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How To Get Every Legendary In Pokémon GO

By  Aimee
Mar. 22, 2026

Ready to fill your Pokédex with every powerful Legendary in Pokémon GO? In this guide, you'll discover clear, actionable strategies to track, battle, and catch every Legendary available in the game. You’ll walk away with the knowledge to build an impressive collection without wasting valuable items or time.

Why should you care about learning to catch every Legendary? These rare Pokémon unlock stronger team compositions, better raid performance, and bragging rights among your community. But it's important to understand the process step by step, so you can avoid common mistakes that lead to missed opportunities.

Why Getting Every Legendary in Pokémon GO Is Worth Your Time

  • Stronger battle performance: Legendary Pokémon have far higher base stats than most common Pokémon, making them invaluable for raids, Gym battles, and PvP matches. You’ll be able to take on tougher challenges and support your team during group activities.
  • Prestigious collection milestone: Completing your Legendary Pokédex is a widely recognized achievement in the Pokémon GO community. It shows your dedication and gives you a rare collection that few players can match.
  • Unique event access opportunities: Many Legendaries are tied to limited-time events, so catching them as they release lets you participate in exclusive in-game activities and collaborations. You won’t have to wait months for a re-run to add them to your roster.
  • Flexible team customization: With a full set of Legendaries, you can build specialized teams for every battle type, from Master League PvP to specific elemental raid counters. You’ll never feel stuck when facing a new in-game challenge.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Every Legendary in Pokémon GO

Step 1: Plan your collection tracking and event schedule

First, make a list of all Legendaries you currently have and note which are missing, using a reliable community resource like the Silph Road Pokédex. Follow official Pokémon GO social media channels and community event calendars to track upcoming Legendary raid rotations and limited-time release events. This ensures you never miss a window to catch a missing Legendary.

Pro tip: Set calendar reminders for the start and end dates of each new raid rotation to avoid last-minute rushes.

Step 2: Stock up on essential in-game resources

Prioritize stocking Raid Passes, Golden Razz Berries, Ultra Balls, and Potions before any major Legendary event or raid weekend. You can earn free Raid Passes by spinning Gym PokéStops once per day, or purchase premium passes from the in-game shop if you plan to run multiple raids in one day. Having enough resources prevents you from being unable to join a raid or failing a catch because you ran out of items.

Common mistake to avoid: Don’t waste Golden Razz Berries on non-Legendary raids, as they significantly boost your catch chance for rare Pokémon.

Step 3: Find and join active raid groups

Join local Pokémon GO Discord servers, Facebook groups, or in-person raid communities to coordinate group raids for Legendaries. Most high-tier Legendary raids require 5 to 10 players to beat, so having a reliable group drastically increases your access to raid opportunities. You can also use in-game raid invites from friends to join raids in other locations if a rare Legendary is spawning there.

Pro tip: Be active in your community by hosting raids yourself, so other players will be more likely to invite you to their runs.

Step 4: Optimize your battle strategy for each Legendary

Before joining a raid, research the Legendary’s type weaknesses and build a team of six strong counters to maximize your damage output. Use type-effective moves and save your charged attacks for key points in the battle to help your team defeat the boss before the timer runs out. A well-built team can cut down the number of players needed for a raid and increase your chances of winning.

Common mistake to avoid: Don’t use auto-selected teams, as they often include Pokémon with low type effectiveness that will drag down your team’s performance.

Step 5: Master the catch mechanics to reduce misses

After winning a raid, use a Golden Razz Berry before every throw to boost your catch rate, and practice curve throws to get extra catch bonuses. Aim for Excellent or Great throw ratings whenever possible, as these further increase your odds of catching the Legendary. Take your time with each throw, as you have a limited number of attempts per raid clear.

Pro tip: Wait until the Legendary finishes its attack animation before throwing your ball, to avoid wasted throws that get knocked away.

Step 6: Participate in special research and go battle league rewards

Keep an eye on timed and special research quests that reward Legendary Pokémon, as these often give you a guaranteed catch opportunity without needing to join raids. Some Legendaries are also available as rank-up rewards in the Go Battle League for players who reach higher PvP ranks. These alternative paths let you catch Legendaries even if you can’t join group raids regularly.

Challenges to Be Aware Of

  • Limited-time availability windows: Many Legendaries only appear in raids for a few weeks each year, and re-run schedules can be unpredictable. If you miss a release window, you may have to wait months or even years for another chance to catch that specific Legendary. Plan ahead and prioritize catching limited-time Legendaries first when they become available.
  • Random catch chance variance: Even with perfect throws and Golden Razz Berries, there is no guaranteed way to catch a Legendary after a raid. You may need to run multiple raids of the same Legendary before you successfully catch it, which can be frustrating. Be patient and set aside enough raid passes for each Legendary you want to catch.
  • Raid group coordination difficulties: If you live in a rural area with few active players, it can be hard to gather enough people to beat high-tier Legendary raids. You may need to travel to more populated areas, use remote raid passes, or coordinate with online groups to join raids from other locations. Remote raid passes can help mitigate this issue if you have a strong online community to play with.

Conclusion

You now have the foundation to start catching every Legendary in Pokémon GO and build the rare collection you’ve been aiming for. The steps we covered work for both casual players and dedicated collectors, so you can adjust them to fit your play style and schedule.

Getting every Legendary in Pokémon GO offers the chance to build unbeatable battle teams and earn a respected status in the game’s community. By following these strategies, you’re positioning yourself to catch far more rare Pokémon than you would with random, unplanned play.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start by checking the current raid rotation and joining a local raid group today. Every small step you take brings you closer to completing your full Legendary Pokédex.

FAQ

How long does it take to catch every Legendary in Pokémon GO?

The timeline varies based on how active you are and how many limited-time Legendaries have already been released. For most regular players who participate in 2-3 raids per week, you can catch all currently available Legendaries in 6 to 12 months, depending on event schedules. Be patient and prioritize limited-time releases first to speed up the process.

Do I need to spend money to catch every Legendary?

You don’t have to spend real money to catch every Legendary, as you can earn free Raid Passes daily from Gyms and get many Legendaries through free special research quests. Spending on premium Raid Passes can speed up the process by letting you join more raids per week, but it is not required. Start with free passes and only purchase extras if you want to progress faster.

What's the best way to catch a Legendary after I win a raid?

Always use a Golden Razz Berry before every throw, and practice consistent curve throws to get extra catch bonuses. Aim for Great or Excellent throws by waiting for the target circle to shrink to the size you’re most comfortable with. If you struggle with fast-moving Legendaries, wait for their attack animation to end before throwing to avoid missing.

Can I use the Legendaries I catch for competitive PvP and raids?

Absolutely, Legendaries are some of the strongest Pokémon available for both PvP in the Go Battle League and high-tier raid battles. Many Legendaries have ideal base stats and move sets that make them top-tier picks for multiple game modes. Once you catch a Legendary, power it up with stardust and candy to get the most out of it in battles.