What is the Hardest Legendary to Get in Pokémon GO?

The quest to catch ’em all in Pokémon GO is a journey filled with challenges, but some Pokémon stand out as particularly elusive. When it comes to Legendary Pokémon, the difficulty in obtaining them varies widely. However, if we’re talking about sheer scarcity and the near-impossible feat of acquiring them, then the crown for the hardest Legendary to get in Pokémon GO belongs to the Galarian Legendary Birds: Galarian Articuno, Galarian Moltres, and Galarian Zapdos.

These three are not only incredibly rare spawns, but their catch rates are abysmal, and their flee rates are astronomically high. While other Legendaries might require battling in raids or completing research tasks, these Galarian forms require a mix of immense luck and perseverance. They are encountered via the Daily Adventure Incense, adding another layer of complexity: simply activating the incense does not guarantee an encounter; when they do appear, the opportunity to capture is fleeting, and success is far from guaranteed.

The combination of limited spawns, coupled with their incredibly low catch rate and propensity to flee, makes these majestic birds the most difficult Legendary encounters in Pokémon GO. The difficulty isn’t just about power or battle prowess but rather the sheer effort and luck required to even get the chance to capture one.

The Challenge of the Galarian Birds

Scarcity and Spawn Rates

The Galarian birds don’t appear regularly. They are only encountered through the Daily Adventure Incense, which activates a short period of increased wild Pokémon spawns. During this 15-minute window, players hope one of these birds might appear. The odds are incredibly low, and there’s no guarantee you’ll see one during the incense period, which adds to the frustration of many dedicated trainers.

Flee Rates and Catch Rates

When one of these rare spawns finally appears, the challenge intensifies. Reports from the Pokémon GO community suggest a ridiculously low base catch rate of around 0.3%. This is combined with a flee rate of 90%. Even if you use a Golden Razz Berry and hit the excellent throw, it’s highly likely the bird will flee, disappearing for perhaps weeks or even months before you encounter them again.

Pure Luck Factor

Capturing a Galarian Bird is as much about luck as skill. Players can do everything correctly – use a Golden Razz Berry, hit excellent curveballs – but ultimately, the game’s random number generator decides whether the Pokémon will stay in the ball or not. This element of unpredictability only increases the frustration of players, making this pursuit feel like a marathon with no guarantee of crossing the finish line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To provide further insight, here are 15 frequently asked questions relating to the hardest Legendary to obtain in Pokémon GO:

1. Are the Lake Guardians (Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf) as hard to catch as the Galarian Birds?

While the Lake Guardians are very rare and region-specific, they spawn in the wild outside of events. This gives players a chance to actively hunt for them. The Galarian Birds are significantly rarer due to their reliance on a specific feature (Daily Adventure Incense) and their extremely high flee rate.

2. Are any other Legendary Pokémon particularly hard to catch?

Yes, other Legendaries like Arceus and the Ultra Beasts are difficult to obtain, as they often require specific events or raid battles to encounter them. However, their catch rates are much more forgiving than the Galarian birds, once encountered.

3. Which Legendary Pokémon have the easiest catch rates?

Legendaries like Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres (the Kanto versions) tend to have more reasonable catch rates from raid battles. They are still difficult, but significantly easier than the Galarian variations.

4. Do Shiny Galarian Birds exist in Pokémon GO?

Yes, Shiny Galarian Birds are available in Pokémon GO, but their encounter rate is incredibly rare, making them arguably the most sought-after shiny legendary in the game.

5. How do IVs (Individual Values) affect the catch difficulty?

IVs do not directly affect catch difficulty. They determine the potential strength of the Pokémon. A perfect 100% IV Pokémon is incredibly rare, but it does not make the capture itself any harder.

6. What is the difference between legendary and mythical Pokémon regarding rarity?

Mythical Pokémon are generally considered rarer than Legendary Pokémon. Mythicals are usually obtainable through special events or research tasks, making them exceptionally scarce.

7. Is it harder to get a 0% IV Pokémon than a 100% IV one?

While both are very rare, a 0% IV Pokémon is just as rare as a 100% one (1/4096), and some may value it more for its unique rarity.

8. Is Celebi a difficult Legendary to obtain in Pokémon GO?

Celebi is a Mythical Pokémon, not a legendary. It was available as part of a special research task, which makes its accessibility more dependent on specific game events, but its rarity remains high.

9. How does purification affect a shadow Pokémon?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon raises their IVs, and makes it less powerful in battle. It’s often recommended to keep strong Shadow Pokémon due to their boosted attack stat, instead of purifying for higher IV.

10. What are the best items to use when trying to catch a Galarian bird?

Use Golden Razz Berries to significantly increase your catch rate. Employ excellent curveball throws and patience.

11. Is there any way to guarantee a Galarian bird spawn?

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee a spawn. Using the Daily Adventure Incense increases the odds, but it is still heavily influenced by luck.

12. What is a shiny Pokémon?

A Shiny Pokémon is a version of a Pokémon with a different color palette. They are significantly rarer than their normal counterparts, making them highly sought after.

13. Are there any specific events that feature Galarian Birds more often?

There have not been any events that significantly increased Galarian bird spawns. They are consistently rare since their introduction.

14. Can you trade Galarian Legendary birds?

No, you cannot trade the Galarian Legendary Birds. Like many rare or event-only Pokémon, they are locked from trading.

15. What is the purpose of catching a 0% IV Pokemon?

Some players collect 0% IV Pokemon for their uniqueness as they are just as rare as perfect 100% IV Pokémon. They are considered an interesting collector’s item for the Pokémon GO community.

The hunt for the hardest Legendary in Pokémon GO is indeed a challenging and, at times, frustrating pursuit. However, the sheer rarity and elusiveness of the Galarian Legendary Birds make them the most coveted catches for many players. The combination of luck, patience, and determination is vital for any trainer hoping to add these majestic creatures to their collection.