Legendary Pokémon took a year to turn up in Pokémon Go, but boy, were they worth the wait. By legendary, we mean rare to catch, don’t evolve from, or into any other Pokémon, and cannot be assigned to a gym, to name but a few of the similar characteristics between them.

It’s a roster packed with fan-favourites such as Articuno and Mewtwo. Unsurprisingly, being a Pokémon Go legendary means they’re some of the rarest to find and catch within the game. You can find them in a variety of places such as Legendary Raids, the Go Battle League, and as Field Research rewards, but even knowing where they’re going to turn up doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to catch once you get there.

With every new generation comes a host of new legendaries and we’ll cover generations one to six below alongside their type, counters, and release date. But, before we get into it, you might want to also check out information on upcoming Pokémon Go events, the latest Pokémon Go codes for in-game freebies, and our Pokémon Go raid guide.

Now, let’s get into our Pokémon Go legendary Pokémon list.

Gen oneGen twoGen threeGen fourGen fiveGen six Pokémon Go generation one legendaries

Articuno (#144)

Type: Ice, Flying Counters: Arcanine, Flareon, Golem, Omastar (rock moves), Tyranitar Release date: 22nd July 2017

Zapdos (#145)

Type: Electric, Flying Counters: Dragonite, Golem, Jynx, Piloswine (double ice moves), Tyranitar Release date: 7th August 2017

Moltres (#146)

Type: Fire, Flying Counters: Golem, Kabutops, Omastar (rock moves), Tyranitar, Vaporeon Release date: 31st July 2017

Mewtwo (#150)

Type: Psychic Counters: Gengar, Houndoom, Lugia, Mewtwo, Tyranitar Release date: 14th August 2017

Pokémon Go generation two legendaries

Raikou (#243)

Type: Electric Counters: Donphan, Golem, Rhydon Release date: 31st August 2017

Entei (#244)

Type: Fire Counters: Golem, Omastar, Vaporeon Release date: 31st August 2017

Suicune (#245)

Type: Ice Counters: Jolteon, Venusaur, Zapdos Release date: 31st August 2017

Lugia (#249)

Type: Psychic, Flying Counters: Articuno, Gengar, Houndoom, Omastar, Tyranitar Release date: 22nd July 2017

Ho-Oh #(250)

Type: Fire, Flying Counters: Golem, Raikou, Tyranitar, Vaporeon Release date: 27th November 2017

Pokémon Go generation three legendaries

Regirock (#377)

Type: Rock Counters: Breloom, Groudon, Gyarados, Kyogre, Machamp Release date: 16th August 2018

Regice (#378)

Type: Ice Counters: Entei, Flareon, Machamp, Moltres Release date: 21st July 2018

Registeel (#379)

Type: Steel Counters: Donphan, Entei, Flareon, Moltres, Rhydon Release date: 19th July 2018

Latias (#380)

Type: Psychic, Dragon Counters: Dragonite, Gengar, Latios/Latias, Mewtwo, Rayquza, Salamence, Tyranitar Release date: 2nd April 2018

Latios (#381)

Type: Psychic, Dragon Counters: Dragonite, Gengar, Latios/Latias, Mewtwo, Rayquza, Salamence, Tyranitar Release date: 2nd April 2018

Kyogre (#382)

Type: Water Counters: Exeggutor, Jolteon, Raikou, Venusaur Release date: 12th January 2018

Groudon (#383)

Type: Ground Counters: Dragonite, Exeggutor, Gyarados, Venusaur Release date: 15th December 2017

Rayquaza (#384)

Type: Flying, Dragon Counters: Dragonite, Golem, Piloswine, Tyranitar Release date: 9th February 2018

Pokémon Go generation four legendaries

Uxie (#480)

Type: Psychic Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to Asia-Pacific

Mesprit (#481)

Type: Psychic Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to Europe, Middle East, Africa and India

Azelf (#482)

Type: Psychic Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to the Americas and Greenland

Dialga (#483)

Type: Steel, Dragon Counters: Breloom, Groudon, Hariyama, Lucario, Machamp, Mamoswine Release date: 1st March 2019

Palkia (#484)

Type: Water, Dragon Counters: Dialga, Garchomp, Palkia, Rayquaza, Salamence, Togekiss Release date: 29th January 2019

Heatran (#485)

Type: Fire, Steel Counters: Golem, Groudon, Kyogre, Machamp, Phyperior Release date: 18th December 2018

Regigigas (#486)

Type: Normal Counters: Blaziken, Dialga, Emboar, Gallade, Hariyama, Lucario, Machamp, Mewtwo, Palki, Poliwrath, Toxicroak Release date: 2nd November 2019

Giratina – Altered Forme (#487)

Type: Ghost, Dragon Counters: Dragonite, Gengar, Latios, Rayquaza, Salamence Release date: 23rd October 2018

