How to Catch Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO: Best Strategies & Tips

Legendary Pokemon are the most sought-after creatures in Pokemon GO - incredibly rare, powerful and coveted by Trainers around the world. But catching them isn't just a matter of luck - it requires careful preparation, smart strategy and perfect timing.

In this complete guide, we'll walk you through every proven method for catching Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO. You'll learn expert techniques for raid battles, Special Research tasks, and trading opportunities to increase your chances of catching a Legendary Pokemon! Let’s go!

What Makes Legendary Pokemon Special?

Legendary Pokemon are rare and powerful creatures in Pokemon GO. You won’t find them during your everyday walks. Instead, you'll have to take on special challenges like Legendary Raids, complete Research Breakthroughs, or wait for special events to get your chance to catch them. And the catch rate of Legendary Pokemon is 3. That's why Legendary Pokemon is so special.

Key Features of Legendary Pokemon:

Hard to Find - They're incredibly rare and don't appear in the wild.

Powerful & High CP - Their combat power is much higher than that of regular Pokemon.

Limited Availability - They're only available for a limited time.

Can’t Defend Gyms - Unlike regular Pokemon, they can't be used to defend gyms.

I know what you're thinking - "How do I actually catch one of these?" Don't worry, I've got you covered. Let me show you the best ways to catch Legendary Pokemon.

[Top 5 Ways] How to Catch Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO?

Catching Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO isn’t easy, but with the right strategy, you can add them to your collection. Here are the best ways to catch them:

1 Catch Legendary Pokemon in 5-Star Raids

The most common way to get a Legendary is defeating them in 5-star raids. These raids are indicated by the presence of dark pink eggs with purple stripes at gyms. Once you defeat it, you’ll get a chance to catch it using Premier Balls in the Bonus Challenge. Since Legendaries change every few weeks, so check the current raid schedule and prepare in advance.

Tip

You can find a raid using LocaChange's PoGo Search or use a Remote Raid Pass to join from anywhere.

2 Catch Legendary Pokemon Through Special Events

One of the easiest ways to catch Legendary Pokemon is by participating in Special Events in Pokemon GO. These events are often held throughout the year and feature limited-time Legendary Pokemon.

Major Event Types for Legendary Encounters:

• Pokemon GO Fest & Safari Zones: These premium events often feature multiple Legendaries through special research tasks or raids.
• Raid Days: During these 3-hour windows, specific Legendaries appear in nearly every gym.
• Elite Raid Battles: Extra-challenging raids that require in-person coordination to complete.
• Seasonal Events: These events sometimes feature Legendaries as research rewards or raid highlights.

3 Trade for a Legendary Pokemon

If you missed a Legendary Pokemon in a raid or event, don't worry - trading with friends offers another chance to get them! In Pokemon GO, Legendary trades are considered Special Trades, which means:

Trading is a great way to get exclusive or event Legendaries that you missed. Always check your friendship level and save up Stardust to make trading easier!

4 Catch Legendary Pokemon by Reaching GO Battle League Rank 20

One of the most rewarding ways to obtain Legendary Pokemon is by competing in the GO Battle League. Once you reach Rank 20, you'll have the chance to encounter the current 5-Star Raid Boss as a potential reward. These Legendary encounters can occur when you achieve 3 or more wins in a Battle Set, giving you another way to add these powerful Pokemon to your collection without using Raid Passes.

5 Catch Legendary Pokemon by Defeating Giovanni

Defeating Team GO Rocket leader Giovanni will reward you with a rare Shadow Legendary Pokemon. After completing the required Team GO Rocket Special Research to obtain a Super Rocket Radar, you can track down and challenge Giovanni. The best part? Your victory guarantees you an encounter with his Shadow Legendary, which has a 100% catch rate - making this one of the most reliable ways to obtain these specials.

How to Easily Catch Legendaries in Pokemon GO?

Catching Legendary Pokemon can be challenging and uncertain, but LocaChange can help you get Legendary Pokemon more easily. LocaChange is a Pokemon GO spoofing tool that allows you change your location in Pokemon GO, helping you access Legendary Pokemon from anywhere. This is especially useful for trainers who may not have access to specific events or raids in their area.

Key Features of LocaChange

• Teleport in Pokemon GO with 1 click, access Legendary Pokemon from anywhere.
• Change location anywhere, join global raids and events without travelling.
• Use the joystick to simulate the real route and complete daily tasks to earn rich rewards.
• Trade Pokemon from afar to guarantee Legendary Pokemon and XL Candy.
• 100% safe to use, no root or jailbreak required.
• Compatible with iOS/Android, supports up to 10 devices.
• More advanced features like Auto Walk, Raid Finder, Pokemon GO Map.

