Legendary Pokemon are the most powerful and coveted creatures in Pokemon GO. This comprehensive guide covers all methods to catch legendary Pokemon, from raids to special events in 2025.
Quick Answer: Legendary Pokemon are primarily obtained through five-star Raid Battles. You can also encounter them in GO Battle League (rank 20+), Team GO Rocket battles, and special research quests.
Method 1: Five-Star Raid Battles (Primary Method)
The main way to catch legendary Pokemon is through five-star Legendary Raid Battles at gyms. These raids require coordinating with other trainers to defeat powerful legendary Pokemon.
Raid Battle Steps
- Find a Legendary Raid
- Look for eggs with five stars above gyms
- Check the "Nearby" raids section in-game
- Raids appear at gyms throughout the day
- Legendary bosses rotate weekly or monthly
- Obtain Raid Passes
- Free Raid Pass: One free pass per day by spinning a gym
- Premium Raid Pass: Purchase from shop for 100 PokeCoins
- Remote Raid Pass: Join raids from anywhere (195 PokeCoins)
- Gather Your Team
- Most legendary raids require 3-5+ high-level trainers
- Some can be trio'd or duo'd by experienced players
- Join local Discord/Facebook raid groups
- Use apps like PokeRaid or Campfire to find remote groups
- Battle the Legendary Pokemon
- Select your best type-advantage counters
- Dodge charge moves when possible
- Revive and rejoin if your team faints
- Defeat the boss before the timer expires
- Catch the Legendary
- You'll receive Premier Balls based on your performance
- Use Golden Razz Berries for maximum catch rate
- Aim for Excellent Curveball throws
- Legendary Pokemon have approximately 2% base catch rate
Remote Raiding: Remote Raid Passes let you join any raid visible on your map or through invitations from friends anywhere in the world. This is perfect for finding raid groups anytime!
Method 2: GO Battle League (Rank 20+)
Once you reach Rank 20 in the GO Battle League, you can encounter legendary Pokemon as rewards for winning battles.
GO Battle League Steps
- Participate in GO Battle League battles (5 battles per set)
- Reach Rank 20 or higher
- Win at least 3 out of 5 battles in a set
- Encounter the current five-star raid boss as a reward
- The legendary has a 100% catch rate with unlimited Premier Balls!
Huge Advantage: Legendary encounters from GO Battle League have a guaranteed catch rate and unlimited balls—much easier than raid catches!
Method 3: Team GO Rocket (Shadow Legendaries)
Defeat Giovanni, the Team GO Rocket boss, to encounter rare Shadow Legendary Pokemon.
Team GO Rocket Steps
- Complete special research that features Giovanni
- Obtain mysterious components by defeating Rocket Grunts
- Craft Rocket Radars and defeat the three Team Leaders (Cliff, Sierra, Arlo)
- Obtain a Super Rocket Radar
- Find and defeat Giovanni
- Catch the Shadow Legendary Pokemon (100% catch rate)
Shadow Legendaries from Giovanni:
- Shadow Mewtwo (limited-time)
- Shadow Lugia (limited-time)
- Shadow Ho-Oh (limited-time)
- Shadow Legendary Birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres)
- Shadow Legendary Beasts (Entei, Raikou, Suicune)
- Shadow Latios and Latias
Method 4: Special Research Quests
Some legendary Pokemon are available through timed or special research quests:
- Season-Long Research - Complete tasks over several months
- Paid Research - Available during GO Fest or special events
- Event Research - Limited-time quests during celebrations
- Examples: Regigigas, Genesect, Victini, and others
Method 5: Special Events (GO Fest, Community Days)
Major events often feature increased legendary spawns and special bonuses:
- Pokemon GO Fest - Annual summer event with exclusive legendaries
- Raid Days - Three-hour windows with boosted legendary spawns
- Legendary Raid Hours - Wednesday evenings (6-7 PM local time)
- Season Finales - Multiple legendaries available simultaneously
Event Tip: Legendary Raid Hours on Wednesday evenings are the best time to catch legendaries! Gyms are packed with active players and raids.