Cresselia (#488)

Type: Psychic Counters: Gengar, Houndoom, Tyranitar Release date: 20th November 2018

Pokémon Go generation five legendaries

Cobalion (#638)

Type: Steel, Fighting Counters: Blaziken, Chandelure, Entei, Flareon, Hariyama, Machamp, Moltres Release date: 4th November 2019

Terrakion (#639)

Type: Rock, Fighting Counters: Breloom, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Roserade, Sceptile, Venusaur Release date: 26th November 2019

Virizion (#640)

Type: Grass, Fighting Counters: Chandelure, Honchkrow, Lugia, Mewtwo, Moltres, Togekiss, Unfezant Release date: 17th December 2019

Tornadus (#641)

Type: Flying Counters: Electivire, Mamoswine, Magnezone, Raikou, Rampardos, Terrakion Release date: 4th February 2020

Thundurus (#642)

Type: Electric, Flying Counters: Glaceon, Mamoswine, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Tyranitar Release date: 2nd March 2020

Reshiram (#643)

Type: Dragon, Fire Counters: Dialga, Groudon, Rampardos, Rayquaza, Salamence Release date: 26th May 2020

Zekrom (#644)

Type: Dragon, Electric Counters: Gardevoir, Groudon, Palkia, Rayquaza, Weavile Release date: 16th June 2020

Landorus (#645)

Type: Ground, Flying Counters: Gyarados, Kyogre, Lapras, Mamoswine, Swampert Release date: 31st March 2020

Kyurem (#646)

Type: Dragon, Ice Counters: Gardevoir, Lucario, Metagross, Togekiss, Tyranitar Release date: 7th July 2020

Pokémon Go generation six legendaries

Xerneas (#716)

Type: Fairy Counters: Dialga, Excadrill, Genesect, Metagross, Roserade Release date: 4th May 2021

Yveltal (#717)

Type: Dark, Flying Counters: Electivire, Mamoswine, Raikou, Rampardos, Rhyperior Release date: 18th May 2021

How do I catch a Pokémon Go legendary Pokémon? While all the legendary Pokémon listed above have been available to catch within the game, it has only been for set periods of time when Legendary Raids are happening. Once you defeat the legendary in a raid, you have to try and catch it as you would any other Pokémon, but unfortunately, your chances are slim. It takes patience, some Golden Razz Berries, and, as always, some precise throws.

Legendary Pokémon took a year to turn up in Pokémon Go, but boy, were they worth the wait. By legendary, we mean rare to catch, don’t evolve from, or into any other Pokémon, and cannot be assigned to a gym, to name but a few of the similar characteristics between them.

It’s a roster packed with fan-favourites such as Articuno and Mewtwo. Unsurprisingly, being a Pokémon Go legendary means they’re some of the rarest to find and catch within the game. You can find them in a variety of places such as Legendary Raids, the Go Battle League, and as Field Research rewards, but even knowing where they’re going to turn up doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to catch once you get there.

With every new generation comes a host of new legendaries and we’ll cover generations one to six below alongside their type, counters, and release date. But, before we get into it, you might want to also check out information on upcoming Pokémon Go events, the latest Pokémon Go codes for in-game freebies, and our Pokémon Go raid guide.

Pokémon Go generation one legendaries

  • Type: Ice, Flying
  • Counters: Arcanine, Flareon, Golem, Omastar (rock moves), Tyranitar
  • Release date: 22nd July 2017

Zapdos (#145)

  • Type: Electric, Flying
  • Counters: Dragonite, Golem, Jynx, Piloswine (double ice moves), Tyranitar
  • Release date: 7th August 2017

Moltres (#146)

  • Type: Fire, Flying
  • Counters: Golem, Kabutops, Omastar (rock moves), Tyranitar, Vaporeon
  • Release date: 31st July 2017

Mewtwo (#150)

  • Type: Psychic
  • Counters: Gengar, Houndoom, Lugia, Mewtwo, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 14th August 2017

Pokémon Go generation two legendaries

  • Type: Electric
  • Counters: Donphan, Golem, Rhydon
  • Release date: 31st August 2017

Entei (#244)

  • Type: Fire
  • Counters: Golem, Omastar, Vaporeon
  • Release date: 31st August 2017

Suicune (#245)

  • Type: Ice
  • Counters: Jolteon, Venusaur, Zapdos
  • Release date: 31st August 2017

Lugia (#249)

  • Type: Psychic, Flying
  • Counters: Articuno, Gengar, Houndoom, Omastar, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 22nd July 2017

Ho-Oh #(250)

  • Type: Fire, Flying
  • Counters: Golem, Raikou, Tyranitar, Vaporeon
  • Release date: 27th November 2017

Pokémon Go generation three legendaries

  • Type: Rock
  • Counters: Breloom, Groudon, Gyarados, Kyogre, Machamp
  • Release date: 16th August 2018

