In the second Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion: The Crown Tundra, we get the chance to catch new forms of the legendary birds. Galarian Moltres is no longer a Fire/Flying-type, as it has now embraced the darkness to become a Dark/Flying terror of the skies.
With this powerful combination, it’s one of the best Crown Tundra Pokémon for certain much-ups. With that in mind, check out our Pokémon type chart to see where Galarian Moltres fit into teams.
It’s not the hardest Pokémon to find in the game thankfully – we reckon that’s Keldeo – but even then Galarian Moltres is also one of the easier ones to encounter. That said, this Dark/Flying-type doesn’t make it all that easy because of its really focused move set. So let us help you with tracking down Galarian Moltres and give you its stats and move set so you can prepare in advance.
How to catch Galarian Moltres
To get Galarian Moltres to appear in the wild, you will need to find the giant tree Dyna Tree Hill, which is far to the south of the new region in The Crown Tundra. It’s very close to Ballimere Lake if you need a place to aim for. After watching the cutscene where all the birds congregate, each one goes their separate ways. Galarian Moltres will fly all the way to the Isle of Armor.
You can find out how to catch Galarian Articuno and Galarian Zapdos in our other guides, but here’s what you need to do to encounter the Dark/Flying-type:
- Take the Flying Taxi to the Fields of Honor. This is where you began the Isle of Armor expansion.
- Get on your bike and ignore Galarian Moltres for now. It will fly on a set path. Instead, ride across the bridge and position yourself between the two grass patches on the other side.
- Eventually, Moltres will fly overhead. Ring the bell continuously as it approaches and it’ll see you. Keep ringing and eventually, it’ll swoop down to attack.
- If Galarian Moltres ignores you, don’t bother chasing it down. Instead, just fly back to Fields of Honor and try again. It’ll respawn as you arrive.
It can be hard to fight this Pokémon if you’re underprepared, so make sure you have an Electric-type to maximise damage. In our battle with it, Galarian Moltres was immune to being paralyzed, but this may be weather-dependent. Stun Spore or Hypnosis should normally work on this legendary bird. In addition, we also recommend Pokémon with high Special Defense stats.
Galarian Moltres encounter stats
- Level: 70
- Ability: Berserk – Boosts the Pokémon’s Special Attack stat when it takes a hit that causes its HP to become half or less.
| Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | Effect |
| Fiery Wrath | Dark | Special | 90 | 100 | This move may also make opposing Pokémon flinch. |
| Hurricane | Flying | Special | 110 | 70 | This move may also confuse the target. |
| Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | This move enables the user to attack first but fails if the target is not readying an attack. |
| Nasty Plot | Dark | Effect | – | – | Sharply raises the user’s Special Attack stat. |
So long as it stayed in the Pokéball, you should now have a Galarian Moltres in Pokémon Sword and Shield. If you find it a bit tough to fight, try switching your team to one that is tailored to combat this Special Attacking powerhouse. There are plenty of other guides for The Crown Tundra expansion, including our one for Dynamax Adventures shinies and how to nab The Crown Tundra’s Regis, so do come back soon!