Paldea is huge. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time wandering around the Great Crater or scouring the coastline, you know that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet legendary hunting isn't exactly a walk in the park. It’s a messy, multi-layered grind that spans across the base game, the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, and those weirdly specific post-game requirements that Game Freak loves to throw at us.
Most people think they’re done once Koraidon or Miraidon joins their party for battle. They're wrong. That’s barely the start of it. Between the Ruinous Quartet, the Paradox legends, and the massive roster of returning favorites in the Indigo Disk, there are dozens of powerhouses waiting to be shoved into a Premier Ball. You just have to know where to look.
The Two Faces of Koraidon and Miraidon
Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first. Your box art legendary—Koraidon in Scarlet, Miraidon in Violet—is basically your motorcycle for 90% of the game. It’s a bit of a weird dynamic, right? You’re riding a god-tier dragon that’s afraid to fight until the very end.
Once you hit those credits, you can head back down into the depths of Area Zero. Go to the very bottom, right near the lab where the final showdown happened. You’ll find a second Koraidon or Miraidon just chilling there. This one is actually catchable.
Pro tip: don't waste your Master Ball here. This fight is static, and while they hit hard with moves like Collision Course or Electro Drift, you can easily whittle them down with a False Swipe user like Gallade or Kingambit. Save that purple ball for something that actually runs away or has a self-destruct move.
The Problem with Version Exclusives
You can't get both on one save file. Period. If you want the "other" dragon, you’re going to have to trade for it. Most players use the community trade codes (like 0399–0400) to swap their second box legendary with someone who has the opposite version. It’s a risk, but it's basically the only way to finish that Pokedex entry without buying a second console.
What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Ruinous Quartet
The Treasures of Ruin—Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Chi-Yu, and Ting-Lu—are easily the most tedious Pokemon Scarlet and Violet legendary encounters. Why? The stakes. Or rather, the ominous black stakes driven into the ground across the map.
There are 32 stakes in total. Eight for each shrine. You have to find every single one of them to unlock the four sealed vaults.
- Chien-Pao (The Icy Cat): It’s tucked away in the West Province. This thing is a glass cannon with a ridiculous Attack stat. Its ability, Sword of Ruin, lowers your defense just by being on the field. Bring a bulky Fire-type.
- Ting-Lu (The Ground Vessel): Located in the North Province. It’s a tank. High HP, high Defense. It feels like hitting a brick wall.
- Chi-Yu (The Fire Fish): Hidden in the Northeast. Do not underestimate this goldfish. Its Special Attack is terrifying.
- Wo-Chien (The Snail): Found in the Southeast. It’s probably the least popular of the four, but it's a nightmare to catch because it constantly heals with Giga Drain and Leech Seed.
Honestly, use a guide map for the stakes. Trying to find them naturally is a recipe for a headache. They glow slightly at night, which helps, but some are hidden in caves or on tiny ledges that you’d never think to check.
Ogerpon and Terapagos: The DLC Powerhouses
The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk changed the meta completely. Ogerpon isn't just a "cute" addition; she is legitimately one of the best legendaries Game Freak has ever designed from a mechanical standpoint.
You get Ogerpon at the end of the Teal Mask storyline. The cool part is the masks. Depending on which mask she holds—Wellspring, Hearthflame, or Cornerstone—her type and ability change. When she Terastallizes, she gets a massive boost to a specific stat. It’s versatile. It’s fun. It’s actually useful in competitive play.
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Terapagos, on the other hand, is the crown jewel of the Indigo Disk. Finding it requires finishing the main DLC questline and heading into the Underdepths of Area Zero. The fight is scripted to feel epic, but catching it is guaranteed at the end. The real challenge is understanding its Stellar Form. In its base form, it's a bit underwhelming, but once it transforms, it gains the Teraform Zero ability, which basically wipes out weather and terrain effects. It's a huge middle finger to Kyogre or Groudon users.
The Snacksworth Grind: Returning Legends
This is where the real "completionist" nightmare begins. After you beat the Indigo Disk, a guy named Snacksworth appears at the Blueberry Academy entrance. He gives you "snacks" that spawn legendary Pokemon from previous generations all over Paldea.
Here’s the catch: the snacks are locked behind Blueberry Quests (BBQs).
