Rare Pokémon have fascinated trainers for decades, often becoming the most sought-after creatures in the entire franchise. To help you track them down, we’ve created a detailed Pokémon rarity chart that categorizes the most common, uncommon, and rarest Pokémon throughout history. If you’re a fan of the classics, check out my handcrafted Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen diorama, a nostalgic tribute to one of the most iconic generations. This guide also explores where each Pokémon stands in terms of rarity, from early Kanto favorites to modern-day legends.
Most Common Pokémon Throughout the Series
These Pokémons are frequently encountered across various games, often appearing early in the player’s journey:
- Magikarp: Known for its ubiquitous presence in water bodies, Magikarp is easily caught using basic fishing rods in nearly every mainline game.
- Zubat: A staple in cave environments, Zubat has been a consistent presence, though it was notably absent in Pokémon Black & White.
- Rattata: This Normal-type Pokémon is commonly found on early routes, especially in the Kanto region.
- Pidgey: As one of the first Flying-type Pokémon players encounter, Pidgey is prevalent in early-game areas.
- Bidoof: Introduced in Generation IV, Bidoof is frequently found on initial routes in the Sinnoh region.
Uncommon Pokémon with Specific Conditions
These Pokémon are less commonly found and often require specific conditions or locations to encounter:
- Feebas: In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Feebas appears only on six random tiles in Route 119’s river, making it notoriously difficult to find.
- Combee (Female): Only female Combee evolve into Vespiquen, and females have a 12.5% encounter rate, adding to their rarity.
- Munchlax: In Generation IV, Munchlax can appear on honey trees, but only on four specific trees in the entire game, and with a 1% chance.
Rare and Event-Exclusive Pokémon
These Pokémon are among the rarest, often obtainable only through special events or distributions:
- Mew: Originally hidden in Pokémon Red and Blue, Mew was accessible only through special events. Its elusive nature made it a subject of many playground rumors.
- Jirachi: In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Jirachi was obtainable via a bonus disc from Pokémon Colosseum.
- Manaphy: Players could acquire a Manaphy Egg in Pokémon Ranger and transfer it to Diamond or Pearl, making it one of the few Mythical Pokémon obtainable through gameplay.
- Diancie: This Mythical Pokémon was distributed via special events for Pokémon X and Y.
- Marshadow: Available through limited-time events for Pokémon Sun and Moon, Marshadow’s unique Fighting/Ghost typing adds to its allure.
Ultra-Rare and Mythical Pokémon
These Pokémon are exceptionally rare, often due to limited distribution or unique acquisition methods:
- Shiny Pokémon: Shiny variants have a base encounter rate of 1 in 4,096 in recent games, making them highly sought after by collectors.
- Flying Pikachu: Originally distributed through a CoroCoro Comics promotion, only a handful of these Pikachu knowing the move Fly were given away.
- Level 99 Hydro Pump Magikarp: A special event in Japan distributed this unique Magikarp, which knows a move it typically can’t learn, making it a prized collector’s item.
Pokémon Rarity Chart (Most Common to Ultra Rare)
| Rarity Tier | Criteria | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common | – Found in multiple areas – High encounter rate (30%+) – Early routes |
Pidgey, Rattata, Zubat, Caterpie, Bidoof, Patrat |
| Uncommon | – Moderate encounter rate (10–29%) – Route or cave-specific |
Ekans, Oddish, Growlithe, Drowzee, Houndour |
| Rare | – Low encounter rate (1–9%) – Time/season-specific – Fossils |
Lapras (Silph Co. gift), Munchlax (Honey Tree), Rotom, Eevee |
| Very Rare | – 1% encounter rate – One-per-game or version-exclusive – Trade-evolved forms |
Feebas, Spiritomb, Riolu (egg), Togepi, Porygon |
| Legendary | – One-time encounter – Game/story-specific – Cannot breed |
Mewtwo, Zapdos, Rayquaza, Dialga, Reshiram, Solgaleo |
| Mythical | – Only obtainable via special distribution/event – Not in regular gameplay |
Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Arceus, Victini, Diancie, Marshadow |
| Ultra-Rare (Historical) | – Time-limited events – No longer legally obtainable in newer games – Region-locked or promo-only Pokémon |
Old Sea Map Mew (Emerald), 10th Anniversary Pokémon, Shiny Locked events, Pokéwalker exclusives (e.g. Flying Pikachu) |
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