How to Catch Moltres in Pokémon Go 2025

Capturing the legendary Pokémon Moltres is a milestone for any Pokémon Go trainer. As one of the original Legendary birds from Kanto, Moltres continues to play a big role in PvE raids, PvP battles, and Pokédex completion. With multiple forms to hunt down, from its classic fiery version to its elusive Galarian and powerful Shadow variants, knowing where to find and how to beat Moltres is essential.

This guide will walk you through every method for how to catch Moltres in Pokémon Go. We'll cover raid battle strategies, special encounters, and the answers to your most pressing questions to prepare you for the hunt.

Part 1. Different Forms of Moltres in Pokémon Go

Before you start your hunt, it's important to know which version of Moltres you're aiming for. Each form not only looks different, but also appears under different conditions, with varying rarity and catch difficulty. Here's a breakdown of the five Moltres forms currently (or formerly) available in Pokémon GO:

	Kanto Moltres	Galarian Moltres	Dynamax Moltres	Shiny Moltres	Shadow Moltres
Appearance	Orange body with flaming wings	Black body, glowing red aura	Massive size, surrounded by red glow and swirling clouds	Golden body, pink wings	Darker colors, purple aura, glowing red eyes
Type	Fire / Flying	Dark / Flying	Fire / Flying	Fire / Flying	Fire / Flying
Current Avalability	❌ Not currently active	✅ Active (very rare)	✅ Augest 19-20, 2025	❌ Not currently active	❌ Not currently active
How to Get	5-Star Raids, Research, GO Fest, Special Research	Rare spawn from Daily Adventure Incense	Tier 5 Max Battle	5-Star Raids (when shiny is available), Special Research	From Giovanni in Team GO Rocket encounters
Catch Rate	~2%	0.3%	Unknown	~2%	~5%
Flee Rate	~10%	90%	Unkonwn	~10%	0%

Part 2. How to Catch Moltres in Pokémon Go [Battle Guide]

So, how do you catch Moltres in Pokémon GO? You don't just stumble across this Legendary bird during a walk in the park. You'll need to take on some of the game's toughest battle formats - and come prepared. Here are the primary battle methods I've used.

1. Get Dynamax Moltres in Max Battles [Augest 19-20, 2025]

🟢 Availability: August 19–20, 2025 during the Dark Skies Event

Moltres recently returned to Pokémon GO during a limited-time Dynamax Raid event. These raids were part of the 2025 "Dark Skies" event and featured a brand-new encounter style that mimics Gigantamax mechanics from the mainline games. For many trainers, this was their first shot at catching Dynamax Moltres - and yes, the shiny version was available too!

How to Catch Moltres in Pokémon Go Tier 5 Max Battle

Step 1. Join a Max Battle at Power Spots. You'll need to locate a Power Spot on the overworld map. These special locations allow you to join Dynamax Raids using a Remote Raid Pass or by battling in person. Each group supports up to four players, so make sure you team up.

Step 2. Spend Max Particles. Each Dynamax Raid requires 800 Max Particles, but you only lose them if you win the battle. These are usually gathered during prior event tasks or mini raids.

Step 3. Bring a Strong and Balanced Team. Moltres is a Fire/Flying type, which means it's double weak to Rock, and also vulnerable to Water and Electric.

Step 4. Defeat & Catch Dynamax Moltres. Once you win, you'll get a chance to catch Moltres. Look out for the shiny variant, which features golden plumage and pink wings!

2. Beat Moltres on Pokémon Go 5-Star Raid [Shiny Moltres Possible]

🛑 Current Availability: Not Active (Last seen: March 4–13, 2025)

The traditional way to catch Moltres in Pokémon GO is by defeating it in a 5-Star Raid. If you're lucky, this can also yield a Shiny Moltres, which has a 100% catch rate once you reach the bonus screen.

How to Catch Moltres and Shiny Moltres in Pokémon Go Raid Battle

Step 1. Find a Moltres Raid. During its rotation (like March 4 - 13, 2025), Moltres appears in Tier 5 Raids. Check nearby Gyms, or coordinate remotely with friends using invites. Pro tip: Join local raid groups or Discord channels for more consistent invites.

Step 2. Defeat the Raid Boss. Moltres is Fire/Flying, making it double weak to Rock. This makes building your raid team much easier - just focus on Rock-type damage. (Recommended counters are listed below)

Step 3. Catching Moltres (and Spotting Shiny). After the raid, you'll be rewarded with Premier Balls based on performance and team contribution. Use Golden Razz Berries to maximize catch chances, and always aim for Curveball + Excellent Throws.

Top Raid Counters to Beat Moltres in Pokémon GO

Prioritize Pokémon with strong Rock-type moves to deal maximum damage. This is the key to victory.

• Mega Counters: Mega Diancie, Mega Tyranitar, Mega Aerodactyl
• Top Non-Mega Counters: Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Rhyperior, Rampardos, Rhyperior, Terrakion
• Budget & Accessible Counters: Tyranitar, Golem, Gigalith, Omastar (with Rock Throw/Rock Slide)

Catching Strategy & Perfect CP Values

Once you've defeated Moltres in a raid, the real challenge begins - catching it. You'll be given a limited number of Premier Balls based on your raid performance (damage dealt, team contribution, gym control, etc.). Make every throw count.

