Pokemon Go Rarest Finds And How To Get Them - Theria Games

Welcome, Pokémon Trainers! Completing your Pokédex in Pokémon GO is an exciting challenge, but some Pokémon are notoriously difficult to obtain. This Pokemon Go Rarest Finds and How to Get Them guide will help you track down the rarest creatures covering region-locked exclusives, tricky evolutions, and event-only encounters.

Hard-to-Find Wild Encounters

One of the most elusive Pokémon is Kecleon, which camouflages itself on PokéStop discs. Unlike regular wild Pokémon, it does not appear on the overworld map, making it tricky to find. To reveal it, spin a PokéStop and look for an invisible barrier preventing the spin. If the PokéStop does not allow you to collect items, carefully inspect the disc for a faint outline of Kecleon. Tap on it multiple times to knock it off the disc, then exit the screen to encounter it in the wild.

Because Kecleon spawns are unpredictable, regularly checking PokéStops in different locations increases the chances of finding one. During certain events, Niantic has boosted Kecleon spawn rates, so keeping track of upcoming announcements can be helpful for trainers hoping to add it to their collection. Pokémon GO Rarest Finds and How to Get Them provides essential strategies to help trainers track down these hard-to-find Pokémon.

Another notoriously difficult set of Pokémon to catch are the Galarian Legendary Birds—Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. These regional variants are extremely rare spawns that can only appear when using a Daily Adventure Incense. Even with the Incense active, encounters with these Legendaries are not guaranteed, as their spawn rates are incredibly low. When they do appear, catching them is even more challenging, as they have an astonishing 99% flee rate. This means that unless a trainer is incredibly lucky, the Pokémon will likely escape after the first throw. Ultra Balls and Golden Razz Berries can slightly improve the odds, but they are still unreliable.

The most effective way to secure these Legendaries is by using a Master Ball, which guarantees a successful catch. However, Master Balls are only available through limited-time Special Research, meaning trainers must complete specific tasks and wait for special events to obtain one. Since Master Balls are so rare, deciding when to use them is a crucial decision. Some players choose to save their Master Ball for an extremely high IV Galarian Legendary Bird, while others use it the first time they encounter one to ensure they don’t miss their chance.

For trainers looking to maximize their chances of encountering Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres, there are a few key strategies to follow. First, always use the Daily Adventure Incense in open areas with plenty of space, as this increases the number of Pokémon that spawn. Walking continuously while the Incense is active is also important, as stopping can reduce the number of encounters. Second, stacking Ultra Balls and Golden Razz Berries ahead of time ensures that if a Legendary Bird appears, trainers are prepared to throw immediately. Third, practicing Excellent Curveball Throws can be beneficial, as landing an accurate throw can slightly improve the odds of catching one.

Despite their difficulty, the thrill of encountering a Galarian Legendary Bird in the wild makes them some of the most exciting Pokémon to hunt in Pokémon GO. Trainers who remain patient, consistently use their Daily Adventure Incense, and take advantage of catching strategies may eventually add these rare and powerful Pokémon to their teams.

Egg-Exclusive Pokémon

Certain Pokémon can only be hatched from eggs, making them particularly rare and challenging to obtain. For example, Sandile and its evolutions, Krokorok and Krookodile, can only be obtained from 12km Eggs, which are exclusively dropped by defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders. These eggs require a significant effort to obtain, as players must first battle and defeat powerful Rocket Leaders before earning the right to hatch them. Since Sandile is not found in the wild, collecting enough Sandile Candy for evolution requires multiple egg hatches or the use of Rare Candies, making Krookodile one of the more elusive Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

Another rare egg-exclusive Pokémon is Salazzle, which evolves from Salandit—but only if the Salandit is female. This presents an extra challenge since female Salandit has a low hatch rate of approximately 12.5% from 12km Eggs, meaning players may have to hatch multiple Salandit before obtaining one that can evolve. Since the evolution process also requires 50 Salandit Candies, obtaining a Salazzle can take a considerable amount of time, unless players invest in incubators or use Pinap Berries to double their candy gains when walking with Salandit as their Buddy Pokémon.

Larvesta, the pre-evolution of Volcarona, is another egg-exclusive Pokémon that requires dedication to evolve. It hatches from 5km and 10km Eggs, though reports vary on whether it is limited to PokéStop eggs or available from all sources. What makes Larvesta particularly difficult to evolve is the staggering 400 Candies required to evolve it into Volcarona, making it one of the most expensive evolutions in the game. Since Larvesta does not spawn in the wild, trainers must either hatch multiple Larvesta or use Rare Candies to reach the required amount. Events that increase Larvesta hatch rates or feature it in special research tasks can significantly help trainers trying to add Volcarona to their Pokédex.

