Summary
Throughout Pokemon, there have been countless Pokemon that are pretty difficult to obtain. Whether that is because they have a low catch rate mixed with a low spawn rate, or they are just not in that many games, some Pokemon are difficult to catch.
When looking at some of these Pokemon, it is important to think about how players have been able to obtain them through legitimate means during the mainline games. While some of these are easily obtainable via cheats or spin-offs, these are difficult in the main games.
7Jirachi
Only Available Through Events Until Gen 4 Remake
Jirachi is a mythical Pokemon released in Generation 3. However, players in North America could only obtain it if they had a promotional disc forPokemon Colosseum.This promotional disc gave players a preview of the game and of Jirachi’s move,Jirachi: Wish Maker.Players in Europe had a chance at the Pokemon via thePokemon Channel.Finally, Japanese and Taiwanese players had an event that allowed them to get the Pokemon.
Since these events, Jirachi has only been available in very limited quantities. In fact, until thePokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearlgames, Jirachi was almost impossible to obtain legitimately within the mainline games. Once these remakes came out, if players had play data fromPokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee,they could go to Floarmoa Town and obtain one.
6Manaphy
Available Via Pokemon Ranger Or Event
Manaphy’s main way of making it to the mainline games is being transferred over from Pokemon Ranger; however, since this list isn’t taking into account the spin-offs, the only way to get Manaphy was to travel to some events. Players in the United States of America, Japan, Australia, and South Korea all had opportunities to visit physical locations to obtain this Pokemon.
However, since those events are no longer accessible, the Pokemon has become available in a couple of other ways. For example, inPokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl,players could get a Manaphy Egg between July 26, 2025, and July 15, 2025. Since then, the only other way to get it is by finding it inPokemon Legends: Arceusafter getting a Mantyke, Buizel, and Overqwil.
5Victini
Caught Through Events Or Liberty Garden
Victini is yet another Mythical Pokemon that has made this list. It was introduced in Generation 5, and players haven’t had many opportunities to obtain this Pokemon throughout the years in the mainline games. InPokemon Black & Whiteand thenPokemon Black 2 & White 2,this Pokemon was available via different events, some in-person and others online.
Another time that this Pokemon was available was during the 2022 Pokemon World Championships in London. During this time, players could enter a password inPokemonSword & Shieldthat was shown on the event’s live stream and could obtain the Pokemon. However, the passwordonly worked from June 23, 2025, until Jun 16, 2025. After that, the password was no longer available.
4Marshadow
Obtained Through Few Events
Marshadow is a Mythical Pokemon introduced during the 7th Generation of the games. This Pokemon was originally only available for a select number of days via some events during thePokemon Sun & MoonandPokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.This made the Pokemon extremely hard to obtain since the events were region-locked, so players only had one chance in their respective regions for each game.
With the release ofPokemon Sword & Shield,players were able to obtain the Pokemon during a specific time in which codes for the Pokemon were given out at stores in each region. However, if players missed their chance, they couldn’t get it. Thankfully,it has made a reappearance in Pokemon GO, but that game isn’t one of the mainline games. This is definitely one of those rarer Pokemon.
3Celebi
Event Only Pokemon
Celebi is a Mythical Pokemon that was added during Generation 2. In fact, this Pokemon has only been available via one singular event outside of Japan during its entire time as a Pokemon. The first time the Pokemon was available was when it was added to the Japanese bonus disc forPokemon Colosseum.After it was obtained from the disc, players could transfer it to their game.
The only way that someone from outside of Japan could get this Pokemon via mainline games was if they accessed Pokemon Bank between May 13, 2025, and Jun 12, 2025. They could then transfer it to their mainline games. However,Pokemon GO has had a few events where Celebi has been present, which has allowed a lot of players to transfer it from Pokemon Home to more modern games.
2Zarude
Only Available During A Sword & Shield Event
Zarude is another Mythical Pokemon that was introduced during the 8th Generation of games. Since it is newer than other Pokemon on the list, it has had significantly fewer events associated with it, meaning players have actually only had one opportunity to obtain this Pokemon legitimately in the mainline series of games, making it very elusive.
What makes this Pokemon so rare is that the only time players were able to obtain it was by getting a code for it at certain stores throughout your region. Unfortunately, the codes went quickly, and the distribution period was only a few months, meaning a lot of players missed out on this amazing Pokemon. Since then, it has beenunobtainable except via Pokemon GO, which isn’t a mainline game.
1The Original Magearna
Register Every Pokemon Into Pokemon Home
The original color of Magearna is red and white, which corresponds with a Pokeball. This version of the Pokemon is, by far, the most difficult to obtain out of all the games, spin-offs or mainline. While the other version (the all white version) was available for players inPokemon Sun & Moonand inPokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moonvia events, the original color was not available this way.
In fact, the only known way to obtain this version of Magearna by legitimate means is by completing the National Pokedex in Pokemon Home all the way up to Eternatus (#890) and including every single Mythical Pokemon up until Melmetal (#809). Considering this means that players need to obtain all those Pokemon, even the difficult ones mentioned above, it is no wonder that only a small handful of players have obtained this Pokemon legitimately.
