Top 10 Rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO & Where to Find Them

Pokémon GO is all about the hunt, and catching the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO is the ultimate flex.

Niantic tells players to "catch 'em all," but it doesn't make it easy. Players explore, hatch eggs, and join timed events just for a shot at elusive Pokémon. With features like Collection Challenges and shiny variants, the game keeps collectors on their toes.

Let's take a closer look at some of the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO, both shiny and wild encounters that Trainers dream of catching.

According to the Pokémon GO Wiki, Unown holds the title of the rarest Pokémon in the game.

I wish there were an official survey for this, but let's be honest, it's tough to name a single "most rare" Pokémon in 2025. The rarity in Pokémon GO isn't just about appearance rates. It's about how difficult, time-limited, or exclusive a Pokémon is to catch.

Still, I jumped from one subreddit to another to gather real player opinions, and here's the list of the top 10 rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO. These picks are based on spawn rates, exclusivity, evolution complexity, and community buzz.

#10. Kecleon

How to Get it: PokéStop Interactions

Kecleon is a Normal-type Pokémon from the Hoenn region. It doesn't evolve and can't be hatched or found in the wild. The only way to encounter Kecleon is via PokéStops—and even that's a challenge. It has an estimated appearance rate of 1 in 200 PokéStops.

Kecleon appears as a transparent figure clinging to the PokéStop. When this happens, you can't spin the Stop until you tap the invisible obstacle a few times. Once it detaches, Kecleon spawns on the map for you to catch.

#09. Dusk Form Lycanroc

How to Get it: Evolve a Special Rockruff

Dusk Form Lycanroc is rare because it isn't a wild spawn. To get it, you need to evolve a specific Rockruff with a special evolution button (showing a sunset icon), which is only available for Rockruffs with a hidden “Dusk Evolution” tag, similar to the “Own Tempo” Rockruff in the mainline games.

These special Rockruffs are only obtainable from 2 km and 7 km eggs, Adventure Sync rewards, and limited raids. The chance of getting this specific variant is very low.

#08. Volcarona

How to Get it: Hatch & Evolve from Larvesta

Volcarona is a dual Bug/Fire-type Pokémon from the Unova region and evolves from Larvesta, but good luck getting one.

Larvesta is one of the rarest Pokémon to hatch in Pokémon GO, only found in 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km Eggs and placed in the highest rarity tier.

Even if you do hatch a Larvesta, you'll need 400 Candies to evolve it into Volcarona. This makes it not only hatch-locked but also grind-intensive. For many players, Volcarona is a true test of patience and dedication.

#07. Salazzle

How to Get it: Hatch Female Salandit & Evolve

Salazzle is a Poison/Fire-type Pokémon from the Alola region. What makes it so elusive isn't just the hatching odds; it's the gender restriction. Only female Salandit can evolve into Salazzle, and females only make up 12.5% of all Salandit hatches.

To make it even harder, Salandit is only available from 12 km Eggs and specific GO Pass Deluxe encounters (e.g., April, May, and June 2025 editions). After managing to hatch a female, you'll still need 50 candies to evolve it.

#06. Zygarde (Complete Forme)

How to Get it: Form Change via Zygarde Cells

Zygarde, the Dragon/Ground-type Legendary from Kalos, has three known forms in Pokémon GO: 10%, 50%, and the elusive Complete Forme. While the 10% and 50% Formes are accessible through the Pokémon GO Routes feature, Zygarde Complete Forme requires a Form Change, which can only be triggered by collecting 200 Zygarde Cells.

That's the tricky part. Zygarde Cells can only be gathered by walking Routes, and their spawn rate is extremely low. Many players spend months farming Cells just to unlock this powerful transformation. It's a long-term grind that only the most dedicated trainers attempt.

#05. Gholdengo

How to Get it: Evolve from Gimmighoul with 999 Coins

Gholdengo, a Steel/Ghost-type Pokémon from the Paldea region, is one of the most labor-intensive evolutions in Pokémon GO. To evolve it, you need a whopping 999 Gimmighoul Coins.

These coins are mainly earned by interacting with Roaming Form Gimmighoul, which randomly appears on the map or via Chest Form Gimmighoul, which you can encounter through Golden PokéStops and special events.

