Pokemon GO Accidentally Reveals Upcoming Legendary Dynamax Raids

Pokemon GO Leak Hints at Dynamax Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno Raids

A premature announcement from the official Pokemon GO Saudi Arabia Twitter account, quickly deleted, revealed upcoming Dynamax Raids featuring the Kanto legendary birds: Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno. These raids are slated to run from January 20th to February 3rd. This would mark the first appearance of legendary Dynamax Pokémon in the game, following the introduction of Dynamax Pokémon in September 2024.

The Kanto birds have consistently been fan favorites. While previously featured in standard raids (including their Shiny forms), and their Galarian counterparts in Daily Incense (with lower spawn rates), this Dynamax iteration represents a significant new addition. The accidental leak suggests a strategic move by Niantic to boost the popularity of Max Raids, which have faced some player resistance due to difficulty and participation requirements.

The inclusion of these iconic legendaries in Dynamax form raises the possibility of other popular legendary Pokémon receiving similar treatment in future Max Raids. The precedent set by Pokémon Sword and Shield, which featured Dynamax Mewtwo and Ho-Oh, supports this speculation. However, the challenge level of these upcoming Dynamax legendary raids remains uncertain, with previous Max Raids facing criticism for their difficulty, particularly the requirement of 40 players per battle.

This leak comes amidst a flurry of Pokemon GO event announcements for early 2025. Confirmed events include a Community Day Classic featuring Ralts on January 25th, a Shadow Raid Day on January 19th featuring Shadow Ho-Oh (with up to seven free Raid Passes available), and the announcement of Osaka, Jersey City, and Paris as host cities for Pokemon GO Fest 2025.