When it first released, the thought of capturing Legendary and Mythical Pokemon in Niantic’s wildly popular Pokemon GO was a fanciful dream. As of May 2020, the developers are currently drip-feeding the series’ fifth generation into the pool of available monsters, and the vast majority of the first five generations’ Legendary and Mythical beasts have been released. Obtained via research breakthroughs, dedicated questlines, timed research, GO League rewards, and raid battles, Pokemon’s rarest creatures are some of its finest battlers. That being said, there are still a few Pokemon set for release that could disrupt the dominance of its current top battlers.
Here is a complete list of the Legendary and Mythical Pokemon from the first five generations that have yet to be released in Pokemon GO, along with some thoughts about how they might carve their own spot in trainers’ battle lineups.
Manaphy and Phione
Back in the days of Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Mythical Manaphy could only be collected by completing Pokemon Ranger on the Nintendo DS and using the reward code in DPP’s Mystery Gift feature to obtain a Manaphy egg. Breeding Manaphy with a Ditto would give players a Phione egg, but sadly this weaker version of Manaphy cannot then evolve into it. While it has yet to be seen in Pokemon GO, Manaphy could be a more viable option in battle than the likes of Mew, Celebi, and Jirachi as it possesses the same bulk and power but has a considerably better defensive type in Water. Psychic, conversely, is easy prey for the likes of the common Girantina-A, Scizor, and Weavile to name a few.
Shaymin
Quite possibly the cutest of all Mythical Pokemon, the Grass type hedgehog Shaymin has only ever been available in the main games through special events. By exposing regular Shaymin to a Gracidea flower during the day, players can transform it into its Sky form, making it considerably stronger and adding Flying as its second type. When Shaymin and its Sky form join Pokemon GO, its base form is unlikely to set the league alight while its Sky form is potent enough to be viable. It is, however, lacking in bulk and won’t be able to take many charged hits that it resists.
Arceus
The Mythical God Pokemon, Arceus, is said to have been the creator of all other Pokemon. As the master of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, it is supposedly the reason for Giratina’s altered form and its banishment to the Distortion World. Arceus, like Silvally with its aptly named RKS System ability, can change type depending on the special plate it’s holding, meaning it can fill any one type coverage hole a team may have. As Pokemon can’t hold items in Pokemon GO, there’s a chance it won’t be released until Niantic has settled on a way to honor Arceus’s signature ability without releasing 18 different variants for raids and research tasks. Once it is released, however, it’s safe to assume that the God of all Pokemon will be a regular and tricky opponent to face in the GO League.
Victini
Victini is one of the series’ many event-exclusive Mythical Pokemon, and it has its own event-exclusive moves too. Through such events, it is capable of knowing its signature wrecking ball move, V-create, along with both Zekrom and Reshiram’s own signature moves. The chances are, however, that any Victini obtained legitimately outside Japan will have its best moves sealed away - a heart-breaker for anyone who downloaded one during 2016’s 20th Anniversary celebrations only to find that their new Victini won’t ever be as strong as it could be. Still, if Victini enters Pokemon GO with access to V-create, Bolt Strike, and Fusion Flare, it will certainly be a deadly threat capable of unloading some of the game’s most powerful moves.
Reshiram
The first of the Tao Legendary trio and the mascot of Pokemon Black, the Dragon and Fire type Reshiram represents the concept of yang. Fusible with Kyruem via the DNA Splicers, Reshiram can become Kyurem White and become considerably stronger as a result. Reshiram is an outstandingly strong Pokemon in its own right, and its release is sure to bring some major competition for the likes of Charizard and Ho-Oh as the game’s strongest and most versatile Fire type.Â
Zekrom
Representing the concept of yin and possessing a Dragon and Electric dual-typing, Zekrom is one of the Legendary rosters coolest designs and hardest hitters. Kyurem-Black, the form it takes when fused with Kyurem, joins its Kyurem-White counterpart as one of the series’ deadliest attacking threats. As with Reshiram, Zekrom remains an extraordinary Pokemon in its own right, though its release will potentially have more impact in the GO League as the higher ranks lack a strong pool of viable Electric type options.
Kyurem
The final member of the Legendary Tao trio, Kyurem represents wuji, the absence of yin and yang. The Tao trio supposedly began as a single Dragon Pokemon that was split into Zekrom and Reshiram, with Kyurem being composed of what was left over. With a design that seems incomplete and ramshackle, the story is a believable one. While it can fuse with either Zekrom or Reshiram to both boost its power and access both Pokemon’s respective signature move, Kyurem is no slouch and will make quick work of the unprepared. Its dual typing of Ice and Dragon will be a worrying sight for the bulky but reasonably soft-hitting Giratina-A, especially as it only tends to carry one Dragon type move while its second move adds coverage with a Ghost type attack.
Keldeo
The Legendary Virizion, Cobalion, and Terrakion were inspired by The Three Musketeers, and the Mythical Keldeo is clearly the trio’s answer to d’Artagnan. While it is more diminutive than its counterparts, Keldeo outperforms all three of them in the main games’ competitive scene, capable of tearing through teams with its high power and speed. In both its regular and Resolute form, Keldeo is reasonably bulky too, and its Water and Fighting dual typing gives it both great coverage and reasonably good type defenses. Once Keldeo is released, it’s likely to quickly become a favorite in the GO League.
Meloetta
The musically-oriented Meloetta, with its stave-like hair and Relic Song signature move, is one of the most elegant Mythical Pokemon. By using Relic Song in battle, it can change to its Pirouette form and swap out its Normal/Psychic typing for Normal/Fighting whilst boosting its speed and attack stats. As such, Meloetta in its base form is a decent defensive option, while the Pirouette form is a fast and hard hitting attacker.Â
Pokemon GOÂ is available now for iOS and Android mobile devices.