10 Rarest Pokémon In Pokémon GO & How To Get Them

Some Pokémon in Pokémon GO are far harder to find than others, locked behind limited-time events, ultra-low spawn rates, regional restrictions, or brutal RNG that can test even the most dedicated trainers. These rare Pokémon often become status symbols, showing who played at the right time, traveled to the right place, or simply got insanely lucky. In this article, we’re breaking down the 10 rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO and explaining exactly how each one can be obtained, whether that means waiting for special events, hatching specific eggs, completing difficult research, or relying on pure chance, so you know which ones are truly worth chasing and why they’re considered so hard to get.

#10: Salazzle

Salazzle earns its spot on this list because getting one is a pure test of patience and luck. Everything starts with Salandit, which only hatches from 12 km Strange Eggs, already some of the hardest eggs to farm since they come mainly from Team GO Rocket Leaders. Even after securing one of those eggs, there’s no guarantee you’ll hatch Salandit at all, as the pool includes multiple Pokémon. The real pain comes after that, because only female Salandit can evolve into Salazzle, and male Salandit are far more common. To finally register Salazzle in your Pokédex, you need the right egg, the right hatch, and the right gender, all lining up perfectly, which makes this Pokémon rare not because of skill, but because of brutal RNG stacked on top of RNG.

#9: Unown

Unown easily earns a place among the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO thanks to its massive collection of forms. Instead of just one version, Unown has over 20 different letter-shaped variants, and collecting them all is a long-term grind for even the most dedicated players. While it was once almost impossible to find, Niantic now releases Unown occasionally through limited-time events, but usually only a small selection of letters at once. To make things even tougher, some forms have only appeared during paid ticket events or in very specific locations, which locks many players out completely. As a result, most trainers only own a handful of Unown forms, and completing the full set remains one of the hardest collection goals in the entire game.

#8: Pikachu (Libre Costume)

Pikachu Libre is one of those Pokémon that isn’t locked behind pure luck, but instead demands real effort. To unlock this masked, wrestler-style Pikachu, players must climb the GO Battle League ranks by actively playing PvP. That means winning a large number of matches and pushing all the way to Rank 25, which takes time, consistency, and solid battle knowledge. For many players, this grind is tougher than hatching rare eggs or waiting for limited events, since PvP isn’t everyone’s strong point. Because of that, Pikachu Libre remains extremely uncommon, and owning one is a clear sign that you’ve put serious work into competitive Pokémon GO.

#7: The Legendary Lake Trio — Azelf, Uxie & Mesprit

On their own, each member of the Lake Trio doesn’t look impossible to catch, but completing the full set is where things get rough. The biggest obstacle isn’t difficulty or power, it’s geography. Each Pokémon is tied to a different real-world region, which means most players can only naturally access one of them. Azelf appeared exclusively in raids across the Americas and Greenland, Uxie was locked to Asia, and Mesprit was available in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. Because these regional raid spawns covered huge parts of the globe and haven’t rotated freely, collecting all three usually required international travel, remote raid invites, or trading with players from other regions. That’s why having the full Lake Trio in your Pokédex is still a rare flex in Pokémon GO and a clear sign of long-term play or strong global connections.

#6: Armored Mewtwo

Armored Mewtwo stands out instantly thanks to its unique battle armor, making it one of the most visually striking Pokémon ever added to Pokémon GO. What really pushes it into rare territory, though, is availability. This version of Mewtwo has only appeared in raids during very short, limited-time events, and once those windows closed, it vanished completely. On top of that, taking it down wasn’t easy. As a powerful raid boss, Armored Mewtwo required coordinated groups of trainers, strong counters, and solid preparation just to earn a chance at catching it. If you missed those brief raid rotations or didn’t have the firepower to beat it back then, there’s been no consistent way to get another shot, which is why Armored Mewtwo remains a prized and uncommon Pokédex entry today.