The drop rate for coins is inconsistent, and the Pokémon itself is hard to come by. That's why Gholdengo is rarely seen even among hardcore players.

#04. Mow Rotom & Frost Rotom

How to Get it: GO Snapshot (Event-exclusive)

Rotom is a unique Electric-type Pokémon with multiple forms, each tied to a different element, like Fire, Water, or Grass. Among them, Mow Rotom (Grass-type) and Frost Rotom (Ice-type) are especially rare in Pokémon GO due to their limited-time, region-locked availability.

Mow Rotom was only obtainable at GO Fest 2022 Berlin, while Frost Rotom was exclusive to GO Fest 2023 events in London, Osaka, and New York. They appeared via GO Snapshot photobombs during those events and have never had a global release. If you didn't attend those festivals, chances are, you missed them.

#03. Clone Pokémon

How to Get it: Pokémon Day 2020 Event (Limited Raids & Snapshot)

Clone Pokémon, including Clone Pikachu, Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise, are based on the 1998 Pokémon movie Mewtwo Strikes Back. They debuted during Pokémon Day 2020, with Clone Pikachu available via Snapshot photobombs, and the other three appearing in legendary-style raid battles.

They can't be shiny, and the Clone starters cannot Mega Evolve, which makes them more of a collector's trophy than a meta contender. Since their debut, Niantic hasn't brought them back—putting Clone Pokémon in 3rd place on the list of the rarest Pokémon.

#02. Armored Mewtwo

How to Get it: Legendary Raids (Retired)

Armored Mewtwo made its debut in Pokémon GO back in 2019 to celebrate the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution. It returned briefly during a Pokemon Day event in 2020.

Unlike the regular version, Armored Mewtwo features a more defensive stat spread. It hasn't been available in raids for years, and with no return in sight, it's one of the rarest legendary variants, especially for newer players who missed its original window.

#01. Unown

How to Get it: Wild, Eggs, Raids, Events

Topping the list is Unown, a Psychic-type Pokémon from Johto, known for its 28 different forms, each shaped like a letter of the alphabet, plus "!" and "?". It doesn't evolve, and its wild spawn rate is notoriously low—estimated at 1 in a million encounters outside of special events.

Unown occasionally appears in GO Fest, Safari Zones, and themed events. It's also been available via 10-km eggs, special research, and raids, usually with a limited subset of its forms. Collecting all forms is a long-term challenge for most players, which easily cements Unown's spot as the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

#05. Shiny Rotom

How to Get it: Events like GO Snapshot Photobomb / Limited-Time Research

Rotom is already one of the most elusive Pokémon in Pokémon GO, with most of its forms locked behind exclusive events like GO Fest or timed Special Research.

Shiny Regular Rotom is available through the “Ghost in the Machine” Special Research, but the odds are low—roughly 1 in 64, with no wild spawns to farm. Meanwhile, Shiny Fan Rotom debuted at GO Fest 2025 as a one-time photobomb encounter, giving players just one shot. Miss it, and you're out of luck.

#04. Shiny Mew

How to Get it: Special Research (Event-Exclusive Only)

Shiny Mew is one of the rarest shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO due to its extremely limited availability. It was first released during the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event on February 20, 2021, through the All-in-One 151 Masterwork Research. A second chance came with a special ticketed event in 2023—but that's it.

Currently, there's no active way to obtain Shiny Mew unless you already purchased those timed research tickets. Since it can't be found in the wild or through raids, it remains locked behind now-expired content.

#03. Shiny Larvesta

How to Get it: Eggs (2, 5, 10-km)

Shiny Larvesta made its debut during the Scorching Steps event on June 21, 2024, and has been one of the rarest egg Pokémon ever since. It can hatch from 2, 5, or 10-km eggs, but it's in the highest rarity tier, making it notoriously hard to get—even more so in its shiny form.

During specific events like Pokémon GO Tour: Unova (2025), the shiny rate was temporarily boosted to 1 in 64. Outside of these events, the rate drops drastically to around 1 in 512.

