If you’re a Pokémon GO Trainer aiming to add the radiant Solgaleo to your Legendary collection, you’re chasing one of the most iconic Pokémon from the Alola region. This mighty Psychic and Steel-type Legendary Pokémon symbolizes the sun and serves as one half of the duo that also includes its lunar counterpart, Lunala.
Unlike many Legendary Pokémon, Solgaleo can’t be found in the wild or hatched from eggs. Instead, it’s tied to special evolution requirements or rare event raids. In this in-depth, human-written, we’ll explain exactly how to obtain Solgaleo, evolve it correctly, and make the most of your resources — without missing your chance.
☀️ What is Solgaleo in Pokémon GO?
Solgaleo is a Legendary Psychic/Steel-type Pokémon originating from the Alola region of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Known as “The Beast That Devours the Sun,” it has a majestic lion-like design and radiant solar energy flowing through its mane.
In Pokémon GO, Solgaleo brings the same celestial energy to your team. Its unique typing makes it resistant to many attacks, including Normal, Flying, Rock, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy moves. However, it’s also vulnerable to Ground, Ghost, Fire, and Dark-type attacks, so strategic usage is key.
While it may not dominate every PvP meta, Solgaleo remains a fan-favorite Legendary thanks to its lore, design, and rarity.
🔍 How to Get Solgaleo in Pokémon GO
There are currently two main ways to obtain Solgaleo: by evolving Cosmog or by catching it during limited-time raids.
Let’s break both down step-by-step.
🧬 Method 1: Evolve Cosmog → Cosmoem → Solgaleo
The most common and accessible method to get Solgaleo is through evolution. However, this method requires patience, timing, and a healthy supply of Cosmog Candy.
Step 1: Obtain Cosmog
You can’t catch Cosmog in the wild. The only way to get one is through Special Research or event rewards. Notable research lines that have offered Cosmog include:
- A Cosmic Companion (Season of Light event)
- Starry Skies Special Research (rerun event)
If you missed these, don’t worry — Niantic often reintroduces previous research stories during future seasons or global celebrations like GO Fest.
Step 2: Evolve Cosmog into Cosmoem
Once you have Cosmog, evolve it into Cosmoem using 25 Cosmog Candies. This is a simple evolution step without time conditions.
Step 3: Evolve Cosmoem into Solgaleo
To evolve Cosmoem into Solgaleo, you’ll need 100 additional Cosmog Candies. But here’s the crucial part — you must evolve it during daytime in your local game environment.
If you evolve at night, Cosmoem will turn into Lunala, the moon counterpart.
You can determine the in-game time by checking the map background:
- ☀️ Bright background = Daytime → Solgaleo
- 🌙 Dark background = Nighttime → Lunala
So, evolve only when the game world shows daylight to ensure you get Solgaleo.
⚠️ Important Note: This evolution is irreversible. Once you evolve into Solgaleo, you can’t change it into Lunala — so choose wisely!
🌟 Method 2: Catch Solgaleo During Raid Events
Occasionally, Solgaleo appears as a 5-star raid boss in special event rotations. During these rare windows, you can battle and catch Solgaleo directly without going through evolution.
How to Catch Solgaleo in Raids:
- Watch for event announcements — Solgaleo’s raid appearances are rare and usually last for only a few days.
- Join Tier 5 Raids — These are Legendary-level raids that require teamwork.
- Prepare your counters — Bring Pokémon with Fire, Ground, Ghost, or Dark-type moves to exploit Solgaleo’s weaknesses.
- Team up with 5–6 Trainers — Solgaleo’s defense stats are high, so coordination helps ensure victory.
- Catch with Premier Balls — After winning the battle, you’ll get a limited number of Premier Balls to catch it. Use Golden Razz Berries to boost your chances.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep an eye on Pokémon GO’s official Twitter and community channels, as Niantic often teases Legendary raid returns a week in advance.
🕒 Why Time of Day Matters
The time of day is critical when evolving Cosmoem. Pokémon GO’s world mirrors your device’s clock and location:
- Evolve during daytime → You get Solgaleo (Psychic/Steel).
- Evolve during nighttime → You get Lunala (Psychic/Ghost).
This mechanic adds a layer of realism but can also trip up Trainers who evolve too early or too late. To be safe, evolve well after sunrise to ensure it registers as daytime.
If you’re unsure, check the in-game background — if the world is bright and sunny, it’s safe to evolve.
🪙 How to Farm Cosmog Candy
Since Cosmog cannot be caught repeatedly, collecting enough Candy for both evolutions can take time. Here’s how to speed it up:
- Walk with Cosmog or Cosmoem as Your Buddy Pokémon — You’ll earn Candy every few kilometers walked.
- Use Rare Candies — Earned through raids and events, these can be converted into Cosmog Candy instantly.
- Take Advantage of Bonus Events — Some events offer double Buddy Candy or half-walk distance bonuses.
