This guide goes over all the Mythical Pokemon, what makes a Pokemon Mythical, and information on how to obtain them.
All Mythical Pokemon Listed
The following table lists each Mythical Pokemon in Pokedex number order, their type, and their Ability. As of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there are 23 Mythical Pokemon, not counting their alternate forms separately.
| Mythical Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 | Ability | Pokedex Number |
| Mew | Psychic | – | Synchronize | 151 |
| Celebi | Psychic | Grass | Natural Cure | 251 |
| Jirachi | Steel | Psychic | Serene Grace | 385 |
| Deoxys | Psychic | – | Pressure | 386 |
| Phione | Water | – | Hydration | 489 |
| Manaphy | Water | – | Hydration | 490 |
| Darkrai | Dark | – | Bad Dreams | 491 |
| Shaymin | Grass | – (Land Forme) Flying (Sky Forme) | Natural Cure (Land Forme) Serene Grace (Sky Forme) | 492 |
| Arceus | Normal | – | Multitype | 493 |
| Victini | Psychic | Fire | Victory Star | 494 |
| Keldeo | Water | Fighting | Justified | 647 |
| Meloetta | Normal | Psychic (Aria Forme) Fighting (Pirouette Forme) | Serene Grace | 648 |
| Genesect | Bug | Steel | Download | 649 |
| Diancie | Rock | Fairy | Clear Body | 719 |
| Hoopa | Psychic | Ghost (Confined Form) Dark (Unbound Form) | Magician | 720 |
| Volcanion | Fire | Water | Water Absorb | 721 |
| Magearna | Steel | Fairy | Soul-Heart | 801 |
| Marshadow | Fighting | Ghost | Technician | 802 |
| Zeraora | Electric | – | Volt Absorb | 807 |
| Meltan | Steel | – | Magnet Pull | 808 |
| Melmetal | Steel | – | Iron Fist | 809 |
| Zarude | Dark | Grass | Leaf Guard | 893 |
| Pecharunt | Poison | Ghost | Poison Puppeteer | 1025 |
What Makes a Pokemon “Mythical?”
Mythical Pokemon are Pokemon that are only available through events of some kind in their debut generations. The definition of Mythical Pokemon hasn’t been expressly stated anywhere, but such Pokemon can usually be discerned based on this criteria. However, to make matters a bit more complicated, Mythical Pokemon may sometimes be obtainable through normal gameplay in subsequent games. One example of this is Deoxys, which can be battled and captured in the Delta Episode of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire without any need for an event-distributed Pokemon or item.
Mythical Pokemon seem to overlap with Legendary Pokemon, but in recent games, Legendary Pokemon have been treated as entirely separate from Mythical Pokemon. For example, the official website for Pokemon Sword and Shield’s The Crown Tundra DLC states that “you’ll be able to encounter every Legendary Pokemon that’s appeared in the main series of Pokemon games” up until that point. This is true only if Mythical Pokemon aren’t included as a sub-set of Legendary Pokemon. It may seem like splitting hairs, especially since some Mythical Pokemon can now be found in-game normally, but it is notable that the distinction between Legendary and Mythical Pokemon is one of the few things we know for certain about the definition of Mythical Pokemon.
How to Obtain Mythical Pokemon
A Mythical Pokemon may become obtainable through normal gameplay in a game after its introductory generation. It may also become available through Pokemon GO. The following snippets go over the most recent methods to obtain each Mythical Pokemon.
Mew
Complete the “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research in Pokemon GO. You can obtain this Special Research when you reach Trainer level 15.
Celebi
Complete the “A Ripple in Time” Special Research in Pokemon GO. You can obtain this Special Research when you reach the 7th part of the “A Mythical Discovery” Special Research.
Jirachi
Complete the “A Thousand-Year Slumber” Special Research in Pokemon GO. You can obtain this Special Research when you reach the 6th part of the “A Ripple in Time” Special Research.
Deoxys
In Pokemon GO, Deoxys in its four different Formes can be challenged in five-star raid battles during certain events. Players have a chance to capture it if they successfully win the raid.
Phione
Phione is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
It can be obtained in the Seaside Hollow in the Cobalt Coastlands in Pokemon Legends: Arceus during and, rarely, after completing Request 66.
