How to Catch Azelf in Pokemon GO

Oh where, oh where could my Azelf be? Niantic took it away from me ♪

Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit make up the lake guardian trio, which was first introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and later Pokemon GO. The initial introduction of the legendary trio had trainers slightly frustrated due to the rarity of the Pokemon themselves. Over the years, the trio has become slightly easier to add to your Pokedex but is still not without its difficulties. Here is how to catch your own Azelf in Pokemon GO.

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Where to Find Azelf in the Wild in Pokemon GO

There are two methods to find and catch Azelf in Pokemon GO. The first is to catch an Azelf when it spawns in the wild, and the second is to battle an Azelf in a raid. Catching an Azelf that spawns in the wild is quite a challenge. Not only is the spawn itself incredibly rare, but each of the three legendary Pokemon is region locked and can only be found in the following locations.

  • Azelf: North America, Central America, South America, and Greenland regions.
  • Mesprit: Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India regions.
  • Uxie: Asia-Pacific region.
One of the three Azelf that I have caught in Pokemon GO
(Screenshot by Prima Games)

As you can see, Azelf only spawns in North America, Central America, South America, and Greenland. If you are outside of this location, you are out of luck and will not see an Azelf spawn near you, no matter how many times you check the nearby Pokemon in your game. Players were optimistic that Niantic would rotate each of the lake trios between regions, and especially so when the Shiny versions were announced. So far, this has not been the case.

Related: All Regigigas Counters in Pokemon GO Listed

Fighting Azelf in Pokemon GO Raids

Fortunately for us, Azelf has appeared in Pokemon GO raids before. This means that not only do local players have a better chance of catching Azelf during a raid, but players worldwide can be invited via remote raid to participate and hopefully successfully catch Azelf. This is currently the only way that players outside of North America, Central America, South America, and Greenland can attempt to catch Azelf. Realistically, raids are the only way that any trainer will ever encounter Azelf. So, make the most of them when Azelf is the current raid Pokemon! You might even encounter a Shiny Azelf!

The legendary trio is currently in raids and will continue to be so until June 15, 2023. Make sure you catch one when it is in your area, or swap friend codes with someone in the North America, Central America, South America, and Greenland regions to catch your Azelf!

Pokemon GO raids are one of the best ways to catch legendary Pokemon, and if you are looking to keep your Pokedex up to date, you will not want to miss out on a single raid Pokemon! Regigigas just had its run in raids, and it may be a good idea to learn about its counters before versing it in the Battle League.


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About the Author

Priscilla Wells

Priscilla is both the weekend editor and a freelance writer at Prima Games. She began working at Prima Games in early 2023. Prior to this, she spent nine years writing for both her own personal gaming blog, and other related websites. Priscilla has grown up playing video games, and most often plays her PS5 and Nintendo Switch consoles. You can find her playing Final Fantasy XIV, RuneScape, Pokemon GO, or lost in the latest RPG to release. She is an Australian living in the United States with her American husband, three children, and her Basset Hound. Before moving to the United States, Priscilla obtained a Bachelors of Secondary Education majoring in English and Japanese Language. This allowed her to teach English and Japanese in a high school setting. You can follow her on Twitter/X at @Cilllah