- Use Pinap Berries — If Cosmog ever becomes catchable again, use Pinap Berries to double Candy rewards.
🧠 Pro Tips for Evolving & Catching Solgaleo
Make the most of your Solgaleo opportunity with these expert strategies:
- ✅ Check your time zone — Evolve during confirmed daytime hours in your local region.
- 💎 Don’t rush evolution — If you only have one Cosmog, consider waiting until you obtain another before choosing Solgaleo vs. Lunala.
- 🚶♂️ Keep it as your Buddy — Walking builds Candy passively.
- 🔥 Prepare for raids — Use powerful counters like Groudon, Chandelure, Darkrai, Reshiram, and Giratina (Origin Forme).
- ⚔️ Coordinate with friends — Use Remote Raid Passes if needed, especially for limited regional events.
- 🧾 Evaluate before powering up — Use the appraisal system to check IVs before spending Stardust and Candy.
⚡ Recommended Counters for Solgaleo Raids
Solgaleo’s dual Psychic/Steel typing gives it specific weaknesses. Bring Pokémon with the following movesets for the best results:
| Pokémon | Type | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|
| Groudon | Ground | Mud Shot + Earthquake |
| Darkrai | Dark | Snarl + Dark Pulse |
| Giratina (Origin Forme) | Ghost | Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball |
| Chandelure | Ghost/Fire | Hex + Shadow Ball |
| Reshiram | Fire/Dragon | Fire Fang + Overheat |
| Excadrill | Ground/Steel | Mud-Slap + Drill Run |
⚔️ Tip: Avoid using Fairy or Rock types, as Solgaleo’s Steel-type moves can counter them effectively.
🎯 Why You Should Get Solgaleo
Even if Solgaleo isn’t the strongest Legendary in raids or PvP, it holds immense value for several reasons:
1. Pokédex Completion
To complete your Alola region Pokédex, you’ll need both Solgaleo and Lunala.
2. Collector’s Value
Solgaleo’s limited availability makes it a prestige catch. Having both of its forms showcases dedication and event participation.
3. PvE and PvP Potential
With strong Psychic and Steel attacks, Solgaleo can be useful in certain Master League battles and raid counters, especially against Fairy or Rock opponents.
4. Lore and Design
Representing the sun, Solgaleo’s majestic design and symbolic power make it a fan favorite — a must-have for any serious Trainer.
🪐 Solgaleo vs. Lunala: Which Is Better?
Your evolution choice will depend on your preferred battle type and collection goals.
| Feature | Solgaleo | Lunala |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Psychic/Steel | Psychic/Ghost |
| Best Time to Evolve | Daytime | Nighttime |
| Strengths | Resists Fairy, Rock, Dragon | Counters Psychic and Fighting |
| Weaknesses | Ground, Ghost, Fire, Dark | Ghost, Dark |
| Role | PvE attacker, balanced defense | PvP specialist, strong in Master League |
Both have unique appeal, so ideally, aim to get two Cosmogs to evolve into both final forms over time.
📅 Future Availability of Solgaleo
If you missed out on Solgaleo previously, don’t lose hope. Based on Niantic’s past patterns, the Legendary Pokémon often returns in reruns during:
- Seasonal events (like Season of Light 2.0 or Season of Stardust)
- Pokémon GO Fest global celebrations
- Anniversary and Alola-themed events
- Paid research bundles offering reruns of older tasks
So, keep your notifications on and follow Niantic’s event calendar regularly.
🔔 Pro Tip: Join Pokémon GO community channels on Discord or Reddit to get instant alerts when new Special Research or Legendary raids drop.
🧾 Quick Checklist: How to Get Solgaleo
| ✅ Task | 🕐 Requirement |
|---|---|
| Obtain Cosmog | Complete Special Research or event |
| Evolve to Cosmoem | Spend 25 Cosmog Candies |
| Evolve to Solgaleo | Spend 100 Candies during daytime |
| Alternative Method | Participate in Solgaleo raid event |
| Farm Candies | Walk with Buddy or use Rare Candy |
| Best Counters | Groudon, Darkrai, Chandelure, Giratina |
| Weaknesses | Ground, Fire, Ghost, Dark moves |
🌞 Final Thoughts
Getting Solgaleo in Pokémon GO takes patience, timing, and event awareness — but it’s absolutely worth it. As one of the most majestic Legendary Pokémon, Solgaleo adds both prestige and power to your lineup.
Whether you evolve it from Cosmog or catch it during a rare 5-star raid, you’ll want to plan carefully to ensure you evolve during daytime and have enough Cosmog Candy ready.
For collectors, Solgaleo is an essential part of completing the Alola Legendary duo, alongside Lunala. For battlers, it’s a solid niche attacker with a beautiful design and versatile resistances.
Stay tuned to Niantic’s event schedule, keep your research tasks active, and evolve smartly — because when the sun rises on your Pokémon GO adventure, Solgaleo will shine at the heart of your collection.