Legendary & Mythical Pokémon Locations & Catching

Legendary & Mythical Pokémon Locations & Catching

The Galar region, along with its expansions, is home to a select few truly powerful and elusive Pokémon: the Legendaries and Mythicals. This detailed guide will walk you through their specific locations, the conditions required to encounter them, and effective strategies for adding these magnificent creatures to your team.

Zacian & Zamazenta (Main Story Legendaries)

These two heroic Pokémon are central to the main story of Pokémon Sword and Shield. You will encounter them naturally as you progress through the game.

• Location: Energy Plant, after defeating Leon and becoming Champion.
• Requirements: Complete the main story.
• Walkthrough:
  1. After becoming Champion, head to Slumbering Weald.
  2. Follow Hop to the Energy Plant.
  3. Battle and defeat Sordward and Shielbert.
  4. You will then face either Zacian (Sword) or Zamazenta (Shield) in a battle. This is a forced encounter and cannot be skipped.
  5. Catching Strategy:
     • Bring a Pokémon with a status condition move like Thunder Wave (Paralysis) or Hypnosis (Sleep). Sleep offers the best catch rate bonus.
     • Lower its HP into the red zone. False Swipe is excellent for this, as it cannot knock out a Pokémon.
     • Use Ultra Balls. If the battle is dragging, consider a Timer Ball after 10 turns.
     • The catch rate for these Legendaries is not as low as some others, but persistence is key.
• Note: The Legendary you don't catch will be caught by Hop and become his partner.

Eternatus (Main Story Legendary)

Eternatus is another Legendary Pokémon that is integral to the main story's climax.

• Location: Hammerlocke Stadium, during the "Darkest Day" event.
• Requirements: Progress through the main story until the Darkest Day event.
• Walkthrough:
  1. During the Darkest Day event, you will confront Eternatus in its Eternamax form.
  2. This is a unique Max Raid Battle where you team up with Hop, Zacian, and Zamazenta.
  3. After defeating Eternamax Eternatus, it will revert to its normal form, and you will have a guaranteed catch opportunity.
  4. Catching Strategy: Throw any Poké Ball you desire. A standard Poké Ball will work, as the catch is guaranteed.

The Crown Tundra Legendaries (Expansion Pass)

The Crown Tundra DLC introduces a plethora of new and returning Legendary Pokémon. Accessing these requires the Expansion Pass.

Calyrex

Calyrex is the central Legendary of the Crown Tundra story.

• Location: Freezington and throughout the Crown Tundra.
• Requirements: Own the Crown Tundra Expansion Pass and begin the story there.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Upon arriving in Freezington, speak to Peony and begin the "Legendary Clue 1" quest.
  2. Follow the story, which involves finding the missing statue head, planting carrots, and eventually encountering Calyrex.
  3. Calyrex will eventually bond with either Glastrier or Spectrier, depending on your choice of carrot (Iceroot Carrot for Glastrier, Shaderoot Carrot for Spectrier).
  4. You will then battle the fused Calyrex (Ice Rider Calyrex or Shadow Rider Calyrex).
  5. Catching Strategy:
     • This battle takes place at the Crown Shrine.
     • Lower its HP significantly, ideally into the red.
     • Inflict a status condition like Sleep or Paralysis.
     • Use Ultra Balls or Dusk Balls (if it's night). Timer Balls are also effective for longer battles.
     • The catch rate is low, so be prepared for a lengthy encounter. Save before initiating the battle!

Galarian Legendary Birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres)

These regional variants roam the Wild Areas of Galar and its expansions.

• Requirements: Own the Crown Tundra Expansion Pass and complete the "Legendary Clue 3" quest.
• Walkthrough:
  1. After seeing the Birds at Dyna Tree Hill, they will scatter across the different Wild Areas.
  2. Galarian Articuno: Roams the Crown Tundra.
     • It creates illusions of itself. Approach the real one (it will flap its wings) and interact to initiate battle.
     • It will fly away if you fail to catch it or knock it out, but will reappear after a short time (e.g., re-entering the area or waiting).
     • Catching Strategy: High Speed and Special Attack. Bring a Pokémon with a status condition and False Swipe.
  3. Galarian Zapdos: Roams the Wild Area (main game).
     • It runs incredibly fast. You need to chase it down on your bike. Cut corners and anticipate its movements.
     • Once you get close enough, it will initiate battle.
     • It will flee if you fail to catch it or knock it out, but will reappear after a short time.
     • Catching Strategy: High Attack and Speed. Ground-type Pokémon are immune to its Electric moves.
  4. Galarian Moltres: Roams the Isle of Armor (Expansion Pass).
     • It flies around the Isle of Armor. Position yourself in its flight path (e.g., near the Tower of Darkness/Waters) and use your whistle to get its attention.
     • Once it swoops down, interact to initiate battle.
     • It will fly away if you fail to catch it or knock it out, but will reappear after a short time.
     • Catching Strategy: High Special Attack and Speed. Rock-type moves are super effective.
  5. General Catching Strategy for all Birds:
     • Save before each encounter!
     • Lower HP into the red.
     • Inflict Sleep or Paralysis.
     • Use Ultra Balls. Dusk Balls are effective if it's night. Timer Balls for prolonged battles.
     • They have low catch rates, so be patient.

