'Pokemon GO' Legendary Flight Event Will Add Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos to Dynamax Raids

Developer Niantic's upcoming Legendary Flight event for "Pokemon GO" will add the first generation's legendary bird trio, Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos, to the game's Dynamax Raids.

The studio is shaking up "Pokemon GO's" Max Monday schedule with the new event that will introduce the Dynamax versions of the legendary bird trio for the first time. The Legendary Flight event will start on Jan. 20, 2025, and will run for three weeks.

Pokemon GO's Legendary Flight Event

Each of the weeks that the event will run will feature a different legendary bird from the franchise's first generation. During Max Monday, all three legendary "Pokemon," Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos, are guaranteed to appear for one hour, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.

Players will also get a chance to find these powerful "Pokemon" during five-star Max Battles at random power spots for the rest of the week. The schedule has Articuzno from Jan. 20, 2025, to Jan. 27, 2025, Zapdos from Jan. 27, 2025, to Feb. 3, 2025, and Moltres from Feb. 3, 2025, to Feb. 9, 2025, according to Sports Illustrated.

Additionally, "Pokemon GO" players have a chance to encounter the legendary birds in their shiny forms on Max Monday and for the rest of the week that they are available. Each week will also offer a special selection of non-legendary Dynamax Pokemon appearing in Max Battles.

Dynamax Versions of Legendary Birds

What makes the creatures that show up during these Max Battles useful is that they have typings that are very useful against the legendary birds. For the first week, there will be Beldum, Charmander, and Scorbunny; the second week has Bulbasaur, Cryogonal, and Grookey, while the third week features Krabby, Squirtle, and Sobble.

The Legendary Flight event comes as a welcome addition to "Pokemon GO" because the Kanto legendary birds have remained fan favorites since they first appeared. This year's event comes as the Galarian forms of these legendaries were added to the game in 2023, Game Rant said.

The reveal of the legendary birds from the first generation coming to "Pokemon GO" was first sighted in a leak. Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos are among the most powerful "Pokemon" throughout the franchise, and giving them Dynamax Powers boosts their power even further.

Players who are able to capture these legendary birds in their Dynamax forms will have a significant advantage in future Max Battles because of their strength. They have naturally high stats and strong moves that make it easier to defeat other "Pokemon," according to Dexerto.