Legendary Raids Return: Dynamax Surprises in Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO Leaks: Dynamax Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno Raids Incoming!

A recent, quickly deleted tweet from the official Pokémon GO Saudi Arabia Twitter account has revealed a surprise: Dynamax Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno will be appearing in Dynamax Raids from January 20th to February 3rd. This unintentional leak suggests the arrival of the first legendary Dynamax Pokémon in Pokémon GO.

Dynamax Pokémon debuted in Pokémon GO in September 2024, but these iconic Kanto birds mark a significant expansion to the feature. While the original trio, along with their Shiny counterparts, have been featured in raids since the game's early days, and their Galarian forms appeared in Daily Incense (including Shiny variants since October 2024), their Dynamax forms represent a new level of excitement for players.

The leak, spotted by Reddit user nintendo101, was swiftly removed, possibly indicating an earlier-than-planned announcement. The inclusion of these legendary Pokémon in Dynamax Raids could significantly boost participation in Max Battles, a feature that has faced criticism for its difficulty and reliance on large groups of players (40 players per battle).

This development hints at a potential trend: more iconic legendary Pokémon, such as Mewtwo and Ho-Oh (featured in Dynamax form in Pokémon Sword and Shield), could receive the Dynamax treatment in Pokémon GO in the coming months. However, whether these legendary Dynamax Raids will maintain or increase the difficulty level remains to be seen. Past Max Raid challenges caused controversy due to their demanding nature.

This exciting leak comes amidst a flurry of other Pokémon GO announcements for early 2025. Niantic has confirmed a Community Day Classic featuring Ralts on January 25th, a Shadow Raid Day with Shadow Ho-Oh on January 19th (offering up to seven free Raid Passes), and the host cities for Pokémon GO Fest 2025 (Osaka, Jersey City, and Paris). The addition of Dynamax legendary birds adds another layer of anticipation to an already packed schedule.