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.
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.