How to Catch FREE Legendaries Road To Legends in Pokémon GO - July 2026
The Road of Legends event is shaping up to be one of the most legendary weeks in Pokémon GO history. From midnight on July 6 through July 10 you’ll earn two free raid passes every day (10 free legendary raids total), enjoy no remote‑raid‑pass limit, and see a flood of returning adventure‑effect moves, special backgrounds, and a stacked egg pool. This guide breaks down every bonus, the daily raid schedule, and the best strategies to maximise shiny‑background catches without breaking the bank.
Event Time
- Dates: July 6 12:01 a.m. – July 10 11:59 p.m. (local time)
- Follow‑up: July 11‑12 = Go Fest Global (covered in a separate guide)
- Core theme: A massive legendary‑raid marathon with every major legendary and many mega‑evolutions appearing in five‑star raids, plus exclusive bonuses.
Free Raid Passes & Global Bonuses
- Two free raid passes per day (Monday‑Friday) → 10 free legendary raids.
- No remote‑raid‑pass limit for the entire Road of Legends week and Go Fest weekend.
- Premier Balls are more effective, making legendary catches near‑guaranteed.
- Party Power charges faster, boosting damage in group raids.
- Special stickers from PokéStops and gifts.
Returning Adventure‑Effect Moves & Elite TM
For the first time ever you can use an Elite TM to teach:
| Pokémon (form) | Adventure‑Effect Move |
|---|---|
| Kyurem (regular, Black, White) | Glaciate |
| Palkia (Origin) | Spatial Rend |
| Dialga (Origin) | Roar of Time |
These moves unlock the powerful adventure effects that dramatically increase catch rates for legendary Pokémon. If you already own a high‑IV Kyurem, Palkia, or Dialga lacking the effect, now is the only window to add it.
Special Backgrounds & Shiny Hunting
- Every legendary and mega encountered during the event can appear with a special background (same pool as Go Fest Global).
- Shiny odds: 1 / 20; Background odds: 1 / 10 → Shiny‑background odds ≈ 1 / 200.
- Collectors should prioritize raids early in the week to get a head start on the full set.
- Trading remains an option for missing backgrounds; a community tracking tool is in development.
Egg Pools & Hatch Bonuses
| Egg Distance | Notable Species (July 6 onward) |
|---|---|
| 2 km | Weedle, Pidgey, Abra, Gastly, Pinsir, Aerodactyl, Mareep, Larvitar, Turtwig, Torchic, Mudkip, Ralts, Bagon, Beldum, Gible, Riolu, Snover, Deino, Larvesta |
| 5 km | Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle (Pikachu visor; July 6 0:00‑20:00 they wear 10th‑anniversary hats), Heracross, Mime Jr., Larvesta |
| 10 km | Tropius, Axew, Bouffalant, Larvesta, Goomy, Jangmo‑o, Toxel, Frigibax |
Event hatch bonuses: ½ hatch distance, 2× hatch Stardust, 2× hatch Candy, extra 5 000 XP from raids, +3 Candy from 5★+ raids, +1 Candy XL from legendary raids.
Go Pass & Go Pass Deluxe Rewards
| Tier | Key Rewards |
|---|---|
| Free Go Pass | Pikachu with team hat, legendary Candy, Go Fest T‑shirt, Link Charges, Incubators, Incense, Lucky Trinket at rank 100 |
| Go Pass Deluxe (paid upgrade) | Everything above plus: Team Leader pose, Golden Bottle Cap at rank 100, guaranteed special‑background Mewtwo (shiny ≈ 1/20), 2× Candy XL, extra 3 Candy & 1 Candy XL per legendary raid, plus other bonuses |
The Lucky Trinket (free) and Golden Bottle Cap (Deluxe) are two of the most valuable items ever released; the Deluxe pass is worth it if you plan heavy legendary raiding.
Daily Legendary Raid Schedule (Monday‑Friday)
Monday July 6 – “All‑Out Legendary Day”
Five‑star raids: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Lugia, Ho‑Oh, Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Deoxys (all forms), Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga (Origin & regular), Palkia (Origin & regular), Heatran, Regigigas, Giratina (Altered & Origin), Cresselia, Darkrai, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus (Incarnate & Therian), Thundurus (Incarnate & Therian), Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus (Incarnate & Therian), Kyurem (regular, Black, White), Genesect (all drives), Xerneas, Yveltal, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma (Dawn Wings, Dusk Mane, Ultra), Stakataka, Blacephalon, Zacian, Zamazenta, Regieleki, Regidrago, Enamorus (both forms).
Mega raids: Mega Salamence.
Tuesday July 7
Five‑star raids: White Kyurem, Zekrom, Dawn Wings Necrozma.
Mega raids: Mega Tyranitar.
Wednesday July 8
Five‑star raids: Black Kyurem, Reshiram, Dusk Mane Necrozma.
Mega raids: Mega Gardevoir.
Thursday July 9
Five‑star raids: Crowned Sword Zacian, Crowned Shield Zamazenta.
Mega raids: Mega Gengar.
Friday July 10
Five‑star raids: Origin Dialga, Origin Palkia, Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon.
Mega raids: (none listed; focus on the four primal/origin bosses).
Strategy Tips for Shiny‑Background Hunting
- Spread your raids across the week.
- Monday’s pool is massive; you cannot realistically chase every species.
- Reserve Origin Dialga & Palkia for Friday (they appear Monday and Friday).
- Save Zacian / Zamazenta for Thursday, Kyurem forms for Tuesday/Wednesday, etc.
- Prioritise adventure‑effect candy.
- Kyurem candy fuels Ice Burn / Freeze Shock → near‑guaranteed legendary catches.
- Palkia candy fuels Spatial Rend → same benefit.
- Use Elite TMs now to add these moves to any high‑IV specimens you already own.
- Leverage the free passes first.
- Use the two daily free passes on the day’s most valuable bosses (e.g., Kyurem, Palkia, Dialga, Zacian/Zamazenta).
- Purchase additional passes only for bosses you still need for backgrounds.
- Take advantage of hatch bonuses.
- Walk 2 km eggs for a chance at Mime Jr. (global 5 km) and Larvesta (multiple distances).
- ½ hatch distance + double Stardust/Candy accelerates power‑ups for raid counters.
- Consider the Go Pass Deluxe if you’ll raid >30 legendaries; the extra Candy XL, guaranteed Mewtwo, and Golden Bottle Cap provide massive long‑term value.
Get Ready for for the Entire Week and Catch All the Legenderies You Can
The Road of Legends week is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime convergence of free raids, elite‑TM‑unlockable adventure effects, and a flood of special‑background legendaries. Plan your daily raid targets, use the free passes wisely, and don’t forget to Elite‑TM Kyurem, Palkia, and Dialga for those game‑changing catch‑rate boosts.
Ready to dive in?
- Set reminders for each day’s raid rotation.
- Stock up on Premium Raid Passes if you want to go beyond the free ones.
- Join the community Discord to coordinate trades for missing backgrounds.
Good luck, trainers—may your Premier Balls shine and your backgrounds be ever special!