuian Pokémon. Certain evolutions require meeting specific conditions, but the candy you gather for a Pokémon will also apply to its Hisui version.
You can catch Hiusian Growlithe at any time, but you need to complete a specific field research task. This task involves spinning 6 PokéStops or Gyms. You’ll also need luck because there are three other rewards for completing this challenge.
The change in finding Hisuian Pokémon in Pokémon Go is probably because the current in-game Season, Timeless Travels, is focused on the Hisui region. The appearance of Hisuian Pokémon has been changed to in-game events. For example, Hisuian Sneasel was featured during the Along the Routes event in November 2023. Let’s wait and see if other Hisuian Pokémon show up, too!
It’s worth mentioning that three Hisuian Pokémon – Hisuian Braviary, Avalugg, and Samurott – were initially obtainable in three-star raids during special Raid Day events. If you want to complete your collection, participate in the past events where Hisuian Braviary has made a return.
Wyrdeer’s Raid Day is coming up soon! (Or it may have already happened, depending on when you’re reading this.) Hints have been made about the release of Hisuian Typhlosion and Decidueye.
Some Hisuian Pokémon, like Hisuian Arcanine, can only be obtained through evolution. Some candies are enough for evolution, but others have additional requirements.
Alolan and Galarian Pokémon
Alolan and Galarian Pokémon are different versions of Pokémon from previous generations. They have unique appearances and types. Hisuian Pokémon are now appearing in Pokémon Go. However, some of them are only available for a limited time. Therefore, we have created a separate section for them.
Some Galarian Pokémon can evolve into new forms like Galarian Farfetch’d evolving into Sirfetch’d. In Pokémon Go, there is a special requirement you need to meet to complete this evolution.
To get these Pokémon easily, hatch the 7km eggs you’ve collected outside of in-game events. The 7km egg pool changes a lot during events. Alolan and Galarian Pokémon can be found in the wild or raids during special events, like Community Days.
Certain Alolan and Galarian Pokémon, such as Galarian Mr. Mime, can be obtained as Research Breakthrough rewards. These rewards are available throughout the entire three-month duration of an in-game Season. You must complete seven Field Research tasks over seven days to earn a special encounter. You can take breaks in between. Are other Pokémon available, but since they are around for a while, you can find the one you need.
You can only find Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres by using Daily Adventure Incense.
For collecting Pokémon, it’s best to focus on ones that evolve into new Pokémon, like Galarian Meowth and Galarian Yamask.
Scatterbug, Spewpa and Vivillon
The rarity of Scatterbug, Spewpa, and Vivillon is not based on how difficult it is to obtain these Pokémon (unless your friends are not sending you gifts). Instead, it comes from the fact that Vivillon can have 18 different patterns. You can use the Gift Exchange feature in Routes once a day. The origin of the gift is randomly selected.
Vivillon is a regional Pokémon with different patterns found worldwide. You can only collect one pattern if your friends live in the same region. To make progress and encounter Scatterbug, remember to pin the postcards that come with your Gifts.
To collect more Vivillon, you can visit sites like The Silph Road on Reddit. There, you can connect with Pokémon Go players from around the world. You might have good luck with Remote Raids using apps like Poké Genie.
To unlock your first Scatterbug encounter in a specific region, pin three postcards. After that, you must pin more postcards to encounter additional Scatterbugs. After capturing Scatterbug, you must collect sufficient Scatterbug candy to evolve into Spewpa and Vivillon.
To increase your chances of catching Scatterbug, use a Pinap Berry every time you encounter it, as these encounters may be infrequent. To get more Scatterbug candy, make Rare Candy your buddy Pokémon. You’ll earn one candy for every 1km you walk.
Costume Pokémon
Costume Pokémon in Pokémon Go are unique creatures that wear outfits and appear during various events throughout the year. The outfits can include Halloween costumes, hats, and flower crowns. The crowns might resemble three flowers attached to a Pokémon’s head.
Costume Pokémon are rare because they are only available during specific events. Some, like the Clone Pokémon or Star Hat Pikachu, have only been available once. Some events, like Go Fest or Go Tour: Kanto, may require purchasing a ticket to participate in the game.
If you didn’t attend the event, didn’t want to buy a ticket, or weren’t playing Pokémon Go back then, the only way to get this Pokémon is by trading with another player.
Luckily, some Costume Pokémon, especially those with flower crowns, do appear again in various events.
