Legendary Dynamax Raids Leaked for Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO has accidentally disclosed upcoming Dynamax Raids featuring Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno, slated for late January. Dynamax Pokémon debuted in Pokémon GO in September 2024, but these will mark the first legendary Dynamax appearances in the game.

The iconic Kanto legendary birds have long been cherished by Pokémon fans. Pokémon GO introduced Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno to raids early on, including their Shiny variants. In 2023, the Galarian bird trio joined Daily Incense spawns, though they appear less frequently than common Pokémon. Since October 2024, players have also had the chance to encounter Shiny Galarian legendary birds. A now-deleted official post suggests Pokémon GO is preparing to launch another iteration of the Kanto Birds soon.

Reddit user nintendo101 noticed a tweet from Pokémon GO Saudi Arabia’s official account announcing that Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno will feature in Dynamax Raids from January 20 to February 3. The post was quickly deleted, hinting that the developers may not have intended to share the news yet. If confirmed, these legendary Dynamax Raids could boost the appeal of Max Battles, as some players have been steering clear of Max Raids.

Pokémon GO Leaks Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno Dynamax Raids

The introduction of the Dynamax bird trio suggests more legendary Pokémon could appear in Max Raids in the coming months. Pokémon Sword and Shield featured Dynamax versions of Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, and others, so Pokémon GO’s legendaries might follow suit. It’s uncertain whether these legendary Max Raids will be more challenging than current ones. In October 2024, Pokémon GO faced criticism over the difficulty of Max Raids, particularly when players struggled to assemble 40 participants per battle. Whether these challenges will persist with Dynamax legendaries is still unclear.

Pokémon GO has launched 2025 with a flurry of event announcements. Niantic has confirmed Ralts as the star of the next Community Day Classic on January 25. A Shadow Raid Day featuring Shadow Ho-Oh is set for January 19, with players able to claim up to seven free Raid Passes from Gyms during the event. Additionally, the host cities for Pokémon GO Fest 2025 have been announced: Osaka, Jersey City, and Paris.