Other notoriously rare hatch-exclusive Pokémon include Jangmo-o, Archen, and Frigibax. Jangmo-o, the Dragon/Fighting-type Pokémon introduced in Pokémon GO in 2022, is primarily found in 10km Eggs and has a low hatch rate, making its evolutions, Hakamo-o and Kommo-o, difficult to obtain. Archen, a Rock/Flying-type Pokémon, also hatches from 10km Eggs and is one of the rarest fossil Pokémon in Pokémon GO, with a reputation for being an extremely uncommon hatch. Similarly, Frigibax, the Ice/Dragon-type pseudo-legendary introduced in 2023, is another 10km egg hatch, but its availability improves during special events, particularly those focused on Ice or Dragon-type Pokémon.

For trainers aiming to complete their Pokédex, participating in egg-focused events, walking long distances to hatch eggs, and utilizing incubators efficiently are key strategies. Special events occasionally boost the hatch rates of specific Pokémon, so keeping an eye on in-game announcements can help trainers take advantage of temporary increases in availability. Trading with friends who have extra egg-exclusive Pokémon can also be a viable way to obtain these hard-to-get species without relying solely on hatching.

GO Battle League & Cross-Game Pokémon

Pikachu Libre is one of the rarest costumed Pokémon in Pokémon GO, as it is exclusively awarded to trainers who reach Legend Rank (Rank 24) in the GO Battle League. Since only the most dedicated and skilled battlers can achieve this rank, Pikachu Libre remains an elusive prize that few trainers obtain. This wrestling-themed Pikachu has been available for several seasons, but because GO Battle League resets each season, trainers must continuously compete and rank up to earn it again. Unlike other costumed Pikachu variants, which often return during special events, Pikachu Libre is locked behind a competitive milestone, making it highly sought after by collectors and competitive players alike.

Another rare Pokémon is Meltan, a mythical Pokémon that does not spawn in the wild and can only be obtained by activating a Mystery Box. This special item is earned by transferring a Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home or the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! games on the Nintendo Switch. Once the Mystery Box is opened, Meltan will appear for a limited time, allowing trainers to catch multiple Meltan before the box becomes inactive.

However, since evolving Meltan into Melmetal requires 400 Meltan Candies, trainers must activate the Mystery Box multiple times or use Rare Candies to speed up the process. Events that increase Meltan spawns or provide double candy bonuses can significantly help with this challenging evolution. Since Melmetal is a powerful Pokémon with access to its exclusive move Double Iron Bash, it is not only rare but also valuable for battles.

Gimmighoul and its evolution, Gholdengo, are another pair of Pokémon that require a unique method to obtain. Unlike most Pokémon that spawn naturally in the game, Gimmighoul can only be found by linking Pokémon GO to Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet on the Nintendo Switch. Trainers must send a Postcard from Pokémon GO to their Nintendo Switch game to unlock the Coin Bag, which, when activated, causes Roaming Form Gimmighoul to appear in the wild for a limited time.

However, catching Gimmighoul is just the first step in acquiring Gholdengo, as evolving it requires collecting 999 Gimmighoul Coins. These coins can be obtained from Golden PokéStops, which occasionally appear in the game and provide varying amounts of coins when spun. Because the number of coins earned per stop is unpredictable, gathering enough to evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo is a time-consuming process that requires dedication and frequent gameplay. Due to its unique acquisition method and evolution requirement, Gholdengo remains one of the most challenging Pokémon to obtain in Pokémon GO.

Trainers looking to complete their Pokédex with these rare Pokémon must engage in competitive battles, connect with other Pokémon games, and take advantage of special events that boost their availability. Whether striving for Pikachu Libre through the GO Battle League, collecting Meltan Candies for Melmetal, or farming Gimmighoul Coins for Gholdengo, patience and persistence are essential in securing these exclusive Pokémon.

Legendary and Regional Exclusives

The Lake Guardians—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf—are regional Legendary Pokémon that are rarely found in the wild near bodies of water but are more commonly available in five-star raids. Each of these Psychic-type Pokémon is restricted to a specific region, making it difficult to obtain all three without assistance from international players.

Uxie is exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region, Mesprit appears in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, while Azelf is found in the Americas and Greenland. Since they rarely appear in the wild, most trainers rely on remote Raid invites from players in other parts of the world to complete the trio. These Pokémon occasionally return during special events or Raid rotations, but outside of these opportunities, acquiring all three requires careful coordination with friends in different regions.

