Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's 15 Rarest Pokémon (2024)

As with any game in the Pokémon franchise, some Pokémon are simply harder to acquire than others. This proud, and sometimes frustrating, tradition is carried on by Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. In some cases, the games even up the ante, making it even harder to acquire certain Pokémon unless players are extremely devoted.

Unfortunately, given how vast the world of Pokémon has become, it would be impossible to list off all the most difficult Pokémon to catch or acquire, but some members of the Paldea Pokédex do stand out. Despite the difficulty in catching them, however, rare Pokémon become all the more coveted among players, and Pokémon fans are known for going to the ends of the earth to catch the creature they desire. After all, they've gotta catch 'em all.

Updated on August 13, 2024, by Antonio Samson: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have plenty of strong Pokémon for players to add to their team for competitive teams. However, there are also a plethora of rare Pokémon for trainers to find and collect as well. This article was updated to include more Pokémon and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

Spiritomb Requires Patience and Multiplayer Cooperation

Unlocking Spiritomb's Secret Requires a Multi-Step Process

• Spiritomb requires players to interact with a large number of NPCs and even other players to unlock.
• It is also only available in specific areas, making it even rarer.

Spiritomb is known for being difficult to obtain across the Pokémon series, and Scarlet and Violet are no exception. To catch this elusive Pokémon, players must firstlocate one of its spawn sites, typically found near ominous stones scattered across Paldea.

However, simply finding the location isn't enough. Players must engage with many NPCs and may even need to participate in multiplayer interactions to trigger their appearance. This process demands patience and requires players to explore the game world thoroughly.

Finding Roaming Gimmighoul Takes Time and Exploration

Collecting 999 Coins Demands Dedication and Exploration

• Roaming Gimmighoul can be found across the map but is incredibly small and easily missed.
• Players must collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins to evolve it into Gholdengo.

Roaming Gimmighoul is another Pokémon that tests a player's dedication to exploring Paldea. These tiny creatures can be found all over the region, often hiding in obscure places. They're easy to miss due to their small size and tendency to blend into their surroundings.

Players wishing to evolve into Gholdengo must collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins scattered throughout the map. This requires finding and battling these elusive Pokémon and exploring every nook and cranny of the game world to collect the necessary coins.

Slither Wing and Iron Moth Only Spawn in Area Zero

Exclusive to Post-Game Area with High-Level Challenges

• Slither Wing and Iron Moth are Paradox Pokémon with limited spawn areas.
• They are among the rarest Pokémon due to their location and difficulty in battling.

Slither Wing and Iron Moth are Paradox Pokémon that can only be found in the post-game area known as Area Zero. This location is not only difficult to access but it is alsofilled with high-level Pokémon that can make exploration dangerous.

These two Pokémon are especially rare, spawning in specific, hard-to-reach parts of Area Zero.

Slither Wing and Iron Moth's unique designs and powerful stats make them desirable, but catching them requires persistence, as they are both difficult to locate and challenging to battle. Even so, their efforts will be rewarded soon enough with a powerful Pokémon.

Dreepy's Evolution Line Is Slow and Tedious

Evolving Dreepy to Dragapult Requires Significant Grinding

• Dreepy evolves into Dragapult but requires players to reach a very high level.
• Dreepy itself is a rare spawn, making the evolution process even longer.

Dreepy is another pseudo-legendary Pokémon that requires significant time and effort to evolve. It is notoriously difficult to find in the wild, with a very low spawn rate. Once captured, players must train it up to level 50 to evolve it into Drakloak and then to level 60 to finally get a Dragapult.

This slow evolution process can be tedious, especially since Dreepy is not the strongest Pokémon in its initial form, making it challenging to level up effectively without considerable grinding. It's undoubtedly a grind to train, but the Psuedo-Legendary Dragapult is a powerhouse.

Finding Wild Ditto Requires Careful Observation

Ditto's Disguise Makes It Difficult to Identify in the Wild

• Ditto disguises itself as other Pokémon, making it hard to identify in the wild.
• Players must use specific tactics to reveal its true form before attempting to catch it.