To catch a costume Pokémon, it depends on the event. They can be found in the wild, in raids, hatched from eggs, or as rewards from research quests and Collection Challenges.
Getting this special Pikachu can be challenging, especially if you’re new to Pokémon Go’s PVP. We have guides for recommended Pokémon in the Great League, Ultra League, and Master League to help you reach your goal. To get Rank 24, it’s best to start at the beginning of a new season. This way, you’ll have three months to achieve your goal.
There is a unique Pokémon called Okinawan Kariyushi Shirt Pikachu that can only be found in Okinawa, Japan. It is very rare and not easily available to most players.
Legendary Pokémon
Legendary Pokémon mostly appear in five-star raids. Rarity is determined by the difficulty of defeating them and the waiting time for their raid appearance, rather than their spawn rate.
Suppose you don’t have a lot of legendary Pokémon in your Pokédex, whether you’re new to the game or don’t do many five-star raids. In that case, we suggest either joining a local Pokémon Go group or using Remote Raid Passes and apps like Poke Genie.
To improve your chances of catching legendary Pokémon, use Golden Razz or Silver Pinap Berries. To improve your chances of catching Pokémon, observing their movement patterns and identifying the ideal time to throw your Poké Ball is helpful.
Legendary Pokémon can appear as rewards in Research Breakthroughs, but it hasn’t happened recently. Shadow variants can be caught by defeating Giovanni or in five-star Shadow Raids.
You can also get them as rewards from the Go Battle League when you reach Rank 20. To get a legendary using this method, you must win a certain number of matches in a set to unlock a Pokémon reward. After that, you need to catch Pikachu Libre. Once you’ve completed the task, any Pokémon reward you receive may be the current five-star raid boss.
To find the Galarian variants of the legendary bird trio, use Daily Adventure Incense. Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie have been spotted in the wild like the legendary dogs during Go Tour: Johto.
Mythical Pokémon
This guide features mythical Pokémon like Mew, Celebi, and Meloetta. You can only get them by completing their special research quests.
The time it takes to complete each questline in Pokémon Go varies based on your experience and play frequency. After finishing it, you’ll get a particular Pokémon you can’t trade. It means each account can only have one of each special Pokémon.
Currently, only three quests are available in Pokémon Go: All-in-One #151, Distracted by Something Shiny, and Wish Granted. Although there was no deadline, these quests were only available briefly. All-in-One #151 was exclusively for players with a Go Tour: Kanto ticket. Therefore, newcomers cannot obtain these shiny Pokémon anymore.
The All-in-One #151 returned for the 7th Anniversary event in 2023. However, it was still a pay-to-play event and could only be bought for a limited time. However, the other quests may return in future in-game events.
Diancie, a Gen 6 Pokémon, was released during Go Fest 2023. Players could get a special research quest by attending an in-person event or buying a Go Fest Global 2023 ticket. Players who attended Go Fest Global 2023 obtained Diancie by completing the Fascinating Facets special research quest.
We don’t have information about when Diancie will be available to all players through a free special research quest. However, just like previous mythical Pokémon, this quest will eventually come, and you can add Diancie to your collection if you don’t already have it.
Here is a list of all the mythical Pokémon available for free in Pokémon Go. It includes their associated quests and when they can be unlocked.
Mew
A Mythical Discovery (Requires Trainer Level 15)
Celebi
A Ripple in Time (Unlocks upon reaching Step 4 of A Mythical Discovery)
Jirachi
A Thousand-Year Slumber (Unlocks upon reaching Step 7 of A Ripple in Time)
Victini
Investigate a Mysterious Energy (Unlocks upon reaching Step 6 of A Thousand-Year Slumber)
Meloetta
Finding Your Voice (Unable to confirm unlock method)
Shaymin
Grass and Gratitude (Unable to confirm unlock method
The Pokémon Zarude, Hoopa, and Keldeo can only be obtained by completing special research quests. These quests were only available for a limited time. Zarude’s quest, “Search for Zarude,” was open from October 1st to October 10th, 2021. Hoopa’s quest, known as “Misunderstood Mischief,” could be unlocked between September 1st and December 1st, 2021.
Keldeo’s particular research quest, called “Something Extraordinary,” was only available for a limited time from December 10th to December 11th, 2022. To participate, players had to purchase it from the in-game store. We can get Keldeo for free in the future.
As of now, it is impossible to get Zarude, Hoopa, or Keldeo in Pokémon Go. These mythical Pokémon cannot be traded, and no special research quests are available for them. If you don’t have one of these rare Pokémon, you’ll have to wait and hope they return later.