Unown is another elusive Pokémon, made even more challenging by the fact that it has 28 different forms, representing each letter of the alphabet along with the question mark and exclamation mark symbols. Unlike most Pokémon, Unown does not spawn in the wild under normal circumstances and only appears during special events such as Pokémon GO Fest or themed limited-time celebrations.

Because each event typically features only a few select Unown letters, completing the full collection is a long-term challenge that requires attending multiple events, trading with other players, or waiting for specific Unown forms to rotate back into availability. Some of the rarest Unown forms have only been available for brief periods, making them highly sought after by collectors.

Region-locked Pokémon add another layer of difficulty for trainers aiming to complete their Pokédex. Certain Pokémon are only available in specific parts of the world, requiring players to travel, trade, or participate in special events to collect them all. For example, Tauros is exclusive to North America, while Hawlucha can only be found in Mexico.

Other region-exclusive Pokémon include Kangaskhan in Australia, Mr. Mime in Europe, and Heracross in South America. Some Pokémon have even stricter limitations, such as Relicanth, which is found in New Zealand and surrounding Pacific islands, making it one of the hardest regionals to obtain without travel or trading. Occasionally, Niantic makes these Pokémon available worldwide during events, but outside of these windows, they remain locked to their respective regions.

Trainers looking to complete their collection of these rare Pokémon must take advantage of events that increase their availability, coordinate trades with other players, and make use of remote Raid invitations when necessary. Whether hunting for Legendary Lake Guardians, tracking down every Unown form, or acquiring region-exclusive Pokémon, patience and strategic planning are key to completing one of Pokémon GO’s most challenging objectives.

Maximizing Your Chances

Finding rare Pokémon in Pokémon GO requires strategy, persistence, and taking advantage of every available opportunity. One of the best ways to increase your odds is by participating in special events, as these often boost the spawn rates of rare Pokémon that are otherwise difficult to find. Limited-time events such as Pokémon GO Fest, Safari Zones, and themed weeks frequently feature exclusive spawns, region-locked Pokémon in different locations, or boosted hatch rates for certain species. Keeping track of upcoming event announcements and planning your gameplay around them can significantly improve your chances of encountering elusive Pokémon.

Using Incense and Lures is another effective way to attract more Pokémon, increasing the likelihood of finding rare species. Daily Adventure Incense, in particular, has a chance to spawn Pokémon that are normally hard to find, including the Galarian Legendary Birds. Lure Modules placed at PokéStops, especially during events that feature specific Pokémon, can also be useful for attracting uncommon spawns. Combining these tools with weather-boosted spawns can further enhance the odds of encountering certain Pokémon, as weather conditions influence which species appear more frequently.

Hatching eggs frequently is a great way to obtain rare Pokémon that do not often appear in the wild. Pokémon found in 10km and 12km eggs tend to be among the hardest to obtain, making it essential to continuously collect and hatch these eggs. Using multiple incubators can speed up the process, allowing for more hatches and increasing the chances of getting elusive Pokémon such as Larvesta, Jangmo-o, or Frigibax. Paying attention to seasonal egg pools and event-exclusive hatches is also important, as certain Pokémon may only be available in eggs for a limited time before being rotated out.

Joining local Pokémon GO communities can be incredibly beneficial, as connecting with other trainers provides access to valuable information, trading opportunities, and remote Raid invitations. Online platforms such as Discord, Facebook groups, and dedicated Pokémon GO forums often have players coordinating Raid battles, sharing spawn locations, and offering advice on catching rare Pokémon. Remote Raids are particularly useful for obtaining region-locked Legendaries or Pokémon that only appear in raids for a short period. By networking with players from different parts of the world, trainers can significantly expand their chances of completing their Pokédex.

Consistency is key in Pokémon GO, as playing regularly and exploring different areas increases the likelihood of encountering rare Pokémon. Rare spawns can appear at any time, and those who play frequently have more opportunities to find them. Walking in new locations, visiting parks, and checking high-traffic areas with plenty of PokéStops can lead to unexpected, rare encounters. Keeping track of biome-based spawns and knowing where certain types of Pokémon are more likely to appear can also be helpful.

Catching the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO takes dedication, patience, and a bit of luck. By participating in events, using Incense and Lures, hatching eggs, engaging with the community, and playing consistently, trainers can maximize their chances of finding the game’s most elusive Pokémon. Stay persistent, keep exploring, and enjoy the adventure—every rare catch is a reward for the effort you put in!