Ditto, the shape-shifting Pokémon, is infamous for its ability to disguise itself as other Pokémon in the wild. This unique trait makes it particularly challenging to catch in Scarlet and Violet. Players must carefully observe the behavior of wild Pokémon to identify any that might be Ditto in disguise.

Once they suspect a Pokémon is actually Ditto, they must engage it in battle to reveal its true form. This process can be time-consuming and frustrating, as it requires a keen eye and a bit of luck to spot Ditto before it disappears or is mistaken for another species.

Charcadet Has One Of The Lowest Spawn Rates

Rare Spawn and Complicated Evolution Process for Charcadet

• Characdet only has a one percent spawn rate.
• To get it to evolve, players need to acquire ten items from a Pokémon, which are specific to which game they play.

Charcadet's adorable form belies its true power, making it a much sought-after Pokémon for any team. What makes it especially enticing is that Charcadet canevolve into one of two different Pokémon depending on which game players are using. Unfortunately, Characadet has a one percent spawn rate in the game, meaning players will need to be either extremely lucky or extremely patient if they want to catch it.

Then there is the matter of evolving it. Characadet doesn't evolve by standard means. It requires the player to acquire ten Sinistea Chips or Bronzor Fragments, and then trade them into an NPC in Zapapico just to get the actual item needed to evolve it. It's a very involved process, but well worth it for someone dedicated enough.

Kyurem Requires Extra Dedication To Locate

Special Quest and Group Effort Needed to Encounter Kyurem

• To find Kyurem, players need to work with other players and complete a group quest.
• This gives them access to a rare snack from an NPC named Snackworth.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players can acquire legacy legendary Pokémon by completing BBQs for the NPC Snackworth. As a reward for every ten BBQs that are completed, he will give the player a random snack that can spawn the legendary it is connected to. Kyurem is different though, requiring more than just individual effort to spawn.

Players must go into Union Circle and complete a group quest alongside another player. The quest in question is the blueberry group quest. Once this is accomplished, Snackworth will give the player a Kyurem Treat that causes the Pokémon to spawn in Dalizapa Passage.

Walking Wake/Iron Leaves Are Some Of The Hardest Tera Raid Bosses

Challenging 7-Star Tera Raid Bosses Found in Area Zero

• Walking Wake and Iron Leaves can only be acquired after the main story.
• They are 7-star tera raid bosses found in Area Zero.

Easily some of the most powerful Pokémon in the games, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves can only be acquired after completing the main story. Once the game is complete and Area Zero is unlocked, players can return to the location and look for the correct Pokémon Tera Raid that grants them a chance to catch Walking Wake or Iron Leaves. Be warned though, these Pokémon are no pushovers even when they are normal and this will be a 7-star Tera Raid.

It is a daunting process, as both Pokémon will appear at level 75 and their unique type combos make them difficult to beat, especially when combined with a Tera Boss' defenses. Yet, it is important to note that one must be careful when looking for these Pokémon, as they will only get one of Walking Wake or Iron Leaves.

Milotic's Beauty Is Hard To Acquire

Requires Specific Evolution Items and Rare Feebas

• Milotic can be acquired in the Teal Mask DLC, but only through evolution.
• Players must find Feebas and then acquire the correct item to make it evolve.

The Teal Mask DLC gives players the chance to acquire this beautiful Pokémon, but it has always been difficult to do so, even back when it was first introduced in the Hoenn region. Milotic cannot be captured in the wild. Instead, players must look for its pre-evolutionary form, Feebas. This Pokémon can be found in the Crystal Pool at the top of Oni Mountain.

Unfortunately, Feebas is also an incredibly rare Pokémon to spawn, but once it has, and players catch it, making it evolve becomes a less daunting task. All they have to do is locate a prism scale and give it to Feebas to get a Milotic. These can be found in Fellhorn Gourge, paving the way for a very powerful Water-Type Pokémon to join a player's team.

Baxcalibur Can Only Be Acquired By Training The Right Pokémon

Evolve Frigibax or Arctibax to Obtain the Powerful Baxcalibur

• Baxcalibur can only be acquired by leveling up his pre-evolutions to level 54.
• Catching Frigibax or Arctibax is also difficult, as they are rare spawns.