Regice (#378)

  • Type: Ice
  • Counters: Entei, Flareon, Machamp, Moltres
  • Release date: 21st July 2018

Registeel (#379)

  • Type: Steel
  • Counters: Donphan, Entei, Flareon, Moltres, Rhydon
  • Release date: 19th July 2018

Latias (#380)

  • Type: Psychic, Dragon
  • Counters: Dragonite, Gengar, Latios/Latias, Mewtwo, Rayquza, Salamence, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 2nd April 2018

Latios (#381)

Kyogre (#382)

  • Type: Water
  • Counters: Exeggutor, Jolteon, Raikou, Venusaur
  • Release date: 12th January 2018

Groudon (#383)

  • Type: Ground
  • Counters: Dragonite, Exeggutor, Gyarados, Venusaur
  • Release date: 15th December 2017

Rayquaza (#384)

  • Type: Flying, Dragon
  • Counters: Dragonite, Golem, Piloswine, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 9th February 2018

Pokémon Go generation four legendaries

  • Type: Psychic
  • Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to Asia-Pacific

Mesprit (#481)

  • Type: Psychic
  • Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to Europe, Middle East, Africa and India

Azelf (#482)

  • Type: Psychic
  • Counters: Darkrai, Dialga, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 29th April 2019 – regionally exclusive to the Americas and Greenland

Dialga (#483)

  • Type: Steel, Dragon
  • Counters: Breloom, Groudon, Hariyama, Lucario, Machamp, Mamoswine
  • Release date: 1st March 2019

Palkia (#484)

  • Type: Water, Dragon
  • Counters: Dialga, Garchomp, Palkia, Rayquaza, Salamence, Togekiss
  • Release date: 29th January 2019

Heatran (#485)

  • Type: Fire, Steel
  • Counters: Golem, Groudon, Kyogre, Machamp, Phyperior
  • Release date: 18th December 2018

Regigigas (#486)

  • Type: Normal
  • Counters: Blaziken, Dialga, Emboar, Gallade, Hariyama, Lucario, Machamp, Mewtwo, Palki, Poliwrath, Toxicroak
  • Release date: 2nd November 2019

Giratina – Altered Forme (#487)

  • Type: Ghost, Dragon
  • Counters: Dragonite, Gengar, Latios, Rayquaza, Salamence
  • Release date: 23rd October 2018

Cresselia (#488)

  • Type: Psychic
  • Counters: Gengar, Houndoom, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 20th November 2018

Pokémon Go generation five legendaries

  • Type: Steel, Fighting
  • Counters: Blaziken, Chandelure, Entei, Flareon, Hariyama, Machamp, Moltres
  • Release date: 4th November 2019

Terrakion (#639)

  • Type: Rock, Fighting
  • Counters: Breloom, Latios, Metagross, Mewtwo, Roserade, Sceptile, Venusaur
  • Release date: 26th November 2019

Virizion (#640)

  • Type: Grass, Fighting
  • Counters: Chandelure, Honchkrow, Lugia, Mewtwo, Moltres, Togekiss, Unfezant
  • Release date: 17th December 2019

Tornadus (#641)

  • Type: Flying
  • Counters: Electivire, Mamoswine, Magnezone, Raikou, Rampardos, Terrakion
  • Release date: 4th February 2020

Thundurus (#642)

  • Type: Electric, Flying
  • Counters: Glaceon, Mamoswine, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 2nd March 2020

Reshiram (#643)

  • Type: Dragon, Fire
  • Counters: Dialga, Groudon, Rampardos, Rayquaza, Salamence
  • Release date: 26th May 2020

Zekrom (#644)

  • Type: Dragon, Electric
  • Counters: Gardevoir, Groudon, Palkia, Rayquaza, Weavile
  • Release date: 16th June 2020

Landorus (#645)

  • Type: Ground, Flying
  • Counters: Gyarados, Kyogre, Lapras, Mamoswine, Swampert
  • Release date: 31st March 2020

Kyurem (#646)

  • Type: Dragon, Ice
  • Counters: Gardevoir, Lucario, Metagross, Togekiss, Tyranitar
  • Release date: 7th July 2020

Pokémon Go generation six legendaries

  • Type: Fairy
  • Counters: Dialga, Excadrill, Genesect, Metagross, Roserade
  • Release date: 4th May 2021

Yveltal (#717)

  • Type: Dark, Flying
  • Counters: Electivire, Mamoswine, Raikou, Rampardos, Rhyperior
  • Release date: 18th May 2021

How do I catch a Pokémon Go legendary Pokémon?

While all the legendary Pokémon listed above have been available to catch within the game, it has only been for set periods of time when Legendary Raids are happening. Once you defeat the legendary in a raid, you have to try and catch it as you would any other Pokémon, but unfortunately, your chances are slim.