If you’re playing solo, you can only get a certain set of snacks. If you want the others—like Rayquaza, Kyogre, or Suicune—you must participate in Union Circle group quests. It sucks for people who prefer playing offline, but that’s the reality.
- Kanto Birds: Articuno is in the snowy peaks, Zapdos is on the lighthouse near Poco Path, and Moltres is in the Asado Desert.
- Johto Beasts: Suicune is hanging out in Casseroya Lake (naturally), while Raikou and Entei are scattered in the rocky highlands.
- Hoenn Giants: Groudon is in a cave under Alfornada, and Kyogre is off the coast in the Northwest.
- The Box Legends: Lunala, Solgaleo, Necrozma—they’re all here, but their spawn points are incredibly specific. Solgaleo is on the roof of the Pokemon League building, for example.
These aren't "shiny locked" in the traditional sense for the Ruinous quartet, but for the Snacksworth legends? Yeah, they are shiny locked. Don't waste hours resetting for a shiny Lugia; it’s not going to happen in this game.
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Paradox Legends: Walking Wake and Iron Leaves
This is a point of confusion for a lot of players. Walking Wake (a prehistoric Suicune) and Iron Leaves (a futuristic Virizion) are technically Pokemon Scarlet and Violet legendary Paradox forms.
They are not found in the wild.
They appear in limited-time 5-star Tera Raid events. If you missed the window, your only options are to wait for a rerun or find someone willing to trade. Game Freak usually brings them back every few months, but it’s inconsistent.
The same goes for the more recent additions: Gouging Fire, Raging Bolt, Iron Boulder, and Iron Crown. These four are tied to a quest from Perrin in the Indigo Disk. You need to register 200 Pokemon in the Blueberry Academy Pokedex before she even talks to you about them. Once you do, they appear in Area Zero, but they are version-exclusive. Scarlet players get the Entei/Raikou dinosaurs; Violet players get the Cobalion/Terrakion robots.
How to Prepare for the Catch
Catching a legendary isn't just about throwing balls until one sticks. It’s about math. The catch rate for most of these is roughly 3, which is the lowest it can be.
- Status is King: Sleep is better than Paralysis. Use a Pokemon with Spore (Breloom or Amoonguss). It doubles your catch chance, whereas Paralysis only gives a 1.5x multiplier.
- The False Swipe Strategy: You need a move that leaves the target at 1 HP. Gallade is the gold standard here because it can learn False Swipe and Hypnosis.
- Timer Balls: If the fight goes past 10 turns, Timer Balls become more effective than Ultra Balls. By turn 30, they are nearly guaranteed to work eventually.
- Sandwiches: Yes, eating a sandwich can help. Look for "Catching Power" buffs for the specific type of legendary you are hunting. If you're going after Chi-Yu, grab a Fire-type catching power sandwich. It actually makes a noticeable difference in how many shakes you get.
What Most People Miss
The Pecharunt event. A lot of players finished the DLC and thought that was it. There is a "secret" epilogue called Mochi Mayhem.
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To trigger it, you need to claim the "Mythical Pecha Berry" via Mystery Gift. Then, go to Pecha’s store in Kitakami and interact with the dusty purple doll on the counter. This kicks off a bizarre, slightly creepy storyline that ends with you catching Pecharunt. It’s the final legendary addition to the game, and it’s arguably the weirdest fight in the entire series.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re looking to round out your collection right now, follow this order to stay efficient:
- Step 1: Clear the main story and catch your second Koraidon/Miraidon.
- Step 2: Start the stake hunt. Use an interactive map to mark them off so you don't lose track of which ones you've pulled.
- Step 3: Head to the DLC areas. Prioritize the Perrin quest in the Blueberry Academy early on, as the 200-Pokemon Pokedex requirement takes time to build up.
- Step 4: Join a Discord or Reddit thread for Union Circle groups. You physically cannot get the full Snacksworth roster without other people.
- Step 5: Check the Mystery Gift menu weekly. Game Freak often drops codes for "Mew," "Darkrai," or other mythicals that aren't technically part of the Paldean Pokedex but are essential for collectors.
The grind for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet legendary creatures is long, but it’s the most rewarding part of the post-game. Just remember to bring plenty of Revives—some of these things, especially the Paradox beasts, do not play nice.