How to catch Mighty Pokémon in Pokémon GO and what they are

Ready to power up your Pokémon GO team with some truly formidable creatures? Mighty Pokémon, the latest and most powerful variants roaming the wild, bring unmatched strength and exclusive moves-but catching them requires skill, the right tools, and timing. Dive into our guide to discover how to track down these battle-ready titans, master new gameplay mechanics, and harness their might to dominate raids and battles like never before!

Below we explain how mighty Pokémon work, the schedule for mighty spawns, and what mighty Pokémon are the most meta-relevant.

What are mighty Pokémon in Pokémon Go?

Mighty Pokémon in Pokémon Go are a new category of rare and exceptionally strong wild Pokémon introduced during special events like the Wild Area 2024. These Pokémon appear at higher levels, typically between 35 and 45, and always in their fully evolved forms. They have a guaranteed minimum IV (Individual Values) floor of 13/13/13, making them notably stronger in attack, defense, and stamina than regular wild Pokémon. Mighty Pokémon are also more likely to be XL or XXL in size and are much more aggressive and difficult to catch, often requiring special items like Golden Razz Berries and the event-specific GO Safari Balls. They can also appear as Shiny versions, adding to their rarity. On the map, they are distinguished by a yellow pulsating effect, and during encounters, their CP is hidden, showing “!!!” instead. These features make Mighty Pokémon highly sought after for competitive play and collection during the event periods when they appear.

Mighty Pokémon are special strong Pokémon that spawn during the Go Wild Area event. It will have the following qualities:

• Its attack, defense, and HP stats will be at least 13/13/13 when appraised (out of a maximum of 15/15/15).
• They will already be level 40 – meaning that they’re at the level where they need XL candy to be powered up.
• Spawns are uncommon to rare – make sure you use an Incense to increase your chances of them appearing.
• They’re harder to catch – use your pinap berries and Go Safari Balls!
• They have a higher chance to be XL or XXL.
• Only certain Pokémon can be mighty – see the list later on this page for each day’s spawns.
• On the map screen, they’re shown with a pulsing aura around them.
• They are shown with a “!!!” CP on the catch screen.
• Some mighty Pokémon will know a special move when caught.

Despite the difficulty in finding and catching, mighty Pokémon are made for combat right away, and are pretty powerful! You’ll want to nab any you find during the Go Wild Area event – and you should use your Go Safari Balls to nab them. (There’s a reason these two things have debuted at the same time.)

Mighty Pokémon list

Mighty Pokémon in Pokémon Go are a rare and powerful category of wild Pokémon that appear fully evolved, often at very high levels ranging from 35 to 45, depending on weather boosts. They boast a guaranteed minimum IV floor of 13/13/13, making them exceptionally strong in Attack, Defense, and HP. These Pokémon are more likely to be XL or XXL in size and can also be shiny. However, they are notably more aggressive and difficult to catch, frequently attacking and attempting to escape during encounters. To improve your chances, it is recommended to use Golden Razz Berries and the special Go Safari Balls introduced during the Wild Area events. Mighty Pokémon are marked on the map with a yellow pulsating aura and show “!!!” instead of their CP on the catch screen. The list of Mighty Pokémon includes fan favorites like Pidgeot, Gyarados, Luxray, Tyrantrum, and Venusaur, among others, making them highly sought after for battles and raids due to their combat readiness and strong stats.

Different mighty Pokémon spawn depending on the days:

Mighty Pokémon in Pokémon Go are a special, rare type of wild Pokémon introduced during the Go Wild Area 2024 event. These Pokémon are significantly stronger than usual, appearing at very high levels (35 to 45), always fully evolved, and with guaranteed high IVs of at least 13/13/13. They are more likely to be XL or XXL in size and come with exclusive moves, making them battle-ready right upon capture. However, they are much harder to catch, frequently attacking during encounters, so players are advised to use the new GO Safari Balls and Golden Razz Berries to improve their chances. Mighty Pokémon can also be shiny and contribute to special medals if caught in XXL size. They represent a valuable opportunity to acquire powerful Pokémon without extensive powering up, but are only available during specific event periods, requiring active hunting and strategic catching.

