Catching a Pokemon can be easy, can be though, depending on which Pokemon you are trying to catch. While for catching Weedle or Caterpie, patience, skill, and luck aren't exactly the things that you will need to obtain them, the situation with more powerful and especially legendary Pokemon is different. That can be seen in their catch rate; for example, the two previous examples have a catch rate of 255, the same as similar level Pokemon such as Poliwag and Zubat. On the other side, there are high-level Pokemon with a catch rate of 3, which is the rate reserved for the Pokemon that are hardest to catch.
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There are currently 69 Pokemon with a catch rate of 3%, and below are 15 handpicked.
Updated April 7, 2021, by Jack Pursey: With the recent announcement of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, along with the action-RPG Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the Pokemon gaming franchise has been shot into the forefront of the gaming industry once more. The rates at which Pokemon can be caught is always a hot topic of the franchise's games, so we've decided to expand this list by a further five entries to show more of the toughest Pokemon to obtain. All fifteen Pokemon on this list have a catch rate of 3.
15 Melmetal
Melmetal is a steel-type Pokemon that first appeared in Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!. The Mythical Pokemon also appears in Pokemon Go as an evolution of Meltan, though as of right now, this is the only game where Meltan can be evolved.
Melmetal appeared in the show Final Rivals! when Ash's Meltan evolves prior to the Manalo Conference finals. As per the website pokemonletsgo.pokemon.com, Melmetal's appearance was the first time that it had been seen in 3,000 years.
14 Metagross
Pseudo-legendary Pokemon Metagross first appeared in the 2005 (US release) film Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys. The Steel/Psychic dual-type Pokemon is an evolution of Metang, which is an evolution of Beldum. With the use of Metagrossite, Metagross can be Mega Evolved into Mega Metagross.
In Mega Evolution Special II, steel-type specialist trainer Steven Stone has a Shiny Metagross, which becomes his main battling Pokemon in Pokemon the Series: XY, the fifth series of Pokemon anime.
13 Glastrier
Glastrier is a Legendary Pokemon who is not believed to be an evolution, nor able to evolve into another Pokemon. The Ice-type is recognizable for its appearance that is reminiscent of the mythical Unicorn creature thanks to the large ice-spike protruding out of the center of its head.
The Wild Horse Pokemon can be found in the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass at the Crown Shrine; players will need to obtain the Ice Carrot in order to summon it. There is only one in the game.
12 Marshadow
Much like the aforementioned Glastrier, it is not believed that Marshadow is an evolution, nor is it believed that the Pokemon can evolve into another form. The Mythical Pokemon is a dual-type that combines the contrasting styles of Fighting and Ghost. The Mythical Pokemon notably appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it is a Poké Ball summon.
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Marshadow's first gaming appearance was in 2016's Pokemon Sun and Moon, while its main series anime debut came in the 57th episode of Pokemon the Series: Sun & Moon, titled The Dex Can't Help It!.
11 Volcanion
Volcanion continues the streak of Pokemon that aren't known to be an evolution, nor be able to evolve. The Mythical Pokemon is a dual-type that combines two polar opposite types: Fire and Water.
Volcanion's first gaming appearance was in Pokemon X and Y, part of the Generation VI core series. The Fire/Water type has appeared in every generation of games since, including the recent Pokemon Sword and Shield.
10 Arceus
We start this list with Arecus; a normal-type Mythical Pokemon introduced in Generation IV. He is also known as "The Original One" and has supposedly created the entire Pokemon universe. With no known evolutions, Arecus is nonetheless a formidable foe, which is to be expected from a "Pokemon God."
As said before, he was first introduced in Generation IV, where he is described as Pokemon that was born before the universe even existed and then shaped the universe with 1 000 hands. With that being said, the players would truly have a hard time catching him when or if they find him.
9 Articuno
Articuno is a legendary flying pokemon well known to the old fans of the franchise. With his blue appearance and wings, with long and distinctive tail feathers, supposedly made of ice, Articuno is also able to control ice. The flapping of his wing causes air to chill - as a result, it is said that when Articuno flies, the snow will fall. That's why in Japan, he is named Freezer.
He lives in isolated locations, such as snowy mountains, and if the players want to catch him, there is likely where they will find him. Articuno has lower stats than Arceus, but with the same catch rate of 3 percent, it will prove a challenge to catch.
