Pokémon Snap is not a catching game, but it makes room for the legendary Pokémon of the first generation. The three birds (Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres) each hatch from a giant egg, on three different courses, and their hatching takes a little staging. Mew is hidden at the very end of the game. Mewtwo only appears as a constellation. This page gathers those Pokémon, along with the rare or hard-to-photograph species.
The four legendary Pokémon you can photograph
#0144ArticunoCaveIceFlyingHatches from the ice egg when Jynx dance
#0145ZapdosTunnelElectricFlyingHatches from the giant egg under Pikachu's electric shock
#0146MoltresVolcanoFireFlyingHatches when the egg falls into the lava
#0151MewRainbow CloudPsychicOnly Pokémon on the secret course, protected by a bubble
The three birds at a glance
| Bird | Course | Egg | What you need | Shot to aim for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapdos | Tunnel | Giant egg near a Pikachu | Apple to lure Pikachu, Poké Flute for its electric attack | Large, electrified, near the generator |
| Moltres | Volcano | Giant white egg on the track | Apple or Pester Ball to make it fall into the lava | In flight, surrounded by embers |
| Articuno | Cave | Ice egg surrounded by Jynx | Poké Flute for the Jynx dance | In flight, or on its return with Pikachu on its back |
All three hatchings have one thing in common: they cannot happen without a specific item, so not during your very first visits. They also take preparation: placing Pikachu in the right spot, waiting for the moment of the melody, aiming at the egg. Each bird flies off after hatching, so it is best to keep your finger ready on the shutter as soon as the egg breaks.
Zapdos, in the Tunnel
Zapdos is the first bird you meet. A giant egg sits in the middle of the power plant, near a Pikachu. Lure the Pokémon close to the shell with an Apple, then play the Poké Flute: the melody prompts it to use its electric attack, which breaks the egg. The bird then flies toward the plant’s generator and strikes it with lightning bolts, which switches the installation back on. The RetroAchievements guide recommends taking the shot large, preferably with the bird electrified. In the same motion, you light up the Pinsir Shadow, the course’s Pokémon Sign.
Moltres, in the Volcano
In the Volcano, a giant egg blocks the way. Throw an Apple or a Pester Ball to make it fall into the lava: it hatches, and Moltres bursts out, its beak and wings glowing, before flying off. The guides recommend taking the shot while it is in the air, surrounded by embers. Before pushing it, make the most of the ZERO-ONE’s stop to gather the Charmander: once the egg is in the lava, the ride resumes.
Articuno, in the Cave
Articuno‘s egg is a big block of ice near the end of the course. Two Jynx lurk beside it. The Poké Flute wakes them and they start a dance that makes the egg hatch. Articuno takes off, vanishes for a moment, then comes back in the last part of the course, which gives you a second chance to photograph it. If you rescued Pikachu from a Zubat earlier, Articuno returns with it on its back: it is one of the most memorable scenes in the game.
Mew, in the Rainbow Cloud
Mew is the only Pokémon on the secret course. It hides behind a bubble that distorts photos, and you have to break it in two stages (three item hits each) before you can photograph it. Every shot of Mew is a special pose. A large enough shot can be worth around 10,000 points. Every detail is in the Rainbow Cloud walkthrough.
Mewtwo, the great absentee
Mewtwo is not a Pokémon you photograph in Pokémon Snap. It only exists as a constellation in the Cave, one of the six landscapes to bring back to Oak. Bulbapedia even notes that Mewtwo’s presence as a constellation does not fit its role in the other games, since it is supposed to have been created recently and to be little known. It is an oddity that is easy to forgive. Our page on the Pokémon Signs explains how to photograph it.
Rarities by course
Bulbapedia’s course pages classify several Pokémon as rarities, in contrast to the common species.
| Course | Common | Rarer |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | Butterfree | Eevee and Chansey |
| River | Not specified | Bulbasaur and Porygon |
| Valley | Magikarp | Dratini, and above all Dragonite |
Added to this list are species that are rare because of how you photograph them. Cloyster, which comes out with the Shellder at the end of the River, gives a shot that Serebii calls very rare. Kangaskhan on the Beach needs precise framing to get a valid pose, according to speedrunners’ records. Finally, Jynx has a story of its own: its original black skin stirred up controversy, and the Pokémon was recolored purple on Virtual Console. The history of the differences between versions tells the story.
The birds in the anime
Todd, the game’s hero, is first of all a character from the animated series. According to Poképédia, he is seen again, in the Johto League season, coming to take a photo of Articuno. Articuno is, after all, among the Pokémon in his game. More details on the links between the game and the series on the game history page.
