Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous. We’re deep into 2026, and if you open your Pokédex right now, there are still these massive, gaping holes where some of the most iconic creatures in franchise history should be. It’s been years. We’ve had dozens of "Seasons," countless "Ultra Unlocks," and enough Pikachu hats to clothe a small nation.
Yet, here we are.
Some unreleased Pokemon in Pokemon Go feel like they're being held hostage by Niantic for a rainy day that never comes. You’ve probably noticed the gaps. You scroll past Sinnoh, and there it is—or rather, there it isn't. The "God" of Pokemon itself is still missing.
The Sinnoh "God" Gap: Where is Arceus?
It’s the question that haunts every Sinnoh Tour veteran. Back in early 2024, everyone assumed the Sinnoh Tour would finally give us Arceus. It made sense! Every other Tour finished the regional dex. But Niantic pulled a fast one and told us Arceus was "too special" for a standard event.
Two years later? Still nothing.
Arceus is basically the final boss of the "waiting game." Because it has 18 different types, Niantic is likely terrified of how to implement it. Do they make us change its type with items? Do they release 18 different versions in raids? It’s a logistical nightmare.
And don’t even get me started on Manaphy and Phione. These two are the only other Sinnoh natives missing. We’ve seen theories about special 20km eggs or breeding mechanics, but so far, it’s just radio silence. It’s weird to have a "completed" region that isn't actually complete.
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The Galar Ghost Town
Galar has had the weirdest rollout in the history of this game. We got Zacian and Zamazenta years ago, then a few randoms like Wooloo and Falinks, and then... nothing for a long time.
While the unreleased Pokemon in Pokemon Go from Galar are slowly trickling in, we’re still missing some heavy hitters:
- Honedge, Doublade, and Aegislash: These were teased for the Kalos Tour recently, but for those who missed the specific city events, the wait for a global rollout feels eternal.
- The Applin Line: How do we not have the apple dragon yet?
- Galarian Corsola and Cursola: Likely being saved for a "Sustainability Week" or a spooky Halloween event that never seems to arrive.
It’s honestly kind of funny. Niantic skipped most of Galar to jump straight into Paldea because Scarlet & Violet were the "hot new thing." Now we’re stuck with a half-finished Galar dex while Paldean Paradox Pokemon start taking over the meta.
Paldea's Missing Paradoxes and Legends
Speaking of Paldea, that region is a mess of "soon." We just saw Wattrel and Kilowattrel debut in the "High Zaptitude" event this January, which is cool, but where are the heavy hitters?
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We are still waiting on the "Box Legends" to be fully playable. Koraidon and Miraidon have been teased in loading screens and code snippets for ages. Most insiders expect them to be the "big draw" for GO Fest 2026.
Then there’s Gimmighoul (Chest Form). We’ve had the Roaming Form for ages if you connect to the Switch, but the Chest Form remains a mystery. Is it a raid boss? A special evolution? Nobody knows.
Why Niantic Slow-Walks These Releases
You've probably felt the frustration. You want to finish that medal. You want the Shiny.
But from a business perspective, unreleased Pokemon in Pokemon Go are basically "content insurance." If Niantic released everything at once, people would finish their dexes and stop playing. By holding back "fan favorites" like Mimikyu (seriously, why is Mimikyu still not here?), they ensure they have a "break glass in case of emergency" button when player numbers dip.
Take Volcanion, for example. It’s the last missing piece for many Kalos fans. By withholding it, Niantic guarantees that whatever event finally features it will be a massive hit.
What You Should Actually Do While Waiting
Stop stressing about the empty spots. Seriously.
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, focus on the stuff you can control.
- Stockpile Candy: If you see a Pokemon that has a future evolution (like a Primeape for Annihilape, which we already got, or Bisharp for Kingambit), grind that candy now.
- Save Your High-IVs: Don't delete that hundo just because it doesn't have an evolution yet.
- Watch the "Seasons": Niantic usually drops 3-5 new species per season.
The reality is that we're likely looking at another two to three years before the National Pokédex is even close to being caught up. And by then? Generation 10 will probably be out on whatever Nintendo console follows the Switch.
Next Steps for Trainers:
Check your "Caught" count in the Pokédex and compare it against the current global available list (currently hovering around 900+ species). If you're missing something like Zarude or Keldeo, keep an eye on Elite Raid announcements or Masterwork Research—those are the only ways these "gatekept" Pokemon usually return.