In a world where the slogan is "Gotta Catch ‘Em All!", most Pokemon fans assume that with enough effort, every Pokemon is accessible. Between catching and trading, it feels like every pocket monster eventually comes into availability.
But there are some Pokemon so rare, so ridiculously exclusive, that owning them is closer to an urban legend than reality. Welcome to the list of Pokemon you will never, ever own.
What Are Pokemon You Will Never Own In Video Games?
These Pokemon were often tied to obscure events, promotions, or elusive giveaways. You won’t find them in regular gameplay and even trading for one is nearly impossible. For example, the Petal Dance Pichu was a one-time distribution in Pokemon Crystal with no way to bring to modern games. Or the Sing Eevee, only obtainable in Japan for 45 minutes. And the ultra-rare Lunar Shiny Magikarp. Curious? Read on to discover the Pokemon that most players will only ever read online. Ironic.
Petal Dance Pichu
This adorable version of Pichu was distributed once in Pokemon Crystal and only in Japan. It had the move Petal Dance, which Pichu doesn't learn. The catch is Crystal predates any method of transferring Pokemon to modern games.
So not only is this event long gone, there is no legal way to bring this rare Pichu to current titles. If someone claims to have one in Sword and Shield, they’re either joking or lying.
Singing Eevee
To get this special Eevee with Sing move, you had to buy a specific J-pop single by Ikimono-gakari at a LaLaPort Toyosu event in Japan. You could only claim the download between 5:00 PM and 5:45 PM on that single day. Missed the window? Too bad.
If you weren’t in the building with a DS and the single receipt in hand during that time, you missed your chance forever. It’s the kind of event that proves that the Japanese are very lucky.
Lunar Shiny Magikarp
This shiny Magikarp wasn’t just gold, it had the move Bounce, something it doesn’t learn. The event distribution was only in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, and only via serial code.
You had two weeks to redeem it and was tied to the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s a festival-exclusive shiny that probably splashed away into obscurity the moment the event ended.
Pokemon Day Shiny Gengar
In 2014, during a football match at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, exactly 3,000 Shiny Gengars were distributed, complete with Gengarite for Mega Evolution. Unless you were a football fan, you were out of luck.
No Wi-Fi event nor a serial code. Just a few thousand physical giveaways at a sports stadium. A cool idea but that's it for us, just an idea.
Pokemon Movie Darkrai
The Darkrai that came with the rare Enigma Berry was given only to the first 1,000 people who pre-ordered tickets for The Rise of Darkrai movie in Hong Kong and Taiwan in 2014.
The Pokemon itself wasn’t particularly unique but the item it held and the exclusivity of the event made it legendary.
Pun intended. Imagine being one of the lucky few to have this and to have it still to this day.
Nintendo Power Celebi
Back in the golden age of gaming magazines, Nintendo Power hosted a Celebi giveaway. To enter, you had to fill out a paper application and mail it in. Yes, actual mail, where only 251 applicants were selected.
Without internet distribution and only paper trail proof, this Celebi became an actual mythical piece of gaming history. If anyone still has one today, good luck getting it from them.
Pokemon Stamp Pichu
In 2003, Shogakukan Magazine hosted a Gym Stamp rally. Players had to collect stamps from every Generation 3 gyms, which is actually a real-life scavenger hunt, to earn a Pichu that knew Teeter Dance. How many winners were there? Only 50. Around the world.
Pichu is so cute, it's always the target of limited events and the things we'll give just to have one.
Corocoro Anniversary Mew
To celebrate Corocoro’s 20th anniversary, a Mew was distributed via a special code and only ten participants won. Not ten per region. Just ten players. That’s barely enough for a single double battle tournament.
The odds of anyone outside of Japan owning this Mew are laughable. You have more chance of finding one under a virtual truck in Kanto.
University Magikarp
In 1998, Corocoro hosted a fictional “Tamamushi University” challenge. Applicants completed mail-in exams and those who succeeded got to receive a Magikarp with Dragon Rage from a physical event in Osaka.
Only 20 were ever given out. A Dragon Rage Magikarp sounds unreal but the rarity makes it one of the most exclusive and obscure Pokemon in existence.
For a franchise built on collection, Pokemon sure loves throwing in super rare creatures. These live in a reality most players will never reach. They’re the digital equivalent of holy grails.
These Pokemon are so rare that even seeing them feels surreal. So no, you probably will never own these Pokemon. But hey, dreaming about having them is half the fun, right?
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