8 Zapdos
Zapdos, in Japanese simply named Thunder, is also a flying Pokemon similar to Articuno. But while Articuno controls ice, Zapatos controls electricity and thunder; with his wings, he can cause savage thunderstorms. His appearance all points to that with yellow color symbolizing electricity, and his sharp and spiked feathers further affirm that as well his head with yet another set of spiked feathers.
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It is said the Zapados will appear when the sky turns dark and lighting showers down. Since he is a legendary Pokemon, in games like Pokemon Sun & Moon and Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, there is only one to catch.
7 Moltres
Along with the previous entries, Zapdos and Articuno, Moltres is one of the three legendary birds of Kanto. Moltres symbolizes fire, which he can control, and is modeled to represent it. It has a long, flowing head crest and a billowing tail, both made of reddish-orange and yellow flames, with his wings shrouded in fiery plumage.
By dipping itself in a magma of an active Vulcano, Moltres can heal itself. It is also said that seeing a Moltres means spring will arrive soon. Like the other two legendary birds, the player can obtain only one Moltres in the majority of Pokemon games.
6 Lugia
Lugia is a trio master of legendary birds. He is a protector of the sea a resides deep at the bottom of the ocean. In appearance, he is composed of traits of a dragon, bird, wyvern, and sea monster.
He is hard to catch with one available to catch in all Pokemon games after meeting certain conditions. In Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, he can be caught in the depths of a sea cave at Whirl Islands. Lugia appears as a mascot on Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Pokemon Silver, and its remake Pokemon SoulSilver, and also served as a central character in Pokemon: The Movie 2000.
5 Ho-Oh
Ho-Oh is also a flying legendary pokemon, like the previous entries. He was introduced in the second generation and is the trio master of the legendary beasts - Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. He is also closely related to Lugia, and while he commands the sea, Ho-Oh commands the sky. He also has a mythological power to resurrect the dead and can cause rainbows with his seven-colored wings.
Ho-Oh is extremely hard to catch with only one specimen available to catch in all installments of Pokemon games. With a base stats of 680, he is much stronger than the previous entries - the legendary flying birds.
4 Raikou
Raikou is one of the three legendary pokemon's resurrected by the Ho-Oh. Like Zapdos, he is able to cause thunder balls at will, and he can also fly by creating storm clouds. In appearance, he is tiger-like pokemon with black stripes and a white underside and has two long fangs representing that of a saber-tooth cat. Most of its face consists of thick, white fur and a short yellow fur around its red eyes, while his tail is light blue with sharp angles and large claws.
Raikou tends to appear during thunderstorms and when other Electric-type Pokemon are in danger.
3 Entei
Like Raikou, Entei was resurrected by Ho-Oh. He is the embodiment of magma - when he barks, volcanoes erupt, and it is said that new Entei is born every time a new volcano forms. His name comes from the Japanese word "enetn," which means "blazing heath." His first appearance was in the GameBoy Color video game Pokemon Gold & Silver and was prominently featured in the next installments while being a final boss in Pokemon Ranger.
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He is hard to cath in various installments of Pokemon games. In the first game, he will flee if the player encounters him, while in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen, he can be one of the legendary beasts to appear in a single playthrough.
2 Suicune
Suicune is an embodiment of pure spring water and has the power to purify the dirty water. He can also walk on water, and northern winds always blow strong in his presence. In appearance, he is a slim blue mammalian with white diamond-shaped markings.
Suicune is extremely hard to catch; for example, in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen, he will flee unless you send a Pokemon that has an ability to Shadow Tag or a move mean look, while in Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, he roams the Johto and Kanto region. Suicune is also a mascot for Pokemon Crystal.
1 Mewtwo
Mewtwo is a bipedal humanoid Pokemon created by science. Aside from being a powerful psychic, he can also speak the human language. He is one of the toughest Pokemon to catch, while the catch rate for the hardest pokemon to catch is 3 percent; in reality, it is necessary to put extra effort into catching Mewtwo.
For example, in some games, his catching opportunity is time-limited, while in others is the game's final boss. In Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, he will defeat Blastoise and Charizard for invading his cave. After finding and defeating him in the deepest parts of the cave, a player can recruit him.