Pokémon GO is bringing the Legendary Birds of Kanto back into the spotlight with a new series of Five-Star Max Battles. Starting January 20th, trainers can participate in the “Legendary Flight” event, which will run through mid-February, featuring Dynamax versions of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
The event is structured over several weeks, each highlighted by a particular legendary bird. Dynamax Articuno will debut on January 20th in Max Monday battles from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time and will remain available until January 27th. Following Articuno, Dynamax Zapdos will take the stage on January 27th and stay until February 3rd. Finally, from February 3rd, Dynamax Moltres will be the focus until February 9th.
Excitingly, these battles offer the chance to encounter Shiny forms of these legendary Pokémon, adding an extra incentive for trainers to participate. The event isn’t limited to just legendary birds; other Pokémon will also appear in Max Battles. From January 20th to 27th, Charmander, Beldum, and Scorbunny are featured, with the first two having potential Shiny forms. From January 27th to February 3rd, trainers can battle Bulbasaur, Cryogonal, and Grookey, with Bulbasaur and Cryogonal potentially Shiny. Finally, Squirtle, Krabby, and Sobble will appear from February 3rd to 10th, with Squirtle and Krabby possibly being Shiny.
To assist in these battles, Niantic recommends using the Campfire feature within Pokémon GO. This feature helps trainers locate Max Battles and coordinate with other players, making it easier to team up and take on these formidable foes. By tapping the green icon under the compass in the map view, players can access nearby Max Battle activity and online meetups.