Why Can’t You Put Legendaries in Gyms in Pokémon GO?

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The primary reason you cannot place Legendary or Mythical Pokémon in Gyms in Pokémon GO is a design choice by Niantic to maintain game balance and encourage diversity in Gym defenses. Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are typically significantly more powerful than common Pokémon, and allowing them in Gyms would create an environment where it is extremely difficult for other players to challenge and defeat Gyms, thereby stifling gameplay for many. This limitation promotes the use of a wider variety of Pokémon and more strategic team compositions when defending Gyms.

The Rationale Behind the Restriction

Niantic designed Gyms to be accessible to players of all levels. Filling them exclusively with powerful Legendaries would disproportionately benefit high-level players, making it almost impossible for newcomers to participate effectively in Gym battles and coin earning. This would create a negative feedback loop, potentially discouraging new players and reducing overall engagement.

• Balancing Power: Legendaries possess superior stats and move sets, making them much harder to defeat compared to regular Pokémon.
• Promoting Diversity: Limiting Legendaries encourages players to train and utilize a broader range of Pokémon, fostering a more diverse and interesting Gym ecosystem.
• Accessibility: By preventing Legendary Gym domination, Niantic ensures the game remains accessible and enjoyable for players of all levels.
• Strategic Team Compositions: Without Legendaries, trainers must rely on strategic combinations of type advantages, move sets, and teamwork to successfully defend a Gym.
• Encouraging Raids: While you can’t place them in gyms, Legendaries remain highly sought after for use in Raids, further incentivizing that gameplay pillar.

Exceptions to the Rule

While the general rule prohibits Legendaries and Mythicals, there is one notable exception: the Meltan evolutionary line, which includes Melmetal, can be placed in Gyms. Meltan is obtained through a connection with Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! on the Nintendo Switch, making it a slightly less common but attainable Pokémon for many trainers. Melmetal is an extremely powerful Pokémon that allows players to flex their unique Pokémon and strategies.

Meltan: A Unique Case

Meltan and Melmetal are unique Pokémon that can be placed in Gyms. This is due to the special method in which they are obtained, they are considered less of a premium Pokémon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules and implications surrounding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in Gyms:

1. Can I use Legendary Pokémon in Gym battles? Yes, you can absolutely use Legendary Pokémon in Gym battles when attacking a Gym controlled by another team. The restriction only applies to placing them as defenders.

2. Why can’t I transfer multiple Legendary Pokémon at once? By default, you cannot transfer multiple Legendary or Mythical Pokémon at once to prevent accidental deletion. However, you can enable this feature in your app settings after agreeing to a warning. This also applies to Shiny Pokémon, Lucky Pokémon, or Buddy Pokémon with whom you’ve reached Good Buddy status or above.

3. Can I put Regigigas in Gyms? No, Regigigas, being a Legendary Pokémon, cannot be placed in Gyms. You can catch Regigigas by participating in raids.

4. Can I put Mega-Evolved Pokémon in Gyms? While you can use Mega-Evolved Pokémon in Gym battles, you cannot leave them to defend a Gym. Mega Evolution is a temporary power boost, and the Pokémon reverts to its original form after a certain period.

5. Why can’t I give my Pokémon a Berry at a Gym remotely? To feed berries to a Pokémon remotely at a Gym, you must have at least one of your own Pokémon stationed at that Gym. If you are physically present at the Gym, you can feed berries to any Pokémon of your team’s color in the Gym.

6. Why can’t I put a Pokémon in a Gym immediately after a raid? After a raid, the Gym is temporarily unavailable for interaction until the game resets it to its pre-raid state. Once the raid has concluded, the Gym returns to normal, and you can then place Pokémon.

7. How much does it cost to transfer a Legendary Pokémon to Pokémon HOME? The energy cost to transfer a Legendary Pokémon to Pokémon HOME varies based on the Pokémon and its stats. A base Legendary costs 1,000 Energy, with additional costs for Shiny Pokémon and higher CP levels.

8. Can you trade Shiny Legendaries? Yes, Shiny Legendaries can be traded in Pokémon GO, but it requires a high friendship level with the other player and consumes a significant amount of Stardust.

9. What Mythical Pokémon cannot be traded? Certain Mythical Pokémon like Mew and Pokémon that have been traded once before cannot be traded again. Some limitations also apply to accounts associated with Niantic Kids or Pokémon Trainer Club; you can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

10. Is Zygarde tradable in Pokémon GO? Currently, Zygarde is not tradable and is treated similarly to a Mythical or Shadow Pokémon in terms of trading restrictions.

11. Why can’t we trade Darkrai? Darkrai is classified as a Mythical Pokémon, and therefore cannot be traded in Pokémon GO. Mythical Pokémon are generally restricted from trading to preserve their rarity.

12. Can Victini be Shiny in Pokémon GO? While Victini does have a Shiny sprite in the game’s data, it is currently not available through legitimate gameplay and can only be accessed through unofficial means.

13. Should I put high CP Pokémon in Gyms? Higher CP Pokémon tend to decay faster in Gyms, which means they lose CP more quickly over time. However, they also require more battles to be defeated. The choice depends on your strategy for Gym defense.

14. How many PokéCoins can I earn per day from Gyms? You earn 6 PokéCoins per hour defending a Gym (1 PokéCoin per 10 minutes), but the maximum you can earn in a single day is 50 PokéCoins, regardless of how many Gyms you defend.

15. Why are Legendary and Mythical Pokémon important in Pokémon GO? Legendary and Mythical Pokémon play a crucial role in Raids, which are a core gameplay feature in Pokémon GO. Successfully battling and catching these powerful Pokémon adds depth and excitement to the game, providing trainers with challenges and rewards. Beyond raids, these Pokémon can be transferred to other Pokémon games and can be used in PVP.

These FAQs provide a comprehensive overview of the restrictions surrounding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in Gyms, offering clarity for both new and experienced Pokémon GO players. For additional information about gameplay and research related to games, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society.