Every rare Pokémon location by region in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Rare Pokémon appear in a significantly limited number of areas with a low spawn rate. Every region of Pokémon Legends: Arceus requires copious exploration, but these creatures' occurrence in the wild is predictable. Finding them requires battling or using items like Scatter Bang to clear out unneeded Pokémon from areas of interest—then resting until day or night when a new batch can respawn. Each Pokémon shows up with a certain frequency depending on other Pokémon that spawn there, time of day, and weather.

The markers on the maps below correspond to the rare Pokémon as they are numbered. The lists feature the Pokémon, their locations, Pokédex entry notes, and catching tips.

Rare Pokémon in the Obsidian Fieldlands

1. Pichu
   • Located in the valley between Aspiration Hill and the crater of Lake Verity. If nothing appears, it's most time-effective to leave the region and return.
   • Catch two during the day while they're sleeping for an instant ten Pokédex clearance.
   • Pichu is small, so you may miss with a fly ball. Creep up and use an Ultra Ball.
2. Happiny
   • Located north of Grandtree Arena, over the rock tunnel.
   • Catch without being spotted. You can clear out the Machokes so they don't steal the food you give Happiny before catching it.
   • Try using a Jet Ball from afar.
3. Munchlax
   • Located on the slopes between Windswept Run and Deertrack Path, more common during the day.
   • Give it food from the grass or slope above, watch it use Rest in battle, or catch two to progress its Pokédex entry.
   • Could run in battle. Clear this slope spot and then rest between day and night to respawn.
4. Chimchar and Monferno
   • Located in Deertrack Heights, more commonly in the morning during sunny and cloudy weather.
   • Clear out the Staravia, chase away the Starly, and feed Chimchar and Monferno to fill their Pokédex entries fast.
   • Use a Gigaton ball or weaken in battle with the moves False Swipe and Hypnosis before using an Ultra Ball.
   • Wild Infernape is available on Ramanas Island after attaining Basculegion.
5. Togekiss
   • Stock up on Jet Balls. With Wyrdeer or Braviary, get to the highest point of the crater surrounding Lake Verity to the west. You'll have to go past many Luxray and clear out the Staraptor to properly aim at Togekiss which is flying high in circles.
   • Aim the ball for the spot in the air Togekiss flies closest to you, but is also flying towards you. Throw the ball immediately as Togekiss flies into your aiming cursor.
   • If Togekiss breaks out of the ball, pelt it with another Jet Ball as soon as it emerges with a cry. Don't move your cursor after the first throw and time the second quickly.

Related: How to Craft All Pokéballs in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Rare Pokémon in the Crimson Mirelands

1. Turtwig and Grotle
   • Located at a pond in the southernmost spot of the Droning Meadow, more common during the day.
   • Hide in the grass and feed them before catching them without being seen to fill these Pokédex entries quickly.
   • Use Gigaton Balls from the grass.
   • Wild Torterra is available at the Holm of Trials after attaining Basculegion.
2. Barboach
   • Located in the river in the south of Droning Meadow.
   • Feed it a few times to complete the Pokédex entry upon capture.
   • Either engage it in battle and weaken before using an Ultra Ball, or try with an Ultra Ball outside of battle. Barboach is a bit small for Fly Balls to work effectively.
3. Togetic
   • Located in the Cottonsedge Prarie.
   • Like Togekiss in the Obsidian Fieldlands, use well-timed Jet Balls and catch three for instant Pokédex completion.
   • Togepi is also available among the white flowers and the Pachirisu, which you may need to eliminate if you decide to seek this rarely occurring Pokémon. Togepi is also available in the Cobalt Coastlands, covered below.
4. Bonsly
   • Located west of the Diamond Settlement with higher chances of appearing during foggy conditions.
   • Give Bonlsy food five times and catch multiple to fill out its Pokédex entry. You can also watch it use Mimic in battle.
   • Sneak up and and catch Bonsly from behind with a Gigaton Ball.

