Three legendary birds, three elusive forms, and just 15 minutes a day to find them-tracking down Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go is a true test of patience and luck. These rare creatures can only be encountered while using the Daily Adventure Incense, and even then, their appearances are fleeting and their catch rates notoriously low, making every sighting a heart-pounding moment for dedicated trainers. Are you ready for the chase?
They’re only found by using a specific daily incense that requires you to actually go on a walk, and their catch rate is low with a matching high flee rate. Getting these birds can be grueling, but of course, hardcore collectors will want them.
Below we explain how to find the Galarian birds (Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres) in Pokémon Go, how to find them shiny, and whether they will run away when encountered.
How to get Galarian birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go
To encounter Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go, you must use the Daily Adventure Incense, a special blue incense that can be activated once per day and lasts for 15 minutes. While the incense is active, you need to keep moving-standing still or walking in place won’t work-as these legendary birds only spawn when you’re changing locations. The Galarian birds are extremely rare spawns, and there’s no guarantee you’ll see one during any given incense session, so patience and persistence are key. If you do encounter one, be prepared: they have a very low catch rate and often flee after a single failed throw, so using a Golden Razz Berry and an Ultra Ball-or a Master Ball, if you have one-is highly recommended to maximize your chances.
All three of the Galarian birds are rare encounters that show up when you use a Daily Adventure Incense, the blue 15-minute incense that you can use once every day. (You can see it in the top right corner of your Pokémon Go screen, under the weather, compass, and meetup buttons.)
Daily Adventure Incense requires movement in order to spawn Pokémon and it needs to be movement where you are actually moving locations (rather than just walking on a treadmill).
This incense is the only way to find Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Finding the birds on your stroll is rare, so don’t expect to find any right away.
Galarian birds catch rate and flee rate
Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are among the most elusive Pokémon in Pokémon Go, not only because they can only be encountered via Daily Adventure Incense, but also due to their exceptionally low catch rate and high flee rate. Each of these legendary birds has a base catch rate of just 0.3% and a staggering 90% chance to flee if not caught on the first or second throw, making them some of the hardest Pokémon to secure in the game. While using items like Golden Razz Berries and Ultra Balls can slightly improve your odds, the vast majority of players rely on the Master Ball-which guarantees a catch-to avoid the heartbreak of seeing these rare birds escape. For shiny variants, the odds of encountering one are about 1 in 20, and notably, shiny Galarian birds will not flee, allowing unlimited attempts to catch them, though their catch rate remains just as low.
The birds also have an abysmal catch rate andif the first ball you land doesn’t catch them, they’ll very likely run. That said, these birds have become the de facto reason you want Master Balls in Pokémon Go, as this will guarantee the bird once you run into one. This Silph Road subreddit user says that the catch rate is 0.3% and a flee rate of 90%, so you’ll need to use a Golden Razz Berry and an Ultra Ball to up your chances (if you’re not using a Master Ball).
How to find shiny Galarian birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
To find shiny Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go, the key method is to use the Daily Adventure Incense, which you can activate once a day. This Incense attracts Pokémon to spawn near you for 15 minutes as you walk around, and the Galarian birds can appear during this time with an Incense icon next to their name. These shiny forms do not appear in five-star raids, so Incense is the only way to encounter them in the wild. The spawn rate for these birds is low, averaging about one encounter every 4.5 days for some players, and the chance of finding a shiny is even rarer. Because these birds have a high flee rate, using a Master Ball is recommended to secure a catch if you encounter one. To maximize your chances, consistently use your Daily Adventure Incense and explore routes where these birds have previously spawned, as they tend to appear in specific fixed locations.
As of the “Galarian Expedition” event in October 2024, the birds you encounter now have a chance to be shiny.
These shinies are great as this actually gives the Galarian birds their Kantonian color schemes: Articuno becomes blue, Zapdos becomes yellow, and Moltres gets its yellow and orange flames back.
Shiny odds for Legendary Pokémon in raids are approximately one in 20, but since these birds have a unique encounter (found in the wild rather than raids), it’s unknown if they share this shiny rate or not. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are Legendary Pokémon who were also able to be found in the wild and their shiny rates also sat at one in 20, so it’s possible that these birds share that rate. We’ll update this guide when we get more information.
The rules for finding the birds are the same as before, you just have to get extra lucky to find the bird shiny – compounded with the luck you need to actually find a bird.
Will shiny Galarian birds run away?
The shiny Galarian birds in Pokémon Go-Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres-are notorious for their extremely high flee rates. Reports indicate a base catch rate of only 0.3% and a flee rate around 90%, making them incredibly difficult to catch without the use of special items like Master Balls. However, an important distinction is that shiny Galarian birds do not flee, allowing players unlimited attempts to catch them, though their catch rate remains very low. This means while the regular Galarian birds are likely to run away quickly if not caught on the first or second throw, shiny variants offer a rare chance to keep trying without the risk of escape, provided players have enough Poké Balls to persist.
The main difference between the regular and shiny versions is that shiny Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will not run, allowing you as many chances as you want to catch the bird. That said, their catch rate remains the same, so it is possible to run out of Poké Balls before you get a chance to catch the bird.
How do set spawn locations help me find Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres
Set spawn locations can significantly increase your chances of encountering Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go. Many players have reported that these legendary birds tend to appear in the same specific spots along their regular walking routes when using the Daily Adventure Incense. By identifying and repeatedly visiting these locations where you or others have previously encountered a Galarian bird, you can focus your efforts and potentially see more spawns over time.
For example, some trainers have noticed that Galarian birds consistently spawn near certain landmarks, like lakes or specific houses, and that these locations yield repeat encounters even under different weather conditions and at different times of day. Tracking and revisiting these set spawn points can help maximize your limited 15-minute incense window, making your search more efficient and less reliant on random chance.
How can knowing set spawn locations improve my chances of finding Galarian birds
Knowing set spawn locations can dramatically improve your chances of finding Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in Pokémon Go. Players have observed that Galarian birds often spawn in the exact same spots along their walking routes when using Daily Adventure Incense. By tracking and marking these locations-where you’ve previously encountered a Galarian bird-you can return to them on future days, increasing the likelihood of repeat encounters.
This “spot theory” is supported by long-term player experience: those who consistently revisit known spawn points report significantly more Galarian bird sightings, sometimes averaging 7-12 birds per month, compared to those who wander randomly and may see none. These set locations are likely tied to rare spawn cells in the game’s map data, making them hotspots for legendary encounters.
In summary, identifying and repeatedly visiting set spawn locations helps you focus your limited incense window on proven hotspots, maximizing your chances of encountering these elusive legendary birds.
