Top 13 Rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO and Proven Methods to Catch Them

The overarching objective of Pokémon GO remains clear: catch every Pokémon to fill your Pokédex. However, achieving this goal becomes increasingly challenging due to the presence of rare Pokémon, which often elude players. Some of these elusive creatures are only available during specific events or in particular geographic regions, exemplified by Klefki, a Pokémon that can predominantly be found in France.

For players who have been actively engaged with Pokémon GO since its launch in 2016, it’s not uncommon to discover that several Pokémon remain uncaught in their collections. To assist Trainers in identifying these rare creatures, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list highlighting some of the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO as of 2025.

13 Kecleon

The Invisible Poké Stop Pokémon

Kecleon presents a unique challenge for players attempting to catch it. Unlike many traditional Pokémon, it does not spawn in the wild. Instead, Kecleon appears at Poké Stops, specifically on the Poké Stop disc.

To capture it, Trainers must first locate Kecleon on a Poké Stop disc, knock it off, then return to the main screen and tap on it as it jumps off. However, Kecleon is not commonly found, and unless players are exceptionally vigilant, they may easily overlook its presence. Therefore, the next time you spin a Poké Stop, take a moment to check for this camouflaged Pokémon!

12 Dusk Form Lycanroc

Catch A Specific Type Of Rockruff

Although Rockruff is easily obtainable, its evolution path leads to three distinct forms: Midday Lycanroc, Midnight Lycanroc, and Dusk Form Lycanroc. The latter is significantly harder to attain since only a select number of Rockruff can evolve into it.

Trainers must catch multiple Rockruff and check their stats, as there’s no prior indication of which will evolve into Dusk Form until they are caught.

11 Keldeo

This Mythical Creature Is A Costly Acquisition

Keldeo, the Water/Fighting-type mythical Pokémon, is challenging to acquire as it is typically unlocked only through completing a long Special Research story. This story, titled “Something Extraordinary,”was a limited-time mission offered for purchase in December 2022.

Furthermore, Keldeo cannot be traded within Pokémon GO, making it even more difficult to add this mythical creature to your collection. As of now, Keldeo remains elusive, and players hope for its future availability.

10 Volcarona

400 Candy & A Lot Of Egg Hatching

Larvesta can hatch from 2km, 5km, and 10km Eggs, but its rarity stems from an extremely low hatch rate, making Volcarona one of the toughest Pokémon to acquire in the game.

In addition to the challenging hatch requirements, evolving Larvesta into Volcarona demands a staggering 400 Larvesta Candy, solidifying its status as a formidable Pokédex challenge for Trainers.

9 Salazzle

You’ll Need To Hatch A Female Salandit

Salazzle’s evolution offers even more hurdles, as it can only evolve from a female Salandit. However, acquiring a female Salandit is much harder than it sounds; Salandit only has a small chance to hatch from 12km Eggs.

These 12km Eggs can only be earned by defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders, making the journey to obtain Salazzle lengthy and tricky.

8 Regional Exclusive Pokémon

How Many Of These Have You Managed To Catch?

In Pokémon GO, regional exclusive Pokémon are a special category as they only spawn in designated geographic areas. For instance, Tauros is exclusive to the United States, while Hawlucha can only be found in Mexico. Although some of these exclusives have become easier to acquire over time, like Kangaskhan, which can now be caught worldwide by defeating Mega Kangaskhan in a Raid Battle.

Occasionally, region-exclusive Pokémon may appear during special events, but these occurrences are few and far between. The rarity of a specific regional Pokémon often depends on your location; players based in New Zealand may have encountered Relicanth, while trainers elsewhere still dream of obtaining it. Currently, the Hawaiian-exclusive Comfey is considered one of the most elusive Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

7 Zygarde (Complete Forme)

Good Luck Collecting Enough Zygarde Cells For This One

In contrast to its basic form, which was readily available through a Special Research story, Zygarde (Complete Forme) poses a significant challenge to uncover. To achieve its final transformation, trainers need to gather an astounding 250 Zygarde Cells.

