How to Get Solgaleo in Pokémon GO: A Complete Guide to All Methods

Known in ancient texts as "the beast that devours the sun," the Legendary Solgaleo is one of the most majestic and sought-after Pokémon in the world of Pokémon GO. This powerful Psychic and Steel-type Pokémon from the Alola region is not a creature you can simply find in the wild. Obtaining it requires dedication, patience, and a bit of strategic planning.

Whether you're just starting the long journey with its pre-evolution, Cosmog, or you're a veteran trainer waiting for the right moment to strike, this guide has you covered. We'll walk you through every method on how to get Solgaleo in Pokémon GO, help you weigh its most important evolution decision, and answer your most pressing questions.

Part 1: The Classic Path: How to Get Solgaleo via Evolution

The original and most common way to obtain Solgaleo is through a multi-step evolution process that begins with one of the rarest Pokémon in the game: Cosmog. This journey was first introduced during the Season of Light and remains the primary path for many trainers.

Securing Cosmog: The Special Research Prerequisite

Before you can even think about Solgaleo, you need its base form, Cosmog. This tiny Psychic-type Legendary is exclusively available as a reward from specific Special Research questlines. These are not timed and can be completed at your own pace once you have them.

The main Special Research quests that have rewarded a Cosmog encounter include:

• A Cosmic Companion: This was the primary Special Research that introduced the entire Cosmog line.
• Starry Skies: Another Special Research that provided an opportunity to get Cosmog.
• Event-Specific Research: Special events, like GO Fest, have also offered Cosmog to ticket holders through quests like "The Dusk Settles".

Because you can't catch Cosmog in the wild, your ability to get Solgaleo is entirely dependent on having access to and completing one of these questlines.

From Cosmog to Cosmoem: The First Step

Once you have your Cosmog, the first evolution is into Cosmoem. This step is relatively straightforward. To evolve Cosmog into Cosmoem, you will need 25 Cosmog Candy.

Getting this candy is your first major task. You can accumulate it by:

• Completing Research: The Special Research that rewards Cosmog also provides candy at various steps.
• Using Rare Candy: You can convert Rare Candy into Cosmog Candy.
• Walking Your Buddy: Set Cosmog as your buddy Pokémon to earn candy as you walk. This is a great way to supplement what you get from research.

After feeding it 25 candies, you can evolve your Cosmog into the dormant Cosmoem.

Evolving into Solgaleo: Candy and Daytime Requirements

This is the final and most crucial step in the evolution path. To evolve Cosmoem into Solgaleo, you must meet two specific conditions:

• You must perform the evolution during the DAYTIME.
• You need 100 Cosmog Candy.

Gathering the 100 candy will likely require a combination of using all your Rare Candy and walking with Cosmoem as your buddy for a significant distance.

The time-of-day requirement is critical. Pokémon GO's in-game environment reflects your local time zone. To evolve Cosmoem into Solgaleo, your local area must be in daytime. You can easily verify this: the in-game map will be bright and green, and more importantly, the evolution button on Cosmoem's status page will show a small, distinct silhouette of Solgaleo. If you see Lunala's silhouette instead, it is nighttime, and you must wait for the sun to rise.

Part 2: A New Opportunity: Catching Solgaleo in Raids

For a long time, evolution was the only way. However, trainers will soon have a more direct method to acquire the Sunne Pokémon. Solgaleo is scheduled to make its debut in Tier 5 Raid Battles.

What to Expect from Solgaleo Raids

Tier 5 Raids feature powerful Legendary Pokémon that are impossible to defeat alone. To succeed, you will need to team up with other trainers. As a Psychic/Steel-type, Solgaleo is vulnerable to Ground, Ghost, Fire, and Dark-type attacks. Preparing a team of strong counters like Primal Groudon, Mega Gengar, Reshiram, and Mega Tyranitar will be essential.

Successfully defeating the raid boss will give you a chance to catch Solgaleo. This method provides an excellent opportunity to get a Solgaleo without going through the lengthy evolution process, and potentially to catch more than one if you have the Raid Passes.

Part 3: The Big Decision: Is Solgaleo or Lunala Better?

Since Cosmog is so rare, most trainers will only have one Cosmoem to evolve. This creates a difficult choice: evolve it into the sun-lion Solgaleo, or the moon-bat Lunala?

From a pure performance perspective in Pokémon GO, neither Pokémon is currently a meta-defining champion in its respective type.

Solgaleo (Psychic/Steel)

In raids, its available Fast Moves prevent it from reaching its full potential as a top-tier Steel-type attacker, where it is outclassed by Pokémon like Metagross with Meteor Mash. It has some play in the GO Battle League's Master League, but it's not a dominant force.

Lunala (Psychic/Ghost)

Lunala faces a similar situation. While it has a slightly better outlook, its current moveset holds it back from competing with top Ghost-type attackers like Giratina (Origin Forme) or Mega Gengar.

The Verdict

Because neither is a must-have for competitive play at this moment, the best advice is to choose the Pokémon you personally prefer. Pick the one whose design you love more or the one that better fits your collection goals.

Bonus Tip. How to Get Solgaleo in Pokémon GO without Walking

Looking to add Solgaleo to your Pokémon GO collection but finding Pokémon or completing tasks is taking too much time? A virtual location changing tool can be an optimal choice for those who want to play Pokémon GO without walking out. If you are now finding a GPS location changing tool for iOS or Android device, TunesKit Location Changer is the optimal choice.

TunesKit Location Changer is a software tool that allows users to change their location to any desired spot in the world with a single click. It features a user-friendly interface and can simulate GPS movement along customized virtual routes. The software offers various simulation modes, including Two-Spot Movement, Multi-Spot Movement, Jump Teleport, and Joystick Movement, to create a more realistic location-changing experience while playing Pokémon GO.

Part 4. FAQs About Unova Stone in Pokémon GO

Part 5. Conclusion

To acquire Solgaleo, you can evolve a Cosmog through its stages. Obtain Cosmog from Special Research, then use 125 candy to evolve it into Cosmoem and finally into Solgaleo during the daytime. Alternatively, watch for Solgaleo in Tier 5 Raids for a chance to catch it directly. By using TunesKit Location Changer, you can easily get a Solgaleo without moving a step or walking out from your home.