Mighty Pokémon special moves

Mighty Pokémon in Pokémon GO are distinguished not only by their high combat power and size but also by their exclusive special moves, making them formidable in battles. These special moves, such as Venusaur’s Frenzy Plant, Gyarados’s Aqua Tail, and Luxray’s Psychic Fangs, are unique to Mighty Pokémon and often cannot be learned by their regular counterparts. Capturing these Pokémon during events often grants them these powerful moves, and evolving their pre-evolved forms can also unlock these exclusive attacks. This combination of enhanced stats and special moves makes Mighty Pokémon especially valuable for competitive play and raids, encouraging trainers to prioritize catching them when they appear.

Some mighty Pokémon will have special moves:

• Venusaur: Frenzy Plant
• Pidgeot: Gust
• Poliwrath: Counter
• Gyarados: Aqua Tail
• Feraligatr: Hydro Cannon
• Luxray: Psychic Fangs

Evolving the prior Pokémon into these will also give them their special moves. (For example, if you’re sitting on a high-IV Ivysaur, now is the time to evolve into a Venusaur.)

Which mighty Pokémon should I prioritize?

When deciding which Mighty Pokémon to prioritize in Pokémon GO, focus on those that offer the best combination of high-level stats, exclusive moves, and strong performance in both PvE and PvP. Notable Mighty Pokémon such as Dragonite with Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor, Feraligatr with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon, and Mamoswine stand out for their combat readiness and versatility. Additionally, some Mighty Pokémon like Pidgeot have valuable Mega Evolutions that make them formidable in raids and battles. Since Mighty Pokémon have a guaranteed minimum IV of 13/13/13 and spawn at high levels (40+), catching any you encounter is beneficial, but prioritize those that fit your battle strategy or fill gaps in your team. Using special GO Safari Balls during events can increase your chances of capturing these powerful Pokémon.

If you’re trying to be more selective with your Safari Ball usage and don’t know which of these Pokémon fit into the meta, we got your back.

Venusaur, Gyarados, and Pidgeot can all Mega Evolve, meaning that they have the ability to be very powerful if you have the Mega Energy for them. Nab them and set them up with the following moves to blast their enemies away:

• Venusaur with Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant
• Gyarados with Waterfall and Hydro Pump OR Bite and Crunch
• Pidgeot with Gust and Brave Bird

Otherwise, Dragonite, Feraligatr, Mamoswine, Electivire, Tyrantrum, and Scolipede are pretty good attackers. You can set them up with the following moves for max effectiveness:

• Dragonite with Dragon Tail and Draco Meteor
• Feraligatr with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
• Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche
• Electivire with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Tyrantrum with Rock Throw and Meteor Beam
• Scolipede with Poison Jab and Sludge Bomb

Additionally, Gyarados usually requires a whopping 400 Magikarp Candy to evolve normally, so if you’re looking to get a pretty good Pokémon will skipping the evolution requirement, you should keep your eyes extra-peeled for this flying serpent.

How can I maximize my chances of catching mighty Pokémon in Pokémon Go

To maximize your chances of catching mighty Pokémon in Pokémon GO, follow these key strategies:

• Use the new GO Safari Balls, which significantly increase catch rates for mighty Pokémon compared to Ultra or Great Balls.

• Always use Golden Razz Berries to boost your catch probability; combined with GO Safari Balls, this offers the best odds.

• Aim for excellent curveball throws, as they provide a high multiplier to catch chances, often surpassing the benefit of better Poké Balls alone.

• Mighty Pokémon are tougher to catch and often appear at higher levels (35-45) and in their final evolution forms; be prepared with plenty of balls and berries.

• Utilize Incense during events to increase spawn rates of mighty Pokémon, giving you more encounter opportunities.

• Pay attention to the Pokémon’s attack animation to time your throw for an excellent throw when the catch circle is smallest.

• If you have type-specific medals, catching mighty Pokémon of those types will benefit from a slight catch rate boost.

By combining GO Safari Balls, Golden Razz Berries, excellent curveball throws, and timing your throws well, you can significantly improve your success rate in capturing mighty Pokémon.

How does using a GO Safari Ball improve my chances of catching mighty Pokémon

Using a GO Safari Ball in Pokémon GO significantly improves your chances of catching mighty Pokémon because these balls have a higher catch rate than standard Ultra or Great Balls, making it easier to secure these powerful and harder-to-catch creatures. GO Safari Balls are specially designed for the Wild Area events and are recommended for encounters with mighty Pokémon, which boast elevated stats and are more challenging to catch. However, these balls are event-limited, obtained through timed research tasks or spinning PokéStops during the event, and must be used within the event timeframe as they expire daily. This exclusivity and enhanced effectiveness make GO Safari Balls a valuable tool for trainers aiming to catch mighty Pokémon successfully.