To increase your catch rate, always use a Golden Razz Berry before each throw. Combine it with a Curveball and aim for a Great or Excellent throw to maximize your chances.

If you're lucky, the Moltres might be shiny. The shiny rate for Legendary raids is about 1 in 20, but you won't know it's shiny until you reach the bonus catch screen.

Pay attention to Moltres's CP on the catch screen. This is your hint at its potential IVs (stats). Here are the values to look for:

• 1980 CP is the 100% perfect IV Moltres at Level 20 (no weather boost).
• 2475 CP is the 100% perfect IV Moltres at Level 25 (with Sunny or Windy weather boost).

Part 3. How to Catch Galarian Moltres in Pokémon Go in Wild

You won't find Galarian Moltres in raids or research tasks - it's one of the few Legendary Pokémon that can appear in the wild, but under very specific and rare conditions.

Where to Find Galarian Moltres

The only way to encounter Galarian Moltres is by using your Daily Adventure Incense. This 15-minute item spawns random Pokémon while you're actively walking. You must be moving for spawns to appear - standing still won't work. Galarian Moltres is one of three Galarian Legendary birds (alongside Articuno and Zapdos, which are region exclusive Pokémons) that can spawn randomly while the incense is active. However, its appearance is incredibly rare.

Why It's So Hard to Catch

This is arguably one of the hardest catches in all of Pokémon GO. Galarian Moltres has a catch rate of only 0.3% and a flee rate of 90%. That means most trainers only get one throw - and then it's gone.

Best Strategy for Galarian Moltres in Pokémon Go

If you're lucky enough to encounter it, don't panic. Here's what to do:

• Use a Golden Razz Berry to boost your chances.
• Switch to an Ultra Ball or Master Ball - never a regular one.
• Take your time lining up the throw.
• Aim for an Excellent Throw with Curveball - it's your best (and possibly only) shot.
• Having Platinum-level medals for Fire, Flying, and Dark types provides a small but permanent passive catch bonus for Moltres's various forms.

You might not catch it the first time - or even the tenth - but keep using your Daily Adventure Incense every day. One encounter can change everything.

Part 4. How to Get Shadow Moltres in Pokémon Go

Shadow Moltres is a rare and powerful version of the Legendary bird, only available through battles with Team GO Rocket's boss, Giovanni. However, it isn't always available.

However, as of July 2025, Shadow Moltres is not currently in rotation. Giovanni's Shadow Legendary Pokémon rotates every few months, so you'll need to wait until Moltres returns as his featured Pokémon after beating Giovanni.

When Shadow Moltres returns to the game, here is the process you will need to follow:

Step 1. Complete Team GO Rocket Special Research. This research is usually released at the start of a new season or event. Tasks include defeating Grunts, battling Rocket Leaders, and purifying Shadow Pokémon. You must complete all tasks to proceed.

Step 2. Earn the Super Rocket Radar. The final reward from the Special Research is a Super Rocket Radar, which lets you locate Giovanni - either at a PokéStop or via Rocket Balloons.

Step 3. Find and Defeat Giovanni. Giovanni is a tough opponent. He uses a lineup of three strong Shadow Pokémon, ending with the featured Shadow Legendary. Make sure you build a counter team and time your shields wisely to beat Giobanni.

Step 4. Catch Shadow Moltres. Once you beat Giovanni (and trust me, it's satisfying), you'll get a chance to catch Shadow Moltres. Like all Shadow Legendaries, its attack stat is boosted, making it a strong pick for raids - especially when purified later for IV perfection.

Part 5. Best Tool to Catch Moltres in Pokémon Go

Let's be real - not everyone has access to raid-dense cities or the time (or stamina) to walk 15 minutes daily with Adventure Incense. I've been there myself. That's where a GPS spoofing tool like TunesKit Location Changer can make all the difference - especially when you're trying to catch Moltres in Pokémon GO.

🗺️ Teleport to Raid Hotspots

If you're finding Kanto Moltres, you'll need to be near active 5-Star Raids. But for rural players or anyone without nearby Gyms, that's tough. With TunesKit's Teleport Mode, you can instantly jump to high-activity cities like Tokyo, New York, or London, where raid lobbies fill fast and raids are always popping. More gyms = more chances = more Moltres.

🚶‍♂️ Simulate Movement for Galarian Moltres

To catch Galarian Moltres, you must walk to trigger spawns from the Daily Adventure Incense. But what if you can't physically move around? That's where Joystick Mode and Multi-Spot Route Mode come in. These features let you simulate walking, so incense spawns still work - giving you daily chances at this incredibly rare Legendary, even while staying at home.

Part 6. FAQs on Moltres in Pokémon Go

Part 7. Conclusion

This's all about how to catch Moltres in Pokémon Go, whether it's via legendary raids, incense adventures, or rare Shadow encounters.

The best time to grab Kanto Moltres is during the August 2025 raid events, while Galarian Moltres requires daily persistence and perfect throws. Prepare your teams, stock up on berries and Ultra Balls, and use tools like TunesKit Location Changer to maximize your chances. This Legendary bird won't make it easy - but that just makes the catch even more rewarding.