How to Use LocaChange to Catch a Legendary:

Step 1 Download and install LocaChange on your computer. Connect your iPhone or Android device to computer via USB or WiFi.

Step 2 Open LocaChange and click PoGo Search in PoGo Tools to view data on Pokemon/Raids/Quests near your current location.

Step 3 Once you have found your destination, click Go to catch Legendary Pokemon or participate in 5-Star Raids.

With LocaChange, you can make catching Legendary Pokemon easier and more convenient, no matter where you are!

What to Prepare Before Catching a Legendary?

Before you try to catch a Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, it’s important to prepare properly to increase your chances of success. Here's what you need to prepare first:

Golden Razz Berries: These increase your catch rate by 2.5x, making them essential for catching tough Legendary Pokemon that tend to escape.

Poke Balls (Ultra Balls & Premier Balls): Ultra Balls have a higher catch rate for Legendary encounters in research rewards, while Premier Balls are exclusively used after raids - so aim for Excellent Throws to maximize your chances.

Max Revives & Potions: When you're in a Legendary raid, your team can get wiped out. Having Max Revives and Potions will help you relobby quickly.

Raid Passes & Remote Raid Passes: A Raid Pass is required for in-person raids, while a Remote Raid Pass lets you join Legendary Raids from anywhere, even if you're not near a gym.

Pinap Berries: If you're confident with your throws, using Silver Pinap Berries instead of Golden Razz can double the candy you earn from catching Legendaries.

Smart Tricks to Catch Legendary Pokemon

1 Find Legendary Pokemon in the Wild

While extremely rare, some Legendary Pokemon can actually spawn in the wild. Currently, the only ones regularly found this way are the Lake Guardian Trio, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, but they are region-exclusive and appear only in specific areas.

2 Master Type Advantages for Easier Catches

Knowing a Legendary Pokemon’s type and its weaknesses can help you defeat them faster in raids, giving you more Premier Balls for catching.

3 Perfect Your Throws for Higher Success

Aim for an Excellent Curveball Throw to maximize your catch chance. Wait for the Legendary Pokemon to finish its attack animation before throwing, and time your throw so that the ball lands inside the colored catch circle.

4 Pay Attention to the Weather Boost

If the in-game weather matches a Legendary’s type, it will have higher CP when caught and require fewer Candies to power up. Use this to your advantage when battling and catching Legendary Pokemon:

FAQs About Catching Legendary Pokemon

1. Can You Still Catch Legendary Pokemon Through Research Breakthroughs?

No, Research Breakthroughs no longer reward Legendary Pokemon as they once did. The last time Legendaries appeared in Research Breakthroughs was December 2019.

2. How to Increase Your Chances of Catching a Legendary Pokemon?

Always use Golden Razz Berries—they significantly boost your catch rate. Time your throws carefully; a well-placed Excellent Curveball Throw gives much better odds than a regular Nice Throw. Also, raid with Best Friends to earn extra Premier Balls, as more balls mean more chances to catch the Legendary.

3. Which Legendaries Are Easier to Catch?

Some Legendary Pokemon have higher base catch rates, making them easier to catch. Pokemon like Zapdos, Moltres, and Kyogre are generally easier than Rayquaza or Mewtwo, which tend to break free more often. Additionally, event-exclusive Legendaries obtained from GO Battle League rewards usually have a 100% catch rate, meaning they won’t escape.

4. How Do You Attract Legendary Pokemon?

Unlike regular Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon cannot be attracted with Incense or Lure Modules. The main ways to encounter them are through Legendary Raids, GO Battle League rewards, and special events. Some, like the Lake Guardian Trio (Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf), can very rarely spawn in the wild.

5. How to Get Free Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO?

You can obtain free Legendary Pokemon by completing Special Research quests, which often guarantee a 100% catch rate for the featured Pokemon. Another method is reaching Rank 20 in GO Battle League, where the current Raid Boss can appear as a reward encounter.

6. Why Can't I Place Legendaries in Gyms?

Niantic restricted Legendary Pokemon from being placed in gyms for several reasons:

• They would make gyms extremely difficult to defeat, creating an unfair advantage.
• It helps maintain their rarity and special status in the game.
• It encourages players to use a diverse range of Pokemon for gym defense rather than relying solely on Legendaries.

Conclusion

In this article, I introduced 5 ways to obtain Legendary Pokemon and explained how to use Pokemon GO Spoofer LocaChange to make the process easier, along with some smart tricks.

Catching Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO takes patience, skill, and the right strategies. Stay updated on special events and research tasks that offer Legendary encounters. With the right approach, you’ll soon build a powerful lineup of Legendaries to dominate battles and raids!

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