Regis (Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Regieleki, Regidrago)

These ancient Golems are found in various temples across the Crown Tundra.

• Requirements: Own the Crown Tundra Expansion Pass and begin "Legendary Clue 2".
• Walkthrough:
  1. Regirock: Giant's Bed.
     • Enter the temple. The riddle is "Let ring the rock of life in the left hand, the rock of life in the right."
     • Have the first Pokémon in your party hold a Everstone.
     • Interact with the statue to initiate battle.
  2. Regice: Giant's Bed.
     • Enter the temple. The riddle is "Walk together with a living crystal of snow."
     • Walk over all the floor panels to light them up.
     • Interact with the statue to initiate battle.
  3. Registeel: Giant's Bed.
     • Enter the temple. The riddle is "Let two steel giants sing a song together."
     • Use the whistle (press the left stick) inside the temple.
     • Interact with the statue to initiate battle.
  4. Regieleki / Regidrago: Split-decision temple in Three-Point Pass.
     • You can only catch ONE of these per save file. Choose wisely!
     • The riddle is "A giant of electric, a giant of dragon. Let my body become the key to opening the gate."
     • You need to have Regirock, Regice, and Registeel in your party.
     • To summon Regieleki, light up the panels in the pattern of Regieleki's face (a plus sign with a dot in the middle).
     • To summon Regidrago, light up the panels in the pattern of Regidrago's face (a Y shape).
     • Interact with the statue to initiate battle.
  5. General Catching Strategy for all Regis:
     • Save before entering each temple.
     • Lower HP into the red.
     • Inflict Sleep or Paralysis.
     • Ultra Balls, Dusk Balls (if night), or Timer Balls are your best bet.
     • Their catch rates are low, so be prepared for multiple attempts.

Legendary Giants (Dynamax Adventures)

Many returning Legendary Pokémon can be caught in the Max Lair through Dynamax Adventures.

• Location: Max Lair, Crown Tundra.
• Requirements: Own the Crown Tundra Expansion Pass and progress through the Dynamax Adventure tutorial.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Enter a Dynamax Adventure. You will rent a Pokémon and battle through three Dynamax Pokémon before facing a Legendary at the end.
  2. You can choose to save the path to a specific Legendary if you encounter it and fail to catch it, allowing you to re-challenge it directly.
  3. Catching Strategy:
     • All Pokémon in Dynamax Adventures are guaranteed catches if you defeat them.
     • You can only keep ONE Pokémon caught during a Dynamax Adventure run. If you defeat the Legendary, you can choose to swap one of your rented Pokémon for the Legendary.
     • You can only catch each Legendary once per save file from Dynamax Adventures.
     • Any Poké Ball will work for the guaranteed catch.
  4. Notable Legendaries available:
     • Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Heatran, Cresselia, Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini.

Mythical Pokémon

Mythical Pokémon are typically event-exclusive or require specific save data from other games.

Keldeo

Keldeo is one of the few Mythical Pokémon obtainable directly in-game in Sword and Shield.

• Location: Ballimere Lake, Crown Tundra.
• Requirements: Own the Crown Tundra Expansion Pass and have caught all three Swords of Justice (Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion).
• Walkthrough:
  1. After catching Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion (who also roam the Crown Tundra and leave footprints for you to track), head to a small island in Ballimere Lake.
  2. Make a curry at a campsite on this island with the three Swords of Justice in your party.
  3. Keldeo will then appear on the island.
  4. Catching Strategy:
     • Save before initiating the battle.
     • Lower its HP into the red.
     • Inflict a status condition (Sleep is best).
     • Use Ultra Balls or Dusk Balls. Timer Balls can also be effective.
     • Keldeo has a low catch rate, so be prepared for a challenge.

Zarude (Event Exclusive)

Zarude was a time-limited distribution event Mythical Pokémon.

• Availability: No longer obtainable through normal gameplay. Was distributed via codes.
• Note: Keep an eye out for future distributions or trading opportunities if you wish to obtain Zarude.

Other Mythical Pokémon (Transfers)

Many other Mythical Pokémon (e.g., Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Genesect, Meloetta, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Magearna, Marshadow, Zeraora, Meltan, Melmetal) can only be brought into Pokémon Sword and Shield via Pokémon HOME, often requiring them to have been caught in previous games or obtained through past events.

• Requirements: Pokémon HOME account, and the desired Mythical Pokémon in a compatible game or already in HOME.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Transfer the Mythical Pokémon from its original game to Pokémon HOME.
  2. From Pokémon HOME, transfer the Mythical Pokémon to your Pokémon Sword or Shield game.
• Note: Some Mythical Pokémon may have restrictions on which games they can be transferred from or to. Always check Pokémon HOME compatibility.

While Pokemon Emerald introduced the roaming mechanic for Latios and Latias, Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra expansion utilizes the Max Raid Den system for most encounters.

Unlike the unique touch-screen capture mechanics found in Pokémon Ranger, securing Legendaries in Sword and Shield relies on traditional turn-based battling and strategic Poké Ball management.