Maximizing Your Legendary Catch Rate
Legendary Pokemon are notoriously difficult to catch. Use these techniques to maximize your chances:
Advanced Catching Techniques
1. The Circle Lock Technique
- Hold the Poke Ball until the target circle shrinks to Excellent size
- Release your finger (don't throw yet)
- Wait for the legendary to attack
- Right after the attack animation, throw your curveball
- The circle will be the same size you set earlier
2. Golden Razz Berry Strategy
- Use Golden Razz Berries on every throw (2.5x catch multiplier)
- Stock up from raids before legendary encounters
- Don't waste on poor throws—wait for good opportunities
3. Throw Bonuses
- Curveball: 1.7x catch rate multiplier
- Nice Throw: 1.15x multiplier
- Great Throw: 1.5x multiplier
- Excellent Throw: 1.85x multiplier
- Combine: Excellent Curveball = ~3x multiplier!
4. Medal Bonuses
- Platinum type medals increase catch rate by 1.4x
- Gold medals provide 1.3x multiplier
- Silver medals give 1.2x boost
- Work on type medals for future legendary encounters
Earning More Premier Balls
After defeating a legendary raid, you receive Premier Balls based on several factors:
Premier Ball Sources
- Team Contribution: Up to 3 balls (deal more damage than other teams)
- Damage: Up to 3 balls (individual damage dealt)
- Gym Control: Up to 2 balls (if your team controls the gym)
- Speed: Up to 2 balls (defeat the raid boss quickly)
- Friend Bonus: Up to 4 balls (raid with Best Friends)
- Base Balls: 6 balls guaranteed
Maximum Possible: 20 Premier Balls
Pro Tip: Raid with Best Friends to maximize your Premier Balls! The +4 ball bonus is the largest single contributor you can control.
Best Counters for Legendary Raids
Having strong counters is essential for defeating legendary raid bosses:
Building Your Raid Team
- Use Type Advantage: Always use Pokemon that are super-effective
- Power Up Your Team: Focus on Level 30-40 counters
- Mega Evolution: Use Mega Pokemon for 30% damage boost
- Weather Boost: Raid in advantageous weather when possible
- Shadow Pokemon: Shadow forms deal 20% more damage
- Best Buddy: CP boost from Best Buddy status helps
Current Legendary Rotation (2025)
Legendary Pokemon rotate regularly in Pokemon GO. Here's how rotations typically work:
- Weekly Rotations: During special events, legendaries change weekly
- Monthly Rotations: Normal months feature 1-2 legendaries
- Season Themes: Legendaries match seasonal themes
- Multiple Bosses: Sometimes 2-3 legendaries appear simultaneously
- Shiny Releases: New shiny forms debut during special events
Stay Updated: Check the in-game News section or official Pokemon GO blog for current legendary raid schedules and announcements!
Trading for Legendaries
You can trade for legendary Pokemon, but there are significant restrictions:
- Special Trade: Legendaries count as special trades (one per day)
- Stardust Cost: Very expensive, ranging from 20,000 to 1,000,000 Stardust
- Friendship Reduces Cost: Best Friends pay only 20,000 Stardust
- IV Reroll: IVs randomize when traded (10/10/10 minimum for Best Friends)
- Distance Requirement: Must be within 100 meters of trade partner
Types of Legendary Pokemon
Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO fall into several categories:
Legendary Categories
Legendary Birds (Kanto)
- Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres
Legendary Beasts (Johto)
Legendary Titans (Hoenn)
- Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Regigigas
Legendary Lake Guardians (Sinnoh)
Legendary Dragons
- Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem
Weather Trio
- Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza
Tower Duo
Psychic Legendaries
- Mewtwo, Latios, Latias, Cresselia
Note: Mythical Pokemon (Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, etc.) are obtained differently through special research quests, not raids!
Shiny Legendary Pokemon
Most legendary Pokemon have shiny forms available:
- Shiny Rate: Approximately 1 in 20 encounters (5%)
- Guaranteed Catch: Shiny legendaries from raids have 100% catch rate
- Releases: Shinies often debut during special raid days
- Year-Round: Once released, shinies remain available