#02. Shiny Salazzle

How to Get it: Evolve from Female Salandit (12 km Eggs)

As mentioned earlier in the top 10 rarest Pokémon list, Salazzle is already one of the most elusive Pokémon in the game due to its unique evolution requirement—only female Salandit can evolve into Salazzle, and they hatch from 12 km eggs with just a 12.5% gender chance. Add to that the fact that Salandit itself is a rare hatch from those eggs, and the odds are already stacked against you.

Now imagine trying to get a shiny version of that female Salandit. If the shiny rate isn't boosted, Shiny Salazzle would be one of the most statistically improbable Pokémon to obtain in Pokémon GO. This layered rarity cements its spot as the third rarest shiny Pokémon in the game as of 2025.

#01. Shiny Detective Pikachu

How to Get it: Limited-time events

Shiny Detective Pikachu is arguably the rarest costumed Pikachu in the game. It made its mysterious debut in 2019 as part of a promotional event for the Detective Pikachu movie, but only through photobomb encounters in the GO Snapshot feature.

Initially, Niantic didn't enable its shiny version, but a last-day glitch reportedly gave players a 1 in 500 chance to encounter it.

The shiny's return didn't happen with the 2023 re-release of Detective Pikachu, which came with a new Pokédex entry. Unlike other hat-wearing Pikachu variants, Detective Pikachu can't be found in the wild and never appeared in raids or tasks, only via photobomb spawns during that narrow event window.

#05. Axew

How to Get it: Wild, Eggs (2km, 7km, 10km), Raid Battles

Axew is a Dragon-type Pokémon from the Unova region, and despite occasional boosts during events, it still ranks among the rarest wild Pokémon. It made its debut as an ultra-rare spawn and has mostly remained that way outside of select events like GO Fest or its June 2023 Community Day.

Today, encountering Axew in the wild is highly unlikely unless it's specifically featured. Even hatching one from eggs is a gamble due to the large pool of available species.

Fortunately, during the Delightful Days Season (June – September, 2025), it's included in the "Catch a Dragon" field research task, one of the more accessible ways to try your luck.

#04. The Lake Trio: Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf

How to Get it: Wild, Raid Battles, Research tasks, and GO Battle League

The Lake Trio—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf—are Legendary Pokémon from the Sinnoh region. What makes them so rare isn't just their legendary status, but the region-lock system.

• Uxie: Asia-Pacific
• Mesprit: Europe, Middle East, Africa, India
• Azelf: Americas and Greenland

While they do occasionally appear in raid rotations or themed research tasks, encountering them in the wild is incredibly rare and almost always event-exclusive. Their base catch rate is a mere 1%, and since they're locked by region, international trading or spoofing is your only hope of completing the trio if you live outside their spawn zones.

#03. Galarian Legendary birds: Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos

How to Get it: Wild, Research tasks

The Galarian forms of Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos are some of the most elusive wild spawns in Pokémon GO. They do not appear in the wild unless you use Daily Adventure Incense, and even then, the spawn rate is extremely low—estimated at around 0.3%.

To make things harder, these birds have both a very high flee rate and a low catch rate. Without a Master Ball or a lot of luck, most players walk away empty-handed.

#02. Frigibax

How to Get it: Wild, 10-km Eggs, Raid Battles, Research tasks, GO Battle League

Frigibax is a Dragon/Ice-type Pokémon introduced from the Paldea region and is notoriously difficult to find. Its wild spawn rate is extremely low. Even in 10-km Eggs, which already have limited slots, Frigibax sits in the highest rarity tier.

While it has appeared in GO Battle League rewards and event raids, these chances are fleeting and highly competitive. Frigibax's evolution line is strong and desirable, adding to the challenge of acquiring enough Candy for evolution.

For many players, this Pokémon remains one of the most sought-after and least caught entries in the Pokédex.

#01. Unown

How to Get it: Wild (extremely rare), Raids, Events, Research Tasks

As previously mentioned, Unown tops the list as the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO, and for good reason.

Unown rarely spawns in the wild, with estimates suggesting a spawn rate as low as 1 in 1 million. They typically only appear during exclusive events like GO Fest or Safari Zones, where spawn rates are temporarily increased. Outside of those events, you're unlikely to ever stumble upon one naturally.

If you've been dreaming of catching the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO without traveling the world or waiting endlessly for an event, AnyTo location changer might just be your best companion. This location spoofing tool lets you teleport anywhere in the world to catch rare regionals like the Lake Trio or auto-walk to hatch Axew from 10km eggs.

