Ultra Beasts are extremely rare because their availability windows are so limited. Beyond that, there's also a base catch rate of around 2% that you'll need to overcome! Talk about tricky…
To beat this, trainers really need to make the most of availability windows to catch them. This post helps with that, showcasing every Ultra Beast currently available in Pokémon GO, and precisely how to catch them.
What Ultra Beasts Actually Are
Ultra Beasts (or UBs) aren't actually Legendary Pokémon, but Niantic treats them in a similar way, being just as rare and equally as difficult to catch!
They were introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon as alien-like, extradimensional Pokémon that emerge from Ultra Wormholes, which connect the Alola region to Ultra Space.
Most Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GO are encountered through raid battles tied to events like Ultra Beast Arrival or the Ultra Space Wonders event, though a few, such as Poipole and Naganadel, are obtained through research and evolution instead.
Every Ultra Beast in Pokémon GO
Ultra Beasts debuted at the Go Fest 2022 event, and there are currently 11 UBs available in Pokémon GO. Seven are locked behind regional raid pools during their main cycles, making global Arrival events crucial for anyone wanting to catch them.
Here's the complete roster below.
Ultra Beast | Type | Max CP | Debut | Shiny | How to Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nihilego | Rock / Poison | 4,465 | June 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (global) |
Pheromosa | Bug / Fighting | 3,213 | July 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (EMEA / India) |
Buzzwole | Bug / Fighting | 3,912 | July 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (Americas + Greenland) |
Xurkitree | Electric | 4,451 | August 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (Asia-Pacific) |
Celesteela | Steel / Flying | 3,507 | September 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (Southern Hemisphere) |
Kartana | Grass / Steel | 4,156 | September 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (Northern Hemisphere) |
Guzzlord | Dark / Dragon | 3,264 | November 2022 | Yes | 5-star raid (global) |
Poipole | Poison | 1,854 | March 2024 | No | World of Wonders Special Research |
Naganadel | Poison / Dragon | 3,587 | May 2024 | No | Evolve Poipole (200 Candy + 20 Dragon catches) |
Stakataka | Rock / Steel | 3,724 | May 2024 | Yes | 5-star raid (Eastern Hemisphere) |
Blacephalon | Fire / Ghost | 3,727 | May 2024 | Yes | 5-star raid (Western Hemisphere) |
How to Catch Ultra Beasts in the Bonus Challenge
Encountering Ultra Beasts involves pretty much the same process as Legendaries in Pokémon GO raids, where you need to defeat the raid boss for a chance to catch the rare prize.
As with standard raid battles, you'll earn Premier Balls, and you can also get extra depending on various battle conditions.
You can also still make use of multiplier stacking to maximize your catch rate per ball.
To make your life easier, here are a few tips to keep in mind when catching Ultra Beasts.
One of the best ways to get more Premier Balls is to bring type and elemental counters, get the Best Friend bonus, and stack the Team Lead bonus in each encounter.
Beast Balls are a special type of Poké Ball that drastically increases your catch rate for Ultra Beasts with a massive x20 multiplier, so save them for encounters with strong IVs worth powering up. They're very rare, though, so think about it carefully before you use them.
Shiny Ultra Beasts are guaranteed to be caught upon hitting them with the first ball in an encounter. This means you're better off increasing the candy bonus rather than using something like a Razz Berry.
Global communities serve as a trading hub for region-locked Ultra Beasts, though be ready for the hefty stardust cost of Special Trades.
Ultra Beast Profiles and Best Counters
Nihilego
Often the first Ultra Beast trainers meet in Pokémon GO, Nihilego is also the easiest to catch for most beginners. With a typing combination of Rock and Poison, Nihilego becomes well-suited for certain battles in the Master League. Counter it with Mewtwo with Psystrike, Metagross with Meteor Mash, or a high-DPS Ground attacker like Garchomp or Excadrill.
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Buzzwole
This Alolan Ultra Beast has a typing of Bug and Fighting, making it a solid PVE attacker effective against Dark, Psychic, and Normal. As for Counters, Flying is the top option due to Buzzwole's double weakness, with Psychic as a secondary choice, with Mega Pidgeot, Moltres, or a charged Mewtwo in close second.
Pheromosa
While it has similar typing to Buzzwole, the stat distribution differs. With 316 base attack against 85 base defense, Pheromosa is a textbook glass cannon for raids. Despite hitting hard but lacking endurance, Pheromosa is brilliant for niche speed runs, but is often just a backup for Buzzwole in most lineups.
Xurkitree
This electric Ultra Beast possesses the highest base attack among all Ultra Beasts at 330, making it a devastating raid counter against water-types. Having Thunder or Discharge ranks it at the top of water-type counters, on par with Zekrom, with Electivire as a solid budget option below that tier. But while it hits hard, it also doesn't take much to get knocked out. For Kyogre raids, bring two of them for the maximum effect.
Celesteela
The attack stat of Celesteela is nothing impressive, but with a whopping ten resistances, including Dragon, Fairy, Ground, and Flying, Celesteela is more than capable as a PVP tank. Celesteela is also especially useful in the Ultra League, where its ability to survive long matches makes it a great addition for any tank slot.
Kartana
As another glass cannon, Kartana needs to be used with caution. The 323 base attack, paired with dual STAB on Grass and Steel, lets it shred Kyogre, Tyranitar, Diancie, and most Fairy and Rock raid bosses. Just be strategic in how you use it, and you can go quite far by making Kartana your main offensive option.
Guzzlord
Another high-endurance Ultra Beast, this time with a Dark and Dragon typing. This one excels in long PVP grinds.
Poipole and Naganadel
Introduced in 2024, Poipole is obtained as a reward from the free World of Wonders Special Research, with the paid Wonder Ticket offering an extra encounter. Completing a set of tasks allows the pre-evolution to become Naganadel, a Poison and Dragon-type Pokémon. It's a very capable attacker, but sadly, the research was available for just a limited time.
Stakataka
Available only in the Eastern Hemisphere during regular raid cycles, it's a Rock and Steel type with 298 base defense that's weak only to Fighting, Ground, or Water. That means it tanks everything else very well, making Stakataka a situational pick.
Blacephalon
Blacephalon's high base attack of 315, paired with its rare Fire and Ghost typing, makes Blacephalon a solid option for certain raid bosses, specifically Bug and even Psychic, provided you pick the right fast move for the matchup. Using it requires considerable caution, though, since its defense is low and it possesses some of the more common weaknesses. Blacephalon is only available in the Western Hemisphere raid cycles.
Shiny Ultra Beasts and Power-up Picks
Among Ultra Beasts, only Poipole and Naganadel do not have Shiny versions in the game, though this may change in a future Pokémon GO update. While the Shiny encounter rate is just 1 in 20, the guaranteed catch rate makes it an encounter worth looking out for. Considering how difficult it can be to catch Ultra Beasts, you're sure to appreciate your first one!