Collecting these cells is not as straightforward as one might hope, as the process is distinctly different from just gathering Candy. Furthermore, players have reported inconsistencies with Zygarde Cells being found at the end of user-created routes, making it yet another hurdle for trainers. By completing specific pathways, players can discover Zygarde Cells, but since there’s a daily limit of three cells, it would take a dedicated 84 days to accumulate enough for the Complete Forme.

6 Gimmighoul’s Evolution Gholdengo

Gimmighoul Coins, Gimmighoul Coins & More Gimmighoul Coins

Gimmighoul also presents a challenging evolution pathway. To catch this Coin Hunter Pokémon, players must link their Pokémon GO account to a game of Scarlet or Violet on Nintendo Switch and send a postcard to unlock the Coin Bag in Pokémon GO, which draws Gimmighoul similarly to incense.

After catching Gimmighoul, players must collect a remarkable 999 Gimmighoul Coins through the process of spinning Golden PokéStops to evolve into Gholdengo. However, these Golden PokéStops are rare and chiefly appear during special events, prolonging the quest for evolution.

5 The Lake Guardians

Uxie, Mesprit, & Azelf

The legendary Lake Guardians from Sinnoh—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf—are unique as they can actually spawn in the wild in Pokémon GO. However, this does not lessen their rarity. These Pokémon have extremely low spawn rates and are also subject to regional limitations.

Uxie is primarily found in Asia and Pacific regions, Mesprit in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India, while Azelf spawns in the Americas and Greenland. This makes collecting all three a daunting challenge for Trainers, as they will need to travel or coordinate with players in different areas.

4 Galarian Articuno, Moltres & Zapdos

Make Sure You’re Using Your Daily Adventure Incense

The introduction of Galarian versions of the legendary birds—Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos—occurred quietly in 2022 with minimal publicity. These Pokémon have an incredibly low spawn rate and can only be encountered using the Daily Adventure Incense.

By utilizing this incense, Trainers have a slight chance to encounter one of the Galarian birds during their 15-minute session. Yet, even if you’re fortunate enough to spot them, catching them can be an arduous task; success is often unlikely without a Master Ball, which has only been available in limited circumstances throughout the game.

3 Mow Rotom & Frost Rotom

These Rotom Forms Haven’t Been Seen Very Often

While the standard Rotom is accessible globally, its variants, Mow Rotom and Frost Rotom, have remained elusive. Mow Rotom was made available only during specific events in Berlin, Seattle, and Sapporo, while Frost Rotom appeared at events in Osaka, New York, and London in 2023.

At present, the future reappearance of these forms remains uncertain, meaning that obtaining them often relies on trading with players who were lucky enough to encounter them.

2 The Clone Pokémon

The Clone Kanto Starters From 2020

The Clone Pokémon, consisting of Clone Venusaur, Clone Charizard, Clone Blastoise, and Clone Pikachu, were introduced in 2020 as part of a promotional event for the movie “Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution.”These variants sport unique costumes but were only available for a limited timeframe.

Since their debut, they have not returned, and acquiring these Clone Pokémon now relies exclusively on trading with players who possess them.

1 Armored Mewtwo

Pray You’ve Got A Friend Who Can Trade You For One

Armored Mewtwo has been notably scarce, only making two appearances in Pokémon GO—initially during a summer raid event in July 2019 and again in February 2020 to commemorate the release of the Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution movie.

Although Armored Mewtwo’s PvP and Raid battle capabilities are not superior compared to regular Mewtwo, its rarity and unique appearance make it a collector’s item.

After their limited availability, Armored Mewtwo has not been offered again in the game, leaving newer players without any opportunity to capture it. Presently, the only way to acquire this rare Pokémon is through trades with other Trainers, which can be incredibly difficult.

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