Rare Pokémon in the Cobalt Coastlands

1. Togepi
   • Located in Bathers' Lagoon, you can find at least one Togepi about 80 percent of the time you return here from the camp at Sand's Reach. This is the most dependable way to find Togepi.
   • Togepi will see you from afar and flee, so it's imperative that you distract it with food, hide in the grass, or use stealth spray until you can get close enough to use a Gigaton Ball—or try a Jet Ball.
   • You may choose to catch a Togepi with its best nature to evolve into a powerful Togekiss for your team.
2. Vulpix
   • The original Kantonian form of Vulpix spawns rarely at Veilstone Cape.
   • You can try to catch more than one or watch it use Ember in battle to fill its Pokédex entry.
   • Hide in the grass and throw a Gigaton or Jet Ball while distracting it with food.
3. Magby
   • Located on Firespit Island, usually surrounded by Magmar if it appears. Defeat the Magmar to clear the way.
   • Feed Magby five times, catch it without being spotted, or watch it use Flame Wheel in battle to complete its Pokédex entry.
   • Magby will try to flee and there's nowhere for you to hide. You could use a smoke bomb, feed it to distract it, or throw a stun item.
4. Piplup and Prinplup
   • Located at Islespy Shore, Piplup and Prinplup can be found at a pond east of Islespy Shore up the hill.
   • Feed Piplup to quickly complete its Pokédex record, and use a smoke bomb if you can't hide in the grass to catch it unaware.
   • Prinplup is rarely occurring, and you can complete its Pokédex entry without having to catch it here. It may be better to evolve Piplup—unless you're after a "living Pokédex."

Rare Pokémon in the Coronet Highlands

1. Cherubi
   • Perhaps among the toughest Pokémon to track down in the game, Cherubi can be found rarely jumping out of the blue shaking trees around the various springs in this region. Cherrim, its evolved form, will leap from these few shaking trees 75 percent of the time.
   • You must battle, and Cherubi may run. However, it's at a low-enough level that you can capture it with an Ultra Ball. A strong Pokémon quick enough to cause drowsiness or use False Swipe can be utilized. Unfortunately, there are no Quick Balls in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
2. Heracross
   • Located in the Wayward Wood going north and the Sonorous Path—these are the only places you can find Heracross jumping out of trees and on the ground.
   • If you're a Pokédex completionist, you'll need to see Heracross jump out of a tree 15 times, a time-consuming task. But it may afford the ultra-rare chance of encountering a shiny Heracross whose golden color variant is perfect for a prize beetle.
3. Elekid
   • Located in Cloudcap Pass, Elekid spawns rarely. Like Magby, this Pokémon is surrounded by its evolved forms, and there is nowhere to hide in this snowy valley. Clear out the surrounding Pokémon while trying to remain unseen by Elekid.
   • Use smoke bombs and feed it food ten times to complete its Pokédex entry.
4. Rotom
   • Rotom spawns rarely in the Sacred Plaza, either floating on the ground or inside a shaking box.
   • Lob a Jet Ball at it while unseen to fill out its Pokédex entry.
5. Cleffa
   • Cleffa can be found rarely at the Fabled Spring surrounded by Clefairy and an Alpha Clefable.
   • Try to enter the grass without them noticing, or clear out some Clefairy if you need to before feeding Cleffa for the Pokédex.
   • Use a Gigaton Ball or Jet Ball without it noticing.

Related: All Legendary and Mythical Pokémon and where to catch them in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Rare Pokémon in the Alabaster Icelands

1. Hisuian Zorua
   • Hisuian Zorua is located in the Bonechill Wastes in recesses below ground.
   • It will be difficult to keep it from noticing you, so use stealth spray or throw a Jet Ball at it from the cover of a Smoke Bomb. Feed it for the Pokédex entry.
2. Riolu
   • Riolu spawns in an area called Icebound Falls. It's best to clear out the surrounding Pokémon before focusing on Riolu.
   • Use the tried-and-true tactics of capture—effective stealth and strategic battling.
   • Catch multiple to complete the Pokédex entry or find one with the best nature to evolve the strongest possible Lucario.

If you're aware of the luck Pokémon can contain, then you can gauge the amount of time to be spent searching for a particular monster. But we're here to do this in the fastest way possible. Remember to use the map markers so you waste no time getting lost. Think about your stealth and battling-and-catching strategy.

If it comes to battle, do you have a good Pokémon with the move False Swipe, which always leaves an opponent with at least 1 HP? Can you cause effects such as drowsiness or paralysis? Stock up with enough Gigaton, Jet, and Ultra Balls, as well as stealth sprays and mud balls, spoiled apricots, and plenty of cakes and berries. Good luck!

For more Pokémon Legends: Arceus content, check out How to Craft All Pokéballs in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.