When transferred to a mainline Pokemon game that has breeding, breeding Manaphy with a Ditto will result in Phione Eggs.
Manaphy
Manaphy is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
It can be obtained in the Seaside Hollow in the Cobalt Coastlands in Pokemon Legends: Arceus as part of Request 66.
Darkrai
Darkrai was available as an event distribution for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet from December 7 to December 21, 2023.
In Pokemon GO, Darkrai is rarely available through special rewards or raid battles. Players have a chance to capture it if they successfully win the raid.
Shaymin
Complete the “Grass and Gratitude” Special Research in Pokemon GO, which is available for free to all players of any Trainer level.
Arceus
Arceus is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
It can be obtained at the Hall of Origin in the Temple of Sinnoh in Pokemon Legends: Arceus as part of Mission 27.
Victini
Complete the “Investigate a Mysterious Energy” Special Research in Pokemon GO. You can obtain this Special Research when you reach the 5th part of the “A Thousand-Year Slumber” Special Research.
Keldeo
Keldeo could be obtained by completing the “Something Extraordinary” Special Research in Pokemon GO. It is no longer available to obtain.
The most recent method of obtaining Keldeo prior to this is to catch it in Ballimere Lake in the Crown Tundra DLC in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Meloetta
Meloetta can be obtained in the Coastal Biome of The Indigo Disk DLC in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Genesect
Genesect is rarely available in Pokemon GO through special rewards and raid battles. Players have a chance to capture it if they successfully win the raid.
Diancie
Complete the “Glitz and Glam” Special Research in Pokemon GO, which is available for free to all players of any Trainer level.
Hoopa
Hoopa (Confined) could be obtained by completing the “Misunderstood Mischief” Special Research in Pokemon GO. It is currently available to obtain. Hoopa (Unbound) was available through raid battles in November 2021. Players had a chance to capture it if they successfully won the raid.
Prior to this, Hoopa was available as an event distribution in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon in Japan, and in Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire in the Americas.
Volcanion
Volcanion is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
The most recent time Volcanion was available was an event distribution in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Magearna
Magearna is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
A special Original Color Magearna can be obtained by completing the National Pokedex up to Pokemon Sword and Shield in Pokemon HOME.
Marshadow
In Pokemon GO, players will be able to encounter Marshadow as part of the Special Research that will come with the Pokemon GO Fest 2024: Global ticket. The ticket can be purchased for US$14.99. After this, it is uncertain when Marshadow will be made available again.
Prior to this, Marshadow was available as an event distribution in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Zeraora
Zeraora is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
The most recent time Zeraora was available was an event distribution in Pokemon HOME.
Meltan
Meltan can only be obtained in Pokemon GO, although it can be transferred to other games afterwards. Outside of special events, Meltan can be obtained by using the Mystery Box, which acts as an Incense that attracts Meltan for one hour. Players can obtain the Mystery Box by connecting their Pokemon GO account to Pokemon HOME and transferring at least one Pokemon to it.
Melmetal
Like its pre-evolution Meltan, Melmetal can only be obtained in Pokemon GO, with the exception of a single event distribution exclusive to Pokemon HOME in 2020.
Outside of special Pokemon GO events, Melmetal can be obtained by evolving Meltan by using 400 Meltan Candy. Meltan can only evolve into Melmetal in Pokemon GO (although it doesn’t gain the boost from a held Eviolite).
Zarude
Zarude could be obtained in Pokemon GO by completing the “Rogue of the Jungle” Special Research, which was obtained by paying for the ticket. Prior to this, players could unlock the “Search for Zarude!” Special Research by logging into the game any time between October 1 and October 10, 2021.
Prior to this, Zarude was available through special event distributions in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Pecharunt
Pecharunt is not yet available in Pokemon GO.
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players can obtain Pecharunt as part of the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero epilogue, Mochi Mayhem. To unlock the epilogue, players need to have completed the Academy Ace Tournament, The Teal Mask story, and The Indigo Disk Story, as well as obtained the Mythical Pecha Berry item through Mystery Gift. This item will be available to claim indefinitely.
