From Ditto to Empoleon and Mew, these are the critters Pokémon GO players are still hunting.
Pokémon GO fever may have cooled over the past few months but the smartphone phenomenon continues to be a big money-spinner for both developer Niantic and The Pokémon Company, and the recent Generation II update will have convinced many lapsed players to return to the fold in the hope of catching even more critters. However, not every Gen I and Gen II 'mon is currently up for grabs in the game – some clearly by design and some for more mysterious reasons – and we've compiled a list of the most notable exclusions at this point in time. How long before this legendary monsters make an appearance? Who knows, but if you manage to find one in the wild, you could be making gaming history.
Mew
Perhaps one of the most famous Pocket Monsters of all time, Mew wasn't actually supposed to be in the original game at all. This Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon was included in Pokémon Red and Blue by programmer Shigeki Morimoto as a prank that he assumed only he and his fellow developers would ever see. Word-of-mouth soon spread that there was a hidden monster in the game, leading to the official release of Mew via a special contest in 1996. Since then, Mew has gone on to star in movies and has become one of the most recognisable monsters in the Pokémon universe, alongside its more powerful twin, Mewtwo. Despite being a Gen I beast, Mew has yet to appear in Pokémon GO; we imagine that Niantic has something very special planned for its debut.
Mewtwo
Mewtwo is the flip-side of Mew's coin, a genetic enhancement of the original Mew. However, Mewtwo was fully intended to be in Pokémon Red and Blue from the start, while Mew was inserted as a secret character. Billed as one of the most powerful Pocket Monsters ever, Mewtwo was shown in the promotional trailer for Pokémon GO before it was even released, so it's fair to say that he'll be making an appearance at some point. In the trailer, a large group of people are shown attacking Mewtwo simultaneously, which would suggest that the character could be introduced in a forthcoming event where players are expected to pool their power in order to defeat him. With such incredible strength, Mewtwo could potentially change the way the game is played forever; with this monster on your team, you could be unstoppable.
Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres
Articuno is one of the three Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue, along with Zapdos and Moltres. Blessed with the ability to control the cold, Articuno inhabits mountaintops where it has been witnessed by explorers who have lost their way; the appearance of this bird is therefore seen as a good omen. Another Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue, Zapdos is one of the rarest monsters in the game, appearing just once during the entire adventure. As the name suggests, this bird has the power to control lightning, and is found near a power plant in the original game. The last member of the Legendary Gen I trio, Moltres harnesses the power of fire and is thought to be inspired by the mythological Phoenix. As you might imagine, Moltres favours hot locations and is often seen bathing in molten lava from active volcanos. We'd expect these beasts to go live in Pokémon GO at the same time, possibly as part of a global event – devious hackers have found their artwork in the game already, and pretended to catch them, but don’t fall for their lies.
Smeargle
Introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver, Smeargle is one of the most interesting and unique monsters in the entire Pokémon universe – which perhaps explains why it hasn't been sighted in Pokémon GO as yet. Armed with a paintbrush-style tail which it uses to mark its territory, Smeargle is capable of permanently learning the last move used by its opponent. It's easy to see how this could potentially unbalance the gym battles in Pokémon GO, so perhaps Niantic is waiting for the right moment to unleash this character. Or is this another Ditto, a mystery still waiting to be discovered?
Delibird
This Gen II monster is unique in that one of its moves – Present – involves it handing over an item to its opponent which could either heal them or cause them damage. These items are kept in Delibird's hollow tail, which resembles a sack. The mechanic of randomly harming or healing your rival is clearly going to be tricky to incorporate into Pokémon GO, and we'd imagine that's the reason why Delibird hasn't been seen in the game as yet.
Raikou, Entei and Suicune
This trio of Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Gen II, filling a similar role to that of Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres from Gen I. All three were resurrected by Ho-Oh (more on that monster in a second) and represent some of the most powerful beasts in the entire Pokémon universe. Raikou can control storms and often comes to the aid of electric-type Pokémon, while the dog-like Entei is a fire-type monster, and one is apparently born every time a new volcano appears. Suicune, on the other hand, uses the power of water to attack opponents. Given that we don't yet have the Gen I Legendaries it might be unwise to expect these guys to show up anytime soon, but perhaps Niantic will introduce these rare Gen I and Gen II monsters at the same time?
Ho-Oh and Luiga
If you thought the Gen II Legendaries were impressive, then you should check out this pair, the mainline mascots of Pokémon Gold and Silver. Ho-Oh is known as the guardian of the skies and despite its rather goofy appearance, it is said to bestow eternal happiness on those who witness it. Luiga is a strange cross between a dragon and a bird and is billed as the guardian of the seas; it is thought to be the leader of the Legendary Birds and the only one capable of bringing them into line when they start acting up. Again, it's likely that Niantic are holding these back due to the fact that they are a lot more powerful than your typical Pocket Monster; it is possible that they will be part of a special Pokémon GO event rather than found in the wild. Perhaps in time to celebrate the game’s one year anniversary this summer?
Celebi
This time travelling mythical Pokémon is one of the most exclusive in the mainline console games, as it is normally only distributed via special events, such as pre-order bonuses or for attending movie screenings of Pokémon films. That could indicate that Celebi won't appear in Pokémon GO outside of a similar event, which could involve visiting a certain retailer or location during a set period.
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