A pseudo-legendary Pokémon, the Godzilla-like Baxcalibur is one that players may never encounter unless they put in the effort to acquire it. Baxcalibur can be acquired in either Scarlet or Violet, but the process takes time. It does not appear naturally in the wild, but like most Dragon-Type Pokémon, players can capture its prior evolutionary forms and raise them until they eventually evolve into Baxcalibur.

Players will need to go toGlaseado Mountain to look for one of Baxcalibur's earlier forms: Frigibax or Arctibax. Even then, these Pokémon are rare and players can find it difficult for them to spawn unless they acquire food that increases the likelihood of a dragon encounter. Once the Pokémon has been acquired, players will need to level up their new friend to level 54 before they get a Baxcalibur.

Finding Meloetta Is Extremely Convoluted

Detailed Steps Required to Make Meloetta Appear

• To make a Meloetta spawn, players must engage in a specific series of steps in the right location.

Now, a mythical Pokémon should not be easy to acquire, but even by the standards of the franchise, finding and then catching Meloetta is an involved process. It does not spawn randomly unless players know exactly what they need to do to make it appear. The process of making Meloetta spawn is a step-by-step list that must be met exactly as described.

First, the player must locate thecyclone of leaves in the Coastal Biome. Then they must spin clockwise in the center of the leaves for at least 10 seconds. Following this they will need to activate their camera and change to the Sepia Filter. They then must look for Meloetta or listen for its singing. Once it has been spotted, they can exit the camera mood and approach Meloetta, triggering a battle and the chance to catch it.

Sprigatito/Fuecoco/Quaxly Are Truly One Of A Kind

Unique Starters with Limited Access and Trade Requirements

• Players can only get one of the starter Pokémon at the start of the game.
• The only way to acquire the other two they did not choose is through trade.

As with any mainline game in the series, the three adorable starter Pokémon are among the rarest of pokémon in either game. This is because players will only get access to one at the start of the game, while the other two are unavailable anywhere else. This means players can only find one of these Pokémon throughout the entirety of their save file.

The only way around this is to perform a trade for these Pokémon early on, transferring the spare starters to another player for safekeeping. This allows them the chance to play with a team partially composed of starters. While a powerful combination, the process of acquiring them seems a bit silly and depends entirely upon having another person willing to perform the trade.

Zorua Can Hide In Plain Sight

Illusion Ability and Low Durability Make Zorua Hard to Capture

• Zorua appears as a random Pokémon in the wild, making it hard to locate.
• It is also weak, meaning a solid hit might knock it out before a capture attempt is made.

Any Pokémon that can change its form as its main gimmick was always going to be difficult to catch. Zorua's illusion ability means that it does not spawn in the wild in its true form. It takes the form of other Pokémon, meaning the player has no real way of figuring out which Pokémon they are looking at is real and which is fake.

Compounding the difficulty in catching it is that Zorua is not the sturdiest Pokémon out there. If hit by a sufficiently powerful Pokémon, it could go down in one strike, exposing it, but robbing players of their chance to catch it and forcing them to start the whole process all over again. It's a time-consuming endeavor, and while it lines up neatly with the Pokémon's general behavior, that does little to make the task of catching it any easier. Unfortunately, their charming design means many players will spend a lot of their time trying to catch Zorua.

To Get A Gholdengo, Players Need Money

Accumulate 999 Gimmighoul Coins through Persistent Collection

• Players need to acquire 999 Gimmighoul Coins to evolve one into Gholdengo.
• These can be acquired by finding wandering Gimmighoul or battling chest Gimmighouls.

Gholdengo is one of the hardest Pokémon to acquire in the game. It does not appear naturally in the wild, and trying to get its early form, Gimmighoul to evolve is a true test of a player's resolve. To get Gimmighoul to evolve, a player must acquire 999 Gimmighoul Coins from across the region of Paldea. A truly daunting task, but not an impossible one, just a tedious one.

These coins can be acquired by interacting with Gimmighoul's wandering and chest forms. The wandering form gives players coins for free, provided players can spot the tiny Pokémon wherever it has elected to hide. The latter option is to battle its chest form, which drops random amounts of coins as a prize for victory. The process may sound grueling, but when completed, players have one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

RPG

Franchise

Pokemon

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

November 18, 2022

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo , The Pokemon Company

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence