Mythical Pokémon Giveaway: What You Need to Know

The Pokémon franchise has dominated pop-culture around the world for twenty years. We all assumed that Nintendo would want to highlight that in some way. We had no idea that the company planned a massive year-long blow-out. In 2016 there’s Pokémon Go, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon all launching. For those that aren’t necessarily ready for a new game yet, there’s also Nintendo’s Mythical Pokémon promotion.

The Mythical Pokémon promotion that Nintendo and the Pokémon Company are offering serves up easy access to the franchise’s most legendary creatures. Where as you’d have to ordinarily lurk around fields in the different games to even get access to these creatures, Nintendo is emailing codes and partnering with retailers.

Here’s what you need to know about the Mythical Pokémon Offer and how you can get easy access to some rare Pokémon to add to your PokéDex.

What Are Mythical Pokémon?

Nintendo’s Mythical Pokémon promotion is the stuff that players around the world used to dream of. Who doesn’t want some of the most powerful creatures in the game, without having to spend hours on finding a MasterBall and locating them? That’s the jest of the program, Nintendo is hooking players up with an impressive assortment of creatures without having to put in a lot of work – provided that they already have access to one of the games that the promotion supports.

Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire players all have access to Mythical Pokémon through the Nintendo Network. Nintendo switches out the assortment of free creatures every month, ensuring that there’s something nice for everyone every few weeks.

These Mythical Pokémon that players receive are so powerful that they’re banned from official tournaments and events, Nintendo says on its website. Every creature given to users during the promotion comes at Level 100. They can be taught powerful moves using in-game items and trips to each game’s move teacher. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire that’s Move Maniac in Fallarbor Town. In Pokémon X and Pokémon Y that’s Madam Reminder in Dendermille Town.

Because of their high level, you’ll find that your Trainer will have a hard time controlling these creatures. Rather than skip the promotion until you are able to command them, it’s a better idea to redeem the creatures. Then store them for when your Trainer has reached the game’s higher levels.

Which Mythical Pokémon Are Available Where?

Different Mythical Pokémon are available at different times in different ways. Many require that you sign up for the Pokémon Newsletter. A few are available at participating retailers. Here’s the breakdown.

• Until April 24th, players with access to the Nintendo Network can download Jirachi and add it to their team of creatures.
• From May 1st to May 24th, retailer GameStop will offer access to Darkrai to shoppers.
• From June 1st to June 24th Manaphy is coming through the Nintendo Network.

Nintendo previously offered up downloads of Mew and Celebi. There’s a full-line up of coming creatures through the year on Nintendo’s website.

When the Pokémon franchise first launched, there were three mythical birds that you could force a single Pokémon to involve into with just an elemental stone. They were majestic, elegant beasts with firepower and moves able to out match any opponent. These bird type Pokémon maybe aren’t as interesting looking as some of the newer creatures, but they’re just as powerful.

Sign up for the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter and Nintendo will email you a code in May. That code will instantly unlock those three majestic, bird-type Pokémon, Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. Everyone that wants the free creatures needs to sign up by April 22nd.

Unfortunately, you can’t go back and claim Mythical Pokémon that were already offered, which is why it’s very important that you plan to snatch these creatures up now. If you know someone with the game already, create a Nintendo Network account and ask to borrow their system so that you can squirrel away these creatures for later.

Mythical Pokémon: Other Stuff You Need to Know

Don’t forget that in celebration of the 20th year of Pokémon, Nintendo released a special Nintendo 3DS handheld that gets players access to the titles that started it all. The New Nintendo 3DS Pokémon 20th Anniversary Edition costs $199. The bundle comes with a Blastoise and Charizard themed display plate and an exclusive Pokémon theme. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue come pre-installed on the handheld. Pokémon Yellow is available too, though it’s a separate $9.99 purchase from the Nintendo eShop.

Don’t forget about Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. All of your Mythical Pokémon training won’t go to waste when those games arrive. Nintendo confirmed earlier this year that creatures from Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire can be transferred into these new titles using the Pokémon Bank as a go between.

Good luck getting your hands on these Mythical Pokémon.