How to increase your chances of getting rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go
Here are some tips to help you find rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go:
1. Increase your Trainer Level!
As you level up, you’ll encounter more types of Pokémon. It means a Level 30 player has a higher chance of meeting a rare Pokémon than a Level 10, so make sure you’re catching Pokémon, completing research quests, and using Lucky Eggs to double the amount of XP you’ll receive.
2. Use Incense and Lure Modules
These items can bring Pokémon to you, and you might even find a rare one if you’re lucky. Incense is great for players in rural areas with fewer Pokémon around. Any player can benefit from the bonus after a Lure Module is used on a PokéStop.
3. Use your Daily Adventure Incense daily
Daily Adventure Incense lasts 15 minutes and allows you to encounter rare Pokémon like Jangmo-o and Tirtouga. It’s the only way to find and catch Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
4. Trade with other players
In 2018, Pokémon Go added trading, allowing players to trade rare and legendary Pokémon with each other. It is great to meet someone with a Pokémon that can only be found in their region, which you don’t have or have been looking for. Remember – you can’t trade mythical Pokémon and must be in a specific range to the person you’re trading with.
5. Hatch eggs
Eggs are a simple and effective way to find rare Pokémon. They allow you to discover creatures that are not commonly found in your area. It’s best to prioritise 12km and 10km eggs, because they offer rarer Pokémon than 5km and 2km eggs. When it comes to 7km eggs, however, it’s always best to check the egg pool as it can change during events.
6. Pay attention to in-game events
Pokémon Go events are an excellent opportunity to catch new Pokémon that may become harder to find later. You can also discover rare Pokémon like Unown during these events. During these events, you can find costume Pokémon and special research quests only available for a limited time.
7. Certain types of Pokémon prefer specific habitats
In Pokémon Go, the places you go in the real world affect the Pokémon you find, even though it’s not shown on the in-game map. Water-type Pokémon are commonly found near the sea or a lake, while Steel-type Pokémon are often seen in urban areas like cities. Playing in different locations can help you discover new Pokémon and possibly even find that rare one you’ve been searching for.
8. Use Remote Raid Passes for five-star raids
To add legendary Pokémon to your Pokédex, use Remote Raid Passes. With them and apps like Poke Genie, you can easily access raids against legendary Pokémon worldwide. Right now, a single Remote Raid Pass costs 100 PokéCoins. Alternatively, you can get three Remote Raid Passes for 300 PokéCoins. These coins can be obtained by either buying them with real money or earning them by leaving your Pokémon in Gyms.
9. Look for, or research, Pokémon nests in your local area
Pokémon nests are groups of Pokémon that show up in the same place repeatedly. They can range from common to rare spawns. Sometimes, you may only see a Pokémon once, so try to catch as many as possible when you come across one. If you want to find the nearest Pokémon nest, The Silph Road subreddit has created a handy Global Nest Atlas.
10. Earn Catch Bonus medals
Each Pokémon type has a Catch Bonus medal that you can level up by catching Pokémon of that type. The Hex Maniac page is the Catch Bonus medal for Ghost-type Pokémon. Increasing its level, like from Bronze to Silver, gives you a bonus whenever you catch a Ghost-type Pokémon. Catching low-level Pokémon can increase your chances of finding rarer creatures.
11. Complete your Special Research quest
Keeping up with your special research quests will increase your chances of catching rare Pokémon like Mew and Shadow versions of legendary Pokémon. Shadow variants are great for adding legendary Pokémon that haven’t been available for a while to your Pokédex.
12. You could always use a Master Ball
The Master Ball is the most powerful and rare Poké Ball. When used, it will always catch a Pokémon. After using a Master Ball, it’s gone forever. So, you must choose your target carefully. In Pokémon Go, Master Balls are now available through in-game events. However, obtaining one requires completing a lengthy particular research quest. Good news! You can stack multiple Master Balls.
13. When in doubt – catch every Pokémon you see
Catching common Pokémon can still help you become a Pokémon Master. When you see a Pokémon, you earn XP and progress towards a Catch Bonus medal. Some Pokémon may also give you candy for future evolutions not yet available in the game. Make sure to catch any evolved Pokémon you come across. They offer more candy than their pre-evolved counterparts. These factors will help you collect all the Pokémon you need for the Pokédex, little by little.
Good luck completing your Pokédex!