5 Rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO & How to Unlock Them (2022)

Pokémon GO has a treasure trove of collectibles, many of which can be acquired by waltzing right out your front door and exploring the nooks and crannies of your own community. Rare Pokémon, on the other hand, can be a little more elusive, and can often require a few dozen hours to acquire. That said, if you can catch some of the most powerful Pokémon, then you'll come to find that the perks can be monumentally mouth-watering. And not to mention that they can give you a serious leg up when going toe-to-toe in the PvP Arena.

Of course, the Pokémon GO roster operates likes a carousel, in the fact that it forever shifts and changes, mostly when the generations either advance, or the seasons pass and the climate changes. As of this moment, though, there are five incredibly rare Pokémon to bag for your Pokédex, all of whom require a little extra legwork than the vast majority of easy-to-obtain starter companions. Ready for the task? Let's GO!

5. Goomy

Since the Luminous Legends X event ended last May, travelers have continued their search for the ever-elusive Goomy, a dragon-type Pokémon that has proven to be one of the rarest in the Kalos region. Although the drop rate remains disappointingly low, players can still catch it in 2022, though it does involve quite a bit of extra time and effort. And, like most rare types of Pokémon, the chance of actually uncovering one is painfully slim.

How to unlock: Of course, you can still very much capture Gloomy. That said, you'll probably need to try your luck with a 10KM Egg which, at the time of writing, holds the highest drop rate. Even so, it's still fairly low compared to other legendary Pokémon, and so you'll need to work for your Eggs in order to increase your chances. The more 10KM Eggs you bag, the higher the chances of acquiring the slippery so-and-so are. Simple enough, right?

4. Melmetal

Melmetal, or Meltan, going by its adolescent phase, is still one of the toughest Pokémon to catch. Its evolved form, Melmetal, though, takes things to a new level, as the Candies needed to assemble him are ludicrously high. To obtain even the infant, you'll have to go through a series of hoops, some of which might just gift you with the metal-type Mythical Pokémon upon completion.

How to unlock: The best way to get your hands on Meltan is by completing the Special Research task line, “Let's Go, Meltan.” Failing that, then the best alternative would be to unlock the Mystery Box. You can acquire a Mystery Box by connecting Pokémon GO to the Pokémon HOME app, which can be downloaded from the Play/App Store. Once Meltan has been obtained, you will need to farm 400 Meltan Candies to evolve it into Melmetal.

3. Pikachu Libre

Pikachu isn't all that tough to claim, so long as you know where to look. Its ultra luchador cousin, Pikachu Libre, on the other hand, is a bit of a pain in the backside to dig out. That said, the road to obtaining one isn't half as turbulent as the vast majority of rare Pokémon. The only real thing you'll need to do is, you know, play the game. 

How to unlock: For the chance to bag Pikachu Libre, you'll need to reach Rank 20 in the Pokémon GO Battle League. You can reach this level by beating other players in the PvP Arena. Once you have ascended the ranks and surpassed the milestone, you'll receive the opportunity to confront the adorable luchador-sporting companion.

2. Sandile

Granted, the dual-type Ground/Dark Pokémon known as Sandile isn't the most eye-catching ‘mon on the block. It is, however, one of the rarest, which of course makes it the desirable beast that it is. But getting your hands on one, however, requires a little more than a scuffle around your local duck pond.

How to unlock: To get a Sandile, you'll need to hatch a 12KM Egg (otherwise known as a Strange Egg). You can get one of these Eggs by beating one of the three Team GO Rocket Leaders: Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra, in one of the designated PokéStop areas. Just be mindful that the drop rate is ridiculously low, so you'll need to take on quite a few Rocket Leaders in order to raise your odds of snatching a Sandile. Worth the time and effort? Meh.

1. Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie

The trio of region-locked Pokémon aren't necessarily hard to come by. That is, providing you make regular trips around the world with the sole purpose of adding Pokémon to your trusty Pokédex. And if you aren't able to fit it all of that into your busy schedule, then you'll definitely struggle to assemble the whole party.

How to unlock: Catching any of the three Pokémon isn't exactly hard, per se, but more of a chore; a lofty, mundane, and painfully long-winded chore. Thanks to the trio being locked to specific sections of the world, you'll have to either make plans to travel to a few continents, or befriend other players from other corners of the world. You can find Azelf in the Americas, Uxie in Asia Pacific, and Mesprit in Europe. Road trip, anyone?

So, what's your take? Have you been able to catch any of the above five yet? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.