AnyTo's Key Features

• Instant Location Spoofing: Jump to Tokyo for Unown or Berlin for Rotom with a single click.
• Smart Pokémon Search: Pinpoint spawn hotspots for rare Pokémon using the built-in map and location input.
• Auto Walk & Route Simulation: Hatch eggs effortlessly by simulating walking routes—even while your phone's sitting on the table.
• Joystick Mode: Move around freely within a Pokémon GO joystick to check multiple nearby PokéStops and spawns.
• Cooldown Timer & Anti-Ban Reminders: Stay within Niantic's radar by respecting cooldown rules. AnyTo displays alerts to help reduce ban risks.
• Cross-Platform Support: Works on both iOS and Android—even the latest versions. No jailbreak or root required.
• Multi-Device Spoofing: Spoof locations on multiple devices at once, perfect for couples, siblings, or shared family accounts.

Try It Free

Trustpilot Rating 4.7

1-Click Change GPS Location with AnyTo!

1

Choose your platform and install (iOS, Android, PC).

2

Select a location mocking mode.

3

Change location anywhere you like.

How rare are Dittos in Pokémon GO?

Ditto isn't exactly a rare Pokémon, but it does require some luck. It disguises itself as common Pokémon (like Pidgey or Bidoof), so you won't know it's a Ditto until after catching.

The current disguise pool changes frequently, and the Ditto spawn rate is estimated at around 1 in 50 encounters with disguise candidates. Shiny Ditto is even rarer and only available during specific events.

How rare is Azelf in Pokémon GO?

Azelf is one of the rarest Pokémon with a 1% base catch rate.

Azelf is region-locked to the Americas. Outside its native region, it's extremely hard to get unless you spoof or trade. It has been available in wild spawns through Daily Adventure Incense (rare), raids (occasionally), and events.

How rare is Larvesta in Pokémon GO?

Larvesta is one of the rarest Pokémon from eggs. It can hatch from 2km, 5km, and 10km eggs but sits in the highest rarity tier. Even if you manage to hatch one, evolving it into Volcarona requires 400 Larvesta Candies, which is quite the grind.

What is the rarest Shiny Legendary in Pokémon GO?

Shiny Armored Mewtwo is arguably the rarest shiny legendary. It was only available for a limited time during a 2019 raid event and hasn't returned since.

Other rare shiny legendaries include shiny Darkrai, shiny Virizion, and shiny Xerneas, especially if they had limited availability and low encounter rates.

How rare are Shinies in Pokémon GO?

On average, the shiny rate for most wild Pokémon is about 1 in 500. Event Pokémon or featured Community Day Pokémon often have a boosted shiny rate of around 1 in 25.

Raid bosses and some research encounters can also have a boosted rate of 1 in 20. Mythical Pokémon usually have extremely low shiny chances and are often event-locked.

Finding the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a thrilling challenge that keeps Trainers coming back for more. From event-exclusive Mythicals like Shiny Mew to elusive wild spawns like Unown or Galarian birds, rarity comes in many forms—spawn rates, limited-time availability, region locks, or high evolution costs.

If you're determined to complete your Pokédex or flex those ultra-rare catches, tools like AnyTo can give you a strategic edge. Just remember: rare doesn't always mean impossible—it just makes the hunt more rewarding.

AnyTo

Change GPS Location on iOS/Android

Try It Free Buy Now

Available for:

168,282 people have downloaded

• Fake iOS/Android GPS location to anywhere in the world instantly.
• 100% Work with location-based apps such as AR games, social platforms, etc.
• Joystick to simulate GPS movement freely when playing games.
• Import / Export GPX file to save your favorite routes.
• Compatible with All iOS & Android versions.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your rating

Rated successfully!

You have already rated this article, please do not repeat scoring!

Article by Ryan Miles

Ryan Miles is a seasoned gamer and mobile strategy writer with over 5 years of hands-on experience in Pokémon GO spoofing and GPS-based games. Known for breaking down complex location tricks into beginner-friendly guides, Ryan’s mission is simple: help you explore more, catch faster, and play smarter without ever leaving home.