#5: Meltan & Melmetal

Meltan and its evolution Melmetal are considered rare for a very different reason than most Pokémon on this list. They don’t appear in the wild at all, which means you’ll never stumble across one just by playing normally. Instead, they were introduced as part of a special crossover tied to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. To even start the process, players need access to a Nintendo Switch and one of those games, then progress far enough to unlock the required features. Only after linking accounts can Meltan be obtained, and evolving it into Melmetal takes a large amount of Meltan Candy on top of that. Between the hardware requirement, the extra game purchase, and the time investment, Meltan and Melmetal remain two of the most exclusive Pokémon in Pokémon GO, especially for players who stick strictly to mobile play.

#4: Sigilyph

Sigilyph stands out as one of the hardest regional Pokémon to get in Pokémon GO, mainly because of how limited its spawn area is. This Pokémon only appears in a very small real-world region, which instantly makes it far rarer than most location-locked Pokémon. Even though Greece and parts of Egypt might sound like fairly well-traveled places, the reality is that only a tiny percentage of players ever get the chance to catch one naturally. If you don’t live there or visit during the right time, your only real option is trading. That combination of strict regional locking and limited player access is exactly why Sigilyph is still considered one of the rarest Pokémon in the game today.

#3: Cloned Pokémon (Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur)

The cloned versions of Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur are among the rarest event Pokémon ever released in Pokémon GO, mainly because they were only available for a very short time. These special variants appeared exclusively in high-tier raid battles during a limited movie crossover event, and once that window closed, they were never brought back. Since the event ran alongside the debut of Armored Mewtwo, most players chose to spend their raid passes chasing the stronger and more hyped legendary instead, which meant far fewer people actually went for the cloned starters. What makes these Pokémon stand out even more is their unique look, featuring darker tones and distinct markings that give them a raw, almost feral design compared to their normal forms. Today, owning any of these cloned Pokémon is a clear sign that you were active during one of the most limited events in the game’s history.

#2: Snorlax (Cowboy Hat Costume)

Cowboy Hat Snorlax is one of those Pokémon that most players will likely never see outside of screenshots. This special costumed version was locked behind in-person Pokémon GO Fest 2022 events, which took place only in Berlin, Seattle, and Sapporo. To even have a chance at catching it, players had to physically attend one of these locations and purchase an event ticket, instantly putting it out of reach for the vast majority of the player base. During the events, Cowboy Hat Snorlax spawned in the wild but only within the designated event areas, meaning availability was limited by both time and location. While many attendees managed to catch one, its extreme exclusivity has made it one of the rarest costume Pokémon in the game, and a standout entry in most players’ Pokédexes simply because so few trainers worldwide ever had access to it.

#1: Rotom (Mow Form)

Rotom is already a unique Pokémon thanks to its multiple appliance forms, but in Pokémon GO, only a very small number of those forms have ever been made available. While Rotom-Wash appeared during Pokémon GO Fest 2020 as a photobomb encounter and was obtained by a large portion of active players, Rotom (Mow Form) sits in a completely different league when it comes to rarity. This form was never released globally or online and was locked exclusively behind in-person Pokémon GO Fest 2022 events. Only players who physically attended the events in Berlin, Seattle, or Sapporo, purchased a ticket, and completed the required Special Research were able to encounter it. For everyone else, the cost of travel alone made it unreachable. Because of its strict location lock, limited event window, and no re-releases since, Rotom (Mow Form) remains the rarest Pokémon currently obtainable in Pokémon GO and a true flex in any Pokédex.

Conclusion

Tracking down the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO is about more than luck—it’s a mix of timing, location, events, and sometimes real-world travel. From region-locked spawns and limited-time raid bosses to ticket-only GO Fest exclusives and costume variants that may never return, each Pokémon on this list represents a unique moment in the game’s history. Some are still technically obtainable with patience and the right conditions, while others remain locked behind past events, making them true collector trophies. Whether you’re aiming to complete your Pokédex or just want a few rare flex picks, knowing how and when these Pokémon were available gives you a huge edge—and helps you understand which ones are worth chasing if they ever come back.